Chris is an author, blogger and lyricist. He and his wife, Carroll, homeschool their children with the methods of Charlotte Mason in Southern Illinois. Christ has written Guided by Wisdom as a way to go deeper into God’s Word with your kids, as a family, or just on your own! Guided By Wisdom is a 2024 Gold Medal Christian Book Award winner. you can find out more by visiting his website at www.singwriteread.com/books

2024 is shaping up to be a big year at MÂCHÉ and this includes in the area of legislation. Today Julie talks about all that has been happening since last legislative session and calls for homeschooling families and friends to rally at the capitol on February 15. You can sign up for legislative updates on the website www.mache.org and find out more about capitol day at https://mache.org/event/2024-mache-homeschool-day-at-the-capitol/

Craig Harrison is a homeschool dad living with his wife and 2 boys in Minnesota. As the author of the book, “Your Child’s Best Teacher”, he discusses homeschooling today and the best way to approach teaching our children. His words are encouraging and challenging as he talks about being Your Child’s Best Teacher! You can find his resources at https://books.qrx.group

Join us as we talk with Karen Soencksen all about the 2024 MÂCHÉ Convention! We will talk about how to get free or discounted registration, the used book curriculum sale, Leadership Forum, and special events happening all throughout the convention you don’t want to miss!

Join us as we talk with Rob Vagi of Wilder Podcast and Academy about the value of using nature to educate your kids! www.wilderoutdooracademy.com or on Spotify and Apple Podcast

We continue our conversation about education in the outdoors!

We are beginning a new series that will appear throughout the next season called “Homeschool Stories” where we interview homeschool graduates who have gone on to college or careers. They will talk about their homeschool experience and how it prepared them for life! Join us today as we hear from Michael, a software engineer, as he discusses his homeschool to college to career journey!

Dave Racer has more than 25 years of experience teaching Government,Civics, the Constitution, and Student Senate. He has extensive experience in government and has written 55 books on topics from health care policy to curriculum on government. Today we talk with him about his experience running student senate. If you would like more information on signing your 9th-12th grader up for Student Senate, click on the links below for more information: https://studentsenatesaa.com https://omeganationalacademy.com www.daveracer.com

Are you wondering already what you will do with all the extra stuff that will be coming into your home this Holiday Season? What do you do with the new curriculum and resources you are purchasing for your students? Dawn, a homeschool mom of 4, encourages us to take control of our homes and our stuff to bring peace and restore joy to our daily lives. Dawn has a website and a YouTube channel where she shares her life as a minimalist homeschool mom. You can access her free 4-part video workshop covering topics such as Inventory, declutterring, and simplifying at https://www.theminimalmom.com/offers/3ekLnfEY You can access her YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/@TheMinimalMom

Do you feel pressure to do it all? Are you feeling inferior to other moms around you? Shannon talks with us about how to come against that in our lives and walk in the purpose God has for us. Find the books referenced in this episode at these links: Disconnected Kids https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/736182/disconnected-kids-third-edition-by-dr-robert-melillo/ A Place Called Simplicity https://www.biblio.com/book/place-called-simplicity-claire-cloninger/d/1297953472

Join Dayle Annand, Rob Prigge, Karen Soencksen, and Ruth Brinker as they share some family Christmas traditions and wonderful Advent traditions with you! We wish you all a wonderful Christmas season. For the books mentioned in this episode,visit: www.jothamsjourney.com

Julie has transitioned 3 of her 4 children from school to homeschool and has great insight and tips for families who are looking to do the same!

Houlie Duque, the creator of Homeschool To Go, talks to us about how her method will encourage families to embrace a project-based homeschool curriculum that is easily adaptable for not only working families but also families with children with special needs. Homeschool To Go is a personalized program to help you with each individual child you are homeschooling through meeting with your own teacher and assessing the needs of each child. You can find them at www.homeschooltogo.org

Peggy Ployhar is an expert in homeschooling children with special needs, neuro diversities, and twice exceptional children. Peggy started SPED Homeschool when she was working with families homeschooling their children and finding it hard to get resources they needed. SPED Homeschool is a place to find a wealth of resources for almost anything you would need as a homeschooler of special needs children. You can find Peggy at www.spedhomeschool.com Also find the article referenced by Peggy of Dianne Craft’s Healing Teaching at www.diannecraft.org

Jenn shares with us her experience of setting an appointment to meet with her representative and talks about how her day went and all that happened on her family’s visit to the state capitol.

Michael Ramey from the Parental Rights Foundation shares what is happening with parental rights in the USA and how it could affect homeschool families right here in Minnesota. For more information go to www.parental rights foundation.org

A quick talk with our executive director, Rob Prigge, about the behind the curtain workings of MACHE!

In this podcast Amy Puetz Fox of Golden Prairie Press joins us as we explore the exciting connection between history and food. Learn ways to incorporate cooking into learning history and where to find historical recipes. We will also explore how eating the food from previous time periods can enhance our understanding of history. Visit Amy’s website at www.goldenprairiepress.com to find her wonderful history books and so much more!

Ginny Yurich lives with her husband Josh and 5 children in Michigan. Ginny is the founder and creator of 1000 Hours Outside, a global movement to encourage families to enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer! Join us today as Ginny discusses her new book, “Until the Streetlights Come On” and the importance to our children’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development that outside play brings. You can follow Ginny on Instagram on 1000 Hours Outside and you can visit her website and blog at www.1000hoursoutside.com

Esther’s Place Homeschool Resource Center is here to help make home education successful for your family. Whether you take advantage of their Parent Equipping nights or the curriculum library you will find someone at Esther’s Place ready to encourage, talk, and pray with you. For more information on Esther’s Place, you can visit their website at www.estersplacehrc.org

Brave Books is approaching publishing from a completely different point of view. Cooper Bell tells us all about how Brave Books got it’s start to the universe it is creating with the wonderful and timely topics their authors are covering. At the end of the interview he has some great new things to announce for homeschoolers! Tune in and find out how to integrate Brave Books into your school year and family! Visit them at www.bravebooks.us to explore the world of Brave Books!

In this episode we finish out our round of talks with all the practical ways you can help your children with their emotions and how to streamline your day to make things flow smoother. Rochelle has her books available for purchase at thinkofgoodthings.com

In this segment of our conversation with Rochelle she shares her story. This is a sensitive conversation…not for children.

This series of podcasts we are talking with Rochelle Ruiz, author, wife, singer-songwriter, speaker, and homeschool mom. Take some time for yourself to really listen to Rochelle’s story and how she has used challenges to go deeper into her relationship with God and how that translated into her parenting, life, and homeschooling. Rochelle has written two books, “Gotta Give it to God” and “Think on Good Things” available on Amazon. You can visit her website: www.rochellestjohnruiz.com to learn more about her and her ministry.

Rebecca Moan is a veteran homeschooling mom of 5 boys who homeschooled over the span of 23 years. She is currently an adjunct professor and part-time admissions coordinator for Free Lutheran Bible College in the Twin cities. She shares with us her 4 main thoughts about simplifying your homeschool.

Julia is a homeschool mom of 4 and a 2nd generation homeschooler who is passionate about giving kids the best start into adulthood. She shares with us her strategies for launching kids from home to life. She recommends resources from Dr. Kathy Koch https://celebratekids.com/about/

Leah talks about the fun ways to integrate music into your child’s education and family life even if you aren’t a “musical” person!

Leah continues to share the science and development importance of incorporating music into our children’s education. Here are links that were referenced in this episode: www.prodigies.com and www.hoffmanacademy.com

Leah is an enthusiastic music teacher and homeschooling mom who is sharing with us the science behind music in our children’s education and development.

We continue our conversation with Shaun and Julianna about ways parents can safely monitor and set up technology for homeschool and family. To see the information talked about in this episode, visit these links: https://www.bark.us/ https://www.verizon.com/solutions-and-services/verizon-smart-family/ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982 https://families.google/family link/

Today I am talking with Shaun and Julianna Carlson all about how they safely and creatively use technology with their homeschool and family. In this episode we discuss uses for technology and all the creative ways to help your child(ren) use it in their studies and life. For more information you can contact Shaun at [email protected] Some links that are talked about in this episode are: https://www.playosmo.com/ https://www.learning resources.com/shop/collections/botley https://classroom.google.com/

In this episode Dayle talks about her experience using nature and nature journaling with her children outdoors as well as sharing many ideas of easy things you can do with your child using nature to homeschool without them catching on that it’s “school”! Links to things talked about in this episode: nature journaling: https://www.journalbuddies.com/journal-prompts-writing-ideas/nature-writing-prompts-for-kids/ or https://youtu.be/NvfZpuy40iA leaf and flower pressing: https://empressofdirt.net/pressed-flower-projects/ Or https://youtu.be/NvfZpuy40iA butterfly and pollinator garden: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/residential-pollinator-habitat Or https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/flowers-pollinators Vine fort: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Architecture-Cedar-Expandable-Pyramid-Trellis/1003096508?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-LIA_LWN_243_Planters-And-Outdoor-Decor-_-1003096508-_-local-_-0-_-0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIopeWmO6p_gIVbxXUAR2CXgdbEAQYASABEgJcAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Bird feeders and bird baths DIY: https://happygardens.com/blogs/news/homemade-bird-bath-ideas Or https://youtu.be/UxiU53nNk_M

Kris Cox talks about getting started strong in homeschooling in Minnesota, from laws, reporting, curriculum, and just setting the atmosphere in your home. Links: https://hswithconfidence.com/7-steps-to-getting-started-with-homeschooling For legal info: https://mache.org/man-law/ or https://hslda.org/

Today I talk to Baird Johnson from Learning Rx. We discuss cognitive function and how that can effect learning and what parents can do to improve their child’s cognitive awareness. Learning Rx is providing MACHE members FREE online cognitive assessments for up to 4 of their children. This will provide insights into how your child’s brain works, which skills are strong or weak, and how you can h leap them learn more easily. Now through April 25th, you can register your children for this free test, which normally costs $149 per child! Click on the link below for the test: https://forms.gle/hYmpu8pLjbTcu1c68

Hear from Rob Prigge all about Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHÉ). We talk about the history of how MACHÉ started and the four branches of MACHÉ. Visit the website at www.mache.org

How do you help your child to find what their Giftings are? What do you do when a child wants to try something new? How do you champion your child in finding new opportunities? Join Dayle and Mark Annand as they share their experiences with homeschooling and raising their kids and what God has done with their gifts in their homeschooling journey.

Julie Johnson is the legislative director for MACHE. We will discuss what she does in the state capital on behalf of homeschooling families in Minnesota as well as give updates to important legislation happening right now. To be better informed about legislative happenings and to track bills that could effect homeschooling, visit and sign up for updates at https://mache.org/mache-legislative-watch/

The second part of my interview with Dolly Lowery from BrainyAct.

Today we talk with Dolly Lowery about homeschooling the neuro-diverse child. Dolly is the founder and CEO of BrainyAct which provides tech-enabled, patent-pending therapy programs via gamification for neurological disorders such as Autism, Dyslexia, and ADHD. For more information visit www.brainyact.com

Kelly Noah volunteers with Minnesota Council for Gifted and Talented in their CHOICES program.

Kelly Noah volunteers with Minnesota Council for Gifted and Talented in their CHOICES program. We discuss common markers to identify gifted kids, what to do if you feel your child is gifted, how to integrate your gifted child into homeschooling and so much more! Links to topic’s referenced: MCGT message board and calendar https://groups.io/g/mcgtchoices.net Choices website https://mcgt.net/choices MCGT identifying gifted https://mcgt.net/identifying-gifted Columbus Group https://educational advancement.org/what-is-gifted MCGT preschool Behaviors in Gifted Children https://mcgt.net/preschool-behaviors-in-gifted-children MCGT Gifted Professionals Directory https://mcgt.net/mn-gifted-professionals SENG https://www.sengifted.org MCGT CHOICES Homeschool Panel Talks, behind paywall https://mcgt.net/choices/videos The Ultimate Guide To Homeschooling Gifted Children https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-homeschooling-gifted-children/ TJEd Homeschooling the Gifted Child https://tjed.org/2016/12/homeschooling-gifted-child/