The Happy Homeschooler Podcast
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a digital support group for everyone interested in a learning lifestyle. Join us the second and fourth Friday of each month as our hosts Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones discuss topics like the benefits of homeschooling, finding the right curriculum for you, navigating the line between parent and teacher, and more!
Episodes

Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
058: Pandemic Homeschooling in 2021
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Pandemic Homeschooling in 2021 is very similar to last year, and very different too! Maybe you’re considering homeschooling your child this year, or maybe you know someone who is. In today’s pocket-sized episode, Holly shares her thoughts and advice on how to properly pull kids out of public school, and some special considerations we think parents of high schoolers should make. And be sure to stay to the end when Holly discusses the big topic dominating her homeschooling Facebook groups.
SHOW NOTES:
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Our Pandemic Homeschooling from last year: Pandemic Homeschooling
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
Khan Academy
CrashCourse on YouTube
Cathy Duffy Reviews
Episode 027: Can I Work and Homeschool?
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach and Melody Gillum, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway and our music is by The Great Pangolin.
If you liked this episode, and you’d like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
057: How To Teach Writing
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
As the final pillar of the Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic pyramid, it’s important to know how to teach writing. But when should you start? Why is it so important? And what are the best curricula for teaching the mechanics of writing? We here at the Happy Homeschooler Podcast have answers to all these questions, as well as in depth discussions about how to teach each element of writing, whether spelling, grammar, or composition. And be sure to stay to the end to hear our hosts discuss the Big Question dominating their homeschooling groups. School is back and The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is there for you every step of the way!
If you have any homeschooling questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
SHOW NOTES:
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Research any curriculum you can think of! – Cathy Duffy Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
Writing Resources:
Any Child Can Write, By Harvey S. Weiner
Easy Grammar Plus
Spelling: Tricks of the Trade, by Gayle Graham
Creative Composition
Natural Speller
The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr.
MLA Formatting
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach and Melody Gillum, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway and our music is by The Great Pangolin.
If you liked this episode, and you’d like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
056: Homeschool Survival Guide, Volume 2
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Being a home educator is like having three jobs at once, sometimes you might wonder how you’ll ever make it. Never fear, Holly and Melody are back with another volume of our Homeschool Survival Guide, compiling some of their best strategies, tips, and tricks for making your homeschool run smooth and stress-free! We’ll go through planning, teaching, and even extracurriculars.
If you have any homeschooling questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
SHOW NOTES:
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
Homeschool Survival Guide, Volume 1
Storynory – Audio Stories for Kids
Libravox – Free Public Domain Audiobooks
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach and Melody Gillum, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our graphic design is by Pete Soloway and our music is by The Great Pangolin.
If you liked this episode, and you’d like to help us grow, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

About Our Hosts
Jennifer Jones (left) is a dedicated homeschool advocate and community leader with over two decades of experience homeschooling her eight children in Marble Falls, Texas. After joining The Happy Homeschooler Podcast as a guest, Jennifer was thrilled to join the podcast as a co-host in 2022. She hopes that by sharing her own experiences on the podcast she is able to make homeschooling more approachable for new families. She believes homeschooling is truly a lifestyle, not just an educational choice, and encourages listeners to embrace it as an adventure for the entire family.
Holly Williams Urbach (center) is a dedicated homeschooling mother of six wonderful people (five of whom are now adults). She began homeschooling in Texas in 1993 when homeschooling was not yet fully legal. She is passionate about the benefits of the homeschooling lifestyle and shares her passion by mentoring new homeschoolers in person, through the local Facebook group she moderates with other seasoned homeschoolers in her community, and by being a co-host of The Happy Homeschooler Podcast.
Melody Gillum (right) and her husband Jon embraced a learning lifestyle back in the early days of the modern home school movement. Teaching and training seven children in all of life, from birth to graduation, was a grand adventure! While the learning lifestyle continues as their family heritage, 34 years of home schooling drew to a close in 2018. Melody seems unable to stop teaching, and currently supports her local community as the elementary director for a wonderful homeschool hybrid program. She is delighted to be a part of The Happy Homeschooler Podcast team!