Layers of Learning Podcast: Recent Episodes
Layers of Learning
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our…
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The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our…
Source
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our…
Source
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our…
Source
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Flexible PlanningPlanning is one of the biggest struggles of homeschooling. So many of us feel like if we plan and then don’t achieve everything, we feel like failures! Listen in as we walk you through how to plan flexibly so you can see your successes and use planning for your benefit. Do you overplan? Do you have flexibility built in? Planning is so important for success, but there are a lot of pitfalls you don’t want to fall into. In this episode of the podcast, we’re discussing how you can make planning work for you and use it to truly make your homeschool more effective and in line with your goals and your kids’ overall progress. Put your homeschool on cruise control as you let effective and flexible planning work for you!
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Using planning to help you see the big picture of your kids’ progress and goals * Using planning to make sure you have things on hand for your projects and lessons * Planning in levels – yearly, by unit, and by week * Using a highlighter in your planner to mark things as you complete them * Allow yourself to move things around after you plan them…do not be married to your plans. * Have a flex day for catch up…Friday flex days are the BEST! * Plan very little during the last week of a unit so you can use the last week as a catch-up flex week * Don’t let your planning get out of control. Resist the urge to overplan. Don’t over-purchase supplies and feel trapped. Be thoughtful. * Recognize your plan for what it is – a flexible framework to guide your homeschool.
The post Episode 75: Flexible Planning appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Introducing UnitsIn this episode, Michelle and Karen talk about fun ways to introduce units and get your kids engaged and interested in what you’re learning about. None of this is necessary; it’s the fun, extra fluff of homeschool that can be fun when you want to get your kids excited about learning. We’re sharing some simple ideas for games and activities that you can use at the beginning of a unit to introduce the topics and get kids engaged and excited for what you’ll be learning about that month. Each month, you can choose just one of the new topics you’ll be learning about and play a game or challenge your kids in some way to get them ready to learn. Introducing units doesn’t need to be complicated or overplanned.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Clearing out the last unit and getting your school area prepared for your new unit * Hanging up quotes or fun facts about the unit * Watching an interesting video * Playing a game like 20 Questions or Spot It * Playing word games or clues * Having a memory tray * Providing a unit scavenger hunts, checklists of things to find during the unit, or a game of BINGO for kids to check off as they learn about different things in the unit * Write the unit vocab words on note cards, hide them, and let the kids find them all…then go over each word * Creating a word wall * Introduce the topic with a high-interest picture book to read aloud
The post Episode 74: Introducing Units appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Is Homeschooling DangerousIn this episode, Michelle and Karen get into the political side of homeschooling. We’re discussing this article: “A Warning on Homeschooling” that was published in the Harvard Gazette. Elizabeth Bartholett and others have made many of these same claims against homeschooling numerous times, saying there is a dark side to it that needs to be remedied and regulated. This discussion aims to address some of the claims. Issues like these are often very divisive and are approached with polarizing and absolute arguments. The truth is that the world of homeschooling is not perfect but the world of public school certainly isn’t either. We have never believed every child should be homeschooled, but we also reject that claim that homeschooling is inherently dangerous and wrong for all children. We believe in parental rights. We believe in children. We support all people who work to educate kids and understand the value of providing kids with a solid foundation of education and a love of learning.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Abuse in the homeschooling world * Education laws and regulations in the United States and globally * Academic expectations in homeschooling * Places kids are vulnerable to danger * Assumptions about homeschoolers and assumptions about public schools * Parents’ rights – Are they granted from the state or are they natural rights? * National Center for Education Statistics * The wide range of educational opportunities – homeschools, public schools, charter schools, online schools, pods, and more * Educated by Tara Westover * How opinions about homeschooling have evolved over the years * The public school/homeschool debate
The post Episode 73: Is Homeschooling Dangerous? appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
A Magical Blend of Homeschooling StylesLayers of Learning is an oddly eclectic blend of lots of different homeschooling styles—Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, Montessori, unschooling—it has a bit of each. It begins with the 4-year cycle organization that is the framework of the Classical style. It is intentionally organized and repetitive. Layers of Learning also borrows from more relaxed Charlotte Mason style, including lots of living books and hands-on experiences. The units of Layers of Learning loosely resemble unit studies because of the interrelated topics, additional layers, and rabbit trails. We borrow from Maria Montessori’s philosophy by encouraging you to create a learning environment in your homeschool. If your school day is truly fun and rewarding, your kids will be able to independently learn far beyond your normal school hours and your checklist of to-dos. The curriculum is also a great scaffolding for unschoolers and can become a plan for those times when you need ideas and plans.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* What the Layers of Learning program borrows from each style * How this style of learning can help your kids both remember what they are learning and learn how to learn and research * Every single Layers of Learning unit can stand alone. You can work in any order and skip around. * Let your kids help choose the explorations and be a part of your planning. * Create a home that is centered around learning. * Take advantage of the book suggestions for a really rich homeschool experience. * Let narrations be a regular part of your homeschool to help your kids remember what they are learning and become an active learner. * Decide on the bits and pieces of Layers of Learning that you love, and implement those. Leave behind anything that doesn’t work for your family.
The post Episode 72: A Magical Blend of Homeschooling Styles appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Middle Grades in HomeschoolIn this podcast episode, Karen and Michelle talk about teaching in the middle grades. Middle school is that in-between period where kids aren’t quite learning at a high school level but are beyond the simple, elementary school years. Listen in as we discuss what it looks like to homeschool in the in-between years and also some tips for helping kids prepare for high school. Beyond your kids using the middle grades to prepare for higher learning, you’ll also be preparing yourself, as the mentor, for higher learning. The middle grades are actually are favorite age to teach because most kids still have the enthusiasm for learning and fu projects, but also the maturity to be able to handle deep conversations and some independent work.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Benefits of teaching in the middle grades * Building on the knowledge they have and making connections * Continuing read-alouds * Your main job is to scaffold middle grades kids in reading, writing, and thinking * Fostering independence * Teaching kids to use planners more independently. * Middle school kids can begin to apply the six traits of writing and begin learning bigger spelling and vocabulary words * Watching the news and discussing current events * Learning to see the world through other peoples’ experiences * Begin true experimentation and making predictions in science * Discussing art and relating it to events and causes * Layers of Learning and accreditation
The post Episode 71: Middle Grades in Homeschool appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Listen as We Plan a UnitIn this podcast episode, we are doing an off-the-cuff planning session and showing you what it looks like when we open a unit and begin planning out what we will learn and do with our families during the unit. Listen in to see our process and our train of thought as we delve into a few units we will learn as a family. Michelle and Karen plan and do things very differently, so you can see a few ways of doing things, and hopefully get some inspiration for your own planning process.
We’ve been homeschooling for a long time, and the truth is, our planning process changes and grows with our families and our homeschools, but we hope that this little peek helps you with your homeschool planning.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Michelle is planning a science unit about rocks. Hear what she is choosing to do, what her process is, and watch her method unfold. * How we get the supplies we need. * How we get the books we need. * Karen is planning an arts unit about ancient art around the world. Observe how she chooses the explorations and makes a note of any books, videos, or supplies that will be needed. You’ll also hear about how she wraps up a unit with review, trivia, and the Big Book of Knowledge. * When we plan, we consider these things: time, age, variety of activities, materials, schedule, and what we’ve covered before.
The post Episode 70: Listen As We Plan a Unit appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Skills Versus ContentThere are two types of knowledge you are teaching your kids in your homeschool – skills and content. A lot of homeschool parents worry about covering everything; they stress over missing something in their kids’ educations. Most often, what they are worrying about is content. They don’t want to miss teaching the Korean War and they worry that if they don’t learn every fact about the Periodic Table of Elements, their kids will be stunted. They are afraid of failing as a homeschool parent if they miss something. The key though, is understanding that if you teach your kids the skills, they can learn ANY content. You don’t have to teach everything!
During this podcast, we’ll walk you through the skills you can teach your kids that will help them to become lifelong learners. Mathematics, writing, reading, spelling, thinking, analyzing, communicating, creativity, and much, much more are all learning skills. You can master them by applying the skills to whatever content you’re learning about.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* As you learn content, you can build your skills. The content provides the interest, but the skills are built as you learn about it. You might be learning chronological order as you build a timeline in your Book of Years or analyzing analogies as you write an animal report. * As you finish each unit, think about not only the content from the unit, but about the skills you developed. For example, you might * Note taking, memorization, writing outlines, measuring, comparing & contrasting, questioning – all of these skills can apply to any subject and can be used for any content knowledge. * There is no master list of content you must master, but it is important to have a broad knowledge of the world. * You can compare, write, analyze, think, write, converse, and truly understand so much once you have a basic cultural and global literacy about all kinds of content knowledge. * Once you become aware of the differences between content knowledge and skills, you will be equipped to help your kids truly learn by dovetailing both of these in meaningful ways.
The post Episode 69: Skills Versus Content appeared first on Layers of Learning.
Every Layers of Learning begins with a Unit Overview sidebar. Here are some fun suggestions for ways to use this learning tool in your homeschool!
The post Episode 68: Unit Overviews appeared first on Layers of Learning.
Guidance for teaching emergent writers how to write by making lessons fun and interactive along with breaking down the writing process into baby steps and sharing the pen.
The post Episode 67: Sharing the Pen appeared first on Layers of Learning.
Listen in for lessons we've learned after two decades of homeschooling!
The post Episode 66: Lessons We’ve Learned As Homeschool Moms appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Raising Bookworms – Our Favorite Family Read-AloudsReading aloud to our kids has turned them into bookworms! Starting a read-aloud tradition when they were young is the single best decision we made as we’ve homeschooled our kids over the past twenty years. In this podcast episode, we share what reading aloud has done for our families and also talk about some of our favorite read-alouds.
During this podcast, we chat about the favorite read-alouds we’ve read to our families over the past twenty years. No need to grab a pen and paper! You can just visit our Amazon “Favorite Read-Alouds” Idea List to find all of the books we mention in this podcast episode. We hope you’ll enjoy perusing them and find some fun read-alouds for your family to snuggle up with and enjoy together.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Reading aloud will spark discussions and build relationships in your family. * Look for books that open your eyes to new experiences, have deep themes, and are action-packed or have a great plot . * Choose modern books with fairly simple language, characters you connect with, and that appeals to a wide age range. * If you want to read the classics but your kids aren’t ready, start with Great Illustrated Classics. * Choose a variety of genres – picture books, historical novels, non-fiction, fantasy, biographies, mysteries – choose all kinds of stories. * Layers of Learning has sidebars called “Bookworms” to help direct you to good family read-alouds that accompany the units. You won’t have time to read them all, so just choose your favorites. * …and finally, we discuss our favorite read-alouds…45 in all! Remember to check them all out on out Amazon “Favorite Read-Alouds” Idea List!
The post Episode 65: Raising Bookworms – Our Favorite Family Read-Alouds appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Teaching IndependenceTeaching independence is hard because it’s something that happens over a long time in a lot of tiny ways. It’s hard to measure and it can’t be taught in a day. Michelle, in particular, LOVES fostering independence. Karen got to ask her all kinds of questions about how she has successfully fostered independence in her six boys as she has raised them.
Teaching independence can start much earlier than many parents think. From the time they are little, we need to equip kids to be prepared to live their own lives. Teaching them life skills so that they gain competance and are eqipped know how to do things not only instills independence but also confidence. Along the way, you have to let go of some of your expectations. It is much easier and faster to do things on your own (and the jobs are done better too!), but if you do everything for your kids, they will never learn to do those things on their own. In the end, if you take the time and put in the work to teach your kids skills, they will be able to accomplish things well on their own. Teach kids how to do something, then let them do it, and then don’t expect it to be perfect. Along the way, be consistent with your expectations and have clear consequences along with lots of positive praise. Independence yields maturity and responsibility.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Bit by bit, teach kids how to do each household chore and do it well – laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cooking – your household is the beginning of teaching independence. * Always keep a kid by your side as you work; you are their life mentor and there is a lot they can learn by watching you and working with you. (You can see a bit more about this and other ways we keep a tidy home in this post!) * Rotate chores among everyone in your family so they all know how to do all of the tasks well. * Younger kids naturally have smaller consequences, so teaching your kids independence when they are young is helpful; the consequences aren’t huge or severe yet. The older kids get, the steeper the consequences. * It’s hard to watch your kids suffer from consequences but those consequences will often be the catalyst for learning. * Even as a homeschool parent, sometimes you should have due dates, grades, and firm expectations so kids learn to be accountable. Have expectations and follow through so kids learn to live up to their responsibilities. * Don’t take away their consquences or emotional burdens. * Establish set consequences and follow through on them. * Check up on your kids – be their accountability check. We are all accountable to people – bosses, bill collectors, government agencies, and many more people. Kids need to learn this in order to function well in the world. * Expect progress instead of perfection.
The post Episode 64: Teaching Independence appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Sibling RelationshipsA big part of homeschooling is learning to manage sibling relationships. One of the toughest parts of homeschooling is actually parenting. You are the 24/7 authority figure in your kids’ lives, and you need to be consistent. It can be exhausting and demanding. Teaching your kids to support each other and cheer each other on instead of tearing each other down will change the whole tone in your home and will make family school not only possible, but enjoyable!
Kids can be taught to communicate more effectively, to listen, and to be kind as parents model that behavior. Resolving fights and contention can be taught as parents listen and act as a mediator without being emotionally charged. Model the behaviors you want your kids to learn and show them how to be thoughtful and kind. Make sure to give each of your kids their own special time so they can feel valued, heard, and an important part of your family. As they feel valued and important, they can begin to help others feel valued and important as well.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Parents can’t guarantee that kids will behave, but they can go a long way in setting the tone in your home. * We don’t allow bullying in our families. * Teach your kids to cheer each other on and build each other up instead of tearing each other down. * You can teach your kids to debate and disagree without personally attacking each other. Managing emotions is an important skill. * Learning to mediate with love but not anger or impatience is key to teaching your kids to manage their emotions. * Time outs aren’t punishments; they are emotional breaks. * Consistency is key! Your kids all need to know the rules, understand your expectations, and be equitable between your kids. * Rotate the chores, be consistent with expectations, and tailor the consequences to each child. * Make sure to give your kids one-on-one time. Tucking them in at night is a simple way to do this. Going on outings or dates is another fun way. * Compassion can take the place of contention in your home. * Notice every good thing your kids do so they learn to cultivate those things.
The post Episode 63: Sibling Relationships appeared first on Layers of Learning.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Evaluating SourcesOne of the biggest components of an education is learning how to learn. One of the most important skills in learning is researching. Layers of Learning is a curriculum that encourages research and learning how to learn. As you begin to pursue knowledge, you’ll soon see that not all sources are created equal. When you’re learning with Layers of Learning, you’re relying on lots of sources, lots of authors, lots of books! As you begin to delve into them, you’ll notice that sometimes authors disagree on the same topics. It turns out, ANYONE can write ANYTHING, and it’s your privilege to learn how to evaluate the sources you read.
In this podcast, you’ll learn about the CRAAP test, how to use encyclopedias as a jumping off place for your research, and how to locate quality sources and scholarly journals. Little ones will likely use simple library books and YouTube videos, but as your kids get into high school or as you’re pursuing your own adult education, this podcast episode will give you some bearings on how to find and evaluate good sources.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* The CRAAP Test – Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose * Other than primary sources, more recent sources tend to be more informed. * Especially when it comes to online sources, look for relevance. Is the author really teaching you or just trying to sell you something? * Everyone has opinions about thing, but you are looking for opinions by authorities. Learn to evaluate who the authors are and know whether or not they have the authority or background to teach you. * Read multiple books and websites about topics so you can gauge whether the information is accurate and consistent across the sources. If you have one that doesn’t seem to agree with the others, it like isn’t accurate. * Notice what the purpose of the source is. If they are one-sided rather than well-rounded, you might consider the source suspect. * A few places to research: Wikipedia, JSTOR.org, Google Scholar, the Digital Public Library of America, the New York Public Library, the New York Times Time Machine * In general, you need one source for each page of a research paper or essay you’re writing. Include books as well as online journals.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Student JournalsJournaling is a huge part of our homeschool. Even for hesitant writers, journaling can be a powerful tool because it can be done in small bits and pieces, combined with pictures, and helped along by mentors. Our student journals are an ongoing record of what we’re learning about it our homeschool.
Student journals are mostly blank books that your family will fill with facts, illustrations, notes, and foldables. It is a combination notebooking/journaling approach that helps your kids record the things they are learning about. It’s also a powerful review tool as well as a really fun record that your family will come to treasure. It’s so precious to watch your kids grow, progress, and learn through their journal entries. You can either choose to create a family journal or give each of your kids their own set to keep.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* You can choose between the spiral bound, ready-made journals sold at Layers of Learning and the pdf versions that you print and prepare yourself. Both versions go right along with your Layers of Learning unit studies and keep everything tidy and organized for your kids. * The Book of Years is a really eye-opening way to see what events were happening in the world at the same time. As you study each civilization, you add their key events. With each civilization that unfolds, you begin to see how they relate to each other and what things were happening in the world at the same time. You’ll add entries on the pages and add in the timeline tags that are provided in each unit’s Printable Pack. * The World Explorer Journal has printed maps and a place for you to record what you are learning about the world as it is today. It is your record of your geography studies. It is a lot like an illustrated children’s atlas that is made by your own kids. There are lots of printables you can include as well. * The Science Notebook is designed like a real scientist’s notebook. Your kids will keep field notes and labs in their Science Notebook as they work through the Layers of Learning Science courses. They will record information, diagram things, draw pictures, take notes, and even build their own table of contents. * The Art Sketchbook connects famous art and art movements with your own creativity. Kids will be making their own versions of the things they are learning about. There are bits of clipart, picture frames, and prompts throughout. * Each unit has instructions, printables, and prompts for adding to each of your Student Journals. * The Writer’s Journal is a kids’ private booklet of their own writing. It isn’t intended to be graded or evaluated. Your kids can write authentically in their journal because it isn’t for others’ eyes.
Student JournalsThese are the books that student fill in and create as they complete each Layers of Learning course.
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The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
High School in HomeschoolHomeschooling feels pretty intimidating when you hit high school age. All of of sudden, you’re teaching topics you aren’t sure you understand yourself. Tests, and papers, and grading feel critical. And you have to create a transcript that will go with your kids through life – into college, careers, and beyond. Are you up to it? The truth is, homeschooling in high school doesn’t need to be intimidating. Although there are some adjustments in what it looks like, you really are capable. You will learn right alongside your teens. You can adapt their schedule to meet your teen’s and your family’s needs, and you can personalize the instruction to meet your teen.
Homeschooling in high school can be really rewarding. It’s amazing to see your kids grow into the their true selves, discover their passions, and learn alongside your family. They get to learn independence with you as their mentor, and it can be rewarding for everyone. Trust in yourself and your abilities and you can successfully navigate the high school years with your teens.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Your high school teens will gradually begin to learn more independently. They may take online classes, have more outside activities, and also just work on all of their school work with greater independence. * Parents need to make sure teens are accountable and are getting their work done. * You can learn alongside your kids. You don’t have to know everything ahead of time and prepare lessons, but you do need to be willing to learn with them. * You will start to think in terms of semesters, terms, or courses instead of teaching individual units. * Utilizing planners will help both you and your teens. * Have authentic discussions and help your kids increase their independence * Teens will begin to have interactions with other adults who serve as mentors as well. * Choose the right number of courses and activities to help them grow, but not be overly stressed, busy, and overwhelmed. * Teens can help teach and mentor their younger siblings. * Older kids may use more technology. They will likely be typing papers, doing online research, and maybe taking some online courses. You may need to establish guidelines, rules, and limits so technology doesn’t take over their time and their lives as they have more screens. * You can still have the joys and benefits of family school as your teens grow up. * The main difference between the early years of homeschool and high school is your record-keeping. You need to help them open doors in their lives by keeping good records. Here is a link to the Gradebook and Transcript we use.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
layers of learning 101This episode is an overview of Layers of Learning. Whether you’re brand new or a veteran, we hope you’ll learn something new as we chat about the overview of the program and how it is intended to be used. Layers of Learning is a unique program, where families all learn together and parents become mentors who learn with their kids rather than teachers. The mentor is modeling how to learn. Because of the huge variety of project types and learning styles that are included, Layers of Learning involves a bit more planning than a textbook-type curriculum, but it pays off! Once you get into the rhythm of learning together, it becomes easy and your kids learn how to learn. Rote memorization becomes a thing of the past as dynamic learning begins to happen in your homeschool. You’ll use the four-year cycle, going through the entire program together for four years, then going back and repeating the cycle again. Each time, you choose new activities and learning the subjects on a deeper level now that your kids are older.
Here Are A Few Topics You’ll Hear About In This Podcast* Homeschool parents become mentors who are modeling learning in their families. * We present things from many viewpoints and ask you to think critically and decide what and how to present it to your families. * We include books, videos, hands-on activities, printables, and lots of memorable activities to include to keep learning interesting and memorable instead of monotonous. * Layers of Learning is built around a 4-year cycle. After 4 years, you’ll go around and do it again with your family, choosing new activities to do together on subsequent rotations. * If you use the recommended order, you’ll find that the subjects dovetail together in many places. For example, while you learn about Ancient Greece you’ll also be studying Greek art and mythology. * Explorations within the program are like individual lesson plans. You choose which Explorations you will do, do them with your kids, and then have them record what they are learning in Student Journals while you record what you learned in the Big Book of Knowledge. The Big Book of Knowledge becomes a review/quiz/test bank for you to use with your kids. * We hope you’ll take this grand outline of learning and adapt it to fit your family’s needs to create the homeschool of your dreams.
Each Layers of Learning unit begins with a Library List. The Library Lists are a resource to help you locate great resources, but it isn't a checklist. Listen in for tips on how to acquire resources and incorporate reading in your homeschool.
Tips on homeschool planning from "Minimalist Michelle" and " Perfectionist Planner Karen." Hopefully, you can find a happy medium somewhere in the middle!
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on … Episode 54: Why You Should Teach Art Read More »
Here are some tips for teaching kids to listen...this one skill will transform your home and your homeschool.
Year-round homeschooling isn't for everyone. If you're like us and need a break in the summer, listen in for some tips on preventing summer slide.
Are you homeschooling and wondering how to do preschool? Here are some tips for helping little learners get ready for their school years in your homeschool.
An introduction to the brand new Layers of Learning curriculum along with answers to all of your questions.
Everyone goes through tough homeschool seasons. Sometimes all you can do to get through those is to take tiny baby steps. Taking even the tiniest of baby steps will allow you to progress. Those small bits add up and then one day, you'll look back and see how far you've come.
Word Work is the spelling and vocabulary component of Writer's Workshop that will have your kids learning all about words through a variety of written, manipulative, physical, and verbal activities that will appeal to lots of learning styles.
Listen to the latest podcast episode, where Karen and Michelle offer advice for organizing Layers of Learning Notebooks. Learn about the two notebooks you'll need, as well as the optional Student Journals that are available to keep your homeschool organized and on track.
Teaching your kids to love stories will unlock excitement for learning that you can't gain any other way. These tips will help your family begin to truly love books and also learn about your library, how it's organized, and the Dewey Decimal System.
Help your kids develop deep thoughts by asking effective questions and having discussions in your homeschool. Use the free Bloom's Taxonomy Question Stems printable to spur on deep thoughts within your family.
Homeschool traditions are a simple way to sprinkle a bit of fun into your homeschool. Karen and Michelle share some of their favorite back-to-school, homeschool, holiday, and end-of-year traditions from their families.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on … Episode 43: Teaching Tolerance Read More »
The homeschooling sisters answer questions from homeschool parents about everything from how to choose books to how to handle a toddler during homeschool.
Learning can and should happen everywhere! Here are some tips about how to take your homeschool away from the kitchen table and out into the world. From learning in your yard to expeditions in your town and vacations across the globe, the world is your classroom.
To test or not to test...that is the question for many homeschool parents. The Layers of Learning sisters chime in on when and how to give kids tests in homeschool.
A relaxed and gentle approach to homeschooling kids with learning struggles can help kids find their strengths while they work on the skills that don't come as easily to them. Recognizing their abilities as much as their disabilities is the key.
Are you wondering how long your homeschool day should be? Are you spending enough time doing school work? Are you expecting too much? Michelle and Karen talk about how to create balance in a day and incorporate just the right amount of learning.
Most homeschool parents worry that they will miss something as they provide an education for their kids. Karen and Michelle talk about why you need to set aside the expectations of mastering all of the content and instead, use the content as a means for developing learning skills that they will use throughout their lives.
Michelle and Karen chat about what a homeschool day looks like in their homes. Routines rule over schedules and a rhythm is more important than exact plans. Each day, week, and year is flexible and made to fit an evolving family who is learning and growing together. Daily routines are the key to flexible stability.
Using kids' planners in your homeschool is the backbone to helping your kids grow into independent, motivated, thriving learners. Listen in for tips to help your kids use planners effectively and learn how they will progress into greater independence with each passing year.
The Layers of Learning Homeschoolers Facebook Group submitted questions for Karen and Michelle to answer, and that's just what the sisters did in this bonus Homeschooling Q and A podcast episode. Listen for answers to your questions from two veteran homeschooling moms and the creators of Layers of Learning.
Once you understand not just HOW, but also WHY you should teach art in your homeschool, it will change your experience. You have the ability to open your family's eyes to the world in new ways and with deeper insight as you learn to look at and create art.
Homeschool families often struggle with knowing how to teach science. It can seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Listen in on this podcast episode as the authors of Layers of Learning talk about how to use scientific principles and hands-on experiments to create a successful approach to homeschool science.
Listen in on how to teach geography in your homeschool. Karen and Michelle talk about everything from what to teach and how to schedule it to the fun hands-on projects that will help it stick in your kids' minds.
Teaching history can feel overwhelming. How do you cover it all? Where do you start? Karen and Michelle talk about their philosophy about teaching history and what the lessons look like in their homeschools.
Karen and Michelle compare scuba diving to studying history and encourage you to dive deep into your studies to gain a new perspective and open a world of understanding that might just change your worldview.
A candid chat between Karen and Michelle about how the flexibility of Writer's Workshop can streamline your lesson planning and simultaneously help your young writers grow in leaps and bounds through a series of tiny steps.
Learn all about how to use the Layers of Learning Planner effectively so your whole homeschool year will run more smoothly.
Tips for how to help your kids fall in love with books. Raising readers is possible, even with big families, dyslexia, and a busy family. These are the things Karen and Michelle do to help their kids love reading!
Teaching lots of kids of all ages in one homeschool can be a struggle! In Episode 25, Juggling Family School, Michelle and Karen share what has worked well in their homeschools and talk about ideas for keeping everyone learning together. With a big family, it's not always easy, but it is doable!
When a homeschool day blows up it can disrupt and destroy the feeling and rhythm of your homeschool. Listen in on these ideas and tips for helping to overcome and eliminate homeschool conflict.
Morning time in your homeschool doesn't need to be complicated to be effective. Karen and Michelle share their morning time philosophy in this episode, along with lots of simple ideas for having a gentle start to each day in your family-style homeschool.
If you're a homeschool parent, you've definitely heard criticism from others, whether strangers or neighbors or well-meaning loved ones. Michelle and Karen offer positive ways to interact with homeschool critics to diffuse tough conversations and let you continue your homeschool life without harmful confrontations.
Join Karen and Michelle to hear all about how to take part in the Great Conversation - reading, discussing, and writing about classic literature. You'll learn how to begin with your little ones who are reading fairy tales and build up the conversations as your kids grow.
Teaching resilience can help kids learn to deal with all the problems they face, whether that's a tough math problem, losing a loved one, or facing a major change. Michelle and Karen talk about how to approach problems like a mountain to be climbed rather than a roadblock that will stop us.
Guiding your kids in their homeschool education is a far more lasting approach to learning than just teaching them facts you expect them to remember. Learn about how you can guide your kids and transfer the ownership of learning to them.
Learn all about how the colorful sidebars within the Layers of Learning units can liven up your homeschool. Michelle and Karen talk about this important part of the curriculum and how to make it work for you.
Learn all about how to create an effective homeschool paper trail. From portfolios to transcripts and GPAs to a homeschool resume, you can master this important task of homeschool parents.
Michelle took an opportunity to ask Karen more questions about Writer's Workshop. We shared lots of fresh ideas about encouraging reluctant writers and talked about how you, as a parent or writing mentor, can help your writer grow in gradual and happy ways.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on … Episode 15: Using Layers of Learning in High School Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in … Episode 14: Homeschooling in High School Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in … Episode 13: Self-Care for Homeschool Moms Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in … Episode 12: Being Passionately Curious Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in … Episode 11: Homeschool Mom, Forgive Yourself Read More »
It's time to let your kids OWN their learning. Listen to this podcast for tips on how you can help your kids be more invested in what you're learning about in your homeschool.
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Episode 9: Hands-On is Minds-On Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Episode 8: Avoiding Layers of Learning Pitfalls Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Episode 7: Having A Realistic Homeschool Vision Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Episode 6: Matching Your Teaching Style Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. We … Episode 5: Writer’s Workshop Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Episode 4: Blending Learning Styles Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Bonus Episode – Answering Your Homeschooling Questions Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations. … Episode 3: Homeschooling Is A Piece of Cake Read More »
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once, and we want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
How To Create A Family School Here are some topics from episode 2 that will help you create a family school in your homeschool:
- Think of your homeschool as a FAMILY school.
- Learn politeness and boundaries so that being together is enjoyable.
- Plan lots of family activities and outings outside of “school.”
- Read aloud to everyone, regardless of the ages of your kids (both fiction and non-fiction).
- Share the same writing assignments, adjusting just a little bit to take ages into account.
- Learn about the same topics together, especially in history, geography, science, and art.
- Think of the projects and explorations you choose as opportunities to create family memories.
- Pair younger kids with older kids as learning buddies.
- Mom and Dad should be part of the learning. Parents aren’t just teachers in family school; they are learners.
- SHARE out loud what you’ve learned so you are all involved in what each person is learning about.
Click the PLAY button to hear the podcast and SUBSCRIBE below:
The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.
We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once, and we want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.
Creating A Learning Culture in Your Homeschool Here are some topics from episode 1 that will help you create a learning culture in your home and homeschool:
- Find out why being a lifelong learner should be a goal of your homeschool (a goal for both for yourself and your kids!)
- Charlotte Mason said, “Education is an atmosphere.” Make learning your atmosphere.
- Learn TOGETHER rather than lesson planning and teaching.
- Go down rabbit trails and explore.
- Create a safe place for learning.
- Don’t be afraid of contrary points of views. Seek truth. Think critically.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Make learning toys and tools available all the time, not just during school time.
- Exploration Stations
- Discover who you are by trying new things and by being alone.
- Fill your house with books.
- Read books aloud.
- Let your kids’ personalities and talents shine.
- Offer choices.
- Be flexible and allow for creativity.
- Praise your kids. . . even their mistakes.
- Go places and try new things.
Click the PLAY button to hear the podcast and SUBSCRIBE below:
Many of you asked for it, and at long last, the Layers of Learning Podcast is finally here! Here is Episode 0: Meet Karen & Michelle.
The Layers of Learning Podcast is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once, and we want to help you find the joy in that too. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page.
We’re excited to walk you through how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool throughout many of our podcasts, but before we get in too deep, we wanted to spend an episode introducing ourselves!
Meet Karen & Michelle Michelle is in the green and Karen is in the blue. We’re sisters, homeschool mamas, and the hosts of the Layers of Learning podcast. Most of all, we’re happy you’re here! In Episode 0:
- You’ll get to meet us, Karen & Michelle
- Find out a bit about our families
- Discover why we jumped into our own homeschool journeys all those years ago
- Hear about our early homeschooling experiences
- Learn what gets us excited when it comes to homeschool curricula
- Hear us chat about how this whole Layers of Learning program and website started
- See how Layers of Learning came about as a unique combination of the strengths and talents of each of the LoL sisters.
- Join us in our Facebook group!
Click the PLAY button below to hear the podcast: