SEA Homeschoolers

@ SEA: a podcast by Secular, Eclectic, Academic There is a revolution happening in education as new technology and innovative learning methods are reframing how we address the needs of students. Join Blair, Kat, Sam, and their guests for discussions on the changing face of education and the profound benefits when we shift the paradigm from how subjects are best taught, to how they are best learned. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we’ve enjoyed creating this podcast. If you do, please take a moment to review and share it. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to hear about or guests you’d like to see join us please contact us at Podcast@seahomeschoolers.com or through the @ SEA Facebook page & @SEApodcast on Twitter. Show Notes Episode 4 - The Rise of Black Homeschoolers: An Interview with Alycia Wright A conversation about culturally relevant education, racism, and creating a space for children of color in the homeschool community. Our hosts start off this interview by asking about Alycia’s co-op, one which she started specifically to create a space for children of color. Alycia then talks about what led her to leave her position as a public school teacher and homeschool her children. This leads to a discussion on the many reasons the number of homeschooling families of color is rising, including, but not limited to, the racism and inequalities seen in brick-and-mortar schools and the lack of an accurate narrative in curricula and educational materials. A question about secular academics from Blair and a question about including ancient Africa in history from Sam bring us to a rich conversation about racism in educational materials; the importance of including the presence, contributions, and voices of people of color; and how the intentional whitewashing of history upholds white supremacy in society. So what is working for the kids in Alycia’s co-op? Alycia talks classes, field trips, and recommends educational materials! The impact of creating a culturally relevant education & homeschool community, why it matters and advice that might help you create the community you want & need. Alycia talks about making intentional choices, putting in the time, getting out of your comfort zone, and growing authentic relationships; plus shares a personal and meaningful story from her childhood. As always our show closes with a book recommendation from our guest. The books and articles mentioned in this episode are linked below. (Books are affiliate links) Ferguson is America: Roots of Rebellion by Jamala Rogers Classical Africa by Molefi Kete Asante A Century of Negro Migration by Carter G. Woodson Carter G. Woodson's Appeal The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter Godwin Woodson African Americans and Homeschooling (Routledge Research in Education) by Ama Mazama The Afrocentric Paradigm by Ama Mazama Africa in the 21st Century (African Studies) by Ama Mazama Kamali Academy The Radical Self-Reliance of Black Homeschooling The Rise of Homeschooling Among Black Families Black Families Increasingly Choose to Homeschool Kids Interview Guest’s Bio: Alycia Wright, M.Ed is a former educator turned homeschooler of four. daughters with one attending public high school. She runs a cooperative for children of color in the Richmond, Virginia area. You can follow her on IG at homeschoollife_in_va where she posts about homeschool, cultural studies and activism. You can also reach out to Alycia via email at culturalrootshomeschool@gmail.com.

@ SEA with Blair & Kat, a podcast by Secular, Eclectic, Academic There is a revolution happening in education as new technology and innovative learning methods are reframing how we address the needs of students. Join Blair, Kat, and their guests for discussions on the changing face of education and the profound benefits when we shift the paradigm from how subjects are best taught, to how they are best learned. Brought to you by our friends at We hope you enjoy listening as much as we’ve enjoyed creating this podcast. If you do, please take a moment to review and share it. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to hear about or guests you’d like to see join us please contact us at Podcast@seahomeschoolers.com or through the @ SEA with Blair & Kat Facebook page. Show Notes Episode 2 - How Learning Best Happens: An Interview with Samantha Matalone Cook Our hosts start this interview by asking Samantha Matalone Cook about her own academic background, including education, history, and the humanities; as well as her archaeological experiences in the UK. Samantha talks about starting hacker and maker spaces, including Curiosity Hacked, and the interconnection of history, art, science, and technology. Blair Lee asks Samantha about how learning best happens, leading to a powerful response about shifting the paradigm between educators and students. Kat Hutcheson's next question, about A Coddiwomple Education, ties in perfectly to the conversation about how learning best happens. Read the article that inspired this question here. -- 30 second commercial break -- Blair and Samantha are co-authoring Project Based Learning: Creating A Modern Education of Curiosity, Innovation, and Impact. The authors talk a bit about the book and their experience co-authoring. Sign up here to receive information about the book, including the Kickstarter and book release. Sam and Blair then discuss project based learning as part of a modern education and what that means. Upcoming speaking engagements for Samantha Matalone Cook mentioned in this episode include: March:  Project Based Learning webinar available to members of seahomeschoolers.com. National Council for History Education Conference June:     Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) Conference  August: Homeschool Association of California (HSC) Conference  Date TBD: SEA Homeschoolers Online Conference Stay up-to-date on all of Samantha Matalone Cook's speaking engagements at samanthamatalonecook.com. The books mentioned in this episode are linked below. (These are affiliate links) You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden's Teaching Principles and Practices Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything  The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children  Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts  Educated: A Memoir Interview Guest's Bio: Samantha Matalone Cook, MAT, has almost three decades of experience in education, program development, and the arts and has worked with both small and large organizations to create educational programming that centers and connects the learner to concepts and skills. She has taught in classrooms and in private workshops, mentored other educators, and worked for and with many museums including the Smithsonian. To see her past and current projects, including her blog and her upcoming book on Project Based Learning and History Odyssey curriculum, please visit www.samanthamatalonecook.com. Follow Samantha Matalone Cook on Twitter and Facebook.   Listen to our previous episode, A Homeschooling Secular Scientist: Getting To Know SEA Founder Blair Lee.

Welcome to @ SEA with Blair & Kat, the new podcast from Secular, Eclectic, Academic! There is a revolution happening in education as new technology and innovative learning methods are reframing how we address the needs of students. Join Blair, Kat, and their guests for discussions on the changing face of education and the profound benefits when we shift the paradigm from how subjects are best taught, to how they are best learned. Brought to you by our friends at    We hope you enjoy listening as much as we’ve enjoyed creating this podcast. If you do, please take a moment to review and share it. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to hear about or guests you’d like to see join us please contact us at Podcast@seahomeschoolers.com or through the @ SEA with Blair & Kat Facebook page. Show Notes Episode 01 As this is the first episode, our co-hosts start off with a brief introduction to @ SEA with Blair & Kat and how this podcast came to be. They then dive into a truly unique interview with Blair Lee, MS. Kat starts with a lead in question about SEA Homeschoolers. If you're not already a member, you can join the SEA Homeschoolers Facebook group to get to know this awesome community. Blair then discusses her background as a scientist, some fascinating research projects she has worked on, and why secular academic advocacy is an important issue for her. A question about Blair's son's favorite teacher leads to a conversation about online classes and the importance of teaching writing, as well as some class recommendations which are linked below. Online Classes by Thomas Jones Online Classes by Michael Clay Thompson Online Classes by Michelle Parrinello-Cason, PhD of Dayla Learning Online Classes by Melissa Robb Outschool offers thousands of amazing classes by independent teachers. Kat asks Blair about her upcoming books...and wow, it's a lot! When discussing "Project Based Learning: Creating a Modern Education of Curiosity, Innovation, and Impact" Blair talks about the profound impact project-based learning has on students and educators who use this method. She also discusses the differences between project based learning and project based education, as well as shares some insights about her experience co-authoring this book with Samantha Matalone Cook. Sign up here to receive updates, including the Kickstarter launch and book release information, for "Project Based Learning: Creating a Modern Education of Curiosity, Innovation, and Impact."  Upcoming speaking engagements for Blair Lee, MS mentioned in this episode include: March: Project Based Learning webinar available to members of seahomeschoolers.com. April: NSTA 2019 National Conference on Science Education May: California Homeschool Network Family Expo July: Central Valley Homeschool Convention We get to know Blair's adventurous side with a story from her trip to India. You can see the picture of Blair at the Monkey Temple in Jaipur from this story in this article and read more about Blair's exciting world travels in the Worldschoolers section of the SEA Homeschoolers blog. Because our co-hosts are both bibliophiles each interview will close with book recommendations. The books recommended by Blair and Kat in this episode are linked below. (These are affiliate links) Wondrous Words by Katie Wood Ray Aunt Isabel Tells A Good One by Kate Duke Red Rising by Pierce Brown She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity by Carl Zimmer Interview Guest's Bio: Blair Lee, MS earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of California San Diego. Blair is the author of The Science of Climate Change: A Hands-On Course, the primary author for the critically acclaimed REAL Science Odyssey Series, has been involved in science education for over two decades, first as a community college professor and secondly as a curriculum developer.

Jason Grooms is an adventurer, author, mountain climber, husband, and dad of six incredible kids from adult to toddler. Along with his brilliant wife, he’s been homeschooling for almost two decades (2 graduated and 4 close behind). When he’s not being a teacher, adventure guide, and life coach for his kids, Jason is a Director of Learning and Development by day and writes science adventure books for kids by night. He has a degree in Cultural Anthropology, is an ordained Humanist Celebrant, and is certifiably the biggest Disney nerd you will ever meet. You can find his science books and … Continue reading "Unschooling 101 with Jason Grooms" The post Unschooling 101 with Jason Grooms appeared first on SEA Homeschoolers.

Kate is the author of Homeschool Teacher, a manual for homeschooling families for kindergarten through eighth grade and available through SEA Books & More. Kate graduated from Harvard with a degree in history, a good set of study skills, and a 100-ton captain’s license. Her first teaching job began seven days after graduation, tutoring three children on a sailboat crossing the Pacific. For the last 12 years, she’s homeschooled her own children as the family worked and traveled on the edges of civilization from Greenland to Antarctica and now in Alaska. You can follow her blog here. She’ll be discussing … Continue reading "Unschool When You Can, Teach When You Must with Kate Laird" The post Unschool When You Can, Teach When You Must with Kate Laird appeared first on SEA Homeschoolers.

Meet Emily, learn more about Charlotte Mason Homeschooling, and check out Build Your Library materials at the SEA Homeschoolers 2017 Conference. Emily Cook is the author and creator of the secular homeschool curriculum Build Your Library, a literature-based K-8 program infused with the teachings of Charlotte Mason. She writes full year lesson plans as well as shorter topical unit studies. Emily has been homeschooling her four children in Southern NH for 14 years. She is passionate about reading aloud to children of all ages and loves to share her love of literature with others. She and her family also make … Continue reading "Literature-Based Charlotte Mason Homeschooling with Emily Cook" The post Literature-Based Charlotte Mason Homeschooling with Emily Cook appeared first on SEA Homeschoolers.

Meet Blair and other secular, eclectic, academic homeschoolers at the SEA Homeschoolers 2017 Conference. Blair is a homeschooling mom, the author of the secular science textbooks REAL Science Odyssey Chemistry 1 and Biology 2, and founder of Secular Eclectic Academic Homeschoolers. Eclectic homeschooling is the most common type of homeschooling. Every child is unique with a different set of academic strengths, challenges, and passions. Eclectic homeschoolers  take those into account as they handcraft a unique journey through learning for their child. Creating a unique education might seem scary and intimidating, but it is easier than you think. Blair will be sharing … Continue reading "Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschooling with Blair Lee" The post Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschooling with Blair Lee appeared first on SEA Homeschoolers.

Meg Grooms is a long-time homeschooling mother of 6 kids, including two graduates. Meg believes that learning is best done through play, which she shares at her blog Homeschool Gameschool. Meg currently resides in the Pacific Northwest but is a vagabond at heart and is always looking for opportunities to explore the world with her family. In her spare time Meg likes to sing (badly) along with musical theatre and sometimes she dances too. Meg has written a book on getting started homeshooling and will be sharing valuable information for those just starting their journeys. The post Homeschooling 101 with Meg Grooms appeared first on SEA Homeschoolers.

Call to Worship Dubai I am dressed to go out and check out what happens during the Call to Worship in Dubai. The call is broadcast, and then the service is as well. The entire thing lasts about 30 minutes and sounds quite lovely, although I didn’t understand any of it. When we came back, the concierge asked me if we were Christian, and I said we were not religious. I decided that was the safest response in this Muslim country. I don’t talk about religion at home. I am not going to start here. The concierge was pretty surprised. … Continue reading "Call to Worship Dubai" The post Call to Worship Dubai appeared first on SEA Homeschoolers.