Frequently Asked Questions

Why Ten Toad? What does it mean?

Throughout our years of volunteer service to the community, we have come to recognize the most common concerns and challenges families have when they consider transitioning to a school-free life. With this in mind, we launched Ten Toad to help families learn about homeschooling with a solid foundation of knowledge and the resources to help them get started with confidence.

We recognize that homeschooling generally isn’t the first thing people think of when they consider educational options for their children, and sometimes it feels like you’ve got to kiss a lot of toads before you find the right match! (kidding, sort of).

Actually, Rich was honing his dad-joke skills and thought of this punny alliterative name, and we went with it 😉

Help! How do I homeschool?

Given the diversity of homeschooling families and philosophies, there are a million and one ways to answer this question. In short, there’s no short answer. Ten Toad consulting and events are designed to address your homeschooling questions and concerns.

Through one-on-one consulting sessions we support families transitioning to homeschooling and anyone who wishes to learn more about living life without school. Attending our events will provide you with a strong foundation from which to launch your homeschool journey. 

We also offer strategic advising for educators who wish to serve the homeschool community.
Feeling inspired to learn more about homeschooling now?
Check out our resource page or book an appointment

Your events are virtual and also advertised for a specific geographical area, can I attend even if I don’t live there?

Anyone can attend a Ten Toad event from anywhere in the world. Our speakers have valuable information to share with you no matter where you live, and most of our vendors offer products and services available virtually or by mail. Our focus on a specific area allows us to highlight local businesses in each community. Additionally, the legal and logistical information we offer is tailored based on the location of the event. Attending multiple Ten Toad events allows for affordable continued support as you start your homeschool journey.

What can we expect from attending a Ten Toad event?

Our Keynote talks and panel discussions help bring a broader view of the freedom and flexibility that homeschooling offers for your family. We address your questions and concerns during our live Q&A sessions, including how to legally homeschool in your state as well as an overview of the wide spectrum of approaches and philosophies, and more to help you find what works best for your family. Attendees are invited to join the Virtual Vendor Hall and will have an opportunity to speak directly with vendors providing homeschool support and resources. Additionally, all registered attendees receive special offers and discounts from our vendors and sponsors.

I want to be a vendor/sponsor, what do I do?

Our vendors and sponsors are carefully curated and many have been recommended by folks in our community. To find out more about becoming a Ten Toad vendor or sponsor, please fill out the interest form, and we will be in touch with you shortly following your submission. 
Thank you for your interest!

Do you offer recordings of your events?

Yes! Registered attendees will have priority access to our library of recorded events as well as additional interviews, specialized video content, and podcasts. Visit our YouTube channel to see the whole library we offer (many of our videos are set to private for exclusive viewing for our attendees).

Can I speak at one of your events?

We welcome you to submit your speaker proposal here. We are seeking fresh voices and are always interested in hearing from a diversity of speakers. Those who are passionate about alternative education and who share our goal of helping families transition to a school-free life are encouraged to contact us.

We’re starting a Learning Pod/Microschool/Educational Alternative…can you help us?

Whenever there is money exchanging hands⁠—especially where children are concerned⁠—there are many important details to consider. There are the obvious legal and logistical ones, and also some less obvious ones that inevitably arise under these circumstances and can result in significant consequences. It’s important to recognize that forming Learning Pods is not homeschooling, but rather an attempt to recreate a school for your kids in a safe home environment.

Download the free PDF: Microschools and Learning Pods Checklist and Considerations 

These are my thoughts and insights (shared by other seasoned homeschoolers I have consulted with) and should not be considered legal advice. I periodically update the PDF when I learn new information. Click the link to view or download the most recent version.

What’s the Difference Between Podschooling and Homeschooling?