Wildly Wondrous Homeschool Podcast

Emily Montez

Welcome to the Wildly Wondrous Podcast, where we bring more joy and wonder into your everyday homeschool! I'm your host, Emily. I spent a decade teaching middle school math, and for the past 10 years I've been homeschooling my 5 kids. I'm bringing you the tricks, resources, and real-life encouragement I've picked up along the way, so you can worry less and wonder more. Perfectly imperfect, always. Pull up a chair, friend. Let's make homeschool feel like home.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Why Stories Stick

    Who doesn't remember a good story from their childhood? In this episode, I share the bedtime stories my dad read me every single night, and why those memories have become his legacy. We'll talk about why stories stay with us long after facts fade, why I love historical fiction, and why stories from other cultures matter so much for our kids right now. In this episode: My dad, Birthday Surprise, and the imaginary surprise party Why a story makes you feel like you're there How historical fiction brings history to life Learning about the world (geography, food, beliefs) through stories from other cultures Simple ways to bring more stories into your homeschool

  2. Nov 2

    The Biggest Homeschool Myth

    What do you think the biggest homeschool myth is? For me, it's this one: parents don't know enough to teach their own kids. There's so much fear wrapped up in that belief. Maybe you've felt it too, that nagging worry that you're not qualified or smart enough to homeschool, especially once the subjects start getting harder. But here's the truth: you know more than you think you do. And even if you don't know something yet, you can learn it. In this episode, I'm picking up where we left off last week. Just like there's no such thing as an educational emergency for our kids, there's no expiration date on learning for us either. That old saying about not being able to teach an old dog new tricks? Not true. If you want to learn, you can. And if there's something you don't want to learn? That's okay too. There are so many wonderful people and resources out there, and your kids can learn from someone else. In this episode: The homeschool myth that holds so many parents back Why you already know more than you give yourself credit for How learning alongside your kids is a gift, not a weakness Why it's okay to hand off subjects you don't want to teach If you've ever doubted whether you're "enough" to homeschool your kids, I hope this episode reminds you that you are. You don't have to know everything. You just have to be willing to learn, or to find someone who can help. Connect with me: Read more on the blog Join the Wonder Vault for weekly encouragement and free resources Follow along on Instagram and Facebook! New episodes every Monday. If this one spoke to you, please share it with a homeschool mama who needs to hear it today!

  3. Oct 26

    There Is No Such Thing As an Educational Emergency

    Have you ever lain awake worrying that your child is "behind"? That they should be reading by now, or know their times tables, or be further along than they are? In this episode, I'm sharing the single piece of advice that completely changed the way I see education: there is no such thing as an educational emergency. Our brains are wonderfully flexible. There's never a point where it's too late to learn the skills we need. Once I truly believed that, something shifted. The pressure to keep my kids "on level" started to fall away, and in its place, our family found room to fully embrace a love of learning. In this episode: The advice that changed how I think about education Why it's never too late to learn what you need to know How letting go of "on level" took the pressure off our whole family What becomes possible when learning is driven by curiosity instead of fear If you're carrying the weight of milestones and comparisons right now, I hope this episode feels like a deep breath. Your kids have time. So do you.  Connect with me: Read more on the blog Join the Wonder Vault for weekly encouragement and free resources Follow along on Instagram and Facebook! New episodes every Monday. If this one spoke to you, please share it with a homeschool mama who needs to hear it today!

  4. Oct 19

    Family Style: What a One-Room Schoolhouse Really Looks Like

    I started homeschooling so I could spend more time with my kids. But in those first few years, I realized something wasn't adding up. I was spending so much time managing each child individually (different subjects, different levels, different schedules) that we barely had any time left to actually connect as a family. So I changed my approach. Instead of juggling five separate homeschools, I learned how to bring us together and learn side by side. In this episode, I'm sharing practical tips for making family-style learning work, plus a behind-the-scenes look at what it really looks like in our house. Spoiler: it's not always pretty, but it's so worth it.

  5. Oct 19

    But Whyyyyyy: For the Days You Want to Move to Mexico

    We all have those days: the ones where you want to give up, send the kids out the window, and move to Mexico. In this episode I talk about why every homeschool parent needs a "why" to come back to when things get hard. It might sound cliché, but it works. For me, it always comes back to the relationships we're building with our kids. I just couldn't imagine having mine gone for so much of the day. So what's yours? Take a few minutes with me to find the reason that keeps you going.

  6. Oct 19

    The Main Thing

    When we first started homeschooling, we had lists, curriculum, and schedules for everything, and it was a recipe for burnout. In this episode I share how our homeschool philosophy has changed over the years and why we now have a much more relaxed, unschool-inspired rhythm. My main thing is simple: I want my kids to read, write, speak, and learn well, because if they know how to learn, they can learn anything. When we focus on foundational skills, curiosity, and relationships, the rest falls into place, perfectly imperfectly.

  7. Oct 19

    My Story: From Teacher to Homeschool Mom to Curriculum Creator

    I've been teaching since I was little, starting with a classroom full of stuffed animals. In this episode I share my long road to becoming a teacher, why I pulled my five-year-old out of school after missing her and chose to homeschool, and how going back to work led me to teach middle school math, a subject I didn't even like at first. It wasn't until I finally understood it myself, with a few light-bulb moments of my own, that I fell in love with teaching it. Along the way I learned my biggest lesson: life changes, so reassess often and roll with it instead of fighting the current.

  8. Oct 14

    Welcome to the Wildly Wondrous Homeschool Podcast

    Homeschooling doesn't have to be perfect to be wondrous. I'm Emily, a homeschool mom of five (10 years in) and a former teacher, and this podcast is where we let go of the pressure, find what matters most for your family, and bring a little wonder back to learning, math included. Hit follow and start here.

  • 8 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Wildly Wondrous Podcast, where we bring more joy and wonder into your everyday homeschool! I'm your host, Emily. I spent a decade teaching middle school math, and for the past 10 years I've been homeschooling my 5 kids. I'm bringing you the tricks, resources, and real-life encouragement I've picked up along the way, so you can worry less and wonder more. Perfectly imperfect, always. Pull up a chair, friend. Let's make homeschool feel like home.

Information