The Wired Homeschool: Recent Episodes
John Wilkerson
If you're new to the podcast, you might be wondering why I haven't released an episode.
Are you planning to give your child a smartphone, tablet or console this holiday season? Before you wrap it (if you haven't already) consider doing a few things first.
My Homeschool is a community-driven resource that connects parents to homeschool spots (like museums, co-ops, and nature centers). It's like an Airbnb for home education.
Education was suddenly transformed earlier this year when schools across the world were shut down because of a single-cell organism.
For the most part, homeschoolers were unaffected. Co-ops, field trips, social activities, and other enrichment experiences were put on hold or cancelled but the way we educated our kids really wasn’t affected. Why we decided to educate our children at home also hadn’t changed.
Online, we were bombarded by memes from celebrities and micro-influencers about the realities of “homeschooling”. Mom’s holding glasses of wine joked about teaching Algebra and teachers posted about lecturing to students in their pyjamas.
Now, “We’re all homeschoolers,” can be heard far and wide but is it really true?
Now, in the United States, there are in-person and online classes for public and private school students. Some parents have opted for 100% virtual classes and have declared themselves as “homeschooling”.
There are some key differences between homeschooling and online schooling and it probably isn’t obvious to parents who were “forced” to do school at home.
- Homeschoolers choose to educate their children at home for various reasons.
- Homeschoolers pay for their online curriculum and (usually) pay school taxes too.
- Homeschoolers don’t take attendance.
- Homeschoolers choose their curriculum.
- Homeschoolers aren’t (usually) bound by a schedule.
- Homeschooling is a lifestyle.
I applaud the teachers and parents who’ve had to adjust to doing school online. The upheaval to their normal way of doing things has been stressful and difficult.
But there are key differences between doing school online and homeschooling. The primary one is choice.
Homeschoolers choose this lifestyle while the teachers and parents doing school online are bound by the traditional education system.
If you found value in this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider a donation that reflects the value you received by buying me a coffee.
Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
Music for the podcast is “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Some of the links in the posts on this site are “affiliate links.” That means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
If you were forced into homeschooling because of the pandemic, you may want to continue homeschooling. Maybe you’re not comfortable with how your school district is planning to reopen or you’ve decided that this is something you think is a good fit for your family. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool, my wife, Lisa […]
This month’s encore episode is an interview with Kirk Martin from October 2017.
Kirk helps parents restore calm in their homes with practical advice for parents of strong-willed children. Find out more about his courses and seminars.
If you enjoyed this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee.
Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.
In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Tony Ceraso from Homeschool Astronomy.
This interview was originally recorded at the 2012 Northeast Great Homeschool Convention.
If you enjoyed this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee.
Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.
In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Todd Wilson from Familyman Ministries.
This interview was conducted in June of 2012 at the Northeast Great Homeschool Convention.
If you enjoyed this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee.
Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.
In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing.
This interview was conducted in June of 2012 at the Northeast Great Homeschool Convention.
If you enjoyed this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee.
Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.
COVID-19 has led a number of school districts across the United States and the world to close and parents are looking to homeschooling during this critical time.
About Noah Tetzner Noah Tetzner is a homeschool graduate who enjoys sharing his passion for history with the world! He is the host of multiple historical podcasts that feature interviews with some of the world’s brightest scholars. Recently, he has launched a new podcast called Lessons from a Homeschooler where you can join him in […]
Our children can learn a lot of things from textbooks and online curriculum but there are some intangible things that cannot be learned through typical schooling. Often, it’s intangible traits or characteristics in our children that determine whether or not the will succeed. This list is by no means exhaustive but it’s a good start […]
Ursula M. Burns became the first black woman to head a Fortune 500 company when she was appointed CEO of Xerox. She also became the first woman to succeed another as head of a Fortune 500 company. Burns led the STEM program of the White House from 2009 to 2016 and is the current chairman […]
Google recently announced a gaming service that requires no console. They’ve made some big promises about this new product and it looks to be the future of gaming. Michael Prince from BecauseFamily joins me today to discuss what parents and homeschoolers need to know about Stadia. For more information about Stadia and cloud gaming, check […]
Rob Jensen graduated from BYU with a BFA in Industrial Design. After graduating, he moved to Michigan to work for Ford Motor Company where he designed future cars for 7 years. After moving back to Utah and starting a business, Rob began drawing with my kids and realized it would be fun to share their […]
Scratch 3.0 was released in January 2019 and includes a number of great new features including the ability to create and play projects on a tablet. Ryan Swanstrom joins me today to discuss Scratch 3.0 and how homeschoolers can use it to teach their kids how to code, for free! Ryan is a homeschool dad, […]
Educational content is available all over the Internet. As streaming services become more popular, more educational documentaries become available to homeschoolers. Previously, I’ve shared YouTube channels and documentaries on Netflix that are educational. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool, I share 10 documentaries you can find on Hulu right now that you can use […]
This year at CES, there were a number of themes amid all the tech that was on display. This is the third year in a row I’ve covered CES from afar and each year things get more and more interesting. Last year, I had reports from people at CES but I was unable to coordinate […]
Throughout 2018, there were a number of blog posts and podcasts that readers and listeners found helpful. Some of them were published this year, and some are more popular now than they have been in the past. Here are the top five blog posts and podcasts for 2018. Top 5 Blog Posts of 2018 7 […]
Looking for practical ways to teach your kids STEM topics? Today I share some suggestions for teaching your kids about STEM topics through everyday things like visiting the gas pump or watching sports. Briefly, the three examples I give in this podcast are: At the gas pump – How is fuel made? Watching sports – […]
Michael Prince from BecauseFamily joins me again to discuss safe digital parenting. With the holidays just around the corner, you’ll want to make sure any gifts you’re giving to your kids are safe and ready to use when they’re unwrapped. Michael and I talk about some of the things you’ll want to do before handing […]
Today I’m talking with Paul Drake. Paul is a homeschool alumnus, software designer, and founder/director of Code Apprentice, a program that provides high school students the skills and guidance they need to get a job in tech after graduation. Paul is also a committed Christian, a passionate sports fan (Go Cubs!) and a classical piano […]
About Dave Stotts and Drive Thru History Dave Stotts has spent the last two decades in professional video and media production. His career in documentary production has taken him to nearly 30 countries to shoot and edit films on a wide variety of topics, including history, science, religion, homeland security, and Bible archaeology. In 2004, […]
Today I’m speaking with Hannah Ruth Earl of The Moving Picture Institute. Hannah works on MPI’s talent development programs, including recruiting and acquisitions for grants, internships, and masterclasses. She previously worked in independent film production at Bold Films and Rumble Films. Hannah was also homeschooled and has been reaching out to homeschoolers about the free […]
Many kids and parents are fascinated by the night sky but don’t know where to start with nightly observations. With Experience Astronomy homeschool parents and students can learn to navigate the heavens and figure out if that bright light is a planet, star, or just an airplane. About Luke Gilkerson Luke Gilkerson is the creator […]
Every homeschooler understands that reading is essential. However, sometimes we may not know what our children should be reading. Or, perhaps we know what they should read but we don’t understand the essential themes and ideas of a piece of great literature. At Online Great Books you’ll find a community that will help you understand […]
Last week I talked about 10 Ways to Use an Amazon Echo Dot for Homeschooling and one of those ways was to use educational skills. This week I’ll share 7 Alexa skills homeschoolers can use with their Amazon Echo. If you’re using an Amazon Echo for homeschooling, let me know how you’re using it in […]
When the Amazon Echo Dot was originally released many people saw the smart speaker as nothing more than a novelty. Many people bought it and its older sibling the Amazon Echo and quickly realized how helpful it could be in their day-to-day lives. The Amazon Echo Dot has a lot of functionality in it that […]
A major part of homeschooling involves teaching practical life-skills like how to fix cars. OK, maybe not everyone needs to learn to fix a car but basic maintenance or knowing when to take your car to a mechanic are skills every homeschooler should learn. If you have a budding mechanic or if you don’t think […]
Shawn and Heather Barrieau founded MyFunScience in 2016 to fill a need they saw in the homeschooling community. They noticed that parents were struggling to teach math and science starting in the middle and high school grades. The classes are taught from a Christian perspective and they believe: A well-rounded STEM curriculum is critical to […]
I stumbled across a video on YouTube a few weeks ago by Evan Edinger wherein he talked about how he learned German using Duolingo. If you’re not familiar with Duolingo, it’s a website and app that helps you learn to speak a foreign language through gamification. It’s also free. I though I’d pull out some […]
At the end of March, Acer and Apple announced new tablets targeted at education. Acer’s Chromebook Tab 10 and Apple’s 2018 iPad are priced competitively but which is better for homeschooling? Acer Chromebook Tab 10 Google has dominated the public education market with Chromebooks for many years now. Their low price and suite of free […]
Facebook has been in the news quite a bit lately because of privacy concerns. A third-party (Cambridge Analytica) used data it collected from Facebook to profile users. That information was used to serve ads and articles to people via the social media network and influence their behavior online. Many people have deleted their Facebook accounts […]
Kirk Cameron’s new movie Connect aims to make parents aware of the dangers of social media for teens and provide parents with tools to steer kids away from social media’s traps. Does it succeed? Michael Prince from Because Family joins me to review the movie and to provide some practical advice and tools to help […]
I recently became a grandfather so there is no full podcast for February 15th. Instead, I’ve provided links to some videos that explain the science behind some of the Olympic events. Please check out the Homeschooling and Liberty Summit to hear my session. Below are some of the videos I’d planned to discuss. Take some […]
When you think of 3D printers, what comes to mind? Do you think technology like 3d printing is beyond the reach of homeschoolers? It’s not! 3D printers have become affordable and easy to use. There are many 3D printers that have been specifically designed for home use and homeschoolers can use them to teach STEM […]
CES 2018 has passed but coverage still continues. There’s no doubt you’re seeing many articles about the gadgets and gizmos from CES 2018 that will make your life easier or more connected. Matt Kamla (a listener of the podcast) and Michael Prince from Family Tech Blog both attended CES this year and shared some of […]
Throughout the year it’s interesting to see which posts and podcasts are the most popular with my readers and listeners. I’m not counting only those posts published this year. I’m counting the ones that got the most reads or listens. I never really know how people hear about my posts. Every year I’m amazed that […]
As our kids grow up, we begin to give them a little bit more freedom. Maybe they get a smartphone or a laptop for themselves. This can be a scary time for parents who are concerned about the safety of their children. If your teen has a device and you’re concerned about their online activity, […]
Managing your kids’ screen time when you homeschool can sometimes feel like a daunting task. How much is too much? How do you get your kids to step away from the computer? Kirk Martin is the founder of Celebrate Calm and has given over 600,000 parents and teachers in 19 countries very specific, practical strategies […]
Looking for a fun game to play with the whole family? I’ll review a new game from Osmo and briefly cover some tech news in this week’s episode of The Wired Homeschool. News Google Home Mini Always Listening to YouSee What’s Saved in Your Voice & Audio ActivityYou May Have an FM Radio Built Into […]
Google’s recent Pixel 2 event revealed some exciting technology that homeschoolers will be able to take advantage of in their homes. Not everything announced looks to be immediately useful in the homeschooler’s toolbox but there are a few interesting things that parents may want to keep their eyes on. In this mini-episode of The Wired […]
The Osmo Genius Kit includes 5 hands-on games that foster creativity & problem solving skills: Masterpiece, Newton, Tangram, Numbers, and Words. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool I’ll share my thoughts on the Osmo Genius Kit and preview some upcoming episodes. Thanks to my Patrons for supporting this episode: Aaron, Lori, Matt, & Winston. […]
Apple’s announcement of the iPhone X was a bit underwhelming but Cassini’s “grand finale” left me grinning from ear-to-ear. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool I’ll share my initial reaction to the iPhone X, go over Cassini’s grand finale, and talk about how the two are closely related. Links mentioned in the podcast: Through […]
On Prime Day, I purchased 3 Amazon Fire 7 Tablets for our family. We’ve been Fire users since the first generation and now that the 7th generation is out I thought it was time to review their newest model. For this review I used the criteria from an archived episode of The Wired Homeschool. I’ve […]
My trip to see the 2017 eclipse was a great success. Here are my thoughts on the trip, the event, and planning for the next one in 2024. No show notes for this episode because I was speaking with little preparation. Thanks to Aaron, Lori, Matt, & Winston. Their continue support on Patreon helped make […]
The 11th annual Games in Education Symposium (GiE17) brought together educators from the United States and Canada to learn how to supercharge their classrooms with video games. While this conference’s target attendee is the public school teacher, I was able to present as well as attend. While there, I learned a lot about game-based education […]
There is a growing number of homeschooling podcasts in Apple Podcasts (also known as iTunes) and they cover a variety of topics from the sacred to the secular. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool, I’m reviewing the highest-ranked homeschooling podcasts found in Apple Podcasts (iTunes) in the K-12 category. I’ve listened to the latest […]
I was recently given early access to Osmo Coding Jam to review the product ahead of its launch. It’s a game combined with tactile elements that teach kids to code using pictograms on tiles. A nifty stand and mirror allow your iPad to see the tiles laying on a table in front of the device. […]
Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th (Force) be with you. With fans celebrating Star Wars all around the globe today, I thought it would be appropriate to share some great Star Wars homeschooling resources that you can use in your homeschool for all your little Jedi (or Sith) sitting at the table in the […]
More and more, companies are finally starting to realize that parents want a way to let their children safely use digital devices. Apple and Google have been providing app ratings similar to the ESRB ratings for video games for years now but what do those ratings mean? In this episode of The Wired Homeschool, I […]
Top Story Special offer for Homeschool Families – STEM Conference for Middle and High School Students – The USA Science & Engineering Festival’s X-STEM Symposium in Washington DC this April! On Friday, April 28, 2017, the USA Science & Engineering Festival – the largest and only national science festival – will be holding its annual […]
The Nintendo Switch console will be released in less than a month. While the system isn’t really something parents would consider educational, it’s possible some homeschoolers out there who like gaming will be getting the system. Response has been mixed from the gaming community and I thought I’d share my thoughts as well as give […]
This year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) companies debuted a number of exciting new technology from smart trash cans to virtual reality suits. K. Michael Prince from BecauseFamily.org joins me to talk about some of the great tech we saw and some tech that most people can probably live without. Please note: There is […]
As Christmas approaches, many of us are going to have tech that is either broken or going to be replaced because it’s too old. Disposing of it responsibly can be difficult. For the purpose of this podcast, we’ll assume that you’ve decided not to repurpose the old tech yourself. If you’re like me, you probably […]
Sometimes being on the Internet is like driving into oncoming traffic. It’s bad enough there are potholes, reckless drivers, and traffic jams to deal with when making your way down the “information superhighway” (bonus points for 90s tech references) but if you’re not careful you and your kids can inadvertently swerve into oncoming traffic. Following […]
Device manufacturers want us to buy new smartphones and tablets every year. Sometimes we need to buy a new phone but other times there a less expensive alternatives to buying the latest and greatest. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool I shared six ways you can get more mileage out of your older devices. […]
Apple’s recent press event was met with the anticipation one would normally expect despite leaked details about the new iPhone 7. Many rumors were confirmed and some were clearly found to be false. What, if anything, can homeschoolers take away from the announcement? Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. Thanks to all […]
Parents choosing to homeschool in this digital age can sometimes get overwhelmed with all of the devices, apps, and software that can be used to educate their children at home. Avoiding these five key dangers in digital homeschooling can save you time, money, and sanity. Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. Thanks […]
Choosing a tablet for homeschooling can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this throwback episode, I’ll talk about the 7 things you need to know when choosing a tablet for homeschooling. Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. Thanks to all the individual patrons who have supported the podcast. Special thanks go out to Matt […]
When friends come to visit it’s important to get them on your podcast! This week, Michael and Melinda Prince from BecauseFamily sat around the table with me to talk about their ministry and life as a roadschooling family. Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. Thanks to all the individual patrons who have […]
Bill Gates didn't build a successful company or become one of the world's richest men by chance. There are specific things he did in his life and career that got him to where he is today.
Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. Our online identities are connected to personal information about us that could be used to steal our identities and hard-earned money. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool I discuss some ways to hack-proof your accounts. Thanks to all the individual patrons who have supported the […]
Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. When your kids were little, you taught them to cross the road by holding their hands. Once they grow up their hands are occupied with smartphones and if they’re not careful, they could walk into traffic. State and local governments all over the world are trying […]
Sponsor: Visit K12.com/LISTEN or call (855)-628-9529 for more information. Pokémon Go has swept the globe and Pokémon trainers are walking all over the place trying to catch the most elusive Pokémon. You may have heard some good and bad things about the game and I’m going to give you the important details about the game […]
There are a number of creative ways to incorporate STEM topics into your homeschooling. During this year’s Podcast Awards I released 15 mini-episodes that shared 15 STEM and STEAM Ideas for Homeschoolers. I’ve compiled all 15 of those ideas into this single podcast. Listen to or read all of the great ways you can teach […]
The Brexit (British Exit) referendum in the UK passed and now Britain will begin the process of leaving the European Union. What is the Brexit? How might it affect homeschoolers in the US and the UK? I talk about that and more in this top-of-mind, special edition of The Wired Homeschool. Thanks to all the […]
In 2013 Michael Prince and his wife Melinda founded Because Family to inspire parents to be the first influence in the lives of their children. They believe that to accomplish that goal parents have to be aware of what their children are doing on their devices. Since hitting the road with their children, Michael and […]
I held a live Q&A on Facebook earlier this week and this is the audio of most of that Q&A. If this is something you’d like me to do in the future, please leave a comment below or on my Facebook page. Also during the broadcast, I talked about the new Kindle Oasis from Amazon. […]
In 1970, at the age of 20, Richard Branson founded a mail-order record company by the name of Virgin Records. Since then, he has founded eight different billion-dollar companies in eight different industries. Oh, by the way, he doesn’t have a degree in business. Branson is one of the most unconventional entrepreneurs of the 20th […]
Managing all the devices in your home can be frustrating. Each child has different needs and you don’t want to enable blanket restrictions for everyone. Circle, a small device that connects wirelessly to your network, can help you manage all the devices in your home. This week, I’m joined by two other homeschooling dads and […]
Brenton O’Brien invented the Edison robot so that parents and schools could get started with robotics easily and for a low price. If you’ve ever wanted to get started with robotics the Edison robot is a great resource. In this interview, Brenton O’Brien shares about the process of creating Edison, his philosophy behind the project, […]
My kids and I participated in our first FIRST LEGO League (FLL) season this year. We all learned a lot and I thought I share what I learned as a coach and interview my kids and get their impressions of FLL. Thanks to all the individual patrons who have supported the podcast. Special thanks go […]
If I had to choose one gadget or device that has revolutionized homeschooling more than anything else I’d choose the iPad. No other device has propelled homeschooling forward like the iPad and the man responsible for it was Steve Jobs. Revolutionize your homeschooling with these 4 tips to homeschool like Steve Jobs. In the book […]
If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 you’re probably a little confused about the changes in the operating system (especially if you upgraded from Windows 7). Do not to fear, I’ve scoured the Internet for Windows 10 tips to share with you. I was happy to find a few of these tips myself. It helped me […]
Teaching STEM topics to homeschooled kids can sometimes be difficult. Often times, the “freebie” worksheets and experiments you find online are either too simple for older or more inquisitive kids or they lack detailed explanations about how to perform the experiments. In addition, many science curriculum lack the rigor we desire for our kids. Our […]
Why do we use tech in homeschooling? Is it just to look cool or keep up with our neighbors? Do we think we’re giving our kids an advantage when we use tech? This week’s episode is a replay of one of my earlier episodes. It’s what I consider part of the foundation of this podcast […]
Winter is finally upon us and that means, snow, ice, and cold temperatures. OK, maybe not for everyone but here in the Northeastern United States, it can get nasty. If you live in any country where temperatures can drop below freezing you’ll want to follow these 7 winter safety tips for laptops, tablets, & smartphones. […]
Elon Musk didn't become he richest man in the world by following conventional wisdom. Learn how his unconventional approach to business can help your homeschooling.
This week I’m super-psyched to bring you an interview with Rob Jensen from Art for Kids Hub. Rob Jensen is a father to four children (Jack, Hadley, Austin, and Olivia) and married to ‘Mrs. Hubs’. His YouTube channel and website have hundreds of videos that teach kids (and parents too) how to draw, paint, and […]