Tried and True Homeschooling

What if the homeschooling philosophy everyone praises… isn’t actually the right fit for your child?Hello everyone, I’m Dr. Claire Honeycutt of ClarifiEd, and this is Tried & True Homeschooling — where we talk with real parents who have actually graduated their kids. They are filled with the most incredible wisdom. Today I’m speaking with Larissa Phillips — writer, adult literacy advocate, farmer, and veteran homeschooling mom. After leaving the city for rural farm life, her family embraced an idyllic unschooling life: raising animals, building projects, and riding horses under the moonlight.But over time, Larissa realized something difficult.What worked beautifully for one child was quietly failing another — specifically her quirky, gifted son who struggled both inside and outside traditional school.In this deeply honest conversation, we explore the strengths and limitations of unschooling, why some children need more structure than others, the hidden social challenges of homeschooling, and how to recognize when it’s time to pivot.This episode isn’t our usual super upbeat fair, but it’s deeply important. Larissa brings rare humility and wisdom to one of the hardest questions in education. How do we balance freedom and formation for the unique child in front of us?Larissa is one of the bravest moms I know, and I hope you’ll enjoy learning from her as much as I did. If you’d like to connect more with Larissa, you can find her on her substack Larissa’s Substack. I want to take a quick moment to thank all my paid subscribers. Your support means the world to me – and without which this podcast would not exist. Your help allows me to pay for equipment, editing software, and my time creating new content every week.ClarifiEd is for parents who are serious about raising thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. We support you through my You Can Homeschool course, this podcast, and weekly essays going deep into how children learn best.If you’d like to join our phenomenal community of thousands of parents who are giving their kids not just a great education—but a truly remarkable life. Subscribe for free below!Finally, a quick note. Tried and True shares real parents stories without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach presented in these discussions—my goal is to present real families and their experiences so you can decide what’s best for your children. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.~Dr. Claire♥️ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

What happens when a radically unschooled child looks at her free-range childhood and says… “I want to go to public school”?Hello everybody! I’m Dr. Claire Honeycutt of ClarifiEd and this is Tried & True Homeschooling where we talk with real parents who have actually graduated their kids. They are filled with the most incredible wisdom.Today I’m talking with the wonderful, incredible Camilla — an unschooling graduate, homeschool mom, former public school teacher, and one of the most thoughtful people I’ve ever talked to about education.Camilla grew up in the 90s on a small family farm. She was raised by a deeply independent mother who influenced by the ideas of John Holt let her spend her childhood roaming outdoors and doing whatever she pleased. But Camilla wanted more. She taught herself to read and then did the unthinkable … she put herself in public school.If you’ve ever wondered whether unschooling actually works — or if children need more structure — you are going to love this conversation.Camilla shares what it was really like transitioning from unschooling into middle school, becoming the first of her siblings to attend college, finding herself a a public school teacher, and finally navigating homeschooling her own children.But that’s just where we start.We talk about:* Which kinds of children naturally thrive with freedom — and which may need more support* How unschooling affects motivation, confidence, and independence* Why modern technology has fundamentally changed the unschooling * How to raise teenagers who truly take ownership of their lives🌺Thoughtful, honest, funny, and full of nuance — this one is for every parent trying to balance freedom and formation.I want to take a quick moment to thank all my paid subscribers. Your support means the world to me – and without which this podcast would not exist. Your help allows me to pay for equipment, editing software, and my time creating new content every week.ClarifiEd is for parents who are serious about raising thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. We support you through my You Can Homeschool course, this podcast, and weekly essays going deep into how children learn best.If you’d like to join our phenomenal community of thousands of parents who are giving their kids not just a great education — but a truly remarkable life. Subscribe for free below!Finally, a quick note. Tried and True shares real parents stories without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach presented in these discussions — my goal is to present real families and their experiences so you can decide what’s best for your children. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.~Dr. Claire This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

What happens when a former public school principal — someone who was all in on traditional education — pulls his own daughter out of high school to homeschool?Hello everybody! I’m Dr. Claire Honeycutt of ClarifiEd and this is Tried & True Homeschooling where we talk with real parents who have actually graduated their kids. They are filled with the most incredible wisdom.Today, I’m talking with one of my favorite people – Principal Jon, who also writes a wonderful substack The School Founder’s Classroom. He’s a former teacher and principal turned homeschool dad and micro school advocate. If you have a teen struggling in high school, you’re gonna want to listen to this!Jon has five kids, all educated differently, all thriving in their own way. His oldest daughter spent years struggling in the traditional system — the homework battles, the social pressure, the slow erosion of confidence — until they finally took and chance and pulled her home to homeschool. What followed was a gradual, beautiful transition back to joyful learning and taking charge of her life.But that’s just where we start. Jon and I get into his homeschool philosophy — a mix of classical education and unschooling (which if you know me, I LOVE!). We also talk * How to manage teenagers? * How do homeschooled kids find their people? * And if you’ve ever thought about starting a microschool or a learning co-op, Jon has some hard-won advice that I really wish I’d had before I started mine!This one is for every parent who’s terrified to make the leap.I want to take a quick moment to thank all my paid subscribers. Your support means the world to me – and without which this podcast would not exist. Your help allows me to pay for equipment, editing software, and my time creating new content every week.ClarifiEd is for parents who are serious about raising thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. We support you through my You Can Homeschool course, this podcast, and weekly essays going deep into how children learn best.If you’d like to join our phenomenal community of thousands of parents who are giving their kids not just a great education—but a truly remarkable life. Subscribe for free below!Finally, a quick note. Tried and True shares real parents stories without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach presented in these discussions—my goal is to present real families and their experiences so you can decide what’ best for your children. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life.~Dr. Claire This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨Congratulations everyone on the end of an incredible academic year!One of my favorite ways to end the year is to show my kids what they were doing last August. They are stunned to see how much their writing has improved & how the math seems so easy. One rarely remembers what happened a year ago-show your kids how much they've grown.Honestly, I’d needed the reminder — and you probably do too.So before you rush into summer, pause, and reflect on all your wins!As I mentioned last week, I have something special planned for us this summer. We’re going to spend the next few months exploring how to help our children fall in love with reading, writing, and math — giving our children a joyfully, rigorous education. If you missed it, you can read more details in my post Why I Refuse to Choose Between Joy and Rigor.But I didn’t want you to hear only from me.I want you to learn from parents who have walked different educational paths, some much further down the road than I am, and who have deeply wrestled with balancing joy and rigor in their homes.I’ve lined up four powerful conversations with veteran homeschool parents whose stories could not be more different. Two began with highly rigorous environments. Two began with almost complete freedom. None of them ended where they started.Some stories are full of redemption — children rediscovering themselves and coming back to life. Others include adults looking back with honesty, wishing parts of their childhood had been different.All of them wrestle with the same deep question so many of us carry: How do we give our children both freedom and formation? Both joy and rigor?I hope these conversations inform you, challenge you, and above all help you see education, and your own children, a little differently.And at the end of the summer, I’ll come back and share my own reflections and what I learned from these incredible parents along the way.Welcome to summer my friends — I’m truly grateful to share it with you♥️~Dr. Claire♥️ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.clarified.lifeToday’s guest is Tracey, a veteran homeschool mom of four, whose wisdom and experience are nothing short of incredible. She’s been through it all—managing babies and toddlers while homeschooling, navigating the ups and downs of discipline, supporting children with special needs, and figuring out how to make online learning both safe and effective. She’ll also guide us through creating high school transcripts and homeschool profiles that actually work for college admissions.Tracey’s advice is practical, heart-centered, and deeply reassuring: she reminds us that it’s okay to ask for help, that relationships come before rules, and that learning should be playful and flexible, especially for kids with special needs. She emphasizes the unique roles both parents play as children grow, and the importance of downtime, family connection, and truly being present.You’ll come away with actionable strategies, inspiration, and a sense of confidence that no matter how full your days are, you can guide your children with wisdom, patience, and love.I’m especially excited today because I have something special for my paid subscribers, the show notes include my top takeaways from this conversation—perfect for busy parents who can’t always listen to every episode.If you are reading this outside my website, head here for takeaways -> https://www.clarified.life/t/tried-and-true-homeschooling-real

✨What if the hardest season of your family’s life became the foundation for your children’s greatest strengths?This episode is special friends. Kim began homeschooling back in 2002, not because she had a perfect plan or abundant resources, but because her family was facing profound hardship and she wanted to keep her children close while everything else felt uncertain. What followed was a long, gritty journey—driving a public school bus to make ends meet, turning field trips into the backbone of learning, and choosing, again and again, to keep going when quitting would have been understandable.This conversation is full of hard-won wisdom:* Why emotional health has to come first—especially in seasons of illness or divorce.* How thriving yourself as a parent quietly gives your children permission to thrive too.* And what it really means to be rigidly flexible in homeschool life.But more than anything, Kim offers something many parents need to hear: you don’t have to be cheerful in hard seasons. You just have to keep moving. Sometimes progress is small. Sometimes all you can do is breathe and put one foot in front of the other. That still counts.If you’re in a difficult chapter—emotionally, financially, or relationally—this episode is for you. Not because it offers shortcuts, but because it offers hope and some beautiful advice.Connect with Kim Douglas at her Substack Commas and Goings.✨ClarifiEd is for parents who are serious about raising thinkers, leaders, and lifelong learners. We support you through courses, workshops, this podcast, and weekly essays going deep into how children learn best.If you’d like to join our phenomenal community of thousands of parents who are giving their kids not just a great education—but a truly remarkable life, subscribe below!Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

Happy New Year, homeschool friends!It’s 2026, and we’re kicking off the year with something I’ve never done before on the Tried & True Homeschooling Podcast.For this special episode, the tables are turned.Brooke Zoller — veteran homeschooler and one of my all-time favorite people—interviewed me. I share our family’s unexpected homeschool beginning, the heart-wrenching decision to walk away from my tenured professor job, and why, years later, I have no regrets.We cover….* What leaving my career was like & how I made the decision* My biggest advice for overwhelmed beginners* Where I think homeschooling is headed next* What real rewards and my favorite parts of homeschooling after five years at home* We also cover what I’ve learned from interviewing veteran homeschoolers — since then I’ve put together a really special post that goes into a lot more detail: What I Learned From 15 Veteran Homeschoolers This YearListen above or on your favorite podcast provide just search “Tried and True Homeschooling”If you’ve ever been curious about the behind-the-scenes of my family’s journey—or how hosting this podcast has shaped my own homeschooling—this episode offers a window inside.This conversation wouldn’t be possible without my incredible paid supporters. Your support covers production costs and makes it possible to keep sharing real, honest stories like this one. Thank you, truly. If this podcast has encouraged you, I’d love for you to join us below.Here’s to a year of thriving families and irreplaceable moments,~ClaireP.S. What’s been your biggest homeschool “aha” moment—or toughest decision? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨Ever wonder what would happen if you just… let nature be the teacher?Today I’m joined by Roman — longtime homeschool dad, nature mentor, and one of the people who helped launch one of the very first K–12 forest schools in the U.S.His homeschool journey started in the best way imaginable: one day in third grade his daughter came home from public school and casually announced, ‘Tomorrow I’m homeschooling.’ And that was that. Their days filled with river-picnic lunches, tandem-bike rides, bird-watching, and lessons that grew straight out of whatever sparked her curiosity that morning.We get into what truly child-led learning feels like in real life, how to teach a whole group of different-aged kids with one simple stick (seriously), how to weave nature connection into city apartments or desert winters, and why building community is messy, sometimes lonely, but absolutely worth it.Roman has this quiet, been-in-the-woods-a-long-time confidence that makes the whole thing feel… doable. Simple, even. You’ll finish this episode feeling lighter, braver, and probably ready to take tomorrow’s school outside.If you want to connect more with Roman you can find him on X and on his website. If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families.Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨What if letting your teen fail could be the key to their success?In this episode, Bea shares her bold decision to pull her high school–aged daughter out of public school and begin a transformative homeschooling journey. What started as a response to bullying and lack of academic rigor became a story of resilience, freedom, and growth.Bea describes the early challenges of relying on a restrictive public homeschool program before finding the confidence to create her own curriculum. A turning point came when she let her daughter fail a math class—an experience that taught responsibility and grit. Today, that same daughter owns land, thrives in her job, and is on track for management at just nineteen.Bea’s message to parents is powerful: don’t fear failure, trust your child’s initiative, and shape education to fit their unique path. ✨If you need encouragement to trust your instincts or give your teen more ownership of their learning, this episode is for you.If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe

✨What If Your Kids Could Take the Control of Their Education? This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alison and William, who homeschooled all three of their children through to college. Their greatest strength lies in how intentionally they taught their kids to take ownership of their education, building discipline slowly while nurturing a genuine love of learning.All three children made a smooth transition to college, and Alison and William share the thoughtful steps they took to ensure that success. Along the way, we talk about how much curriculum you really need to complete and how sports became a vital part of their children’s education. One of them even went on to play college baseball.I left this conversation feeling deeply encouraged by Alison and William’s calm confidence and authenticity. They’re truly special, and I hope you enjoy learning from them as much as I did.🖋️If you want to learn more from Alison and Will, you can find them on X @myHomeSmithsER. If you found this episode helpful, please give me a 5 star✨ rating on your favorite podcast platform! It helps the podcast grow and reach more families. Disclaimer: These stories are shared without commentary or endorsement. I don’t necessarily agree with every method or approach—my goal is to present real families and their experiences. For my personal advice and approach, head to ClarifiEd.life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.clarified.life/subscribe