Bookend Homeschoolers
Two homeschoolers bring you real help for right now! Mindy and Rachel represent both ends of the homeschooling bookends! Mindy Brouse brings over twenty years of homeschooling having graduated three and educating four at home still and Rachel Cole brings two years of enthusiasm to the show while she homeschools her four children. Every episode will bring you homeschooling moments, a topic to consider, ways to apply the topic to you, and an encouragement to put to use as soon as you are done listening! Join the bookends and boost your homeschooling to a new level! Welcome to Bookend Homeschooling!
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S2E39 Bookend Homeschoolers Podcast Finale
05/01/2022
S2E39 Bookend Homeschoolers Podcast Finale
We enjoyed every episode of Bookend Homeschoolers. Sharing with you, discussing subjects, and tackling topics that we face as homeschoolers, from the Near and Far Bookend views has been a delight. In our podcast finale, we bring you some special thoughts to end our show. 1:40 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (Sam’s improvement with therapy and excitement for reading) 2:57 HSMotW: Mindy (Paul Louis and the mug warmer resurrection) 5:39 Best part of being a Near Bookend: Rachel 7:30 Best part of being a Far Bookend: Mindy 9:40 9:55 What I wish every Near Bookend Knew: Rachel 11:07 What I wish every Far Bookend Knew: Mindy 13:05 My favorite parts of doing the podcast: Rachel 14:47 My favorite parts of doing the podcast: Mindy 16:00 Which episodes I wish everyone would listen to: Rachel 16:58 All guest episodes :) 16:34 17:47 S 18:50 Which episodes I wish everyone would listen to: Mindy 18:54 every single episode :) 19:14 19:47 20:36 21:25 21:30 22:26 23:51 Listen to all of the episodes 25:18 Memorable Moments: Rachel 28:00 Memorable Moments: Mindy 28:30 S HSMotW 29:13 Bonus Episode 29:34 32:50 What I haven’t gotten to say: Rachel 33:17 What I haven’t gotten to say: Mindy on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E38 Listener Requests!
04/24/2022
S2E38 Listener Requests!
This episode we answered questions sent in by listeners. A wide variety of topics here for you today… behavior, curriculum, guilt, storage, and interference. We were honored to chat about your requests! 1:37 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Mindy (PL getting the Tender Heart Award) 3:05 HSMotW: Rachel (Zeke and his map skills) 4:56 Question 1: How and when would we step in with another teacher with our kids? 7:15 11:30 Question 2: What do we keep? 16:46 Question 3: How do we keep kids from fighting all day and how can we homeschool if our kids can’t get along? 24:52 Question 4: When do I start looking for a different curriculum? 25:57 25:03 29:17 Question 5: How do we handle guilt if we can’t make homeschooling work? 30:09 S 30:28 on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E37 C'mon, Audiobooks Don't Count as Reading, Right?
04/17/2022
S2E37 C'mon, Audiobooks Don't Count as Reading, Right?
Readers around the world debate this topic and homeschoolers are no exception! For our last regular episode for the podcast, we talk audiobooks verses print and ebooks. Where do you fall in the discussion? Hear us out (see what we did there?)! 2:10 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (puppy food teaching) 4:26 HSMotW: Mindy (Esther and Drawing 1 in dual enrollment) 6:22 Topic Talk: Print vs Audiobooks! 7:10 Benefits of audiobooks 12:56 13:45 Research to support audiobooks 20:56 Recognize our issues in accepting this 25:32 (to check out the audiobook apps) 26:41 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (choose an audiobook for the fam and one for you) 28:48 Make It Personal: Far Bookends (if you still aren’t convinced, read the research) 30:14 YA helps reluctant readers 30:30 Audiobook narration speed chat on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG Some of the research for you to peruse: T
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S2E36 Bullying, Building Confident Kids, and Bridging the Communication Gap for Big Topics with Guest Adam Brooks
04/10/2022
S2E36 Bullying, Building Confident Kids, and Bridging the Communication Gap for Big Topics with Guest Adam Brooks
What an episode we have for you this week! It ended up twice the length because we just couldn’t delete any of the good info Adam brought us, but it’s more than worth it… we promise! Today we have Adam Brooks on the show to share with us about bullying and all that is involved, can lead up to it, how to handle it, how to prepare our kids for it, and more. Seriously, this may be our best episode. Listen to every minute, even if you have to break it up, because you will learn so much and add to your parenting tool bag in many many ways! We have some powerful, humorous, and amazing Homeschooling Moments the Week to start you off. 0:50 Guest: 1:13 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (Sam stepping in to defend Gideon) 4:10 HSMotW: Adam (sitting through a 5th grade music concert) 5:12 HSMotW: Mindy (hearing humpback whales under water) 6:17 Adam Brooks: Speaker, Educator, Advocate, & Communication Enthusiast 7:00 Topic Talk: Bullying+ 7:15 Wrong mindset that can make bullying unexpected 8:41 Types of bullying 8:55 Terms to clarify: drama, bullying, and harassment 11:52 Problems with zero tolerance policy 13:00 How can parents lessen the risk of bullying, if anything? 17:30 How many times do we need to talk about big topics? 19:00 Compounded conversations are the worst 20:00 A big tip to help our kids talk to us about big topics 22:36 When should you talk about big topics? 25:26 by Julie Lythcott-Haims 26:00 Big topic help for family communication 50:31 A problem with us, questions, and kids 33:25 What are signs that our kids are being bullied? 35:00 How to navigate when kids don’t want to talk a change in their behavior? 38:00 What if we are coming to this late in our kids’ bullying experience? 42:00 What can we say/do if the bullying is happening? Cheerleader vs Coach vs Referee 44:35 Also, and! Not Yes, but! 46:00 Group/crowd bullying and instigator(s) 48:30 by Dr. Michele Borba 50:25 What should we avoid doing? 54:00 Rachel shares a personal struggle in their home, knowing others may relate: How to handle when one child is provoked by a sibling intentionally to get responses AND cause the other child to be the “bad kid” ? 56:25 by Cultures of Dignity by Cultures of Dignity 57:25 Teaching kids to recognize their cues, triggers, feelings, etc. and what to do to help work stress, anger, frustration out 59:30 59:44 Why we shouldn’t have our sons write down what happened, they felt, etc. 1:01 How oxytocin affects us in being able to rationally talk through something and the only two things that can bring that hormone level down on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG Adam Brooks on and and at If you work at a school/center/camp/RTC, we humbly suggest you hire Adam for a talk. Or two.
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s2E35 Dictation: What, Why, and How
04/03/2022
s2E35 Dictation: What, Why, and How
Listener requested episode, part 2! Aubree asked about narration and dictation and we love these tools, so here is a discussion on dictation. 1:30 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Mindy (Paul Louis persevering and succeeding at logic work) 3:18 HSMotW: Rachel (puppy labor and delivery) 7:27 Topic Talk: Dictation 7:33 7:45 What is dictation? 9:21 How Mindy has used dictation 12:03 How Rachel has used dictation 21:00 Why it’s ok for a discrepancy between use of grammar and dictation 23:04 Remember what you are focusing on at the time 25:18 Make It Personal: Far Bookends (“test” your older kids by having them try a dictation via dictating a text to them) 26:08 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (start dictation via a grocery list) on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E34 Q&A Follow Up on Homeschooling Kids with Learning Disabilities with Guest Heather Scwarzen
03/27/2022
S2E34 Q&A Follow Up on Homeschooling Kids with Learning Disabilities with Guest Heather Scwarzen
We had such great conversations with Heather Schwarzen that we had her back for a Q&A from listeners! Hear some GREAT tips, plus some doggie doula, spices, and finicky kid talk! 1:35 1:36 1:52 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (dog in labor and being a doggie doula) 3:00 HSMotW: Heather (reorganizing a kitchen cabinet and the 9yo alphabetizing all the spices) 4:15 HSMotW: Mindy (Jubilee’s pickiness and success with the ) 4:18 Heather shared about in S2E28 6:30 Topic Talk: Q&A on homeschooling kids with learning disabilities 6:33 Q1: How to handle family pressure? 9:00 13:15 Q2: How to help other kids understand the time needs of the one child? 17:32 Q3: How to help a kid who refuses to sit still and do school? 21:54 Q4: How to get with a private therapist for an evaluation? 24:33 Q5: When do you give up on certain skills? 28:30 Q6: What to do if a (speech) therapist doesn’t like your child? 32:12 Q7: What to do about sleep issues? on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG Heather Schwarzen at on IG
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S2E33 Talking About War in Our Homeschooling
03/20/2022
S2E33 Talking About War in Our Homeschooling
Sometimes current events dictate the topic of Bookend Homeschoolers. Mindy & Rachel discuss teaching and talking about war in our history teaching and then about current wars, especially Ukraine and Russia. We DO start with some sweet and funny Homeschooling Moments of the Week, though. 1:11 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (Sam reading to Grace for the first time) 2:21 HSMotW: Mindy (not PL with an airsoft gun on the balcony; Jubilee asking why) 3:53 Topic Talk: Invasion of Ukraine inspires thinking about how we teach about war 3:56 Talking about war while teaching history 12:58 HSMotW for Mindy and Rachel both involved Ukraine in S2E32 13:11Talking about Ukraine and Russia’s war 32:00 Make It Personal: Far Bookends (google current wars 2022 and discuss the list) 32:50 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (research ways to help Ukraine and involve our kids) on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E32 Narration: What, Why, & How
03/13/2022
S2E32 Narration: What, Why, & How
Another listener requested episode for you this week! Mindy & Rachel think there is one educational tool that brings the biggest bang for your buck and … it’s FREE! Aubree asked for us to delve into narration and we were happy to oblige! 1:45 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Mindy (PL knowing where Ukraine is and discussing current events) 2:00 S2E30 How to Reboot Your Day 3:30 HSMotW: Rachel (learning where Ukraine is having conversations about current events) 4:40 Topic Talk: Narration 5:05 Definition of narration 6:24 Use at any age 6:32 History of use in education 7:15 Why it is useful 8:00 How to do it 9:17 Use in special education, calling it narrative instruction 14:00 Charlotte Mason’s goals 14:11 John Locke’s goals 14:20 Comenius’ goals 15:07 The hardest part of narration for Mindy 15:52 The hardest part of narration for Rachel 16:32 19:08 It’s a gateway to conversations 19:22 Ways kids can do their narration 21:00 How to start 23:15 The more you do it, the more you benefit 27:04 Have your kids narrate where you left off in the read aloud before you start 29:03 Make It Personal: Far Bookend (have our high schoolers narrate and get a pass on writing) 29:47 Make It Personal: Near Bookend (make a commitment this week to do it once a day) 30:37 View from the (Near) Bookend: narration journals as a part of family life on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E31 Adding YA to Our Homeschooling with Guest Jeff Zentner
03/06/2022
S2E31 Adding YA to Our Homeschooling with Guest Jeff Zentner
*Please note that many products linked are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!* We are super excited to share this episode with Jeff Zentner with you! Jeff is a YA author with four books in his catalog and two of them best sellers! Those same two made it on to Mindy’s Top 21 of 2021 (she read 189 books, so that’s a big deal to her). Jeff shares what YA brings to the table that other books often don’t. You may be surprised at what you hear and some of it may challenge you. We’d love for you to hear why including YA novels in our homeschooling plans can have long term benefits. 1:00 best selling author of YA novels and 1:15 Currently Reading Podcast 1:50 Matinee 2:00 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (puppy birthing needs hay) 3:00 3:05 3:34 HSMotW: Mindy (Jubilee pre-writing skills and “writing” stories) 4:20 HMotQ: Jeff (snuggles and reading at home after being away) 5:20 Topic Talk: Including YA in our homeschooling plans 7:25 Writing about living in the South 10:20 How Jeff describes YA to us 11:39 14:00 What does YA have to offer in our homeschooling? 14:13 YA is great for drawing in reluctant readers 15:00 Teens can see themselves reflected in YA books 15:14 YA books are hopeful 17:00 Can YA be for families who are more conservative in their kids’ reading selections? 18:28 Julie Berry 18:38 18:44 18:50 19:00 21:31 The Lunar Chronicles ( is book #1) 21:33 The Selection Series ( is book #1) 21:45 YA can be a gateway to conversations 22:23 YA helps us remember how things actually felt during our teen years 23:55 How Jeff incorporates reading in his family life 25:33 25:36 25:40 25:55 Does Jeff think about topics he wants to address in his books? 27:00 How Jeff feels about and treats teens 29:30 Which of Jeff’s characters is most like him? 29:44 Why Jeff doesn’t write himself on the page 30:44 Benefits of Easter Eggs in novels 32:06 How Jeff is involved with the narrators for his audiobooks 33:06 Angela’s question for Jeff 33:27 33:29 33:45 by Kelly Loy Gilbert 33:51 by Jessie Ann Foley 34:07 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (start reading YA) 35:02 MIP: Far Bookends (read a YA with your kid) 33:57 Bookend Homeschoolers Reading Guides: , , 33: 45 Jeff’s novels: , , , and (List created by Book Series Recaps) 36: 47 View from the (Far) Bookend: show value to each season of our kids’ lives, including late teenhood (If you have read The Serpent King, we have a fun bonus at the end of the show) on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG Jeff Zentner , , and
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S2E30 How to Reboot a Homeschooling Day
02/27/2022
S2E30 How to Reboot a Homeschooling Day
We often find ourselves in the midst of a bad day as homeschoolers. Today, we share ideas on how to reboot those days! Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (had to reboot a day, but did so successfully!) HSMotW: Mindy (Jubilee, “Go home.” “You. go.”) 4:35 5:00 Topic Talk 5:23 What most often creates the need for a reboot? 7:37 First idea to reboot: talk a walk, literally. 8:55 Check out her family walk photos 9:45 Second idea: dance party of all varieties 10:05 Create playlists! 10:26 (just in case you’re the last family to not have heard this amazingly addictive song) 11:44 Third idea: switch up locations! 12:44 12:53 Fourth idea: (especially for subject reboot) use a timer and alternate between work and fun 14:42 Fifth idea: designate a new teacher 16:23 Sixth idea: put phones in jail 17:38 Seventh idea: set up a play date/hang out/phone a friend 20:30 Eighth idea: stop, drop, grab a book 21:39 Ninth idea: easy craft of any kind 23:48 Tenth idea: lean into the fine arts of music also 23:56 24:00 24:11 Twelfth idea: prevention by thinking what causes need for reboot 27:00 Are we the reason for reboots? 28:54 Help walk our kids through the need for self-regulation 29:38 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (scope our a nature walk to have ready for a reboot) 30:37 Make It Personal: Far Bookends (create a list in Notes on your phone with your preferred reboot ideas) on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E29 1st vs 7th: Homeschooling Edition
02/20/2022
S2E29 1st vs 7th: Homeschooling Edition
Does our homeschooling change from the 1st to the 7th kid? Let’s see! Rachel interviewed Mindy for today’s episode to hear what, why, and how her homeschooling looks like from year one to year twenty-three. We start off with some sickness and Olympics centered HSMotW and have a few funny stories for you also. 1:44 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Mindy (kids caring for Jubilee and Paul with COVID well while she was gone) 2:39 S2E 2:42 S1E28 3:04 HSMotQ: Rachel ( Olympic snow boarder from Mt. Shasta!) 6:97 Topic Talk: Mindy’s 1st vs 7th Homeschooling Edition Interview 6:34 Something you felt was a hill to die on and now don’t? 8:40 What do you wish you had done better as a Near Bookend? 10:04 11:35 Any materials you still use 23 years later? 11:40 Ticonderoga pencils 11:55 products (out of print) 16:13 How has Paul’s role changed from the 1st vs 7th? 16:35 Bonus Episode 2 22:24 Any yellow school bus day dreams? 26:42 Noah wanting a school themed birthday party 28:00 How has your homeschooling philosophy changed? on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E28 Homeschooling Kids With Intensive Cognitive Disabilities GUEST Heather Scwarzen
02/13/2022
S2E28 Homeschooling Kids With Intensive Cognitive Disabilities GUEST Heather Scwarzen
We have a full-to-the-brim episode for you today, with guest Heather Schwarzen. Heather joined us to share and discuss homeschooling her son Phin, who has FASD. Homeschooling kiddos like Jubilee and Phin bring different challenges and blessing not only to their families, but to their communities. Hear how to be a part of the journey! 1:08 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Mindy (Twister fun with Jubilee) 2:22 HSMotW: Heather (cartography success) 3:08 HSMotW: Rachel () 4:22 Topic Talk: Homeschooling Kids With More Intensive Cognitive Disabilities 4:50 5:00 Introducing Phin 5:55 (definition) 7:33 Phin’s abilities 8:28 Misconceptions Heather had about Phin 11:344 S2E3 13:00 Adding Phin to the homeschooling day 17:25 Successful co-op participation 21:07 Considering other educational placements 22:10 Reframing academics 26:47 28:38 Typical Schwarzen homeschool day 29:14 Visual Schedules () 29:33 Version for younger kids: 31:43 32:05 Resources Heather recommends 32:15 323:06 33:13 33:37 34:00 34:20 Fun Schooling Math Journal Phin loves 34:33 and materials 35:11 What to say to someone considering homeschooling for the first time? 36:47 Mindy, Paul, and Jubilee preschool story 38:24 What to say to someone considering pulling their kid out of public school? 39:00 Considerations parents with kids with cognitive disabilities face 48:00 Make It Personal: Far Bookends (humble ourselves to remember some parents have to make decisions we never have to make) 49:15 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (follow ) 50:00 Make It Personal: Homeschool Leaders (make space and welcome families with kids like Phin) on IG Far Bookend Mindy at on IG Near Bookend Rachel at on IG
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S2E27 Homeschooling Kids with Learning Difficulties Guest: Heather Schwarzen
02/06/2022
S2E27 Homeschooling Kids with Learning Difficulties Guest: Heather Schwarzen
Today we welcome a Far Bookend homeschooler of ten , Heather Schwarzen, to talk about homeschooling kiddos with learning struggles and disabilities. Heather isn’t a podcaster, but took time to talk to us from Tennessee. 2:45 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Mindy (Paul Louis and Mock Trial) 4:06 HSMotW: Rachel (Sam making the episode super real while she and Jake had COVID) 5:10 Topic Talk: Homeschooling Kids with Learning Difficulties with guest Heather Schwartzen 9:15 11:00 11:34 Getting a diagnosis 17:44 Jamie and Knox… Greenlight! 18:04 Benefits for Neurotypical Kids and the Family 18:26 S 21:06 Tried and Didn’t Work 22:50 Go for the “Freebies” 24:00 What is the Hardest Part of Homeschooling a Kid with a Learning Struggle? 28:00 Benefits of Getting a Diagnosis 30:00 This Opens Doors for All of Us 31:16 What Heather Says to Parents Want to Consider Homeschooling a Child with a Learning Difficulty? 33:26 Make It Personal: Parents Who Have Kiddos with Learning Difficulties (Get the diagnosis) 34:48 Make It Personal: Parents Who Don’t Have Kids with Learning Difficulties (Get your kids around kids who are different) 36:10 37:54 View from the (Far) Bookend: Asking for help is leading with humility and by example The podcast on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG Heather Schwarzen at on IG
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S2E26 Déjà Vu!
01/30/2022
S2E26 Déjà Vu!
Raise your hand if you feel like you’ve been here before! Yup, us too. Rachel & Mindy bring some reminders and tips for this season of pandemic homeschooling or remote schooling or shut down schooling that feels familiar but also unwanted. We have two great Homeschooling Moments of the Week to kick off, two really wonderful ways to make this topic personal, and a View from the Near Bookend. 1:20 Yes! Rate and review us! It helps! 2:00 Homeschooling Moment of the Week: Rachel (a fun book on tall tales) 2:17 3:15 HSMotW: Mindy (Jubilee with donut, donut face, and books) 4:35 Topic Talk: Deja Vu Times for Homeschooling and Parenting in General 7:27 9:00 Take a mental health sick day 9:39 10:20 Our kids feel the stress too 11:33 What do we need this week… not the entire next six months 11:55 Lean into the arts:helps emotionally 12:00 12:03 12:09 13:07 14:11 14:22 15:09 Cole Kids’ Costume-fest 16:46 How the Brouse Spa came to be 20:00 20:21 21:00 21:21 Make It Personal: Near Bookends (our kids pick up on how we feel so maybe self assess info intake) 23:31 Make It Personal: Far Bookends (set aside a family mental health evaluation day) 25:49 View from the (Near) Bookend: This will end and we can do it (again) The podcast on IG Mindy at on IG Rachel at on IG
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S2E25 In-N-Out Homeschooling
01/23/2022
S2E25 In-N-Out Homeschooling
Homeschoolers gotta eat and homeschooling parents usually gotta make that happen. Today, Mindy and Rachel talk about ways to get in and out of the kitchen quickly so you can get back to homeschooling… In-N-Out. Season 2 Episode 25 starts with Homeschooling Moments of the Week that will make you smile. We have a book and a suggestion for ways to Make It Personal and Rachel shares a thoughtful View from the Near End. Enjoy!
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S2E24 Hanging Our Hats on How Our Kids Turn Out
01/16/2022
S2E24 Hanging Our Hats on How Our Kids Turn Out
Today’s topic is a heart focused one that hits homeschoolers right in the kisser. Join us as we discuss how to avoid Hanging Our Hats on How Our Kids Turn Out. We start with an absolutely hilarious Homeschooling Moment of the Week from Rachel that may have you blushing while laughing. Let’s do this!
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S2E23 Reasons for Choosing Secular or Faith Based Curriculum for Homeschooling
01/09/2022
S2E23 Reasons for Choosing Secular or Faith Based Curriculum for Homeschooling
Join us today as we discuss reasons homeschoolers may choose faith based and/or secular curriculum. So many valid reasons for both. We start with our adorable and physical Homeschooling Moments of the Week, give you ways to make the Topic Talk personal, and this week we end with a View from the Far End. Rachel also adds a hilarious science textbook story!
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S2E22 Homeschooling in the Kitchen
01/02/2022
S2E22 Homeschooling in the Kitchen
Homeschoolers are in the kitchen all day, ok not really, but it sure feels like it. One way to make the most of that is to do some homeschooling when we are there! Hear Rachel share some great ways she does this and how Mindy has in the past. We start today’s episode with some sweet bookish Homeschooling Moments of the Week and give two easy ways to Make It Personal. Lastly, we end with our new segment: View From the (Far)Bookend. Enjoy!
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S2E21 Our Homeschooling Influencers
12/19/2021
S2E21 Our Homeschooling Influencers
Today, Mindy and Rachel share the top influencers on their homeschooling journey. Our lists may surprise you. Who are your influencers? Give this episode a listen to see if our Topic Talk prompts you to remember someone. We start like usual with our Homeschooling Moments of the Week ( , provide ways for you to Make It Personal, and end this episode with a hack and a tip!
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S2E20 Q&A With Our Near Bookend Rachel About Being Homeschooled
12/12/2021
S2E20 Q&A With Our Near Bookend Rachel About Being Homeschooled
Mindy gets to ask Near Bookend Rachel ten questions about being homeschooled and her answers may surprise you! We start with our Homeschooling Moments of the Week, give you ways to Make It Personal, and end with some encouragement (reminders and a surprise about billions of dollars)!
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S2E19 Christmas Read Alouds for All Ages
12/05/2021
S2E19 Christmas Read Alouds for All Ages
You know we just LOVE read alouds, so why not offer you some suggestions for the most wonderful time of the year!?! This episode if full of books we think make for terrific reading as a family! We start with picture books, then move to middle grade and up. We even give some suggestions for the teacher(s)! Enjoy, friends!
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S2E18 Easy Music Appreciation
11/28/2021
S2E18 Easy Music Appreciation
One of the easiest subjects to add to our homeschool is music appreciation! Hear (see what we did there?) why and how and tips! Mindy asks Rachel some ways she incorporates music appreciation into her homeschooling for this episode and listens intentionally (again, see what we did there?). We have two ?? Homeschooling Moments of the Week, easy ways to Make It Personal, and ? to end the episode out. Enjoy this in your ears (one more time)!
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S2E17 What We Are Thankful for in our Homeschooling Journeys
11/21/2021
S2E17 What We Are Thankful for in our Homeschooling Journeys
This episode finds Near Bookend and Far Bookend thankful lists! Homeschooling is hard, tiring, and work. It is also amazing and gives us quite a bit. Hear a bit more of Rachel and Mindy’s journeys at they share their Top Ten on this topic! Hear two great Homeschooling Moments of the Week, two easy ways to Make It Personal, and encouragement!
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S2E16 Burn Out: What to Do
11/14/2021
S2E16 Burn Out: What to Do
Today we continue our discussion on burn out. We shared last week things we should not do, so today we bring you things to do to help start recovering from burn out. We care. Mindy has been there. We also start with two great Homeschooling Moments of the Week, provide ways to Make It Personal, and end with two tips this week! Enjoy now!
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S2E15 Burn Out: What NOT to Do
11/07/2021
S2E15 Burn Out: What NOT to Do
It’s time for a tough topic: burn out and homeschooling. It’s for sure a real and difficult thing. Hear our hearts as we dive into this topic, but first hear some fun and hilarious Homeschooling Moments of the Week. Of course, we will have way to help Make It Personal too. This week we end with encouragement and a suggestion!
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S2E14 Being the "Bad Guy"
10/31/2021
S2E14 Being the "Bad Guy"
Have you ever felt like the “Bad Guy” in your homeschool? It’s a common feeling, unfortunately. Mindy and Rachel bemoan this and share some remedies and prevention tactics. As usual, we start with our Homeschooling Moments of the Week (two really special ones!), give you ways to Make It Personal (yeah, homework), and end with some encouragements or hacks (a great product and an easy hack this week!). Enjoy Season 2 Episode 14!
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S2E13 A Book Club for You?
10/24/2021
S2E13 A Book Club for You?
Oh, y’all! We are super pumped about this episode. Reading is near and dear to us, but book clubs make reading even better! Join us as we chat with Amy Allen Clark about book clubs and the benefits for moms, working, homeschooling, or anything! You’ll get some tips and suggestions along with some Homeschooling Moments of the Week, ways to make the topic personal, and encouragement. You may also hear Project Hail Mary a few times! Enjoy Season 2, Episode 13 now.
/episode/index/show/bookendhomeschoolers/id/20873339
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S2E12 The 1st vs 7th Kid: Everything BUT Homeschoooling
10/17/2021
S2E12 The 1st vs 7th Kid: Everything BUT Homeschoooling
Rachel asks Mindy about the difference in parenting the 1st versus the 7th in today’s episode! Rachel got to ask ANYTHING, so there are confessions and hilarity. We don’t talk homeschooling issues in this episode, but that is coming in a few weeks! Bedtime, TV, gaming, books, and more for how Mindy did it 24 years ago and how she’s doing it now. As usual, we start with our Homeschooling Moments of the Week, then dive into our topic, suggest a Make It Personal, and end with someone lovely.
/episode/index/show/bookendhomeschoolers/id/20824919
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S2E 11 Field Trips + Homeschooling
10/10/2021
S2E 11 Field Trips + Homeschooling
We love field trips as homeschoolers! Right? Mindy & Rachel talk about two types of field trips and how to make the most of them as homeschoolers. Which kind do you lean towards? How can you up your field trip game? As usual, we start with our Homeschooling Moments of the Week, dive into Topic Talk, provide ways to Make It Personal, and end with a couple of hacks!
/episode/index/show/bookendhomeschoolers/id/20677145
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S2E10 Chores + Homeschooling
10/03/2021
S2E10 Chores + Homeschooling
Homeschooling happens … at home. And that means life messes. How do we handle chores and homeschooling? Hear Mindy and Rachel share different dos and don’ts. As usual, we start with our Homeschooling Moments of the Week (you know Fat Bears will be involved this week, right?), provide ways to make it personal, and end with something positive!
/episode/index/show/bookendhomeschoolers/id/20669234