The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast

Episode 374 - Surviving Spelling and English Without Losing Your Mind

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!
We’re so glad you’re joining us. This week, we’re talking about a topic that can trip up just about every homeschool family at some point — spelling and English! Whether your kids are natural readers and writers or still struggling to remember “i before e except after c,” we’re going to talk about what really matters, what doesn’t, and how to keep a smile on your face through it all.

But Before we begin We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 373 - Hard Days Happen: You’re Not Alone

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!

This week, we’re revisiting a powerful episode all about those tough days — when homeschooling feels overwhelming, parenting feels heavy, and sometimes… you just need to cry. It’s something every homeschooling mom experiences at some point, and we want you to know — you’re not alone.

So sit back, take a deep breath, and join us for a conversation that’s honest, real, and hopefully, encouraging. 

We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

 

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 372 - Does Science Have to Be So... Scientific?

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!

This week we’re asking a big question: Do all those scientific terms, formulas, and technical details really matter in everyday life? Sure, they have their place—but when it comes to homeschooling, maybe our real job isn’t drilling vocabulary words or memorizing the periodic table.

Instead, what if the best gift we can give our kids is a love of discovery? A sense of wonder about how the world works, and the freedom to chase the questions that spark their curiosity. Because when a child is genuinely interested, that’s when diving deeper into the details actually becomes meaningful.

So today, we’re going to talk about practical ways to spark that interest, keep the joy alive, and let science be less about checking boxes—and more about cultivating curiosity.

 

Before we begin, We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

 

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 371 – The Smiling Homeschooler’s Guide to Teaching Literature

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re tackling a subject that can feel a little overwhelming for many parents: teaching literature. What’s the actual point of it? How much is really enough? Do we need to check off a long list of classics and assignments, or is there a simpler way to nurture a love for great stories? We’ll talk through what matters most, what you can let go of, and how to make literature something that brings joy rather than stress in your homeschool.

We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com.

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

 

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 370 - Education or Indoctrination? - Rethinking the College Choice

Welcome back to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! Today, we’re diving into a big question: Is college really the best path for everyone? For decades, it’s been presented as the obvious next step after high school, but in today’s world, is that always true?

We’ll be talking about the risks, the challenges, and even some of the dangers of college—especially in light of recent events—while also looking at alternatives that might better fit your family. Our goal isn’t to make the decision for you, but to encourage you to think critically about what’s truly best for your kids. 

We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

Have a great week and don't forget to smile!

Episode 369 - Does Learning Have to Be Fun to Be Effective?

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week, we’re asking the question: Does learning always have to be fun to be valuable? In today’s world, it feels like everything has to be exciting, engaging, and entertaining to matter. But what about the times when things feel… well, boring?

Can kids still learn deeply even when they aren’t entertained? And is it possible that growth and learning are still happening, even during those boring moments? We’ll dig into these questions and more—and we think you’ll find the answers encouraging!

We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

 

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 368 - Our Non-Negotiables: Setting Priorities in Homeschooling

Welcome back to the Smiling Homeschooler Podcast! This week we’re talking about something that can make or break your school year — your non-negotiables. Every family has different priorities, but if you don’t know what’s most important to you, it’s easy to get distracted by all the extras and other peoples opinions. Today we’re going to share some of our own non-negotiables, talk about why they matter, and hopefully help you think through what you want to hold onto in your homeschool this year. 

We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 367 - A Real Life Start to a New Homeschool Year - With Rissa Wilson

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!

This week Ben is joined by his wife, Rissa, as they talk about the start of a brand-new homeschool year. They'll dive into the curriculum she’s using, how the first week didn’t go exactly as planned, and what it looks like to adjust when some of the material turns out to be too advanced for one of their kids.

He is also joined by his cousin Perry to talk about a new audio drama from the Jesus Film Project, which he had a hand in creating. This is something your entire family can enjoy together, and we think you'll enjoy it!

We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com.

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman Have a great week, and don't forget to smile

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 366 - From Curiosity to Conviction: Our Homeschooling Journey - With Dustin Garrett

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!
This week we’re joined by a brand-new homeschooling dad, Dustin Garrett,  who’s just getting ready to start the adventure. We’ll be talking about what led his family to homeschool, What they are hopeful for, their approach to homeschooling so far, and a whole bunch more.

We’re also excited to have Todd's daughter,  Katherine Petgen, with us to share about her upcoming online story writing class for homeschoolers. 
These were fun and encouraging conversations, and we hope you enjoy! 

But before we begin 
We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

 

Have a great week and don't forget to smile! 

Episode 365 - Let Them Be Little: Rethinking Preschool and Kindergarten - With Ashley Wiggers

Welcome to The Smiling Homeschooler Podcast!

This week, we’re joined by a very special guest — Ashley Wiggers from Homeschooling Today magazine. Ashley is a homeschooling mom and graduate who has a heart for helping families homeschool boldly. Our topic this week is: What should preschool look like, skipping kindergarten, and the road to reading. It was an amazing conversation, and we know you’ll walk away encouraged!

But before we begin 
We want to thank Teaching Textbooks for making The Smiling Homeschooler possible. Their match curriculum helps thousands of homeschoolers smile each and every day, and we would encourage you to check it out for next school year over at teachingtextbooks.com. 

 

Also, today’s show is being underwritten by Samaritan Ministries, a community of Christians who pay one another’s medical bills, helping families take a safe step of faith as they feel God’s leading in career or ministry changes, or in bringing moms home. You can learn more at SamaritanMinistries.org/familyman

Have a great week and don't forget to smile!