ASSURED: How to Homeschool and Not Get Burned Out By It

Homeschool co-ops are often seen as the solution for socialization, support, and sharing the teaching load, but what happens when it doesn’t feel helpful anymore?In this Q&A episode of The Assured Podcast, Natalie shares how to tell whether a homeschool co-op is truly supporting your child and your family, or if it’s quietly adding pressure instead. Natalie walks through different co-op models, how to evaluate alignment based on your season of life, and why permission to adjust is a critical part of sustainable homeschooling.If you’ve ever wondered whether a co-op is right for your family (or felt guilty for wanting something different), this episode will help you reframe the decision with clarity and confidence.Join the Teaching Inspired community for homeschool teaching strategy to raise smart, confident, and resilient children (that you keep a good relationship with!)assuredpodcast.com/communityFree Novel Study Unit Guide (Charlotte's Web & The Green Ember):homeschoolteachingsimplified.com/novelstudy Connect with Natalie:[email protected]

Deschooling and unschooling are often talked about as if they mean the same thing — but they don’t. And confusing the two can quietly create more stress in your homeschool.If you’ve ever been told you need to deschool for a set amount of time before you can “really” homeschool — or felt pressure to pick a label and stick to it — this episode will bring clarity and relief.You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how mindset, methods, and flexibility work together so you can make confident decisions that actually fit your family.In this episode, we unpack:Why deschooling is a mindset shift, not a phase you completeHow unschooling works as a practical approach — and why it’s often misunderstoodWhat it looks like to blend structure and freedom without losing connectionIf you’re looking to unpack long-held beliefs and habits with learning, come get support inside the Teaching Inspired Community:assuredpodcast.com/community2025 Roundtable Vault: https://homeschoolteachingsimplified.mykajabi.com/offers/xPQgoF4d/checkoutConnect with Natalie:[email protected]

Homeschool moms have big feelings about AI. And honestly? They’re valid.Most of us have heard enough scary stories to wonder:"Is using AI in my homeschool unsafe for my kids?"In today’s episode, I brought on someone who has spent years solving that exact problem: Zach Jones, co-founder and CEO of Learnology AI, a homeschool-focused platform designed with built-in guardrails, child-safe architecture, and adaptive learning that actually supports how your child thinks… not just what they’re supposed to memorize.We get into:What makes general AI tools (like ChatGPT) unsafe for kidsThe three biggest problems Zach saw when moms tried using regular AI for lesson planningHow AI can support creativity, critical thinking, and mastery (when it’s designed to)How moms can use AI to gain back time, confidence, and flexibility with homeschoolingIf you’ve been curious about AI but hesitant about safety, privacy, or losing the human piece of homeschooling… this conversation is for you.Connect with Zach and Learnology AI:Use my affiliate link and code "LAIHOMESCHOOL" for 50% off your first month: https://learnologyai.com?fpr=natalie38Connect with Natalie:[email protected]

When your child shuts down and says, “I can’t do this,” it can feel like all your effort as a homeschool mom just hit a wall. In this Q&A episode, Natalie Burns talks about what’s really going on in those moments, why your usual strategies (like taking breaks) don’t always work, and how to respond in a way that builds resilience instead of resistance. Learn what to say, what to stop doing, and how to create calm connection so learning feels safe again.Free Download: Say This, Not That: Scripts For Tricky Homeschool Teaching Moments: assuredpodcast.com/saythisIf you’re looking to unpack long-held beliefs and habits with learning, come get support inside the Teaching Inspired Community!assuredpodcast.com/communityConnect with Natalie:[email protected]

I sat down with Jill Baumann from Self-Directed Success to talk about gaming, motivation, and how to build real independence without destroying your relationship.We talk about:🎮 The secret sauce inside games (progress tracking, clear goals, immediate feedback, safe failure, autonomy) & how to steal those elements for your homeschool🎮 How to shift from “do 4 more pages” to “you’ve mastered this concept, you level up now”🎮 The difference between gamified learning and basic bribery (“finish math and I’ll let you play”)🎮 How this all ties into resilience and independence, not entitlementWe also talk about something that doesn’t get said enough:When our kids get older, they don’t always want to learn from us anymore, and that can feel like rejection. Jill walks us through how to keep your relationship strong while letting your child step into ownership.Connect with Jill:• Sign up for the "5-Day Gamify Your Homeschool" Email Course (Free Series)→ https://quest.self-directedsuccess.com/5-day-gamification-course  • Join the Free “3 Steps to Teaching Your Teen to Homeschool Independently Without Micromanaging or Nagging” webinar → https://quest.self-directedsuccess.com/webinar-registration. • Get the “Gamification Starter Kit” → https://quest.self-directedsuccess.com/gamification-starter-kit• Enroll your teen in “Scholar’s Quest for Independent Success” → https://www.self-directedsuccess.com/scholars-quest-waitlist You can help your child learn in the way that works for them. If you’re looking for some practical tools to bring these ideas into your homeschool, come join us inside the Teaching Inspired Community!assuredpodcast.com/communityDIY your own unit study for a game (or use one of my 2 novel examples): homeschoolteachingsimplified.com/novelstudyConnect with Natalie:[email protected]