When Kids Solve Real Problems, Something Shifts

This has been on my mind today…

When kids solve real problems, something shifts.

Not on a report card.

Not in a percentage.

In themselves.

When they fix something broken.

When they build something useful.

When they grow something and watch it thrive.

They begin to believe they can solve bigger problems.

They start to see themselves as capable.

And that belief is not graded. It is felt.

I think this is where many kids quietly disconnect from school.

Not because they are lazy.

Not because they are incapable.

But because so much of what they are asked to do feels disconnected from their living reality.

Pages of theory.

Lessons without context.

Concepts without application.

When learning does not connect to life, it starts to feel performative. Do this to get the mark. Memorize this to pass the test. Complete this because it is assigned.

But this generation is different.

More than ever, they want to know why first.

Why are we learning this?

Where does this show up in the real world?

How does this matter?

If that question is not answered, attention drifts. Motivation fades. Learning becomes compliance instead of curiosity.

We have designed school for efficiency. For scale. For managing large groups. That worked when information was scarce and the classroom was the gateway.

But now information is everywhere.

What is scarce is meaning.

When a child can see how math helps them measure wood for a project, it sticks. When writing helps them communicate an idea they care about, it matters. When science explains something they experience, it connects.

Real work grounds learning in purpose.

And purpose fuels effort.

When kids experience that connection, they do not just complete assignments. They engage. They take ownership. They ask better questions.

Because they are no longer learning for the grade.

They are learning because it makes sense.

If we want more engagement, we cannot just adjust the curriculum. We have to reconnect learning to life.

Because when kids solve real problems, they begin to believe they can solve bigger ones.

And that belief might be the most important outcome of education.

Sathish

still learning, still unlearning

Meeting All Learners Where They Are

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Meeting All Learners Where They Are:

Differentiation Made Easy

By Chelsea McLeod

Meeting Learners Where they are

So have you been assigned your first class, or are you changing grades for the first time in years? Keep reading to find out how to make your prep easier and focus your attention on the students in your classroom rather than the mountains of planning required to differentiate student learning. This year, your Admin has told you that you will be teaching a 3rd-grade class and since you received this news, you have been diligently preparing all your 3rd-grade materials.

Since this is a single-grade class, all you’ll need is this single-stream curriculum approach to ensure your students are successful, right?! Wrong. This approach is a surefire way to set yourself and your students up to fail. But why? And how are we meeting all learners where they are?

All kids are different, so meeting all learners where they are is essential.

As babies, the professionals – doctors, nurses, child development experts, etc. – all tell us that the “milestones” to be reached are just guidelines and not set in stone. Each child learns to roll over, crawl, walk, and talk at their own pace, and the growth markers are estimates. Sometimes they are even arbitrary markers that will not affect long-term success. Your doctor will not hit the panic button if your baby is not rolling over at precisely four months or talking by the day of their 1st birthday. That would be silly.

Schoolio Learning

So why, then, are the growth stages in school treated differently? Why do we immediately hit the panic button when students are not at the level expected by a particular grade? Kids are different, it’s that simple, so while they are all in 3rd grade, they may not all be at the same level as 3rd grade. Learning is relative to each student, and we must treat them all as individuals to best support their learning by building them up from where they are rather than trying to make them attain a single “marker” by a certain age. This is where differentiation comes in, and Schoolio’s digital platform can make this easier.

What is Differentiation? What does it mean for Teachers?

Differentiation or Differentiated Instruction “is a teaching approach that tailors instruction to all students learning needs. All the students have the same learning goal. But the instruction varies based on student’s interests, preferences, strengths, and struggles.” (https://understood.org).

This means that you can teach to different student needs, learning styles and even interests individually while still working towards the same goal for success, the goal being the Outcomes or Common Core that students are required to achieve in each grade as defined in the curriculum and meeting all learners where they are.

teaching resources

What does this mean for Teachers? The plain answer is that straight-grade or single-graded classes are no longer as simple. A single-grade classroom nowadays is, in essence, the same as a multi-grade one. No student entering that classroom will learn or perform at the same level, and sometimes the predetermined “levels” they should be reaching seem arbitrary given the knowledge that all children are different. Our students all learn, grow and adapt on different timelines.

For example, some students will enter the 3rd grade struggling to read, maybe having trouble with sounds formation and not understanding some grammar concepts, while another student may be reading at a 5th, 6th grade or above level with no problem synthesizing the next grammar and spelling additions they learn in class.

So, while many schools do not have split grades, we are presented with split learners, and as a teacher, it is crucial to meet all students where they are. As previously discussed, babies and toddlers learn, grow and adapt at all times; so does every one of the students in each of our classrooms. So as teachers, we must be in tune with our students more as individuals and plan for individual student success.

differentiate learning

How Do We Plan for Individual Student Success?

As a classroom teacher, you must consider all the pieces of the puzzle that make up each student in your classroom. When planning, it is essential to consider the student’s home life, family background, and parental time, as well as the achievements of the student. Each of these things and many other factors are all a part of student success. Therefore, we must have varied content available to create plans that help all learners at every level succeed. This is differentiation. Student interest is also a vital piece of the puzzle because ownership is essential to get full cooperation from the student.

For example, If you have a student obsessed with cars and spend all their free time reading and learning everything they can about cars, if you are trying to teach them math, you may have a difficult time. Sometimes, these students will see this math not as something vital for them to learn but as something that takes time and attention away from their passion.

So it’s not that they can’t understand something; it’s just that they don’t want to. I know we all have to do things we don’t want to do sometimes; however, it isn’t that simple, given the other factors involved. Sometimes parents will not force the issue, so as teachers, we need to get creative with how we approach learning.

Consequently, getting to know your students and what motivates/excites them is vital to being a classroom teacher. It’s okay to give students different lesson content if they are not engaging with the same materials as the rest of the class. The outcomes are required for the student to achieve, not the content. How you bring the student to achieve the result is essentially up to you.

So if you can find a way to make them feel successful, engage with their learning and take ownership of their achievements, you will have a much better classroom experience. To do this well, you will need to plan for differentiation. As the Teacher, you can differentiate the content, subject matter and sometimes even the length of the finished product to help cater to your learners’ success.

Meeting all learners where they are

Now I know you’re thinking… But doesn’t that make so much more work for me? How on earth do I plan for 25 + different learners across all the core subject areas? One person cannot create that many lesson materials on top of all the other things teachers do! Therefore, the ability to teach grade-fluid content is a critical piece of this process and helps all teachers tremendously in meeting a student’s needs or catering to interest to spark participation and ownership of learning.

With the Schoolio Digital Curriculum, You Can Do Exactly That!

With Schoolio Digital, you can teach grade-fluid content and target your instruction to individual student success. Schoolio has lessons for the core subject areas for all grades created by teachers! If you are a member of the digital platform, you can mix and match exactly what your students need. This gives you flexibility and the opportunity to cater to individual student success while still maintaining your sanity and sleeping each night (not working round the clock to create materials).

So, don’t panic and spend hours “reinventing the wheel” to make all the content you need to support your in-class instruction when Schoolio has already done it. Now you can spend your precious classroom time getting to know your students, making lasting connections, and creating a safe place for students to learn and grow, all while using Schoolio’s Digital Platform to support all you are already doing. Sign up now and focus on what matters, the students in front of you, not the prep work while meeting all student’s where they are.

You Can Have A Life Outside Of The Classroom

*GUEST POST: Chelsea (??) McLeod

You Can Have a Life Outside of the Classroom

You Don’t Have to Be Overwhelmed by Prep and Lesson Planning as a New Teacher with Schoolio.

That age-old idea that teachers have it easy, that all the lessons are planned out for them, and that they spend their time teaching from a book is deeply engrained in our culture. Nevertheless, this is a misconception that many people have about teaching, especially in Canada and the US. While this is the way it was many years ago, in recent years, there has been a shift in Outcomes-based Education (or Common Core as it’s called in the US). This means that each state or province has Outcomes and Indicators that must be achieved in each grade level, but the resources and the lessons that guide the students toward these goals are up to the Teachers. This shift in the world of K-12 Education has made the Teacher’s job distinctly different than that of our predecessors. It can lead to panic, overwhelm and burnout among those entering the profession. Does this sound like you? Schoolio can help! You can have a life outside of the classroom!

Finally Landing the Job of Your Dreams, Now You Can Teach, Right?!

So, you have wanted to be a teacher for as long as you can remember, and finally, you are hired for your first teaching contract. Fantastic! You have dreamed about this day, worked so hard to get here, and you are so happy because now the hard part is over. The countless all-nighters, the endless hours reading textbooks, and the monotonous multi-page lesson planning will all have been worth it. Finally!

You are hired! Now you can relax, enjoy the job, and take pleasure in the goal you worked so hard to accomplish because Teachers have access to resources and lessons that student teachers do not. You have made it into the “club” and will be given all you need to teach, right?! Or at least that is what you thought would happen. You are not alone in this. We all thought this was the deal once we finally got that elusive teaching contract.

I mean, we grew up with the old way of teaching. When we went to school in the ’80s, 90s, and even early 2000s, there seemed to be minimal lesson planning; the teacher was given the resources package and books to follow. This style of teaching is often referred to as “teaching to the middle” the lessons and work were geared to the majority, but that didn’t leave room for enrichment or supporting students who needed more help. Over the last decade, there has been a significant shift in the how and why of teaching, so this is no longer the case. Now, what does that mean to you?

I’m Sorry, I Have to Prep for What?

Well, that means that once you are given your teaching load, realize that this is now where your lesson planning and prep work begins. You have not made it, not in the way you had previously thought. It would help if you planned topics, unit plans, lesson plans and assessments on your own to help students achieve their grade-level Outcomes. Now is when you begin to feel overwhelmed and start to panic. Who has time for all of this? Wait, you can have a life outside the classroom? How is one teacher supposed to do all this lesson planning while grading, connecting with parents and meeting all other deadlines? Because we all know that as a teacher, you are responsible for more than just what goes on within the four walls of your classroom.

While you were prepared to lesson plan in university, it was only for some classes, not an entire grade of subjects and not for the scope and sequence planning of a whole year of curricula. So, with the knowledge that you may be in over your head, you try to dive headfirst into your Prep. ELA, Math, Social, Science, etc., but what if you have a split grade? Well then, all these doubles, triples or even quadruples if you are in a rural setting. Teachers are also expected to teach to each student based on their individual needs, there is no such thing as a classroom of 3rd graders who all perform and read at a 3rd-grade level, but that is a post for another day. To meet all the needs and plan accordingly without losing your sanity, you spend hours on Pinterest looking for ideas or spend a fortune on TPT and still can’t keep up. Anyone in this situation can become so completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all.

“Wouldn’t it be great if there was somewhere that I could go to get lessons and resources that I could just use?”

Schoolio Can Help!

What if I told you that there is a digital platform that can help? Schoolio has a digital platform bursting with resources you can use in your classroom! You do not have to do it all yourself. Schoolio has levelled resources for each grade, with lessons created by certified teachers and available to use right now. All this is at your fingertips; now you can.

You can pick and choose the content you need based on the levels of your students and differentiate based on student interest. While there are other sites like TPT that you can purchase lessons and units on, it is often hard to sort through all the content to find what you need. Sometimes you must buy an entire unit or bundle just for one or two lessons; you can also purchase something only to find out it’s not what you had hoped since there isn’t a way to try anything out. Schoolio has set out to change this. Now you can use your time more intentionally and have a curriculum at your fingertips to support you in the classroom. And what’s more? For a limited time, you can try it out for free!

The Role of Play and Rewards in Education

Should homeschooling be fun? And what is the role of play and rewards in education? In Episode 7 of The Schoolio Live Q & A, Sathish Bala, CEO of Schoolio, shares that he has talked to many homeschooling parents who felt that it wasn’t normal to incorporate play into their homeschooling routine.

What is the role of play and rewards in education?

“Play is the first form of learning that any kid does, right? Any toddler playing with blocks is learning about the world around them. As they get older their interests will change, but we can adapt that to still be educational.” Shares Lindsey Casselman, Co-Founder and Lead Curriculum Developer at Schoolio Learning. It’s important to have a balance, even if a subject isn’t necessarily fun, it can still be rewarding.

Can rewards be beneficial for those challenging subjects?

If your child isn’t enjoying math, and it’s tricky to make it fun for them. Try to make it rewarding for your child. Maybe a nice walk when the algebra lesson is complete, or a hot chocolate when they complete their writing for the day. The rewards don’t have to be extravagant. Actually, the simpler the better. Let’s just take a look at adult life, you work, and you might not enjoy it, but the reward is that you will get paid. Why not offer little rewards for those subjects that your child is struggling with?

Find out what motivates your child.

Does your child enjoy working towards a reward? What about incorporating play into their learning routine? Spend some time learning what motivates your child and then aim to incorporate that into their learning plan.

Listen in to this intriguing conversation with Sathish Bala and Lindsey Casselman on the Schoolio Live Q & A.

Click Here to Watch Now!

Schoolio™️ Learning Doubling Down to Support Students Struggling with Covid-related School Disruptions

Schoolio™️ Learning Corp. — a Canadian Edtech startup that has been blazing trails in homeschool learning solutions. Since the beginning of the pandemic. Is launching 2022 with fresh tools and support for families facing continuing education disruptions due to Covid. This is in keeping with Schoolio™️’s mission to modernize education delivery. While also Creating a space for students, parents, and educators to co-create personalized learning. “Our goal is simple,” says founder and CEO, Sathish Bala. “Empower the next generation of kids to be more ambitious, more creative, and think for themselves.”

Filling the educational gap.

Now available in both Canada and the US, Schoolio™️ is doubling down on the strengths that brought them early success. Providing a solid, affordable academic curriculum for homeschoolers and teachers in grades K-8. But they have also felt the frustration. And seen the unmet needs of families who are, once again, left in limbo and uncertainty. By school districts unprepared to grapple with the evolving nature of Covid. To fill the educational gap that is growing due to school closures, staff shortages, and safety concerns. Schoolio™️ is expanding its already substantial set of curriculum for families seeking help with home education.

More than just a curriculum company.

“Schoolio™️ is not only providing support in the form of academic content. We don’t make a sale and say goodbye. As we also have a huge resource library of articles to help parents with everything from getting started to managing schedules to dealing with struggles.” says Lindsey Casselman, Co-Founder. “We have an active community where staff are there daily helping, supporting, and answering questions. We’ve got your back as you figure out home learning.”

Schoolio After-School

Additionally, Schoolio™️ parents have been asking for tutoring support to help ease the stress of at-home learning. To meet the need, Schoolio™️ After School is launching February 2022. This unique program combines 1-on-1 lessons, Schoolio™️ subject books, and additional quizzes and worksheets to help students catch up in 2022. For more information, parents can visit https://Schoolio.io/news/Schoolio-now-offers-after-school-tutoring/ to learn more about the program.

“While our primary focus is to support homeschoolers, with our new Schoolio™️ After School program, we aim to help more families minimize the impact of school shutdowns. Unfortunately, teachers have a schedule to keep, and lost days mean loss of education for the student,” explains Bala.

Currently, Schoolio™️ offers curricula to Canadian families for grades K-8 and U.S. families for grades K-3. Schoolio™️’s mission is to build a one-of-a-kind online learning platform that will bring their essential curriculum to any child, anywhere in the world, for free. Schoolio™️ will offer parents and educators a premium version that allows for complete customization of each child’s learning experience, supplementation with premium Schoolio™️ curated content, user-based marketplace content, and more.

To learn more, visit: https://Schoolio.com

Press Inquiries: Sathish Bala, CEO, Founder – sathish@Schoolio.io

The 20 Do’s of Homeschooling

In the last blog we covered the major ‘don’ts’ of homeschooling. The things that you should try to avoid at all costs, if you want to be a successful homeschooling parent. If you haven’t already read it, you can find it here: 20 Don’ts of Homeschooling. Today we are covering The 20 Do’s of Homeschooling! Let’s jump right into the homeschool veteran approved, 20 Do’s of Homeschooling. With the goal to help you be a successful homeschool parent.

The 20 Do’s of Homeschooling

1. Do Take Care of Yourself First.

This is the number 1 ‘Do’ of The 20 Do’s of Homeschooling because it’s imperative that you take care of yourself, first. I get it. You think that’s selfish. But I can assure you that it’s not. Taking care of yourself before you take care of everyone and everything else is essential to the well-being of your family. And also the success of your homeschooling journey. A homeschool mom that cares for herself, is a happy, healthy mama. What are some ways that you can take care of yourself today?

Here are some quick and simple care tips for the busy mom:

Carve out a chunk of time to read your favourite book.
Enjoy a hot drink on the park bench as your kids play at the park.
Wake up early (before everyone) and sit outside with the rising sun.
Talk to someone that lifts you up.
Take a walk.

2. Do Find Your People.

Have you found them yet? Your tribe? Your team of people that just get you, help you and guide you? Every mom needs an encouraging, supportive community. Finding those people that can be your cheerleaders, your encouragers, and even your advisors. Will benefit you and your family hugely. That doesn’t mean that you are seeking out the people that will constantly pour into you while you offer nothing in return. Rather you are looking for the people that will offer something special in your life, while you offer them your gifts in return. An equal friendship.

3. Do Eliminate Toxic Relationships.

Do you have someone in your life that is constantly dragging you down? Perhaps your old friends group is completely against your homeschooling decisions? Now every time you have a conversation with them, you feel like you’re a failure and a mess. You don’t need that kind of negativity. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are eliminating them from your life completely.

Perhaps these friendships were once abundant and life giving. In this situation, instead of eliminating the friendship, you can put a pause on the relationship until you and the other person are in a better place to revisit the friendship. Your focus cannot be on negative interactions at this time. Because right now you need to focus on cultivating a healthy, wholesome, and positive education for your children.

4. Do Keep Things Simple.

Sometimes as homeschooling parents we can be our own worst enemy. Are you constantly assuming that you aren’t doing enough as a homeschooling parent? Do you have that ever present urge to add more curriculum? More practice sheets? And more structure? Unfortunately, sometimes as homeschooling moms we can become addicted to adding more to our homeschool. Do you want the cold, hard truth? All these extra events, lessons, and workbooks are actually doing absolutely nothing for your homeschool. In fact, they’re doing the opposite. When you are constantly adding in more, you are inevitably overwhelming your homeschool and causing a high level of unproductively.

5. Do Cut the Extras.

Number 5 of the 20 Do’s of Homeschooling goes along with number 4. Because maybe you’ve already added a bunch more to your homeschool? Maybe it’s way more than you actually need? Now you’re feeling the heavy weight of overwhelm? So, go ahead and cut out all the extras. Seriously, do it! Shave down your curriculum to the very basics, as least just for a time. Do less, but do it best. The truth is, less is more.

6. Do Read Aloud.

Reading to your children has many benefits. Some of them being that it improves concentration and vocabulary. While also building their self esteem. Reading to your child can also help them develop their own reading skills. But one of the best benefits of reading to your children? The fact that this simple act helps to build relationships. You can learn more about this here: 12 Reasons Why It’s Important to Read to Your Children – Caribu.

7. Do Snuggle and Hug Often.

Homeschooling grants the opportunity to connect with your children even more. Even just rubbing their back while they work through their math problems is such a gift. So, be sure to take advantage of all the extra hugs and special moments you can share.

8. Do Include Fun In Your Homeschool.

There’s nothing wrong with adding fun and games to your homeschool. Unfortunately there’s this misconception around education. And that is this idea that if your child is having fun, they clearly aren’t learning. While as of late, this twisted idea is phasing out. It’s important to take action and sprinkle fun into your homeschool. Take a break from books, and add in some fun games! Pinterest is flourishing with fun homeschool games that your kids will love. So go find some that your family loves and utilize them.

9. Do Be the Boss of Your Schedule.

Are you trapped in the mindset that your schedule must look like the public school’s calendar? Or that your schedule must appear like that of your super organized homeschool friends calendar? Snap out of it! Aim to have a daily routine that suits your family, not someone else’s. Check out these simple ways to establish a good homeschool routine: Establish a Good Homeschool Routine.

10. Do Take a Break From Homeschooling.

Homeschooling takes a huge mental effort. Due to that effort, it can lead to burn out quickly. So, aim to take scheduled breaks throughout the year. If you find yourself in between homeschool breaks, and you are tired and burnt out. Take a day or two off to reset. They’re called mental health days, and they’re always vital. Especially when you’re feeling like a train wreck. So, take a break and reset.

During this time your kids can play educational games, or watch educational shows. Actually the other day I saw a post in a homeschool group about a mom laying on the couch as she was so sick. And she said she had moved her homeschool to the living room. Her post gave the idea that she was still teaching, even though she was very ill. And while I have to admire her determination. I also want to point out that you as a homeschooling parent, are entitled to a day off. Especially if you’re sick. So, please do take a break from homeschooling should you need it.

11. Do Look At the World Through Your Child’s Eyes.

It’s so important to value what your child values. When you pay close and careful attention to what matters to your child, they will begin to also pay close attention to what you share with them. It’s so important to remember that what is valuable to your child matters. Everything about your child is important. Their ideas, and creations, their work, their interests, their stories. They’re valuable. So, listen.

12. Do Celebrate All Accomplishments.

You should always focus on what your child is doing right. So much more than what they are doing wrong. When you focus on all the good that they do, they will continually aim to do greater. If your child writes a sight word, but spells it incorrectly. Don’t immediately correct their mistakes. Instead, comment on what an amazing job they did writing the letter ‘b’. Include the phrase “You did such a great job!” frequently. Doing so builds their self-esteem and helps them have enthusiasm to continually improve.

13. Do Remind Yourself That You Are Not Behind!

Homeschooling should run at your families own pace! It’s also important to remember that when you are working at your child’s own unique pace, it’s impossible to fall behind. Read that again. It can be so hard to stay out of the comparison trap and assume that your child is behind. But they aren’t. They are working at the pace that they need to. And you are doing an amazing job helping them with that.

14. Do Place Importance On Personal Growth.

Do your children see you constantly aiming to be a better version of yourself? Spending time in the morning reading, investing in personal development, or listening to positive affirmations? All of these are going to help you keep your head above water and own the person that you are meant to be.

Personal development is extremely important for you. And also just as important for your children. Including important lessons about mental health, and ways to take care of their mental health is so important in the younger years. Encourage your child to constantly work at taking care of their mental health just like they take care of their physical health.

Use The Emotional Health Management unit to help teach your children about their mental health, and ways to cope when things get tough.

15. Do Listen to Podcasts and Read Books.

Podcasts are just such an amazing part of our digital world, that so many people don’t even use! So many of my friends don’t even know how to listen to podcasts, but it’s so simple. Your phone should have a podcasting app on it. Like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. All you have to do is open the app, then in the search box, look for podcasts that speak to you. Like ‘Parenting Podcasts’, ‘Homeschooling Podcasts’, ‘Genuine Mom Podcasts’, or ‘Personal Development Podcasts’. Listen to some episodes and then subscribe to the ones that you like the most. Then that amazing content will be added to your phone whenever they release a new podcast. And, it’s FREE!

Additionally, finding books to help you in every area of your life is essential. I really prefer podcasts because it’s so much easier for me to listen then it is for me to sit down and read. However, there are some amazing apps like Audible, available. Where you can purchase and download a book that will be read to you. You can make a list of books that you’d like to read, then one by one check them off the list when you’ve completed each one.

Pro tip: Subscribe to helpful blogs like The Schoolio Blog, to read amazing blogs like “The 20 Do’s of Homeschooling”.

16. Do Expect to Make Mistakes.

No one is immune to mistakes. Because perfection doesn’t exist. If you’ve chosen the wrong curriculum for your family, or you’ve neglected a certain area of study. Just know that we all make mistakes, and that’s OK. Don’t get stuck there.

17. Do Give Yourself Credit.

You are homeschooling your kids. What? Do you ever just think about that. Was this in your original life plan? No? But look! You’re doing it. You aren’t perfect, but you’re trying. And you’re doing such a great job. We often don’t give ourselves enough credit which is why it’s essential for you to give yourself credit for all that you’re doing right. Instead of always focusing on all that you’re doing wrong.

18. Do Make Goofy Memories.

I don’t want my kids to remember their time homeschooling as a time where their mom was constantly forcing them to answer math problems. Instead I want my kids to remember this time with fond memories. Are bad days going to happen? Absolutely. But my hope is that the good days are the ones implanted in their memories forever. The days when we painted the playhouse outside, or had a food fight at dinner. You’ve assumed the role of their educational teacher, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave fun mom on the curb. Bring fun mom with you, even when you’re doing Language Arts.

19. Do Understand That You Will Have Some Haters.

Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, just like traditional education isn’t for everyone. Will you have people constantly asking why your children aren’t in school? Yep. Will you have that one family member that is always telling you that your kids should be in school? You bet! Is someone going to constantly be asking your kids math questions to measure how behind they are? Probably. Despite the fact that homeschooling has become so much more mainstream in the last 5 years. It still is looked down on by so many. Because people often don’t like that which they cannot understand.

It’s not your job to make them love homeschooling. And it’s not your job to prove yourself to them. It is your job to love your kids, to educate your kids, and to give your kids a safe environment to learn and grow. Forget the haters.

20. Do Know That One Day You Will Be Thankful For This Sacrifice.

Homeschooling is a sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice of your time, your own freedom, and often your mental sanity. Not many people can do what you’re doing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself or verbally stated to my husband that I should just put the kids in school. It seems so easy, watching the kids leave on the bus, and knowing that someone else is covering their academic lessons. Sometimes I think about how freeing it would be to just have whole days to myself to work and maybe clean the house. But then I remember that I’m doing this for them. I remember that my children need this extra one-on-one time with me. My children wouldn’t excel in a class with 30 other children crammed in desks and herded outside for recess. I have to remind myself that my children are receiving a wholesome education, that is tailored to their needs.

And while the sacrifice is great, the reward will be incredible. Not just for them, but for me also. Because I get to keep these memories forever.

We hope that you enjoyed the 20 Do’s of Homeschooling. Don’t forget to check out the 20 Don’ts of Homeschooling (linked above). What was your favourite ‘Do’ of the 20 Do’s of Homeschooling?

Make Learning Fun

Have you heard of Special Interest Units? The phrase may make you wonder, what exactly that could mean? And why would that be important for your child’s education? Using these compact units of learning can make learning fun for our kids. While also helping our children discover their passions and desire to dig deeper on topics that excite them. It’s so important to cultivate their desire to learn when they’re young, and using Special Interest Units can help with that.

Have you ever found a topic that you just couldn’t get enough of? You started digging deeper, doing more research. You became fascinated by this topic and learning about it gave you so much life. You want your child to experience that same passion and hunger for learning, right? So, how? How can we help our kids with digging deeper, learning bigger, and enjoying the process?

Here are some simple ways to make learning fun while helping your child develop a love for their education:

Expand of their ideas and imaginative thoughts.

Your son just came up to you and told you that he wants to drive a Porsche, and be a millionaire with a fast, fancy boat when he’s older. What’s your initial reaction? To tell him that money doesn’t matter? To explain that we don’t always get what we want in life? Do you immediately think ‘Those are expensive, he could never afford that?’ Or do you say: “Well you’ll have to have a really good job then.” All of these initial thoughts are normal, because you live in a realistic world. Your child however, is living in a bright world where anything is possible. Instead of immediately shutting down his dream, try asking questions instead.

Ask things like: “What colour would your Porsche be?” “How fast would it go?” You can google how fast a Porsche can go together, and then perhaps talk about different speeds, because I guarantee that one day they will be driving and will need to know. “What colour would it be? There’re so many colours, let’s check out the Colours and Light Special interest Unit together to learn more about colours. Maybe we can even pick a colour that isn’t very common, if you like it!” That fast boat that he’s dreaming of, have him draw a picture, and write about where he would travel. Grab a map and explore the oceans with him. Ask him where he’d want to travel to, and what countries he’d like to see with his boat.

You aren’t squashing his dreams, you are helping him cultivate his dreams through joy-filled, education.

Make learning fun with Special Interest Units:

There are so many areas of education that can be really dry. Many parents struggle with teaching their children math, not because they don’t know it but because math is one of the more ‘dry subjects’. For some kids, they just love it. For others, it overwhelms them from the boredom of 5+6=11. How can you make learning more fun? Especially with those areas of their education that are beyond boring?

Special Interest Units aren’t just about an interesting topic. They are so much more than that. You can incorporate multiple subject areas under one theme. Math, Writing, Reading, Science, all of these are included in many Special Interest Units. When you mix enjoyable content with basic educational lessons, you have a remedy for a fun and successful learning experience.

Helping your child discover interests.

The world would be a different place if we all did what we were actually interested in. If we all somehow found a way to make a living off of something that we enjoy. But chances are when you went to school you were taught in a traditional form. You were told to get good grades, do well in areas of education, and forget about your passions. Because “Passion doesn’t pay the bills.”

Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut, Sally Reis, Ph.D., states that the key to unlocking a child’s potential is finding that child’s interests and helping the child develop them. Did you catch that? The key to them unlocking their potential isn’t by forcing them to get good grades and then being disappointed when they don’t meet our expectations. Rather, the key comes when they love what they’re learning.

How can they discover their interests? Books, watching educational shows, museums, zoos, the outdoors, and Special Interest Units. There truly are so many ways to help your child find their passion for education while you make learning fun.

Be supportive as they find their learning style.

Every child has a unique learning style, or a way that they learn most effectively. The three different styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. Which style suits your child the most? Helping your child determine their learning style will be a gift that serves them their entire life.

Don’t become overwhelmed by the idea of ‘how to make learning fun’, ok? There are so many ways to do it. You can start by checking out our Special Interest Units.

Because we love to make learning fun, so we’ve created a whole bunch of awesome Special Interest Units to help your child learn fun new things while squeezing in important education lessons.

Click here to view our Special Interest Units.

Resources used for this blog:

Big Life Journal – A love for learning

NAEYC – Encouraging your child to lead

How Do I Start Homeschooling In Canada?

How Do I Start Homeschooling in Canada?

Homeschooling has become an extremely popular alternative to traditional education in the last 10 years. There’s no doubt that when homeschooling is done correctly, it can be an incredible experience for homeschoolers. So, how can you start homeschooling? What legal aspects do you need to be aware of? Is there some way to ensure that you will be successful at homeschooling your kids? We have the answer to your ‘How do I start homeschooling in Canada?’ question!

How Do I Start Homeschooling in Canada and be Successful?

Wanting to homeschool, but feeling overwhelmed is totally normal. Unfortunately, it’s human nature to second guess our decisions. Especially when it comes to our kids, their futures and well-being. Let me assure you, if you want to homeschool, you have excellent resources, and have the ability to make it a successful experience for your family. Then, there’s no reason to worry.

We’ve heard your questions of ‘How do I start homeschooling in Canada?’ and broken it down into 10 simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Shift your mindset about learning schedules.

Homeschooling doesn’t look like traditional education, because it isn’t traditional education. So often new homeschoolers think that they need to make their homeschool day look exactly like a traditional school day. Thinking that your child needs to be working on school work all day, is false. We forget that in traditional school, kids have recess, lunch, activity time, and spend so much time waiting for the class to settle so the teaching can begin. Your homeschool day doesn’t have to look like that. Most homeschoolers only spend 2-3 hours on workbooks a day. The rest of their education is hands on, life learning. That doesn’t mean that they are missing out. Because, they aren’t! They are getting the same amount of educational learning as children in traditional school. It’s truly mind blowing how one-on-one teaching can take the hours upon hours out of learning.

Find out how to schedule your homeschool by clicking here

Also, it should be noted that homeschooling doesn’t have to happen at the same time as traditional school. Some homeschool families find that their learning vibe is better in the evening, on weekends, or even in the summer. Your schedule, is yours. You and only you know how your children learn, and when the best time of the day is for them and you to reach maximum potential for learning. Don’t be bogged down by this idea that your child must start workbooks at 9am and finish by 3:30pm.

Step 2: Find out the legal aspects of homeschooling in your province/state.

Every province and state have different expectations for homeschooling standards. It’s best to check and make sure you following local guidelines. Don’t let that stress you out though, even following legal standards, you will still have so much flexibility for your child’s curriculum, and learning schedule. We have a few blogs on some different province guidelines.

Click here for Saskatchewan

Click here for Alberta

Click here for British Columbia

Click here for Manitoba

Click here for Ontario

Step 3: Chat with experienced homeschoolers.

Chances are you already know a homeschool mom. And, you must know that most homeschool moms are eager to share how to be successful with homeschooling. Why? Because it’s working so well for their family, they want everyone to experience the freedom and peace that comes with home-learning. Find a local homeschool group in your area, or search out some awesome homeschool groups online. There are so many incredible sources.

Step 4: Choose your homeschooling style

When it comes to home education, there are so many different styles. The Classical Method, The Charlotte Mason Method, Montessori Method, Unschooling, School-at-home, Unit Studies, Eclectic Education, and more. What style suits your family best? Do some research and find out. Here’s a list of all the different methods of homeschooling, their benefits and drawbacks. So you can make an educated decision.

Click here to learn about different homeschool styles.

Step 5: Choose your curriculum

There are so many different styles of homeschooling. First, figure out which works best for you and your family. Once you’ve determined your style. Select a curriculum that goes along with your style and also the standards that you want for your children’s education. There are so many options out there, so be sure to do your research and find what is very best for your family.

Click here to learn about how to choose the best curriculum.

Step 6: Get familiar with excellent homeschool teaching strategies.

There are so many books out there, ask around and find out what some of your homeschool friends are into. Search out homeschooling podcasts for tips, and tricks, to make your homeschool teaching career successful.

Step 7: Set up social opportunities for your children.

The last thing we want is for you to feel overwhelmed or alone. That’s why Step 3 is so important. When you chat with other homeschool parents, you will have the opportunity to set up homeschool playdates, homeschool co-ops, sports, arts, and more. These activities will give your child and you a chance to chat with other like-minded people and help your children make lifelong friendships.

Step 8: Set learning goals with your kids.

It’s important for you to know what you want from the homeschool year. But what do your kids want? What do they want to learn? How do they want to learn? Ask them! Let them get involved in homeschool planning for the year. When you get your kids involved in these decisions it will help them gain interest.

Step 9: Get Familiar with your curriculum.

Once your curriculum arrives, unbox it. Check it out. Let your kids see the new books, and make a plan for what you will need for the first few units of their workbooks. (If that’s the style you choose). Do you need a ruler? Pencils? Paper? Make sure to have it all on hand for each lesson.

Step 10: Begin homeschooling, and have fun!

Please don’t stress yourself out with this idea that you need to be perfect in order for your children to learn. You are doing an amazing job. So, dive into it! And enjoy it! Don’t worry about what your neighbours think or say, or how your parents think it’s crazy that you are keeping them home to learn. Keep your mind on the truth. You are doing an awesome job! And your children are going to be just fine!

How Do I Start Homeschooling In Canada?

We’ve heard your questions of ‘How do I homeschool?’ and broken it down into 10 simple steps to get you started.

Step 1: Shift your mindset about learning schedules.

Step 2: Find out the legal aspects of homeschooling in your province/state.

Click here for Saskatchewan

Click here for Alberta

Click here for British Columbia

Click here for Manitoba

Click here for Ontario

Step 3: Chat with experienced homeschoolers.

Step 4: Choose your homeschooling style

Click here to learn about different homeschool styles.

Step 5: Choose your curriculum

Click here to learn about how to choose the best curriculum.

Step 6: Get familiar with excellent homeschool teaching strategies.

Step 7: Set up social opportunities for your children.

The last thing we want is for you to feel overwhelmed or alone. That’s why Step 3 is so important. When you chat with other homeschool parents, you will have the opportunity to set up homeschool playdates, co-ops, sports, arts, and more. These activities will give your child and you a chance to chat with other like-minded people and help your children make lifelong friendships.

Step 8: Set learning goals with your kids.

Step 9: Get Familiar with your curriculum.

Step 10: Begin homeschooling, and have fun!

One Tree Planted Partners with Schoolio

SCHOOLIO PARTNERS WITH REFORESTATION NONPROFIT ONE TREE PLANTED

A Promise of a more sustainable future for kids around the world

TORONTO, August 9, 2021 – Schoolio, a Canadian education startup. Recently announced a partnership with One Tree Planted in August 2021. In the last year, over ten million trees in more than 28 countries have been planted. All thanks to the nonprofit, One Tree Planted. With this new partnership, Schoolio aims to get closer to its goal of creating a better future for children. As a result, we at Schoolio are doing so by contributing 1% of all sales toward reforestation efforts.

“Partnering with One Tree Planted is an ideal collaboration for Schoolio.” Said Sathish Bala. Sathish Bala is founder, and Chief Executive Officer, at Schoolio. “We started our business with the objective to create a better future for kids. This new alliance with One Tree Planted will expand our aim to a greener and more sustainable future. The reforestation efforts conducted through this partnership will help combat the consequences of climate change. Doing so by reducing the carbon footprint and bolstering struggling ecosystems.”

4 goals of this new partnership:

Supporting global reforestation efforts.

Tackling climate change and reversing nature loss by restoring ecosystems.

Raising awareness about environmental concerns, climate change, and it’s setbacks.

Empowering families to take sustainable actions.

We’re joining hands to combat climate change.

One Tree Planted and Schoolio are joining hands for what is one of the most significant methods. That method is to combat climate change together. Both the two organizations aim to plant trees to effectively improve air and water quality around the globe. “A simple act of planting trees can provide crucial ingredients for 25 percent of all medicines. While also yielding a thriving habitat to over 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity.” Says Matt Hill. Matt Hill is the founder, and Chief Environmental Evangelist, of One Tree Planted. Social impacts of planting trees consists of creating jobs for over 1.6 billion people. This will empower residents, especially women, in underdeveloped nations. While also supporting communities adversely affected by environmental damage.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to work with Schoolio on such an impactful project.” Adds Hill. “Truly, we admire their commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable future for the present and upcoming generations. Our partnership is a prime example of how a positive change for our planet can begin with one simple decision.”

Allowing customers to be involved.

The partnership between Schoolio and One Tree Planted allows customers to be coherently involved in global reforestation efforts. Schoolio will donate 1% of our revenue to plant trees globally. Then local partner organizations and community volunteers plant trees in areas marred by deforestation.

About One Tree Planted:

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. That is on a mission to make it simple for everyone to help the environment. And they are doing so simply by planting trees. Consequently, projects by this amazing nonprofit reach around the globe. These projects are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts. Firstly, they are creating an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Secondly, reforestation helps to rebuild forests after fires and floods have occurred. Thirdly, providing jobs for social impact. Most importantly, restoring biodiversity through reforestation. Understandably, many of their projects have overlapping objectives. However, this creates a combination of benefits. That then contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Do you want to learn more about this amazing nonprofit? Visit: onetreeplanted.org

More about Schoolio:

Schoolio is a Canadian education startup company. We provide parents with a range of customizable in-home learning solutions. One of our main goals is to empower parents to be teachers for their students. As a result, we have created easy-to-follow curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 8. Therefore we have been engaging millions of students with the best learning foundation materials around. Which then brings us to another huge goal of ours. And that is to spark a love of learning for everyone. Our hope is to do so while empowering children to be fully prepared for their futures. Learn more about our exclusive products: https://schoolio.io/shop-grades/

Media Contact:

Nirmala Jadoonanan

PR Executive nirmala@schoolio.io