In this session, we’ll dive into an essential concept that can significantly enhance your homeschooling experience—cognitive load. Managing cognitive load is vital for optimizing your child’s learning, engagement, and long-term success. This talk will unpack the different types of cognitive load and offer practical strategies for minimizing unnecessary mental effort while fostering deep understanding. You’ll learn how to craft lessons that balance challenge with support, tailor approaches for neurotypical and neurodivergent learners, and recognize signs of cognitive overload.

Drawing from my own experiences with homeschooling and my observations of my grandchildren, this session will offer actionable insights to improve daily learning outcomes. Whether your child is struggling to grasp new concepts or thriving and ready for the next challenge, this presentation will provide strategies to help you manage cognitive load effectively, maximizing both academic success and a positive learning experience.

Join Blair to explore how managing cognitive load can transform your homeschool journey into one that is not only effective but also enjoyable and fulfilling for both you and your child.

Look for a PDF with slides coming in November.

In 2011 and 2012, my son’s world changed. Two complex concussions led to a years-long struggle, testing our family’s resilience and forcing us to navigate the complexities of traumatic brain injury. The concussions impacted every aspect of his life, including his ability to learn and concentrate. Academic work that was once easy for him became mountains. He was plagued with intense headaches which made it challenging for him to think coherently. The path to recovery was paved not just with doctor’s visits but also with innovative learning strategies. Join Blair Lee as she shares this part of her family’s homeschooling journey.

Look for a PDF with slides coming in November.

The most profound part of homeschooling is the handcrafted journey that happens when an education is tailored for the individual. Doesn’t that sound like something worth providing for your child? But… How do you do it? How do you provide something that honors your learner and provides the important academic skills and knowledge they need? 

In this practical Homeschooling 101 workshop, Blair Lee will cover the basics of crafting a personalized education that ignites your child’s learning and empowers YOU. She will guide you through curriculum navigation, insights into who your child is as a learner, and essential startup tips to help you develop a clear roadmap for creating a thriving homeschool journey for your unique child. She will give you practical advice about what you REALLY need to get started.

This PDF accompanies the talk Homeschooling 101. It is for the convenience of those of you who like to take notes.

PDF: Homeschooling 101

Join Blair Lee for this informative session focused on the cognitive science of optimizing learning. The idea for this talk emerged as Blair was reading Natalie Wexler’s book, The Knowledge Gap. According to Wexler, teachers are often not taught the findings of cognitive science, and therefore are not teaching from the standpoint of best learning practices.

This sparked a deep-dive into cognitive science research, forming the foundation for this talk. Blair will share current research into how children learn, including information about cognitive load. She will translate these findings into practical advice to help you handcraft your child’s education, making it meaningful, engaging, and effective.

Key topics include:

Cognitive Science Principles: Find out how a multimodal approach and metacognition benefit learning. Blair will discuss how a recursive process of ‘spacing’ learning over time and providing worked examples or ‘scaffolds’ support problem-solving and the mastery of information.

Effective Learning Strategies: Blair will share evidence-based strategies that foster critical thinking, creativity, and a love of learning.

Real-World Applications: She will provide practical tips for creating a stimulating and supportive learning environment that meets the needs of diverse learners, including neurodivergent students.

For many of us, the hardest part of homeschooling is finding balance. One day, you are a parent, and the next day, you are a parent who is responsible for planning and implementing an amazing, empowering, splendiferous learning adventure for your child. In your mind, you can see what you want to create, and then comes the hard truth of reality. Making that dream a reality can feel all-consuming. In part, because of the high investment homeschoolers have in their children’s education.

It is worth it, though, because homeschooling offers an incredible opportunity to tailor education to your child’s unique academic needs. However, it also brings a set of challenges, especially for parents who juggle multiple roles, often including work. This can make homeschooling feel like a tightrope walk while juggling, where maintaining balance is important yet challenging.

It is important that you find a place of balance. If you don’t, burnout can happen. If you don’t, your children might struggle with who is responsible for your stress. The good news is that there are strategies that can help, and hey, these strategies have the benefit of being things that are good to model for your children, anyway. Things like using a growth mindset, effective self-evaluations, modeling positive self-talk, letting your best be good enough, and the art of letting go.

Join Blair Lee for advice and information focused on unlocking the secrets to a homeschool experience that nourishes everyone, including you!