The Homeschool How To

Cheryl - Host
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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. #161: When School Failed Her Neurodivergent Kids, She Built a Worldschooling Life in Spain

    4D AGO

    #161: When School Failed Her Neurodivergent Kids, She Built a Worldschooling Life in Spain

    What if the problem isn’t your child—but the environment they’re expected to learn in? In this episode, Cheryl talks with Corianda “Corey,” a homeschooling mom of six living in Spain, about raising neurodivergent kids and what happened when traditional school stopped working for her family. With three sons on the autism spectrum and experiences with ADHD, Corey began questioning whether the system was actually designed to help children like hers thrive. She shares how her family transitioned from the UK school system to homeschooling, how environment and freedom dramatically changed her children’s confidence, and why self-directed learning can be especially powerful for neurodivergent kids. Cheryl and Corey also discuss worldschooling, socialization outside the classroom, learning to read when children are truly ready, and why giving kids agency over their time can unlock creativity and real-life skills. Today Corey runs a worldschooling community in Spain where homeschooling families gather to learn, explore, and grow together. If you’re a homeschooling parent—or considering home education for a neurodivergent child—this conversation will open your mind to what’s possible. Find Corey here: www.shepherdsrest.org   Facebook: www.facebook.com/shepsrest  Instagram: www.instagram.com/shepsrest  📌 New here? Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick-start guide  🎹 Looking for a fun, simple way to introduce piano at home? We’ve loved using Simply Piano. It turns lessons into interactive challenges so kids can start playing real songs right away — without pressure or frustration. 👉 Click here to check it out! 📘 Feeling overwhelmed about where to start with homeschooling? After three years of interviewing homeschooling families, I compiled the best advice, practical tips, key questions, and trusted resources into one clear, actionable e-book: The Homeschool How To Complete Starter Guide. 👉 Grab it here! Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    44 min
  2. #160: Homeschooling 5 Kids While Running a Business (And Navigating Dyslexia)

    MAR 7

    #160: Homeschooling 5 Kids While Running a Business (And Navigating Dyslexia)

    In this episode of The Homeschool HowTo Podcast, Cheryl sits down with Stephany Rios — a homeschooling mom of five — to talk about building a business from home, navigating dyslexia, and learning to let go of school timelines. Stephany shares:  • The preschool bus moment that made homeschooling non-negotiable  • Running a jewelry business while homeschooling  • What to do when curriculum isn’t working  • Discovering her daughter’s dyslexia  • Practical tools that helped  • Why being “behind” isn’t failure  • Creating a morning rhythm that works  • How real-life learning beats rigid schedules If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough…  If your child struggles with reading…  If you’re juggling work and homeschooling… This conversation will remind you that you have time — and that love of learning matters more than checklists. Find Stephany: IG  @ivianaandco; @stephriosblog www.stephriosblog.com    (Blog) www.ivianaandco.com  (Jewelry) Home(school) with Steph Podcast  📌 New here? Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick-start guide  🎹 Looking for a fun, simple way to introduce piano at home? We’ve loved using Simply Piano. It turns lessons into interactive challenges so kids can start playing real songs right away — without pressure or frustration. 👉 Click here to check it out! 📘 Feeling overwhelmed about where to start with homeschooling? After three years of interviewing homeschooling families, I compiled the best advice, practical tips, key questions, and trusted resources into one clear, actionable e-book: The Homeschool How To Complete Starter Guide. 👉 Grab it here! Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    46 min
  3. #159: The Death of Recess: What Parents Don’t Know About Schools (w/ Spencer Taylor)

    FEB 28

    #159: The Death of Recess: What Parents Don’t Know About Schools (w/ Spencer Taylor)

    What if the biggest education question isn’t “public vs. private”… but who is shaping your child’s worldview? This week on The Homeschool How To Podcast, I’m joined by documentary filmmaker Spencer Taylor, creator of The Death of Recess (streaming on Angel Studios). Spencer shares what sparked the film—when his school eliminated recess—and how that change connected to a bigger story: the erosion of childhood, creativity, and parental authority in modern education. We talk about: Why removing recess impacts behavior, mental health, and learningThe rise of standardized testing (and what it’s costing kids)How education funding and influence shape curriculum decisionsWhy school choice and homeschooling are growing fast after COVIDWhat Spencer discovered when he went undercover at an NEA leadership summitHow parents can reclaim their role without fearIf you’re homeschooling, considering homeschooling, or trying to get your spouse on board, this episode will challenge your assumptions—and give you language for the conversations that matter. 🎥 Watch The Death of Recess on Angel Studios - click here!  📌 New here? Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick-start guide   Night Zookeeper is a gamified online language arts program with a parent dashboard for assigning work and tracking progress. Click here to check it out 🎮📚  👉 Click here for a free 7-day trial and 50% off your yearly subscription. 📘 Feeling overwhelmed about where to start with homeschooling? After three years of interviewing homeschooling families, I compiled the best advice, practical tips, key questions, and trusted resources into one clear, actionable e-book: The Homeschool How To Complete Starter Guide. 👉 Grab it here! Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    51 min
  4. #158: A “Good Education” Might Be a Lie… Here’s What Actually Matters

    FEB 21

    #158: A “Good Education” Might Be a Lie… Here’s What Actually Matters

    What happens when you stop measuring “success” by convenience—and start building your family life around your deepest values? In this episode of The Homeschool How To Podcast, Cheryl sits down with homeschool dad Todd Marchand, founder of Be Whole Do Good, to talk about what it really looks like to raise kids with resilience, emotional tools, and a strong sense of identity—without turning your home into a lecture hall. Todd shares how their family found a hybrid homeschool rhythm, why “a good education” often just means “what we’ve always known,” and how he made the leap from software sales to entrepreneurship so his work could align with his family’s mission. You’ll also hear about the new text-message-based program Todd is launching—designed to help parents teach skills like emotional regulation, gratitude, growth mindset, and resilience in tiny daily moments (without adding more to your plate). In this episode, we cover: Why “good schooling” isn’t always the same as a meaningful educationHybrid homeschooling: how it works and why it fits some families bestValues over convenience (and why that changes everything)Teaching emotional skills before the meltdown happensSimple gratitude practices that actually rewire perspectiveFrom corporate ladder to calling: building a life with autonomyWhat Todd wants his kids to know by age 18 (hint: it’s not just academics)Resources & Links Be Whole Do Good: bewholedogood.com (spelled: be whole do good)Night Zookeeper (free trial + 50% off yearly subscription)Cheryl’s eBook- The Homeschool How To: Complete Starter Guide- a compilation of everything she's learned from interviewing 150+ homeschool families Cheryl’s FREE 30-Day Homeschool Quick Start Guide: thehomeschoolhowto.comIf this episode encouraged you, follow the show and leave a review—it’s the best way to support the podcast. Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    43 min
  5. #157: Standardized Testing Starts at 4? A Former Teacher Explains What Parents Should Know

    FEB 14

    #157: Standardized Testing Starts at 4? A Former Teacher Explains What Parents Should Know

    Cheryl sits down with Katie Vieira — a former 4th grade teacher turned homeschool mom — to talk about what surprised her most when she stepped outside the traditional school system. They unpack how early academic pressure has changed, why many kids feel burnout younger than ever, and how standardized testing and school accountability can shape what happens in the classroom (and the stress teachers carry). They also dive into the real-life side of homeschooling: finding community, handling seasons where screens sneak in more than you planned, keeping reading and learning positive when kids resist “lessons,” and the ongoing challenge of balancing motherhood with creative work and personal goals. Katie shares about her children’s book “Into the Field: Tennessee Summer,” inspired by shifting away from screen-heavy days and toward outdoor adventures, confidence-building, and learning through experience — plus what’s next in her planned series. In this episode, we cover: Katie’s path from certified teacher to homeschool momWhy kindergarten/early elementary standards feel so intense nowStandardized testing pressure (and how it can impact teachers)Lockdown drills, school anxiety, and what parents weigh in their choicesScreen time seasons, outdoor resets, and the “thousand hours outside” ideaHomeschool balance: work, creativity, and family rhythmsColorado homeschool options and one-day-a-week enrichment programsHow to keep learning positive when kids push backLinks & resources mentioned: Katie Vieira + Into the Field: Tennessee Summer Katie's Instagram  🎹  Have your kiddos learn piano from this amazing resource, check out: Simply Piano. We love it!  🎶  Cheryl's ebook: The Homeschool How To: Complete Starter Guide 🎁 Free resource: Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick start guide at thehomeschoolhowto.com Cheryl's book:🚨 Let's Talk, Emergencies! 🚨on Amazon! Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    42 min
  6. Done Homeschooling, Looking Back: What Matters Most Over 25 Years of Home Education

    FEB 7

    Done Homeschooling, Looking Back: What Matters Most Over 25 Years of Home Education

    What does homeschooling look like after the kids are grown — and what advice actually holds up over 25 years? This week, I bring back a favorite episode of mine to help remind me what's really important while taking this homeschooling journey.  In this episode of The Homeschool How To Podcast, I talk with Rosemary, a New Jersey mom of four who homeschooled all the way through high school and is now on the other side: kids launched, college decisions made, careers started, and the long view finally clear. Rosemary shares the approach that shaped her homeschool—part structure, part freedom—with a few non-negotiables (like math facts and early reading), plus a powerful reminder: you’re replaceable at work… but irreplaceable in your child’s life. You’ll also hear: Why agency is one of the biggest gifts homeschooling can giveHow she balanced academics + interests + sports as kids got olderWhen and why she started testing (and what she learned)How her kids handled the culture shock of college environmentsA practical framework every family can use: Dojo • Cafeteria • LibraryA “well-kept secret” resource: Learning Unlimited (Saturday classes taught by graduate students)If you’re new to homeschooling—or you’re deep in the weeds—this conversation will help you zoom out and build a homeschool that’s less about checklists and more about raising capable, grounded kids who know how to learn.  🎹  Have your kiddos learn piano from this amazing resource, check out: Simply Piano. We love it!  🎶  Cheryl's ebook: The Homeschool How To: Complete Starter Guide 🎁 Free resource: Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick start guide at thehomeschoolhowto.com Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    39 min
  7. Why So Many Teachers Are Choosing to Homeschool

    JAN 31

    Why So Many Teachers Are Choosing to Homeschool

    I’m re-releasing this episode because it’s still one of my all-time favorites—and honestly, one of the conversations that stayed with me long after we hit stop on the recording.  In this episode, I’m joined by Kiri Jorgensen, a former public school teacher in rural Montana and mom of four. Kiri shares what she saw changing inside the school system—from Common Core and high-stakes testing to increasing bureaucracy—and why her family chose to homeschool their youngest child after experiencing both public school and homeschooling. We also get practical: Kiri explains a simple framework that helps parents homeschool with confidence—separating “learning” (reading, writing, math) from “learning about” (curiosity-led unit studies). She shares her favorite strategy (the “curiosity jar”) to turn your child’s questions into meaningful learning without recreating school at home. Finally, Kiri talks about her work as the founder of Chicken Scratch Books, a publisher creating clean, traditional middle grade fiction for families who want books they can trust. In this episode, we cover: Why Kiri left teaching and what she noticed shifting in schoolsCommon Core, testing pressure, and how it affects classroomsWhy homeschooling can take less time and lead to deeper learningThe “curiosity jar” method for interest-led homeschoolingBuilding lifelong learners and confident, capable kidsChicken Scratch Books and choosing better middle grade readsGuest: Kiri Jorgensen Website: chickenscratchbooks.com Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a parent who needs reassurance today. Mentioned in today’s episode:  🎹  Have your kiddos learn piano from this amazing resource, check out: Simply Piano. We love it!  🎶  Cheryl's ebook: The Homeschool How To: Complete Starter Guide 🎁 Free resource: Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick start guide at thehomeschoolhowto.com Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    47 min
  8. #156: I Tried to Recreate School at Home… Everyone Cried (This Fixed It)

    JAN 24

    #156: I Tried to Recreate School at Home… Everyone Cried (This Fixed It)

    A former public school teacher never planned to homeschool — until COVID forced a hard reset. In this episode, Cheryl talks with Janae Daniels from the School to Homeschool Podcast about the moment everything changed: the “magical” 2020 shutdown, the surprising nudge to homeschool, and the first day that completely fell apart… until a piano tuner accidentally delivered the best real-life science lesson her kids had ever experienced. Janae shares what deschooling actually looks like (and why it’s harder for parents than kids), how she stopped trying to replicate school at home, and what happened when her children finally had room for boredom, curiosity, and real learning: guitar skills built through YouTube lessons, reading for meaning (not grades), embroidery that turned into paid work, early jobs, business books, conferences, and a senior year centered on debate, confidence, and entrepreneurship. If you’re thinking, “I’m not smart enough,” “My kids will fight me,” or “Is it too late to start homeschooling — especially for middle and high school?” this conversation will give you clarity, encouragement, and a new definition of education. Connect with Janae: Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a parent who needs reassurance today. Mentioned in today’s episode:  🎹  Have your kiddos learn piano from this amazing resource, check out: Simply Piano. We love it!  🎶  Cheryl's ebook: https://thehomeschoolhowto.com/ebook 🎁 Free resource: Grab my free 30-day homeschool quick start guide at thehomeschoolhowto.com Support the show Instagram: TheHomeschoolHowToPodcast Facebook: The Homeschool How To Podcast

    48 min
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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
    170
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Homeschool How To
  • Show Website
    The Homeschool How To

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