The Homeschool How To

Cheryl - Host

I don't claim to know anything about homeschooling, so I set out on a journey to ask the people who do! Join me as I chat with homeschoolers to discuss; "why are people homeschooling," "what are all the ways people are using to homeschool today," and ultimately, "should I homeschool my kids?"

  1. #173: When the Right School Didn't Exist, They Built It. Here's How.

    2d ago

    #173: When the Right School Didn't Exist, They Built It. Here's How.

    What happens when two parents with a 70-acre property, a wedding venue, and a 2% chance of having children decide the local school system just isn't good enough for their girls? They build something better from scratch. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Sarah and Greg Holland of Jericho Valley Co-op in Berkshire County, Massachusetts — a homeschool support organization they built on their own property, with a licensed teacher who walked away from 25 years in the public school system because she believed in what they were building. Sarah and Greg share how they went from never considering homeschooling to launching a thriving co-op that doubled enrollment in less than a year and now has a waitlist. They talk about hiring a teacher, navigating the legal landscape of running a homeschool co-op, mixed-age learning, getting kids outside every day, and why they believe every community has the resources to do something similar if they just look around. If you've ever thought about starting something like this in your own community — or you're just looking for proof that there's a better way — this episode is for you. Topics covered: Why two self-described "school lovers" chose to leave the system behindHow they built a co-op using their existing property and businessFinding and hiring a teacher who left a 25-year public school careerMixed-age classrooms and individualized learning plansNavigating homeschool co-op laws in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New YorkHow running a business from home changes what your kids learnWhy their shy, isolated daughters transformed after just one yearHow to start your own co-op even without a big property or budgetResources mentioned: Jericho Valley Co-op website: jerichovalley.orgJericho Valley Co-op Instagram: @jericho.valleyGet Your Tickets: FARM FOOD FREEDOM Event: https://maxkane.com/events Resources from Cheryl: 🎓  New to homeschooling? Grab the free 30-Day Quick Start Guide   📚 Knowing exactly what to teach is the hard part, so I broke it down for you in plain English! Grab this today — What Do I Actually Teach? ($17)  💻 Want to Homeschool but still have to work? Check out my course on how to do just that: How to Work and Homeschool course Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    39 min
  2. #172: They Didn't Want Smart Kids — The Truth About How Public School Was Designed | Nicki Truesdell

    May 30

    #172: They Didn't Want Smart Kids — The Truth About How Public School Was Designed | Nicki Truesdell

    What if the problems in public school weren't accidents? What if low literacy rates, changing math standards, social emotional learning, and ideological curriculum were all part of a plan that started over a hundred years ago? This week Cheryl sits down with Nicki Truesdell — a second generation homeschooler who has been in the homeschool world since 1983 and has been homeschooling her own five kids since the year 2000. Nicki is the author of Anyone Can Homeschool and Home Sweet Homeschool, and runs Knowledge Keeper's Bookstore where she reprints rare out-of-print American history books to get the real story back into people's hands. In this episode they break down three books every parent needs to read: The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor GattoCrimes of the Educators by Alex Newman and Sam BlumenfeldThe Marxification of Education by James LindsayYou'll learn how the American education system was deliberately redesigned in the early 1900s by the Rockefellers, Carnegie, and the Education Trust to produce workers instead of thinkers — and how that agenda is still playing out in classrooms today through critical pedagogy, SEL, Common Core, and lowered test standards. Nicki also shares how she homeschooled as a single mom, why she believes homeschooling is the capitalist form of education, and how homeschool parents are learning the real version of American history right alongside their kids. If you've ever wondered whether pulling your kids out of school was the right call — this episode will remove any doubt. Connect with Nicki -- ⁠ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nickitruesdell1  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nicki-truesdell-podcast/id1798330030 Homeschool 101⁠ https://nickitruesdell.com/homeschool-101/ ⁠ Homeschool Consultations⁠ https://nickitruesdell.com/homeschool-consulting/ ⁠   Get her books: ⁠Anyone Can Homeschool⁠ on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible! https://amzn.to/4fnSWs8 Home Sweet Homeschool on Amazon and Kindle https://amzn.to/4qY4zMb Knowledge Keepers Bookstore: https://knowledgekeepersbookstore.com/  FARM FOOD FREEDOM Event: https://maxkane.com/events Resources from Cheryl: 🎓  New to homeschooling? Grab the free 30-Day Quick Start Guide   📚 Knowing exactly what to teach is the hard part, so I broke it down for you in plain English! Grab this today — What Do I Actually Teach? ($17)  💻 Want to Homeschool but still have to work? Check out my course on how to do just that: How to Work and Homeschool course Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    56 min
  3. #171: Homeschool Mom of 5 Gets Real About the Chaos — Multiple Ages, One Income, and Starting a Business

    May 23

    #171: Homeschool Mom of 5 Gets Real About the Chaos — Multiple Ages, One Income, and Starting a Business

    What does it actually look like to homeschool five kids across wildly different ages — while running a business, managing a rambunctious toddler, and doing it all on one income? This week I'm joined by Amanda, a homeschool mom of five from St. Augustine, Florida. Amanda started homeschooling when her family left Germany in 2020 — one week before the world shut down. What felt like a leap of faith turned out to be the best thing she ever did. We talk about: → Why Amanda and her husband felt called to homeschool even before COVID → What it's really like managing school with multiple ages under one roof (spoiler: it's not always pretty) → How Florida's PEP Scholarship is a total game-changer for families homeschooling on one income → The year-round model that actually relieved her stress → How she built Giplings — her small business inspired entirely by her homeschool journey → The car conversations, the lizard hunts, and the little moments that are the real education Whether you're just starting out or years in, Amanda's honesty about the chaos — and why she wouldn't trade it — will leave you feeling seen. Find Amanda + Giplings: Website: https://giplings.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giplings/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giplings YouTube: https://youtube.com/@giplings Wholesale: giplings.faire.com Resources from Cheryl: 🎓  New to homeschooling? Grab the free 30-Day Quick Start Guide   📚 Figure out exactly what to teach and how — What Do I Actually Teach? ($17)  💻 Homeschooling AND working? Check out the How to Work and Homeschool course  Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    49 min
  4. #170: They Shut Down Her Classroom Because Kids Were Getting Too Much Help

    May 16

    #170: They Shut Down Her Classroom Because Kids Were Getting Too Much Help

    Elyse Scheeler spent years inside the public school system as a speech language pathologist. She had a classroom full of kids making real, measurable progress. The district shut it down — not because anything was wrong, but because her program made their compliance numbers look bad. That's when she knew she had to leave. In this episode Elyse pulls back the curtain on what school staff see every single day but aren't allowed to say out loud. She couldn't tell parents what she suspected. She couldn't refer kids to outside specialists. The system had a rule for that too. We also get into the airway health connection to ADHD and behavior that nobody in a school can mention, how COVID masking quietly set back an entire generation of language development, and how Elyse now helps families with kids who have additional needs homeschool successfully — without doing it alone. In this episode: — Why your child's school limits services even when kids need more — The data vs. children problem hiding inside every IEP meeting — Airway health, sleep, and the hidden root causes of ADHD and behavior issues — How COVID masking impacted language development — Using AI to build a custom curriculum for any learning style — How to homeschool a child with additional needs Links: → Free 30-Day Homeschool Quick Start Guide → What Do I Actually Teach? ($17): thehomeschoolhowto.com/what-do-i-actually-teach CONNECT WITH ELYSE 🌐 Website:  speakinglife.co 🎙️ Podcast:  Speaking Life Into Motherhood 📱 Instagram:  @Speaking_life_into_motherhood 👥 Group Coaching Program: speakinglife.co/homeschoolplan 👉 Wisconsin Homeschool Expo: speakinglife.co/homeschool 📧 Email:  hello@speakinglife.co 🎁 Free Resource:  speakinglife.co/advocacy Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    44 min
  5. #169: Homeschooled, Sheltered & Addicted Young: A Conversation Every Parent Needs to Hear

    May 9

    #169: Homeschooled, Sheltered & Addicted Young: A Conversation Every Parent Needs to Hear

    What happens when someone who hated being homeschooled grows up and chooses to homeschool his own children anyway? In this deeply honest conversation, Logan Hufford shares what homeschooling looked like growing up in a large family in the 90s, why he resented parts of it for years, and what he’s doing differently with his own kids today. We also talk about something many parents are afraid to discuss openly: what children are being exposed to online at shockingly young ages — and how silence, shame, and lack of conversation can impact kids long-term. Inside this episode: • what Logan wishes his parents had done differently • how over-sheltering can backfire • pornography addiction and dopamine-driven behavior • why vulnerable conversations matter more than perfect parenting • how to talk to kids without creating shame • the reality of parenting in the internet era • resources parents can use to start age-appropriate conversations This is a sensitive but incredibly important discussion for both homeschooling and non-homeschooling families alike. Listener discretion advised for younger ears. Resources: Good Pictures Bad Pictures https://www.conquerseries.com- For a man who might be struggling or a woman who is close to a man who struggles, the best single resource to gain an education of how sexual addiction works is the Conquer Series Follow Logan on Instagram 🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually working + homeschooling?  Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out!👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Without Burning Out) Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    38 min
  6. #168: Homeschooling Through Grief: A Former Teacher's Raw and Honest Story

    May 2

    #168: Homeschooling Through Grief: A Former Teacher's Raw and Honest Story

    What happens when life completely falls apart — and you still have to show up for your kids? This week Cheryl sits down with Barbara, a former special education teacher turned homeschool mom of four, who opens up about one of the hardest questions in homeschooling: what do you do when you're grieving? After years of fighting the school system for resources her students deserved, Barbara knew she didn't want that for her own kids. She pulled them out, ditched the rigid curriculum, and built something that actually works for her spicy, high-energy family. In this episode: Why connection over perfection changed everything for her familyHow she homeschools four kids aged 5–12 using interest-led unit studiesWhat homeschooling through the loss of her mother actually looked likeSouth Carolina's homeschool options and fundingWhy socialization was never actually a problemBarbara also shares her memoir and upcoming Bible study guide for homeschooling through grief — because sometimes life takes the rug out from under you, and you still have to be there for your family. Connect with Barbara here:  https://a.co/d/0bMqCMiq Barbara's Instagram 🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually working + homeschooling? Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out!👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Without Burning Out) Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    31 min
  7. #167: When the School Said 'Behind' — One Mom Said 'Watch Me'

    Apr 25

    #167: When the School Said 'Behind' — One Mom Said 'Watch Me'

    What happens when a single mom in the Foreign Service gets the double whammy — "your child might have dyslexia" AND profound hearing loss? She figures it out. Katharyn Havens joins Cheryl from outside Nairobi, Kenya, where she's running a multi-age homeschool pod, teaching kids AI ethics, and building her own AI co-pilot for homeschool parents. In this episode: How cochlear implant surgery changed everything — and bought them timeWhy Katherine walked away from a 14-year Foreign Service careerThe year they moved to Florida, ditched the diagnosis, and just learned to liveHow her son went from nonverbal to reading Green Eggs and Ham — on his own timelineBuilding a homeschool pod in Kenya with kids of all agesHer AI code of ethics for kids (yes, they have written rules)What "symphonic thinking" is and why it's the most future-proof skill you can teachWhether you're just starting out or deep in the homeschool journey, Katherine's story will remind you: you know your kid best. Trust that. Connect with Katharyn:  Substack: https://substack.com/@kairoslearninglifestyle?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radicallyresetting/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KairosRiseHomeschool www.KairosRise.com 🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually working + homeschooling? Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out!👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Even as a Single Parent!) Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    43 min
  8. #166: How Homeschooling Her Only Child Turned Him Into a 9-Year-Old Author & Stock Trader

    Apr 18

    #166: How Homeschooling Her Only Child Turned Him Into a 9-Year-Old Author & Stock Trader

    Most parents ask, “Can I homeschool if I still need to work?” Laresia and her family didn’t just ask that question—they built a life that answers it. In this episode, we talk about what happens when you choose homeschooling before you even become a parent, and how that decision shaped everything—from family connection to raising a child who is already thinking like an entrepreneur. Their 9-year-old son isn’t just learning at home…  He’s writing and publishing books, learning stock trading, and building real-world skills most adults were never taught. We also get into:  What homeschooling an only child actually looks like (social life + community)  How Classical Conversations works in real life  Why creativity and imagination often get shut down in traditional school  How they approach raising a child without a fixed path The mindset shift that allows families to “level up” without pressure And if you’ve ever wondered how families actually make working + homeschooling work… I break down the patterns I’ve seen from interviewing 200+ families and how you can apply them. If you’re thinking about homeschooling—but feel stuck on the how—this episode will open your mind to what’s possible. Find Laresia & Family: https://kidpreneurconnection.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/@areeson2love - https://corelife365.com/ 🎯 Ready to learn how families are actually working + homeschooling? Cheryl has interviewed 200+ homeschool families—and put a step by step process together for how to work and homeschool (even as a single parent!) Check it out below! 👉 How to Work & Homeschool (Even as a Single Parent!) Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    33 min
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4.8
out of 5
100 Ratings

About

I don't claim to know anything about homeschooling, so I set out on a journey to ask the people who do! Join me as I chat with homeschoolers to discuss; "why are people homeschooling," "what are all the ways people are using to homeschool today," and ultimately, "should I homeschool my kids?"

Information

  • Creator
    Cheryl - Host
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Homeschool How To
  • Show Website
    The Homeschool How To

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