Things Are Changing Around Here! Meet The Everyday Educator Hosts!
Release Date: 05/19/2026
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outlineEver wondered who's behind the voices on the Everyday Educator podcast? In this special episode, meet the full host panel — Lisa Bailey, Amy Jones, Kelli Wilt, Emma Bortins, and Delise Germond — 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: 👉 https://classicalconversations.com/blog/classical-education-curriculum/
🎙️ Love this episode? You'll enjoy our other podcast too! Check out Refining Rhetoric: https://refiningrhetoric.com/
🔎 Find a CC Community Near You: https://classicalconversations.com/community-search/
📅 Upcoming CC Events: https://classicalconversations.com/events/
📚 Foundations Curriculum: https://classicalconversations.com/collections/foundations/
🛍️ 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 calling— 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