Ep.55 Creating Authentic Learning Experiences ft Shanine Young

Welcome back. This week I invited educational consultant Shanine Alessia Young to the show to share how parents can create authentic learning experiences for their unschoolers. As an Atlanta native, Shanine is a 4X best-selling author, coach, and educational consultant with over ten years of experience in teaching.

In This Episode

In this episode, Shanine revealed why healthy relationships with your children are valuable for success as a parent.

She shared a few ideas that parents can use to keep their children engaged while building bonds at home. It's important to sometimes stop what you're doing and experience the moment with your children. Make your children feel included when bonding and learning together. Giving breaks from learning so that children can feel whole and healthy.

For Shanine, bonding is about, "Making them feel seen...take a second away and check and make sure they feel good."

We Mentioned

Family bonding time

Being intentional with your children

How are you communicating

Differentiating instruction

Understanding your children's learning styles

Formative assessments and check-ins

Infuse music and movement in lessons

Celebrate what makes you different

Create generational wealth

Resources Mentioned

Flocabulary Songs

Reaching While Teaching

To Teach Or Not To Teach

Shanel's World Freedom Over Fear

Author Coaching: Free Training for Authorpreneurs www.books2impact.com.

To become a To Teach or Not to Teach Educational Ambassador

www.theclassroomceo.org/ambassador.

Shanine leaves us with a spark of wisdom on parenting. Being an intentional parent has a lasting effect on the overall health and wholeness of your children. Own the process of learning by getting to know your children and doing activities together.

Find Shanine Alessia Young on social media or to purchase books or schedule a coaching session at www.shaninealessia.com. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the podcast on social media.

Ep.54 How Do I Teach My Homeschooler To Write ft Robyn Joyner

Hey friends! This week, I invited curriculum creator, Robyn Joyner of Learning Cursive to the show to share tips on how to teach homeschoolers to write. Robyn is a wife, mother, and seasoned homeschooler. She began and continues to create writing curriculum for homeschool learners that love writing and those that may need a little support to get started. Robyn previously taught as a preschool teacher at the University of Notre Dame Preschool Program.

In This Episode

In this episode we discussed multiple ways homeschool parents can teach writing to homeschool learners of all ages. Robyn stresses the importance of making writing have meaning in order for homeschool learners to meet their writing goals and complete tasks. She also thinks parents should remember to teach good writing habits as handwriting continues through high school years. Robyn shares tips for teaching handwriting to reluctant writers by using stems such as writing prompts or short-handed writing that homeschoolers can do for fun. Robyn reminds us that we should not push our homeschoolers if there is something that already makes writing hard. It's helpful to read your learner and know what gives them anxiety when writing. Taking a break helps young writers to refocus and organize their thoughts.

Robyn says, "take the whining out of handwriting."

What We Mentioned

Indiana homeschool laws

Teach capitalization and punctuation

Writing prompts for reluctant writers

Critical thinking conversations

Choose who's teaching your children

Gather resources of talented people

Dual enrollment in community college

Transcript planning and recording

Grading and testing

Resources Mentioned

Learning Cursive Curriculum

Ivy Tech Community College

Math-U-See Curriculum

My Father's World Curriculum

Sonlight Curriculum

Seven Sisters Homeschool

Robyn leaves us a number of helpful tips for teaching writing to elementary, middle school, and high school homeschool learners.

Connect with Robyn Joyner on social media or order workbooks from the Learning Cursive Curriculum at www.learningcursive.org. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.53 Joy In The Ordinary ft Latonya Moore

Hey friends! Whether you're new to this homeschool journey or you're a long-time homeschooling parent, finding balance among all the different and competing responsibilities on your plate is a difficult and often overwhelming challenge. Today, Latonya Moore of ⁠Joy In The Ordinary⁠ shares the secret she's learned about what healthy balance actually looks like and how you can tell if you're hitting that mark in your family, life, and homeschool! We're talking about finding joy in the ordinary. Latonya is a resident of Tennessee. In 2009, she made the decision to homeschool her daughters and never looked back. She is a wife and mother of two recently graduated homeschoolers. Latonya is an amazing well-being coach, educator, and author. She founded Joy In The Ordinary to inspire and encourage women and mothers to grow and manifest their dreams by maintaining healthy boundaries, self-awareness, and enjoying community. Latonya believes that parents can pursue joy by embracing the present and living fully, and she is a true testament to that.

In This Episode

In this episode, we discussed how women and mothers can find joy in their daily life. Latonya shares how we can find what makes us happy and bring us joy by being in the moment of our experiences and activities. Latonya reminds us to manage our minds and give ourselves permission to see what's important in the moment. Always think about what you enjoy and what your children enjoy.

What We Mentioned

Tennessee homeschool laws

Preparing your homeschooler for college

Access your nearby resources

Understand the homeschool season you're in

Have freedom to pursue your passions

Continuous development in homeschooling

Emotional and physical wellness

Mind-mapping and consistency

Be realistic and say no when needed

Grades, attendance, testing

Resources Mentioned

Joy In The Ordinary

Barnes And Noble Bookstore

SemiColon Bookstore

Amazon

Latonya inspires us to identify what we need to free ourselves to live life the way it's meant to be.

Schedule a coaching session with Latonya Moore at www.joyintheordinary.com. To hear more episodes that are filled with homeschooling and unschooling help and encouragement, subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.52 Homeschooling Made Easy ft Brittainy Nin

This week I invited Brittainy Nin to the show to share her experience as a homeschooler. Brittainy is a native of Florida, a digital marketing professional, wife, and mother of four. She is a second-generation homeschooler who embraces the idea that there is not a one-size-fits-all method to education. Brittainy believes that having a community helps homeschoolers to find their freedom, flexibility, and joy along their journeys. Brittainy is the founder of Soaring Prep Academy, a Christian group that educates children together using the Charlotte Mason teaching method. No matter if you are a first-time homeschooler or a seasoned homeschooler, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

In This Episode

In this episode we discussed how homeschool communities help children to develop and maintain strong relationships with their families and other adults. Brittainy believes that homeschooling doesn't mean doing school at home. It means opening doors for your children to explore and navigate their learning adventures while bonding and building relationships.

Brittainy says, "Homeschool communities are very generous...it is a rewarding job."

What We Mentioned

Florida homeschool laws

Principles of Charlotte Mason philosophy

Why community is important when homeschooling

Creative teaching for history or math

Cross-country traveling and exploring

Homeschool works for fine arts children and athletes

Parents don't need to teach all subjects

Resources Mentioned

Soaring Prep Academy (Orlando, Florida)

Homeschool Butterfly (blog)

Alveary Curriculum

Living Books for history

Brittainy reminds us of the impact of community-driven co-ops have on homeschool children. She inspires us to be open to investment and partnerships in education as many children due benefit from having quality educators that give them different insights and perspectives. It's imperative that we create a homeschool culture of learning and love.

For more information about Brittainy Nin's co-op visit www.soaringprepacademy.com. To hear more episodes that are filled with homeschooling and unschooling help and encouragement, subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on ⁠Google⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, and ⁠Apple⁠. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.51 Homeschooling Athletes: Playing the Game ft Lisa Edison

Welcome back. If you homeschool and you have a serious and competitive athlete, then you don't want to miss this week's episode. This week, I invited Lisa Edison of Thrive Consulting to the show to talk about homeschool athletes. Lisa is a wife and homeschool mother of four young athletes who have earned tryouts in the USA Olympic national teams. She is a consultant and co-op leader in Illinois and helps families to take their first steps towards a thriving and exciting homeschool experience. After experiencing remote learning, her family began their homeschool journey in 2020 and haven't looked back.

In This Episode

In this episode, we discussed why homeschool athletes are scientists that are able to thrive at their own pace and knock down barriers because they are homeschooled. Lisa shared with me the reasons why her family chose to homeschool and why they continue. Lisa received tons of raised eyebrows after deciding to homeschool. However, she has not given up because homeschool athletes are scouted and recruited every year. So if you have a child or a teen who excels in a particular sport and you think he or she may want to pursue this in high school, in college and maybe even as a future career, get your pen and paper ready, pour yourself some juice and hang out with us for this sports-related conversation! Lisa shares a day in the life of her four homeschooled athletes and have they focus their commitments to both academics and athletics. Her homeschoolers have participated in sports at their local schools without attending classes; something many homeschoolers think is impossible. Two of her homeschoolers will participate in Olympic tryouts this summer.

What We Mentioned

Illinois homeschool laws

Understanding your childrens goals

Understanding the level of dedication and commitment

Reviewing possible careers for homeschoolers

Having conversations and building critical thinking

Tracking progress and growth

Three homeschool hacks

Navigating multiple schedules

Investing in social communities

Dual enrollment for high schoolers

Financial literacy for homeschoolers

Creating a balanced lifestyle

Athletes are scientists and mathematicians

Limited technology usage

Free writing, penmanship, and cursive

Creative and supportive curriculum

Online learning and workbooks

Resources Mentioned

Friends of Cabrini (online)

Thrive Homeschool Consulting

Joliet Junior College Planetarium (Joliet, IL)

National Parks Service

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville, IL)

Friends of the Viking Ship (Geneva, IL)

Starved Rock State Park (Olgesby, IL)

Gather Round Homeschool

Spectrum Workbooks

Lisa reminds us to listen to what our homeschoolers intend to accomplish in order to put together a steady curriculum that supports their learning and ability to thrive. Homeschooled children excel beyond the standards that traditional learners are expected to do.

Connect with Lisa Edison at Thrive Consulting. To hear more episodes that are filled with homeschooling and unschooling help and encouragement, subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.50 Are We Ready For Revolutionary Teaching ft Cherina Shaw

Hey friends! It was such a pleasure having California native, education activist, doula, unschooler, Cherina Shaw, to join the show this week to share her thoughts about revolutionary teaching and unschooling. Cherina is a wife and mother of six unschoolers who started their journey over ten years ago. She has over twenty-five years of experience in education and previously served as an educator and administrator in California public schools. Cherina believes that teaching is a radical act of love.

In This Episode

In this episode Cherina and I discussed the idea of revolutionary teaching for unschoolers and homeschoolers. Cherina shared the importance of deschooling your mindset to curb the societal standards and ideas of what education should look like. She shares why parents need to find joy while getting to know your learners naturally. As a educators, it should be a priority to invest in relationship building with learners. We don't need to reinforce the status quo. We don't need to condition our children under various forms of control. Let's give our learners voices and and remember their autonomy to learn and explore on their time and within their boundaries.

What We Mentioned

• Relationship building

• Divesting from public schools

• Deschool and decolonize yourself

• Public school propaganda

• Bipoc public school learners

• Substantial discrimination in public schools

• Homeschooling is a lifestyle

• IndividualIndivid educational plans

• Gardening and yoga for littles

• Resting unschool learners

Resources Mentioned

• California homeschool laws

• Blitch Alchemy (California)

• Friends of Cabrini (online)

Cherina inspires us to be our best selves as parents to talented and intelligent beings. Let's embed the idea of relationship building in our unschool journeys by putting our children before the textbook. Let's guide learners through a holistic view of self care and reality in the world today.

Connect with Cherina Shaw on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.49 Raising Free People ft Karema Akilah

Hey friends! This week I invited Karema Akilah, the visionary and founder of the Genius School to the show to discuss what it means to raise free people. This week's it's all about parenting! Let's learn why raising free people is fun, personable, and authentic. Karema is an educator, entrepreneur, and mother of six fantastic unschoolers. Karema is a native of Philadelphia and has many years of teaching experience in Maryland public schools. She believes that the origin of learning started with self-directed learning.

In This Episode

In this episode, we discussed what it means to raise free people who are not determined by anything else. We discussed how we can acknowledge how societal standards impact our lives. We also talked about why deschooling plays a role in the unschool journey. Karema explains how parents can change the circumstances of learning by defining who you want to be and what you want to do.

Terms To Familiarize Yourself

• Deschool - transition where children and parents leave the dominant school system to develop a new mindset around education

• Free - not determined by anything beyond itself

• Community - comprised of people with a like minded goal who are looking to take action

What We Mentioned

• Pennsylvania homeschool laws

• How to start an unschool community

• Single parenting and unschooling

• Awareness and accessibility

• Who do you want to be

• Be comfortable with being uncomfortable

• Cultivating the child-parent relationship

• Acknowledging choices and mistakes

• Managing and limiting screen time

• Allowing children to manage their well-being

• Managing state homeschool requirements while unschooling

• Building trust and confidence

Resources Mentioned

• Friends of Cabrini (online)

• The Genius School (online)

• The Glenn Doman Method

• Saxon Math Curriculum

• Apologia Math Curriculum

• Raising Free People by Akilah S. Richards

Karema challenges us to be authentic about what isn't working for your family. Understand what are you doing, what you have, and what is missing. Karema reminds us that everyone is a genius and that we should not judge our children based on their ability to excel according to societal views and ideas. We should always affirm and validate who our children really are.

Connect with Karema Akilah and The Genius School online. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.48 ft Worldschooling With Tawana Davis

Welcome back. This week I invited Tawana Davis, Founder of Kingdom Kidz Online Academy, to share her experience with worldschooling and educating children. Tawana is an experienced educator of ten plus years, entrepreneur, wife, and mother of six. She is an avid believer that education starts within the home and that it is a lifestyle filled with discovery. She believes that God's kingdom is in each child and that parents should support children in their faith walk and experience to become righteous educated leaders.

As a worldschooler, Tawana and her family have lived abroad in the countries of Egypt and Jordan for over ten years. Tawana has previously educated children in public and private schools in China and Egypt.

In This Episode

In this episode we discussed a few ways parents can educate their children in the subjects of stem, history and reading. Tawana shared a few ideas to help parents create at-home curriculums that are creative and education centered. We discussed how parents can gamify subjects like spelling and math by playing Tic Tac Toe and Mother May I. We also talked about Tawana's family's worldschool experience in the country of Egypt and her desire to help people in underserved countries. Tawana believes that children learn according to their individual unique gifts that they received from birth.

What We Mentioned

• Teach multiplication through music

• Teach spelling, writing and art intersectionally

• Teach reading ththrough phonics and songs

• Know your child's hobbies and interests

• Homeschooling is a liefstyle

• Living abroad and budgeting

Resources Mentioned

• Bread of Life Stem Program (online)

• Reading Bear (online)

• Clarkness (online)

Tawana encourages us to be patient with our homeschooled children and not to compare them to others. Parents should always remain open-minded to the possibilities that education can bring. We should remember that our role in homeschooling includes providing our children with security, wisdom, confidence, and access.

Connect with Tawana Davis and Kingdom Kidz Online Academy at www.kingdom-kidz144.com. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the podcast on social media.

Ep.47 What Is The Big Picture? ft Meridith Black

Hey friends! This week we're talking about the big picture. How can we connect with our children and give them a safe space to feel loved, supported, and embraced? On today's show, I invited former Speech and Language Pathologist, Meridith Black, to share her thoughts on social and emotional learning for homeschoolers. Meridith is a native of Indiana, wife, and dedicated homeschool mother of three. Her family has successfully homeschooled in multiple states including: Minnesota, North Carolina, Virgina, Kentucky, and Indiana. Meridith believes parents should decide who they want to be for their children before thinking to homeschool and find the best way to communicate and build relationships with their children.

In This Episode

In this episode we discussed the emotional and social impact homeschooling has on families. Meridith shared how she feels a wealth of gratitude after years of homeschooling because she knows that homeschooling is not done in isolation and that her family has a community that supports them. Meridith stresses the importance of helping homeschool children to understand and define what they feel and how to communicate. As we continue to live in a world that is largely influenced by social media, we must support our children's social skills by listening and observing their behavior.

Meridith shares how parents can teach children what us means to disagree and how to use their critical thinking skills. We also discussed how parents can learn to ask for help when needed so that there is balance and harmony while homeschooling. Through family check-ins, quality friendships, and splitting responsibilities, homeschool parents can overcome being overwhelmed.

What We Mentioned

• Social and emotional impact

• Gentle-parenting

• Teaching your child to investigate

Resources We Mentioned

• Minnesota homeschool laws

• Mama Bear Apologetics

• California Acheivement Test

• Christian Liberty

• Five In A Row Curriculum

• Nicole the Math Lady (online)

• Lightning Literature Curriculum

• Notebooking

• Lapbooks

• Friends of Cabrini Book Club (online)

• Dog Man Comic Series

• Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales

• Big Brother Big Sister (nationwide)

• Goodman Theatre (Chicago, IL)

• Mascot Hall of Fame (Whiting, IN)

• Children's Musem of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IIN)

Meridith motivates us all to be actively engaged with our children as they pursue truth through examining information, reasoning, processing, and quality decision-making. All of these are important tools homeschool children will need to be active citizens in the world. Don't be intimidated homeschool and have tough conversations with your childen.

Coonect with Meridith Black by email at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on social media.

Ep.46 Here's Why Unschoolers Should Be Intentional ft Jessica Alfreds

Hey friends! This week, I invited New York native and homeschooler, Jessica Alfreds, to the show to discuss why unschoolers need to be intentional in their academics and interests. Jessica has homeschooled her children and others following the 2020 pandemic.

Jessica is the founder and overseer of the Carolina Kids Co-op located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She found that what she searched for did not exist, after arriving to South Carolina, and decided to create an outdoor, academic homeschool association to service South Carolina families.

In This Episode

In this episode, we discussed why unschoolers need to do more than just focus on their interests and passions. As unschool children begin to enter their middle school years, parents should support and guide their learning with an intentional focus on academic skills and concepts that their children may need in future years to come.

Jessica shares how she legally started her homeschool association and how she helps families to stay compliant with the homeschool laws. She encourages us to focus on our children's strengths while still addressing their challenges. She explains how we can make subjects like math more fun while intentionally guiding our unschool children through academic skills. She believes that parents should prepare their children for a broad future through freedom, accountability, self sufficiency, and community.

What We Mentioned

• South Carolina homeschool laws

• Connecticut homeschool laws

• How to remain legally compliant

• How are microschools organized

• Tracking your child's learning

• Progress reports and digital portfolios

• Homeschooling multi-age learners

• Understanding your learner

• Unschooling with intention

• Honing academic skills and interests

• How to teach writing

• Traveling and exploring outdoors

• Homeownership vs. renting

Resources Mentioned

• Carolina Kids Co-op (Myrtle Beach, SC)

• Friends of Cabrini (online)

• Myrtle Beach State Park (Myrtle Beach, SC)

• Vereen Historical Gardens (Horry County, SC)

• North Carolina Mountains (Asheville, NC)

Jessica inspires us to support and expose our children to a wealth of things in order for them to have a well-rounded experience in unschooling. She suggests that we merge our children's interests and academic achievement. Jessica leaves us with detailed knowledge and wisdom on how to create a grounded unschool experience.

Connect with Jessica Alfreds on Facebook. Subscribe to the Friends of Cabrini Podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple. Follow the podcast on social media.