This week I share some thoughts on STEM subjects and homeschooling. It’s a short podcast because I’ve been sick the last two weeks and unable to record.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

– Covenant Eyes now has filtering available for the Mac. Sign up with the promo code “wiredhs” to receive a 30-day free trial.

– Teens moving away from Facebook.

– Boys more confident about STEM subjects.

– 3 ways homeschoolers can think differently about STEM.

– Hammock Tracks interview

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics:

Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Is There an App For That? Homeschooling with Technology in the 21st Century

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Sometimes homeschooling can be financially tough. Some families have given up two incomes in order to homeschool their children. Wouldn’t it be nice to earn a little extra income to either put away for a rainy day or buy that expensive curriculum you’ve wanted?

Maybe your kids are getting older and you want to teach them how to earn some extra income before they go to college. Perhaps, you notice an entrepreneurial spirit in your children and want to encourage them to pursue their ideas.

There are a number of online jobs that homeschooling parents and students can do that will help them either earn extra income or begin to earn money for college.

Here are 5 jobs homeschoolers can do at home to earn extra money.

1. Virtual Assistant – Assist clients with administrative, technical, or creative tasks. Clients are usually small business owners that are looking for someone to complete the type of tasks an administrative assistant in a company would normally perform such as bookkeeping, online research, manage email, social media tasks, website maintenance, or audio and video production.

2. Copywriting – Writes text for webpages, advertisements, email, or social media. Copywriters may be provided with an outline for writing or may just be presented with an idea and will need to research a topic and write about it. If the copy work is for social media, email, or advertisements there will often be information provided about the subject to assist with creating the text.

3. Teach classes or tutoring – If you’re an expert in a certain topic, you can use that expertise to teach online classes. This could be done by simply creating private posts on a blog an providing a password to parents and students who pay to get access or by using online seminar software like GoTo Meeting.

4. Develop and Sell Curriculum – At some point you’ve probably created some kind of worksheet, printable, lapbook, or other resource for your own homeschooling or for use in a co-op. You can sell those to other homeschoolers that are looking for simple, inexpensive resources to teach a subject.

5. Affiliate Marketing – Refer others to products and services that you use and earn a commission from the sales. This may sound simple but it can be the most difficult in the entire list. A simple way is to link to products on Amazon that you have purchased. You’ll want to look for products as services that other homeschoolers will find useful and share how you have found them to be helpful as well.

Do you earn extra income online? Have you thought about teaching your teenage kids some ways they can earn money online?

Links mentioned in the podcast

* 100,000+ signatures on White House petition for the Romeike family

* Ron Paul homeschool curriculum

* Virtual Assistant information – Contemporary VA, ODesk, ELance

* How to get start with affiliate marketing – Pat Flynn’s Niche Site Duel

So...

Digital technology is a great enabler for home educators. It allows parents to find information, enhance their lesson plans, supplement their curriculum, and so much more. Sometimes technology can be a stumbling block and be more of a hindrance than a help. Let’s take a look at the 3 ways technology hinders homeschooling.

1. It can be a distraction

This is the biggest hinderance to homeschooling. With the rise of social media our phones, tablets, and computers can be a huge distraction. You’ve also probably ended up looking at silly animal videos 2 hours after you went on YouTube to look up a science experiment. Maybe you’ve also been infatuated with getting 3 stars on that one level of Angry Birds. Yes, technology can be a huge distraction.

Our kids are distracted by technology too. In fact, the lure of technology is stronger on them than it is on us. Society is moving towards being constantly connected. Facebook’s recent announcement of Home (a homescreen replacement app for Android phones) puts the social media giant front and center on their (or your) smartphone.

So how can we reduce the distractions of technology in our homeschool?

* Limit access to tablets, smartphones, and computers. If the next 2-3 hours are to be used for schooling and none of these things are needed, put them out of sight.

* Configure devices like iPods and tablets so that notifications are turned off. If you use these devices for homeschooling (and many do) turn off notifications

* Keep the tech out of the bedroom. If your kids go to bed with a smartphone or tablet in hand they’ll stay up late which will lead to less sleep and the temptation to check up on their friends throughout the next day.

2. It can be a crutch.

Technology is a great enabler. It allows us as home educators to access information and curriculum quickly and easily. The rise of educational apps for tablets and smartphones allows us to supplement our curriculum with fun games that also teach our kids (sometime overtly and other time subversively).

However, technology can also be a crutch that we lean on in a time of weakness. Rather than using it as a tool or an educational aide we use it as a babysitter or distraction so that we can do what we want to do. I guilty of this myself. Sometimes if I want to get some writing or reading done, I’ll let the kids watch a show on Netflix. “It’s educational,” I say to myself and then proceed to get lost in what I want to do while the kids go nuts.

So how do we as parents not fall into the trap of using technology as a crutch?

* Plan how you will use your technology. If you have a plan you’re less likely to fall into the trap of defaulting to tech.

* Set time limits. If you set time limits and adhere to them yourself you’re forced to find something else to do when you run out of ideas.

* Have a purpose for each device. Sure, it’s fun to play games on an iPad or smartphone but also have a specific educational purpose designated for each device.

3. It can be expensive.

Yes, technology can be expensive. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Parents sometimes feel like they need to be “fair” with all of their kids and so if they’re going to buy an iPad for one they need to buy one for all of their kids. Baloney!

One device can be shared among siblings. Again, scheduling the use of technology in your homeschooling helps with the “me first” attitudes that tend to crop up among siblings.

Perhaps you feel like every other homeschooling family around you has a laptop or tablet for each of their kids and so you need to keep up too.

This week features an interview with Devin Dabney. Devin is the author of Creating a Household Technology Plan, a book that helps families determine the role of technology in their homes.

He is a technology consultant, web designer, writer, and speaker.

Devin is happily married to his wife, Shayla, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, and three sons.

Devin and I talked about his book and why it’s important for families to have a plan when it comes to dealing with technology.

Follow Devin on Twitter.

My Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics:

Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Is There an App For That? Homeschooling with Technology in the 21st Century

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

I had the privilege of speaking on a panel during the men’s “Tool Time” luncheon at the Downstate LEAH convention this past weekend. I share with you my thoughts on the convention as well as your reviews from iTunes.

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics:

Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Is There an App For That? Homeschooling with Technology in the 21st Century

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Every parent needs basic computer skills to use digital technology in their homeschool.  If you didn’t have those skills you wouldn’t be reading this blog post or listening to the podcast. 99% of the skills you have you probably learned by watching others or you had to figure it out yourself. Sometimes you learn later on that the way you’re doing something can be done faster and easier.

Getting your kids started using computers isn’t that hard, sure, you can sit them in front of a keyboard and let them mess around but the won’t really learn how to do things the right way.

In this episode of the podcast I talk about some of the basic computer skills you’ll want to teach your children and some skills that you need to know as a parent.

This isn’t a tutorial, just an overview of some of the basic things you need to know and what you will want to teach your kids.

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

March 16th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Topic: MMA: Men Mentoring Adolescents – What Makes You Tapout? 12pm – 2pm

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics: A Parent’s Guide to Making Friends with Social Media, Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Would you like me to speak to your homeschool group? Schedule a virtual workshop today.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

This week’s podcast is packed with lots of great information to help improve your digital homeschooling experience.

Note: If you’re looking for the 13 YouTube Channels episode, it can be found here. I misspoke in the episode when providing the show notes.

Topics covered this week include:

* Study Finds Homeschool Students Sleep Better

* Free App Friday

* 4 Ways to Fail as a Digital Dad

* The Vision Council Releases a Report on Digital Eye Strain

Speaking Schedule

Downstate LEAH Convention

March 16th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Topic: MMA: Men Mentoring Adolescents – What Makes You Tapout? 12pm – 2pm

Downstate LEAH Convention

June 8th, 2013 – First Baptist Church of Patchogue, NY

Workshop Topics: A Parent’s Guide to Making Friends with Social Media, Technobabble: Talking, Tips, and Tools for Responsible Internet Use

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

I’m speaking at the Downstate LEAH Convention March 16th and June 8th. I hope you’ll join me!

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

This week features an interview I did with Scott Moore. I first heard Scott on Todd Wilson’s Todcast over at Familyman Ministries. He’s been doing hosting duties for the podcast and managing the social media presence over there for a few months now.

About Scott Moore

Scott Moore is a writer and coach. His writings have been published in a variety of publications including Zondervan’s Collegiate Devotional Bible and the Cincinnati Enquirer. Throughout his years of professional and volunteer ministry work (youth, collegiate, men’s, and marriage), as well as his professional experience in human resources, he has worked to help people live out their calling and purpose.

Scott lives in Cincinnati with his wife and four children. In addition to writing and coaching men in their calling, he loves to pursue his passions of playing guitar and surfing.

Be sure to visit Scott’s blog, The Call of Men, and tell him I sent you!

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

I’m speaking at the Downstate LEAH Convention March 16th and June 8th. I hope you’ll join me!

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

It’s been a month since I recorded a podcast that wasn’t an interview and I can tell you that I’m out of practice. I will be returning to a weekly schedule again in March. There is just too much time between episodes to cover topics in 20 minutes or less.

Also note: I dropped the ball on the giveaway. I have not contacted the winner yet. I’ll make a special announcement next week.

This week I give you a rundown of what’s been posted on the blog since February 1st.

Join me at the Downstate LEAH Convention

3 Free Kid-Safe Browsers for Mobile Devices

Protecting Your Family Online: A How-To Guide for Parents by Covenant Eyes

5 Apps Your Kids Should Never Use

4 Dice: Fraction Games App Review

Guided Access Enables App Sandbox for Kids

Let’s Connect!

* Voicemail – 518-290-0228 or record a message with your computer

* Subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes.

* Like on Facebook

* Email [email protected]

* Follow @wiredhs

//

* Follow @jwilkers

//

Etc.

Want to be notified of any upcoming news regarding the podcast or if I’m speaking in your area? Join my spam-free mailing list. You’ll receive monthly updates and news about future projects and I’ll let you know if I’m speaking in your area at a homeschooling convention.

Music for the podcast by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Comics and graphic novels are often seen by some parents as childish and a waste of time. Finding quality comics with good stories and educational value can take some searching. This week’s podcast is an interview with comic book writer and fellow podcaster Ben Avery.

About Ben Avery

A believer in the need for positive, all-ages entertainment, Ben Avery created and wrote Zondervan’s graphic novel series TimeFlyz and the comic book miniseries ArmorQuest to entertain readers with an exciting story, but also inspire and encourage readers to stand up and make a difference in their world. Avery’s comic book career began when he was selected by George R.R. Martin to work as the script adapter of the comic book fantasy mini-series The Hedge Knight, based on novellas by the New York Times bestselling author. After that, Avery went on to co-write/co-create the critically acclaimed Lullaby and The Imaginaries for Image Comics, co-create and write the children’s literature inspired fantasy The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles, develop and write the historical epic Kingdoms for Zondervan, and the sequel mini-series The Hedge Knight II, published by Marvel Comics. In addition to writing, he has been an English teacher, a college resident director, and a youth treatment specialist for sexually abused children. Avery lives in Mishawaka, Indiana, with his wife and five children.

You can purchase Ben’s comics at his online store. Many of his work is