About Beyond The Schoolhouse: Discovering The Best of Public, Private, Homeschool & Alternative Education
Welcome to Beyond the Schoolhouse—discovering the best of public, private, homeschool, and alternative learning. Join your host Sarah McCubbin as we explore the many ways kids learn—inside classrooms, at the kitchen table, online, and beyond. Each week you’ll hear conversations with parents, educators, authors, entrepreneurs, and education leaders who are reimagining what learning can look like. My goal is to inspire and equip you with stories, strategies, and resources so you can make the best education choices for your family right now.
Building Kitchen Confidence & Life Skills with Raddish Kids Cooking Club
Welcome back to Beyond The Schoolhouse! In today’s episode, join Sarah McCubbin along with Maegan Zelner from Raddish Kids, a creative cooking club that sparks enthusiasm in kids while building real-world skills in the kitchen. Together, we explore how hands-on cooking not only builds "kitchen confidence" but also fosters academic growth, independence, and family connection. Whether you’re a homeschool parent or educator searching for ways to enliven learning—or a family that just wants to make lasting memories and delicious meals—you’ll discover how Radish Kids can turn everyday cooking into an adventure in math, science, culture, and confidence-building. Tune in for personal stories, practical tips, and inspiration for making education truly come alive—one recipe at a time!
➡️Try Out Raddish Kids With Your Family:
https://raddish-kids-monthly-delivery.sjv.io/enPKQZ (https://raddish-kids-monthly-delivery.sjv.io/enPKQZ)
✅Enter coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE for ONE month free on 6-month plans, and TWO
months free on 12-month plans
🛜To Connect With Sarah: www.SarahMcCubbin.com
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00:00 Overview of Radish kids cooking club
05:43 Helping kids learn to cook
07:51 Cooking kits for families with kids
11:21 Cooking with my daughter Julia
14:34 Radish as a homeschool enrichment
19:00 Combining cooking with educational activities
22:58 Dealing with homeschool burnout
26:57 Global Eats Club food kits
29:48 Kids learn independence through recipes
33:40 Building kids' confidence in cooking
34:25 Cooking curriculum benefits for kids
5 Oct 2026
Signs of Homeschool Neglect: How to Spot Educational Gaps Before They Grow with Melissa Brander
Welcome back to Beyond The Schoolhouse!🏫 In today’s thought-provoking episode, Sarah McCubbin sits down with fellow blogger and Pocket Homeschool founder Melissa for an honest, heartfelt conversation about a topic many homeschoolers only discuss in hushed tones: educational homeschool neglect.
Drawing from their personal journeys as homeschool parents and leaders, Sarah McCubbin and Melissa explore the hidden struggles families face when foundational skills like reading and math just aren’t sticking, the subtle ways well-meaning parents can miss red flags, and how popular advice—online and in community groups—can sometimes do more harm than good. You’ll hear inspiring and practical insights on why intentionality matters, how to avoid unintentional gaps, and how the homeschooling community can better support struggling families.
💕If you’re a parent or educator wrestling with whether “waiting it out” is best, feeling overwhelmed by the maze of resources, or wondering how to approach a friend when you see red flags, this episode offers both validation and clear next steps. Join us as we shed light on an important topic and empower you to be the advocate your child needs—whether you’re new to homeschooling or a seasoned veteran.
Melissa, from Pocket Homeschool, is passionate about providing smart, simple resources for homeschooling families. Living in Wisconsin with her two sons, aged 11 and 14, whom she has homeschooled from the start, Melissa focuses on meaningful family experiences and affordable, academically oriented tools that encourage explorative learning. She is enthusiastic about helping others and values important conversations about education.
➡️Connect With Melissa at www.pockethomeschool.com
➡️Connect with Sarah at www.sarahmccubbin.com
00:00 Discussing gaps in homeschooling skills
06:06 Addressing concerns in homeschooling
07:42 Homeschooling and seeking evaluations
10:39 Discussing learning disabilities in homeschooling
16:41 Listening and validating concerns
19:27 Discussing the IEP process
21:36 Challenges in children's education
24:51 Letting kids choose their path
27:09 Social media and empty advice
31:53 Benefits of learning higher math
36:39 Curating educational resources for kids
39:41 Intentional choices in homeschooling
43:10 Finding reliable advice in homeschooling
46:21 Finding homeschool-friendly professionals
48:56 Being open to constructive feedback
21 Sept 2026
Avoiding Legal Headaches When Launching and Leading Homeschool Groups and Resource Centers
Welcome back to Beyond The Schoolhouse! Today, we dive into the nuts and bolts of launching and leading homeschool groups with Darrin Jones from HSLDA—a 30-year veteran advocate, lawyer, and homeschool parent. With the landscape of homeschooling changing rapidly, Darrin brings practical wisdom from decades of supporting groups across the country, from small playdate circles to robust resource centers.
Whether you’re dreaming of starting a local co-op, inheriting a long-running group, or navigating conflicts and policies, this episode is packed with stories, common pitfalls, and actionable advice. We’ll talk vision, legal hurdles, why thoughtful policies matter, and how to set your group up for long-term success—while keeping peace with your neighbors and embracing the creative, independent spirit that defines homeschooling. If you’re ready to support your children’s education and your community even better, this episode is for you!
To Connect with Darren: Visit HSLDA.org (http://HSLDA.org)
To Connect with Sarah: sarahmccubbin.com (http://sarahmccubbin.com)
00:00 Supporting new homeschool group leaders
03:42 Vision planning for group growth
06:21 Finding the right space for co-ops
11:07 Setting up a homeschool nonprofit
13:23 Avoiding legal headaches in co-ops
16:49 Creating school conduct policies
19:43 Handling diverse co-op memberships
23:49 Updating group policies and bylaws
28:14 Discussing marketing for educational groups
30:49 Homeschooling laws in different states
35:03 Organizational setup and leadership questions
36:46 Checking bylaws and compliance
40:56 Finding a lawyer for homeschool groups
43:17 Keeping homeschool co-ops out of trouble
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