Coffee With Carrie:  Homeschool Podcast artwork

Coffee With Carrie: Homeschool Podcast

230 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago -

Sit down, relax, and take a little coffee break with Carrie. Using biblical principles, years of experience, and a little bit of humor, Carrie De Francisco offers homeschooling advice, tips, and ideas to moms who have been called to this homeschooling adventure. Weekly coffee breaks and conversations with Carrie will give you the support and encouragement you need to help you homeschool one day at a time, one step at a time, and one cup of coffee at a time. Author of Just Breathe ( & Take a Sip of Coffee): Homeschool in Step with God  & Homeschool High School: A Handbook for Christian Education.

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Episodes

Homeschooling is Holy Ground: Lessons Learned From Moses

March 28, 2024 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MB

As a mother and home educator, you are standing on holy ground.  Motherhood and homeschooling is a calling.  They come with many blessings and challenges.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares how to dig deep into God's Word and how to study the Bible using the 3 Question Method.  All that is needed is a Bible, a notebook, and a pen and highlighter.  As Carrie expounds on the truths in Exodus 1 and how moms can apply these principles to their lives and homeschooling, she also explains how t...

Raising Prayerful Kids: A Conversation with Steph Thurling & Sarah Holmstrom

March 21, 2024 12:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MB

Praying with your kids can be a time of connection and fun.  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Steph Thurling & Sarah Holmstrom, the authors of Raising Prayerful Kids:  Fun and Easy Activities for Building Lifelong Habits of Prayer about how to  make prayer fit naturally into your daily routines. Carrie, Steph, and Sarah share relatable stories of their successes and failures along with fun activities and games to help parents turn everyday moments into moments filled with prayer.  T...

Balancing Homeschooling, Health, & Work: A Conversation with Evgeniia Arasim

March 14, 2024 12:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

This week Carrie continues her discussion on how to balance life and homeschooling.  In this week's episode, Carrie focuses on balancing  health, work, and homeschooling.  Carrie sits down with Evgeniia Arasim, a holistic health coach and creator of the Nourished Motherhood Program.  Evgeniia shares a holistic approach to wellbeing, motherhood, and homeschooling.  Both Evgeniia and Carrie also understand the stress that comes with being a homeschooling mom and being a small business owner.  ...

Balancing Homeschooling & Homemaking: It is Possible!

March 07, 2024 13:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MB

How do you homeschool and get all of the chores and errands done too?  It is definetely balancing act!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares eight simple tips for balancing homemaking with homeschooling.  It is doable!  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up and join Carrie for little coffee date. Support the show To purchase Carrie's new book, Homeschooling High School: A Handbook for Christian Education, visit Amazon.com and Christianbooks.com To purchase Carrie's homeschooling ...

The 5 Big Ideas of Charlotte Mason: A Conversation With Leah Boden

February 29, 2024 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MB

Carrie has a special treat for you this week!  She is talking with Leah Boden, also known as Modern Miss Mason.  Leah is the author of Modern Miss Mason:  Discover How Charlotte Mason’s Revolutionary Ideas on Home Education Can Change How You & Your Children Learn & Grow Together and the host of Modern Miss Mason Podcast.  In this week's episode, Leah shares the five big ideas of using a Charlotte Mason approach.  If you are interested in spreading a feast of beautiful things before your chi...

Five Minute Art Studies: Charlotte Mason Inspired

February 22, 2024 13:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MB

In this week's podcast, Carrie shares how to do simple and engaging art history lessons in five minutes. What are art studies?  Since we are created in God's image, we have a natural desire to create too.  Learning about different artists and their artwork is just another way to bring beauty into your home and into your children's lives. (And they are super fun and easy to do too).   Carrie even shares how to incorporate writing and read alouds into your art studies too.  Pour yourself a cup...

Homeschooling With Grace: Revisited

February 15, 2024 13:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

What is one of the hardest things about motherhood and homeschooling?  It is extending (and receiving) undeserved grace.  God calls us to give to others the kind of grace He so graciously gives us.  In this week's episode, Carrie is full of candid confessions and transparent talk about being a homeschooling mom.   She shares several ways to apply 2 Timothy 1:9 to your hearts and homes and how to fill your homeschooling with grace.   Pour yourself a cup of coffee, give yourself some grace, an...

The Mid Year Slump: Finding the Door in the February Wall

February 08, 2024 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MB

The midyear slump is real!  Every year for almost twenty years of homeschooling, Carrie hit what she called the “February Wall.” If you have been homeschooling for at least a year, you know that "wall" and you know how hard it is to scale it this time of the year.  There's no need to scale the February Wall.  It will only add more bruises and fatigue.  Instead, look for the door in the February Wall; the Lord always provides one.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares seven simple and practi...

Letters From a Mother's Heart: A Few Lovely Traditions

February 01, 2024 13:00 - 13 minutes - 9.12 MB

It is officially February!  Since we are in the season of love and showing others how much we love them, Carrie is feeling a bit nostalgic these days as her adult kids are living their lives and doing what they love.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares two special traditions she had with her children.  One tradition she did every February and one tradition she did once a year for each child's birthday.  You will love the sweet and simple ideas shared in this short and sweet episode.  Pour...

The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Homeschool Mom

January 25, 2024 13:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MB

Do you have a calm, cool, and collected homeschool friend?  Do you know her secret?  She probably has cultivated seven simple habits into her homeschooling routine.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares the 7 habits that all highly effective homeschool moms possess and how you can cultivate these habits into your homeschooling too.  You might be surprised by a few of them. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, (this is actually one of the 7 habits), and join Carrie for a little c...

A Handbook for Homeschooling High School

January 18, 2024 13:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

Just breathe… You can homeschool the high school years (and enjoy it too)!  Carrie's new book, Homeschooling High School:  A Handbook for Christian Education, will be released on March 1st, 2024!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares what is in the book, gives a sneak peek inside one of the chapters, and explains how you can be a part of the Book Launch Team.  Carrie's kids homeschooled through high school, successfully graduated, went on to college (and grad school), and are now pursuing t...

Your ONE Thing: Homeschool Goal Setting

January 11, 2024 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MB

Have you ever seen the movie, City Slickers, with Billy Crystal?  This week, Carrie shares her advice for homeschooling in 2024.  It is borrowed from Curly, the crusty old cowboy in the movie:  Focus on your ONE Thing.  In this week's episode, Carrie helps you figure out what is your one thing and then she shares how to simply set realistic homeschooling goals for the new year.  This is the perfect time of the year to evaluate and assess last year.   Use the new year and the month of January...

Cultivating Friendships: A Conversation with Torri Oglesby

January 04, 2024 14:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MB

Moms need real friends on this journey of motherhood and homeschooling. As moms, we may be in different seasons and on different journeys, but we all need a place to belong.  God didn't expect us to do this life alone.  In the first episode of 2024,  Carrie has a transparent (and fun) conversation with her Torri Oglesby of The Womanhood about making community and building friendships a priority in this new year.  You don't want to miss the episode!  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your fe...

200th Episode: The Tables Are Turned!

December 28, 2023 14:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MB

Carrie is celebrating Coffee With Carrie Homeschool Podcast's 200th episode with a fun reversal!  The tables are turned!  This week, Carrie is the guest, and her friend, Nicole Skeber, a long-time listener and Coffee With Carrie follower, interviews her instead.  Get the T on Carrie!  In this week's little coffee break, Nicole surprises Carrie with questions about her family, her homeschooling fails, her faith, and so much more.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carr...

Epiphany: Celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas

December 21, 2023 14:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MB

In this week's episode, Carrie gives you permission to put off taking down those decorations a few days more, to start lessons a little later in January, and to keep celebrating Christmas a little longer.  Don't just sing the Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," go ahead and celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas. In this week's coffee break, Carrie shares a ton of fun activities you can do with the entire family to celebrate The Twelfth Night, the Feast of Epiphany, or King's Day, a...

The Attributes of God: A Conversation With Kristi Menashe

December 14, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MB

Taking time to reflect on the character and nature of God is vital to our spiritual growth.  Praying the attributes of God is a simple way to worship and deepen your relationship with the Lord.  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Kristi Menashe, author of Faithful & True:  Devotions & Prayers on the Attributes of God, about how to pray and mediate on the character of God.  Carrie and Kristi also talk about how to slow down and focus on what is truly important during this Christmas sea...

The Coffee House: A Special Episode

December 07, 2023 14:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

This week's episode is a little different.  Carrie has exciting news to share!    The Coffee House:  What is it and How Can You Join?   Just Breathe... & Simplify Your Homeschooling Events:  What are they and Where can you participate? In this special episode, Carrie shares her heart behind creating The Coffee House, explains what members will receive, and how moms can get even more encouragement and homeschooling content each month.  The Coffee House goes LIVE January 2024.  Carrie is al...

Christmas Nature Studies

November 30, 2023 14:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

This December, put all of your books away except for your watercolors and nature journals.  Christmas is the perfect time of the year to be outdoors and to do some winter nature studies.  There is nothing like fresh air and God’s creation to help us slow down and re-center our focus on the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares a ton of simple, no-prep, nature studies you can do with the entire family.  Pour yourself a cup of hot choco...

Leadership Education: A Conversation With Heidi Christianson

November 16, 2023 14:00 - 38 minutes - 26.6 MB

Most moms are familiar with different homeschooling methods such as Charlotte Mason,  classical education, and interest-led learning, but many homeschooling moms are not familiar with the Leadership Education Approach, or A Thomas Jefferson Education. In this week's episode, Carrie sits down with Heidi Christianson of Realizing Genius to discuss the tenets of Leadership Education, which is based on the Thomas Jefferson Education approach (TJED.com), and how to apply it in your homeschooling....

Homeschool On a Budget!

November 09, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MB

Is money tight in this economy?  Don't give up on homeschooling!  Are you a single mom or living off of one income?  You can homeschool for free and on a shoestring budget!  Don't believe Carrie?  Then join her for this week's episode.  When Carrie quit her full-time job in order to homeschool her children becoming a one income family was a huge adjustment.  Many sacrifices had to be made.  Carrie and her husband learned how to rely on God to provide exactly what their family needed exactly ...

Friendships & Socialization

November 02, 2023 13:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MB

What are the most common questions people ask when they are thinking of homeschooling?  "If we homeschool, will my child have friends?  How will he learn to socialize?  I don't want him to be weird!"  In this week's episode, Carrie tackles one of the biggest misconceptions about homeschooling:  Socialization.  She also shares ideas on how to find and make friends while homeschooling.  If you are surrounded by friends and family who are concerned about your decision to homeschool, then listen...

Entrepreneurship: The Best Math Curriculum Out There

October 26, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MB

What is the best math curriculum out there?  Well, it doesn’t come in a curriculum box and you can't stream it online.   The most effective math curriculum is helping your kids become entrepreneurs!  The most important real-life math lessons and skills can be taught by starting and running a business.  Your kids are not too young!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares how to teach your children and teens how to become entrepreneurs while also teaching them biblical lessons and math, reading...

My Little Black Dog: Homeschooling With Depression

October 19, 2023 13:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

It's hard to live life with bouts of depression.  When you add in the role of motherhood and the calling to homeschool, life can feel overwhelming.  If you suffer from feelings of depression, then this week's episode will encourage you.  Carrie talks candidly about the elephant in the room (or in other words,  the little "black dog" on the couch).  Not everyone deals with depression, grief, or bouts of extreme sadness, but for those who do, it is Carrie's prayer that her story will give you ...

Another Approach to Writing: A Conversation with Millie Florence

October 12, 2023 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB

How do you instill a love of writing in your child?  In this week's episode, Carrie gets answers to this question from a homeschool graduate who published several novels before graduating high school. Millie Florence published her first book when she was only thirteen years old and her third book comes out next week.  Millie shares a few secrets on how to write engaging stories, how to self-publish a book, how to help reluctant writers, and how to encourage young students who are passionate ...

Redeeming the Locust Years: Lessons Learned From Joel

October 05, 2023 13:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MB

Do you feel like this has been a lost year? If you feel like this has been a year of wasted time, wasted effort, wasted money, or wasted tears, then be reminded that NOTHING is wasted in God’s economy.  Join Carrie as she shares encouragement from God’s Word and focuses on Joel 2:18-26.  In this episode, Carrie also shares her own experiences of how God has restored and redeemed past homeschooling years that were lost, destroyed, or eaten  by the “locust.” God is faithful and mighty to save....

Simple & Stress-Free Science Studies

September 28, 2023 13:00 - 12 minutes - 8.52 MB

If teaching science (or even the idea of teaching science) stresses you out, then pour yourself a cup of coffee and join Carrie for a little coffee break this week.   No textbook? No problem!  In this week's podcast, Carrie shares how to plan, organize, and implement an entire year of science studies that the entire family will enjoy.  No matter what your budget, time restraints, the age of your children, or science knowledge, Carrie will show you how to make your science studies this year s...

American Heritage Girls (AHG): A Conversation With Beverly Wolterbeek

September 21, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MB

"I promise to love God, cherish my family, honor my country, and serve in my community."  ~ American Heritage Girls (AHG) Pledge Are you looking for a Christian scouting program for your daughter, granddaughter, or niece?  The AHG pledge sums up this Christ-centered character and leadership development program for girls 5 to 18 years old.  For nearly 30 years, AHG has been dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country.  In thi...

Narration: The Best Homeschooling Idea Ever!

September 14, 2023 13:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MB

In this week's episode, Carrie shares what she thinks is the best homeschooling idea ever.  It's narration!  What is narration?  Why should you use it?  When is a good time to do it?  There's no need to overcomplicate the act of narration.  In this little coffee break, Carrie shares tips for navigating narration with your children and explains the four important skills children learn through the act of narration.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and join Carrie for a little ...

Read Your Way Through History: No Textbook Approach

September 07, 2023 13:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MB

No textbook? No problem!  You don't need a formal curriculum to teach history.  Actually, it's more fun if you don't.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares how to use a literature-based approach to teaching history.  All you need to make history come alive is to read historical fictions, biographies, non-fiction picture books, and primary documents.  It's simple, it's fun, and it's so doable!  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, get your notebook, put your feet up, and join Carrie for a little c...

A Podcast To Remember (Revisited): A Conversation With Amy Sloan

August 31, 2023 13:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MB

Are you interested in memory work but are not sure how to do it or where to get started?  In this week's episode, Carrie revisits a conversation she had with Amy Sloan of  Humility & Doxology.  Carrie and Amy share ideas about memory work or as Amy likes to call it, "knowing it by heart."   In this conversation, Carrie and Amy discuss: •What is memory work •Why memory work is important and useful •How to easily incorporate memory work into your lessons •What kinds of things are helpful and f...

Gamify It! A Conversation With Jim Moran

August 24, 2023 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MB

Carrie's learning motto is "Gamify It"!  Whatever skill eludes your child, it can probably be explained or taught through a game.  Gamify everything:  math facts, spelling rules, vocabulary words, science concepts, economic principles, music theory, even History events, the Constitution, and the Electoral College.  In this week's coffee break, Carrie talks with one of her favorite game creators, Jim Moran.  In an effort to help his daughter learn challenging concepts, he turned those concept...

Homeschooling An Only Child: A Conversation With Jessica Waldock

August 17, 2023 13:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MB

Many moms educate only one child at home.  Homeschooling a single child can be very different from homeschooling multiple children. There are big advantages and some unique challenges too.  After Carrie's eldest graduated high school, she found herself homeschooling only one teen for the last four years of their homeschooling journey.   In this week's coffee break, Carrie talks with Jessica Waldock, founder of The Waldock Way, about the advantages and blessings of homeschooling only one chil...

Coffee & Conversation With A 2nd Generational Homeschooler (Revisited)

August 10, 2023 13:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB

If you need to subdue those fears that you are "messing up your kids," then talk with a 2nd Generation Homeschooler!  In this week's Coffee With Carrie episode, Carrie shares a past conversation she had with Christa Svoboda, a 2nd Generation Homeschool Mom.  Christa was homeschooled through high school and now she and her husband homeschool their own children.  In this episode, Carrie talks with Christa about what it was like to be homeschooled, the many blessings of growing up in a homescho...

Change the Narrative With Your Teen: A Conversation with Greta Eskridge

August 03, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MB

Parents are told it is impossible to have a positive relationship with their teens.  It's a lie; don't believe it!  It is possible to pursue meaningful relationships with your teen.  Spending time with your teen is a gift.  Hanging out with your teenager can actually be fun!  In this week's episode, Carrie talks candidly with Greta Eskridge about changing this negative, incorrect, and divisive narrative about parent and teen relationships.  Greta shares practical ways to pursue relationships...

The Hidden Gifts of Homeschooling (Revisited): A Conversation With Jennifer Pepito

July 27, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MB

This interview was so good, Carrie wanted to share it again!  In this week's episode, Carrie shares a conversation she had with Jennifer Pepito about the many hidden gifts and blessings of homeschooling.  As homeschooling moms, not every day feels like a gift.   This is why we need a gentle reminder every now that homeschooling really is a gift!  If you are feeling overwhelmed and burnt out or you are second-guessing your decision to homeschool and God's calling to home education, you don't ...

Preschool Homeschool: A Conversation With Katie Klein

July 20, 2023 13:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MB

Let them be little! Give your little ones a childhood.  Protect their hearts.  Keep the wonder years wonderful.  The preschool years should not be about academics.  It is a time to focus on connections, to explore, and to engage little learners with the world around them! It's a time to build relationships, godly character, and healthy habits.  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Katie Klein, founder of Little House Learning Company and author of the Let Them Be Little Preschool Curric...

Homeschool Planning Simplified (Revisited): A Conversation With Rachael Alsbury

July 13, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MB

Don't plan your new homeschooling year or finalize your plans until you listen to this week's little coffee break.  This week, Carrie is sharing a conversation she had last year with Rachael Alsbury!   In this past episode, Rachael and Carrie talk about yearly and weekly planning and how to cook, clean, and keep up with normal mom stuff while teaching too.  Rachael also shares her Simple Start Formula, her Planning Schema, and her Daily Anchors.   Pour yourself a cup of coffee, pull out your...

Play, Talk, 'n Dyslexia (Revisited): A Conversation With Aimee Eucee

July 06, 2023 13:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MB

This interview was so awesome the first time, Carrie wanted to share again.  Carrie revisits a conversation she had with Aimee Eucce, a 2nd generational homeschooler who also struggled with severe Dyslexia growing up. She was told she would never read past a sixth-grade level. She hated reading but that all changed in sixth grade.   What happened?  Thanks to Aimee's mom and the reading program, Play 'n Talk,  Aimee was reading and spelling at a college level by grade six.  In this week's c...

Home Education VS Home Schooling: A Conversation with Stephanie Slade

June 29, 2023 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB

"Don't let schooling get in the way of your education" ~ Mark Twain There is a huge difference between doing school at home and home educating.  In this week's coffee date, Carrie talks with Stephanie Slade, the founder and organizer of the Northern California Homeschool Convention. Carrie and Stephanie discuss the differences between home "schooling" and true home education and the freedom that truly comes when the classroom model, state standards, and school schedules are replaced with a l...

Speaking It Forward: Sowing Seeds That Will Reap In Another Season

June 22, 2023 13:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MB

God's Word has eternal power.  The words of a mother have power.   In this week's episode, Carrie's guest, Jenni Hunt Dowling, shares just how powerful the words of a mother can be.  Carrie knew God ordained her to sit next to Jenni at the Wild + Free Speaker luncheon. God knew Carrie needed to hear Jenni's story. Her testimony reminded Carrie of how powerful words are and that moms can speak life into their children by claiming God’s purposes and promises for their lives and for their child...

A Passion-Driven Education (Revisited): A Conversation with Connor Boyack

June 15, 2023 13:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

What is interest-led learning?  What is a passion-driven education?  In this week's episode, Carrie shares a past interview with Connor Boyack, the author of Passion-Driven Education and the Tuttle Twins.   In this conversation, Connor discusses two of his 30+ books, The Passion-Driven Education:  How to Use Your Child's Interests to Ignite a Lifelong Love of Learning  and Skip College: Launch Your Career without Debt, Distractions, or a Degree.  Carrie and Connor discuss how to replace stan...

The Homeschool OG: A Conversation With Carolyn & Martin Forte

June 08, 2023 13:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MB

You really can homeschool outside the box!  Let the Homeschooling OG's tell you how! In this week's episode, Carrie shares a past interview with you two of her mentors and favorite people in the southern California homeschooling community, Carolyn and Martin Forte.   As homeschool pioneers, they have successfully homeschooled their two daughters and have influenced the direction of the homeschool movement for over 30 years.   In this conversation, Carolyn, Martin, and Carrie discuss: •advic...

The Sound of Music: A Conversation with Christa Svoboda

June 01, 2023 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MB

Do you do Hymn Studies with your family?  Are you curious as to how to get started and what they are?  In this week's episode, Carrie and Christa Svoboda talk about doing Hymn Studies as part of your family worship time and morning time lessons.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and praise the Lord during this week's little coffee break.  Join Carrie and her guest, Christa, for a little coffee and conversation about hymn studies.  Connect with Christa on IG @seekwhollyliving...

The Simplicity of Music: A Conversation With Jenni Hunt Dowling

May 25, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MB

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed.  It soothes the mind and gives it rest.  It heals the heart and makes it whole.  It flows from heaven to heal the soul."  ~ K.C. Lynn The minute Carrie met Jenni and her twin sister, Jessi, at the Wild and Free Conference, she knew there was something special about them.  When Carrie heard them sing,  she was reminded of the simplicity of words, the beauty of music, and the power of praise and worship.    In this week's episode, Carrie talks with Jenn...

Passport to Learning (Updated): Multi-Subject Approach to Learning Geography

May 18, 2023 13:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MB

Travel the world without leaving the comfort of your home.  The only bag you will need to pack is your library bag.  Use books, music, art, history, geography, math, games, food, science, and field trips to explore countries and cultures around the world.  In this week's episode, Carrie shares how to spend an entire school year "traveling" the world.  Helpful tips are given on how to easily use geography and mapwork as the backbone for an entire year of immersive, integrative, and family-sty...

The Best Homeschooling Advice Ever!

May 11, 2023 13:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MB

Carrie asked her listeners to share the best Homeschooling advice that they have ever received. In this week's episode, Carrie shares their answers as well as a few extra pieces of advice from her experiences along the way.   You will love these answers! They are very encouraging (and practical).  After you listen to this week's episode, you need to share this episode with all of your friends.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and take a little coffee break with Carrie.   Sup...

Homeschool Celebrations: Culminating Activities, Commencement Ceremonies, & More

May 04, 2023 13:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MB

During the last month of the school year, it's time to celebrate not cram!  It's the time of the year to celebrate your child’s achievements this past year and to acknowledge all of the ways God has been faithful to you and to your family during the school year.  Even if you school year round or you don’t do grade levels, it is important to acknowledge milestones and to celebrate accomplishments.  Don't spend the last month of the school year stressing over all the things not completed; spen...

End the Year Strong: Updated

April 27, 2023 13:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MB

Just breathe... You've got this!  The end of the school year can be a stressful time for homeschooling moms.  In this week's episode, Carrie asks three simple questions that will help moms end the school year strong and with confidence. Carrie shares how to use a homeschooling mission statement (or yearly goals) to help answer three simple questions and gives suggestions, helpful tips, and much-needed encouragement to ease your fears, relieve your guilt, and hopefully eliminate the stress th...

The Gift of Dyslexia: A Conversation With Joseph De Francisco

April 20, 2023 13:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MB

In this week's coffee break, Carrie talks with one of her favorite people-her son, Joseph!  Joseph shares the challenges and blessings of being dyslexic, and Carrie shares the struggles and privileges of teaching a child with learning differences. Last February at  Carrie's annual Homeschooling Mom Conference, Joe was on the Homeschool Graduate Panel during the Q & A Session. He was a hit with the moms!  Joe's stories, testimony, and transparency encouraged and inspired the moms.   Many of t...

The High School Years: A Conversation With Francesca De Francisco

April 13, 2023 13:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MB

Homeschooling the high school years allows your teen to chart his or her own course.  In this week's episode, Carrie talks with one of her favorite people- her daughter, Francesca, who charted her own course for meeting her state's graduation requirements. During her high school years, Francesca traveled, interned, volunteered, started a few businesses, pursued her passions, discovered God's purpose for her life, earned college scholarships, took college classes, choreographed a few children...