Homeschooling & Loving It!

Homeschool.com with Jamie Gaddy
Homeschooling & Loving It!

Where is my instruction manual? I can't find mine either! Let's chat about parenting, homeschooling, and how to love it while you're up to your neck in it!!

  1. FEB 18

    Episode 85: You Can Homeschool with Carrie Strong

    FOLLOW US ON: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | PANDORA For some parents, the thought of homeschooling melts their hearts. But, today’s podcast is about sharing with the world that YOU CAN homeschool and there is no reason to fear! Joining Jamie today is Carrie Strong, author of the book “You Can Homeschool!” Her book is designed to help other parents see the simplicity of homeschooling and a clear path to getting started. Jamie and Carrie chat about how to start, the lessons they’ve learned, and encouragement for all parents who are on the fence. If you can, take a minute to look at the book “You Can Homeschool” by Carrie Strong and Megan Todd. Why Choose Homeschooling? Carrie Strong begins by addressing the fundamental question of why parents might choose to homeschool. She highlights the benefits, such as personalized learning, flexible schedules, and the ability to incorporate family values and beliefs into the curriculum. Homeschooling allows parents to tailor the educational experience to their child’s unique needs and interests, fostering a love for learning. Getting Started: The Basics “You CAN Homeschool” covers the essential steps to get started. Strong provides a comprehensive overview of the legal requirements for homeschooling in different regions, helping parents understand what is needed to comply with local regulations. She also discusses how to set up a conducive learning environment at home, including tips on organizing space and materials. Choosing the Right Curriculum One of the key challenges in homeschooling is selecting the right curriculum. Strong offers insights into various homeschooling methods, such as classical education, unschooling, and Charlotte Mason. She encourages parents to explore different approaches and choose one that aligns with their educational philosophy and their child’s learning style. Real-Life Stories and Tips What sets “You CAN Homeschool” apart are the real-life stories from experienced homeschooling parents. These stories provide inspiration and practical tips, showing that homeschooling is not only possible but also enjoyable. Parents share their successes and challenges, offering valuable lessons learned along the way. Staying Motivated and Connected Homeschooling can sometimes feel isolating, but Strong emphasizes the importance of staying connected with other homeschooling families and communities. She provides resources for finding local support groups, online forums, and co-op classes. These connections can offer support, encouragement, and opportunities for socialization for both parents and children. Embracing Flexibility One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling is its flexibility. Strong encourages parents to embrace this flexibility and adapt their teaching methods as needed. Whether it’s taking a spontaneous field trip, incorporating hands-on projects, or adjusting the schedule to accommodate a child’s interests, flexibility can make homeschooling a dynamic and engaging experience. “You CAN Homeschool” by Carrie Strong and Megan Todd is a comprehensive guide that empowers parents to take charge of their children’s education. With practical advice, inspirational stories, and a wealth of resources, this book is an excellent starting point for any parent considering homeschooling. By following Strong’s guidance, parents can create a nurturing and effective learning environment that meets their child’s unique needs. The post a href="https://www.homeschool.com/podcasts/series/homeschooling-loving-it/episode-85-you-can-home

    27 min
  2. 05/02/2024

    Episode 82: Homeschool Assessment

    FOLLOW US ON: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | PANDORA For some homeschoolers, homeschool assessment can be confusing and even challenging. Join Jamie, homeschool mom of 6, as she shares how you can make it simple and easy. Once upon a time, in the quiet corners of suburban homes, families embarked on a unique educational journey: homeschooling. As they navigated this path, they encountered various forms of assessment to gauge their children’s progress. Let’s delve into the world of homeschool grading and assessment and explore the different ways homeschoolers evaluate their young scholars. Types of Homeschool Assessment  Daily Homeschool Grades The Morning Routine: Every day, homeschooling parents don their teacher hats, armed with pencils and grade books. Their mission? To assess their child’s progress through daily grades or observations. These grades and observations weren’t just numbers; they were windows into understanding. Formal or Informal? Formal assessment is the giving and taking of quizzes and tests while informal assessment is the observation that we conduct every day as we homeschool our children! Flexibility and Freedom: Unlike traditional schools, homeschooling allows flexibility. Parents can choose when to grade, how to grade, and whether to grade at all. Some days, they skip the grading altogether, opting for experiential learning—a trip to the local museum or a nature walk. Placement Tests The Quest for the Right Level: Imagine a treasure map with an “X” marking the spot. Placement tests served as those “X” marks for homeschoolers. Parents use them to determine the appropriate grade level or mastery level within the grade for their child. Was little Timmy ready for third-grade math or perhaps a leap into fourth-grade beginning algebra?   Portfolio Assessment The Chronicles of Progress: Portfolio assessment was homeschooling’s grand epic—a saga chronicling a student’s journey. Imagine a thick leather-bound book filled with pages of achievement. Each entry told a tale: a poem penned, a science experiment documented, a painting captured. We’ll use Timmy as an example. Showcase Portfolios: In the portfolio, showcase sections sparkled. Timmy’s best work—his eloquent essay on ancient civilizations, the watercolor masterpiece of a sunflower—found their place. These were the gems he’d proudly share with visiting grandparents. Progress Portfolios: Progress portfolios whispered secrets of growth. Timmy’s early attempts at cursive writing, shaky and uncertain, now flowed like a babbling brook. His science notes evolved from scribbles to structured hypotheses. Working Portfolios: Working portfolios held drafts—the raw clay of creativity. Timmy’s short stories, revised and polished, nestled here. His math scratch paper revealed the journey from confusion to clarity. Virtual Portfolios: In the digital age, virtual portfolios emerged. Timmy’s blog chronicled his adventures—virtual field trips, coding projects, and book reviews. The internet became his canvas, and the world his audience. Visit this podcast for a cool app that let’s you create Virtual Portfolios with a snap. State Requirements: Some states demand these portfolios for evaluation. Parents meticulously curate them, ensuring a balanced representation of the child’s learning odyssey. Get this Free Homeschool Po

    26 min
  3. 03/28/2024

    Episode 81: Homeschooling the Gifted or High Performing Learner

    FOLLOW US ON: APPLE PODCASTS | GOOGLE PLAY | PANDORA Join Jamie as she interviews Kimberly Langen, a highly educated and gifted educator who started Spirit of Math in 1994 to challenge learners to think differently! Kimberly has developed an alternative way to helping gifted and high performing learners stay motivated and learn mathematics in ways that align with their particular style of thinking. This podcast was very enlightening and if you have a gifted or high-performing learner you’ll want to listen in. Kim shares a great many practical tips on how to homeschool and keep your learners motivated. One of my key takeaways was that mathematics needs to be taught in 4 steps: 1 Drill to build automaticity 2 Core Content including topics and spiral learning for younger children 3 Problem Solving in real world application that allows students to use reasoning and logic 4 Collaborative Group Work that elevated thinking, let them talk about it out loud it will stretch them to new reasoning   And something else I learned, in case you were wondering what the difference was between a gifted learner and a high performing learner: 1 Gifted Learner is a student classified as gifted by demonstrating a high level of intellectual ability. 2 High Performing learner is a learner that is simply very motivated to learn! Don’t forget that it is also important for these learners to learn from failure. Learning from failure often brings about a new level of logical reasoning that wasn’t accessible before. If you have a gifted or high performing learner and are feeling challenged on how to homeschool them reach out to Spirit of Math. They have regional classes as well as online options for homeschool students. Listen to More Helping Your Students Pursue Their Excellence The post Episode 81: Homeschooling the Gifted or High Performing Learner first appeared on Homeschool .com.

    29 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

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Where is my instruction manual? I can't find mine either! Let's chat about parenting, homeschooling, and how to love it while you're up to your neck in it!!

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