Learning Outside the Lines

In this episode I discuss wildschooling and what it means for us. I also give some ideas how we incorporate wildschooling in our family.I shared these resources:A Wilder Child This is Nicolette's web site with tons of great resources. Wildschooling FB Group This is an inclusive active FB group with tons of helpful resources and sharing of experiences. Recommended books:Balanced and Barefoot by by Angela HanscomThere's No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurkLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard LouvThe Rhythm of Family Discovering a Sense of Wonder Through the Seasons by Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen SouleThe Children's Forest: Stories & Songs, Wild Food, Crafts & Celebrations by Dawn Casey and Anna Richardson, et alI would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resources for education and parenting.My website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning, and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

In this episode I give a quick update and discuss the importance of teen communication during this challenging time. I also give a reminder to let anything go that is not working!I would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resources for education and parenting.My website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning, and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

In this episode I discuss community service and how valuable it can be for learning. I would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resources for education and parenting.My website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning, and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

My disclaimer...While I definitely think children learn at their own pace and research backs that up, I also definitely believe some kids definitely have disabilities that need targeted help. That help may be from a professional or a parent with professional advice or training. These tips are things that have worked over my 16 yrs as a homeschool parent with 4 different types of learners and other homeschool parents.Reading-Reading a loud often is a given. All ages, even up to high school. This not only creates a culture of language and reading but it’s a great 1:1 time for kids and their parents. So much can be done with reading a loud such as having them read a sentence to encourage them but you read the rest so they don’t get too challenged. You can explain vocabulary words they may not know in context. You can point out punctuation so they understand how it’s used. None of this should be done tediously, but slid in now and then as needed. Audio books are under utilized and can be so helpful for kids! They are often free thru the library (which I highly encourage) or apps. Epic is a great reading app we like.  Line guides, some kids have issues following the lines and line guides can help them stay on track. You can use something as simple as a ruler or buy a fancier one. This is a formal guide, as an example. Graphic novels are the best thing for many struggling readers IMO. Wide range of topics from fun stories for younger kids to mature topics for older kids. There are fiction and non fiction graphic novels. They have long been discounted as poor quality or just simple comics but they have exploded in the last 5 yrs esp with incredible stories. Classics are even turned into graphic novels to make them more approachable and understandable! Kids that get frustrated with so many words on a page of a chapter book can easily digest the smaller text sections of a graphic novel. It can give them reading confidence and expose them to reading in a non threatening and engaging way. Don’t discount graphic novels! Reading aloud can often be very scary and stressful for a struggling reader but it can be really helpful too. Encourage them to read to a pet or even a stuffed animal if they want. Tell them no one else has to listen, but the practice can definitely help them.Don’t turn reading into a book report for each book they read. I will often ask my daughter to tell me about the story in a conversational way, and she can often share the characters, plot, etc. but if I asked her to write those things down, it would be a blank face. If you need it recorded for some reason for a homeschool portfolio or work sample, write it for them. Writing:If printing is a struggle try cursive or italics, keeping the pencil on the paper sometimes helps a child write better because they aren’t having to transition to each letter like printing. Typing instead of writingTexting is great for simple writing practiceMath:Multiplication facts- yes, ideally we want our kids to know their mult facts but reality is, not all kids can retain these. Don’t spend years wasted on trying to drill and kill! There comes a post where you acknowledge they aren’t retaining them and you give them a table or other tool to use when doing math. You can try again in a year or and maybe they are ready at that point, but if not, just keep using the table.  Games, especially for fractions. Apps and video games are good too for math concepts.General tips:Movement, we often think kids have to be sitting still to learn, but some kids are the opposite, they need to be moving or bouncing or fiddling to process information. Noise- some need quiet and others need back ground noise Noise canceling headphones can be a huge help for some kids.Be conscious of the type of noise, music or wind chimes or a fan are low key white noise. A TV show or loud kids playing is a different kind of noise than be a distraction so be aware of the noise that is in the background.I would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resources for education and parenting.My website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning, and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

This week I want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the upcoming NaNoWriMo project that takes place every November. National Novel Writing Month AKA NANOWRIMO is an online creative writing program that started back in 1999. It’s gained massive popularity over the years and many novels have been written because of this program. The original goal was to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. No editing, just write. Now it’s grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides tools, structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds — on and off the page.This is a great FREE resource to encourage writing. It's often a gateway to writing for many people and can really lead to success in the writing world. I've known a few people that have had great success using NaNoWriMo to write their first novel.NaNoWriMo has lots of great FREE resources that can be used in a variety of ways and I encourage you to check them out to see if some of the activities will work for your student. You can use some of the more structured lessons or leave that all behind and just write! Follow your child's lead. Be sure to leave the editing out of this! This is all about getting their ideas on paper and their voice heard. You can deal with grammar and spelling later. This is all about getting their ideas on paper.Make this fun and cater to your child. If they want colored paper, color pencils, blank books, etc. then let them use whatever they like. Maybe buy a new notebook just for this to make it special.If they want to type it on the computer, that’s fine too. Let them use whatever font they want. You can set goals according to your child's style. You can have a time limit each day, a certain number of words each day, fill a page each day, etc. Don't stress about the details, just make it a fun special writing event. I encourage the parent to write WITH the child each day and take the time to really engage in the activity. You also might want to make it special and have some treats to eat or tea while you write or light a candle on the table, etc. Make this as much or as little as you think your child will respond to.If you’re new and want more info there’s a 101 link with great resources. They even have a calendar and workbook I’d that’s what you need. This 101 ideally starts in sept or oct to lay some ground work so you’re ready to just write in Nov, however! You can honestly start whenever you want so don’t feel discouraged or “behind” in any wayhttps://nanowrimo.org/nano-prep-101Young writers program Your child can sign up and receive some great resources. Goal setting, writing tools, and motivation https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/For educators Lesson plans, ideas, student workbooks, and more and it’s all broke down by elementary, middle school, and high schoolIt could easily be a whole writing class outline! https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/pages/educator-resourcesI would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resources for education and parenting.My website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning, and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

In this episode I share what we are using for 6th grade. We are eclectic relaxed homeschoolers and definitely want to allow for child led learning and interest based learning. While this may sound like a lot in terms of curriculum, it really doesn't seem like too much for us. We do about 2 hrs of "formal" work 4 days a week and other things like free reading, outside classes, and nature walks each week, as well.We are also doing a block schedule for science and alternating months for Science Through Nature and Generation Genius.Below are links to each program I mentioned.Bravewriter Arrow Literature study Night Zoo Keeper on line writingTeaching Textbooks on line mathBeast Academy180 Days of Social Studies grade 6 workbookScience Through Nature Be a Naturalist program and guideScience Through Nature FB page and Instagram Generation Genius on line scienceI would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resources for education and parenting.My website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning, and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

New Homeschooler Resources Series.These suggestions are more "traditional" in style. They are sometimes a good jumping off point for parents coming from a school setting. You can change curriculum ANY TIME or decide to use no curriculum at all!!Language Arts is such a HUGE subject and this is a tiny intro to what's available. There are so many more programs out there to explore as needed and as you are ready to dive deeper.Here is the Guide for all subjects but below are the links for Language Arts specifically:Spectrum Language Arts-workbookhttps://www.rainbowresource.com/category/2361/Spectrum-Language-Arts-2015.htmlEvan-Moor Language Arts-workbook (many to choose from depending on need)https://www.evan-moor.com/series?specs=1921Literature (For grade 3 and up. For younger grades just read a loud and enjoy)I’d choose a few good novels and do a literature study to round out the year. You get to read a good book, discuss various issues it addresses, explore genre, and can practice writing with various assignments. (These can be read-a-louds or independently read.)Teachers Pay Teachers has a great variety of literature studies-print on demand https://www.teacherspayteachers.comThe kids can choose their own novels if you want but perhaps use the grade level reading lists to choose from if you need help (you can google for more reading lists too)https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/17-18/guided-reading-book-lists-by-level/Brave Writer Arrow is another literature study that is highly recommended and FUN! These have preselected books. Grades 3-6ishhttps://store.bravewriter.com/collections/mechanics-and-literature/products/the-arrowSpelling City is a free app you can use for spelling practice if you really want spelling. Kindergraden/1st and those needing reading supportReading/Reading ComprehensionReading Eggs/Reading Eggspress -on line Reading Eggs is for younger kids learning to read and Eggspress is for older kids working on fluency and comprehension  https://readingeggs.com/aboutExplode the Code-on line or workbookhttps://www.explodethecode.com  (on line version)https://eps.schoolspecialty.com/products/literacy/phonics-word-study/explode-the-code/about-the-program    (workbook version)Beginning readers (find at most stores or amazon)Nora Gaydo’s Now I’m Reading seriesBOB booksHandwriting:Handwriting Without Tearshttps://www.lwtears.com I would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resourcesMy website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com

Here is the Guide for all subjects but below are the links for science specifically:Real Science Odyssey (RSO)-text/work bookhttps://www.pandiapress.com/real-science-odyssey/Generation Genius (K-8, adding 6-8 this fall) -on linehttps://www.generationgenius.comMystery Science-K-5-on line, has virtual labs or you can follow along at home (you can get a year free with the basic service) https://mysteryscience.comEvan Moor Daily Science-workbook https://www.evan-moor.com/daily-science-grade-1-teacher%27s-edition-printScience can be enhanced with field trips, videos, books, and hands on exploration.I would greatly appreciate it if you enjoyed the podcast, please leave me a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help my search-ability. Thank you in advance!Find me on Facebook where I post articles, live videos, and relevant resourcesMy website is www.learningoutsidethelines.com where you can listen directly if needed.Check me out on Instagram @Lattebooks2read where I post books, resources for learning and snapshots of our homeschool life.Please feel free to send me comments, suggestions for episodes, or questions to outsidethelinespodcast@gmail.com