The Sequoia Breeze

Choosing to homeschool is a big decision. It's natural to feel overwhelmed and have a TON questions. Where do you start? What options are out there? Is homeschooling right for me and my kids? In this episode, Rebecca guides you through the essential steps to kick-start your homeschooling adventure. From understanding your options to practical tips for getting started, Rebecca covers it all. Tune in, learn, and embark on your homeschooling journey with confidence!SHOW NOTES;Deschooling:https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/deschooling/How to file a PSAPSPHSCCHNIntro to Unit StudiesAcellusK12Time4LearningBookSharkOak Meadow CurriculumTimberdoodle

A powerhouse trio of highly experienced teachers and homeschoolers joins Rebecca today to discuss the “I Can” statements. How do these state standards work into our homeschools? What does the charter school need from us? Homeschool families and teachers alike will find this episode to be helpful and encouraging.I Can Statements on the Homeschool Helper

This week, Rebecca welcomes Dr. Alex Ryan, one of our wonderful intervention teachers, to discuss Supporting Your Gifted Learner. Together, they explore the answers to questions including, Is your child gifted? If so, what does that mean for your homeschool? Does a child have to be gifted in all subjects to qualify? What if a child struggles in some areas and excels in others? Listen in as Dr. Ryan helps you identify whether or not your children are gifted and shares some ways you can feed their busy minds.Show NotesByrdseedNAGCMichael Clay ThompsonPETSBeast AcademyWilliam and MaryJohn Hopskins Gifted Family PageCritical Thinking CoTin Man Press - this is a resource that Dr. Alex loves, but sadly has gone out of print. A Google search may turn up used copies.Email Dr. Alex here

HR Mom Melissa Griffin is back! This time, we tackle the nitty-gritty of helping your kids learn to manage themselves and their everyday responsibilities. Don't miss another great episode loaded with great ideas.Lucy in the Chocolate FactoryHRMom on Facebook

Every parent wonders, "Have I prepared my kids to survive in the real world? Did I teach them enough?" Melissa Griffin, also known as HRMom, teaches us how to prepare our kids to enter real life with real problem-solving skills--and less anxiety. Find the HRMom community on Facebook.

In this  episode, we confront the unsettling reality we face when we hear about yet another shooting incident on the news. The initial shock prompts us to turn off the radio and protect our children from the distressing details. However, beneath the relief that our kids are safe from a school shooting, there lingers a nagging fear. Do our children, and do we ourselves, know how to respond if a similar tragedy unfolds in a local store or restaurant?Homeschool dad and police sergeant Seth Cimino joins the podcast this week to help banish that fear. Together, we aim to equip you with the knowledge to gently train your kids on how to navigate the unthinkable. Tune in as we explore strategies and insights to ensure your family is prepared to handle the worst-case scenario with resilience and readiness.Show notes:FBI "Run, Hide, Fight"

The blessing and the curse of homeschooling: Siblings! The challenges and opportunities that sibling relationships bring require a lot of energy and creativity from parents. Kendra Fletcher, mother and experienced homeschooler of 8 shares the lessons she learned and the ways she helped foster and restore the relationships between her own children. Show notes:Teaching TextbooksKendrafletcher.comFind Kendra on Outschool

More than 7 hours a day...that's how much time an average American kid spends in front of a screen. What would happen if they spent even HALF that time outdoors, exploring and playing? Ginny Yurich shares with us the immense benefits of setting a goal of 1000 hours outside--maybe even until the street lights come on.Notes:1000hoursoutside.comThere’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda McGurk52 Ways to Walk by Annabel StreetsOutdoor Kids in an Inside World by Steven RinellaComfort Crisis by Michael EasterJohn Taylor GattoLearning All the Time by John HoltDominance Factor by Carla HannafordSmart Moves by Carla HannafordBooks by Ginny:Until the Street Lights Come On1000 Hours Outside Activity BookThe Little Farmhouse in West Virginia  1000 Hours Outside: Activities to Match Screen Time with Green Time

Is homeschooling for high school a good idea? Will your student miss out? Are you up for the challenge? Linda Qian, director of high school for Sequoia Grove, shares her story with us and lays our fears to rest--high school is a great time to homeschool!

Pam Barnhill joins in to talk about how to get your year under control! No more giving up before you've begun. Her book Plan Your Year outlines how to think through what you do and how to do it. Be inspired to keep going each day with some simple preparation.Show Notes:PamBarnhill.comhttps://simplyconvivial.com/2016/character-building/Plan Your YearContact me!Clarksville ButtonFeather River ButtonLake View Buttonpodcasts@sequoiagrove.org

Unsure what the Lending Library has to offer? Have you given up trying to get logged in and reserve books? Join me as I interview the Head of Library Services, Chris Hermann. We take an audio tour of the immense store of resources available to you and your family. Don't miss this informative episode that tells what is there and how to get it!Lending Library Information and How-to’sDestiny Discover–the website to reserve booksLink to choose your Park Day locationContact me!Clarksville ButtonFeather River ButtonLake View Buttonpodcasts@sequoiagrove.org

Season 4 drops August 16, 2023

Amazing projects, clever creativity, big ideas...great things are happening with our Sequoia Grove students! Hear what it was like inside a Student Showcase in May 2023--gather inspiration and join us next year!

Four kids and two continents....this is Rebecca's homeschool journey. She shares the good and the regrets. Listen in for ideas, lessons learned, and encouragment in your own homeschool.NOTES:BookSharkDot to Dot in the SkyAfrica is Not a CountryQuote attributed to Jen Wilkin, “Women of the Word.”

Do your kids have the words to describe how they're feeling? Emotional well-being is crucial for a good learning environment. In this episode, Mary Stein introduces us to the world of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Listen in for some great resources for all students, TK-12th grade, and even parents!Show Notes:Lakeshore LearningMarc Brackett and the Mood MeterBrene Brown: The Power of VulnerabilityCasel Framework (Casel 5)Cori Doerrfeld booksThe Invisible Boy by Trudy LudwigRuby Finds a Worry by Tom PercivalHow Full is Your BucketMy Mouth is a Volcano Julia CookEnemy Pie 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens7 Habits of Happy KidsAndrew Pudewa episodeHarmonySEL.org

Equipping our kids to be safe in the digital world, while still helping them to learn the necessary skills is a tricky job! Trisha Brandow joins me to talk about how to navigate this important topic.Common Sense Media EducationHow to Break Up with Your PhoneThe Safetech Family PodcastSOS FBI curriculumGoogle Internet Safety CurriculumGood Pictures/Bad PicturesFight the New DrugResources from Trisha:Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Parent ResourcesDigital Literacy and Internet Safety Parent Presentation

It can be confusing to keep track of all that's going on with Sequoia Grove. Are you feeling confused by the opportunities available? Join Rebecca and Sara, two of our Family Liaisons, as they chat and share suggestions to help you "Get the Most Out of Your Sequoia Grove Experience." Listen in as they show you where you can go to access the most up to date and accurate information available to our schools.Have a suggestion for an upcoming episode? Want to hear about a specific topic? Reach out to Rebecca at podcasts@sequoiagrove.org to share your ideas.Homeschool HelperSequoia Sign UpClarksville IGFeather Rivier IGLake View IG

Many of us are intimidated by the idea of teaching math. A google search for "homeschool math curriculum" will turn up almost endless results. So we ask friends what they use...and every answer is different. How can we know what to choose? Nicole the Math Lady, an experienced teacher and homeschooler, helps us narrow down the options and find the math match that works for our family and students.Nicole the Math Lady WebsiteIXLVARK

Is homeschooling high school a good idea? As a parent, we worry about all the things for our teens--the difficult subjects that need to be covered, social activities, and preparing our kids for life after high school. Our resident high school expert, Shannon Breckenridge shares why homeschooling for high school is not only possible, it's a good idea!

I'm teaching my kids to write and speak well, but how do I equip them to have something worth saying? Andrew Pudewa, creator of IEW, joins me to answer the question "How do we teach our kids to think?"Show Notes:The Art of ArgumentArgument BuilderFallacy DetectiveThe Joy of Reading AloudWordly WiseWord Roots