WE BELIEVE FROM SEA HOMESCHOOLERS WE BELIEVE in the power of education to change the world. WE BELIEVE learning is how we get to be who we want to be in this one wild and precious life. WE BELIEVE all education models should meet the learner where they are and handcraft a journey through learning that centers on the unique intellect, strengths, challenges, and needs of the individual. WE BELIEVE an evidence-based education is integral to the traits of egalitarianism and compassion, and that those two traits are essential for people to live together in harmony. WE BELIEVE every homeschooling …
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The Symbolism of SEA Homeschoolers New Logo When SEA Homeschoolers founder Blair Lee first saw a radial bar chart, she immediately recognized it as a symbolic representation of many of the philosophical tenets of a learner-centered, journey-focused, handcrafted education. When she shared it with the SEA team, they saw it too! At that point, Blair knew this radial bar chart was the perfect new logo for Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers. You might see the symbolism. If you don’t, you will be surprised by everything that Blair saw at just one glance. The New Logo Promotes a Learner-Centered Path The nesting …
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In Celebration of Our Children By Blair Lee I gave birth to my son the day before finals. He was two weeks early, which neither my doctor nor I expected. The only person who thought he would be early was one of my students, a mother of three. Two days before I gave birth, she came up to me and told me she didn’t think I would make it through the weekend. She had been watching the location of my pregnant belly shift throughout the week, and she could just tell. I am glad my student was correct because it …
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[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.8″] Filled with vendor coupons, articles from speakers, and clickable links, this Free Magazine is like a virtual trip to the convention, through the vendor hall, and so much more. Issue 1 of the new SEA Homeschoolers Magazine. secular homeschool convention, secular homeschool, homeschool magazine You can check out vendor websites, speaker bios, get more information about convention talks, sessions, and events, and learn about places to visit in Atlanta. There are several new endeavors starting at SEA Homeschoolers this year. This biannual magazine is one of them. Each magazine will be chock full of articles and …
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Homeschooled Children Are Fearless about Their Ability to Learn New Things I have a story I want to share with you. My 18 year-old son, homeschooled since first grade, wanted a summer job. He gave it some thought, looked at what was out there for an 18 year-old and decided he wanted to apply for a job as a sous chef. “What?” I asked in shock. “You have never shown even the slightest inclination to learn how to cook, despite me trying everything I could think of to change your mind.” “Well,” he replied, “If I get this job, your …
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Why I Value Homeschool Conventions By Kathy Oaks author of Homeschoolers Are Not Hermits While some people flock to homeschool conventions, others wonder if they are really worth the time and expense. As homeschoolers sometimes it seems like we’re barely staying ahead of the game, and trying to fit in one more thing can feel impossible. Here’s why making the effort to go to at least one homeschool convention a year is really worth your time. At Homeschool Conventions You Will Meet Awesome People First and foremost, conventions are about people. They’re organized by people, attended by people, and have …
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It’s finally happened. Your baby has moved past ABC and 123 and on to Trigonometry and Ancient history. This is such a proud moment for us as homeschool parents. We bask in the moment and congratulate ourselves on raising a miniature Albert Einstein or Marie Curie. That’s when it hits you. I’d like to say it comes upon you gently but for me, it went something like this… Me (to myself): Oh look, my baby is going to study Biology. He’s so smart. My tiny Einstein: Mom, what is this word? Me: Mit... Mito... Mitochondria My little conduit for anxiety …
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Serious Learning, Serious Fun: How Brainteasers, Games, and Puzzles Help Kids Learn By Hannah Thelen Building an engaging lesson that will capture a child’s attention and fight off boredom is a constant struggle for every educator. The solution to this problem may be found nestled at the intersection between play and learning: Puzzles. Puzzles come in many forms. Traditional jigsaw puzzles and other physical assembly puzzles, word puzzles, math puzzles, and logic puzzles have been enjoyed for generations, and exist all over the world. Regardless of what form they come in, puzzles and other thinking games offer extensive cognitive benefits …
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Science, Naturally! Review Clever STEM books for secular homeschooling families. Are you looking for a fresh new addition to your secular homeschool toolbox? Look no further than Science, Naturally! With award-winning, National Science Teacher Association recommended books for preschool through middle school, available in multiple languages (and bilingual books too), Science, Naturally! connects kids with STEM education through brainteasers, puzzles, fiction, and nonfiction by merging facts and fun. Though written for elementary students, my preschooler loves If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers by Dia Michels. It’s filled with information about how 14 different mammals are …
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It All Adds Up!: Get Your Children Excited About Math By Allison Zaleski “Why do we have to learn this?” is a common lament when you try to get kids to focus on math lessons. Dreading a math class is almost a rite of passage for many young learners. Helping children connect with math, understand it is important, and, even, enjoy learning it can give them more confidence and open doors. Math is often seen as a stand-alone subject that doesn’t have much to do with other subjects. However, math is all around us. Helping a child connect math lessons …
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Bilingual STEM Resources Learning a new language is hard. Trying to learn complicated math and science concepts in a new language is even harder. With almost five million English Language Learners (ELLs) in U.S. public schools facing this near-impossible challenge, it is difficult to believe that bilingual STEM resources are still not readily available. The rate of high school graduation for ELLs is only 63 percent, almost 20 percent lower than the national average. These students often fall behind in basic subjects due to insufficient language accommodations. Wendi Pillars, an experienced ESL teacher from Chatham County Schools in North Carolina, …
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Holistic History I believe in the complexity of the human story, and that there’s no way you can tell that story in one way and say, “this is it.” Always there will be someone who can tell it differently depending on where they are standing . . . this is the way I think the world’s stories should be told: from many different perspectives. secular homeschool history —“Chinua Achebe: The Art of Fiction CXXXVIV,” interview by Jerome Brooks in The Paris Review, Issue #133 (Winter 1994-5) History is traditionally taught through use of a single textbook. This method presents history …
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A Stargazing Unit Study: The Stargazer's Notebook When I was writing R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Astronomy 2 the idea for The Stargazer's Notebook came to me. The Stargazer's Notebook focuses on learning about the universe by observing the night sky. It is an astronomy unit study presented in the guise of a stargazing unit study. I didn’t want kids to just learn the science of astronomy from a book. My hope was that kids would get an understanding of the universe by making direct observations. I felt this would greatly enhance students’ passion for and knowledge of the subject. For two years, my son, my …
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Secular Homeschool Conferences hosted by Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers In this issue we are celebrating the 3 annual conferences Secular, Eclectic, Academic Homeschoolers hosts! Two of our secular homeschool conferences are online and one is an in-person conference. Each of the online conferences has a themed focus. These conferences are an important part of our commitment to providing support for the secular homeschool community. I have been involved in education, both traditional and non-traditional, for many years. The only things I miss about being involved in the traditional school setting are the insight, connections, and conversations with other educators. The …
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Julianna Speers : Service-Oriented Nature Lover and Secular Homeschooler I had the pleasure of meeting secular homeschooler Julianna at the Secular Eclectic Homeschoolers Conference in West Virginia 2017. She did a lot of volunteering at the conference. Secular homeschooler Julianna and her mother, Karen, have already signed up to volunteer at the 2018 conference! She is the type of person who sees a need and jumps in to help. Secular Eclectic Homeschoolers is lucky to have such a committed and caring teen as a part of our community. How long have you been homeschooling? Ever since I was born. What is …
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