Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution

Cindy West sits down with S.D. Smith, beloved author of The Green Ember Series, to discuss coaching creative kids. If you've ever wondered how to nurture your child's God-given imagination while maintaining strong family values, this episode is for you! Perfect for Christian homeschool moms looking to support and guide their uniquely gifted children.
What You'll Learn:
The essential role parents play as “coaches” in their children’s lives
How to recognize and cultivate creativity in every child
Effective ways to balance discipline and encouragement for creative kids
Strategies for helping kids overcome fear of failure
Building Christ-centered habits in creative homeschoolers
Recommended Resources:
Find all of the resources recommended in this episode, plus free resources from Schoolhouse Rocked, in the show notes here.
Sponsors:
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
⁠Holman Homeschool Guide - Develop your family’s academic and biblical education with trustworthy resources from the Holman Homeschool Guide! Excite kids to study God’s Word through fun and engaging kids Bibles, study tools, and companion products that bring the Bible to life. Equip teens to go deeper in Scripture to apply it to their lives and find resources to encourage parents’ faith.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network.

Cindy West welcomes S.D. Smith, creator of the Green Ember series, for a heartfelt conversation about moral imagination and faith-filled storytelling. Learn why stories that reflect reality—including hardship and heroism—prepare our kids to face darkness with courage and hope.
What You’ll Learn:
What makes a story "dangerous" in a good way for Christian families
Why children benefit from stories that don’t shy away from hardship
The impact of authentic storytelling on a child’s character
How to discern and select the best living literature for your homeschool
Why faith and imagination grow hand-in-hand
Recommended Resources:
Find all of the resources recommended in this episode, plus free resources from Schoolhouse Rocked, in the show notes here.
Sponsors:
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
⁠Holman Homeschool Guide - Develop your family’s academic and biblical education with trustworthy resources from the Holman Homeschool Guide! Excite kids to study God’s Word through fun and engaging kids Bibles, study tools, and companion products that bring the Bible to life. Equip teens to go deeper in Scripture to apply it to their lives and find resources to encourage parents’ faith.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network.

Yvette Hampton welcomes back Monica Swanson to discuss the crucial yet often overlooked subjects of Health and Physical Education (PE) in homeschooling. Monica shares valuable insights, drawing from her background in sports medicine, physical therapy, and experience as a PE teacher. Learn why these subjects are vital for your child's development and how to seamlessly integrate them into your daily homeschooling routine. Discover practical tips, biblical perspectives, and the importance of staying active from kindergarten through high school. Learn how to get your kids moving, the types of exercises that are best, and how to make health and wellness a priority in your homeschool curriculum.

Recommended Resources:
Find links to all of the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes here.

Get our new ebook, The Importance of Outdoor Play: A Guide to Homeschooling in the Great Outdoors, here.

Sponsors:
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation

CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.

Holman Homeschool Guide - Develop your family’s academic and biblical education with trustworthy resources from the Holman Homeschool Guide! Excite kids to study God’s Word through fun and engaging kids Bibles, study tools, and companion products that bring the Bible to life. Equip teens to go deeper in Scripture to apply it to their lives and find resources to encourage parents’ faith.

The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network.

Are your kids spending too much time indoors?

Join Yvette Hampton and Aby Rinella as they dive into the importance of outdoor play for homeschool families. Discover how time in God's creation can benefit your children both academically and spiritually, and learn practical tips for making outdoor adventures a joyful part of your homeschool journey—even if “getting out” doesn’t come naturally!

What You'll Learn:
How outdoor play benefits kids’ academic and emotional development
Tips for making outdoor time part of your family’s regular routine
Ideas for creative and easy outdoor activities
Overcoming common fears and challenges for reluctant outdoor families
Biblical encouragement for experiencing God’s creation together
Recommended Resources:
Find links to all of the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes here.

Sponsors:
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation

CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.

Holman Homeschool Guide - Develop your family’s academic and biblical education with trustworthy resources from the Holman Homeschool Guide! Excite kids to study God’s Word through fun and engaging kids Bibles, study tools, and companion products that bring the Bible to life. Equip teens to go deeper in Scripture to apply it to their lives and find resources to encourage parents’ faith.

The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network.

Struggling with tough homeschool questions? Kristi Clover and Israel Wayne tackle some of the most common—and challenging—questions homeschool families face. If you’ve wrestled with doubts about your curriculum choices, handling family criticism, or prioritizing faith in education, this episode is for you. Dive deep with two veteran homeschoolers and walk away equipped and encouraged!

What You'll Learn:
How to answer the "Are homeschoolers missing out?" question with confidence
Practical guidance for homeschooling when you face opposition from family or church leaders
How to prioritize faith and family in your homeschool journey
Choosing Christian curriculum: What to look for and what to avoid
The truth about sports, socialization, and extracurriculars for homeschoolers
Insightful strategies for single parents or working moms to successfully homeschool

Recommended Resources:
Find links to all of the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes here.

Sponsors:
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation

CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.

Holman Homeschool Guide - Develop your family’s academic and biblical education with trustworthy resources from the Holman Homeschool Guide! Excite kids to study God’s Word through fun and engaging kids Bibles, study tools, and companion products that bring the Bible to life. Equip teens to go deeper in Scripture to apply it to their lives and find resources to encourage parents’ faith.

The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network.