Everyday Educator

Guess what?  Scribblers At Home won the Illuminations Gold Award!  Maybe you haven’t heard much about Scribblers, or maybe you thought it wasn’t really for your family.  Listen in as Amy Jones helps us see that Scribblers isn’t just an “on ramp” for young homeschoolers, it’s an “ongoing ramp” for all of us!  You’ll be interested to hear how families of all ages are using this resource, and how your family might find it’s just what you’re looking for also.

You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.

Foundations parents, are you interested in knowing more about Memory Masters and National Memory Masters?  Listen in as Kelli Wilt and Elise DeYoung give Lisa all the information. You’ll find out more than how to, though…You will hear how these “competitions” are actually about celebrating students and families.  I think you’ll be inspired to see memorizing in a new way…

Make April 26 a Family Day at theater! #UnsungHeroMovie opens everywhere beginning April 26. From the creators of Jesus Revolution comes Unsung Hero. Tickets on sale now. Visit https://tickets.unsunghero.movie/. 

If you want all the information on Practicum 2024, listen to Part 2 of the conversation between Jill Philbrick and Lisa Bailey.  You’ll discover  how to discover God in math, how to model the skills of learning math for your kids, how to become part of the “greater conversation”, and how to redeem your own education in ways you might not imagine.  Exploring The Math Map in community will be an investment that pays dividends!

Learn more about the Copper Lodge Library at copperlodgelibrary.com.

Why go to Practicum?  Will you really learn anything “practical”?  Listen as Lisa and Jill Philbrick answer this question and give you some enticing reasons to register for the 2024 Practicum.  You’ll be encouraged by Jill’s testimony and intrigued by our 2024 topic as well!

You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.

So, what does homeschooling look like when Community Days are done for the year?  Do you wonder what you should/could/will do?  Listen in as Amy Jones and Lisa talk about what God has for us as we move into a slower-paced season.  This episode offers encouragement for your heart and practical suggestions for your days! 

Classical Conversations® is constantly striving to build relationships with like-minded organizations to assist families in their homeschooling journey and in furthering our mission to know God and to make Him known. 

Visit https://classicalconversations.com/relationships/ for more information.

Have you struggled with end of the year assessments in the past, wondering what good they do and how to go about them?  Have you wondered what assessment and celebration have in common??  Listen in as Lisa and guest Jill Philbrick discuss the importance of celebration (It’s biblical!) and share some great ways to celebrate as a family and community all that the Lord has done in the year past.

Learn more about the IAC at https://associationforcreation.org/. To find your exclusive CC Discount code go to CC Connected> Learning Center> CC Members Beneftis.

As we enter this season of finishing and ending (Faces of History, Mock Trial, Graduation!) your family is likely looking for ways to celebrate the accomplishments of the year.  This week, guest Kelli Wilt and host Lisa Bailey encourage you to celebrate “classically” as your festivities begin.  How can you nurture a spirit of joyful remembrance?  How might this season of celebration prepare you for heaven?? 

Learn more about the Copper Lodge Library at https://copperlodgelibrary.com/

You may have heard about The Math Map, but do you “get it”?  Do you know what’s so different, why you should use it, and how it could change math experiences for your family?  If you’d like to find these answers and more, listen to Leigh Bortins cast her vision for The Math Map on this week’s episode.  Included are personal stories, practical tips, and plenty of encouragement.

Are you looking to become a better “everyday educator”? Join other homeschool parents in your area at a 2024 Practicum event! https://ccpracticum.com/

For families living the last days of their homeschool journey, and families contemplating moving on before finishing that last challenge, this one’s for you!  Listen in as Brittany Lewis, long-time Challenge director and lover of students, shares how vital and beautiful that “last leg of the climb” can be.  You’ll hear insights on the benefits of Challenge IV and some details about the Senior Thesis as well.

·       CC parents, tutors, and Directors – are you looking to level up your skills in guiding and assessing your student’s learning at home or in community? Join this Spring semester’s Classical Learning Cohort! https://classicalconversations.com/cohort/

Some families love it, some worry about it…Mock Trial is always discussion worthy!  How can parents help their students make the most of the Mock Trial experience?  What can parents do to help?  Listen in as Stephanie Meter, long-time Mock Trial-lover and Challenge B tutor, outlines how students benefit from their participation, and how Mock Trial is very much the synthesis of Challenge B learning.  You will be inspired!

Are you looking for a good family movie that will encourage deep conversation with your family?  Sam Sorbo’s latest movie “Miracle in East Texas” will fit the bill!  A “tall tale based on an absolutely true story”, the movie is full of rich characters, wrestlings with truth, and a redeeming end. You’ll love hearing the behind the scenes reasons to love it, too.  Listen in, then go stream the movie with your family.

Download the free discussion guides now at https://www.sorbostudios.com/miracle-in-east-texas/downloads/homeschool-packet

“Children know, need, and love the truth”, so says film star, writer, and lecturer Sam Sorbo.  Listen in as Sam shares her reasons for “emancipating” her children from the modern education system.  In Part 1 of this 2-part podcast, Lisa and Sam discuss the whys and hows of homeschooling.  You’ll love hearing her heart for her family, and her heart for helping you love your family in the best ways!

Download the free discussion guides now at https://www.sorbostudios.com/miracle-in-east-texas/downloads/homeschool-packet

Homeschooling parents:  you homeschool to give your children a most excellent education, right?  But what does teaching children—your own and others—teach YOU?  Listen as guest Cynthia Knotts, veteran CC mom and tutor, shares the surprising benefits of tutoring on her family.  If you’ve ever considered becoming a tutor, Cynthia’s insights may just tip the scale.

The Copper Lodge Library series from Classical Conversations® preserves history's best stories for future generations. View the library on ClassicalConversationsBooks.com.

Have you started your Faces of History project yet?  Are you excited?  Worried?  Confused?  Listen in as today’s guest, Courtney Bradshaw, gives a great synopsis of this project.  You’ll discover the why, the how, and the what else of FOH and be encouraged while you make notes!

Classical Conversations® Relationships: Exclusive Discounts for CC Members!

Are the doldrums of January getting you down?  Jazz up January by instituting a “January Term” in your homeschool!  Listen in this week as Lisa and guest Amy Jones talk about the refreshment that comes when you take a week or two to learn something new together.  Full of super-practical suggestions, this episode is one of my favorites because it reminds us to be real about our struggles and to enjoy the journey we’re on.

Could it really be THAT easy?  Is the key to success…small habits?  Listen in this week as veteran homeschoolers Lisa Bailey and Kelli Wilt ponder the power of routine to activate productivity and achieve success.  What small habits can you begin now that will strengthen your family and position you all for a more peaceful life?

As we all prepare for the new semester, it is natural to look back on the fall and determine:  What didn’t go so well?  What should I change?  How can we “do better”?  These frank questions have value, but only alongside another assessment:  What went WELL?  How did we grow in non-academic ways?  Listen as guest Brittany Lewis shares some wonderful insights and encouragements!

The holidays—thrilling, frantic, moving, and full—have come and gone…and maybe they’ve left you strangely unmotivated to begin the school routine again.  What’s up with that, and how do we all keep going?  Listen in as Lisa and guest Jennifer Courtney acknowledge the January blahs AND offer insights to ease you into and through the transition back to your “real life”!

The final installment of the Simplify Advent series shares some easy ways to serve as a family; listen in as Jamie Hays and Lisa reminisce about serving opportunities when they were children and as they give some inspired suggestions for serving as a family now.  How can your family bless others this Christmas?

Looking for some fresh ideas for celebrating in simply ways this Advent season?  Amy Jones and Lisa discuss how to explore together as a family, chasing your child’s curiosity and finding deeper meaning in the Christmas story.  You’ll gain some good ideas for family fun, and hear some personal memories from the Jones and Bailey families!

This week’s Simplify Advent podcast centers around reading together.  Listen as veteran homeschool dad and ardent reader Tim Knotts shares some great ideas for Advent family reading.  Tim and Lisa offer some great hows and whys of family reading, as well as some specific ideas on the what!

Families searching for ways to celebrate Advent without becoming crazy or crazy busy:  Everyday Educator has some suggestions!  Listen each Tuesday for ideas on using the Scribblers verbs of Pray, Play, Read, Explore, and Serve as encouragements to celebrate simply and celebrate together.  This episode features Kelli Wilt and Lisa sharing ideas on Playing Together as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Looking for some ways to simplify your Christmas celebrations this year?  Listen every Tuesday in December to Everyday Educator’s Simplify Advent podcasts; we’ll be discussing ways to deepen our celebration of Jesus’s birth as families.  You’ll hear some great ideas and enjoy some sweet fellowship and encouragement.  This week is about how praying together can lead us to profound celebration of God’s greatest gift.

What’s Thanksgiving about for your family?  How to you celebrate?  WHAT do you celebrate?  This episode of The Everyday Educator might give you some new ideas…  Listen with the whole family, as you travel or as you prepare the feast and maybe give thanks in a new way this year.

Wish you could talk to an experienced homeschooler, just to ask a few questions?  Wondering if your thoughts, reactions, and questions are “normal”?  Join Lisa and her guest Melissa Ellison for this week’s episode and you’ll hear the truth from a couple of veterans. Answers for your mind, encouragement for your heart!

Wish you could talk to an experienced homeschooler, just to ask a few questions?  Wondering if your thoughts, reactions, and questions are “normal”?  Join Lisa and her guest Melissa Ellison for this week’s episode and you’ll hear the truth from a couple of veterans. Answers for your mind, encouragement for your heart!

Why would families with OLDER students want Scribblers?  Just ask some who have tried it out!  Scribblers helps families chart the course for homeschooling, but it also helps create a family culture of learning that lasts.  Parents are discovering that the charts make explaining ideas (even to Challenge students) easier, and the activities draw families together in play with has intention.  Listen as KatieBeth and Lisa finish their conversation about learning as a family.

Whether you’re considering the possibility of homeschooling or wondering how to add some zest to what you’re already doing, this episode of the Everyday Educator is for you.  Join Lisa and guest KatieBeth Pierson as they discuss lessons learned along their way and give some very practical ideas on resources and ideas that will transform your family learning.

Whether your family reads together already, or you’re looking for good ideas on how to develop that habit, this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast is for you.  Listen as guest Brittany Lewis gives us some great insights on why to read together, what material to try, and how to get started.  Best of all, there is hope for turning reluctant readers into family readers.  You’ll be blessed by the listening!

What happens when homeschooling is over?  How does your relationship with your kids change?  How are YOU changed by homeschooling?  Listen in as David Bailey, a dad to two “grown-up girls” who were homeschooled all the way through, shares his thoughts on homeschooling…and beyond!

If you’ve been considering writing out your family’s mission statement—or wondering if you need one—this week’s Everyday Educator episode is for you.  Host Lisa and guest Kelli Wilt come clean about their lack of such a statement in the early years but share some excellent reasons to have one now!  Full of wise counsel, practical tips, and honest reflections these ladies will bless your day!

Homeschooling...it’s not just for your kids!  Have you ever thought about homeschooling as the beginning of educating yourself?  If you have questions about “educating yourself”, this episode of EE is for you.  Guest Heatherly Sylvia, a passionate lifelong learner, will inspire you to stay curious, to keep learning, and to see the life of a learner as one that pleases the Lord.  Come for practical tips, stay for the encouragement!

God is wooing us to Himself with the wonder and beauty in His world. When we chase the wonder in creation, we draw near to the creator and find what He is waiting for us to discover.  Listen this week as guest Amy Jones describes how a classical, Christian community can help your family promote more wonder in your homeschool.  And, hear how one of the activities from Scribblers At Home:  Recipes from Lifelong Learners can open your family’s eyes to wonder in your own backyard.

Classical Conversations believes that classical education prepares us to accept the responsibilities of Christian freedom.  What ARE those responsibilities, and how do we as parents prepare our children to accept them?  Listen in this week as homeschool mom Charity Brown shares with Lisa some heady thoughts AND some practical tips on raising Godly kids who are ready to be ambassadors for Christ in the world.

Searching for the right schedule to regulate your homeschool days this year?  You probably suspect that finding the perfect schedule might be impossible…but finding the right rhythm is exactly what Lisa’s guest Jennifer Courtney is ready to discuss!  On this week’s podcast you’ll hear some great suggestions for crafting your family’s learning plan, hear a few “non-negotiables” mentioned, and even learn the “Leigh Bortins way” of schooling with multiple kids of different ages and abilities.

It’s time to start Foundations; are you ready?  Listen in as Courtney Bradshaw, CC Academic Advisor, gives us some tips for getting ready for a fantastic year with our Foundations students.  From seeing the big picture to getting your home ready, Courtney has the news that will help you and your children start the Foundations year off right.  (She also gives you the insider info on where to go for great downloadable helps and a place to get your questions answered.)

To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, wonder is when Divinity makes its presence known.  How can we learn to be better “wonder-ers”?  Join host Lisa Bailey as her guest Amy Jones leads us to think about the connection between time, space, questions, and wonder.  Here’s the good news:  Wonder is a skill you can build! Listen, and commit to finding wonder as you go this fall.

What do you want to teach your children while you homeschool—besides reading, writing, and arithmetic?  What “life skills” are you determined to pass on—and how compatible is teaching those skills with your classical, Christian education plan?  On this episode of the Everyday Educator, guest Stephanie Meter talks to her mom Lisa about what skills she took from homeschooling into adulting.   It’s an entertaining and eye-opening episode!

What’s the best way to ready yourself and your student for the upper Challenge program?  How can you position your family to make the most of this amazing learning opportunity?  Listen as guest Brittany Lewis shares insights and encouragements that make Challenges II-IV super appetizing; you’ll appreciate Brittany’s thoughtful tips on how best to prepare and on the skills  you and your child will gain.

It’s almost time to begin the Challenge year!  Want some help to get ready?  Listen in as Lanelle Lowe, experienced mom, tutor, and curriculum developer, gives us some preparation tips for Ch A, B, and I.  Find out what the uniques are for each level, and what your family has to look forward to as you learn together this year.  You’ll get the scoop on all the “learning curves” for both students and parents and learn how to meet the challenges.

Didn’t always love math?  Then you have lots in common with Leigh Bortins, creator of The Math Map, CC’s developing math curriculum for families!  On this episode, listen as guests Leigh Bortins and Kirsty Gilpin share how studying math in a new way might be the key to seeing God’s riches in creation, in art, in music, in building, in literature…You’ll be encouraged by the thoughts of studying math together as a family, with purpose that goes beyond practicality

Looking for something fun to read (or listen to) and something fun to do after reading?  Listen as Lisa shares some reasons to read stories of all kinds with your kids; this week’s read alouds include a poem, a fable, and 2 nature stories. Lisa also offers ideas on how to continue the conversation after the story is over, as well as some inspired ideas that will bring life to your storytime.

How do you savor a story? In today’s podcast, Lisa shares some ways to appreciate and enjoy stories with your family, extending the fun and making the read-aloud experience even more memorable. Listen as she shares a poem (celebrating the vigor dads bring to story time) as well as two American Tall Tales that might inspire your family to spin a yarn or two of your own!

Read Aloud time is not just for fiction; try some biographies, some poetry, a travel log, a bird watching guide…Reading starts conversations, and conversations lead to explorations and explorations create family memories!  This week we say, “Happy Birthday, America!”  Join Lisa for this All-American Read Aloud, and enjoy bringing stories to life with your family this holiday. 

Ready for another story? Listen in as Lisa shares tips on making stories come alive and why you should read and listen with your children this summer. This week, listen to some tall tales of Paul Bunyan, and get some insights on his inventions and some encouragements to make some inventions of your own this summer!

What’s so special about reading aloud? Whether you’re looking for reasons to read aloud this summer, or just someone else to read aloud for you, this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast will deliver! Join Lisa as she shares tips on making read alouds come to life, and enjoy a read aloud of “The Frogs and the Crane” and “Over in the Meadow”—plus some great ideas to take this selections  to the next level.

What makes Scribblers At Home:  Recipes From Lifelong Learners such a “must-have” resource?  Who might want it?  Who might benefit the most?  Why are we so excited??  Listen in as Lisa and Shelly Stockton reminisce about their early days of homeschooling and how Scribblers provides so much of what they wish they had known then.  How can this one book meet so many families where they live?

If you’ve got questions about the CC Masters Program, you will find answers on this week’s podcast with Lynn Doto.  Maybe you’ve wondered how anyone could find time for extra studying; perhaps you question why you “need” a degree to validate your time spent homeschooling.  Lynn and Lisa explore the CC Masters Program with Southeastern University, answering practical “how” questions as well as bigger “why” questions.  You will come away understanding the Masters of Arts degree as a way to “love a life of learning” as well as training in loving your neighbor well.

Join guest host Kelli Wilt as she chats with National Memory Master winner Lousana and her mother Renée Guichard. Discover the wonderful world of memory mastery and gain insights into Lousana's study techniques and her triumphs and challenges along the way. We hope this episode inspires your family to take on the challenge by shedding some light on the incredible abilities and aspirations of these exceptional students.

Have you ever wished someone would come alongside you and show you some ways to make homeschooling more fun? Ways you could intentionally encourage play with a purpose? This month on the Global Homeschool Minute, we welcome Lisa Bailey to the podcast. A homeschooling veteran, Lisa shares her excitement about Classical Conversations’ newest curriculum, Scribblers @Home, which will be released this spring. This relaxed, enjoyable, at home curriculum is designed by experienced parents with a desire to share what they wish they had known when they started out. Scribblers, packed with “recipes” for parents to enrich their homeschooling, will help you create a family culture of learning.

Whether you are new to homeschooling or already a seasoned Classical Conversations parent, come catch the excitement for this new curriculum!

Lisa Bailey is the host of Everyday Educator, a long-running Classical Conversations podcast, and is also the Lead Curriculum Developer for the Global Curriculum team of our publishing company, Classical Conversations MultiMedia (CCMM). Since joining the Classical Conversations family in 2004 as a Challenge B Director, Lisa has graduated two daughters out of the Challenge program and has served in various roles within the company. In this episode, Robert and Lisa discuss her homeschooling journey from why she first chose to homeschool to the importance of committing long-term to the homeschool process.

It’s the ultimate crossover episode . . . Delise and Ginny are joined by CC legend and host of the Everyday Educator podcast Lisa Bailey! Lisa recently became a grandmother, so in this conversation, she chats about parenting versus grandparenting. As a parent, she was often so focused on doing everything right that she missed out on opportunities to enjoy the small, simple moments of her children just growing up. But now, as she is blessed with the chance to relive those moments with her grandson, she can be more present and treasure every minute. Of course, with the much-anticipated release of Scribblers at Home: Recipes from Lifelong Learning, Lisa also talks about her involvement in creating this new Classical Conversations® resource and what it really means to play intentionally with our children. Finally, she shares some practical tips for setting boundaries as a parent and emphasizes the importance of asking our children questions instead of rushing in to give them the answers. As you listen, we hope Lisa’s wisdom and joy shines through this conversation and leaves you inspired and uplifted!

“The best part of community is_______.”   How would you fill in that blank?  (Is it the accountability?  The comradery?  The encouragement?). For many CC families, community is what keeps us moving forward!  Listen in as long-time CC mommas Jennifer Courtney and Amanda Butler share insights on the value of community for students and families; their thoughts might surprise you; they will inspire you.

What’s the big deal about Practicum?  What’s it all about?  How will it help me and my family?  If you’re wondering about Practicum, and trying to decide whether to go, and what you’ll find once you get there, this week’s podcast is for you!  Join Lisa as she talks to Krystal Cano about the best reasons to attend Practicum this year; you’ll discover how first-time attenders and seasoned Practicum lovers alike will delight in the layered learning and the sweet community to be found.

Springtime brings flowers, birds, and …eagerness to be DONE with school!  Are students in your family having a hard time staying focused?  Listen in as Kathy Donegia joins Lisa to talk about how the partnership between student, parent, and community helps us all finish well. Kathy shares how her Challenge IV students find blessings in learning together in community and making memories through family discussions as well.

What’s the big deal about Rhetorical events?  How important are they?  How can I help my student do something I’ve never done??  If thoughts like this have ever crossed your mind, here is a podcast for you!  Join host Lisa Bailey and guest Brittany Lewis for an enlightening look at CC’s Rhetorical events, from science fair to senior thesis.  You’ll see just what your students are gaining as they practice the skills they’ve honed for years, and how those skills are lived out within a community of friends.

Community days are ending for the year….but that doesn’t mean the learning is done!  Join veteran homeschool mom Denise McLain for some tips on how to keep the family learning together!  Denise and Lisa share some ideas for learning some new things, practicing some “old” skills, and taking our families into the community as we learn to love our neighbors well.

Have you ever questioned the usefulness of our classical tools outside of academic pursuits?  How, for instance, could they help a plumber, or a missionary, or an army captain?  Answer:  they prepare us for LIFE!  Listen in as guests Angela and Emma Oxford share about the classical tools of learning and how they help us have conversations that lead to sharing Jesus, no matter where we are.

Guest host Delise Germond invites Lisa Bailey to share the Why, the What, and the What Next about CC’s newest resource, Scribblers At Home:  Recipes from Lifelong Learners.  Listen in and hear about the beginnings of Scribblers, the behind-the-scenes stories, and the features that will make learning together easy for families.  Scribblers at Home is ready to be delivered to your door now, so visit classicalconversationsbooks.com and order your copy today.

Why did God give your children to you?  What does He want you to tell them?  Show them?  Do alongside them?  At Classical Conversations, we believe God trusts parents with their children!  Charity Brown and her husband believe they’ve been called primarily to shepherd the hearts of their children toward God.  Listen to hear just what things look like in their home…

What are your most memorable homeschooling moments?  What do you want your children to remember about your home and the learning you do together?  Join Lisa today as she talks to Chelly Barnard about the best ways to cultivate the memories we want to keep!  Chelly provides an honest look back at what worked, what didn’t, and what she finally decided were the most important memories to make.

What’s “Protocol” all about?  Is it just about good manners and fancy outings?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Listen as guest Sarah Davis breaks it down for us, sharing how Protocol is actually about honor, mercy, grace, and loving your neighbor.  “It’s not about ‘putting on airs’, but about elevating the people you’re with!”

What do you wish you knew about Challenge B?  About Challenge B students?  About Mock Trial?  This week’s guest offers a wealth of insight from a lifetime of experience!  Join host Lisa Bailey as she talks to Stephanie Meter about how Mock Trial is actually the perfect capstone to the Challenge B year, synthesizing the skills of Challenge B in a way that transforms the students.

Have you ever asked yourself this question:  “Why should I consider homeschooling?”  The purpose we assign to education will often answer the question for us!  But…are we practicing what we preach?  How can we practically align our purposes with our daily routines, our lesson plans, even our assessments?  Listen in as guest Julie Melendez and host Lisa Bailey offer honest testimony to what this can and does look like at home.

If you’re intrigued by the bits and pieces you’ve recently heard about Scribblers At Home:  Recipes from Lifelong Learners, you will definitely want to listen to this episode!  Amy Jones joins Lisa as they share how Scribblers sets families up to delight in learning together. All of us “want to do it right” when it comes to educating our kids; Scribblers gives us ideas and encouragement to create natural and winsome ways to learn together at home.

Do you know someone who is considering joining a Classical Conversations community?  This episode of the Everyday Educator will answer so many “why” and “what” questions for potential families!  Denise Moore shares the real reasons families get involved, and what the real benefits are to those who invest in a CC journey. Beyond that, Denise’s honest reflections remind us ALL of why we want to be involved, and how we are parents are benefiting!  

If you’re looking for a quick overview of the CC Challenge program, or if you’ve ever wondered which challenge is the BEST, this episode of the Everyday Educator has the information you’re looking for!  Listen as Tim Knotts, Heatherly Sylvia, and Karin Carpenter advocate for their favorite Challenge, giving us all insights into the fun parts, the stretching parts, and the family blessing of each of our Challenge levels.

Have you ever thought, “What’s the big deal about memorizing anyway?”  This episode of the Everyday Educator Podcast will shed some light on this question!  Listen in as Kelli Wilt and Olivia Walsh share how memory is something to be celebrated by all of us; they’ll also give us the details of what a Memory Master is, what a NATIONAL Memory Master is, and what blessings families can find from pursuing each!  Bonus:  hot-off-the-press details on how to get involved in the 2023 National Memory Master Competition!

Here in the winter months, after the fun of the holidays, the homeschool days can seem looooong.  It is easy to forget that we are not alone on this journey!  We all have a CC story to share, and hearing about someone else’s journey feeds our community mindset.  Listen in this week as international homeschoolers (and Country Coordinators) Koreen Mazurek and Dawna Ferguson share how running toward something instead of away from something makes homeschooling a richer experience—wherever you are!

New Years, for most of us, means new beginnings. Whether it's a new goal or recommitment to a habit we're already cultivating, New Years acts as a marker for us to turn over a new leaf. This week Lisa is joined by Kelli Wilt to discuss what it means to "raise adults," and explore what it looks like beginning with the end in mind.

Please enjoy this special holiday re-run of one of our most downloaded episodes. 

One of the more profound lessons “from down the road” may well be that there is more to homeschooling than academic pursuits.  Join veteran homeschool moms Shelly Stockton and Lisa Bailey as they discuss building character, spiritual habits, relational maturity, and practical life skills while living and learning at home with their girls.  Discover how a classical education lived out in community (both home and CC) provides the environment for learning the biggest lessons of life.

In this final Advent episode, join Lisa as she considers how God spoke all the love languages as He become Emmanuel.  Consider with your family how God incarnate has come to you—and how you might live Him before your neighbors this Christmas! 

In this third Advent devotional, host Lisa Bailey encourages us to consider that joy is a choice.  What allows us to choose joy when life’s circumstances dictate otherwise?  How can we express joy amid burdens?  Mary had the answer; listen in and be blessed.  This would be a great family listen…

Join Lisa for this second Advent episode, calling us to embrace the Peace of Christmas.  Take a break (even with your family) to think about how becoming an ambassador of peace fulfills our mission to know God and to make Him known!

Join us all month for this series of Advent thoughts, perfect for provoking thoughts that turn our Christmas preparations to Jesus.  In this first episode, discover an interesting connection between forest fires, birds, and the hope of Christmas.

Families, if you’re looking for a way to pass the time “on the way to Grandmother’s house” this year, give a listen to this Thanksgiving episode of The Everyday Educator!  You’ll enjoy poems, Scripture, a few jokes, and the audio version of an oldie but goodie:  “The Truth About Thanksgiving”. It’s our family’s gift to yours!

Is assessing ever a blessing??  According to guest Kelli Wilt, that depends on your perspective!  Join host Lisa Bailey as Kelli shares how Blue Book exams can be a celebration of what we know, and an opportunity to indulge in some deep conversations.  Parents, you’ll hear some helpful tips for preparing for Blue Books all semester long;  directors, Kelli gives some great practical ideas for making Blue Books fun!

Join host Lisa Bailey this week and discover how the seeds of classical Christian education are blooming all over the world!  Guests Koreen Mazurek and Dawna Ferguson share how families in Chile and Canada are “knowing God and making Him known” through their participation in CC programs in their homelands.  Their powerful testimonies will bless you; their prayer requests will inspire you.  We are drawn together by our mission and our method; just listen!

What comes to mind when you ponder “family learning?”  Most of us wonder what we should be learning and how to make learning all together doable.  Maybe the most important question, though, is why is learning together so pivotal?  On this episode of the Everyday Educator Podcast, Tim Knotts helps us answer all the questions, and it begins with ….conversations!  Listen in and find out how the 5 Canons of Rhetoric really do help you have the conversations that make learning family-style a joy and a blessing.

What can our family learn together?  How do we bring everyone into the conversation?  Can we stay connected as the children study different things?  Family learning sounds great…but sometimes feels hard!  On this episode of The Everyday Educator, Lisa talks with Andrew and Laura Brafford about how their family is using the 5 Common Topics as conversation guides for some deeply satisfying family learning experiences!

Building an atmosphere of learning sounds great, but how do you do it?  What makes it easier for a family to learn together, especially if the kids are different ages?  Everyday Educator has some answers for you!  Listen in as Olivia Walsh and Lisa Bailey offer some simple steps and easy ideas for learning all together, using the 5 Core Habits you’ve heard so much about!

Are you looking for ways to extend your family learning?  Want some practical ways to integrate what all your students are studying?  Listen in as Lisa talks this week to Angela Oxford (mom, Challenge director, Training and Support leader) ; you’ll hear simple yet effective ways to write your family’s learning story, making learning a team effort.  Find out how projects such as the Science Fair can bring your family together, keeping hearts and minds connected

Building a family learning culture is one of the most satisfying aspects of homeschooling.  When your family learns together, you are making memories, and binding your hearts together!  On this episode of the Everyday Educator, Lisa talks with Jennifer Courtney about habits we can cultivate early on that will help us build that family learning culture.  Listen as these homeschool veterans share specific ways everyone in your family can participate in conversations about what you’re all learning.   BONUS:  learn how to use the new Scribblers At Home material (now in Limited Digital Release on CC Connected) as a catalyst for learning as a family.

What do you love about your CC community?  What blessings have you discovered?  Join host Lisa Bailey and Foundations/Essentials director Kim Lawson as they share the impact that community makes on learning and on growing in Christ. Get some ideas for Open House season, and some reminders of why we share what we love with others.

At Classical Conversations we’re always looking for ways to know God; is your community looking for a way “to make Him known”?  Join Lisa Bailey and guest Julie Melendez as they share how Excellence in Education events provide just such an opportunity.  Julie offers great ideas you can replicate, as well as inspiration on how these events have already impacted local communities, and helped our students practice the skills we’re eager to pass on.

As the reality of a new homeschool year settles in, parents everywhere are thinking about how to get it all done with all the people they have to shepherd.  Looking for some words of wisdom here?  Listen as guest Kamilah Carter, veteran mom of 5 CCers from Foundations to Challenge III, shares practical suggestions and wise insights.  A delightfully real mom, Kamilah just might reframe your thinking about schedules!

Looking for ways to make getting out the door for community day less stressful?   Join host Lisa Bailey and guest Lia Gerkin for practical ideas for arriving at community with all your resources and brain cells intact.  Hear how one mom of 6 is training her kids to develop habits of responsibility and service. How will God equip you to have a great year this year?

As you begin the new academic year, do you feel like one smart mama?  Join Lisa Bailey this week as she picks the brains of two smart mamas:  Delise Germond and Ginny Tran.  Discover what smart mamas know, and where they look for support. 

Are you excited about reading?  About reading with your family?  About reading Challenge A literature?  Well, you will be after you listen to this episode of the Everyday Educator Podcast!  Find out what distinguishes a good book from the other kind, as well the reasons behind the Challenge A literature choices.

Why is Essentials so important?  Listen in as Lanelle Lowe and Lisa Bailey discuss how the program is both a foundation and a bridge.  Discover what you’ll study, what materials you need to get started, and how to make it enjoyable as you go.

Bonus:  These veterans will reveal how Essentials will become the gift that keeps on giving!

Are you ready for Foundations?  Join this week’s Everyday Educator and discover how a spirit of rest will make this fall a wonder-full new season with your children.  Tune in to discover the logistical details that will ensure a happy start to your community days; stay as Kelli Wilt helps us recognize the habits that will get us all off on the right foot.

Parents, are YOU ready for the Challenge program this fall?  Find out how to best prepare for a successful fall with your student in the Challenge years by listening in as Chelly Barnard shares with Lisa Bailey encouraging words and practical tips.  Your student will thank you, and you will find confidence and rest in a season of family learning.

Are your thoughts turning to the fall semester already?  Are you and your student getting ready for Challenge, and do you wonder how best to prepare?  Join veterans of the CC Challenge program Emma Oxford and Anthony Clendenin on this week’s Everyday Educator podcast.  Discover how students can prepare for Challenge success by hearing what students need to know, need to do, and need to gather for the coming year.

Does studying logic sound like fun?  It will after you listen to this episode of the Everyday Educator Podcast!  Guest Kathy Gibbens shows us why studying logic is so important today, and gives us great ideas for promoting clear thinking with our families.

In this last episode of our Summer Book Club on The Peacemaker, join Lisa Bailey, Leslie Hubbard, and Tim Knott as they ponder the ultimate goal of peacemaking:  demonstrating the forgiveness of God and encouraging a reasonable solution to conflict.  Discussion surrounds forgiveness, cooperative negotiation, and the divine weapons of peacemaking.

In this 4th installment of our Summer Book Club on The Peacemaker, join Lisa Bailey, Kelli Wilt, and Heatherly Sylvia as they discover practical ways to restore peace gently, using words wisely and well.  Bonus:  find some of our favorite tools of learning (spoiler alert:  The Five Core Habits of Grammar) used to speak the truth in love.

In this installment of our EE Summer Book Club on The Peacemaker, join Leslie Hubbard, Stephanie Meter and host Lisa Bailey as they ponder the roles of confession and restoration in peacemaking.  Listen for some common ways we are apt to sin when we’re in conflict with one another and receive practical suggestions for confessing.  You’ll also be encouraged and equipped to become an instrument of peace in your communities by pursuing restoration instead of just confrontation.

In this second episode of the Summer Book Club series on The Peacemaker, Lisa Bailey, Kristi Dye, and Kelli Wilt share some transparent testimony about their own parts in conflicts within families and communities.  Join these ladies as they discuss chapters 4 and 5, exploring how “getting the log out of our own eyes” first makes dealing with conflict a stewardship of God’s peace.

Are you a peace faker?  Peace breaker? Peacemaker?  In a world full of turmoil and conflict on every hand, we are called by God to be peacemakers.  How can we become people who view conflicts as opportunities, not accidents?  The Peacemaker, by Ken Sande offers us some keen insights on these questions.  This summer, join the EE Book Club as we read and discuss this book, wrestling with the big ideas and discussing how we can be stewards of peace.  This week, Stephanie Meter and Heatherly Sylvia join Lisa as we kick off this new series.