Operation Christmas Child: How One Shoebox Changed a Life
Everyday Educator
Can a simple gift really change how a child sees God? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Katie Shearin and Izabella McMillon — two women whose lives intersect through Operation Christmas Child, the shoebox ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Izabella shares her powerful testimony of growing up in communist Romania, where faith had to be practiced in secret, and how a single shoebox gift — and the snow globe tucked inside it — became the moment God's faithfulness became undeniably real to her as a 13-year-old girl. Katie, a Classical...
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Classical Conversations' Guide to Homeschool Social Media
Everyday Educator
Ever wonder if social media is doing your homeschool family more harm than good — or if it might actually be a gift? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Classical Conversations' own social media team, Tunrade Schumann and Treva Barnes, to talk honestly about what it looks like for homeschool families to use social media well. Tunrade and Treva share the practical guardrails they use in their own homes — from time limits and phone-free schoolwork to defining your "why" before you scroll — plus how to talk with teens about social media...
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Neurodivergent Kids in Your Homeschool: Finding Their Keys
Everyday Educator
Is your homeschool student neurodivergent, dyslexic, or dealing with an undiagnosed learning struggle — and you're not sure where to even start looking? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones sits down with Margaret Walsh, founder of Secret Garden Educational Pathways, and Alaina Gray, Classical Conversations academic advisor for Challenge A/B1 (and homeschool mom of four), to talk through how to recognize, support, and disciple a child with learning differences. Margaret and Alaina unpack the real difference between a learning disability and an intellectual...
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Our Favorite Homeschool Moments: Parent Practicum Round-Up
Everyday Educator
Ever wonder what actually happens at a Classical Conversations Parent Practicum — and whether it's worth your summer day? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Kelli Wilt sits down with fellow homeschool moms Lisa Bailey and Rachel Thompson to relive the 2026 Parent Practicum theme, "In the Beginning Was the Word." Together they reflect on how this year's focus on Latin and language pointed back to God's own intentionality — and why every subject, in the end, points back to Him. From favorite table talks (the catechesis wheel and the Trivium skills chart both made the...
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How to Build a Home Library Your Kids Will Actually Love
Everyday Educator
Ever look at your bookshelves and wonder if you're doing this whole "home library" thing right? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey sits down with fellow book-lovers Jennifer Courtney and Delise to talk about how to build a home library your kids will actually love — one thrifted treasure, hand-me-down classic, and cherished read-aloud at a time. From Jennifer's collection of vintage Landmark history books (including one that sparked a beautiful conversation with her dad) to Delise's hunt for out-of-print gems at the thrift store, this episode is full of...
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Reclaiming a Love of Learning as a Homeschool Mom
Everyday Educator
Ever notice how your own love of learning shows up after you start homeschooling? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Amy Jones talks with Classical Conversations mentor Aimee Smith about the 15-year journey that took her from a nervous first-year Foundations tutor — who once got caught not knowing where to find things on the map — to a Classical Learning Cohort mentor helping other homeschool moms teach with confidence. Somewhere along the way, she picked up something she never expected: a real, honest love of learning. Aimee opens up about the Classical Learning...
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Close Reading 101: A New Tool for Every Homeschool Family
Everyday Educator
Ever catch your kids — or yourself — speed-reading through a book just to check it off the list? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Lisa Bailey talks with Tim Knotts, Director of Challenge Development for Classical Conversations, about the lost art of close reading: slowing down enough to actually understand a text, whether it's Scripture, a history document, or a confusing Russian novel. Tim introduces Classical Conversations' newest resource, Reasoning Together Words in the Word, built around the same 15 skills and three arts your family has been practicing since...
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Cate-Whaaat? A Heartfelt Breakdown
Everyday Educator
Cate-whaaat? If you've ever heard the word "catechesis" and wondered what it means for your homeschool, this one's for you. In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise welcomes back Rachel Thompson and Amy Jones to unpack the Classical Conversations catechesis wheel — the diagram that puts God at the center and shows how every strand of learning connects back to His character — and to talk about what it really looks like to keep Christ at the center of home education, not as one more subject, but as the source everything else flows from. Rachel and Amy open by sharing...
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Keeping God at the Center
Everyday Educator
How do you plan a whole homeschool year without letting the plan crowd out the reason you started? In this episode of the Everyday Educator podcast, host Delise Germond sits down with Kelli Wilt to talk about preparing for the new homeschool year while keeping God at the center — the mindset shifts, routines, and practical organization tips that make the difference before the first day of school ever arrives. Whether you're heading into your very first Foundations year or you're a veteran mom sending a student into the Challenge program, this conversation is full of ideas you can put to work...
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Making American History Come Alive: Patriotism, Cycle 3 & the 250th
Everyday Educator
America is turning 250 — 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 — 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...
info_outlineIs pushing for Memory Master worth it — 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 — 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 — 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 — including adopting three children mid-journey — 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 — 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 — from Subject Master all the way to the National Memory Master Contest
- How two experienced CC families approached Memory Master very differently — 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 — 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 — Welcome & Introduction
00:22 — Amy's Homeschool Journey & Why This Topic Matters
00:48 — The Memory Master Continuum: Subject Master to National Contest
03:39 — Meet Courtney Bradshaw: 12 Years of CC, Academic Advisor & 7 Kids
06:30 — Meet Tunrade Schumann: 12 Years of CC, Social Media Director & Graduating Her First
09:18 — What It Means to "Graduate" as a CC Mom
12:09 — Why the Memory Content Is So Rich (and Funny College Moments)
13:21 — Tunrade's Family Memory Master Journey: All Four Kids, Every Cycle
15:09 — Mom Memory Master: When Your Kid Proofs You
16:15 — The Hard Year Every Child Had — and What They Learned From It
18:14 — How a Challenge A Student Went Back for the Cycle She Missed
20:06 — Courtney's Journey: Subject Masters, a Scripture Challenge & Meeting Kids Where They Are
25:28 — Subject Master Deep Dive: Latin, Geography & Leaning Into What They Love
28:34 — It's Not All or Nothing: Finding the Right Level for Your Family
30:33 — Practical Tips: How and When to Start Preparing for Memory Master
32:05 — Making Memory Work Fun: Trampolines, Hopscotch, Hand Motions & More
33:09 — Using Christmas Break to Get Ahead on Proofs
35:39 — Learning Styles: Why What Works for One Child Won't Work for Another
38:55 — The Proofing Timeline: What to Expect and When
40:09 — Keeping Kids Motivated Through the February Doldrums
41:35 — Review Games, Study Dates & Building Friendships Through Memory Master
44:09 — How Tunrade's Family Celebrates: The Week of Unlimited Screen Time
45:14 — The Real Reward: Kids Who Know How They Learn and Aren't Scared of Hard Things
46:33 — Closing Encouragement & Finding Your CC Community