African-American Homeschool Moms: A resource for black homeschoolers

This website provides information for black homeschoolers.

Using Instagram In Your Homeschool

1 Comment

Instagram is my favorite social media platform. I love to check out home decor, natural hairstyles, and outfits of the day. However, I also like to use Instagram to make my homeschooling more interesting.

The homeschool community is well represented on Instagram, so you may want to take time to explore it. Here are some of the ways I use Instagram to enhance my homeschooling.

Follow favorite authors. If there’s an author your kids love, follow that author on Instagram.  Author pages often feature updates, giveaways, and book tour dates. An author’s Instagram account is a great way to get amazing behind the scenes info about books and characters.

Follow a few foodies. Like many homeschool moms I know, I spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen each day. I’ve got to get food on the table several times a day. So if I need meal inspiration, I’ll check out Instagram’s gorgeous pics of mouthwatering meals, as well as links to accompanying recipes.

Find fun projects. Homeschoolers all across the country are completing amazing projects. Find inspiring homeschool “how to” by searching homeschool related hashtags. It won’t take long for you to find some great projects your kids will want to try.

Create your own homeschool portfolio. Instagram is a fun way to keep track of what you do during the school year. Snap and post pics of fun field trips, awesome activities, and of course, those enjoyable every day moments. Consider posting at least one picture each day. What a fun way to document all you’re doing this school year!

Make connections with fellow homeschoolers. As you like, comment, and follow others, you may find yourself making connections with other homeschool families. Perhaps the homeschool mom you follow uses the same homeschool approach as you or maybe she’s using the same math curriculum. Jump into the community by asking questions and sharing what you know.

Social media has changed the way homeschoolers interact and Instagram is no exception. Now, with just a few keystrokes homeschool moms can connect with others and discover new ways to enhance their homeschools. Are you on Instagram yet?

How To Succeed in an Online Class

Leave a Comment

A few years ago, I stopped teaching science to my oldest daughter. She was ready for a change of pace, so we began to explore online science options. After sifting through many possibilities, we finally found an excellent science instructor. My daughter has done well and her love of science continues to grow. Both of us are pleased with online science classes.

Online classes can be a great way for homeschoolers to learn. However, our children need to know how to make the most of the online experience. Here’s what I’ve done to help my daughter achieve success in online classrooms.

Understand the class requirements. Sit down together to read and discuss the course description and class syllabus. By doing so, you’ll better understand class content, class expectations, and grading processes.

Understand the technical requirements. Learn how to use the educational platform the class will be using. Possible platforms include Go To Meeting, Google Hangouts, and Skype. You’ll need to know how to use additional laptop features such as the webcam and microphone.

Get the instructor’s contact information. Have your child add the teacher’s contact info to his or her personal contact list. If your child has a question or concern outside of class time, she  knows how to reach the teacher quickly.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remind your child that even though the classroom is virtual, it’s still okay to ask for help. A good instructor will answer questions during class and also answer questions outside of the class.

FInd a quiet and distraction free place during class. Help your child focus on the class by steering them away from noise and activity. If you don’t have a quiet place, have your child listen to class with earbuds or headphones.

Create a schedule. Many online classes only meet one a week, so students are responsible for completing additional work alone. Sit down with your child and create a weekly schedule. This gives your child something to do each day and limits the frustration associated with late assignments and looming deadlines.

Online courses are a great way to enhance the homeschool. Are any of your children taking online courses? If so, feel free to share how you’ve helped them find success. Leave a comment or suggestion. We’d love to hear from you!

 

5 YouTube Channels for Upper Level Math

Leave a Comment


These days my head is full of formulas, variables, and equations. My oldest is in high school now, so I’m officially engrossed in upper level math. Since I’m the one teaching the math lessons, I have to take time to make sure I completely understand the mathematical concepts I’m teaching.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to do high school math, so I sometimes need a refresher on a particular concept. That’s when I turn to YouTube for math tutorials. These videos help jog my memory and sometimes show me a new and better way of teaching a specific concept.

Let me tell you. Some of these Youtube math masters teach better than I do. Do I get mad? Give in to self doubt? Nah. I just thank God for the gift of YouTube and call for my daughter. She sits down, watches the explanation, talks with me about it, and goes off to do the lesson in her math book. That’s a win for both of us.

Yes, YouTube is great, but there are hundreds of math channels there. It’s hard to sort through them all. Which channels are watch worthy? Check out my list of favorites and subscribe.

Khan Academy: Khan Academy is the go to website for all things math related. Sal’s detailed videos have helped my daughter and me better understand many different mathematical concepts.

Tarver Academy: This channel is informative and entertaining. Tyler Tarver’s videos are practical, pointed, and amusing. He’s helped us better understand many math topics. At first, I just watched videos to learn more about math, but now I also tune in to see what’s going on with Tyler’s  adorable family.

MathAntics:The more intricate concepts of math are built upon basic principles. Every now and then my daughter needs to review one of these basic concepts. MathAntics is the perfect website for review. We both love these informative and entertaining videos.

Professor Leonard: Professor Leonard is the Superman of Math. I love his enthusiastic and detailed approach to math instruction. He does a great job of taking complicated concepts and breaking them down into easy to understand steps. I love that he provides lots of examples as well. Check out his playlists for specific topics such as Calculus, Statistics, and Algebra.

MathTutorDVD: I discovered this channel last school year have used it often. The channel features full length lessons in Prealgebra, Algebra, Calculus, and Trignometry. If you’re teaching upper level math, you’ll want to subscribe to this channel.

Teaching math can be challenging, but YouTube videos make it easier for moms and kids to understand concepts. Are you teaching upper level math this year? Are there any YouTube channels you’d recommend? If so, PLEASE leave a comment below. My YouTube account always has room for another channel!

7 Tips to Transition from Classroom to Homeschool

Leave a Comment

This past summer I had the opportunity to present a few workshops at Southeast Homeschool Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. Many people I chatted with explained how they were in the process of moving their children from a traditional school setting into the homeschool setting.

Though these families had unique goals and diverse teaching methods, the question they asked was the same: How do I transition my child from traditional school to homeschool?

Transitioning from traditional school to homeschool can be intimidating, but it can be done. Here are seven tips to help you and your family make a smooth move.

1. Make sure you know your state’s homeschool laws. Every state has its rules for homeschooling. Review these guidelines carefully, so you remain compliant. State requirements vary, but some states may require testing, curriculum review, and student portfolios. The HSLDA website provides information about state regulations.

2. Don’t try to recreate school at home. Classroom lessons are structured for mass presentation. Homeschool lessons are formatted for personalized instruction, so take the time to create the comfortable atmosphere and reasonable schedule that fosters learning. School on the sofa, in the park, or at the library. You don’t need an official school room for teaching.

3. Take time to adjust. Fight the urge to nosedive into every suspect right away. If you do, you risk burnout and discouragement. Take time to adjust to this new educational experience by introducing subjects little by little. Consider just doing math and literature for the first week, then adding additional subjects in future weeks.

4. Don’t rush your curriculum choices. There are many curriculum choices available, so take time to research the ones that appeal to you. Download curriculum samples and question fellow homeschoolers about their curriculum choices. Be sure to sure to consider your family’s needs as well.

5. Find your child’s learning style. Save time and energy by taking time to discover your child’s learning style. Is your child a visual, auditory, tactile, or combination learner? Once you determine how your child learns, you can select appropriate curriculum and create effective and appealing lessons and activities. My favorite resource on student learning styles is The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias.

6. Pace yourself. Homeschooling is not a race, so don’t try to imitate other homeschooling families. Their homeschool will look much different than yours because their children are not your children. Always remember to work at a pace that best suits the needs of your child.

7. Don’t be hard on yourself. You are doing something amazing, inspiring, life-changing, and challenging. From time to time, you’ll encounter a challenge that may feel overwhelming. When challenges come, face them and keep on moving. Do not beat yourself up about what you did or did not do. Do not ruin your day by rehashing what did or did not happen. Give yourself lots of space and grace!

And here’s an additional thought…

Enjoy yourself! Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing you should enjoy. Have fun teaching and learning alongside your children. Make marvelous memories you’ll all look back on fondly.

Have you moved a child from traditional school into the homeschool? If so, let us know how things went. Would you offer any additional advice? Share your thoughts in the comments below and consider sharing this post with a mom who is making the transition from the traditional school to homeschool.

Observing Live Animals with Webcams

1 Comment

If you have a child who loves animals, you’ve probably made multiple trips to the zoo and aquarium. But sometimes poor weather or distance may prevent you from venturing out to see the animals. If this happens to you, don’t worry. Your animal enthusiast can still enjoy watching the animals.

Live animal webcams allow animal enthusiasts to observe animals all over the world. These webcams are stationed in zoos, parks, and nature preserves around the world. All you need to do is visit a website providing a live stream of the animals and begin watching any time, day or night.

Here’s a list of the animal webcams we love:

Africam: Enjoy a live look at the African wild via the site’s many Safari Cams. This one is a Thorpe family favorite!

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Choose this famous aquarium’s webcams to see what  birds, sea otters, and penguins are up to.

Panda Cam: If you’ve got a panda lover, you’ll want to see the pandas in action at the San Diego Zoo.

UStream Animals: This website allows you select from multiple webcams. Tune in for footage of eagles, owls, hummingbirds, and the animals in the sea.

Animal observation is not only fun, but it also provides an excellent opportunity for children to practice observational skills. You can take observation to the next level by having your child make written observations about animal behavior.

I’m happy to share the observational worksheet I created. It’s called Webcam Observation Log. Grab your copy and start your animal observations today!