90-Minute School Day

Ep. 44 – The Myth of the Perfect Homeschool Schedule

Trying to stick to the plan? Maybe that’s the problem. In part 3 of our mini-series answering the most common homeschooling questions, you’ll hear a no-nonsense episode at what’s really underneath the question of “What should our homeschool schedule look like?”
 
If you’ve ever built a beautiful schedule only to abandon it two weeks later, you’ll want to tune-in.  Don’t worry, you’re definitely NOT failing—you’re just trying to meet too many needs without enough margin. Let’s talk about why rigid plans rarely work (especially for neurodivergent families), how to shift toward rhythm, and how to start noticing what’s already working in your home.
 
You’ll also hear how the 90-Minute School Day framework helps families create a flexible container for consistent connection, story, and shared learning—without pressure, overwhelm, or performance.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why traditional homeschool schedules often backfire
The difference between a rhythm and a schedule—and why it matters
How to start with a time audit to identify your family’s needs and constraints
What it means to co-create a rhythm that respects both your child’s autonomy and your own needs
How the 90-Minute School Day framework offers structure without control
 
Links & Resources:
Join the next Day in the Life Open HouseWant to see how real families are building rhythms that work? Get a behind-the-scenes look at the DITL community.
Learn more about the 90-Minute School Day Frameworkhttps://90minuteschoolday.com
 
Share This Episode:
Know a friend who’s overwhelmed by homeschool planning or stuck in the schedule spiral? Send this their way. It’s a breath of fresh air—and a much-needed mindset shift.
 
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Ep. 43 – Your Answer Is Not In Curriculum

You don’t need a better curriculum. You need a better question.
 
If you’ve been wondering which curriculum is best for your child—this episode is for you.
 
Homeschooling parents often carry the weight of making the “right” choice when it comes to planning, materials, and structure. But what if that whole line of thinking is leading you away from what your child actually needs?
 
In this second episode of our mini-series answering the most common homeschooling questions, we reframe the search for the perfect curriculum—and offer something far more valuable than a product recommendation: clarity, confidence, and a new approach to homeschooling that honors your child and your real life.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why the curriculum question creates pressure and overwhelm
How to ask better questions that align with your child’s nervous system and strengths
What curriculum actually is—and isn’t
The role of your relationship, rhythm, and real life in creating learning that lasts
How we use curriculum in my home
What to do instead of searching for the “perfect” plan
 
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Join our Day In The Life Open House →https://90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life
This free event gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how real families create connected, doable, and flexible homeschooling rhythms. You’ll leave with clarity—not a to-do list.
 
Get helpful tools + support when you RSVP!
 
Stay connected:
Website: 90minuteschoolday.com
Instagram: @90minuteschoolday
Podcast archives: Listen to more episodes

Ep. 42 - Are You Overthinking Homeschool Laws?

“What do I legally have to do to homeschool my child?”
 
In this clarity-packed mini-episode, Kelly answers one of the most common (and anxiety-inducing) questions from homeschooling parents:
 
Whether you're just getting started or deep into deschooling, this episode delivers no-nonsense insight into what most laws really require—and why the language is often intentionally vague. Kelly shares how to translate everyday life into valid documentation, why curriculum isn’t always the answer (especially for neurodivergent kids), and how deschooling builds your confidence as an educator and parent.
 
Plus, she introduces the Day in the Life (DITL) community and invites you to the upcoming Open House on July 29.
 
What You’ll Learn
Where to find your local homeschool laws.
What most homeschool laws require (and what they don’t)
Why vague legal language is actually a good thing
The real reason curriculum often fails at home
What deschooling is—and why it’s ongoing
Simple, doable ways to track learning without stress
Where to find like-minded community for support
 
Mentioned in This Episode
Check your homeschool laws by state or country
RSVP for the next DITL Open House
 
Related episodes:
Ep 6 – Unlock Your Child’s Super Powers: The Magic of Observation
Ep 10 – Why Don’t Kids Like School?
Ep 17 – Put Curriculum in its Place!
Ep 21 – Curriculum Conundrum: Dispelling Myths, Embracing Freedom
Ep 27 – Curriculum Is For The Uninspired Days with Amy Hughes
Ep 43 - Your Answer Is Not In Curriculum
 
Join the DITL CommunityAn online space for parents pursuing eclectic, self-directed, or natural learning alongside their kids—especially neurodivergent families. Monthly themes, weekly Zooms, video chat via Marco Polo, and a kind, curious community that gets it.
Learn more at 90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life/

Ep. 41 - Documenting Homeschool Learning with AI and Emily Biolsi

This is part 3 of our 4-part series on screens, technology, and learning. In today’s episode, I’m joined by my client-turned-friend and founding Day in the Life (DITL) member, Emily Biolsi.
 
Emily is a former public school teacher with a master's in curriculum design and instruction who now homeschools her two young children with an unschooling, interest-led approach.
 
Like many of us, she found herself wondering: How do I keep track of all the rich, real learning we’re doing—especially without a curriculum?
 
Enter: AI.
 
Listen-in as Emily walks us through exactly how she’s been experimenting with AI as a tool for documenting learning in her homeschool.
She shares with us:
How she sets up her prompts to reflect her children’s natural learning
Ways she uses AI to organize learning for her homeschool portfolio
How she asks AI to prompt her—building her own skills in spotting learning moments
How to integrate the 90-Minute School Day framework into this reflection process
What’s worked, what she’s still playing with, and why it’s all still grounded in human connection first.
 
This conversation is an invitation to think creatively about tools that might support your homeschooling.
 
If you’re craving more real-life stories and strategies like this, join us inside the Day in the Life (DITL) community. We continue these conversations weekly and store them in our growing member library.
 
Want to see what that feels like?
Come to our next Day in the Life Open House.
We’d love to have you.
Click here to RSVP
 
Part 1 and 2 in the Tech & Learning Series: • Ep. 39 – Screens Aren’t the Enemy: Disconnection Is! • Ep. 40 – Drop the Shame: The Other Side of Screens with Amanda Diekman
The 90-Minute School Day Framework: Self-Paced CourseWork with Kelly: Coaching
Be a Guide Not a Teacher, Learn About Guide Training™: Group Coaching

Ep. 40 - Drop the Shame: The Other Side of Screens with Amanda Diekman

“I did everything they tell you, and I did it perfectly—and it failed me and almost destroyed my child.”— Amanda Diekman, author of Low Demand Parenting
 
Amanda re-joins the podcast (Ep. 13) for a conversation that challenges everything you’ve been taught to fear about screentime. 
 
This episode was recorded live inside 90-Minute School Day In The Life (DITL) homeschool community, where Amanda dropped in straight from the soccer field and jumped into a vulnerable, grounded discussion about screens, shame, and agency.
 
Together, we explore:
Amanda’s story and why screentime is never just about screentime
The hidden cost of control and the harm of “doing it right”
What it means to trust your child with their own self-regulation
The deep nervous system work involved in loosening limits and dropping demands
How unlimited screentime can foster real-life skills, body awareness, and discernment
What happens when we stop managing the screen and start supporting the human using it
 
You’ll also hear anonymized responses from DITL community members about how screentime looks in their homes—showcasing the rich diversity of approaches, and the shared heart of parents trying to lead with love.
 
This is Part 2 in our 4-part Tech & Learning series, so make sure to check out the other episodes where we explore mindsets, boundaries, using AI in our homeschools, play, and learning in the digital age.
 
🔗 Links & Resources:
Learn more about Amanda Diekman on her website
Get Amanda’s book: Low Demand Parenting
Listen to Amanda's first conversation with us in Episode 13 of the podcast, "Don't Let Demands Overwhelm You: Less is More"
Read Kelly’s story and approach: 90minuteschoolday.com/story
Join the DITL interest list: 90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life
Get on the waitlist for Guide Training™: 90minuteschoolday.com/guide-training
Book 1:1 coaching with Kelly: 90minuteschoolday.com/coaching
 
💬 Leave a Review
Loving the podcast? Share with a friend. Take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps other thoughtful, brave, and curious parents discover this space and feel less alone.
 

Ep. 39 - Screens Aren't the Enemy: Disconnection is!

If the word “screens" or "screen time” makes your shoulders tense up, you’re not alone.
🎧 Hit subscribe—this is the first in a four-part series on tech and learning!
In this episode is the invite you need to slow down, tune-in, and reconsider your relationship with technology—especially in the context of homeschooling and neurodivergent learners. From unpacking cultural double standards to exploring how screens can be tools for regulation, creativity, and connection, this episode kicks off a series on screens and learning with nuance, compassion, and curiosity.
Together, we explore how deschooling can help us see screens not as a problem to solve—but as a window into our children's worlds.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The double standard around screen use
How deschooling shifts anxiety around screens
Screens as tools for regulation and connection
What the research also says
Screens as a playground for modern kids
The shift from limiting to witnessing
Self-reflection questions & curiosity prompts
Resources Mentioned:
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
AAP Pediatrics study on media co-engagement
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:Join us inside the Day In The Life community where we’re exploring learning alongside our kids and one another through everyday life. Whether you're raising a teen, a toddler, or a twice-exceptional child, you'll find a thoughtful, supportive space to question, connect, and grow—together.
We gather weekly on Zoom and connect daily via asynchronous Marco Polo video chats. If you can't live in a real-life village with fellow homeschoolers … this is the next best thing.
Try This at Home:Sit beside your child during screen time this week—not to monitor, but to witness. Ask what they're doing. What lights them up? What are they learning, exploring, or expressing?
Then gently reflect: What do you reach for when you need rest, joy, or curiosity?

Ep. 38 - What if School Creates DYSlexia? with Je'anna Clements

Dive deep with us–into the idea that conventional schools might be contributing to the very struggles many people associate with dyslexia. I’m joined by Je’anna Clements, an advocate for self-directed learning and a dyslexic learner herself, to discuss her eye-opening perspective on DYSlexia (school-created) vs. dyslexia (a neurotype).
Je'anna explains how conventional interventions often offer “helpful harm,” leading to poorer outcomes than self-directed educational approaches for dyslexic learners. She shares how shifting our perspective allows all children to thrive in learning in ways that truly honor their unique needs. We also explore the powerful connections between felt-safety, self-determination theory, flow in learning, and consent—and how these elements are key to fostering meaningful, lifelong learning.
We also dive into the idea of “inherent wisdom”—the concept that children already possess what they need to find their own learning solutions. Je’anna shares her perspective on how self-directed learning, rooted in trust and understanding, can help children mature in their own ways—especially those who’ve been labeled as “dyslexic.”
This conversation challenges conventional educational norms and invites us to rethink how we approach learning, reading, and the holistic development and respect of children.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The difference between DYSlexia (school-created) and dyslexia (a neurotype)
Why some common reading interventions might actually be harmful
How felt-safety, self-determination, and flow impact learning
The role of consent in a child’s learning process
The importance of connecting learning to a child’s innate interests and curiosity
Why trusting your child’s natural learning process can be the key to thriving in home education
90-Minute School Day Guide Training™
If this conversation resonated with you, and you’re looking for guidance, structure, and support in creating a self-directed learning environment that truly works for your family, Guide Training™ is here to help. This group coaching program provides personalized mentorship, community, and tools to help you break free from the constraints of traditional schooling and build a thriving homeschool experience.
Enrollment is open now through March 18th—learn more and sign up here: https://90minuteschoolday.com/guide-training/
Connect with Je’Anna:
Website and her books
Patreon and mini-courses
Horizontal Communication
Rights-Centric Education
LinkedIn
Resources mentioned in this episode:
What if School Creates Dyslexia? By Je’anna Clements
Free to Learn by Peter Gray
Successful Illiterate Men study by Roger A. Clark
The Art of Receiving and Giving: the Wheel of Consent by Betty Marin
Join the Conversation!This episode is just a peek inside our Day in the Life community, where parents support one another in self-directed learning and explore homeschooling through the lens of play, flow, and nervous system safety.
Want to join us for support, connection, + more conversations like this?
👉 Learn more at 90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life/.

Ep. 37 - Belonging, Books, and the Stories That Shape Us with Amber O’Neal Johnston

What stories are shaping your child’s self-concept?
In this episode, I sit down with Amber O’Neal Johnston, homeschooling mother, speaker, and author of A Place to Belong: Raising Kids to Celebrate Their Heritage, Community, and the World and Soul School: A Literary Journey into the Soul of Black American Culture. Amber shares her passion for using books, culture, and intentional experiences to help children develop a strong sense of identity and belonging.
We explore:
How Amber began homeschooling, what was missing and how she gutted her homeschool to save it
The powerful influence of literature and storytelling in shaping our children’s self-concept and worldview
Ways to create a culturally rich and inclusive home learning environment and community
The importance of representation in the books we read and the experiences we provide
How to move beyond fear and into a place of connection, belonging, and growth
Amber’s insights will challenge and inspire you to think more deeply about the role of stories and community in shaping our children’s lives. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to enrich your approach, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas and encouragement.
Connect with Amber:
Website: HeritageMom.com
Instagram: @HeritageMomBlog
Facebook: HeritageMomBlog
Resources Mentioned:
A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyondby Amber O'Neal Johnston
Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Cultureby Amber O'Neal Johnston
Wonderby R. J. Palaccio
The Danger of a Single Story Tedx Talk by Chimamanda Adichie
Christmas in The Big House, Christmas in the Quartersby Patricia McKissak
Join the Conversation!This episode is just a peek inside our Day in the Life community, where we explore homeschooling through the lens of play, flow, and nervous system safety.
Want to join us for more conversations like this?
👉 Learn more at 90minuteschoolday.com/day-in-the-life/.

Ep. 36 - Reimagine Reading: It's Not A Race!

Listen-in as we challenge conventional thinking about reading and literacy, inviting you to reimagine what learning to read can look like. If you’ve ever worried about whether your child is “on track” or felt pressure to meet school-based milestones, this conversation is for you. We deschool our mindsets around traditional literacy approaches and explore a more natural, expansive perspective on learning to read.
What We Cover in This Episode:
The pressure homeschooling parents feel around reading milestones
Why traditional phonics drills and early benchmarks may not serve every learner
Insights from 90-Minute School Day in the Life Community on reading readiness and neurodivergent learners
Socrates’ paradoxical thoughts on literacy and memory
How the schooling model of reading falls short for many children
Personal reflection prompts on your own childhood reading experiences
The non-linear nature of reading development and the true average age of reading fluency
Expanding our definition of reading beyond just decoding letters and words
The broader scope of literacy—reading, writing, speaking, listening, and making sense of the world
How ableism affects perceptions of literacy and learning
Deschooling our fears around reading and trusting our children's natural development
 
Key Takeaways:
Reading readiness varies widely, typically developing between ages 4 and 12.
The societal view of literacy needs to expand beyond traditional reading and writing.
Alternative literacy pathways, assistive technology, and multimodal learning are valid and important.
Our fears around reading often stem from outdated school-based expectations.
 
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:
Want to explore this topic in community? The Day in the Life Community is hosting live discussions all month on rethinking reading through Zoom and asynchronous Marco Polo video chats. Share your thoughts and experiences—join us today!
Listen in now, and don’t forget to share this episode with other homeschooling parents who may need this perspective shift.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Join the conversation inside Day in the Life Community this month on rethinking reading
On Feb. 12, Amber O’Neal Johnston will be joining us live on Zoom to discuss her new book, Soul School, and the importance of identity and representation in children’s literature.
 
Additional Resources for You:
Need guidance through deschooling and natural learning?  Learn about Guide Training™, our signature step-by-step program to launch you into confident self-directed learning with your kids (not against them).
90-Minute School Day offers a self-paced course and 1:1 coaching services to meet you where you are, schedule a free consult today.
Don’t Homeschool Alone!  Join DITL community with 90-Minute School Day and implement self-directed learning with supportive new friends.
Invite Kelly to speak at your next in-person or virtual gathering or event.
 
Support the Podcast:Love this episode? Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to be the first to know when new episodes drop. Also, a quick rating or review helps more families like yours find support on their journey.

Ep. 35 - What Schools Can’t Teach with Robyn Robertson

In this episode, we welcome the always inspiring, Robyn Robertson, host of Honey! I’m Homeschooling the Kids. In this conversation, we dive deep into what schools simply can’t teach—and how homeschooling and unschooling unlock opportunities for lifelong learning that traditional education just can’t provide.
Robyn shares her family’s incredible journey, from worldschooling adventures in Jamaica and Korea to helping her children transition into high school as confident, self-directed learners. We talk about the mindset shifts required to let go of schooling norms and embrace the true meaning of learning.
Here’s what we explore:
Why learning and schooling are not the same—and why this matters for your family.
How comparison steals joy and limits your child’s potential.
The skills schools can’t teach, like self-advocacy, confidence, and intrinsic motivation.
Practical tips to stop replicating school at home and instead create a flexible, meaningful approach to education.
If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “doing enough” or wondered how to truly support your child’s growth, this conversation is for you.
Resources Mentioned:
Robyn Robertson’s Podcast: Honey! I’m Homeschooling the Kids
Book: Project-Based Homeschooling by Lori Pickert
Join the Day in the Life Community
Call to Action:If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean the world to me if you’d take a moment to rate and review the podcast. Your support helps me connect with more families like yours who are ready to embrace natural learning.
Additional Resources for You:
Need guidance through deschooling and natural learning?  Learn about Guide Training™, our signature step-by-step program to launch you into confident self-directed learning with your kids (not against them).
90-Minute School Day offers a self-paced course and 1:1 coaching services to meet you where you are, schedule a free consult today.
Don’t Homeschool Alone!  Join DITL community with 90-Minute School Day and implement self-directed learning with supportive new friends.
Invite Kelly to speak at your next in-person or virtual gathering or event.
Follow Kelly on Instagram @90minuteschoolday