Search Results for: critical thinking skills

Teaching Critical Thinking Skills through Literature

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
October 6, 2019 by Leave a Comment

In this episode of Soft Skills 101, we interview Adam Pruzan, teacher extraordinaire at True North Homeschool Acaedemy, who shares with us how to use literature to teach Critical Thinking Skills.In this episode of Soft Skills 101, we interview Adam Pruzan, teacher extraordinaire at True North Homeschool Acaedemy, who shares with us how to use literature to teach Critical Thinking Skills.

Proverbs 4:6-7 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

“Literature is the thought of thinking souls.” Thomas Carlyle

Classes taught by Adam Pruzan

World Religions, taught by Adam Pruzan

World History, taught by Adam Pruzan

Links to articles, podcasts, blogposts and places mentioned

Saint John’s College in NM

Founders Academy of Las Vegas

Sophecles

Plato

Clouds by Aristophanes

What is classical Christian Education 

Integration: The Benefits are Enormous blog post by Martin Detweiler, founder of Veritas Press.

Humor and Homeschooling

Wholesome Humor and Homeschooling

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Filed Under: Soft Skills 101

Active Listening Skills and Critical Thinking

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
October 11, 2019 by 1 Comment

Today I am joined by Dr. David Nehring to talk about Active Listening Skills. This is a simple formula that will build Critical Thinking Skills.Today I am joined by Dr. David Nehring to talk about Active Listening Skills. This is a simple formula that will build Critical Thinking Skills, as it requires attention to detail, empathy and understanding feelings, as well as empathy and compassion.

As you sit with someone to really listen to them by using Active Listening Skills:

  1. Be aware of yourself
  2. Clarify the goal of the conversation in your own head:
    • Are you wanting to just hear the person?
    • Gain mutual understanding?
    • Negotiate shared action?
    • Understand how much pain the other person is in?

Given what I am feeling and wanting, can I set that aside long enough to hear the other person?

  1. Gauge what the other person is wanting
  2. Clarify to the other person that what you are doing right now is “just listening”
  3. Say back some of what the person is saying
    1. The words they are saying
    2. The emotions behind what they are saying
    3. If all is going well, ask about the meaning of what they are saying
    4. Offer your understanding of what is being said as a question.
  4. Continue listening stance until either they say they’ve feel heard or you are saturated and need to pause the conversations in order to absorb what they are saying. Ask for a break as needed but commit to re-engage later.
  5. Continue the above until the person feels listened to and understood.
  6. After thinking about what is said, ask to reverse roles when the other person is ready.

Both sides probably need to go back and forth a few times before everyone is sufficiently heard.

The Goal is for the other person to hear you hearing them, see you seeing them, experience you experiencing them.

Recommended Reading:

Crucial Conversations 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey 

Communication Challenges for Struggling Learners

5 Communication Strategies for Struggling Learners 

Celebrate Sukkot! ebook

Career Exploration Courses

As always we appreciate your listening, sharing and downloading this podcast!

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Filed Under: Soft Skills 101

Special Needs & Critical Thinking Skills

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
September 27, 2019 by Leave a Comment

In this Podcast, we’ll continue our discussion of Critical Thinking Skills as I interview Amy Vickrey, Director of Special Needs Department at True North Homeschool Academy. We’ll be talking about how to help kids develop time and self-management techniques, talk about Meta-Cognition and so much more!In this Podcast, we’ll continue our discussion of Critical Thinking Skills as I interview Amy Vickrey, Director of Special Needs Department at True North Homeschool Academy. We’ll be talking about how to help kids develop time and self-management techniques, talk about Meta-Cognition and so much more!

Critical Thinking Skills are important for success, and might be of especial importance to those whose kids struggle with special needs, processing disorders, ADD or ADHD.

We’d love to hear your feed back, and of course, please listen, download, share and subscribe to this Podcast!

 

Live on-line courses, Academic Advising and Testing for Struggling Learners and Special Needs

TNHA Special Needs/ Struggling Learners Program

Informal Logic 

 

Websites

SPED Homeschool 

Diane Craft  

Articles, Book Reviews & Ted Talk

ADHA as a Difference in Cognition, Not a Disorder: Stephen Tonit  a TED Talk

Meta Cognition article explaining what it is

Career Readiness article and the importance of Critical Thinking Skills

Employability Skills article and the importance of Critical Thinking Skills

The Jr. High Brain article on developing brains and Critical Thinking Skills

Smart But Scattered Book Review

Dyslexia Outside the Box Book Review

Special Needs or Struggling Learner- What’s the Difference ? article explaining the difference between the Struggling Learner and the Special Needs Student

Tips for Creating Routines and Teaching Independence  help your kids learn to help themselves!

Creative Methods to Helping Special Needs Children Achieve their Goals Special Needs Kids can meet their goals!

Find more episodes from Soft Skills 101 Podcast here!

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Filed Under: Soft Skills 101

Special Replay: Rethinking College

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
April 21, 2023 by Leave a Comment

But whether you and/or your student have a clear plan or not, CLEP-ing out of their gen-eds is always the wisest way to go. Rethinking College

Welcome to this episode of Life Skills 101! This week the topic of this podcast is Rethinking College.

With the rising cost of college, it’s important for parents to take time to evaluate with their students, the academic, financial and world view Return on their Investment (ROI) of college costs and debt. The average college graduate (does not include students who do not graduate but still have debt), takes 6 years, not 4 to graduate, with an average of over $35,000 in debt

A college degree is no longer necessary for a rewarding career or to ensure an upwardly mobile life-style. In fact, crippling college debt can make the American Dream an impossibility!

As parents, how do we guide and direct our young adults as they plan for the future?

In this episode, we explore ways that students can get a head start on college, by starting by taking CLEP or  Dual Enrollment courses, specifically targeting Gen Ed Courses.

General Education Requirements:

    • 6 credits of English.
    • 3-6 of Math
    • 3-9 of Science
    • 3-6 of Social Science
    • 3-6 of Diversity
    • You can get an associate’s or even a bachelor’s from the Big Three of the CLEP world. These are
      • Thomas Edison
      • Excelsior
      • Charter Oaks

It makes good sense for young adults to learn how to navigate the digital world. Starting an online business in high school can set them up for future success; setting up an online educational business is even better as the online education market is estimated to be an over $350 billion dollar market by 2025.

Students should consider what kind of lifestyle do they want to have as adults and work backwards from there. What kind of training, income and skills will they need to attain that? The future will demand that our young adults have Critical Thinking Skills, Adaptability and Flexibility and the ability to Collaborate.

Below are resources offered by True North to help families navigate the rapidly changing world of college.

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Filed Under: Soft Skills 101 Tagged With: , , ,

Steal Like an Artist ~Critical Thinking

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
February 14, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Steal Like an Artist |True North Homeschool Academy Director, Lisa Nehring is joined by Art Instructor and Scientist BJ Pramann| #homeschoolpodcast #podcast #homeschool #education #homeschooling #homeschool #artist #strallikeanartisSteal Like an Artist

What does it mean to steal like an artist? Art Instructor and Scientist BJ Pramann join true North Homeschool Academy Director Lisa Nehring.  BJ earned a B.S. but has gone on to be a self-taught speed painter who travels with an International Ministry (hear more about that in this interview with BJ: Encouraging Creativity in Your Home  teaches art locally and at True North Homeschool Academy. She is also busy homeschooling her own kids.

It might be hard to fit art into your schedules, but let’s look at the amazing benefits of Art and how art supports and increases your students’ academic and intellectual abilities.

  1. Reinforcement of classes like Science and Philosophy, etc.
  2. Sketching is a mnemonic device that builds muscle memory.
  3. Artistic pursuits are a great way to “empty the mind,” like journaling.
  4. Helps people develop Critical Thinking and Executive Functioning Skills
  5. It can be a way for kids to express and regulate emotions
  6. Can be a way to manage ADD/ADHD

“The Universe is a scavenger hunt that reveals God’s love letter to us!” BJ Pramann

“Steal like an artist, but give credit where credit is due!” BJ Pramann

BJ Teaches Art 1 (emphasis on Animals), Art 2 (emphasis on Botanics), Form and Color (emphasis on Human Anatomy and Color Theory), Graphic Design, Video Editing, Earth and Space and Executive Functioning Skills.

Check out our live online classes, Advising, and testing at truenorthhomeschool.academy

True North Homeschool Academy is your trusted academic partner. Discover True North Homeschool Academy today! truenorthhomeschool. academy

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Filed Under: Soft Skills 101

The Importance of Developing Strong Communication and Leadership Skills in Children

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
October 4, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Episode #20 –  In today’s culture, it’s as important as ever to develop good communication and strong leadership skills in our children. The mission of the Institute for Cultural Communicators is to help ordinary students become extraordinary leaders. Special guest, Julie Rambo, herself a homeschooling mom, shares about ICC and how homeschoolers, too, can cultivate these skills as part of our home education program.

Special guest, Julie Rambo, was unable to read by the time she reached fifth grade, so her mom began homeschooling her back in the 90s. Now a mother herself, Julie home educates her four children, ages 16, 14, 11, and 9. Seven years ago, she and her family became a part of the Institute for Cultural Communicators, where they help run and participate in a weekly chapter meeting that provides irresistible mentoring for students and adults and teaches them the basics of communication. The mission of ICC is to help ordinary students become extraordinary leaders.

Julie Rambo shares about how Institute for Cultural Communicators help ordinary students become extraordinary leaders. A part of the Institute for Cultural Communicators is the Communicators Christ Conference. Since 1998, Communicators Christ has been serving students and adults through communication education, from sharing what they believe to collaborating with a team and beyond. CFC is an interactive learning space where students practice becoming influential with their voice in their communities. A three-day online conference- interactive, fun, and high energy. Julie says that it’s like “nothing that you’ve experienced because it’s run by young adults.” Julie also explains the Five Competencies, which are: communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and cultural intelligence.

Tune in to find out how homeschoolers can get connected with the Institute for Cultural Communicators and attend the Communicators Christ Conference, in-person or online!

Julie Rambo is an artist, gardener, lover of Jesus, and homeschool graduate. Julie believes teens should be challenged to step out of their comfort zone. At 17, she became the director of a children’s ministry running 12-week Bible camps with teams from across the Eastern United States. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY to study Communication Design, with an emphasis in Illustration. Her dream is to create art that shares a story. Julie lives in South Carolina with her husband and their four children. As a Chapter Sponsor and Student Leader Liaison for Institute for Cultural Communicators, Julie wants to influence today’s culture by discipling the next Christian generation. Julie has been a successful leader – fundraising for her chapter, helping grow leaders and resources, and building influence in her community. 

Resources:

CFC 2022 (cfcicc.org)

Institute for Cultural Communicators (iccinc.org) Their free Readiness Assessment provides you with a custom report to determine how to start empowering your student. (click on Take Free Assessment).

5 Ways Being Ready to Speak Will Help Your Student This School Year

 

Join Crystal and her guests each week as they bring relevant information to equip you, stories to encourage you, and content to inspire you. You don’t have to go it alone, tune in to the Military Homeschool Podcast, and be energized in your military homeschooling journey!

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  1. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or Stitcher
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Got questions, comments, or have show topic ideas? Contact Crystal via email at militaryhomeschoolpodcast@gmail.com or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

 

Please subscribe, follow, and share with all of your military homeschooling friends!

Filed Under: Military Homeschool Podcast

Non-tech skills students learn from coding

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
August 11, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Non-techSkills Students Learn From Coding

144: Non-tech skills students learn from coding

There are many non-tech skills students learn from coding. This means learning to program is useful even when students don’t decide to pursue a degree where programming is core to it. These are the skills i talk about in this episode:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Logic
  • Problem Solving
  • Project Planning
  • Perseverance
  • Attention to detail
  • Creativity

Students will also learn humility.

Show sponsor FundaFunda offers the following programming classes:

Special offer for August 2021:

Share about this podcast on any of your social media accounts, or in online forums, Google groups etc OR leave a rating and review on the podcast player you use, then take a photo or screenshot and email it to meryl@fundafunda.com. Everyone who does that can select ANY $20 web-based unit study from sponsor FundaFunda Academy.

————————————————————————————————–
Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Aademy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode.

Non-techSkills Students Learn From Coding

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Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: , , , ,

Rethinking College

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
May 28, 2021 by Leave a Comment

But whether you and/or your student have a clear plan or not, CLEP-ing out of their gen-eds is always the wisest way to go. Rethinking College

Welcome to this episode of Life Skills 101! This week the topic of this podcast is Rethinking College.

With the rising cost of college, it’s important for parents to take time to evaluate with their students, the academic, financial and world view Return on their Investment (ROI) of college costs and debt. The average college graduate (does not include students who do not graduate but still have debt), takes 6 years, not 4 to graduate, with an average of over $35,000 in debt

A college degree is no longer necessary for a rewarding career or to ensure an upwardly mobile life-style. In fact, crippling college debt can make the American Dream an impossibility!

As parents, how do we guide and direct our young adults as they plan for the future?

In this episode, we explore ways that students can get a head start on college, by starting by taking CLEP or  Dual Enrollment courses, specifically targeting Gen Ed Courses.

General Education Requirements:

    • 6 credits of English.
    • 3-6 of Math
    • 3-9 of Science
    • 3-6 of Social Science
    • 3-6 of Diversity
    • You can get an associates, or even a bachelors from the Big Three of the CLEP world. These are
      • Thomas Edison
      • Excelsior
      • Charter Oaks

It makes good sense for young adults to learn how to navigate the digital world. Starting an online business in high school can set them up for future success, setting up an online educational business is even better as the online education market is estimated to be between an over $350 billion dollar market by 2025.

Students should consider what kind of life-style do they want to have as adults and work backwards from there. What kind of training, income and skills will they need to attain that? The future will demand that our young adults have Critical Thinking Skills, Adaptability and Flexibility and the ability to Collaborate.

Below are resources offered by True North to help families navigate the rapidly changing world of college.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Android | Stitcher | RSS

Filed Under: Soft Skills 101

Special Replay: Life Skills For Kids

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
April 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Life Skills | With the advance in technology many major, must-know life skills are forgotten. In this episode, we roll up our sleeves and discuss the important life skills you kids must learn. | #podcast #homeschoolpodcast #lifeskillsSpecial Replay:  Must Know Life Skills – Episode 343

With the advance in technology many major, must-know life skills are forgotten. In this episode, we roll up our sleeves and discuss the important life skills you kids must learn.

With smartphones, there is ready to access information on any imaginable topic – yet our children are at a disadvantage without this handy tool. By life skills, I don’t mean foraging in the forest to hunt and gather, better known as survival skills.

Here is my list and please add to this with your own ideas:

Personal Life Skills

Faith

  1. Convictions – Why you believe what you do
  2. Can you articulate your belief to others
  3. Can you defend your beliefs
  4. A hard look at your faith – and your relationship with Jesus

 

Communication – Verbal and Non-Verbal

    1. The ability to explain what you mean in a few words
    2. To be respectful and allow others to speak
    3. To listen when others talk and answer the question
    4. Cell phone etiquette – and oral communication
    5. The eyes and posture tell what you think

Critical thinking

    1. To realize that we must think for ourselves – but our parents have our best interests at heart!
    2. To realize that everything we read online is not a truth
    3. The ability to make decisions and solve problems
    4. How to resolve a bad decision
    5. Consequence

Control of Self and Opinion

      1. Everyone does not have to agree with you
      2. Everyone who does not agree with you is not wrong
      3. Allow others to have an opinion however know the difference between opinion and fact
      4. Anger management
      5. Stand by your convictions and know that “your own truth” or “he that defines the term wins” is just talk to make you doubt that you can have convictions.
      6. Self-awareness
      7. Empathy for others

Coping with Stress

    1. Daily stress happens how do you handle it?
    2. What are good ways to cope?
    3. What are bad ways to cope?
    4. How can you have less stress in your life?

 

Practical Life Skills

    1. Cooking, cleaning, hygiene and taking care of yourself.
      1. Make a sandwich or an entire meal.
      2. Do laundry.
      3. Plan a grocery trip and meals – comparing prices
      4. Clothing shopping and sales!
      5. Personal hygiene and why
      6. How to clean a house – a room!
      7. How to change a light bulb or do simple home repairs
      8. Order at a restaurant
    2. Money management
      1. (Allowance or earn money) – Save – Spend – Tithe
      2. Checking or savings accounts
      3. Understanding credit and why it should be avoided
      4. The difference between credit and debit
      5. Planning for the future
      6. Understanding household budgets
      7. Cost of goods – home, car, food, clothing, etc.
    3. Education and Learning
      1. Are you self motivated?
      2. Where do you find your information?
      3. Do you know about primary sources and what this means?
      4. Can you teach yourself? How?
    4. Writing
      1. Communication in the written form
      2. How to address an envelope
      3. How to write a nice email – or what should be in an email.
    5. Directions
      1. Can you follow a GPS
      2. Can you use a map?
      3. Do you know your general directions (N – S- E – W)
    6. Transportation
      1. How do you go from place to place
      2. Do you understand busses, subways, etc. if you are in a big city?
      3. Do you know how to maintain a car?
      4. Change the oil – or the tires?
      1. Insurance
      2. Social security cards
      3. Medication and things that do not mix
      4. Drinking / Driving etc.
      5. What doesn’t go in the microwave
      6. Cars and carbon monoxide

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Vintage Homeschool Moms

Teaching kids soft skills for digital communication

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
November 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Teaching Kids Soft Skills for Digital Communication

Episode 60: Teaching Kids Soft Skills for Digital Communication – interview with Lisa Nehring

Lisa Nehring from True North Homeschool Academy and the Soft Skills 101 podcast is the guest on today’s show. She shares with us some of the soft skills for digital communication we need to teach our children.

Learn more about the importance of soft skills in this article by Lisa Nehring.

Some of the topics covered in this episode that you should be talking to your children about are:

1) checking and responding to emails/messages in a reasonable time frame
2) using good grammar in online communication
3) considering tone in emails, and knowing when to speak to a person rather than use digital communication
4) digital communication lasts forever
5) integrity in online communication

Don’t assume your children understand these things. I encourage you to listen to the full episode to hear all the wisdom Lisa shares with us as we discuss this important topic.

For more on this topic, read Lisa’s blog post on teaching effective online communication.

In this episode we highlight show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy’s, Art of Argument online class for teens. In this class they will learn about logical fallacies and pratice writing argumentative essays.

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes.

And be sure to join our Facebook group where we can talk about this together.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review!

Contact Meryl via email on meryl@mediaangels.com or connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook

Thank you to our Sponsor – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Movie!

Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.
Filed Under: Homeschooling with Technology Tagged With: , , , ,
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