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 disability, why auditory processing struggles are so often missed in standard evaluations, and how a "whole person" classical framework — looking at senses, environment, and spiritual formation, not just test scores — leads to better outcomes. Elena also shares her own family's journey through adoption, diagnosis, and finding the right supports, while Margaret explains the "Secret Garden" metaphor behind her practice and her book, A Catholic Approach to Literacy for Struggling Students.
 
You don't need to have it all figured out today. Whether you're just starting to wonder if something's going on with your child, or you're deep in the diagnosis-and-therapy trenches, this episode will remind you that every learner — no matter their struggles — is made in the image of God, with real gifts worth uncovering.
 
 
 
Secret Garden Educational Pathways, the nation's leading provider of special needs support specifically designed for homeschool families, is working closely with Classical Conversations to make sure that all students have the resources that meet their needs. This is not to alarm you, but rather to comfort you: 1 in 5 students has a diagnosed learning disability, and you're not alone if you've wondered whether your student's struggles with reading or math are normal.
Do you want to know if your student shows signs of a disability? Do you want to know if specialized classes or intervention are needed, and what resources are available? Get answers now so you can either finally stop worrying, or get them the right help. It's never too late to intervene, but earlier is always easier.
 
Click below to sign up for Secret Garden's free reading screener, which also includes a mini consultation, addresses more than just reading, and provides instructional recommendations: https://www.secretgardenep.com/reading-screener?utm_source=hs_email&ut
 
Margaret's book – "A Catholic Approach to Literacy for Struggling Students: Connecting Philosophy and Practice": https://amzn.to/4ikdUvF

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 list) to new favorite Latin phrases and the one book every homeschool parent should read, this conversation is packed with the kind of takeaways that stick with you long after practicum ends. Lisa and Rachel also talk candidly about why community — not just curriculum — is the real reason practicum matters, especially for moms wondering if it's "really for them."
Whether you made it to practicum this year or missed it entirely, this episode is your invitation back into the conversation. Pour a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready to be reminded why you chose this homeschool journey in the first place.
 
Relive Practicum or catch up if you missed it: https://www.parentpracticum.com

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 practical, budget-friendly ideas for growing your family's collection. They also dig into how to teach kids to be discerning readers — using tools like Philippians 4:8 and trusted review sites — and why re-reading old favorites with your children is never a waste of time.
You don't need a perfectly curated shelf to start — you just need a love of good stories and a plan for growing your collection one book at a time. Tune in for the encouragement (and the book recommendations) every homeschool mom needs!
 
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by the 2027 CC Family Cruise featuring the National Memory Master Competition, the National Number Knockout Competition, & the National Commencement.
The CC Family Cruise is setting sail May 2-8th, 2027, departing from Galveston, Texas, and your whole family is invited! Onboard, you can enjoy CC Signature events and exclusive perks like group dining, merchandise, events, onboard credit, and time with Leigh and Robert Bortins.
Space is filling up quickly, so visit classicalconversations.com/cruise to start your booking today!

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 Cohort's five semesters (Classical Way, Invitation, Form, Assessment, and Catechesis) and how "hospitable assessment" reshaped the way she sees herself, not just her students. She also shares the moment she — an adult who'd never read the classics — cracked open the Iliad and Odyssey for the first time to tutor Challenge IV, and how that leap turned into teaching Online Learning Seminars on Homer's epics today.
Whatever stage of the homeschool journey you're in, Aimee's advice is simple: take one step, learn one thing alongside your child. You don't have to check every box — you just have to keep going. Tune in for an honest, encouraging conversation about growing up right alongside your kids.
Learn more about the Classical Learning Cohort, Online Learning Seminars, and Aimee's master's program: https://ccalumni.network/programs/
 
🎙️ 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://classicalconversationsbooks.com/collections/foundations/
🛍️ CC Shoppable Catalog: https://classicalconversationsbooks.com/pages/shoppable-catalog/
 
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Your homeschool community can be part of this global mission by packing gift-filled shoeboxes full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items that are sent to children in over 100 countries. Through this project, Samaritan's Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Make Operation Christmas Child part of your school year leading up to National Collection Week November 16-23.
Learn More at https://samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

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 Foundations.
Tim walks Lisa through the four tools he built into the book to help students dig deeper: parsing, highlighting, annotating, and writing note cards. Each one gets paired with a single skill so kids aren't paralyzed by too many choices — but Tim's quick to point out these aren't new tricks, just old, trustworthy tools most of us learned somewhere along the way and quietly stopped using. He shares why parsing helps with everything from understanding Paul's letters to getting the joke in a good pun, and why note cards are secretly one of the best assessment tools a parent has — flip through your student's cards and you'll know instantly how closely they really read.
You don't need a Challenge IV student to benefit from this one. Whether your kids are Scribblers or you're the one who wants to read more deeply yourself, this conversation is a gentle nudge to slow down, read fewer things well, and let your soul get a little fatter for it. Tune in for a rich, encouraging look at what it means to build a family culture of real, careful reading.
 
This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:  
Classical Conversations Plus Online Learning Seminars
OLS provides a unique opportunity for adult learners to engage with rich, meaningful content through 4- to 6-week online seminars rooted in classical, Christian education. Each seminar is facilitated by experienced Classical Conversations graduate parents who have walked the homeschooling journey and bring real-world wisdom to their teaching.
To learn more about the CC Plus Online Learning Seminars or to begin your journey of pursuing your next season of learning, go to https://ccalumni.network/programs/ and scroll down to find OLS.