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

In this episode of the Homeschool Your Kids podcast, Professor Akil Parker joins Jae to discuss how we can revolutionize the way we approach mathematics by bringing it into the home and our daily lives. Learn how to turn everyday moments into educational opportunities while empowering yourself as your child's primary educator.

🏫Professor Parker, the founder of All This Math, shares his journey from memorizing formulas to developing a deep conceptual love for the subject. He explains why parents are the most underutilized resource in a child's education and how we can bridge the gap between reading literacy and math proficiency. From using nutrition labels for lemonade math to exploring 'histematics' by connecting historical dates with equations, this conversation is packed with practical strategies for homeschoolers and traditional students alike.

📚We also explore the deeper purpose of subjects like geometry, which Professor Parker describes as a tool for logic and building cogent arguments rather than just a study of shapes. Whether you are a parent looking to support your child or an adult healing from your own math trauma, this episode provides the inspiration and tools needed to make math palatable, comfortable, and even fun. ✨

Instagram: @All This Math

Facebook: @All This Math

TikTok: @All This Math

YouTube: @All This Math

Akil Parker is the founder and CEO of All This Math, LLC, an educational services company aimed at drastically improving the relationship between Mathematics and the Black Community.

The company was founded in 2017 and offers math tutoring as well as educational consulting, professional development, and other math instructional resources. His company maintains a free YouTube channel with over 1,000 tutorial videos ranging from arithmetic to calculus. On the channel viewers are able to access simplified math instruction infused with Black History and culture. More recently, Mr. Parker has begun offering parent workshops to help parents understand what many refer to as “New Math” to be able to help their children with math homework assignments.

He previously served as a math professor at both Cheyney University and LaSalle University where he taught Math Methods courses to aspiring K-12 teachers. He has been a math educator for almost 21 years having started out as a high school math teacher in the School District of Philadelphia in early 2005.

In 2023 Akil Parker authored his first book, 'How To Use All This Math, Volume 1,’ a guidebook instructing parents/guardians in how to use everyday activities to develop arithmetic, algebra, and geometry skills in their children. Be on the lookout for Volume 2 in the series. Akil Parker also believes that one of the ways that we can increase math proficiency in the community is by simply having more positive conversations about mathematics and amplifying its usefulness in daily life. As such he has been featured on over 200 podcasts and radio programs throughout the country discussing this topic as a means to refute much of the prevailing negative propaganda surrounding mathematics as a subject.

In 2019, he coined the term ‘Histematics’ which is a teaching framework that uses Black History to teach mathematics and mathematics to teach Black History. He can also be found on the Knarrative online education platform teaching his weekly Histematics course. In the summer months, he provides his Histematics Summer Program to Baltimore youth where they receive exposure to important literature regarding Black History and how to perform quantitative analysis of that literature using arithmetic, algebra, statistics, etc.

His greatest achievement by far is being the father of three children - Nasim (age 20), Assata(age 13), and Kwame (age 6). Lastly, Akil Parker is a firm believer that math should be used as a tool of liberation and something to run towards instead of away from.

Are you looking for a way to empower your child to become a change-maker in their own community? In this episode of the Home School Yo Kids podcast, we dive deep into the vision behind EverRoot Academy, a unique virtual school that goes beyond traditional academics. Join us as founder Katelynn Stone shares her journey from the public school system to creating a space where students lead with global consciousness and civic action.

In this conversation, Jae and Katelynn discuss the realities of the modern education system and why many families are seeking alternatives. Katelynn shares her extensive background as an educator across multiple states and how those experiences shaped her mission to provide a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for learners.

From addressing curriculum censorship to fostering community-based projects, this episode is packed with insights for any parent interested in raising conscious, proactive children.Key topics include the importance of student agency, how to integrate global news into daily learning, and the specific ways EverRoot Academy supports military and world-schooling families. You will also hear about the power of teaching kids to use their voices in local government and the impact of community-centered education.

https://www.everrootacademy.com/

Katelynn Stone is the founder of EverRoot Academy, an educator, coach, consultant, special education leader, and administrator with 18 years of experience. She has empowered children, educators, counselors, military leaders, spouses, and policymakers across a wide variety of communities. As an Air Force spouse and mother, she is committed to expanding access to high-quality education for mobile learners and students underserved or excluded by traditional systems, offering a consistent, learner-centered program accessible from anywhere in the world. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, a K–12 administrative certification, and 6–12 ELA certification with an ESL endorsement.

Video edited by: Nexus Novanzmedia1234@gmail.comFB: https://www.facebook.com/share/16DwALXWFa/?mibextid=wwXIfrDo creative video edit, youtube video editing by Zzaman123 | Fiverr

Chapters0:00 Intro and Welcome2:30 Katelynn Stone's Journey in Education5:15 Experiences in Public vs. Charter Schools8:45 Teaching in Denver and Texas12:20 Navigating Education Culture in Florida16:10 The Inspiration Behind Everroot Academy19:45 Global Critical Consciousness and Daily News23:30 Bridging the Gap Between School and Community27:15 Empowering Students to Find Solutions31:00 Teaching Kids to Use Their Voice35:45 Support for Military and World-Schooling Families39:15 Flexible Programming and Tutoring Options43:00 Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders46:30 Final Advice and How to Connect

Visit homeschoolyokids.com to learn more about our upcoming expos and resources. If you enjoyed this interview, please subscribe to the channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode. Let us know in the comments how you are empowering your kids to make a difference today!

#homeschooling #educationreform #studentagency #communityengagement #everrootacademy