146. How Kids Learn to Read and How to Teach It Well

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 momentum — before a new season even starts. In this episode we talk about what a Love of Learning Reset actually is, why it's different from just taking a break, and what it costs when we let summer slip by without one. 👉 Inside this episode: * Why coasting feels like recovery but functions like a slow drain * What the September version of "no reset" actually looks like * What a Love of Learning Reset is — and what it isn't * Why this is not about doing more, it's about choosing intentionally * Why June is the best time to start **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspire 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/]

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, reading specialist and founder of Learn with Alyssa, about how reading actually works — what the brain needs, what gets in the way, and what the most effective strategies really look like. Inside this episode: -How kids' brains actually learn to decode and read -Common mistakes in reading instruction (and how to avoid them) -What stumbling blocks look like before they become big problems -Reading and neurodivergence — what parents should watch for -Evidence-based strategies that work from the start -When to bring in a reading specialist or tutor *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 ALYSSA: *Get Alyssa’s Reading Support Flowchart! A simple, step-by-step guide designed to help parents and educators identify specific areas of need and connect them to targeted activities that build foundational reading skills. https://www.learnwithalyssa.net/freebie [https://www.learnwithalyssa.net/freebie]  Website: https://www.learnwithalyssa.net/ [https://www.learnwithalyssa.net/]  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/learn_with_alyssa [https://www.instagram.com/learn_with_alyssa]  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/]

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/]