Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous

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. This episode is about what happens when you stop managing and start mentoring. And why summer is the perfect reset to make that shift — whether you had a hard year or a pretty good one. Inside this episode: * Why the need for a summer break is usually a managing problem, not a learning problem * What managing vs. mentoring actually looks like in real homeschool life * How to use summer to rebuild love of learning and reset expectations * Why learning culture matters more than curriculum * How one ILL Academy mom used a month-long camping trip to build something she never had before **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspiring Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

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 actually looks like, why so many parents feel lost in the sea of resources, and how to find support that genuinely helps. Inside this episode: * How to recognize dyslexia at home * Why more resources doesn't always mean more clarity * What programs and strategies actually work * How to stop guessing and start getting real answers * Where homeschool moms can find expert support **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspiring Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH KATHY: Take Kathy’s “Understanding YOUR Child’s Learning Challenges Quiz”: A tool that helps parents identify areas where their child may be struggling and provides resources for understanding these challenges in more depth. https://quiz.myhappyteacher.com/ [https://quiz.myhappyteacher.com/]  Get Kathy’s free homeschool reading support series : “Is Reading Starting to Feel too Hard at Home?” https://links.fullscope.tools/widget/form/kMD2F0J8UoPMquMAawrn [https://links.fullscope.tools/widget/form/kMD2F0J8UoPMquMAawrn]  Website: https://www.myhappyteacher.com/ [https://www.myhappyteacher.com/]  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/myhappyteacher [https://www.instagram.com/myhappyteacher]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyHappyTeacher [https://www.facebook.com/MyHappyTeacher]  CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

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 resistance, disconnection, and frustration over time. Because the problem usually isn’t your effort. It’s that nothing about the learning model actually changed… just the location. If you’ve been feeling the tension between work, homeschool, and wanting something more connected and meaningful for your child, this episode will help you finally put words to what’s actually happening… and why just “trying harder” doesn’t fix it. **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspiring Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

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. We’re breaking down the difference between managing vs mentoring—and why that shift matters if you want to raise independent, confident kids who can lead their own learning. *Join me and 5 experts in the free Homeschool with Confidence Roundtable discussion where we have real conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and how to move forward with confidence! https://thefreedomscholar.com/hwc-registration [https://thefreedomscholar.com/hwc-registration] CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

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 world—without losing the hands-on learning that makes it all stick. You’ll hear how to help your kids move from simply consuming content to creating, building, and problem-solving using both technology and real-world experiences. In this episode: * What “creative” screen time really looks like * How to shift kids from consumers to creators * Why hands-on learning still matters * Simple ways to blend tech with real-world learning * What parents should watch out for with games and platforms This episode will leave you with practical ideas and a clearer path forward—so screen time becomes something that supports learning, not works against it. *Jump start your family’s learning fun and curiosity with the Love of Learning Launch Pad! Know your starting point and next steps in this free quiz! https://pages.thefreedomscholar.org/loloi0 [https://pages.thefreedomscholar.org/loloi0] CONNECT WITH BETH: *Schedule a meeting for free first tutoring session [https://calendly.com/bethmylott/30min]  Website: https://gameandlearnsummercamp.com/ [https://gameandlearnsummercamp.com/] Instagram: @game_and_learn CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]