Are you ready to transform your homeschooling journey with the power of creativity and representation? Join Jae as he sits down with Toshi J, an actress and comic creator who is revolutionizing how we think about education and black identity in the arts. This episode explores how passion projects can become powerful teaching tools for the next generation.In this deep dive, Toshi shares her incredible transition from the theater stage to owning her own publishing house, Midnight Comics. You will learn how a simple frustration with anime endings led to a family business that prioritizes authentic storytelling and diverse characters. Toshi also breaks down her innovative methods for using comics to teach literacy and even mathematics, proving that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning.Beyond the books, we discuss the realities of homeschooling three children, including navigating education for a child with special needs and the importance of maintaining your own identity as a parent. From the benefits of graphic novels to using Dungeons and Dragons for reading comprehension, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical advice for every creative family.Chapters0:00 Introduction to Toshi J3:15 From acting to comic creation7:45 The birth of Midnight Comics12:30 Parenting and finding your identity16:10 Homeschooling a child with special needs20:45 Why public school was not the right fit24:20 Building a homeschool community28:50 Teaching math through comic books33:15 Literacy benefits of graphic novels38:00 Challenging the classic literature model42:30 The stories behind Midnight Comics characters47:15 Melanin Minds: Representing black women in comics51:40 Self-care tips for busy homeschool parents55:20 D and D and roleplaying for reading comprehension59:00 Final thoughts and where to find ToshiMake sure to visit the Midnight Comics website to support Toshi's work and check out the Melanin Minds podcast for more stories from black women in the industry. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the channel and leave a comment below about how you use creativity in your own homeschool lessons!#homeschooling #comicbooks #blackcreatives #education #parenting

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the traditional school system or curious about how to make homeschooling work for your family? In this episode, Jae sits down with Regina Sloan to discuss her transition from a standard classroom setting to a life of self-directed learning and conscious parenting. Discover how to reclaim your child's education and your own identity while balancing work, family, and personal growth.Regina shares her personal story of pulling her son out of school after a premature ADHD diagnosis and how that led her to the world of unschooling. She breaks down the myth that homeschooling must look like a traditional classroom and explains how curiosity quests can make learning fun and natural for children of all ages. Beyond education, this conversation dives deep into the importance of mindset, the role of life coaching for women, and how to break generational cycles through conscious parenting.

Whether you are a veteran homeschooler or just starting to look at your options, this episode provides practical advice on building community, utilizing co-ops, and implementing self-care that actually works. Regina and Jay also discuss the power of informed consent and why every parent deserves to know they have choices when it comes to their child's future.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginasloan/https://tidycal.com/reginasloancoaching/connect-call

Regina Sloan is a mindset coach who helps women make clear decisions, trust themselves, and move forward without overthinking or waiting for perfection.

As a mom of four (ages 6 to 20), she knew early on she wanted something different for her kids—but believed homeschooling wasn’t for her. She thought she had to be rich, white and a stay-at-home mom. Years later, she challenged that thinking, learned to trust herself, and created her own way—one that works for her family.

She teaches you how to think—so you can get clear on what you want, trust your decisions, and build a path that supports both you and your children, while also being able to pivot and navigate natural changes as they occur.

Chapters0:00 Introduction and guest welcome4:15 Challenging the kindergarten ADHD diagnosis9:30 Discovering unschooling and raising free people14:45 The importance of informed consent in education19:10 Balancing a nursing career and business while homeschooling24:30 How to implement curiosity quests in your home29:15 Using AI and modern tools for lesson planning34:00 Finding community through co-ops and meetups39:45 Partner dynamics and sharing the load44:20 Raising free thinkers and avoiding limiting labels49:15 The shift toward conscious parenting54:30 Life coaching for women and mindset shifts59:10 Redefining failure as a path to growth1:03:20 Practical self-care strategies for busy moms1:05:31 Final takeaways and closing thoughts

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like this video and subscribe to the channel for more empowering content. Share your biggest takeaway in the comments below.

#homeschooling #unschooling #consciousparenting #lifecoach #blackhomeschoolers

Are you looking for a fun, stress-free way to help your child improve their reading skills? In this episode of the Homeschool Yo Kids Podcast, we explore how the power of music and singing can transform literacy for struggling readers and build lasting confidence.

Host Jae sits down with Carlo Franzblau, the developer of Tune Into Reading, and consultant Maya Fombelle to discuss a unique approach to education. What started as a software to help people carry a tune evolved into a research-backed literacy program that has helped thousands of students make dramatic gains. We discuss the science behind why singing works for the brain, how repetitive reading builds fluency, and the deep connection between reading struggles and student behavior.

Maya shares her heartwarming experiences as a school counselor seeing kids move from shame to pride as they master new words. Carlo explains the structure of the program, which includes vocabulary building, pitch tracking, and comprehension quizzes. You will also learn about the extensive research from the University of South Florida that proves students can gain a full grade level in reading in just 12 weeks. If you have been searching for a way to make learning to read feel less like a chore and more like a celebration, this episode is for you.

https://www.tuneintoreading.com/

Maya Fombelle is a consultant with Tune into Reading. She has spent her life working withat-risk children in a variety of capacities. She practiced law for 35 years, beginning as aProsecutor in Macon County, Illinois. She developed an interest in a Public Defender positionserving as Guardian Ad Litem for children who were removed from their homes due to abuseand neglect. During her tenure as a PD, she was also assigned as counsel for juveniledefendants and patients facing involuntary mental health commitment. When she and herhusband (Greg) started their family, she took a hiatus from practicing law until their childrenbegan kindergarten. When she returned to work, she and her husband started their own lawfirm. Maya focused on defending youthful offenders during her time at the firm. As a trialattorney for many years assisting children after they had been arrested, Maya decided that shewanted to change careers and be a part of improving the trajectory for at-risk students. Shereturned to graduate school, earning an MS with dual licensure in Clinical and SchoolCounseling. She began her school counseling career in a Catholic High School, where sheworked 4 years until a position opened in a Title I high needs school. Maya worked in a largepublic school district for 3 and a half years until retiring to Florida. During her time at a lowperforming school, (bottom 2% in ELA) Maya began researching ways to help students recovertheir grade level reading skills. She discovered Tune into Reading and the rest is history!

Chapters0:00 Intro and meet the guests3:15 The 25 year journey of Tune Into Reading7:45 How singing helps with visual feedback and pitch11:20 The benefits of repetitive reading through music15:10 Breaking down the four parts of a song lesson19:35 Addressing student shame and behavior through literacy24:15 Improving reading confidence in elementary students28:50 Dealing with the national literacy crisis33:10 Research and peer reviewed results from USF37:45 Accessing the program through Step Up for Students42:20 The importance of self care for parents and teachers47:10 Final advice for parents of struggling readers50:30 Conclusion

Visit the Tune Into Reading website to learn more about their 12 week guarantee and the 4 week trial program. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast for more resources to support your homeschooling journey and share this video with a fellow parent!

#homeschooling #literacy #readingtips #educationalmusic #tuneintoreading