Episodes
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America is turning 250 β and there's never been a better time to bring US history to life in your homeschool. In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with Kelli Wilt and Amy Jones to explore practical, joyful ways homeschool families can celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence β from living history activities and patriotic family discussions to CC's Cycle 3 memory work and a sneak peek at the upcoming Foundations Curriculum 6th Edition.
Whether your children are preschoolers who just love a birthday party or older students ready to wrestle with what freedom really means, this conversation is full of ideas you can use this summer and all year long. Kelli shares how Cycle 3's American history memory work is perfectly timed for this milestone year, Amy offers hands-on activity ideas for the littlest learners, and the group unpacks a student essay contest open to all Essentials students for the 2026β27 school year β limited to exactly 776 words, naturally.
You don't have to have the perfect plan. Start with a flag, a story, and a question around the dinner table: What does freedom mean to your family?
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations Plus Online Learning Seminars
OLS provides a unique opportunity for adult learners to engage with rich, meaningful content through 4- to 6-week online seminars rooted in classical, Christian education. Each seminar is facilitated by experienced Classical Conversations graduate parents who have walked the homeschooling journey and bring real-world wisdom to their teaching.
To learn more about the CC Plus Online Learning Seminars or to begin your journey of pursuing your next season of learning, go to https://ccalumni.network/programs/ and scroll down to find OLS.
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Are you spending more energy on SAT scores than on your child's character β and wondering if you've got your priorities backward? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones sits down with 15-year CC veteran Rachel Thompson and co-host Delise Germond to make the case that true college readiness isn't built in a testing center β it's built in community, around the Word, one habit at a time.
Rachel shares what she's learned raising three CC kids β including a college senior β and why the skills colleges now prize most (resilience, collaboration, empathy, and perseverance) are the very things Classical Conversations builds from Foundations all the way through Challenge. From CC's community triangle to the Odyssey post-graduate program, Rachel and Delise walk through how classical Christian homeschooling quietly equips students for everything that comes after the diploma. Delise reflects on her own college experience β the misconceptions she carried in and the ones the Lord had to correct along the way β offering honest encouragement for moms who want to start well, even with a houseful of littles.
Whether your oldest is four or seventeen, this episode will refocus your homeschool on what actually matters: knowing God, seeking Him first, and trusting that the second things will follow. You don't need a perfect transcript. You need a child on a scavenger hunt for their Creator.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/products/the-habits-of-a-classical-education-practicing-the-art-of-grammar
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Missing episodes?
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What if the gift you've had since childhood was always meant to glorify God β you just didn't know it yet? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise sits down with Mercy Koimburi, a Kenyan Classical Conversations homeschool mom and professional photographer, to explore how creativity, faith, and classical education are more connected than you might think.
Mercy shares how she discovered photography at age 11, how she uses it to capture emotion and tell stories of family and faith, and why she believes God placed that gift in her long before she had a name for it. From the math hidden inside every great photo β hello, Fibonacci sequence! β to how CC's classical framework shows up through her lens, this conversation is full of warm encouragement for homeschool moms who want to nurture the gifts in themselves and in their children. Mercy also opens up about her CC community in Kenya, what homeschool days look like on the other side of the world, and the Bible verses that have carried her through the hard days of the journey.
Whether you have a budding young artist at home or you're still figuring out how your own gifts fit into your homeschool life, Mercy's story will leave you inspired and equipped. You don't have to have it all figured out β he gently leads those who have young. Tune in and be encouraged.
Find Mercy's photography work at: https://www.mercykoimburi.com/
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/products/the-habits-of-a-classical-education-practicing-the-art-of-grammar
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What does it take to win the National Memory Master competition? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Kelli Wilt sits down with Nikolai β the 2026 National Memory Master Champion β along with his parents Olga and Jim, to hear the story behind his win. From six years of Memory Master to competing aboard the CC Family Cruise in the Caribbean, Nikolai's journey is equal parts inspiring and practical.
Olga and Jim share how their family leaned on community support, creative study methods (including a hand-built 3D-printed timeline!), and the family motto of "we do hard things" to prepare Nikolai for the biggest memory competition in Classical Conversations. Whether your foundation student is thinking about entering next year or you just love a great homeschool win, this episode is packed with encouragement and real prep tips straight from the champion himself.
Nikolai's advice to future competitors? "Just go for it β and do it for the glory of God, not for the glory of you." Tune in and get ready to cheer.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core
Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" at https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/products/the-habits-of-a-classical-education-practicing-the-art-of-grammar
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Want to start a book club for your homeschool family this summer β but not sure where to begin? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey and her guest Stephanie Meter explore how book clubs for all ages can build community, spark rich conversations, and raise lifelong readers. Whether you have a one-year-old or a high schooler working through philosophy, there's a book club format that works for your family.
From practical tips on discussion questions and activities to how Classical Conversations' common topics framework can deepen any book discussion, this episode is packed with encouragement for homeschool moms ready to make reading a shared adventure.
You don't need a perfect plan β you need good books, good people, and maybe a snack. Tune in and get inspired to start reading together this summer!
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:
This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.
Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.
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In this episode of Everyday Educator, hosts Amy Jones and Delise Germond sit down with author Abbey Wedgeworth (Help, I'm Ruining My Kids) to talk about what every homeschool mom actually needs heading into summer β a soul that's as prepared as your curriculum. Together they explore gospel-centered motherhood, the hidden ways our own sin and unhealed wounds show up in our homeschools, and why community is the lifeline homeschool moms can't afford to skip.
Whether you're a new homeschool mom wrestling with your first year or a seasoned classical education parent facing a hard season, this conversation will remind you that the gospel is good news for your motherhood too β imperfections, meltdowns, and all.
Abbey also shares insights from her book Help, I'm Ruining My Kids: A Gospel Guide for the Mom Who's Desperate for Change β a must-read for any mom who's ever wondered if she's doing more harm than good.
Resources:
Abbey Wedgeworth's Website
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:
This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.
Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.
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Does traveling with your homeschool family feel overwhelming β or just out of reach? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with CC veterans Courtney Sanford (Delightful Art Company) and travel agent Julie Denton to share practical, budget-friendly travel tips for homeschool moms. From using Google Flights Explore to find cheap international flights, to tying family trips to your CC history cycle, to handling travel disasters with grace β this conversation will inspire you to take learning on the road.
Whether you're planning a big summer adventure or a local field trip, Courtney and Julie share decades of wisdom on how to make travel educational, affordable, and genuinely fun β even with little kids in tow. Plus: how to pack carry-on only, find insider tips from waiters, and why "obstacles" are really just good stories waiting to happen.
Their best tips include using Airbnb and VRBO internationally, leveraging travel credit card points, renting an RV for a US road trip, and the sticker-on-a-water-bottle souvenir hack your kids will love. Don't miss the Sound of Music tour story β you won't regret it.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Classical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line:
This April, Classical Conversations launched an exciting portfolio of new products designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.
Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today.
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Ever wondered who's behind the voices on the Everyday Educator podcast? In this special episode, meet the full host panel β Lisa Bailey, Amy Jones, Kelli Wilt, Emma Bortins, and Delise Germond β as they share their personal homeschooling journeys, why they said yes to Classical Conversations, and what keeps them going. From 25-year veterans to a second-generation homeschooler just getting started, this conversation is the encouragement every homeschool mom needs.
From the history of the podcast (started in 2015!) to a panel of five hosts with decades of combined CC experience, this episode is a warm reintroduction to the Everyday Educator community. Whether you're brand new or a longtime listener, you'll feel right at home.
Learn more about the classical homeschooling journey: π https://classicalconversations.com/blog/classical-education-curriculum/
ποΈ Love this episode? You'll enjoy our other podcast too! Check out Refining Rhetoric: https://refiningrhetoric.com/
π Find a CC Community Near You: https://classicalconversations.com/community-search/
π Upcoming CC Events: https://classicalconversations.com/events/
π Foundations Curriculum: https://classicalconversations.com/collections/foundations/
ποΈ CC Shoppable Catalog: https://classicalconversations.com/pages/shoppable-catalog/
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by: The Classical Fellowship
extends classical Christian formation into the years after Challenge, providing Christ-centered worldview formation, classical thinking skills, and Christ-centered community while graduates pursue their callingβ whether college, trade, missions, or vocation.
To learn more about the the Classical Fellowship or extend the classical conversation into your next chapter, go to https://ics.regfox.com/cc-plus-undergrad-live
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In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with her mother and longtime homeschooling veteran Chelly Barnard to talk about why reading is the single most important skill you can give your child. From raising reluctant readers and navigating learning challenges, to building a lifelong love of books through read-alouds and classical education β this conversation is packed with practical encouragement for every homeschool mom.
Chelly and Delise get honest about their own reading journeys β including what it looked like to struggle, to teach differently, and to fall in love with books later in life. You'll hear real strategies for helping kids who resist reading, advice on when to seek outside help, and why classical Christian education uniquely positions homeschool families to raise voracious, articulate readers.
The episode wraps with a rich list of book recommendations β from Fahrenheit 451 and Stepping Heavenward to Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter β plus a reference to Mortimer Adler's beloved essay "How to Mark a Book."
Whether your child loves reading or avoids it, this episode will encourage and equip you to make books a central part of your homeschool life.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" during the April sale!
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Did you know that art and math are speaking the same language β and your kids are already fluent? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Kirsty Gilpin and Babs Harrell β two of the women behind the Classical Conversations Math Map β to talk about why CC's homeschool math curriculum approaches every concept through the lens of art, and what that means for your family's math education.
Whether you're a self-proclaimed "not a math person" or a homeschool mom who wants more than a textbook, this conversation will reshape how you think about teaching math at home. Kirsty and Babs share how the Math Map connects shapes, symmetry, and dimensions to truth, beauty, and goodness β and ultimately, to God himself.
In this episode, you'll hear why even the most art-loving, math-avoiding parent can engage confidently with the CC Math Map, practical encouragement for where to start (hint: just talk about the booklet cover!), and why setting your highest math goal as "discovering God through math" changes everything.
Leigh Bortins' 2023 Math Map Book Club: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHxgkFMB45L23WKEks7BCNd3LBvJfIjVB&si=T5zP6gr_Rz69Phi5
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar" here during the April sale!
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What does intentional play actually look like for preschoolers β and how do you build a community around it? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey is joined by Sherry Castillo and Delise Germond to discuss how to host a Scribblers Playdate that nurtures the whole child: fine motor skills, faith, social-emotional growth, and a love of learning.
Whether you're a homeschool mom with a 4-year-old or a grandmother wanting to invest in your grandchildren, this conversation will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to gather your people.
In this episode you'll learn what the "scribbler" stage really is (ages 4β8), why play is the real work of childhood, how to structure a low-prep, high-impact playdate, the surprising fruit of multi-generational community, and why older moms hosting playdates is one of the most powerful gifts in a homeschool community.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by CC Graduate Degree in Latin Studies:
Classical Conversations is excited to announce the launch of our new accredited Graduate Program in Latin Studies, an 18-credit hour program designed specifically for homeschooling parents who want to deepen their understanding of classical Christian education in Latin writing and translation. This graduate program provides academic recognition for your dedication to classical learning while offering a pathway to advanced study in Latin through our partnership with Southeastern University.
Register today to secure your spot in this transformative educational experience. Click Here to Begin Your Classical Journey
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Do you ever feel like you're not qualified enough to teach your kids? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Kelli Wilt and Amy Jones sit down to explore how Classical Conversations' five core habits of grammar β naming, attending, memorizing, expressing, and storytelling β can transform the way homeschool moms approach any subject, including geography. Whether you're in Foundations or beyond, these practical tools will give you the confidence to teach well without needing to be the expert.
Kelli Wilt, Lead of Program Development for Classical Conversations Multimedia and longtime CC director and tutor, walks through each habit with real-life examples β from how children name stuffed animals to how National Memory Master finalists draw the entire world from memory. You'll come away with a fresh perspective on why classical education works and how to put it into practice at your kitchen table today.
Kelli and Amy also discuss how the five core habits apply far beyond geography β from chemistry labs to literature β equipping your children with lifelong learning skills that go with them wherever God leads.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of
Grammar" here during the April sale!
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What if the secret to classical homeschooling isn't the right curriculum β it's the right habits? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with Amy Jones and Kelli Wilt to introduce The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar. Together they unpack the five core habits of classical learning, why wonder is the foundation of a truly classical Christian education, and why this book works alongside any curriculum you're already using. Whether you've been homeschooling for a week or a decade, this conversation will remind you why you started.
Lisa Bailey opens by sharing a realization she came to after years of homeschooling her own daughters: the best homeschool days were the ones that were more about home than about school. That insight is at the heart of The Habits of a Classical Education, CC's newest resource β a book that helps families develop the rhythms and relationships that make learning come alive, whatever curriculum they're using.
Kelli Wilt, lead of program development at Classical Conversations, introduces the five core habits using the acronym NAMES: Naming, Attending, Memorizing, Expressing, and Storytelling. Her own strongest habits are storytelling and memorizing β skills she developed almost by accident on long van rides with her children, weaving family history and memory work into the journey without her kids ever realizing it was intentional. She's quick to note that the habits didn't come out of nowhere: they're the fruit of a decade of conversations about how God designed human beings to learn.
Amy Jones, who hosts the Everyday Educator and was a co-author of the book, admits that memorizing is her hardest habit β not because she doesn't value it, but because she had never fully appreciated how foundational it is until working on this book. Her insight is one of the episode's best: the habits aren't subjects. They're a spine, a way of approaching anything new. She walks listeners through the simple exercise of teaching a child something β anything β and noticing that naming, attending, memorizing, expressing, and storytelling show up naturally in every real act of learning.
The episode's most beautiful section comes when the conversation turns to wonder. Amy quotes a line she encountered in her reading: "You learn nothing without wonder." Wonder, she explains, is God's invitation to his world. It's not an extra. It's the engine. And the habits, properly practiced, don't just cultivate wonder in a child's natural areas of interest β they introduce children (and adults) to wonders they never knew they had. Creation is the curriculum, as Leigh Bortins says, and the habits are the way we learn to read it.
What You'll Learn
The five core habits of classical learning and the acronym that makes them easy to remember (NAMES) Why these habits aren't subjects β they're the way God designed every human being to learn Why the habits work alongside any curriculum you already own, not instead of it How Kelli and Amy each approach the habits differently β and what that means for your own family Why wonder is not a warm fuzzy feeling β it's an essential component of real education How the book is organized so that busy moms can read it in sections at soccer practice Why you don't have to be a perfect homeschooler for this to work β and what the book actually promises Why the habits apply to adults and older students too β not just little ones in the grammar stage What it means that education ought to be more about home than schoolingThis episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released The Habits of a Classical Educationβthe long-awaited successor to The Core. This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of Grammar here during the April sale!
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Your student is approaching Challenge 4 β and suddenly the words "senior thesis" are everywhere. What exactly is it? Who's involved? And how do you help without taking over? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with Timothy Knotts, Director of Challenge Development at Classical Conversations, and CC grad and Challenge 4 tutor Daniel Shirley to walk parents through every stage of the Senior Thesis project β from choosing a topic all the way to the live defense. Consider this your field guide.
Lisa opens by clarifying what the Senior Thesis actually is: a two-part project involving a research paper and a live defense in front of an audience that includes parents, peers, judges, and often extended family. It's one of the few programs in classical education that asks students to stand up, present what they've discovered, and answer unrehearsed questions in real time. Terrifying and wonderful, as Tim puts it.
The heart of the conversation is the question of how to choose a thesis topic β and both guests are emphatic: the topic must come from genuine passion. Daniel offers three examples of thesis statements students should avoid β "the government should not be involved in mental health," "the Bible is the most important book in history," and "toothpaste is very important for dental hygiene" β and explains what all three have in common: they're too broad, too generic, or too obvious to be genuinely arguable. Tim adds that the thesis must be arguable not just to others, but by the student themselves. If they're not wrestling with it, they're not discovering anything.
Tim offers a liberating reframe: the thesis statement itself is not set in stone. It should remain in conversation with the research and the writing all the way to the final draft. Students who discover they don't care about their topic two months before it's due β and try to start over β are usually headed for a train wreck. But students who remain open to refining their thesis as they learn more will find the process genuinely rewarding.
Daniel frames the whole project as an Odyssean adventure: navigating by stars, not by GPS. The path is imprecise and full of course corrections. That's not a bug β that's the point. The capstone is meant to ask the student to truly wonder and discover, not to prove what they already think.What You'll Learn
β’ What the Senior Thesis actually is: the two parts, the people involved, and what it's really preparing students for
β’ Why a thesis needs to be something the student can't not ask β and what happens when it isn't
β’ Three examples of bad thesis statements (and what makes them bad) so your student doesn't make the same mistakes
β’ Why the thesis should be treated like an adventure β not a dissertation
β’ How the thesis statement should stay in conversation with the research and writing, all the way to the end
β’ What parents should and shouldn't do β the vice of excess and the vice of deficiency
β’ How to use memoria to help your student find a topic they genuinely care about
β’ The role of a mentor (not the parent, not the director) and why the same question lands differently from different people
β’ Research avenues CC families may not know about: CC Plus, the Steelman Library at SEU, and Adler's Synopticon
β’ What book Tim recommends parents and students read together before Challenge 4 even beginsThis episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Classical Conversations just released "The Habits of a Classical Education"βthe long-awaited successor to "The Core." This resource helps you naturally integrate the Five Core
Habits into daily life, enabling classical, Christian education where relationships and
lifelong learning flourish.
It's here! Order your copy of "The Habits of a Classical Education: Practicing the Art of
Grammar" here during the April sale! -
Does homeschooling have you ready to quit? You're not alone β and you're not failing. In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey and 7-year Classical Conversations mom DeDe Adetutu get real about the winter doldrums, talk about why finishing strong actually matters, and share the practical strategies β and a little Yoruba wisdom β that have helped their families push through to the finish line. This one is equal parts encouragement and action plan. Lisa Bailey opens by naming what so many homeschool moms feel but rarely say out loud: February is hard. The holidays are over, the calendar looks long, and even families who genuinely love what they do can hit a wall. Her friend's confession β "I just want to quit" β wasn't a crisis. It was completely normal.
DeDe Adetutu jumps in with a key insight: the winter doldrums aren't random. They're the predictable aftermath of over-investing in holiday intentionality and under-investing in what comes next. We create the problem by making Christmas extraordinary and leaving January with nothing to look forward to. But she also offers a counter-perspective β maybe that emptiness isn't a problem to fix. Maybe it's rest. Winter isn't dead; it's dormant. And the ram, as DeDe's husband says, takes two steps back before charging forward.
The conversation gets practical fast. DeDe shares what her family has developed over seven years of CC: annual photo reviews with the family after Christmas that double as goal-setting sessions, cross-country training that teaches kids what finishing strong feels like in their bodies, inside jokes that double as one-word pep talks, and short interval study sprints that make the final weeks manageable. Lisa adds her own toolkit β 30-minute focused work blocks, purposeful rest days that involve serving others, and the occasional backwards day to break the monotony for younger kids.
What You'll Learn
β’ Why the winter doldrums are actually something we create for ourselves β and what to do about it
β’ Why finishing strong matters so much more than just getting to the end
β’ How a senior cross-country runner's wisdom about the hardest part of the race applies to your homeschool right now
β’ The Yoruba proverb DeDe's Nigerian husband shares with their family that reframes what rest is actually for
β’ Practical strategies for beating mid-year burnout: interval study sessions, backwards day, British accent memory work, and more
β’ Why it's okay to grieve unrealistic goals β and how to adjust them without quitting
β’ What a German exchange student's dance move taught DeDe's family about finishing strong
β’ Why seniors struggle to finish and what parents can do to help them stay present
β’ How a plate of Belgian chocolate and a foundations geography lesson became one of the year's best memories
β’ How Candyland might have been designed to teach kids how to handle disappointmentThis episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Summit MinistriesDo you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure,
and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with
the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not
just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world.
Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/ccClassical Conversations' new 2026 Product Line
This April, Classical Conversations is launching an exciting portfolio of new products
designed to strengthen math fluency, develop critical reasoning skills, and equip families
with practical tools for classical, Christian homeschooling. From flashcard resources and
reasoning curriculum to hands-on manipulatives and a foundational parent resource, these
releases deepen the classical learning journey for families at every level.
Visit ClassicalConversations.com/WhatsNew/ to explore the entire April 2026 product
collection and start strengthening your family's classical, Christian education today. Don't
miss the special CC Bookstore sale from April 7 - 28! -
You may already recognize his voice. For thousands of Classical Conversations families, Charles Hall β known simply as "Internet Grandpa" β has become one of the most beloved figures in the homeschool community, reading rich living books aloud on YouTube and blessing families he has never met. In this episode of the Everyday Educator, host Kelli Wiltsits down with Mr. Hall to talk about how it all started, what it means to hear a human voice read a story, and what happens when faithful work runs into unexpected obstacles.
Charles Hall never set out to become Internet Grandpa. It started simply β reading picture books on YouTube so his grandchildren, scattered from Florida to Pittsburgh, could hear his voice. He made the videos unlisted at first, then figured there was no harm in making them public. What followed was something he never anticipated.
CC families discovered his recordings, and comments began pouring in β parents of struggling readers, moms multitasking through housework, kids making the transition from Foundations into Challenge who needed a warm, steady voice to carry them through books like The Secret Garden and Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. His subscriber count passed the number of friends and family, and Internet Grandpa was born.
Kelli opens the episode by sharing her own family's story β her daughter found Mr. Hall's recordings at exactly the right moment, helping her step into independence as a learner while her mom worked nearby. It's the kind of testimony that appears again and again in his comment section.
The conversation turns to why the human voice matters so much. Mr. Hall connects it all the way back to the womb β children hear their parents' voices before they are born, and that bond between voice and love is something no machine can replicate. Jesus, he notes, did most of his ministry through storytelling. People haven't changed much in 2,000 years.
He closes with a story about his son Christopher β a boy who hated reading, until his dad started leaving him at cliffhangers. One night his wife found Christopher in bed with a flashlight, finishing the chapter himself. That's what Internet Grandpa hopes for every child who hears his voice.
What You'll Learn:
- How a grandfather reading Narnia to his kids 40 years ago eventually became a YouTube ministry for thousands
- Why stories told by a human voice still matter in an age of AI β and what children hear even before they are born
- How Internet Grandpa's recordings have helped struggling readers, busy moms, and kids transitioning into CC Challenge
- The cliffhanger trick he used to turn his reluctant reader son into a flashlight-under-the-covers reader
- How to support, pray for, and stay connected with Internet Grandpa right now
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/@InternetGrandpa
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Summit Ministries
Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure,
and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with
the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not
just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world.
Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/cc
Timestamps
00:00 β Welcome and Introduction
01:06 β How Did Internet Grandpa Begin? The Origin Story
01:53 β Reading Narnia to His Kids β 40 Years Before YouTube
02:22 β Recording for Grandkids Far Away and Going Public
03:05 β How CC Families Discovered Him
03:29 β Kelly's Personal Story: How Her Daughter Was Blessed by His Recordings
04:20 β What Drew Him to CC Challenge Books
06:03 β Early Books: The Secret Garden, Carry On Mr. Bowditch, Number the Stars
06:43 β When He Realized He Had Become Internet Famous
07:12 β The Comments That Have Encouraged Him Most
08:01 β Why Reading Aloud Still Matters: Stories, Hearts, and the Art of Attending
08:20 β Why Jesus Told Stories β and Why People Haven't Changed
09:52 β Why a Human Voice Is Different from AI
10:32 β What Children Hear Before They Are Born
11:41 β How He Hopes These Recordings Support Parents at Home
12:24 β Adventures in Odyssey, Car Trips, and Multitasking Moms
12:46 β What He Hopes Children Remember Years from Now
13:57 β The Demonetization Challenge: What Happened and What It Means
15:01 β The Difficult Decisions Demonetization Has Created
16:50 β Rumble and Patreon: Exploring New Platforms
19:09 β What the Ideal Platform Would Look Like
22:04 β How to Support Internet Grandpa Right Now
24:52 β What He Has Learned Through This Season of Difficulty
25:36 β Trusting God When the Path Is Unclear
27:48 β An Encouragement to All CC Families: Cultivate a Love of Books
28:15 β The Story of His Son Christopher and the Flashlight Under the Covers
30:06 β Prayer Requests and How to Stay Connected
31:15 β Where to Find Internet Grandpa: YouTube, Facebook, and CC Connected
31:50 β Closing Words from Kelly and a Final TTFN from Mr. Hall
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What if the most important thing you teach your child has nothing to do with curriculum? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Emma Bortins sits down with her mother-in-law and Classical Conversations founder Leigh Bortins to discuss the ideas behind her new book, The Habits: Practicing the Art of Grammar. Together they explore how naming, attending, memorizing, expressing, and storytelling build the foundational habits that help children β and homeschool families β truly flourish. If you're a homeschool mom looking for a classical Christian approach to raising lifelong learners, this conversation is for you.
Leigh opens by sharing how it took her twelve years of homeschooling to truly understand what her husband had been telling her all along β that what children need most is consistency. It wasn't until she had a second set of young boys while her older sons were teenagers that the power of habits became undeniable. The routines she had built into Robert and John made it possible to keep the family functioning; without them, the whole thing would have fallen apart.
From that personal foundation, the conversation moves into the heart of the book: a framework of five habits β naming, attending, memorizing, expressing, and storytelling β that Leigh calls the building blocks of a grammar education. These aren't abstract academic concepts. They're what every good mother already does instinctively: naming the dog, teaching a toddler not to touch the stove, helping a child memorize where mom will be in Walmart. The point is to recognize these habits, name them, and practice them with intention.
The episode takes a fascinating turn when Emma asks about AI and technology. Leigh's position is clear: children under 12 don't need screens at all. Not because technology is inherently evil, but because children who never learn to entertain themselves, sit still, or be alone with their thoughts will struggle with self-control for the rest of their lives β with or without technology. The habits of self-governance have to come first.
The episode closes with Leigh's single most important piece of advice for new homeschoolers: find a mentor. Not a curriculum. Not a method. A person who seems to be doing it well and is willing to let you watch.
What You'll Learn
- What the art of grammar actually means β and why it's about far more than memorization
- The five core habits of the grammar stage: naming, attending, memorizing, expressing, and storytelling
- Why Leigh says attending is the one habit she'd tell every family to start practicing today
- How habits shape not just academic ability but character, self-control, and spiritual formation
- Why parents need to self-assess their own habits before they can effectively pass them on
- What Leigh thinks about AI and technology β and her recommendation for families with children under 12
- Why feeling inadequate to homeschool is universal β and why it's not actually the obstacle you think it is
- How the habits formed in the grammar years show up years later in college anatomy and chemistry courses
- Where to find Leigh online and which books to read alongside The Habits
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Summit Ministries
Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure, and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world. Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/cc
Timestamps
00:00 β Welcome and Introduction
02:22 β Leigh's Reaction to Being Interviewed by Her Daughter-in-Law
03:10 β What Took So Long to Understand: The Role of Habits in Homeschooling
04:13 β How a Second Set of Young Boys Changed Everything
05:14 β What Her Husband Was Saying All Along β and When She Finally Heard It
06:40 β What Is the Art of Grammar? Beyond Memorization
07:33 β The Five Habits: Naming, Attending, Memorizing, Expressing, Storytelling
09:33 β Expressing and Storytelling in Everyday Family Life
10:19 β What Happens in Families Without Habits
12:04 β Emma's Daughter and the "Tell Stories, Dance" Moment
13:49 β It's Not Just What Students Know β It's How They Learn
15:45 β The One Habit That Distinguishes Flourishing Students: Self-Control
17:08 β Parents Must Self-Assess First: More Is Caught Than Taught
18:47 β Sitting on Daddy's Lap: Three Very Different Experiences
19:50 β Slowing Down in a World That Moves Too Fast
20:15 β AI, Technology, and Homeschooling with Humans
21:19 β Leigh's Recommendation: No Screens for Children Under 12
23:14 β Having the Conversation with Your Kids About Why
24:15 β How Habits Shape Character, Not Just the Mind
25:23 β You're Not Being Raised for Yourself β You're Being Raised to Serve
26:06 β The Story of Jonah's Timeout and What It Revealed About Siblings
27:15 β The Connection Between Intellectual Habits and Spiritual Formation
29:09 β How to Cultivate Spiritual Habits at Home: Find a Mentor
31:27 β There's No Single Answer β Fit the Liturgy to Your Family's Schedule
31:58 β Encouragement for Parents Who Feel Inadequate to Homeschool
33:55 β What Second-Generation Homeschoolers Bring to the Table
37:03 β If You Could Only Start One Habit: Attending
38:09 β Situational Awareness and Why It Matters for Everything
40:35 β How Early Habits Prepare Students for Logic, Rhetoric, and College
41:47 β What CC Students Say When They Call Home from College
42:32 β Thank You, Closing Thoughts, and Where to Find Leigh
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Is pushing for Memory Master worth it β and what happens if your child doesn't make it? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones sits down with veteran CC moms Courtney Bradshaw and Tunrade Schumann to talk about how to challenge your kids with Classical Conversations memory work without overwhelming them or pushing too hard. Whether you're aiming for Memory Master, Subject Master, or just want your child to engage more deeply with the Foundations curriculum, this conversation is full of warm, practical wisdom for every homeschool family.
Tunrade shares how her family dove headfirst into Memory Master from day one, with all four kids eventually earning the title β and each one also having that one hard year where it didn't quite come together. Those years, she says, turned out to be among the most valuable. Her daughter once went back as a Challenge A student to earn the one cycle she'd missed years earlier, simply because it still mattered to her. Tunrade herself has spent the last two years earning Mom Memory Master alongside her kids, with a third planned as her capstone.
Courtney offers a beautifully different perspective β her family never completed community Memory Master, but has celebrated Subject Masters, a "Master Swordsman" scripture challenge, and countless informal moments where the content showed up in unexpected ways: a college Western Civ class, a Challenge speech, a paper. She's candid about the seasons of life β including adopting three children mid-journey β that meant mom simply wasn't available, and why that's okay.
The conversation turns practical in the back half, with both moms sharing specific tips: starting with six weeks of consistent daily review, using CDs and flip books for independent study, leveraging Christmas break to tackle early weeks, pairing up with another Memory Master family for accountability and fun, and tailoring review methods to each child's learning style. Motivation strategies include review game parties, community check-ins, and Tunrade's beloved family tradition: a full week of unlimited screen time after Memory Master β which, she notes, usually loses its charm by day two.
The episode closes with a reminder that the real reward isn't the blue shirt. It's a child who knows how they learn, trusts their own mind, and isn't afraid of hard things.
What You'll Learn:
- The full Memory Master continuum β from Subject Master all the way to the National Memory Master Contest
- How two experienced CC families approached Memory Master very differently β and both thrived
- Why the hidden benefits of Memory Master have almost nothing to do with memorization
- What to do when life gets hard and Memory Master just isn't happening this year
- Practical, age-by-age tips for making memory work fun (trampolines, hopscotch, hand motions & more)
- How to use Christmas break strategically to get ahead on proofs
- Creative ways to celebrate and motivate kids through the February doldrums
- Why kids who earn Memory Master aren't scared of hard things later in life
- How Tunrade earned Mom Memory Master β and why Courtney is already eyeing it for her last round
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Summit Ministries
Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure,
and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with
the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not
just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world.
Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/cc
Timestamps
00:00 β Welcome & Introduction
00:22 β Amy's Homeschool Journey & Why This Topic Matters
00:48 β The Memory Master Continuum: Subject Master to National Contest
03:39 β Meet Courtney Bradshaw: 12 Years of CC, Academic Advisor & 7 Kids
06:30 β Meet Tunrade Schumann: 12 Years of CC, Social Media Director & Graduating Her First
09:18 β What It Means to "Graduate" as a CC Mom
12:09 β Why the Memory Content Is So Rich (and Funny College Moments)
13:21 β Tunrade's Family Memory Master Journey: All Four Kids, Every Cycle
15:09 β Mom Memory Master: When Your Kid Proofs You
16:15 β The Hard Year Every Child Had β and What They Learned From It
18:14 β How a Challenge A Student Went Back for the Cycle She Missed
20:06 β Courtney's Journey: Subject Masters, a Scripture Challenge & Meeting Kids Where They Are
25:28 β Subject Master Deep Dive: Latin, Geography & Leaning Into What They Love
28:34 β It's Not All or Nothing: Finding the Right Level for Your Family
30:33 β Practical Tips: How and When to Start Preparing for Memory Master
32:05 β Making Memory Work Fun: Trampolines, Hopscotch, Hand Motions & More
33:09 β Using Christmas Break to Get Ahead on Proofs
35:39 β Learning Styles: Why What Works for One Child Won't Work for Another
38:55 β The Proofing Timeline: What to Expect and When
40:09 β Keeping Kids Motivated Through the February Doldrums
41:35 β Review Games, Study Dates & Building Friendships Through Memory Master
44:09 β How Tunrade's Family Celebrates: The Week of Unlimited Screen Time
45:14 β The Real Reward: Kids Who Know How They Learn and Aren't Scared of Hard Things
46:33 β Closing Encouragement & Finding Your CC Community
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Is progressive Christianity coming for your kids β and would you even recognize it if it was? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones and co-host Emma Bortins sit down with author and apologist Alisa Childers to unpack what progressive Christianity actually is, why it appeals to young people, and how Christian homeschool parents can equip their children to stand firm in biblical truth. If you're raising kids in today's cultural climate, this conversation is one you can't afford to miss.
Alisa shares her own story of encountering progressive Christianity through a pastor who slowly dismantled core doctrines of the faith, and how that crisis ultimately led her to study apologetics and write Another Gospel. She offers a clear definition of progressive Christianity β not by what it affirms, but by what it denies: substitutionary atonement, the authority of Scripture, the reality of hell, and the exclusivity of Christ.
The conversation turns to the younger generation and how moral relativism has become the dominant worldview of Gen Z, making it harder than ever for kids to understand why biblical truth isn't just "your opinion." From there, the hosts dig into practical parenting strategies: why it's not enough to shelter kids, why you should actually show them progressive content and work through it together, and how modeling confidence in your faith can be more powerful than having a perfect answer.What You'll Learn:
- What progressive Christianity is β and the core doctrines it quietly denies
- Why young people are so susceptible to progressive theology and deconstruction
- How social media (including random TikTok videos) is influencing your kids' faith
- Why the definition of "truth" may be the most important conversation you have with your child
- A practical, age-by-age strategy for building spiritual resilience at home
- How to show your kids progressive Christian content without it rattling their faith
- Why holding a biblical sexual ethic feels different for Gen Z than it did for previous generations
- The best apologetics resources for parents and students β including Alisa's new student edition00:00 β Introduction & Welcome
00:29 β Introducing Alisa Childers: Author, Apologist & CCM Artist
02:18 β About Another Gospel & the Student Edition
03:09 β Alisa's Personal Story: How She Encountered Progressive Christianity
06:04 β What Is Progressive Christianity? Definitions & Core Denials
11:13 β Tracing the Gospel Arc: Where Progressive Christianity Goes Off the Rails
15:02 β Social Justice, Marxism & What Unites Progressive Christians
16:14 β Is Progressive Christianity Growing? What the Data Doesn't Show
21:21 β The Most Important Word: How You Define "Truth" Changes Everything
24:06 β Insulin or Ice Cream: Teaching Objective vs. Subjective Truth
28:40 β Loving Your Kids' Friends While Holding a Biblical Sexual Ethic
30:03 β Identity, Sexuality & Untying the Knots for the Younger Generation
36:06 β Social Media & Progressive Christianity: Where the Influence Is Coming From
40:10 β Practical Strategies: How to Raise Spiritually Resilient Kids at Home
44:25 β It's Okay Not to Have All the Answers: Modeling Faith Under Pressure
47:36 β Secondary Issues, Wrestling with Scripture & Holding Things in Tension
48:38 β Recommended Resources for Parents & Students
52:01 β Closing Thoughts: The Beauty of the True GospelResources:
https://alisachilders.com/
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Summit Ministries
Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure,
and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with
the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not
just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world.
Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/cc -
In this episode of Everyday Educator, host Lisa Bailey is joined by Amy Jones and Ginny Tran to explore why memorizing matters β for your children and for you. From scripture memory to poetry and classical memory work, discover how memorization builds wisdom, shapes character, and hides beauty in your heart for life.
Amy and Ginny share their earliest memories of memorizing β from singing the books of the Bible at church to reciting Twas the Night Before Christmas by the warmth of a mother's voice β and what those moments reveal about how our brains and hearts learn together. Lisa adds her own stories along the way, including the surprising moment a long-forgotten song came back word-for-word on a Valentine's Day drive.
But this conversation goes far deeper than memory work checklists. They unpack why the environment of learning matters just as much as the content, how music plants truth in the mind like an earworm that never leaves, and why memorizing whole passages of Scripture β not just isolated verses β can train our children to think alongside Paul, alongside John, and ultimately, alongside God himself.
Whether you're in the thick of Memory Master season or simply looking for fresh motivation to make memorization meaningful in your homeschool, this episode will leave you inspired to see memory work for what it truly is: not a box to check, but a treasure to hide in the heart.
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:
Summit Ministries
Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure,
and friends and faith for life? Summit's Student Conferences equip young Christians with
the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today's world. It's not
just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today's world.
Visit summit.org/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org/cc
The Classical Conversations Alumni Network
The Classical Conversations Alumni Network is a vibrant community space that builds bridges between CC families and graduates, provides exclusive professional opportunities, and highlights inspirational stories. CC families and graduates will be encouraged and anchored in a supportive community that celebrates the Classical Conversations journey long after Challenge IV.
Become a member of the Alumni Network today! Learn more by going to https://ccalumni.network/
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