Could Online Learning Benefit Your Home School?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #161, Could Online learning Benefit Your Home School?, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

Could Online learning Benefit Your Home School?

In “Could Online Learning Benefit Your Home School?,” Episode, #161, Meredith Curtis talks about online course. She explains how they work, as well as the pro’s and con’s of online learning for parent, teacher, and student. She shows parents how to stay involved with their children’s learning adventure if it includes online learning. Meredith also shares her experience with online learning as a result of COVID.

 


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Show Notes

Our wonderful homeschool co-op was forced to go online in 2020. My adventure with online learning and where I am today.

Online Courses

Whole year or semester.

Live courses v. Go at Your Own Pace.

Like a co-op with class time and work at home.

Pro’s of Online Courses

Teachers often Teach what they love (great if there are subjects you hate teaching)

Great for working homeschool moms

A unique perspective

Gives Mom a break

Build friendships all over the world

Con’s of Online Courses

Can get disconnected from children and what they are learning

Can forget to make sure they are doing their homework

Can hamper spontaneity

Possible clash of worldviews/morals/ values

Easy to get behind in courses for some students

Everybody learning something different (20th Century)

How Parents Can Stay Involved

Listen in to classes occasionally

Meet weekly to discuss what they are learning and what homework is due the next week

Connect with teacher regularly

Encourage children/teens to work hard and do their best

Teaching at True North

Laura Nolette and I (Meredith Curtis) both teach at True North Homeschool Academy. They have been offering live online classes for over a decade and have collectively been involved in alternative education in the form of private schools, classical academies, yeshivas, co-ops, class days, classical charters, online academies, and more.

True North Homeschool Academy teachers are a group of passionate, qualified, creative educators providing carefully curated Core Courses and Clubs, delivered by utilizing cutting-edge technology, gamification, and solid academic pedagogy. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of homeschooling.

Here are the classes Laura and I are teaching next year:

Grades K-3 Science Exploration

Grades 4-6 Science Exploration

Elementary Middle Ages Exploration

Jr. High Writing Like a Reporter/Exploring Journalism

Jr. High US Geography

Jr. High 20th Century World History

High School 20th Century World History

High School Photo Shop

High School Computer Illustration

Intro to Computer Science II (1 semester)

Intro to Computer Science (full year)

High School Health

High School English Who Dun It

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A Lifetime of Homeschooling

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #160, A Lifetime Of Homeschooling, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network

A Lifetime Of Homeschooling

In “A Lifetime of Homeschooling,” Episode, #160, as Meredith Curtis celebrates her 60th birthday, she realizes what a huge role homeschooling has played in her life. She takes a look back at six decades of Preparation, Homeschooling Adventuring, and Coaching and counts it all joy! It’s been a lifetime of learning! How about you? What stage are you in? How can you get the most out of it and prepare for the next one.

 


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Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

 

 

 


Show Notes

Turning 60 and looking back at a lifetime of homeschooling.

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Preparation

2 decades of schooling, lifestyle learning, and reading.

Books lovely books.

Traveling to learn.

Discussion.

Acquiring a love of home, family, and learning.

Homeschool Adventure

The book that came by mistake

Gregg Harris Conference

Learning with my Kids

7 Rs: Relationships, Reading, Arithmetic, Writing, Rhetoric, Research, and Right Living.

Passing the baton of faith, home, family, lifestyle of learning, and sacrifice.

Coaching

Cheering Others On.

Coming Alongside

Teaching in Homeschool Co-ops and Online

What Stage Are You In?

Preparation? Homeschooling? Coaching?

The overlap

Getting the most and giving the most in each stage.

60 Birthday Sale

I am celebrating my 60th birthday this week and I want to bless you with HUGE SAVINGS!

Every digital product at PowerlineProd.com is 60% off when you purchase the product on our site.

Use coupon code HappyBD60!

Sale lasts Sunday May 15, 2022 until Sunday May 22, 2022.

HURRY! Grab the code and start saving!

Shop at PowerlineProd.com.

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Making Wise Choices with Free Homeschool Materials (and Giveaway)

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Free Homeschool Materials | Making Wise with Free Homeschool Curriculum

Free homeschool materials are so popular right now. I don’t see this trend going away. It’s too easy to google and find all kinds of free resources. But, let’s be wise when it comes to these freebies.

Making Wise Choices with Free Homeschool Materials

When you start your homeschool curriculum search, it doesn’t take long to realize you’ll be spending some money. However, most homeschool families are also single-income families. This can make it appealing to school your children completely on the freebies you find online. I want to challenge you to start with a strong homeschool mission statement or philosophy of education before you start down the freebie-only road. Make sure the free resources align with the overall goal you’ve sent for your homeschool.

Developing a Mission Statement for Your Homeschool

This doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a simple list of the things that are important to you. Answering these questions can be a good start:

Simple Mission Statement

Answering these basic questions can help you create a simple mission statement that can guide your purchases or choices of free homeschooling curriculum. A simple mission statement might be something like this, “Our homeschooling model is based upon our Christian faith and desire to establish that Faith as the foundation upon which all curriculum choices are made. Academics are a top concern, as it’s important to our family that our children be able to reason and communicate not just their faith, but all things. We will work together as parents to ensure we stay committed to these basic ideals.”

Methods of Homeschooling

Once you’ve developed a basic mission statement, you can begin to look at the different methods of homeschooling. Knowing HOW you plan to education your kids is as important as WHY you’ll educate them at home.

Here are some helpful podcasts that can assist you in determine your method of homeschooling:

Understanding the Value of Free Curriculum

For most homeschooling moms, free curriculum is a supplement to their main curriculum. It might even be something we fall back on when times are tough. Looking at how curriculum is developed and the role of free curriculum can also help you make wise choices.

Give a listen to Is Free Curriculum Really Free? by Felice Gerwitz to get a better understanding of the pro’s and con’s of  free curriculum.

Felice Gerwitz has been a curriculum writer and developer for over 25 years and knows the painstaking hours that go into the development of curriculum. She’s spoken on the importance of using your homeschool mission and method to make your homeschool as successful as can possibly be.

She joins her voice to that of Carol Topp & Cindy West in their episode, 5 Warnings Against Frugal Homeschooling.

Her desire to provide quality, affordable homeschool materials gave birth to MediaAngelsMembership.com where you can homeschool your entire family starting at just $15 per month.

Make a Wise Decision

Knowing that for most of us, we’re homeschooling with eternity in mind. Choosing the very best in homeschooling materials and methods are something we take seriously. Free homeschool material has a place in the education of your children, but I challenge you today to think about how far you go with frugality. If you choose a free homeschool curriculum, look for one, such as Ambleside Online or Easy Peasy which offers a more cohesive approach.

You can make use of homeschool curriculum swaps, resale or homeschool consignment stores, eBay, or Amazon. Check out these resources:

PS. Here are some additional resources you can try to save money on other areas to better afford homeschool materials

To Help You on Your Homeschooling Journey

We’re all moms here (and dads!) and we know what it’s like for money to be tight. To kick of your back to homeschool, Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network is participating with our blogging friends to bring you the following giveaway! …  (be sure and see our privacy and giveaway policy).


Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network partners with Back to Homeschool Giveaways

Another (home) school year is upon us!

Some of you may have already started your year, or some of you might school all year long, or some of you might be making those final curriculum decisions before your new year starts.  Whatever boat you are in, I’m sure you could use a little extra money for homeschool curriculum or resources.  Am I right?
I’ve gotten together with some fellow homeschool bloggers and we are pooling our money together to bless two homeschool families with a gift card to spend on their homeschools.  How does $250 sound in helping you buy curriculum, books, games, puzzles, or whatever educational supplies you might need?  Two people will win a $250 gift card to Timberdoodle!!

We know homeschooling can put financial strain on families – whether it’s from living on one-income or buying curriculum for multiple children – the financial aspect of it can be stressful.  Our hope is that we can bless a couple of homeschool families (although we wish we could bless many more) so they can buy the curriculum and supplies they need.

Enter to Win

To enter for your chance to win, simply use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Now I know that is quite a few entries for you, but each of these bloggers generously chipped in their own money to bring you this giveaway, so I hope you will take the time to do all of the entries.  And hey, the more entries you do, the better your odds are of winning!

Giveaway ends Aug. 15, 2018 at 11:59pm ET.  Must be at least 18 years of age.  Must be a resident of U.S. or Canada to enter.  Selected winners will have 48 hours to respond to email notification to claim their prizes or another winner will be drawn.  By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers.  Please be sure to read the Terms & Conditions upon entering the giveaway.
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MBFLP – Movies, Media, and Teaching Some Discernment

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

MBFLP - Movies, Media, and Teaching Discernment

School’s out and the summer movies are releasing! The music and the special effects are amazing, the story lines are gripping — but where are they heading? How can you find the true message woven into the cinema experience? Do your kids know what to look for? This episode, we’ll talk about how we teach our young people to watch and listen with discernment, whether it’s a three-movie epic or a 30-second commercial. We’ll talk about some of our favorite movies, and we’ll share some of the lively discussion we actually have in our family over the popcorn. Plus we have a special limited-time offer to share with our listeners … so join us!