This week, Maria talks with Sharon Hancock, who has been a homeschool teacher and parent for fifteen years. Throughout her homeschooling journey, Sharon has met hundreds of families who are all on a quest for the best education for their children. She has seen as many different ways to homeschool as there are personalities. And yet one principle stands true across the board: The heart of homeschooling is not about the academics and the books; it's the intangibles that influence and mold the children, the things that enable them to grow, mature, and succeed, to dream big and accomplish more than they would in a traditional school setting. We hope this conversation inspires you to think deeply about the learning journey of your children and consider opportunities far beyond their conventional education.
Production team:
Host : Maria Xenidou
Producer: Julie-Roxane Krikorian
Introduction Voice: David Bourne
Contact us:
impactlearningpodcast@gmail.com
Music credits:
Like Lee performed by The Mini Vandals
Transition sounds: Swamp Walks performed by Jingle Punks
Where to find Sharon Hancock:
Her website: Essentials of Homeschooling
Mentioned in this episode:
Phonic Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling, 10th edition by Dolores G. Hiskes
Singapore Primary Mathematics Workbook
Listen to this episode and explore:
How Sharon’s daughter learnt to count (2:25)
Getting started with homeschooling: the power of community and homeschool co-ops (3:58)
Kindergarten: building a strong foundation of reading and math skills (6:15)
How Sharon’s daughter responded to kindergarten-level homeschooling (7:21)
The importance of social interaction and play with other children (9:21)
The benefits of homeschooling vs traditional schooling: personalized and flexible learning (11:41)
How Sharon’s son built a vacuum chamber: an example of self-directed learning (13:40)
How homeschooling caters to different learning styles: reading, discussing, watching, kinesthetic learning… (15:29)
Why homeschooled kids need structure in their daily activities (19:22)
How homeschooling nurtures workers and independent thinkers for the future (24:49)
How to decide if homeschooling is the right choice for your family (27:34)
What homeschool co-ops are and what they offer (30:42)
A word on state-specific homeschooling requirements (34:01)
Sharon’s biggest challenge during her homeschooling journey: keeping up with her kids (38:09)
When homeschooling does not work (40:01)
What skills are required to become an effective homeschooling parent (42:31)
Sharon’s advice for parents contemplating homeschooling (48:00)
What Sharon wants to leave her mark on during her lifetime (48:32)