In a continuation of our series addressing the common question “Am I doing enough?”, today we breakdown the public school day in First, Second, and Third Grade to understand just what your student would learn in an average day and we contrast that with homeschool curriculum for those ages. You’ll be surprised by how much learning actually takes place inside and outside of “school time”. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your l...
Oct 12, 2020•51 min•Ep. 29
Homeschool Decision Made? Check. Curriculum? Check. Books? Check. Manipulatives and Games? Check. Willing students? Mostly Check. You’re all prepared and you dive into your first weeks of homeschooling (yay!), but you finish all your lessons in less time than your kids would’ve been in school. Are you really doing enough? Today we breakdown the public school day in Kindergarten to understand just what your student would learn in an average day and we contrast that with what we do in a homeschool...
Oct 09, 2020•56 min•Ep. 28
In today’s episode we review a solid family game that plays equally well with your preschooler, parent, or grandparent. Qwirkle by MindWare features color and shape recognition, strategic thinking, basic math skills, and planning ahead to score the most points. With high quality components and a handy travel bag it’s perfect to take to grandma’s house or on your next camping trip! Qwirkle by MindWare Ages 4 and up 2-4 players 30 min playtime Skills: color recognition, shape recognition, strategi...
Oct 07, 2020•6 min•Ep. 27
Today we sit down with Abby Card to discuss her homeschooling journey with her three boys. We delve into her experience homeschooling in different states, leaving and then re-entering the public school system, finding the best solutions for a child on the spectrum, and juggling the challenge of teaching multiple ages. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Saxon Math https://www.hm...
Oct 05, 2020•58 min•Ep. 26
You may already be well acquainted with your local public library, but libraries often have more to offer than many homeschoolers realize. Libraries are transforming to keep up with the educational needs of families in surprising ways. Today we review our favorite physical and digital library resources to enhance your homeschooling adventure! Discussion Physical - So much more than books! CDs, DVDs, Audiobooks, and video games oh my! Boardgames and puzzles (we wish), and other toys (music makers...
Oct 02, 2020•49 min•Ep. 25
In today’s episode we review a terrific cooperative family game, Forbidden Island by Gamewright. You’ll create a team of adventurers trying to save four treasures before they are claimed by the sea. Can you and your team recover the artifacts and escape the island before the waters rise?! Forbidden Island by Gamewright Ages 6 and up 2-4 players 30 min playtime Skills: cooperation, strategic thinking, planning ahead FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance yo...
Sep 30, 2020•11 min•Ep. 24
Today we sit down with Hope Helms, a preschool teacher at Urban Eden Farm School in Spokane, WA to discuss what makes nature education programs so unique and how we can enrich our children’s learning through open-ended outside play and exploration. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Greenplay Northwest, a non-profit that oversees Urban Eden Farm School as well as other forest a...
Sep 28, 2020•39 min•Ep. 23
Using the library is an amazing resource, but now that many libraries are shut down the need to purchase books is greater. Whether you’re looking to get the best deal on new or used books, today we’ll go through our favorite ways to save! FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Discussion New Books Amazon Prime: need it now regardless of price Book Outlet or KidsBooks.com: limited title select...
Sep 25, 2020•42 min•Ep. 22
In this short bite episode we feature Hoot Owl Hoot. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Hoot Owl Hoot - https://amzn.to/2DO32W9 Connect with us Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/homeschooltogetherpodcast/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/homeschooltogetherpodcast Website: https://homeschooltogether.fireside.fm/ Email: homeschooltogetherpodcast@gmail.com
Sep 23, 2020•6 min•Ep. 21
Many homeschool curriculums are terrific, but not attainable based on your budget. Today we discuss options for finding used curriculum. Discussion Keys before shopping for used curriculum Sources for used curriculum New curriculum sales FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Homeschool Classifieds https://homeschoolclassifieds.com/default.asp Facebook Homeschool Curriculum Marketp...
Sep 21, 2020•21 min•Ep. 20
RightStart math is a hands-on math curriculum for elementary through middle school students. We’ll discuss our experience using the program with our almost kinder student. Discussion Approach Structure What does a lessong look like How do I teach it Cost Pros Cons Neutral FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes RightStart Math - https://store.rightstartmath.com/home-school/ Lion Kin...
Sep 18, 2020•45 min•Ep. 19
In this short bite episode we feature Telestrations. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Telestrations - https://amzn.to/35lUUHK Connect with us Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/homeschooltogetherpodcast/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/homeschooltogetherpodcast Website: https://homeschooltogether.fireside.fm/ Email: homeschooltogetherpodcast@gmail.com
Sep 16, 2020•6 min•Ep. 18
All About Reading is a program to teach your young learner how to read. We’ll discuss our experience using the program with our almost kinder student. Discussion Approach Structure What does a lesson look like How do I teach it Cost Spelling curriculum Pros Cons Neutral FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes All About Reading https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/...
Sep 14, 2020•55 min•Ep. 17
Detailed explanation of how we will be combining Torchlight Level K and Build Your Library Level 0 to create a dynamic around the world study for Kindergarten. Discussion Why Combine Combination Structure Challenges FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Torchlight Level K https://torchlightcurriculum.com/torchlight/level-k/ Build Your Library Level 0 https://buildyourlibrary.com/p...
Sep 11, 2020•33 min•Ep. 16
In this short bite episode we feature a print and play game, Charades for Kids. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Charades for Kids - https://amzn.to/34wsMkK Connect with us Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/homeschooltogetherpodcast/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/homeschooltogetherpodcast Website: https://homeschooltogether.fireside.fm/ Email: homeschooltogetherpodcast@gmail.c...
Sep 09, 2020•6 min•Ep. 15
Overview of the offerings from Build Your Library curriculum. Insight from our planning experience with Build Your Library Level 0. Discussion Approach Structure Cost What is a typical week for Level 0 Pros Cons Neutral Our Advice to new Torchlight families FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Build Your Library Curriculum https://buildyourlibrary.com/ Build Your Library Universi...
Sep 07, 2020•42 min•Ep. 14
Overview of the offerings from Torchlight curriculum. Insight from our experience using Torchlight Pre-K and planning Torchlight K. Discussion Approach Structrue Cost What is a typical week Pros Cons Neutral Our Advice to new Torchlight families FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Torchlight Curriculum https://torchlightcurriculum.com/torchlight/ What are we into this week Prima...
Sep 04, 2020•54 min•Ep. 13
"I really loved the podcast yesterday and Blossom and Root sounds so cool. I'd love to try it with my 3rd grader but I'm afraid it wouldn't be feasible as I work full time and my husband is gone all day at work, so I don't have any help." Arial and Matt jam on this question. They talk through the scenarios and hope to offer some ideas and thoughts. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Conne...
Sep 03, 2020•25 min
In this short bite episode we feature a print and play game, A Bear Went Over The Mountain. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Bear Went Over the Mountain Print & Play Ages 4-8 - https://www.adventuresingameschooling.com/bear-went-over-the-mountain/ Print and Play printing tips - https://www.adventuresingameschooling.com/quick-print-and-play-tips/ Song - https://youtu.be/0U...
Sep 02, 2020•9 min•Ep. 12
Overview of the offerings from Blossom & Root curriculum. Insight from our experience using B&R Early Years Vol. 2. Discussion Approach Structrue Cost What is a typical week Pros Cons Neutral Our Advice to new B&R families FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Blossom and Root Curriculum https://blossomandroot.com/ What are we into this week Egypt! Look Inside Mummies ...
Aug 31, 2020•49 min•Ep. 11
You’ve decided that you want to base your home education on pre-made curriculum. Figuring out the best curriculum for your learner, your teaching method, and your budget can be overwhelming. This is the first episode in our series about curriculum. We can’t possibly review all the curriculum choices so we’ll give you the resources to do better curriculum research and we’ll have a series of shows reviewing the curriculum we’ve used so far in our homeschool. Discussion Important curriculum conside...
Aug 28, 2020•27 min•Ep. 10
This will be an overview of what we do on a daily basis, including referencing the curriculum we are using (will not go in-depth). We will also discuss how we plan our days each week and how we plan our weeks overall. Discussion The curriculum we are using. Overview of our day. How we plan our days. How we plan our weeks. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Blossom and Root - ht...
Aug 26, 2020•55 min•Ep. 9
In this short bite episode we feature one of our favorite Gameschooling games, Sequence by Jax. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes How to play - https://youtu.be/fiUQYIuMluM Jax Sequence for Kids Ages 3-6 - https://amzn.to/2PEJEx8 Jax Sequence Letters Ages 4-7 - https://amzn.to/3is6u7x Jax Sequence Numbers Ages 6-10 - https://www.rainbowresource.com/product/018850/Sequence-Numb...
Aug 24, 2020•4 min•Ep. 8
“Homeschooling is the pursuit of knowing, learning, and exploring the world without the pressures of school. Life and learning become one.” - Julie Bogart (Brave Writer / The Brave Learner) From episodes 4 and 5 you know the requirements to homeschool in your state and a guideline of what you could teach, but can you really do this? We all ask ourselves “Am I truly qualified to teach my children? I’m not a teacher. Will they still learn what they need to? Will they still be enriched as they woul...
Aug 20, 2020•20 min•Ep. 7
Your state may or may not require that you teach certain subjects, but they don’t specify what within those subjects you should teach. While you have the freedom to tailor your child’s education, you may be wondering what the public school in your area would be teaching depending on grade. This can be a strong influence on what you teach (especially if you intend to send your child to public school at some point in the near future) or it can just give you some helpful guidance to plan your own s...
Aug 17, 2020•19 min•Ep. 6
In this short bite episode we feature one of our favorite Gameschooling games, Outfoxed by Gamewright. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes Outfoxed by Gamewright - https://amzn.to/3io8hKB How to play - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCZSE8IOlkE Connect with us Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/homeschooltogetherpodcast/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/homeschooltogetherpodcast Web...
Aug 16, 2020•4 min•Ep. 5
National homeschooling standards do not exist. Each state has its own requirements. Today we’ll discuss the specifics of a couple of states as an example and provide resources for families to find out about their state’s laws. Discussion States on Homeschool Legal Defense Association categorized as Low, Moderate, High Regulation. We talk in some detail about each: Low Regulatory: Texas Mod Regulatory: Washington State High Regulatory: New York FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American...
Aug 13, 2020•26 min•Ep. 4
With so many flavors of homeschooling, there are lots of new terms to learn. When new homeschooling families reach out and ask where to start they usually run into some unfamiliar language. We’re going to try to decode the most commonly used homeschool terms. This is only meant to be a broad introduction as future episodes will get into the weeds. Curriculum Terms Spiral Learning, Sequential Learning, Loop Schedule, Scope & Sequence, Multi-Level, Spine, Extension, Manipulatives Homeschool Su...
Aug 06, 2020•33 min•Ep. 3
With so many flavors of homeschooling, there are lots of new terms to learn. When new homeschooling families reach out and ask where to start they usually run into some unfamiliar language. We’re going to try to decode the most commonly used homeschool terms. This is only meant to be a broad introduction as future episodes will get into the weeds. Homeschooling Methods Discussed Classical (Trivium, Quadrivium, Classics), Charlotte Mason, Montessori, School-at-Home (aka Traditional), Waldorf, Uns...
Aug 06, 2020•23 min•Ep. 2
We all have to start somewhere and this is a good enough place for that. Arial and Matthew talk about their inspiration and why they started a podcast to help new homeschoolers. FREE Resource Guide Download our FREE North American Resources List to enhance your global studies with your learners! https://rebrand.ly/fstke Show Notes: First episode of Bluey for free on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJkn-r-rJJY) Connect with us: Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/homeschooltogetherpodcast/...
Aug 06, 2020•15 min•Ep. 1
