Top Five Episodes from Year One of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast

This is episode #50! Yes, I’m celebrating over here by recapping the top 5 episodes from the first year of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast!!!

As I record this in the fall of 2021, we’re coming up on the ONE YEAR anniversary of the podcast! And…we just hit 20,000 downloads of the show!!! Woohoo!

In this episode, I look back and share with you the top five most popular episodes so far. And if you’re new to the podcast, this is a great place to start.

A time sensitive announcement: Submit your questions here for my upcoming Ask Jean Anything episode in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Art of Homeschooling podcast. Then come back in two weeks for Episode #52 to hear all the great questions and my answers!

Before we get to the top 5 list, I’d love to share a listener review with you! I’m so thankful for this and all the wonderful reviews I’ve received this year!

“I’m sitting in my car eating an oatmeal cookie after running errands at the end of the day. Jean talks about making sure you’re taking care of yourself so that you can be your best self as the teacher. I stop the car because my eyes are blurry with tears. ? I’ve always been a self care advocate. I even have a t-shirt that says “Spread self love” but putting that into practice, on the daily, with two tiny humans, and lots to get done: is HARD.

I know we need to fill our cups so we can fill others. Thankfully we don’t have to feel alone as we learn to take care of ourselves. Jean’s words wash over me like a warm blanket of love. Sometimes we are mothered in such profound ways by other women. I can’t thank her enough for her support through this messy, hard, beautiful, fulfilling path of homeschooling.” ~Art of Homeschooling Podcast Listener

These kind words bring tears to MY eyes too! I have women in my life who supported me through my family’s homeschooling journey and I feel like I’m passing their wisdom along to you. And I love the notion of seeing myself as mothering the mothers. I honestly think I have the best job in the world!

And now, without further adieu, here are the top 5 most popular episodes…

Top 5 Episodes of the Art of Homeschooling Podcast

In 5th Place: Stories Make Great Teachers .

In this episode, I chat with my dear friend and homeschooling colleague, Alison Manzer, about our love of books and our project, The Book Hearth where we create unit studies for multiple ages using a story as the center of a wheel of learning. Alison and I share how we might use the story I Am Coyote by Geri Vistein for a hands-on holistic book study for multiple ages. Lots of ideas and resources here for you to build your own main lesson blocks around a book. Be sure to check out the amazing printable that goes with this episode.

In 4th Place: A Conversation with my Homeschooling Mentor, Barbara Dewey.

I met Barbara back in 1993 at the very beginning of my family’s homeschooling Journey and was so excited to discover that we both live in Ohio. Barbara taught me so much about the Waldorf approach and especially how to keep things simple and doable. During my early homeschooling years, Barbara came to Cleveland each week and taught a half-day class for homeschoolers. She would stay overnight at our house and we had so many wonderful conversations around the dinner table. Barbara and I have now been collaborating on the Taproot Teacher Training, a weekend event for homeschoolers each summer, for the past 16 years. Barbara has such wisdom to share about education and the importance of family!

In 3rd Place: Creating a Simple Morning Routine for a Strong Start to Your Day.

In this episode, I share all about how to get your rhythm back after any kind of break. Because getting back into a homeschooling rhythm can be hard when you’re starting up a new homeschooling year, returning from a trip, resuming lessons after a holiday break, or recovering from an illness. There’s a wonderful free printable that goes along with this episode ~ a set of inspiration cards with quotes from the episode for you to print out and keep in your planner or your back pocket to inspire you to stay focused.

In 2nd Place: Movement Games & Activities for Homeschoolers with Guest Brian Wolfe from Waldorfish.

I had so much fun talking with Brian in this episode because we both share a love of movement games and leading movement activities for kids. Listen in as we talk about lots of possibilities for how to weave more movement into your homeschooling days, the magic of bean bags, and the stages of play. Did you know that play can be an invitation to learning? And I was fascinated by the story of Brian’s experience as a games teacher, too.

In 1st Place: Relax Into Your Homeschool Rhythm.

I love that this is the most popular episode so far out of 50 episodes! Because rhythm is really where it all starts!

Our daily rhythm is always shifting. It’s never fixed. But having a flow of activities in mind can help us stay grounded and move forward through our days, weeks, and seasons. I remember thinking when I first planned the content for this episode that this was going to be one of my foundational episodes that I could refer people to over and over again. And it’s really fun to see that that’s proved to be the case!

“Rhythm is like a dance and you want to find that sweet spot of structure and freedom.” ~Art of Homeschooling Podcast, Episode #3

And there you have it. The top 5 episodes so far here on the Art of Homeschooling podcast.?

Thanks so much for being a listener to the podcast! I so appreciate YOU!

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If the Art of Homeschooling Podcast has inspired you, I’d LOVE it if you could rate and review the podcast on your favorite podcast player! Reviews can be left on Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Podcast Addict, or Stitcher.

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