Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous
by Kami Wanous - The Freedom Scholar
Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous, The Freedom Scholar, utilizes more than a decade of homeschool experience, along with her public school teaching experience and relatable and practical mentoring of families all over the US and periodic guests, to take you on a journey toward creating the homeschool experience you always wanted and your family deserves in each episode. Whether you’re an experienced homeschooler or a new one, making decisions about curriculum, setting up routines and keeping love of learning high can be challenging. This podcast will help you gain the confidence you need to help your kids reach their goals and become life-long learners.To learn more about Kami and how The Freedom Scholar can help you create your family's best homeschool experience, visit www.thefreedomscholar.comFollow @TheFreedomScholar on Instagram and FacebookFor free live trainings every week, join “The Freedom Scholar Homeschooling Community” Facebook group!Subscribe on YouTube - The Freedom
Episodes
-
Why Your Morning Homeschool Schedule Falls Apart | 167
Your morning homeschool schedule isn’t falling apart because you aren’t disciplined enough. When Kenyon was six, Kami built a color-coded schedule with every block of the morning planned. By lunchtime on the first day, they were both done. In this episode, she shares what she learned from that...
-
Your Homeschool Morning Routine Isn’t the Problem | 166
The 10:30 math fight often starts at 8:00. Sometimes it starts the night before. If your homeschool mornings feel like calling everyone three times, rushing through breakfast, and watching someone melt down before you even start, this episode is for you. I walk through what’s really happening in...
-
Thinking About Quitting Homeschool? Why One More Try Is Worth It | 165
She felt like she had tried everything. Really, she had stopped believing anything else could help her son love learning again. I recently talked with a mom who was ready to send her son back to school, even though she knew he'd probably just play games on his Chromebook. In this solo episode, I...
-
Your Kids Learn Resilience From How You Handle Hard Things | 164
Your kids are learning how to handle hard feelings every day, mostly by watching how you handle yours. Julie Lavender Le Doux homeschooled her kids, and now she's a homeschooling grandma. She joins Kami to talk about emotional healing, leading your family by example, and raising resilient kids…
more -
I Told My Son to Go Talk to Strangers Alone | 163
What happens when your kid is the only one in a room of 55 entrepreneurs? My son Kenyon found out at Sell From Stage Academy Live with Colin Boyd, a three day event I attended alongside him. In this episode: The idea Kenyon had about AI alignment, and the nudge to go tell someone who could…
more -
Why Your Homeschool Needs a Lifestyle, Not Just a Curriculum | 162
If you've ever thought your homeschool days were "fine" but wanted something more, this conversation is going to feel very familiar. I'm talking with Alex and Cassidy Nicholas about building an actual homeschool learning lifestyle, the kind built on ownership, entrepreneurship, and real…
more -
Why "Just Find the Right Curriculum" Doesn't Fix Motivation | 161
If you've ever gone looking for the curriculum that would finally get your kids excited about learning, I'm going to save you some time: you're not going to find it. This week, I'm explaining where motivation actually comes from, using two stories from my own classroom that I think about all the...
-
It's Not Talent, It's How You Feed It | 160
You've seen the videos. A 10 year old producing tracks that sound professional. A 32 year old turning entire audiences into a choir with his hands. If you're like me, you thought to yourself: what the heck have I been doing all these years? This week we unpack what really raised these two, and…
more -
Do You Love the Curriculum, or Just the Certainty It Promises? | 159
If you've ever bought a curriculum hoping it would finally be the thing that made this year click, this episode is going to feel very familiar. This week I'm sharing something that happened while reading Fahrenheit 451 with my son Kenyon, and how one line turned into a much bigger conversation...
-
Why One Kid Loves the Lesson and the Other Needs a Snack, a Pencil, and a Bathroom Break | 158
If you've ever wondered why one kid dives into a lesson and the other suddenly needs a snack, six sharpened pencils, and a bathroom break… this episode is going to feel very familiar. In this conversation, parent educator and homeschool mom of four Mindy Green breaks down the DISC personality...
-
Even I Almost Went Back to Box-Checking | 157
You already know the difference between managing and mentoring. It can still get you. This week, it almost got me. In this episode, I share the moment I almost went straight back into box-checking while planning my son's next homeschool year, along with the story of another mom who wanted the…
more -
How to Get Your Kids to Listen (A Speech Therapist Explains) | 156
If you've said "listen to me" more times than you can count this week and it still hasn't worked, this one's for you. Speech-language therapist Dinalynn Rosenbush joins the show to talk about what's actually happening when kids seem to tune us out, why speaking too fast is one of the most common...
-
155. Homeschool Socialization: What it Means at Every Age
A mom posted, worried about her 6 year old and socialization. It's not a question I hear as often anymore, but it hasn't gone away, so this episode finally gives it a full conversation. We walk through what socialization actually means (it's simpler and less scary than you think), and how that…
more -
154. What No One Tells Homeschoolers About SAT and ACT Test Prep
If you've ever assumed test prep is something you deal with junior year, this episode is going to shift that. Test prep expert Leia LeMaster Horton joins us to explain why the real starting point is much earlier than most families think, why the most common tutoring method actually holds students...
-
153. What Summer Reveals About Your Child's Learning
Summer can feel like nothing "real" is happening in your homeschool, but this episode makes the case that it's actually showing you something important. We talk about what happens when structure disappears for a few weeks and what that reveals about how your child thinks, learns, and engages when...
-
152. Computer Science Skills Basic Curriculum Won't Teach
Most kids will pick up basic computer skills just by living life. But there's a whole layer underneath that, problem solving, logic, design, that only comes from real computer science, and most of us were never taught it ourselves. In this episode, Curtis Grover, a homeschool dad and computer...
-
151. You Left the School System. Did You Bring It With You?
You chose homeschool because something about the traditional system wasn't working for your kid. But what happens when the pressure, the box-checking, and the constant pushing follow you home anyway? This episode is about homeschool freedom — what it actually means, why fear quietly rebuilds the...
-
150. Homeschool Families and Professional Support: Knowing When to Ask for Help
You've wondered it. Most homeschool moms have. Is what I'm doing enough? Or does my child need something I can't give them? In this episode, I'm joined by Kimberly Bennett — Licensed Professional Counselor, homeschooling mom, and founder of the Homeschool Counseling Network — to talk honestly…
more -
149. Google's AI Search Change: What It Actually Means for Your Kids
Google's AI search change has been making the rounds in homeschool communities — and a lot of parents aren't sure what to make of it. In this episode I sit down with my son Kenyon, an AI researcher and author writing a book on AI safety, to separate what's actually changed from what hasn't — and...
-
148. Teaching Writing at Home (Even If You've Been Avoiding It)
If writing is the subject you've been quietly skipping over, assigning without much confidence, or just hoping your kid figures out eventually… this episode is for you. Melissa Webb — founder of Write On Webb and a teacher with 30 years of experience — joins me to talk about why writing feels so...
-
147. Why June Is the Time to Reset Your Homeschool
If May wiped you out and the couch has been winning lately — this episode is for you. The natural response to a hard season is to retract. Rest. Coast. Wait until you feel ready. But blah has gravity. And the longer you stay in it, the harder it becomes to rebuild love of learning, energy, and...
-
146. How Kids Learn to Read and How to Teach It Well
If you've ever sat down to teach reading and wondered if you were doing it right — you're not alone. A lot of homeschool parents are working hard and still feel uncertain about whether their approach is actually building the foundation kids need. In this episode, I talk with Alyssa Althouse,...
-
145. You Only Need a Summer Break If You've Been Managing Learning
If summer feels like an escape from homeschool… this episode is going to feel very familiar. Most moms think they need a break from learning. But what they're actually exhausted from is managing learning — the pushing, the reminding, the carrying of motivation that should belong to their kids.…
more -
144. Is It Dyslexia? What Homeschool Moms Need to Know Now
If reading lessons in your homeschool have started to feel like a daily battle — resistance, frustration, tears — this episode is going to feel very familiar. I sat down with Kathy Cousineau, a Learning Disabilities Specialist with over 30 years of experience, to talk about dyslexia: what it...
-
143. Homeschooling While Working: Why “Fitting It In” Backfires
It seems like a good plan. Work during the day. Homeschool in the evenings. Use great resources. Stay consistent. So why does it start to feel so hard? In this episode, we walk through what’s really happening for working parents who are trying to “fit learning in”… and why it often leads to...
-
142. Mentoring Builds Independent Kids (Even When They Fail)
If you’ve ever felt like your homeschool depends on you managing everything… this episode will give you a different perspective. After my son didn’t pass his black belt pretest, his response revealed something powerful about ownership, motivation, and what mentoring actually produces over time....
-
141. Raising Creative Kids in a Screen-Filled World with Beth Mylott
If you’ve ever wondered whether screen time is helping or hurting your child’s creativity, this episode will give you a clear way to think about it. In this conversation with STEM educator Beth Mylott, we talk about what it actually looks like to raise creative kids in a screen-filled…
more -
140. Hidden Benefits of Homeschooling No One Talks About
Most conversations about homeschooling focus on curriculum, schedules, and academics. But what if the most important benefits… are the ones no one is talking about? In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story from my son’s black belt pretest—and how it revealed something deeper about what...
-
139. How to Help Your Child's Brain Learn Better with Bryan Green
Learning doesn’t have to feel like a daily struggle. If your child is having a hard time focusing, staying engaged, or remembering what they learn, it’s easy to assume it’s a motivation issue. But sometimes, it’s something else entirely. In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Green, from Infinite...
-
138. When Homeschool Feels Like School (And How to Make Learning Part of Life)
If your homeschool feels like school… even a little… you’re not alone. Many parents start homeschooling to create something different—more freedom, more connection, more joy in learning. But over time, it can slowly start to look and feel like the very thing you were trying to step away from. In...
-
137. A Real Look Inside Classrooms Today with Eric Wanous (veteran teacher)
If you’ve been wondering what classrooms are like today—or questioning whether you’re making the right choice for your child—this episode offers a clear, grounded look inside. I’m joined by my husband, Eric Wanous, a veteran middle school teacher with nearly 30 years of experience, to talk about...
-
136. Raising Confident Teens Who Love to Learn (Homeschool Success Story) with Ava
If you’ve ever wondered, “Will my teen actually be confident, motivated, and ready for real life?”—this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Ava Villanueva, a homeschooled teen who has become a confident, purpose-driven lifelong learner. She now teaches other kids and teens about healthy...
-
135. How to Help Your Teen Find a Career They’ll Love with Lisa Marker Robbins
Many homeschool parents want to help their teens discover a career path they’ll love, but they aren’t sure how to guide that process without pushing too hard or leaving it entirely up to chance. In this episode, career clarity coach Lisa Marker Robbins shares the step-by-step process she teaches...
-
134. Why Your Child Needs a Great Education (Not Just Career Training)
What is a Great Education — and is it different from job training? In today’s rapidly changing world of AI, shifting careers, and cultural complexity, it’s tempting to narrow your child’s education around one goal. But is that preparing them for life… or just for one season? In this episode, I...
-
133. How to Teach Handwriting with Holly Britton
How to teach handwriting at home in K–2 (and support older kids who still struggle) with clear, doable steps that build skills and confidence. In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Britton (M.Ed.), the program designer of Squiggle Squad, to talk through what to teach first, when to start, common...
-
132. Do Your Kids Need Speech Therapy? with Sarah Dowling
Do my kids need speech therapy, or is this just a normal phase? In this episode, I’m joined by speech pathologist Sarah Dowling to unpack what speech therapy actually covers, how to think about speech delay and stuttering, and what a helpful evaluation looks like. We also talk about why speech…
more -
131. What Changes When You Stop Homeschooling for Right Now
Many homeschool parents feel like they’re always responding to what’s happening right now. Each season brings new adjustments, new plans, and new questions, and over time that constant reactivity can feel exhausting. In this episode, I’m talking about what changes when families stop homeschooling...
-
130. Why Kids Lose Motivation in Homeschool
Many homeschool parents reach a season where homeschooling feels harder than it used to. Kids seem less motivated, learning feels heavier, and moms often tell themselves, “This is just a season we have to get through.” In this episode, I’m talking about what’s really happening when love of…
more -
129. Why Homeschool Plans Slowly Breakdown
Most homeschool plans don’t break because of one big mistake. They slowly break down over time, especially as families grow and seasons change. If your homeschool has ever felt like it was quietly losing strength, even though nothing was “wrong,” this episode will help you understand why. In this...
-
128. Structure, Responsibility, and Raising Independent Kids with Kristina Heagh-Avritt
Raising independent kids doesn’t mean removing structure — it means using it wisely. In this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Heagh-Avritt, founder of Vibrant Family Education and co-host of the Bringing Education Home podcast. With over 30 years of experience working with families, Kristina…
more -
127. How to Start (or Restart) Homeschooling for Lifelong Learning
Starting homeschooling can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re surrounded by opinions and pressure to “do it right.” Most parents simply want their kids to love learning again and feel confident they’re raising capable, independent young adults. But fear of falling behind often leads to...
-
126. How Learning a Second Language Shapes How Kids Learn with Suzanne Gose
Learning a second language does more than meet a requirement—it strengthens brain health, thinking skills, and confidence as a learner. In this episode, I’m joined by Suzanne Gose—former public-school teacher, longtime homeschool mom, and founder of Flip Flop Spanish—to explore how language...
-
125. Why Love of Learning Determines School & College Outcomes
When kids enter a school or college environment, box-checking is unavoidable. But what is avoidable is sending them in without the confidence, curiosity, and hunger to learn. Because what your child brings into that environment changes everything about how they experience it — and what they carry...
-
124. Creating Holiday Magic Without Mom-Overwhelm
Holidays can feel overwhelming for moms—especially when we’re carrying unspoken expectations about how everything should look and feel. We want magical memories, joyful kids, meaningful traditions, and a home that somehow holds it all together. But when every moment has to be special, it can...
-
123. Preparing Kids for Life Starts with Leadership with Suzanne Gose
Preparing kids for life starts with leadership—and homeschooling plays a powerful role in how those leadership skills are developed. In this episode, I’m joined by Suzanne Gose, former public school teacher, longtime homeschool mom, and founder of Flip Flop Spanish and Leadership Lab, to talk…
more -
122. Ultimate Homeschool Gift Guide for Raising Curious, Confident Kids
Looking for meaningful holiday gifts that actually build connection, spark curiosity, and support your kids’ love of learning? 🎁✨ In this episode, I’m sharing 5 powerful gift categories that help you raise curious, confident kids—without adding more clutter. We’re talking: • experiences that…
more -
121. Raising Resilient Daughters (& Sons) Starts with Connection with Shannon Roberts
Daughters (and sons) learn so much from us — and the relationship we build with them shapes who they become. Today I’m joined by Shannon Roberts, host of Connecting with Our Daughters and creator of the Making Memories with Our Daughters masterclass. Shannon has spent years helping moms and girls...
-
120. A Reset Powered by Gratitude - Wait! This is a must listen!
This tiny habit can move your home from tension to connection faster than you expect. It sounds cliché… until life feels heavy and it’s the last thing you want to reach for. But here’s the truth: when you choose it on purpose, it can flip the script on your homeschool culture and your family...
-
119. Handwriting Starts Here with Holly Britton
Handwriting doesn’t have to be a battle—and even if your littles love writing, starting them off right makes all the difference. In this episode, handwriting expert Holly Britton, M.Ed. breaks down the mental + physical skills kids need before writing can feel natural. We cover: What to do…
more -
118. College-Ready Starts with Curiosity with Shellee Howard
Colleges used to focus on grades and test scores — now they want students with intellectual curiosity. As College Ready founder Shellee Howard shares, passionate learners who know their values and direction stand out — in college and in life. In this episode, we talk about how to help your teen...
About this show
Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous, The Freedom Scholar, utilizes more than a decade of homeschool experience, along with her public school teaching experience and relatable and practical mentoring of families all over the US and periodic guests, to take you on a journey toward creating the homeschool experience you always wanted and your family deserves in each episode. Whether you’re an experienced homeschooler or a new one, making decisions about curriculum, setting up routines and keeping love of learning high can be challenging. This podcast will help you gain the confidence you need to help your kids reach their goals and become life-long learners.To learn more about Kami and how The Freedom Scholar can help you create your family's best homeschool experience, visit www.thefreedomscholar.comFollow @TheFreedomScholar on Instagram and FacebookFor free live trainings every week, join “The Freedom Scholar Homeschooling Community” Facebook group!Subscribe on YouTube - The Freedom
Hosted by
Kami Wanous - The Freedom Scholar
Categories