The Homeschool Connections Podcast

You’ve finally got just one or two children left at home, after years of schooling your family. What’s it like to be in this season of—more time and fewer people in the house? Veteran homeschooler, Mary Ellen Barrett, is here to talk about Schooling the Last Few in the Nest.

Find Mary Ellen Barrett on Substack: https://maryellenbarrett.substack.com/  

The Stay-at-Homeschooling Mom Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/stayathomeschooli...

Masculinity is a precious gift from God to the Church, and this special combination of talents, charisms, and characteristics has been much-maligned in the modern world. So, what’s a father to do? Stay tuned for our Dads’ Panel: Cultivating a Healthy Masculinity in Our Sons.

For more on this topic, see our blog articles on homeschooling dads, https://homeschoolconnections.com/category/homeschool-dads/

And our podcast episodes on ho...

There’s nothing like a best friend, and it’s my joy today to welcome the person who really made our homeschooling experience in many ways. Stay tuned to meet My Best Friend in Homeschooling, Annette Scarpa.

Contact Annette at: annette.scarpa@yahoo.com

Also check out: Episode 43: Annette Scarpa: Creating Group Activities That Benefit Your Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqFEV7-f-Cg 

Thank you to the following contributors who ...

Catholic homeschooling can bear so many fruits—both earthly and eternal. Veteran homeschooler Jennifer Smarsh is here to teach us how to Grow in Virtue Through Homeschooling.

You can reach Jennifer Smarsh here:  byhisgracejs@gmail.com    Jen’s website: https://www.teachingtowardeternity.com 

More Resources Jen Recommends: The Catechism on Virtue from the Vatican: THE VIRTUES: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/s...

Homes with children can get out of order easily, but a house full of homeschoolers takes that to a whole new level! Today, Kaitlin and Lisa are talking with Dena K. White, the author of Jesus Doesn’t Care About Your Messy House!

Find Dana K. White: https://www.aslobcomesclean.com

Buy her new book: Jesus Doesn’t Care About Your Messy House: He Cares About Your Heart, by Dana K. White, https://amzn.to/4jfvEWG

For more on this topic, ...

Calming the Homeschool Chaos!

It’s springtime and we’re getting organized again. Today, to help us calm the chaos, we welcome back catechist, author, and homeschooling mom, Olivia Spears, to offer some Encouragement for New Routines!

Contact Olivia Spears: https://intothedeep.co/contact

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothedeepco/

Thank you to the following contributors who made this podcast possible:

Our Sponsor is Homescho...

From Mom to Mentor: Maureen Wittmann Reflects on 25 Years of Homeschooling Wisdom In this heartfelt episode, veteran homeschool mom and Homeschool Connections co-founder Maureen Wittmann shares what she learned through more than 25 years of homeschooling—academically, spiritually, and personally. From discovering a love for math and history to growing in her Catholic faith and becoming a better mom, Maureen reflects on the beautifu...

Homeschooling Saints Podcast Episode 238: New Picture Book on Venerable Jerome Lejeune with Ana Braga Henebry! Today’s guest has written a charming New Picture Book on Venerable Jerome Lejeune, the Catholic doctor who devoted his career to God’s children with Down’s Syndrome.

Ordering link: Jerome Lejeune: Saintly Geneticist by Ana Braga-Henebry https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/jerome-lejeune

Recommended Resource for Teens...

Our homes—the sacred places we raise our families--are all unique like we are. But how do we make our homes places of thriving for the whole family? Today’s guest, Dia Boyle, is here with her delightful new book, The Thoughtful Home.

Find Dia Boyle at: www.diaboyle.com

The Thoughtful Home by Dia Boyle: https://scepterpublishers.org/products/the-thoughtful-home

or

https://amzn.to/4cgUB1t

Essay mentioned: The Drift from Domesticity, ...

Today’s guest is our good friend, Dr. Sam Nicholson, here to explain How Anyone Can Study Philosophy--Fruitfully! Find Dr. Sam Nicholson: https://homeschoolconnections.com/instructors/sam-nicholson Contact: scn8v@virginia.edu  Recommended Resources: Books by Lloyd P. Gerson, https://amzn.to/4iHR2TZ Dr. Peter Kreeft’s new series, Socrates’ Children, from Word on Fire Press: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/socrates-chi...

Joy. We want it for ourselves and the children we are educating. Today’s guest, Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, is here to share a new book your kids will love, so you can Teach Science with Joy and Wonder.

Find Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ at: https://www.vaticanobservatory.va/en/who-are-we/staff/br-guy-j-consolmagno-s-j 

Ordering information for A Jesuit’s Guide to the Stars: Exploring Wonder, Beauty, and Science: https://store.loyol...

So today, we’re talking with homeschooling mom Kaitlin Zara about embracing the beauty and challenge of Boys in Motion: Homeschooling Active Sons!

For more on this topic, see Kaitlin's article Homeschool Hack: The Power of Movement for Enhanced Learning. Kaitlin would love to hear from you! She can be reached at: Kaitlinzara@gmail.com 

Thank you to the following contributors who made this podcast possible:

Our Sponsor is Homesc...

We’re not trying to be judgy here. We all use them. But there’s a deeper conversation to be had. Today, Amanda Woodiel will help us to take A Compassionate Look at Kids & Screens. Contact Amanda at: amanda.woodiel@gmail.com The Messy Family Project episodes on technology: https://messyfamilyproject.org/?s=technology More podcast episodes with Amanda Woodiel: Episode #186: Community Building Throughout the Year https://homes...

One of our favorite Catholic authors, Antony Kolenc, is here to tell us about the climax of his incredible historical fiction series. We’re talking about The Final Harwood Mystery for Teens! Find Antony Barone Kolenc here: http://www.antonykolenc.com Loyola's Curriculum Companions to the Harwood Mysteries: https://www.harwoodmysteries.com/curriculum-companions Tony’s Podcast: http://www.antonykolenc.com/the-shepherds-pie Cathol...

You sacrifice every single day for the people you love, so to prepare for Lent, today I’m talking with catechist and homeschooling mom, Olivia Spears, to answer the burning question: What Can a Busy Mom Give Up for Lent? Contact Olivia Spears: https://intothedeep.co/contact Email: hello@intothedeep.co Holy Week Picture Study: https://intothedeep.co/products/holy-week-picture-study Lent devotional with Blessed is She: https://bl...

Homeschools around the world educate and graduate exceptional young adults, and we’re talking with one of them today! Margaret Wittmann is joining from eight time zones away, on a fascinating topic. She’s a Homeschool Grad on Mission to Iraq. St. Thomas Mission Website: https://www.stmiraq.org Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/st.thomas.mission Margaret’s email for anybody interested in the program: margwittmann@gmail.co...

Sometimes our families need to make unexpected changes, so the culture of our family stretches to adapt to the new normal. Today, Amanda Woodiel returns to share some creative ways to Build Family Culture in Times of Transition. Contact Amanda at: amanda.woodiel@gmail.com

Play, Party, Plan, https://www.playpartyplan.com/ 

More podcast episodes with Amanda Woodiel: Episode #168: Homeschooling Through My Son’s Cancer https://hom...

Ever wonder what it’s like to be all done with homeschooling and looking back on all the highlights and struggles—while savoring the beautiful results? Today’s guest is the joyful Bonnie Landry, here to share The Fruits of a Homeschool Life. Find Bonnie Landry Podcast https://makejoynormal.buzzsprout.com Website: https://www.bonnielandry.ca

Other Homeschooling Saints episodes with Bonnie: https://homeschoolconnections.com/podca...

Our kids have a chance to be truly exceptional because of the countercultural way they’re being raised. Organic Farmer and homeschooling dad, Jesse Straight, is here with tips on Raising Your Kid to Be an Elite Worker Jesse Straight’s website, including information about farm internships: www.whiffletreefarmva.com Write to Jesse: jesse@whiffletreefarmva.com  Whiffle Tree Farm store phone: (540)-935-0600

The Lean Farm: How to M...