Dwell

In this episode, Renee and Karen offer ideas and tips for planning your next family trip. Renee brilliantly suggests that the strategies for thinking and writing in The Lost Tools of Writing can help you prepare for your family's summer vacation!

We all know play is important for the development of our children, but do we know why and how to incorporate play into our homeschool day? Join Renee and Karen as they chat with Rachel Woodham about her soon-to-be-published book, Let There Be Play. Rachel discusses the nature of play and how it is necessary to the development of virtue and the moral imagination.  

Author and educator Mark Signorelli joins Renee and Karen to discuss his new book, Things Glorious and Ruinous, Considering Classical Education Amidst Cultural Decay. Listen as they talk about the benefits of a classical education, including, as Mark writes in his book, "What is it the classical educator is preparing her students for? For happiness. And how does one learn to be happy in the future? By learning to be happy now. Happiness is a way of being in the world...." Be encouraged to continue the good work of educating your children.

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with homeschool mom, Suzy Laskey, about their family farm in Michigan that started with a square foot garden and a dream. She describes how tending the animals and participating in the work of farm life have enriched her family and her homeschool. You might want to start a garden and get some chickens!

In this episode, Renee describes her experience of being a winning contestant on a popular TV game show! She shares how she put her study skills to use in preparation and how she has used her experience to aid her students in preparing for exams and other challenges.

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with Kimberly Farley, representative for the Classic Learning Test. This may be just what your family needs to navigate the world of academic assessments for college entrance, as well as testing for grades 3-8. We are sure you will find this conversation informative and also encouraging as you hear how well homeschoolers are doing academically.

In this episode, Renee and Karen are joined by Vanessa Priestner, labor and delivery nurse and homeschool mom. They discuss the needs of the postpartum mom, offer tips for finding rest and support, and explain the signs of PPD as opposed to the "baby blues". If you are in that season now, or if you are supporting a new mom, Vanessa's advice will be helpful to you.

Sometimes it is helpful to hear what other people are reading, their favorite books and authors, to be inspired to pick up a new book. We hope you enjoy this episode in which we share our favorites! 

Listen as Renee and Karen chat with guest, Amanda Kenter, who makes a convincing case for the importance of sports and physical activities in the formation of our kids. She explains the benefits of sports and how you can fit them in with your family dynamics, goals, and time commitments.