This week, as children in most countries are staying home, we are reposting Maria's discussion with Sharon Hancock, who has been a homeschool teacher and parent for over fifteen years. While schools will re-open and life will eventually get back to normal, right now, parents and educators have an opportunity to design a more flexible and personalized learning journey for students at home. We hope this conversation will offer parents and educators new insights to help them guide their children to navigate their new reality as they continue to learn at home. 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, dream big, overcome obstacles, and explore their broader interests.
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 (4:40)
Getting started with homeschooling: the power of community and homeschool co-ops (6:13)
Kindergarten: building a strong foundation of reading and math skills (8:30)
How Sharon’s daughter responded to kindergarten-level homeschooling (9:36)
The importance of social interaction and play with other children (11:36)
The benefits of homeschooling vs traditional schooling: personalized and flexible learning (13:56)
How Sharon’s son built a vacuum chamber: an example of self-directed learning (15:44)
How homeschooling caters to different learning styles: reading, discussing, watching, kinesthetic learning… (17:44)
Why homeschooled kids need structure in their daily activities (21:37)
How homeschooling nurtures workers and independent thinkers for the future (27:04)
How to decide if homeschooling is the right choice for your family (29:39)
What homeschool co-ops are and what they offer (32:57)
A word on state-specific homeschooling requirements (36:16)
Sharon’s biggest challenge during her homeschooling journey: keeping up with her kids (40:24)
When homeschooling does not work (42:16)
What skills are required to become an effective homeschooling parent (44:46)
Sharon’s advice for parents contemplating homeschooling (50:15)
What Sharon wants to leave her mark on during her lifetime (50:47)
Maria's takeaways around homeschooling and learning at home (53:21)