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

Friday Aug 30, 2024
136: Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling
Friday Aug 30, 2024
Friday Aug 30, 2024
Whether you're a homeschooler or know someone who is, people often have a lot of questions about homeschooling. What is it? How does it work? How do homeschooled kids differ from their publicly schooled peers? Today, we're tackling all the most frequently asked questions about homeschooling!
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
00:07:01 - "Is it legal?"00:10:10 - "How do homeschoolers graduate?"00:11:50 - "Do you have to have a degree to homeschool?"00:15:40 - "Should a homeschooler take a GED?"00:17:33 - "How do homeschoolers get into college?"00:21:25 - "How do homeschoolers get a diploma?"00:22:30 - "Can homeschoolers take standardized tests?"00:25:15 - "What about sports?"00:26:33 - "Can homeschoolers go to prom?"00:31:43 - "How do homeschoolers date?"00:34:17 - "Can I homeschool through high school?"00:38:50 - "Do I need to keep records and grades?"00:40:48 - "Will my kid be weird?"00:45:46 - "What curriculum should I use?"00:48:41 - "Can I get a tax break for homeschooling?"00:48:57 - "Do I need to use an accredited homeschooling program?"00:49:14 - "How much does it cost?"00:49:31 - "How do I get started?"
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our logo is by Norah Williams and our music is by The Great Pangolin.

Friday Aug 23, 2024
135: Homeschooling in Pennsylvania (w/ Kathryn Gomes, M.Ed)
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Homeschooling in Pennsylvania is sometimes thought as difficult by people outside of the Keystone State. But for those on the inside? It's a completely different story. Today, we're joined by Kathryn Gomes, M.Ed, author of math curricula and co-host of the Homeschool Works Podcast. A former homeschool student in Pennsylvania and current homeschool mom in Pennsylvania, she gives us all the ins and outs of homeschooling in Pennsylvania.
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
Homeschool Works Podcast Series
AskPauline.com - Home Page
Award-Winning Homeschool Math Curriculum from Apologia
Kathryn's Instagram: Kathryn Gomes (@homeschoolmathmom)
Kathryn's YouTube: Kathryn Gomes - YouTube
Kathryn's Facebook
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our logo is by Norah Williams and our music is by The Great Pangolin.

Friday Aug 09, 2024
134: Homeschooling with Technology (w/ Meryl van der Merwe)
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Friday Aug 09, 2024
Homeschooling with technology can sometimes be a blind spot for parents. With technological advances happening quicker and quicker, it's easy to get left behind. And that's not even mentioning the concerns related to AI. Today, we're joined by Meryl van der Merwe, host of the Homeschooling with Technology podcast, and she's sharing a little glimpse of what she talks about on her podcast every episode. She gives tips on tech to use with lessons, tech your kids need to know before they get to college, and even proper use of AI!
SHOW NOTES:
Visit our website at www.happyhomeschoolerpodcast.com
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at happyhomeschoolpod@gmail.com
Visit Transcript Maker and get your 14-day free trial!
Like our page and join our group on Facebook!
Follow us on Instagram!
Homeschooling with Technology Podcast
FundaFunda Academy
Brown Bear Cam
iCivics
Manage Your Team’s Projects From Anywhere | Trello
Canva: Visual Suite for Everyone
My Maps – About – Google Maps
ChatGPT | OpenAI
Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!
Flashcards, learning tools, and textbook solutions | Quizlet
JeopardyLabs - Online Jeopardy Template
The Happy Homeschooler Podcast is a Transcript Maker Production. It is hosted by Holly Williams Urbach, Melody Gillum, and Jennifer Jones, produced by Matthew Bass, and edited by Norah Williams. Our logo is by Norah Williams and our music is by The Great Pangolin.

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!