Wonder and Learn: Recent Episodes
Weronika Ozpolat
An education and parenting podcast hosted by Weronika Ozpolat, a homeschool mum of 4 children from the south west of England. Each week we will be discovering more about how children learn and develop so that we can create an environment that lights up their minds, sparks their imaginations and enhances learning. This podcast will inspire you to bring wonder and joy into your child's education.
In this episode I talk to Cate Hamilton, mum of three, founder of Babel Babies and linguistics researcher. Cate is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Oxford and is researching the potential benefits of using songs to learn languages. We talk about so many aspects of foreign language learning in this episode from how to get your child interested in languages to why using songs may be beneficial. We even touch on the history of English and how it helps you understand the English spelling system. Cate also gives us some tips for learning foreign languages at home.
Babel Babies: The Fun Way To Explore Languages With Your 0-7s | PayWhatYouCan (babelbabies.com)
Instagram: @babel_babies
My blog: Multicultural Motherhood
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
In this episode I speak to Camille Kirksey, mum of 3 and homeschool expert and mindset coach from Michigan, USA. She has a neurotypical child, an autistic child and a child with ADHD. She gives us insights into what homeschooling looks like when you have neurodiverse children and offers advice for other parents who have children with ASD or ADHD. She also talks about World Homeschoolers day which is coming up on 2nd June 2023. You can find out more about this and her other offerings using the links below.
Camille Kirksey website: The Intuitive Homeschooler
Instagram: @theintuitivehomeschooler
World Homeschoolers Day: World Homeschooler's Day – Friday, June 2, 2023 (worldhomeschoolersday.com)
Diversity and Inclusion Summit: (1143) Diversity and Inclusion Summit | Replay - YouTube
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I'm Ronni, a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist specialising in autism, bilingualism and the early years. In this episode I talk about the importance of early language skills and how they support early literacy and learning, as well as outcomes late in life. I then tell you what to do and what not to do if you would like to help your child learn to talk.
For more information about boosting your child's language skills, you may be interested in my popular online course. Here is the info: Raising Talkers: How to Help Your Child to Talk - Online Course | Multicultural Motherhood
If you have any questions about this course, please email multiculturalmotherhood@gmail.com .
If you would like to book a speech and language assessment for your child, or bilingual family consultation, please email raisingtalkersslt@gmail.com .
Links to some research studies mentioned in the podcast:
Age 17 Language and Reading Outcomes in Late-Talking Toddlers: Support for a Dimensional Perspective on Language Delay | Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (asha.org)
Your toddler's vocabulary at age TWO can predict their success in later life | Daily Mail Online
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: https://instgagram.com/mutliculturalmotherhood
In the first epsiode of season 2, I talk about how to establish a homeschool routine. I talk about the start of my homeschool journey and how long it took me to establish a routine that worked for my family. I share my 6 top tips for creating a homeschool routine that works for you. I then go on to talk about what happens when your routine goes out the window and relieve your fears that learning is not happening in these times - because it really is! I talk about the many learning opportunties that can happen while going about your daily life.
Blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I spoke to homeschool mum of 4 and professor of intercultural communication, Allyson Adrian, about how Charlotte Mason taught foreign languages in her schools. She talks about how Francois Gouin developed his series method and how Charlotte Mason used it in her schools. We talk about why we should prioritise foreign language learning in our homeschools and how Allyson's company, Cherrydale Press, have developed some fantastic resources to help you use the series method in your homeschool.
Cherrydale Press – Charlotte Mason Language Learning
Contact Allyson: info@cherrydalepress.com
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I talk to homeschool consultant, author and experienced homeschool mum of three, Sarah Javed, about her homeschool journey. Sarah talks about why she decided to home educate her children and how she started off following the National Curriculum. She talks about incorporating Islam into her homeschool. She talks about her son's experience with doing GCSEs, as well as what role sports play in their lives. Her eldest is currently pursuing a career in professional football and Sarah talks about how she combats the negativity around non-academic subjects.
Sarah's Instagram: @sarahijaved
Sarah's picture book: https://amzn.to/3vtASrd
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I talk to Alberta Stevens, a homeschool mum of two, speaker and homeschool consultant, all about the benefits and wonders of morning time and how you can adapt it to make it more culturally diverse. She also talks about her unique morning time resources: A Liturgy of Love.
A Liturgy of Love resources: https://homegrownsonshine.co.uk/a-liturgy-of-love-alol-2/
What is Morning Time: https://homegrownsonshine.co.uk/what-is-morning-time-2/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/homegrownsonshine
Instagram: @homegrown.sonshine
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I talk to homeschool mum of 5, Fadoua Govaerts, all about GCSE exams. Fadoua is currently doing a PhD on the experiences of homeschooled teenagers in the UK. Her older children have done GCSE exams and she talks about their experiences, what happened to homeschoolers during the COVID exam cancellations, and she shares her top tips for homeschool families who are thinking about taking GCSE exams soon.
You can contact Fadoua by email: fg428@bath.ac.uk
Here are links to her latest research paper:
Schooling vs Home Education: Implications in Measuring Success in Home Education in The United Kingdom
https://www.dpublication.com/journal/EJTE/article/download/495/320
'Hanging On the Edge Off a Cliff' Home Educating Parents' Experience of Exam Cancellations Due to Covid Pandemic
https://www.dpublication.com/journal/EJTE/article/download/495/320
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
Why should we incorporate nature study into learning and how can we do it? I explain how being outdoors can enhance learning and all the educational benefits children gain from spending time in nature. I talk about naturalistic intelligence and how children with this type of intelligence will present. I then give you lots of tips for starting nature study with your children and how you can help to foster a love of nature in your children. I share my top resources too and I've linked to these below.
My favourite nature curriculum:
Exploring Nature With Children: A Complete, Year-Long Curriculum - Payhip (affiliate link)
8 Reasons to Use Exploring Nature With Children In Your Homeschool | Multicultural Motherhood
365 Days Wild book: Lucy McRobert (365dayswild.com)
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I talk to formal teacher, literacy expert and author Sue Palmer about why it is so important to delay formal education and why compulsory school age should be raised to seven years old. We also talk about the risks of starting formal education too soon, why the Finnish early education system and so good and what we can learn from them, whether boys and girls react differently to early formal education, and what the under sevens really need. Sue also talks about the Upstart Scotland campaign and how she is driving positive changes to early education in Scotland.
Find out more about Sue's work by visiting her website: www.suepalmer.co.uk
Sue's books include:
Toxic Childhood (2006 second edition 2015)
https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/sue-palmer/toxic-childhood/9781409137528/
Upstart (2016)
https://www.florisbooks.co.uk/book/Sue-Palmer/Upstart/9781782502685
Sue currently chairing the Upstart Scotland campaign: www.upstart.scot, for
which she tweets as @UpstartScot
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
I talk to Educational Psychologist Sedef Ahmad about emotional resilience and anxiety. Sedef has her own independent and counselling practice and works with children and young people from 0-25 years old. We talk about how children's behaviours can be a sign of emotional regulation difficulties and how we can build up emotional resilience in our children. We talk about the struggles children may have in the school and home environment, and what parents can do about it.
If you'd like to find out more information about the services Sedef offers, you can email her at olivepsychology@outlook.com
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
My Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood
During this episode I talk to Carine Robin, an experienced Child Psychologist and Montessori Teacher, all about the Montessori philosophy. She talks about why the Montessori method is great for children and how to implement it. She also explains how even parents who don't home educate can draw on Montessori's wisdom and use it in their parenting. Carine also talks about her Montessori subscription boxes which are brilliant for 3-6 year olds.
You can find out more about them here: Montessori Family Box - The Montessori Family
Carine's website: Home landing page - The Montessori Family
How to raise an amazing child the Montessori way by Tim Seldin https://amzn.to/3x3a0iY
My website: Multicultural Motherhood
Raising Talkers: How to Help Your Child to Talk - Online Course | Multicultural Motherhood
Win a place on my Raising Talkers course in my Instagram giveaway: @multiculturalmotherhood
In the first episode of the Wonder and Learn podcast, I talk about my homeschool journey, what led me to home education and my top 10 reasons for home educating.
Resources:
You Can Do It Too! - 25 Homeschool Families Share Their Stories by Lorilee Lippincott
https://amzn.to/3sRH5fd (affiliate link)
8 Reasons to Use Exploring Nature With Children In Your Homeschool | Multicultural Motherhood
My blog: www.multiculturalmotherhood.com
Instagram: @multiculturalmotherhood