HSHSP Ep 124: Homeschool Graduate Becomes a Teacher, Interview with Rebekah Groop

This week on HSHSP Ep 124: Homeschool Graduate Becomes a Teacher, Interview with Rebekah Groop!

HSHSP Ep 124: Homeschool Graduate Becomes a Teacher, Interview with Rebekah Groop

Rebekah *Bekah* Groop is a homeschool graduate. She is also a second grade teacher in a public school. She is married and a mom to her first child. (She is also Sabrina’s daughter and is married to 7Sister Marilyn’s son, Casey!) In this episode, Sabrina interviews Bekah on homeschooling and teaching.

Rebekah Groop and family used by permission.

During homeschool high school Bekah liked:

Her homeschooling format (co-ops, group classes, activities)

Time with friends
Time to develop interests and talents
Developing independent learning skills
Developing important life skills
Learning how to own her goals and meet them: The right to *fly or fail*
Flexibility

Bekah homeschooled K-12 then went to Towson University for college. During high school, she switched major ideas several times: Veterinary Science (she loves animals), Music (she assisted the local homeschool high school choir and loved it). She learned leadership and teaching skills through her assistant role which led her to think about education.

Bekah went to Towson with a double major in elementary education and deaf education. She ended up teaching 2nd grade in the Baltimore County school systems.

What are some educational ideas she learned in college that she found she had a foundation for in high school?

Differentiation: What do kids need? (Bekah’s experience homeschooling helped her with that.)
Lesson Planning.
Hands on learning.

Her advice for homeschool moms:

Lesson Plans: Keep it quick. Lessons need to be in 3 minute chunks with a clear, simple idea.
Include hands on activities.
Make real-world connections.
Give teens a voice in their education.

How much should moms test or do evaluations? We can forget to enjoy if we test too much, but it is good to get a feel for what kids are learning. It is good to assess their progress. Bekah found that short *mini-assessments* frequently through a subject in a creative format are helpful. Some ideas for quick mini-assessments: