Doin' It Our Way

St. Louis Public Radio

For years, Black parents have talked about how traditional schools have failed their kids in the classroom. Now, a growing number of Black families are leaving those schools behind to take a chance on themselves. Doin’ It Our Way explores why some St. Louis area families chose to homeschool, how they are able to do it, and what that experience has been like for their kids. Hosted by Marissanne Lewis-Thompson. read less
EducationEducation
Play Trailer
Trailer | Doin' It Our Way
Aug 25 2022
Trailer | Doin' It Our Way
More Black parents in the U.S. and Missouri are choosing to teach their kids on their own terms. In this three-episode limited podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson explores why more Black families are choosing to homeschool, what it’s like behind the scenes, and what the kids really think. Episodes of Doin’ It Our Way coming in September.

Episodes

Trailer | Doin' It Our Way
Aug 25 2022
Trailer | Doin' It Our Way
More Black parents in the U.S. and Missouri are choosing to teach their kids on their own terms. In this three-episode limited podcast, St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson explores why more Black families are choosing to homeschool, what it’s like behind the scenes, and what the kids really think. Episodes of Doin’ It Our Way coming in September.
Episode 1: “My kids were falling apart”
Sep 15 2022
Episode 1: “My kids were falling apart”
At the start of the pandemic, Black families chose to homeschool five times more than any other racial group in the U.S. In this episode of Doin’ It Our Way, Marissanne Lewis-Thompson explores why more Black parents in St. Louis are ditching traditional schools and taking a chance on themselves.
Episode 2: “I didn’t want that for them”
Sep 15 2022
Episode 2: “I didn’t want that for them”
For Miquilaue Young, homeschooling her 7 kids was always part of her plan. More than a decade into her homeschooling journey, the kids are fully immersed in their tailor-made school experience. It’s something Miquilaue wishes she had. In this episode of Doin’ It Our Way, we’ll explore how they’re able to pull it off their way.
Episode 3: “Between two worlds”
Sep 15 2022
Episode 3: “Between two worlds”
Shalon Gates has been homeschooling her four kids off and on for over a decade in Ferguson. Academically, all of her kids are thriving in her classroom. But some of her kids are ready to close this chapter for good. In this final episode, we’ll explore the challenges of homeschooling kids with different social needs.