Teach Them Diligently

Belief Impacts Behavior: Why What You Believe Shapes How You Parent and Teach

What you believe at your core doesn’t just affect your theology—it impacts every decision you make in parenting and homeschooling. In this episode, David and Leslie Nunnery challenge families to consider the real source of their behavior: their beliefs. Are you living out what you say you believe? Or have you unintentionally allowed urgency and outside influences to shape your family culture? This is a must-listen for every homeschool parent heading into a new year with a fresh calendar—and a deep desire to disciple their children faithfully. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: How your core beliefs silently direct your parenting The “believe → think → feel → do” framework and how to realign it Why trying to “do” before grounding yourself in belief leads to burnout How spiritual habits like daily Bible reading shape your home Ways your kids actually learn what you believe (it’s not what you say) Practical rhythms to show your faith through priorities Episode Highlights & Timestamps: [2:00] What your beliefs say about your parenting goals and legacy [5:15] Why we often jump to “what do I do?” without examining belief [7:35] “You don’t teach what you know. You reproduce who you are.” [10:00] The biblical model: how the Gospels → Acts mirror belief → behavior [12:30] Why morning devotions make a bigger impact than you think [17:00] What your kids learn when they see you worship [18:15] The tension between modern busyness and biblical priorities [19:45] How holidays, habits, and rules all reflect your beliefs [22:00] Challenge: Let your belief inform how you plan your homeschool year Resources & Links Mentioned: Get your free back2homeschool devotional ebook. Join TTD365 Community Teach Them Diligently Events Free Mini-Course: Heart Schooling Essentials Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Teach Them Diligently Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. It will help us to continue to deliver encouraging and transformational information for you every week. If this episode was helpful, please share with your friends! Use hashtag #ttdpodcast and tag us @teachdiligently. If you’d rather watch the video of this week’s episode, you can find it and others on our You Tube channel.

Staying on Mission: 3 Simple Shifts to Transform Your Parenting and Homeschool Journey | 348

Do you know your family’s mission—but find yourself constantly knocked off track by the demands of daily life? You’re not alone. In this episode, David and Leslie unpack the 3 foundational shifts that will keep your family focused on discipleship, help you build a home where faith flourishes, and remind you why what you do matters more than you think. Discover how to safeguard your family’s mission, streamline your approach, and create a home that embodies your most profound aspirations.   If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or distracted in your parenting or homeschooling journey, this episode will encourage you, ground you, and give you practical steps to move forward with joy and clarity. Key Takeaways: Realigning your thinking can reduce family chaos. A clear family mission provides structure to daily life. Commitment to discipleship is essential for effective parenting. Parents are active participants in their children’s spiritual journey. What you do as a parent truly matters. Discipleship is about life-on-life interactions. Investing in relationships strengthens family bonds. Simplification helps maintain focus on the mission. Your home is the starting point for the gospel work. Intentional living leads to a more fulfilling family life. https://youtu.be/sh7b8YP8Y2w Additional Resources: Download the 7 Attributes of a Successful Homeschooler workshop and resources. Subscribe to the Homeschool Subjects weekly newsletter. Apply to join the Summer 2025 Heart School Parenting Intensive. Pick up a copy of the Heart School Book.

Unlocking the Science of Reading | 347

Ever feel overwhelmed trying to figure out the right way to teach your child to read? You’re not alone—and this week’s episode is here to bring you clarity and encouragement. Leslie Nunnery sits down with Melissa Jenkins, founder of Little Shoes Academy, to talk about the science of reading—what it is, why it matters, and how you can confidently use it in your homeschool. Melissa brings wisdom, practical tips, and a heart for helping families succeed. If you’re teaching little ones at home—or planning to—you don’t want to miss this one. Meet the Guest: Melissa Jenkins holds a Masters Degree in education and is currently working with children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing in a public school district. She spent years at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the College of Education, focusing on teaching future educators. She has homeschooled her own children, who are now grown, and is dediyto helping the next generation of early learners. Key Takeaways: The science of reading is crucial for effective literacy education. Phonemic awareness is as important as phonics in early reading. The Mississippi Miracle showcases the success of the science of reading.95% of children require explicit instruction to learn to read. The five pillars of reading include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Balanced literacy methods are often ineffective for teaching reading. Parents can support reading education through systematic and explicit teaching. Playing sound games can enhance children’s phonemic awareness. Little Shoes Academy offers valuable resources for early learners. Homeschooling parents have the heart and intention to teach effectively.   https://youtu.be/t6RIdpzxCSU Additional Resources: Click HERE to find out more about Little Shoes Academy  Find out more about TTD365 and find encouragement all year long! Podcast Sponsor: BaseCampEd – Your Homeschool & Education Community! Looking for local homeschool families, teachers, and resources? Check out the new BaseCampEd app! Connect with parents for co-ops and playdates, find tutors and extracurriculars, and soon browse local educational businesses. Stay organized with their calendar. Founded by a homeschooling mom to help you build your village. Download BaseCampEd for FREE today at www.Basecamped.com and follow @Basecampedapp on social media. Homeschooling takes a village – build yours with BaseCampEd!

Using Music as a Discipleship Tool: How Music Can Help Your Family Memorize and Meditate on Scripture | 346

Music is one of the most powerful discipleship tools available to Christian families.  In this new episode, Leslie Nunnery and guest Janis Dalrymple explore how incorporating Scripture-based music into your home can transform the way your children memorize, meditate on, and love God’s Word.  Whether you’re musically trained or not, this conversation offers actionable steps and encouragement for parents who want to make Scripture a natural part of their family culture. Meet the Guest: Janice Dalrymple grew up in South Florida, where faith was more social than scriptural—until, at 16, she heard the true gospel for the first time and joyfully gave her life to Christ. That life-changing moment sparked a passion for God’s Word and a desire to serve, leading her to Bible college, where she discovered her love for teaching children. Though she never had formal music training, Janice taught herself guitar after becoming a Christian so she could sing the songs she was learning in youth Bible study. Her love for music and Scripture soon blended into a unique ministry focus. Janice and her husband settled in Atlanta, raised four children, and are now proud grandparents to (almost) eight grandsons. Her heart for family, music, and biblical truth continues to shape her calling today. Key Takeaways: Music was created by God for worship. Introducing music at an early age helps children learn. Memorizing scripture is not the end goal; applying it is. Children can learn scripture more easily through music. Creating memorable tunes is essential for engagement. Parents should model excitement about music. https://youtu.be/nb8Xfsbcbc0 Additional Resources: Find out more about His Word in Me HERE Email office@teachthemdiligently.net to be entered to win a digital download bundle from His Word in Me. The first TWO people to email will be the winners.

Building a Parallel Economy for Christian Voices : The Cross Current Digital Story | 345

Join us for a conversation between Leslie Nunnery and Clayton Butcher, the visionary behind Cross Current Digital. In this episode, Clayton shares the compelling journey of creating Cross Current Digital, a vital platform dedicated to providing Christian audiobooks and e-books. They delve into the significant challenges faced by Christian content creators due to increasing censorship on major online platforms like Amazon.  Leslie and Clayton discuss the critical importance of actively supporting Christian businesses and fostering a parallel economy that firmly aligns with biblical values. Clayton offers personal anecdotes and profound insights into heeding God’s call, even when resources are limited. He emphasizes the necessity of being intentional in our choices, particularly when it comes to supporting resources that uphold our faith. Discover why complacency in the current cultural climate can be detrimental and how platforms like Cross Current Digital offer a safe and accessible space for biblically sound content.  Meet the Guest: A former worship leader/music pastor and audiobook narrator, Claton is also the founder of multiple successful audiobook publishing companies. His companies have published or produced audiobooks of authors to the likes of John Stonestreet (The Colson Center), Janette Oke (When Calls the Heart), The Babylon Bee, Joel C. Rosenberg, Senator Josh Hawley, Jonathan Cahn (Return of the Gods), etc.; and have worked with nearly every major Christian publishing company and many conservative publishers. The latest calling of the Lord on his life is his current role as the Founder and President of CrossCurrent Digital. He lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with his beautiful family – his wife and two daughters.  Key Takeaways:   The Genesis of Cross Current Digital: Learn about Clayton Butcher’s motivation to create a dedicated platform for Christian audiobooks, stemming from a desire to see faith-based content readily available. From Calling to Creation: Discover the inspiring story of Two Words Publishing and its evolution into Cross Current Digital, driven by a clear calling from God and a reliance on faith despite limited initial resources. The Reality of Censorship: Understand the significant hurdles Christian content faces on major platforms like Amazon, highlighting the urgent need for alternative spaces. A Sanctuary for Biblical Content: Explore how the transition to Cross Current Digital was a deliberate move to establish a secure and uncensored environment for Christian audiobooks and e-books. The Imperative of a Parallel Economy: Grasp the vital concept of building a parallel economy to directly support Christian businesses and reinforce biblical values in the marketplace. Combating Complacency: Hear a powerful reminder about the dangers of becoming complacent and the importance of actively engaging in supporting our values in the current cultural landscape. Introducing Cross Current Digital: Learn about the subscription model offered by Cross Current Digital, providing access to a rich library of Christian audiobooks and e-books. https://youtu.be/Ms4yoGm-eL4 Additional Resources: Find out more about Cross Current and how you can enjoy one month for FREE! Find out about more subscription options with Cross Current HERE Join Cross Current at TTD Pigeon Forge. Sign up HERE Podcast Sponsor: BaseCampEd – Your Homeschool & Education Community! Looking for local homeschool families, teachers, and resources? Check out the new BaseCampEd app! Connect with parents for co-ops and playdates, find tutors and extracurriculars, and soon browse local educational businesses. Stay organized with their calendar. Founded by a homeschooling mom to help you build your village. Download BaseCampEd for FREE today at www.Basecamped.com and follow @Basecampedapp on social media. Homeschooling takes a village – build yours with BaseCampEd!