“How do I get my kid to ____?” "Why won't my child _____?" Have you ever found yourself asking those questions? (We’ve all been there!) We’re devoting a whole episode to this very common homeschool and parenting dilemma. Whether you're getting reluctance about a school subject, a household chore, or even a fun extracurricular activity, we’ll break down why your child might be reluctant and what to do about it. And some of our suggestions might surprise you!   This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts, a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from NaliniKIDS.    Aha Moment “We’re still smack-dab in the middle of the largest experiment on children ever done.” Get the whole thread here.     Newsletter Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter     Want more episodes? Get our latest episodes on Patreon, including our October LTW Extra.    Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!   Loving This Week (LTW) Angela: Suspect podcast Maren: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

Homeschool Unrefined

167: The Reluctant Learner

This is the second episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We'll be talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences.    Let's meet Faryal! She homeschools her 4 kids, ages 7-17. Faryal shares how teaching influenced her philosophy of homeschool, how her homeschool has changed over the years, and how she evolved from a classical home educator to a more relaxed, eclectic homeschooler. Get a glimpse into her curriculum choices, homeschool routines, and the personal practices that sustain her. Plus, we talk about how she's finding community. We have MORE with Faryal available when you join our $5 Squad on Patreon!   Find Faryal on Instagram at @life.of.faryal and @cup.of.home and blogging at acupofhome.com.   This episode is sponsored by Elephants and Algebra. Elephants and Algebra offers one-on-one K-12 math tutoring that meets your child where they are. http://elephantsandalgebra.com/   Aha Moment “Get the book.” -Maren   Mentions Brave Writer  The Good and the Beautiful    Saxon Math    Mr. D Math     Newsletter Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter   Want more episodes? Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!   Loving This Week (LTW) Angela: Democracy Jeans (bootcut and straight leg) Maren: Overheard Austin   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

166: How We Homeschool with Faryal from Cup of Home

Not sure which is more daunting: figuring out our kids' educational options, or getting on the same page with our partner about those options! This is a topic that has come up A LOT in our conversations with other parents, so we're processing our own stories about making school / homeschool decisions with our partners. We also share 3 tips to help you have these conversations with your partner.    Join us on Patreon this week where we'll be talking with our partners!   This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts, a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from NaliniKIDS.    Coffee Hour Live Event Join us for a LIVE podcast recording (or watch / listen to the playback afterwards). This is an exclusive event for patrons. Tuesday, October 19 at 1pm CST.    Aha Moment "5 minutes of quality time can be enough." -Angela     Mentions Free to Learn     Newsletter Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter   Want more episodes? Get our latest episodes on Patreon, including Workable Routines & Supporting Kids Who are Afraid to Make Mistakes.    Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!   Loving This Week (LTW) Angela: Scenes from a Marriage Maren: Vox on YouTube (Manhattan's Grid and Vox Darkroom)   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

165: Getting On The Same Page As Your Partner

This is the first episode in our "How We Homeschool" series. We'll be talking with different homeschool parents all season to hear about their philosophies, insights, and experiences.    Tanya from Project Happy Home is with us to share her story and insights as a doctor-lawyer turned secular homeschooling mom of 3 kids. We chat curriculum, routines, and her perspective on finding community in person and online. We really love how Tanya doesn't let labels limit her homeschool style. We have MORE with Tanya available when you join our $5 Squad on Patreon!   Find Tanya and Project Happy Home on YouTube and Instagram.   This episode is sponsored by Elephants and Algebra. Elephants and Algebra offers one-on-one K-12 math tutoring that meets your child where they are. http://elephantsandalgebra.com/   Aha Moment "I need to care less about some things." -Maren   Extended Interview We have MORE with Tanya available when you join our $5 Squad on Patreon! We dive into personalities (and personality envy), shows she's loving, and Tanya's answers to our signature topics: What We Don't Do and Giving Yourself Credit.    Mentions My Biggest Homeschooling Mistakes . . . So Far BookShark Hewitt Homeschool Lightning Literature IEW Math Mammoth Build Your Library  Elan Planners Tanya's ADHD videos   Newsletter Let's stay in touch, even when our favorite social media platforms crash. Plus, you get a FREEBIE from us when you subscribe! homeschoolunrefined.com/newsletter   Want more episodes? Get our latest episode on Patreon: Workable Routines & Supporting Kids Who are Afraid to Make Mistakes.    Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!   Loving This Week (LTW) Angela: Cold Brew & Oat Barista Blend Combo Maren: Sunday Lawn Care   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

164: How We Homeschool with Tanya from Project Happy Home

We're back and kicking off our fall podcast season with some BIG personal updates. We hope you'll find some camaraderie in the stories we share and the changes our families are going through. Let's normalize all different kinds of learning experiences and choices families can make! And don't miss our 3 essential tips for a successful fall.   This episode is sponsored by NaliniKIDS. Help your kids reflect on the words in their lives with WORD Workouts, a free lesson library for kids 4-18 from NaliniKIDS.    Want more episodes? Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&A episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support and encouragement and fun!   Loving This Week (LTW) Angela: Gua Sha (Wildling Empress Stone and tutorial) Maren: Only Murders in the Building   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. A chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Merch Shop | bookshop.org Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com

163: Personal Updates & 3 Tips for a Successful Fall

You're getting another mini-episode! We couldn't resist answering a listener question about diverse and inclusive books.   Back to School Summit: LAST CHANCE! Looking for practical *and* inspirational support as we head into a new school year? Check out our Back to School Summit! This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We’ll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-life solutions based on our 20+ years of homeschool experience.  (Psst... patrons in our $5 Squad get an exclusive discount PLUS all our extra content on Patreon!)   Mentions Rainbow Revolutionaries 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History The Conscious Kid (and their Patreon) Angela's book post Teaching Outside The Binary We Need Diverse Books Our bookshop.org Shop Scribd   Books for Teens Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adayemi Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta Slay Brittney Morris Ancestor Approved: Intritribal Stories by Cynthia Leitich Smith   Authors Jason Reynolds Ibi Zoboi Jacqueline Woodson Elizabeth Acevedo Nic Stone Angie Thomas   Loving This Week (LTW) Maren: Schmigadoon! Angela: The White Lotus   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

162: Diverse Books Mini-Episode

You're getting a mini-episode! Back to school support, a listener question about family time, and our LTWs!   Back to School Summit Looking for practical *and* inspirational support as we head into a new school year? Check out our Back to School Summit! This summit is for new and experienced homeschoolers to inspire and equip us to design a SUSTAINABLE school year. We’ll help keep your homeschool simple, real, and fun by reframing your expectations and giving you real-life solutions based on our 20+ years of homeschool experience.  (Psst... patrons in our $5 Squad get an exclusive discount PLUS all our extra content on Patreon!)     Loving This Week (LTW) Maren: Infinite Country Angela: Air Fryer Whole Chicken Recipe   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

161: Summer Mini-Episode

Are you ready for this? It's time to rethink everything you think you know about "screens" and how kids learn. We're making a case for why YouTube beats a science textbook, why PBS Kids is can be more than a pre-dinner pacifier, and why even Marvel movies (yes, Marvel movies) are worthy of being a central part of your homeschool. We hope you'll feel inspired (and feel the freedom!) to ditch your lesson plans and enjoy some great shows with the kids--because this is totally amazing and totally real learning.    You can join us on Patreon to hear our Q&A conversation.   This is our final episode this spring season, but the content continues year round over on Patreon!   Big List of Favorite Shows Science: Nature  Tiny World Earth at Night Becoming You Tiny Creatures Our Planet Planet Earth My Octopus Teacher Wild Kratts   Math and Science (Physics, Chemistry, etc) Mark Rober  Mystery Doug Sid the Science Kid Curious George Odd Squad  King of Random The Hacksmith Mythbusters  Mythbusters Jr  Social Studies  Amend  Finding Your Roots Little America  CNN 10 The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Who Was? Nick News Presents: Kids, Race, and Unity with Alicia Keys  History 101  Musicals The Sound of Music  Hamilton  Annie (1982, 2014) Newsies  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang West Side Story  Singin’ in the Rain Hairspray Mary Poppins & Mary Poppins Returns  The Greatest Showman In the Heights (June 2021) Life/Misc. The Speed Cubers  The World According to Jeff Goldblum  Cooking shows: Master Chef Jr, Great British Baking Show Survivor  The Amazing Race Atypical Marvel movies and shows  The Social Dilemma      Aha Moment "When my kids need me most, it reminds me that 1) I need to show up and help my kids, and 2) I need to take care of myself more, too. When I'm giving a lot, I also need to give more to myself." -Maren   Listener Question Join us on Patreon where we're answering this question: "How do you handle situations with preteens who want to quit things that are really good for them?"     $5 Squad on Patreon We know that a lot of subscriptions and memberships can be out of reach financially for homeschool families, and it’s often us parents that give up the things we want in order to afford what our families need.   But we really want our Squad to be affordable for you because every homeschool parent should be able to get connected to the support they need. You get ALL our rewards and join our community for just $5/month. And we now offer a DISCOUNTED annual rate with TWO MONTHS FREE. $50/year is a small investment to make in YOURSELF—and you DESERVE it. Loving This Week (LTW) Maren: The Flight Attendant Angela: Costco bath sheets   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

160: YouTube Is the New Curriculum (and a big list of our favorite shows)

We’re sharing our 10 favorite books we’ve read this year--from picture books we read aloud to graphic novels our kids loved to the stories we couldn’t put down. These are the books that stood out from all the rest in our homeschool year. Shop this booklist (and all the other books we’ve loved) at bookshop.org/shop/homeschoolunrefined.    Plus, you can join us on Patreon to hear our conversation about homeschooling through puberty.     Aha Moment "Our kids still need 1-on-1 time with us. Even when we’re already together all day--and even when they’re older." -Angela   Listener Question Join us on Patreon where we're answering this question: "Any advice or resources for kids going through puberty? My son is 12 and he hates doing anything right now even though he will fully acknowledge that he sees the benefit, feels good after he completes schoolwork, etc. He fights everything beforehand and I know so much of it is just changing hormones, but I would love suggestions for ways to navigate this season of schooling and make it as enjoyable as possible for him."      $5 Squad on Patreon We know that a lot of subscriptions and memberships can be out of reach financially for homeschool families, and it’s often us parents that give up the things we want in order to afford what our families need.   But we really want our Squad to be affordable for you because every homeschool parent should be able to get connected to the support they need. You get ALL our rewards and join our community for just $5/month. And we now offer a DISCOUNTED annual rate with TWO MONTHS FREE. $50/year is a small investment to make in YOURSELF—and you DESERVE it. Loving This Week (LTW) Maren: Mixing bowls Angela: Angela's everyday smoothie recipe 1/2 banana 1/2 c frozen mango Big handful cilantro Big handful arugala 1/2 c orange juice Water, as much as needed Green powder, if you want (Thrive Greens & More) 1 cube frozen Trader Joe's ginger   Patrons get a monthly "LTW Extra" episode when you join our $5 Squad. An hour-long chat about the shows, products, podcasts, books, and more that we're loving!    More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | Join our closed Facebook group: Unrefined Homeschoolers | Merch Shop Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com Visit our Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/homeschoolunrefined We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

159: Our 10 Favorite Books of the Year (for all ages!)

Are you ready for a homeschooling experience you can enjoy? One with less stress and more fun? Are you ready to think differently about homeschool? Join Maren and Angela every Monday as we encourage each other, laugh, and get real about homeschool.