The Sequoia Breeze

 Come back for more! In Part 2 of this conversation, Rebecca and her sisters-in-law continue discussing how to give our TK and Kindergarten students a healthy start to school. Dive into the conversation about the importance of play and music. This episode has lots of encouragement for parents and educators of our curious, busy, always-learning, littles! 

Featuring guests Eliza Reed and Elisabeth Harmon.

Show Notes:

“Play is the serious business of children” seems to be an idea taken from psychologist Jean Piaget (“Play is the work of children”) and Fred Rogers, who said “Play is often talked about as a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”

Roxaboxen by Alice McLarren

The Raft by Jim LaMarche

Tchaikovsky

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

In this week's episode, Rebecca sits down with Eliza Reed and Elisabeth Harmon to discuss homeschooling ideas for our littlest, and most excited learners—TK and Kindergarten students!

Eliza, a mother of four and the owner of a Montessori-style preschool, and Elisabeth, a homeschooling mom of five, share their experiences and tips for teaching young children. From finding the balance between structure and play to discovering the "educational sweet spot" for 4- and 5-year-olds, this episode is packed with wisdom and laughter. Tune in for practical advice, real-life lessons, and plenty of inspiration for making learning fun for your littlest homeschoolers.

Show Notes:

Curious George Compilations

Whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay. What are the implications of artificial intelligence for our students? Can AI be a helpful tool in homeschool education? How do we teach our kids to use it wisely when we may not fully understand it ourselves? In this week's episode of The Sequoia Breeze, Rebecca welcomes back Trisha Brandow, one of our administrators and a devoted homeschool parent, to help us navigate these and other pressing questions. Trisha discusses the benefits that AI can offer within our homeschool settings, while also highlighting the caution we should exercise. This timely and insightful episode aims to empower parents and educators to embrace AI thoughtfully, ensuring our kids are equipped to use it responsibly. Tune in for a conversation that promises to inform and inspire.

Tools to Help You Learn More About AI

Please start here if you are just starting to learn how to navigate this digital world with your child:

• Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Parent Presentation

ChatGPT Unveiled: Presentation (an overview of what ChatGPT is and how it can be used)

Prompts to Try to help you learn how ChatGPT works:

• Help with emails
• Lesson Planning Help
• Personal Life Help
• Setting Goals
• Just for Fun

Sal Khan (Khan Academy) on How AI Could Save (Not Destroy) Education

• Khanmigo (Khan Academy’s AI-powered teaching assistant)

Common Sense Media: (A great resource for all things tech and parenting)

• Common Sense Education: AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6-12
• Common Sense Media: Parents' Ultimate Guide to Generative AI

Google’s Free Course: Introduction to Generative AI

Magic School (Free, AI powered tools for teachers)

In this episode, Rebecca welcomes Jenna Clifton, Lead Art Teacher, and Carrie Liebrich, Music Teacher to discuss the launch of Sequoia Studio, a brand new program dedicated to enhancing visual and performing arts experiences for TK-8th grade students enrolled in our schools. 

With the recent passing of Proposition 28, which provides funding for arts and music education in California schools, Sequoia Studio’s mission is to ignite curiosity, nurture creativity, and cultivate a deep appreciation of the arts.

Join Rebecca, Jenna, and Carrie as they share their excitement about the music, visual arts, and theater lessons their teachers are bringing to Park Days, Clubs, and other schoolwide events. Listen in as they discuss the importance of high-quality arts instruction and share about the numerous opportunities they are creating for students. We guarantee this episode will leave you inspired and ready to join a Park Day or Club session TODAY!

Educational best practices increasingly emphasize using questions that ignite curiosity and engage students deeply in the learning process. This inquiry approach goes beyond simply asking what a student wants to learn; it's about sparking genuine interest. When applied effectively, it “hooks” learners by gradually shifting responsibility for the learning process from teacher to student. So how does this work in the homeschool setting?

In this informative podcast, Erika Barrish, a Lake View HST and homeschool parent, guides you through crafting quality questions that inspire thinking and exploration in your kids—and even yourself. You’ll discover that with the right questions, there’s no limit to creative learning.

Notes:

What is Inquiry?

• Social Studies: InquirED.org Blog post on Inquiry
• Science: Description of the 5 Steps of Inquiry from The Wonder of Science

Some Good Resources for Building Inquiries in Social Studies and Science 

• National Archives Educator Resources: Register for a free account to utilize DocsTeach for primary source documents organized by topic.
• Library of Congress: Primary Source Sets under Teachers: Classroom Resources.
• The Wonder of Science: has a great bank of Phenomena and resources to support Inquiry in the sciences.
• Smithsonian Science Education Center: Navigate to Free Resources under the Curriculum menu.

Some Resources for Teaching Strategies to Support Inquiry:

• The Right Question Institute
• Thinking Routines Toolbox: Project Zero from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Learning By Inquiry

 Inquiry Based Instruction is increasingly recognized as an educational best practice. But what is it exactly and how can it work within our homeschool setting? This approach is more than just asking a student what they want to know, it’s about triggering curiosity. When used correctly, it “hooks” learners by transferring the responsibility of the learning process from teacher to student.

In this informative podcast, Erika Barrish, Lake View HST and homeschool parent, guides you through the process of how to ask quality questions that will get your kids (and you) thinking. You’ll be surprised that when you ask the right questions, there is no limit to the amount of creative learning.

Rebecca sits down with a group of homeschooled teens to dive into what life is really like outside the walls of a traditional school. For many, the thought of homeschooling through high school can feel daunting—can it be done well? Will students miss out on important experiences? In this episode, these teens share their honest experiences, from friendships to academics. They answer the big questions: Are they thriving socially and academically? Do they feel they're missing out, or have they discovered unique opportunities that traditional schooling might not offer? Tune in to hear their perspectives on what makes this path different, exciting, and full of possibilities!

This week Rebecca welcomes Cori Doerrfeld, author of the book, The Rabbit Listened, a heartfelt story that was born out of Cori’s deep empathy and desire to comfort friends in difficult times. This book, along with many others she has written and illustrated, has become a gift to readers and a powerful tool for teaching emotional intelligence to both children and adults. In this episode, Cori shares her passion for books and demonstrates how the power of stories can inspire and connect us all.

Cori Doerrfeld's Website
The Rabbit Listened

Trauma can affect us in ways we don’t always anticipate, and children are especially vulnerable to its impact. It can alter brain function and emotional regulation, changing how young people learn and complete tasks. In this powerful episode, Sequoia Grove’s Reece Perez opens up about her family’s difficult experience with trauma and shares the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way. Join us as we explore the profound effects of trauma and the resilience it takes to heal.

Show Notes:
ChildTrauma Academy

https://www.weareteachers.com/video-every-teacher-needs-know-childhood-trauma/

https://www.weareteachers.com/teachers-help-childhood-trauma/

https://www.weareteachers.com/childhood-trauma-expert-answers-to-tough-questions-from-real-teachers/

TED Talk

Flipping your lid: A Scientific Explanation

 Is your phone running your life? Do you find yourself getting sucked into it or other devices losing track of time that would be better spent doing other things? Does your (or your student’s!) phone use impact your school day? Our very own Jenny Johnston joins Rebecca to talk about the principles in the book How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price. Our phones are designed to addict us–so how can we combat it so that we are in charge of our time? Is it possible to reset our priorities, without giving up the conveniences we depend on? Jenny has great advice for us!

Book Club Participation

Sign Up Here

Book Club info sheet.

Contact Jenny: [email protected]

Resources

How to Break Up with Your Phone book

Hands-Free Mama Website

The Anxious Generation book

Screen Time and Mental Health Podcast

Videos

Simon Sinek How Do Cell Phones Impact Our Relationships?

Addiction to Technology is Ruining Lives

Social dilemma Netflix documentary

Friday Focus

Low-Tech Phones

Pinwheel phones

Gabb watch