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

Math causes more shutdowns than any other subject, and it’s not because kids “can’t do it.”

Listen in to unpack why why math isn’t a confidence problem, what to say instead of “did you get it right?”, and how to teach math in a way that keeps learning (and your relationship) intact.

Episode 3: Why Kids Shut Down During Homeschool Lessons (and what to do about it) | S8 EP3
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/why-kids-shut-down-during-homeschool-lessons-and-what/id1722383570?i=1000735274837

Free Download:
Say This, Not That: Scripts For Tricky Homeschool Teaching Moments:
assuredpodcast.com/saythis

Connect with Natalie:
[email protected]

How much can you ask of your homeschoolers without causing fights, tears, or resistance?

In this Q&A episode, Natalie responds to a question from inside the Teaching Inspired membership: “How do I guide my kids without pressuring them?”

This episode is about how to guide learning with calm confidence, set expectations without urgency, and lead your homeschool in a way that protects both growth and connection.

We unpack:
Why the pushback you’re seeing isn’t about academics — it’s about the pressure band wrapped around the ask

How to move out of the rigid-vs-unschooling trap and lead confidently in the grey zone

What calm, grounded expectations look like when you want effort without power struggles

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/community

Connect with Natalie:
[email protected]

How do you get dad more involved in homeschooling — without turning it into another source of tension?

Natalie sat down with homeschooling dad Jonathan Chizick, co-founder of SmartPath, to talk honestly about what actually helps parents co-lead learning.

This conversation goes deeper than schedules and subjects.

Together, they unpack why “doing more” isn’t always the answer, how different teaching styles can become a strength instead of a conflict, and what it looks like to lead your homeschool with shared ownership centered on the child, not control.

You’ll hear:
Why ‘getting dad to help’ creates resistance — and what to focus on instead

How shifting from control to shared leadership changes everything

What meaningful involvement actually looks like in real homeschool life

Connect with Jonathan:
https://smartpath.school/

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/community

Free Download:
Say This, Not That: Scripts For Tricky Homeschool Teaching Moments:
assuredpodcast.com/saythis

Connect with Natalie:
[email protected]

What do you focus on in your homeschool when illness or trauma make academics feel impossible?

In this Q&A episode of The Assured Podcast, Natalie answers a deeply nuanced question many homeschool moms are quietly carrying — especially those navigating chronic illness, medical diagnoses, or family trauma.

Drawing from personal experience homeschooling through lupus, Lyme disease, and her son’s brain tumour diagnosis, Natalie unpacks why social-emotional learning isn’t a “pause” from education — it is the foundation that makes future learning possible.

You’ll learn what’s actually happening in the brain during stress, why pushing academics can backfire in hard seasons, and how prioritizing emotional regulation, meaning-making, and resilience equips your child for learning long after this season passes.

This episode is an invitation to adjust without guilt — and to trust that learning is still happening, even when it looks different.

Come get support inside the Teaching Inspired Community:
assuredpodcast.com/community

Connect with Natalie:
[email protected]

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/community

Free Novel Study Unit Guide (Charlotte's Web & The Green Ember):
homeschoolteachingsimplified.com/novelstudy

Connect with Natalie:
[email protected]