A Homeschool Graduation Letter From Blair Lee, M.S. As our homeschooling journey comes to an end, it feels bittersweet. I am proud of the person my son is growing into, yet reaching homeschool graduation means we close a chapter that has been so meaningful in our lives. I know it can be hard to see the end of the journey when you're still on the path, so I would like to share with you my thoughts on what it means to receive an education handcrafted to focus on a learner's strengths, challenges, and passions -- something all homeschoolers gift their …
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Secular Homeschooling with Blair & Amy Episode 1: Why Secular Homeschooling Matters In episode 1, Blair and Amy discuss the importance of secular academic homeschooling as a way to make the homeschooling world (and beyond!) more inclusive and supportive. We share our experiences as advocates for inclusive and diverse homeschooling resources and our mission to promote critical thinking and provide accurate representation in subjects like science and history. Join us on this journey as we explore various topics and advocate for a diverse secular homeschooling community. https://seahomeschoolers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ep1.m4a
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SEA Homeschoolers is excited to expand our Vetted Secular Blog List to include Vloggers and Podcasters. Our lists will include your site name, logo, URL, and a brief description (300 characters). We will launch these new lists soon. To be included on the lists, you must confirm that your site is 100% secular, which means: No religious bias (for or against). Must only recommend secular curricula/resources (no adaptation of religious materials, no “intelligent design,” no neutral science, no young earth based materials, history/social studies materials should be inclusive of varied cultures where appropriate). For more information on how SEA defines …
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Lecture Series on Teaching Evolution SEA Homeschoolers is partnering with the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES), a division of the Richard Dawkins Foundation, to offer a series of lectures for our homeschool community. Filled with great information on teaching evolution to middle schoolers, these lectures are suitable for all ages. Attend and ask questions from your own computer absolutely free! Visit the TIES website for tons of links to free resources on teaching evolution. This is the first time that TIES has collaborated to bring these resources to homeschoolers, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Spread the …
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Seven Favorite Summer Field Trips Summer is the perfect time for field trips where the whole family can learn together out in the world! The hustle and bustle of the school year has slowed, and many of us are doing a little homeschool-lite in between pool time and popsicles. I've gathered seven of our favorite summer field trips that will make your summertime learning into memorable experiences for the whole family. These field trips and resources are available across the country. Check out the links included to find one near you! 1. National Parks Become a Junior Ranger this summer …
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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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The Art of Movie Magic A Secular Homeschool Unit Study Art can take many forms, and as a young secular homeschool parent it was easy to get caught in the “paint on a canvas” loop of art education; coloring recreations of the painting masters or learning to identify some of the great works. But art is vastly broader than simply studying Picasso or Rembrandt. Art is the expression of creative skill and imagination. It can be so many things, including movies. That’s right, I’m talking about films, cinema, motion pictures. The art of storytelling on the big (and little) screen. …
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Q & A on (Almost) Everything You Want to Know about Teaching the Science of Climate Change to Middle Schoolers* *don’t be afraid to ask! When I was asked to teach a course on the science of climate change to the middle schoolers in our science group, believe me, I had some questions! As I worked to answer those questions, I gained a deeper appreciation for how interconnected everything (and I do mean everything) really is. And I got excited thinking about the many ways this course could challenge and inspire the kids with all kinds of learning…and dare I say …
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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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Passionately Engaged: A Scientist's Journey Women in Science: Why I Became A Scientist by Blair Lee, M.S. My journey to becoming a scientist is one a homeschooler can appreciate. I became a scientist by falling down a rabbit hole while pursuing an interest that grew into a passion. I come from an entrepreneurial family. One that, for the most part, thinks the only reason to get a science degree is to become a medical doctor. I have always loved to read and write and if you'd asked my family what I was going to be when I grew up most …
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International Women and Girls in Science Day International Women and Girls in Science Day is upon us, and it’s interesting to think that we need a day to recognize the female interest in and contributions to science, but here we are. We absolutely need to celebrate it. And while I hope this is an inspirational piece of writing, I also believe that the time for well crafted words has passed and now, more than ever, is a time for action. Women have always been involved in science, from the ancient wisdom of healers who used the natural world for observation, …
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Things To Do and See in Atlanta by Shawne Taylor Atlanta is a city of contradiction – thoroughly modern and progressive and, at the same time, steeped in the history of both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. It’s fast-paced and metropolitan, yet still retains its down-home southern charm. It’s a true international city, great for young professionals, and also a wonderful place to homeschool and raise children. And thanks to a generous tax incentive from the state, which has led to an increase in the number of movies and TV shows being filmed here, the city has …
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Sensory Processing Basics This talk focuses on sensory processing basics. I look at the major sensory systems and how they can affect our learning, specifically through the lens of Neurodiversity and the natural expression of Human Variability. In other words, we're all different, so we encounter, process, and express to the world differently - and it drives our behavior! This presentation will help you tie all that stuff the Occupational Therapist has been talking about with some deep insights into effective learning (teaching). The goal is always Self Advocacy, and that starts with Self Knowledge. Lorilei's Bio Lorilei taught in …
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