Are There Downsides to Homeschooling?

What is a “Successful” Homeschooler?

What criteria does a homeschooled child have to meet in order to be considered a success as an adult? How do these expectations put pressure on adult children and their parents, and how can we set healthier expectations for ourselves? (Yes, we really like using scare quotes in our titles, and you can’t stop us.) Special thanks to our producer, Tori Hurley; and our audio engineer, Seth Hartman, who also created our theme music.

The "Right" Way to Homeschool

In this episode, we talk about different educational philosophies and approaches. There are so many ways to homeschool; how are you supposed to choose the perfect method for your family? It can be overwhelming, and there can be a lot of pressure to choose the “right” way to educate your kids! Special thanks to our producer, Tori Hurley; and our audio engineer, Seth Hartman, who also created our theme music.

Are There Downsides to Homeschooling?

Suzanne asks Laura if there’s anything she would change about her homeschooling experience. We discuss the pros and cons of homeschooling, as well as the parts of our experiences that might not apply to everyone. We also talk about the internal and external pressures parents face when they homeschool. Special thanks to our producer, Tori Hurley; and our audio engineer, Seth Hartman, who also created our theme music.

What is a “Real” Homeschooler?

We discuss different approaches to homeschooling, infighting and judgment within the community, and the definition of what homeschooling actually is. Correction: When discussing the legal requirements for homeschoolers in Iowa and Tennessee, Laura keeps using the term “lesson plan” when “course of study” or “curriculum” would be a more accurate term. Parents are not required to submit lesson plans in either Tennessee or Iowa. Special thanks to our producer, Tori Hurley; and our audio engineer, Seth Hartman, who also created our theme music.

The Double-Edged Sword of High Expectations

In this episode, Suzanne and Laura talk dogma, indoctrination, and the pitfalls of encouraging your kids too much. (Or, at least, encouraging them in unproductive ways.) Correction: Laura misspeaks while spelling out the name of the podcast she recommends—the correct spelling is Mythgard Academy. Special thanks to our producer, Tori Hurley; and our audio engineer, Seth Hartman, who also created our theme music.