Why should (or maybe shouldn’t?) you take an AP History course?. You’ve probably heard the good and the bad from friends, family, teachers, guidance counselors, and who knows who else. 

The AP courses are college level courses that are developed by the College Board (who, by the way also are responsible for SATs and ACTs.) These courses are weighted, meaning that if you get a C or higher, it will actually count as a letter grade higher toward your GPA. So, on a 4-point scale, an A would give you 5 points, rather than 4 and a C would give you 3 points rather than 2, and so on.  Also, if you pass the end of the year exam, most colleges will award you college credit. Some colleges will only award credit for getting a 5, which is the highest score. Many will give you college credit for passing with just a 3. You’ll want to check with prospective colleges to know what their policy is. Regardless, it’s likely one less class you’ll be required to take and (for your parents if they are paying for your college education) one less class to pay for.

The textbooks that are required by the College Board are similar to those that introductory college courses use, and as such, they are big. And heavy. And are written at a high reading level. If you are not a strong reader, you will want to think twice about whether this is the best option for you. I’m not trying to say don’t do it. On the contrary, think twice and consider what supports you can put in place to overcome any obstacles. Is there an online version of the text that you can use a read-aloud feature? Is there a simpler text that you can use, like the AMSCO books. You would want to ask the instructor about this in advance. Also, if you can, you might want to consider hiring a tutor who can regularly review the content with you. 

The high expectations, or rigor of the coursework is great for helping you improve your critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as getting really good at writing about history in an academic, amateur historian kind of way.  Different teachers will require varying degrees of writing over the course of the school year, but on the exam, you will write three short answer questions, which are the total equivalent of 9 paragraphs, one Document Based Question essay, which should be about 5 paragraphs, and one Long Essay Question, which usually ends up being shorter than the DBQ, about 4-5 paragraphs. You will have to be able to incorporate your own knowledge of history with facts and documents and write critically about them. This is certainly challenging, but something that you’ll get better at the more you work at it. The skills for writing the essays can be honed over the course of the school year. And a perk here is that once you learn the skills for one AP history class, they are the same skills that are used for the other AP History classes, so you can feel better about taking another AP class.

Do you like history? AP courses, while they often skim the surface of history, do provide a deeper understanding of the past in each of the courses, while looking at the connections, the complexities and the nuances. The AP curriculum allows students to make connections across time periods and places and even courses. I had a student in my AP European class who was also taking AP World History and he found that certain units of AP World supported certain units of Euro, thus the cross-course connections. By the way, he got a 5 on the Euro exam. The AP curriculum often will send you down a rabbit hole as you discover people and topics that you want to know more about. The primary and secondary source documents that you will read give you multiple perspectives of historical situations that will expand your understanding of… all of it!

The workload can get pretty intense at times. To do this course correctly, you should be reading regularly and taking notes on the reading. It will depend on your teacher, but you need to determine what is the best way for you to learn from the reading: Cornell Notes? Reading out loud? Graphic organizers? You have to be metacognitive, which means being aware of how you learn best and regularly checking in with yourself as to whether and what you are learning. You do not do the homework for a grade. Let me repeat that. You should not be doing the homework just for the grade. Do it to learn the content that you will need to know. Most teachers will post the learning objectives somewhere. If not, the college board has their curriculum and exam description that includes what you should be learning with each Key Concept. I’ll post links to those for each class at the end. Anyway, you should be regularly checking those objectives or key concepts to make sure you are learning what you are supposed to be learning. 

In most of the AP classes that I’ve taught, the class becomes like a community, or a family, as we are working together to achieve a common goal, which is passing the AP exam in May. It’s quite different than other classes that just have state exams. It’s hard to explain it beyond that, and I’m sure there are some situations that don’t feel that way. Hopefully, if you decide to take an AP class, you’ll be fortunate to be part of that community. But even if you aren’t, you’ll likely find others who are in your situation on social media that you’ll be able to connect with. I saw it on my TikTok channel, where students would comment and yes, I would respond, but they basically started having conversations amongst themselves. 

You definitely need to improve your time and task management skills or if you are easily distracted, you’ll want to start working on that now because you have to try to stay focused and procrastinating is a bad habit to get into (why yes, I do teach a course on this!) One of my favorite techniques is something called the Pomodoro Method. Basically, it involves setting a timer for 20-25 minutes and eliminating all distractions so you can have focused work time. Then you take a 5-10 minute break, and then repeat as needed. This is just the tip of the time management iceberg and I’ll try to sprinkle more tips throughout the episodes. In general, if you’re taking rigorous classes and especially if you participate in extra curriculars or have an after-school job, you have to schedule your time. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by all you need to do and then end up doing none of it (aka, scrolling on your phone.) Plan out your week to accommodate study time each day. Maybe give yourself Friday and Saturday off so you don’t burn out. Nevertheless, if you take an AP course, you’ll need to be intentional about how you spend your time.

The last thing I’ll talk about today is exam pressure. The AP exam is a lot: fifty-five multiple choice questions, 3 short answer questions, a DBQ essay and an LEQ essay. Not counting reading directions and breaks, it is a three hour and 15-minute exam. You can’t have water at your desk anymore, so you have to hydrate before and in the break halfway through. You can still pass the class if you don’t pass the exam, but you most likely still want to get that college credit. You’ve been preparing all year for this test. Of course you want to pass it. Yet, the reality is that the pass rate is between 50-60%. That means that 40-50% of students who take the exam don’t pass. That is a lot of pressure. And on any given day, anything can happen. Maybe you don’t feel well, but you’re not sick enough to see a doctor. You don’t get a second chance to take the test unless there is a doctor willing to say that you were on death’s doorstep. Missing the bus is not an excuse to take the late exam… get my drift. Do not put all of your eggs in the “I have to pass the AP exam basket.” Striving to pass, making it an important goal. Yes, that is ok. But do manage your expectations. You have to be okay with not passing that exam and appreciate the experience. 

If you have decided that an AP history class is for you, stick with me. I have your back. Check back as we go through all you need to know to be in the best possible position to succeed in AP US History, AP World History, or AP European History, and hopefully on the exam. 

Wendy is a veteran teacher with expertise in all things AP History. She offers courses, as well as individualized tutoring. She also hosts a bi-monthly podcast called APHistoryHelp. Learn more about the services she offers and the podcast by going to www.APHistoryHelp.com

Some students naturally enjoy math and are good at it. Others can’t bear to even look at a math problem.

What makes the difference?

Neurologically, math is a highly specialized and abstract mental activity. Learning an abstract mental function requires building bridges from the concrete skills that we already understand and enjoy – touch, vision, sound, play, and social relationships, for example.

In early education, teachers use many hands-on activities to build math skills. By middle school, students are expected to have already developed the ability to do math abstractly. The many students who haven’t are left frustrated, confused, and upset.

The secret of people who are good at math is that they do use concrete, hands-on, visual, graphic tools for solving math problems. But they do it intuitively, without necessarily even realizing what they are doing. When approaching a challenging math problem, they create new bridges between the concrete information and the abstract thinking that they need in order to solve the problem.

Anyone can learn and master these intuitive tools. They simply need high quality instruction and practice.

Our math anxiety program teaches students many intuitive tools for many kinds of math problems. And we teach students how to start drawing on their own intuitions and natural strengths.

We work with typical ACT math and SAT math problems, so a bonus of the program is that students are better prepared for taking the ACT exam and the SAT exam.

In the words of one of our adult math-phobic learners: “I can actually understand what I’m doing! How come no one ever taught me math like this before?”

What are intuitive math tools?

Standard math tools, like algebra, are very abstract. When attempting a difficult algebra problem, high powered math pros start by using intuitive tools to organize the information in the problem before they use algebra. This intuitive work shows them how to apply the algebra.

Students who struggle with math often have memorized the algebra tools but don't have the intuitive tools to know how to apply it. Ironically, many such students have wonderful strengths in intuitive areas, including art, music, movement, and social relationships. They simply haven’t learned how to apply those strengths to mathematical problems.

A simple example: 

Here is a relatively simple problem, similar to problems that you find on ACT math and SAT math.

The ratio of 1/5 to 5/24 is most closely equal to the ratio of:

A. 1 to 24

B. 24 to 1

C. 24 to 5

D. 24 to 25

E. 25 to 24

The standard “math” way to solve this  involves finding common denominators or simplifying complex fractions. In intuitive math, the simplest, most understandable strategy is the best.

You can be confident that if you multiply both fractions by the same number, it will not change the ratio. (The ratio of 3 to 7 is the same as the ratio of 6 to 14.)

Now you can multiply both fractions by 5. This will change the first fraction, 1/5, to the number 1, which will be a lot easier to work with!

1/5 x 5 = 1,         5/24 x 5 = 25/24

Now I’m concerned only with the ratio of 1 to 25/24.

What do you intuitively see about 25/24? It is just a tiny bit bigger than 1. This means the problem boils down to a smaller number on top and a slighlty larger number on the bottom. 

In other words, we're looking at the ratio of 1 to 1 plus a little bit. Am I ready to solve the problem yet? Let’s look at the answer choices. Remember that we are looking for a fraction that is closest in value to 1 over 1+.

In choice A, the two numbers are very far apart. Our two numbers are very close. Choice A is out. Choice B is out for the same reason. Choice C has numbers that are also quite far apart, so that is out.

Choices D and E both have numbers that are very close. What is the difference between choice D and choice E?

In choice D, the top number is slightly smaller than the bottom number. In choice E the top number is a little bit greater than the bottom number. Choice D matches our problem – 1 is a little smaller than 1 plus a tiny bit.

Choice D is the answer.

It's true that the problem still requires working with numbers but it uses an approach that stays with the information that I’m clear on. It uses the simplest possible approach. Doing this decreases the chances of getting lost in abstract math and increases the chances of finding the right answer.

Math is about relationships! 

Numbers, figures, distances, parts of triangles, time, space, people. Math problems are always about the relationships between the elements of the problem. What high school student is not interested in relationships!

The first step in becoming comfortable with math is to begin seeing it as relationships that you can understand.

The second step is to draw on skills that you already have for negotiating relationships.

Here’s a famous quote from the movie Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion that summarizes everything we need to know about students who are wrestling with math:

Hey Romy, remember Mrs. Divitz’s class, there was like always a word problem. Like, there’s a guy in a rowboat going X miles, and the current is going like, you know, some other miles, and how long does it take him to get to town? It’s like, ‘Who cares? Who wants to go to town with a guy who drives a rowboat?

Math anxious? 

Does math make you feel confused, overwhelmed, and physically uncomfortable? If so, you probably find that your math classes don't help much. Intuitive Math teaches you a very different set of strategies for solving math problems. You learn to use your intuitions, visual and artistic skills, and your understanding of relationships to solve simple and complex math painlessly. You may even find that you enjoy it!

Some people already understand these tools naturally. For the rest of us, the tools can be learned with a little expert guidance.

Math genius? 

Are you really good at math. You probably use intuitive tools naturally, without realizing you are doing so. Purposely and systematically studying intuitive math strategies helps you expand your natural skills and become a true math expert.

Concerned about ACT Math or SAT Math?

Our Intuitive Math program draws on the most common patterns of ACT math and SAT math.

Get Your Free Booklet - You CAN Help Your Child Love Math

Read More About Mastering Intuitive Math

Jay Cutts is the author of several Barron's test prep books and has been teaching intuitive math skills for 35 years. 

Jay Cutts IndyEd Profile

Intuitive Math Online

In his powerful TED Talk, "To This Day ... for the bullied and beautiful," Shane Koyczan addresses the profound impact of bullying and the importance of self-worth. His moving words resonate deeply with many who have felt different or marginalized in traditional school settings. 

During my time as a public high school teacher in Colorado, I saw that learning styles and preferences are as vast and varied as every subtle variation of color in a rainbow. Some thrive off of traditional school settings, hierarchies, and routines. But others would thrive with a less traditional pathway, and historically, these types of learners have not always been celebrated and accepted in society or school settings.

Koyczan's heartfelt poetry and personal experiences shine a light on the struggles faced by those who do not fit the conventional mold, emphasizing the need for empathy, understanding, and alternative educational paths.

What is Bullying?

Bullying can be defined as calculated, ongoing abuse that is aimed at a less powerful target. The three central components of bullying are aggression, repetition, and imbalance of power.

(Bullying & Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know, Elizabeth Englander, 2023)

The Impact of Bullying on Education

Bullying is a pervasive issue that affects countless students worldwide. Some traditional school environments, with their rigid structures and social hierarchies, may exacerbate feelings of isolation and anxiety among some learners. Research has shown that bullying can lead to a host of negative outcomes, including decreased academic performance, poor mental health, and even long-term psychological trauma. For some students, the fear of bullying can become a significant barrier to learning and personal growth.

Alternative educational models, such as homeschooling and hybrid in-person + online schooling, may offer a refuge for these students. These flexible approaches allow learners to find supportive environments tailored to their unique needs. 

Benefits of Homeschooling and Hybrid Education

Homeschooling and hybrid education provide numerous advantages for students who struggle in conventional school settings. These models allow for personalized learning experiences, where students can progress at their own pace and focus on their individual strengths and interests. This tailored approach not only enhances academic achievement but also promotes a love of learning and self-confidence.

In a homeschooling environment, parents and educators can create a curriculum that aligns with the student's learning style and needs. This flexibility ensures that students receive a well-rounded education while also addressing any specific challenges they may face. 

Hybrid education, which combines in-person and online learning, may be a perfect fit for some learners. Students benefit from the social interaction and hands-on experiences of in-person classes while also enjoying the flexibility and autonomy of online learning.

How is Cyberbullying Different?

It is really important to mention that “cyberbullying” also exists and that is why it is so important that our online classroom environments are also safe and inclusive. Here are some considerations for educators regarding ways that cyberbullying can differ: 

• Technology enables others to amplify the attacks

• Heightened visibility can significantly increase the emotional duress of a bullying incident 

• Electronic communication has potential for wide dissemination 

(Bullying & Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know, Elizabeth Englander, 2023, and It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens, Danah Boyd, 2015)

Who Could be Targeted for Bullying?

The bullied is any kind of kid; they may or may not be popular, bright, or attractive. There may be something different about them or they might just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Potential considerations could include: 

• The student might be younger or smaller 

• They might be the new kid in school

• Economic status

The following groups may be especially vulnerable to bullying: 

• Students with disabilities

• LGBTQ+ students

(The Bully, the Bullied, and the Not-So-Innocent Bystander, Barbara Coloroso, 2016)

How Can Your School Create an Atmosphere that Minimizes Bullying?

• Establish a culture of inclusion and respect that welcomes all students

• Reward students when they show thoughtfulness and respect for peers, adults, and the school

• Have all school staff work together to monitor bullying “hot spots” in and around the building

• Set a tone of respect in the classroom

(https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-school/build-safe-environment/index.html)

Creating Safe and Supportive Learning Environments

Shane Koyczan's message in "To This Day ... for the bullied and beautiful" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and inclusion in education. By understanding the unique challenges faced by students who are different, we can develop educational models that celebrate diversity and foster a sense of belonging. As educators we can strive to empower all students, helping them achieve their full potential in an environment that values their individuality.

Recommended Reading

The following resources were used in the creation of this article. If you are interested in this subject, I recommend a more thorough exploration of the following: 

It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens

This book by Danah Boyd discusses the impact of technology on teens in the modern era. Phenomenon such as bullying has always existed, but this book explores how technology has transformed and amplified the experiences for teens today. The data and details provided are well researched and complex. 

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander

This book is an excellent examination of the different roles that occur in bullying. Barbara Coloroso defines the roles of the bully, bullied, and bystander by looking for commonalities in various situations. Understanding the individual roles can help us understand how to help. She also discusses how the scene is set for a bullying incident to take place. Most importantly, this book looks at the tools needed to break the cycle of abuse. 

Bullying and Cyberbullying: What Every Educator Needs to Know

Elizabeth Englander wrote this book to the audience of parents and educators. She does an excellent job of defining bullying and provides a lot of clarity on this confusing issue. Using research-based ideas, Englander provides an essential guide for educators about the impacts of technology on social behavior. 

Gelser, S., Neeman, A, & Young, J. (2010). A Briefing Paper from the National Council on Disability. The White House Conference on Bullying (pp. 73-82). Retrieved from https://www.stopbullying.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/white_house_conference_materials.pdf

This academic source is a briefing paper from the National Council on Disability from the White House Conference on Bullying. It is important to address the implications of bullying on students with disabilities and how this may violate their rights to a Free and Appropriate Public Education. This paper is important because it points us to look to solutions on the local, State, and Federal level. 

Edutopia (2015). Turning Bystanders into Upstanders against Bullying [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-bullying-prevention-upstanders

This is an informational video designed to help people understand ways they can intervene when they witness a bullying incident. Rather than being a “bystander” and doing nothing, the video suggests that young people become “upstanders” and take action. It provides four ways that students of all ages can help. 

Stopbullying.gov. Build a Safe Environment. Retrieved from https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-school/build-safe-environment/index.html

This is from a federal government website that is managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides guidelines for creating a safe and supportive environment in schools to reduce occurrences of bullying. The idea is to create a climate that is preventative and where bullying is known by all to be unacceptable. 

About Me

I am an experienced educator specializing in history, human geography, soft skills, and psychology. With a passion for creating inclusive and supportive learning environments, I am dedicated to helping students succeed through personalized and alternative educational approaches. Learn more and explore my e-learning materials on IndyEd at https://www.indyed.com/secular-curriculum/erin-bennett

“I’m just not good at languages!”  This was one of the first things one of my learners told me when we met.  For privacy reasons, we will simply refer to her as Kaylee.   She had negative associations about being in a foreign language class due to past experiences.  She had attended three semesters of Spanish in her high school and still felt lost.  

Worse yet, Kaylee was a high achieving student, with excellent grades in all her other subjects. She had her mind set on a very competitive college and her GPA was at risk because of this one subject.  She wanted to become an engineer and the only reason she was taking Spanish was that it was necessary to satisfy the school requirements.  That was the one thing that threatened to drag her GPA down.

One semester later, after working with me once or twice a week (depending on her schedule), she ended up acing her Spanish finals.  Yes, including the oral portion of it!  But more important than the grades was the fact that she had learned to enjoy the process of becoming proficient in another language.  She had gained enough confidence to speak that language with others and have conversations.  She had learned that it is ok to not get everything right the first time and that it is all indeed a continuous process.  In case you are wondering, yes, she received acceptance letters from multiple colleges and she was even looking forward to continuing her study of Spanish.  She also was thinking of taking up Portuguese!

So, what changed?  Many factors lead to such a significant improvement.   However, I can mainly speak about what we implemented during our sessions.  Below I will write about some things I think were very helpful.  

An educator that sees the learner as an individual Our first few sessions were a time for me to learn about Kaylee. This is also what I do with most of my learners, and I find that it really helps create a plan for them as well as establish good rapport between us.  The very first time we meet; 0lkI like to start with a casual conversation in Spanish. This is a tool that helps me get a feel for not only their level of proficiency and their language skills but also how comfortable they feel using those skills.  Whenever we hit the proverbial wall, I reassure them that it is ok to continue in English. This point tells me where we need to start and saves us both from starting at a level that would be too basic or too advanced.  

Tailored lessons and activitiesRemember the conversation in the first session?   Its purpose is not only to help me find out a baseline from where to start.  It also serves me to get to know the learner so that I can tailor lessons and activities to their specific needs and interests.  Whether in the target language or in their native language, the conversation will include a discussion of hobbies, interests, personality, and subjects that are relevant to the specific learner.  I have been known to make special lessons for learners who were fond of building robots.  My tutoring folder holds a few specific lessons with vocabulary and exercises about carnivore plants and marine biology because I had a leaner that was obsessed with both.   One of my favorite activities of all time was building interactive quizzes for a learner about a tv show we both loved!  In Kaylee’s case, I discovered she liked music and plays an instrument and likes to sing.  Guess what?   We both enjoyed analyzing songs by a couple of South American singer song writers.

Having a one-on-one educatorAll this specialized content is only possible in an individualized setting.  Having individual time with an educator can greatly increase a learner’s progress. Aside from individualized content to engage each learner, an individual lesson allows the learner to move through it at their own pace. For some that might mean being free to power through at greater speed. For others it might mean spending extra time on a specific concept.

Being part of a groupThis might seem to contradict the paragraph above.  However, being part of a learning group and having one on one training are both important.  They are complementary to each other.  Learning a language, just like any skill, requires practice.  The learner that has a natural ability might need less repetition.   On the other hand, those who do not have a natural affinity but are highly motivated are willing to do drills over and over until they achieve their goal.  Most of the people fall somewhere in the middle of these categories.  Many students find mindless drills boring.  Others have technically learned the required knowledge but might feel too shy to use it.  One thing that helps people over this obstacle is “need.”  Learners who get bored easily and learners who are too bashful to use their new language on their own can find the motivation in a group class.  A group class that involves peers talking to each other in the target language, creates that “need” for using the words they have learned.  

Make it relevantStudents often quip “When am I ever going to use this?” about various subjects that are mandatory in school.  Some of them feel like that with foreign language. This makes it very difficult for them to feel motivated and put for the necessary effort and time.  Having a goal in mind really helps.  Language becomes relevant if you know you are going to use it.   Planning a trip to a Spanish speaking country is an obvious choice.  But of course, not every has the means to do that.  A smaller scale endeavor can also be effective.  In the past, I have taught in-person courses that after 8 sessions culminated in a trip to the Olvera Street, a well-known Hispanic heritage site.  The trip included lunch at a Mexican restaurant and my students interacted with the staff in only Spanish.  For our courses online, we do virtual field trips where the learners order out loud from a menu, ask for directions, and interview a Spanish guest speaker.  

At Learning With Joy, we pride ourselves in incorporating all these elements into our offerings. From one-on-one tutoring sessions to group classes, to conversational clubs, Learning With Joy has something for every learner.  We also offer activity workbooks for early learners.  They make for a great way to spend the summer.   We have helped hundreds of learners reach their goals and you can find out more about us at Learning With Joy.

     Oftentimes, at the end of an intense semester of high school English, several students reach out to thank me for reigniting (or igniting) a fondness for reading.  It took several years for me to truly understand why these young people were happy after weeks of reading difficult or conceptually challenging material. In the end, I understood that it is the love of literature that inspires others to love literature.

     Loving literature is not always easy, even for an English teacher.  While some stories grab you tightly and refuse to let go until the last page is turned, other stories drone on and on, daring you to stay awake and pulling you farther into a black hole with every page turn.  Certainly, it is the latter type that forces a teacher, parent, or learner to dig deep into the “black hole” and find a little inspiration, leading us in search of an answer to the question that many learners face: How do I learn to love—or even like—literature that I struggle to read or understand?  

Try Something Unconventional

     Several years ago, I added a new novel to one of my courses. I remember how excited I was to read and teach a book that appeared on many “must-read” lists: The Great Gatsby. However, after finishing the novel, with very little fanfare, I wondered how I would ever create four engaging lessons relating to this novel. If I was uninspired to create content, how would I reach the students taking my course? In desperation, I decided to watch the movie version of the novel. With closed captioning on, I contemplated the unfolding storyline as the words came to life on the screen. Memories of and connections to the beautifully written narrative danced in my mind. As the movie went on, my excitement grew.  Frequently, I stopped the movie, searched my book to confirm the identical phrases, and took notes. By the end of the movie, not only did I fully understand the beauty behind Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, but I was also smitten: I fell in love with The Great Gatsby, and I finally realized what made the novel “great.” 

     Often, when I suggest the idea of taking an unconventional path, my words are met with fear and protests. Parents and teachers are not alone in this sentiment; in fact, in an interview with LA Weekly, Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451, once feared that television was “useless” and filled “with so much useless information, [people] feel full.” While there is validity to the concern over excessive mindless television viewing, I assert that focused and intentional viewing benefits the learner. Whether you follow Westley and Buttercup’s adventure in The Princess Bride or travel with Frodo as he attempts to destroy the ring in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there are solid movie adaptations of several classic novels. 

     In addition to the movie method, there are other unconventional methods that I have used to connect my learners to difficult material. Some alternate ideas include the following: partnering with the learner to create a project-based learning assignment; flipping the assignment by asking the learner to create the comprehension questions; utilizing visual learning with art, computer graphics, or other visual assignments that correlate with the material; researching a unique idea mentioned in the book and finding a real-world application of it; and much more. After deciding on the approach, the next step is to ensure conscientious engagement with the material in an unconventional way. For this, parents and learners can look to any of the countless resources that are available for a small purchase price—some are even free. 

Understand the Context

    In order to understand more about a given piece of literature, it is important to discover the historical context surrounding the time the literary work was written, as well as the time period it was set in. In my case regarding The Great Gatsby, I peeled back the layers of time and landed in the 1920s. I found myself in the Jazz Age: a world of lavish New York parties where ladies wore glitzy flapper dresses, men wore neat suits complete with bow ties and pocket squares, and alcohol flowed like a fountain—despite the prohibition. I also witnessed the deepening divide between socioeconomic classes. Putting this idea into action can be accomplished in several ways. My favorite method is to identify several categories, such as entertainment, politics, technology, and employment, and spend five minutes researching each element. In a parent-learner scenario, the parent and learner choose two topics each, research each topic for five minutes, and return for a shared discussion about the research. Discovering more information about when a novel was written and in what time the novel was set in is a simple process that will enrich your learner’s understanding of the characters, underlying themes, and plot.

Understand the Author

     Literature, especially that of the classic nature, is not only influenced by the specific moment in time the material was written, but it is also influenced by the author who has a unique life experience, cultural and social background, attitude towards various subjects, and point of view.  For this reason, understanding the author, as a person, helps to shape the intentions behind the text. Therefore, in the case of The Great Gatsby, I spent some time, attempting to understand the mind of the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Websites, such as History.com, helped me quickly locate the information I was looking for. Exploring his life revealed a man who left college without a degree and left the military without entering battle, yet he wrote a novel that catapulted him to celebrity status. While he traveled the world and found a modicum of success, he was unable to achieve his dreams. His marriage was unstable, he drank too much, he acquired a lot of debt, his writings were not always received well, and he never achieved the level of wealth he desired. In essence, Fitzgerald’s personal experiences echo many of the characters in The Great Gatsby and highlight an overall tone of disillusionment with “The American Dream.” While this example yielded an important understanding of the story’s context and background, there are times when this information is simply not enough, as the stylistic choices of some authors do not readily resonate with all readers.

Read, Listen, and Listen Again

    Sometimes, there is a disconnect, and the written word needs a bridge that will connect the text to your mind. My favorite connector comes in the form of the audiobook. As an illustration, let’s look at the story of Beowulf which was written by an unknown author. Even the translated version by Seamus Heaney can be difficult to understand; however, by pairing the audio with the written version of this classic story, the story takes shape while Heaney paints the picture of a hero’s journey. Admittedly, reading the audio by itself likely will not help you understand the meaning and vibrancy of a challenging novel; however, reading the book while listening to the audio will bring the words to life. There are a few caveats, though. To achieve a successful connection, you need to listen to the book at a comfortable reading level: not too fast and not too slow. In addition, you actually have to read along with the audio, and many times, it helps to read it without the audio, and then read it simultaneously with the audio. For literature that is in the public domain, you can find free audiobooks on Librivox, and you can locate many pleasant voices reading the text on YouTube; otherwise, consider purchasing the audio for any text that feels difficult to read or understand.

Research, Research, Research

     Research is a valid way to find inspiration. Some literature is difficult at best. Certainly, Shakespeare’s works are well known for challenging even the most studious learners, hence all of the books that have been written to help students understand them. Consider Macbeth for example: not only is Macbeth written in Shakespeare’s unique poetic style, but it is also rich with literary devices and universal themes of ambition, temptation, corruption, and moral decline. Therefore, there are many elements to research when approaching this tragedy: the structure of Shakespearean literature, unfamiliar and unique words from the past, unusual sentence structures, unnatural separations of ideas, the significance of soliloquies, and several literary devices. Equipping yourself with the necessary information and strategies on how to approach an author’s work will transform your reading experience for the better.

Find Inspiration

     In the end, there is no single “right way” to find inspiration and unlock levels of understanding. For challenging texts, it takes time, patience, and a willingness to explore new methods to gain enriched learning. If you find yourself (as the parent or learner) to be completely uninspired, consider seeking out a teacher/tutor that will bring the inspiration for you. The teacher/tutor should love literature and willingly share that love with others. Circling back to my personal story about learners thanking me for inspiring them to read again, I realize that this is what I do in my courses: I love the literature, despite its flaws, so as to inspire others to. . . love the literature.  

Valerie Stone is an IndyEd.com educator who teaches three high school English courses and tutors academic writing and grammar. If you are looking for engaging classes that foster a love of literature, explore some of Valerie's popular high school courses: American Literature & Composition, English 2 Literature & Composition, and British Literature & Composition. 

For many kids, instrument lessons are a right of passage. Music lessons in elementary and high school often foster a lifelong hobby, but they also have immediate benefits.  Studies show impacts on student learning and well-being (see links at the end of this article). Some children gravitate towards music naturally and ask for instrument and voice lessons. In other families, parents or grandparents give the nudge in this direction. With many school districts cutting the arts for budgetary reasons, music lessons fall on families to provide. So how do you know when your child is ready for lessons? And what should you do to get ready?

Child-led Interest

The obvious indicator that your child might be ready for lessons is interest. If your child tells you that they want to learn to sing better or to play an instrument, don’t discourage them. Instead, ask them a few questions:

What about the instrument or singing excites you? 

If the request feels like it's out of the blue, ask them where the idea is coming from. Did they hear a song that they really liked? Is their best friend taking lessons? Does it seem like a neat thing to explore? 

What things do you want to learn how to do?

Many voice and instrument teachers ask about student goals. Even young students may have a specific goal or two in mind when they ask for lessons. If your child doesn’t have specific goals, that’s fine too. Sometimes asking the question and letting your child sit with it for a while helps them figure out what they would like to learn.

What kind of music would you like to learn about?

Most voice and instrument teachers provide a variety of music for lessons so children can explore. However, if you know your child is really into musical theater, it might help to find a voice teacher who works with kids in that area. A child interested in playing jazz on their saxophone needs a jazz/band teacher and not a classical teacher, if possible.

Parent-led Interest

If you would like your child to take music lessons, but they haven’t gravitated towards something specific, make the suggestion, but be open to their ideas. If they don’t buy into the idea, please don’t force them. Music should be fun and not a chore - for both you and your child! Remember, you’ll be the one forcing your kid to sit and practice. 

Have a conversation with them about their favorite music and why they like it. Perhaps they really like the guitar player in a band or they love a particular singer. Also ask them what they’re friends are doing. A buddy in the same music studio might spark their interest in giving lessons a try.

Age, Attention Span, and Abilities

Kids as young as 3 or 4 can start instrument lessons. Look for a teacher that specializes in working with younger children. Lesson format and strategies vary based on a child’s age. Depending on the instrument, younger children aren’t physically developed enough to do what older kids and adults can. That doesn’t mean they can’t start music lessons, but a teacher experienced with this age group knows how to make adjustments and accommodations.

Regardless of age, consider your child’s attention span. Some kids can focus for hours on something while others can’t sit still for five minutes. If your child is the latter, let your prospective teacher know. If your child has any learning challenges or is neurodiverse, take the time to discuss this with your child’s teacher. None of these things precludes your child from taking lessons, but if the teacher isn’t the right fit for your child’s learning needs, your child may end up with a bad experience that turns them off to music altogether. Many music teachers welcome neurodiverse students and students with special learning needs. Take the time to find one who does if your child needs this.

Instruments

If your child picks an instrument that you don’t own, don’t buy one (yet). Many music stores rent instruments for a reasonable fee - perfect for your child to give the instrument a try before you buy something! While you can’t rent a piano, you can purchase a relatively inexpensive keyboard. Music stores often sell used ones if you’re on a budget. Work with your piano teacher to find one that meets your child’s needs.

Let your child experiment - especially if music lessons aren’t initially their idea. If the trumpet isn’t a good fit, maybe the violin will be. If you’re renting an instrument, you have the freedom to return it and try something else. Whether a student finds something and sticks with it or jumps around between instruments before settling on something, they still gain the benefits of lessons.

In Person or Online

The pandemic led music teachers to teach online and many continued to do so after restrictions were lifted. Both modalities have advantages and disadvantages.

In Person Music Lessons

Many students focus better when the teacher is physically in the room with them. The teacher can see/hear everything clearly. Sometimes modeling a concept face-to-face is easier than trying to do it over a webcam. 

The biggest advantage to in person lessons, though, has nothing to do with the lessons themselves. In person lessons often take place in a music studio - a separate space that allows the student freedom to try things. Some children feel shy about making noise in front of other members of their household.

Online Lessons

Today’s technology allows for the teacher and student to hear almost as well as if they were sitting in the same room. Some technologies even eliminate the delay between the two ends of the web meeting, so students and teachers can sing/play music together. Students sometimes need additional equipment like a microphone and headphones to get the full benefit. Ask your teacher what they require.

The biggest advantage online lessons offer comes in the form of choice. Depending on your location, you may only have one teacher - or no teachers - for your child’s instrument of choice and/or learning needs. Moving online quite literally opens a world of options for you to find the perfect teacher for your budding musician.

Expectations

Regardless of the instrument they choose and how they take lessons, most teachers have a few expectations.

Practice

Practice goes hand-in-hand with music lessons. Our brains need to map neural pathways and the only way they can do it is through repetition. That doesn’t mean children need to practice their instruments for hours at a time, though. Focused practice for 10 - 15 minutes several times a week produces results. As your student gets more proficient, increase the practice time up to 30 minutes. If your child wants to practice more, have them take a break after 20 - 30 minutes so their brain has a little time to “digest” what they learned.

Commitment

Lessons typically happen weekly over a span of time. Many teachers work on semester or academic year schedules. Be prepared to commit for at least a semester or a full year. If your child wants to experiment with a couple of instruments, look for a teacher who can teach several instruments or a music school that has several teachers on staff.

If your child is involved in sports, be prepared for conflicting schedules. Learn what your music teacher’s reschedule/cancellation policy is before you need to use it.

Price

Prices vary widely depending on location, teacher experience, and lesson length. If you are on a budget, you may have options, depending on your location. Some private teachers and music schools offer scholarships to low-income families. This may also cover the cost of the instrument rental. If you live near a college that teaches music, call the department and see if undergraduate or graduate students teach private lessons. Some larger school districts offer music lessons as part of their afterschool program at a deeply discounted rate. Some schools even lend instruments for little or no cost to the student. Check with your area high school to see what’s available and, if your student is still in elementary or middle school, if they can participate.

Performance

Not all teachers require participation in recitals. Part of the learning experience, though, is performing. If your prospective teacher doesn’t hold recitals, help your child find ways to perform a couple times a year. School talent shows, bands, orchestras, theater programs, as well as community and church music groups all provide great ways for kids to overcome their stage fright and to share their talents.

What happens if I can’t find a teacher or my child isn’t quite ready for private lessons?

Music at Home

Listen to a variety of music and talk about it. Be open to the music they like and share some of your favorites.  If you play an instrument or sing, perform for/with your child in the comfort of your living room. You don’t have to be a virtuoso - making music with your child is a wonderful bonding experience.

YouTube

If you own the instrument your child is interested in, look up videos on YouTube. Many teachers post beginner-level lesson videos. Try some of them out. While it’s not the same as having a live teacher, these videos can still give your child some experience with their instrument of choice.

Groups & Classes

Look for group learning opportunities. If your child’s school has an extra-curricular band or chorus, encourage them to join. Many churches offer music programs that involve even the youngest singers. If you have a music school in your area, check for group classes and activities offered by the staff. For toddler and preschool age kids, look for Music Together and Kindermusik programs. Many local libraries also offer music activities for younger kids.

About Me

My name is Christina White and I own Air & Ink Studio, an online music & art studio for creatives of all ages. One of my earliest memories is sitting on my mom’s lap as she reached around me to play the piano. She and I sang together, and when we weren’t singing, we played records on our big stereo turntable and danced around the house. When I was four, I asked for piano lessons, but had to wait until the only piano teacher in my town would take me. I was her youngest student when I started. I stuck with piano lessons for 10 years and sang in several choirs.  Even though I went on to major in science in college, I never strayed far from music. I sang professionally as a side hustle for several years after I graduated. Eventually, I got out of the tech rat race and returned to music full time twenty years ago. I am now a performer, voice teacher, music composer/producer, and music composition teacher. Check out my classes and private lessons here on IndyEd. My own daughter grew up in a house full of music and now sings, plays piano, regularly jams out on her ukulele, and is teaching herself to play the bass guitar.

Studies

Researchers Find Music Education Benefits Youth Well-being

How Music Primes the Brain for Learning

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the artistic field is significantly transforming the way artists create and innovate. AI offers new tools that streamline the creative process, generate fresh ideas, while raising complex ethical considerations. This technological advancement presents exciting opportunities for artists across various disciplines to explore new possibilities.

 Traditionally, artists have depended on their imagination and technical skills to bring their visions to life. Using reference photos is a standard practice, though reference photos found on the web create copyright infringement issues. The introduction of AI technology has added a new dimension to this process. By utilizing AI algorithms, artists can now convert verbal descriptions and written instructions into visual representations with remarkable speed and precision. This capability accelerates production and provides a wealth of reference materials that inspire and inform artistic work.

 A significant advantage of AI in art is its ability to produce copyright-free visual references in a multitude of styles and forms. Unlike traditional sources of inspiration, such as stock images or reference photos, AI-generated images are not subject to copyright restrictions. This freedom allows artists to explore a wide range of visual stimuli without the risk of infringing on intellectual property rights, promoting a more open and collaborative creative environment.

One may argue that the use of AI images IS copyright infringement as it is “stealing” the work that is learned from input of thousands of artists.  Let me give you an example of how I use AI to influence my work, not copy from it.

I wanted to recreate Quasimodo, in my Digital Painting Class, from “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, as a young girl.  Feeding my verbal cues into AI, based on the images that I “saw” in my head- it looked something like this:

“…happy Quasimodo with hunchback, one eye swollen shut, big nose as a cute redhead Pixar style pudgy girl - full body from cloth shoes to curly hair ringing the large bells of Notre Dame.”

Some pictures that were generated were close to what I had envisioned. 

Others missed the mark – completely.

 The first photo missed the entire Quasimodo apect of: "...hunchback, one eye swollen shut, big nose... "  The second picture concentrated on these atrtributes TOO much. Taking various aspects from the images that I created, I was able to cement my inner visual conception of the Quasimodo I WANTED to create and came up with this:

This is a piece that is completely my own, inspired by my internal images and images created through AI. AI offers an unlimited supply of copyright-free visual references, reducing the risk of legal complications related to copyright infringement. Unlike sourcing inspiration from platforms like Pinterest, where the origin and usage rights of images may be unclear, AI-generated images offer a legal and readily accessible alternative. This ensures that artists can confidently explore a diverse range of visual stimuli without the burden of copyright concerns, as long as original work is created FROM said images. Despite the benefits of AI in the artistic process, ethical considerations should always be considered regarding its usage. It's crucial for artists to approach AI-generated content with integrity, using it as a reference rather than a substitute for original creativity. 

 The ethical implications of using AI in art must be carefully considered. While AI offers valuable support in the creative process, responsible and ethical use is crucial. This includes being transparent about the use of AI-generated content and giving proper acknowledgment to the creators of the algorithms and datasets used. More and more platforms are tightening up the rules and regulations around posting images and citing those that rea AI generated. 

 Maintaining transparency and integrity is essential to preserve trust within the artistic community and with audiences. Clearly labeling AI-generated content and acknowledging its origins helps artists uphold ethical standards and avoid accusations of plagiarism or misrepresentation. This practice protects the rights of original creators and ensures that artists maintain their credibility and reputation.

 Artists must also be aware of potential biases in AI algorithms. AI is only as good as the data it is trained on, and biases in the training data can lead to biased outcomes. Therefore, it is important for artists to critically evaluate AI-generated content and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or prejudices.

 Despite these challenges, AI technology offers immense potential for the future of art. By using AI responsibly, artists can explore new creative dimensions and push the boundaries of artistic expression. From generating innovative ideas to collaborating with AI systems, the possibilities are endless.

 The integration of AI into the artistic process is a significant advancement for the creative community when used with integrity. By embracing AI technology while maintaining a commitment to transparency, artists can harness its potential to innovate and inspire. As AI continues to evolve, it is up to artists to navigate its complexities and ensure it serves as a tool for ethical artistic exploration and expression.

 Expanding AI's Role in Art

 Another application of AI in art is in personalized content creation. AI can analyze an artist's style and preferences to suggest modifications or generate new pieces that align with their unique aesthetic. This personalized approach can help artists discover new directions for their work and refine their artistic voice. AI can inspire and compel artists to stretch outside of their comfort zones within their own genres and stylizations.

The integration of AI into the explorative creative process during  pre-planning, streamlines this process and provides access to a wealth of visual references- which serve only as a jumping off point to the human artist’s  creative voice.

Ethical Considerations and Best Practices

While the potential of AI in art is vast, it is essential to address ethical considerations and establish best practices for its use. Artists and developers should adhere to guidelines that promote transparency, fairness, and respect for intellectual property.

 One best practice is to ensure that AI-generated content is clearly labeled. When exhibiting or selling art that involves AI, artists should disclose the extent of AI's involvement in the creation process. This transparency helps maintain the integrity of the artwork and fosters trust among viewers and buyers.

 Additionally, artists should be mindful of the sources of their AI training data. Using ethically sourced and diverse datasets can help mitigate biases and ensure that AI-generated content is fair and inclusive. Collaboration with ethicists and AI experts can also provide valuable insights into the responsible use of AI in art.

 To further ethical practices, the artistic community can establish forums and organizations dedicated to discussing the implications of AI in art. These platforms can serve as spaces for sharing knowledge, addressing concerns, and developing standards for ethical AI use. By fostering a community dialogue, artists can collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technology.

The Lure of Using AI Images in Product Sales

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create images for product sales is an enticing proposition for businesses. AI-generated images can be produced quickly and cost-effectively, bypassing the years of training and practice required for human artists. This efficiency appeals to companies seeking to streamline production and reduce costs.

 However, the ease of using AI images comes with its own set of challenges and implications. One significant concern is the potential devaluation of human artistry. Human artists invest decades into honing their craft, developing unique styles, and pushing the boundaries of creativity. This depth of skill and individual expression cannot be replicated by AI, which relies on pre-existing data and algorithms to generate images.  AI images often lack the very “soul” that brings the image to life.

 As AI-generated images become more prevalent, the scarcity and unique value of human-created art may drive up its prices. The human mind's creative ability is limitless, offering innovations and perspectives that AI cannot match. This intrinsic value could lead to a market where human artistry is seen as a premium commodity, highly sought after for its originality and depth. From one human artist to another – save your process videos and work in progress to authenticate the human talent behind your pieces!

 Businesses might initially be drawn to the cost and time savings associated with AI images. However, there will always be a segment of the market that values and is willing to pay a premium for the uniqueness and authenticity of human-created art. Artists who can navigate this evolving landscape, leveraging both their traditional skills and the benefits of AI, will find new opportunities to command higher prices for their work.

 While AI images offer an attractive shortcut for product sales, the irreplaceable value of human creativity ensures that artists will remain indispensable. As the market adjusts to the capabilities of AI, the demand for the distinctiveness and innovation provided by human artists will likely increase, solidifying their role and value in the creative industry.

The Future of AI in Art

Looking ahead, the role of AI in art is likely to expand as technology continues to advance. Emerging AI techniques, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs) and reinforcement learning, offer new possibilities for creative expression. These technologies can generate highly realistic and complex images, providing artists with powerful tools to explore new artistic territories.

 In addition to technical advancements, the future of AI in art will be shaped by ongoing discussions about ethics and best practices. As the artistic community continues to grapple with the implications of AI, it will be important to develop frameworks that ensure the responsible and ethical use of this technology. This includes addressing issues related to copyright, ownership, and the impact of AI on the creative workforce.

The  integration of artificial intelligence into the artistic process represents a significant advancement for the creative community. By embracing AI technology while maintaining a commitment to transparency and integrity, artists can harness their potential to innovate and inspire. As AI continues to evolve, it is up to artists to navigate its complexities and ensure that it serves as a tool for ethical artistic exploration and expression. It is here- the question is: How do we use it ethically?

Using AI Art in the Classroom

 Within the confines of my classes, I try to allow the students to pick what we will draw, as in the Kawaii Doodle Lab and the Character Design Lab. .Sometimes the ideas that are generated are WILD.  In the past, we would spend hours searching reference photos to bring the image together. I use MIDJOURNEY to generate images for inspiration, (and share them with the class) not to be used or copied. In doing so, I like to think that I am contributing to the responsible use of AI for future generations. One of my classes where I depend on AI generated images for inspiration is the Digital Painting Class- where each week is a new adventure in painting!  Check out my class offerings here, for ages 8-108 or my instagram account to see all of the things we have created in my classes!

Education is a cornerstone of personal and societal development, shaping individuals and preparing them to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Yet, despite the critical importance of education, traditional schooling systems often fall short in meeting the diverse needs of all students. The one-size-fits-all approach that dominates conventional classrooms tends to overlook the unique learning styles, paces, and interests of individual students. In this context, the concept of personalized education emerges as a powerful alternative—one that acknowledges and nurtures the distinct potential of each learner.

Homeschooling, in particular, stands out as an educational model that can effectively deliver personalized education. By tailoring the learning experience to the specific needs of each student, homeschooling offers numerous benefits that extend beyond academic achievement. This article explores the reasons why every student deserves personalized education and delves into the various advantages of homeschooling as a means to achieve this goal.

Understanding Personalized Education

Personalized education is a teaching approach that customizes the learning experience to align with each student's unique strengths, challenges, interests, and learning styles. It moves away from the standardized model of education, where all students are expected to learn the same material in the same way and at the same pace, toward a more individualized approach that recognizes and addresses the diversity of learners.

In personalized education, students are not passive recipients of information. Instead, they are active participants in their learning journey, with their goals, interests, and preferences playing a central role in shaping their educational experience. This approach can be implemented in various ways, such as:

• Differentiated Instruction: Teachers modify their teaching methods and materials to cater to the diverse learning needs of students. This can include offering different levels of difficulty in assignments, using a variety of instructional strategies, and providing additional support or enrichment activities based on individual student needs.

• Individual Learning Plans (ILPs): Students follow personalized learning paths that outline specific goals, resources, and assessments tailored to their needs. ILPs are dynamic and can be adjusted as students progress, ensuring that the education remains relevant and effective.

• Technology-Enhanced Learning: The use of educational technologies, such as adaptive learning software and online courses, allows for a more personalized learning experience. These tools can adjust content and pace based on the student's performance, providing targeted support where needed.

Why Personalized Education Matters

The importance of personalized education cannot be overstated. In traditional classrooms, the focus is often on covering the curriculum rather than ensuring that each student truly understands the material. This approach can leave some students feeling lost and frustrated, while others may become bored and disengaged because the material is not challenging enough.

Personalized education, on the other hand, ensures that learning is meaningful and relevant to each student. It recognizes that students are individuals with their own unique abilities, interests, and learning styles, and it adapts to meet these needs. By doing so, personalized education can foster a love of learning, build confidence, and help students develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

The Benefits of Homeschooling as a Means of Personalized Education

Homeschooling offers an ideal environment for personalized education. It allows for a level of customization and flexibility that is often impossible to achieve in traditional school settings. Here are some of the key benefits of homeschooling in providing personalized education:

1. Tailored Curriculum

One of the most significant advantages of homeschooling is the ability to design a curriculum that is tailored to the student's individual needs and interests. In a traditional classroom, the curriculum is typically standardized, with little room for adaptation to individual learning styles or interests. In contrast, homeschooling allows parents and educators to create a curriculum that reflects the student's strengths, challenges, and passions.

For example, if a student has a strong interest in science, the homeschooling curriculum can include more in-depth studies in this area, along with related hands-on experiments and field trips. Similarly, if a student struggles with a particular subject, the curriculum can be adjusted to provide additional support and practice, ensuring that the student builds a strong foundation before moving on to more advanced topics.

2. Flexible Scheduling

Another significant benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility it offers in terms of scheduling. Traditional schools operate on a fixed schedule, with students expected to learn and complete assignments within specific timeframes. This can be challenging for students who learn at a different pace or who have other commitments, such as extracurricular activities or part-time jobs.

Homeschooling allows for a more flexible schedule that can be adjusted to fit the student's needs. For instance, if a student is more alert and focused in the afternoon, the school day can be structured to accommodate this preference. Similarly, if a student needs more time to master a particular concept, the schedule can be adjusted to allow for additional practice and review.

This flexibility also extends to the school year. Homeschooling allows for the possibility of year-round learning, with breaks scheduled as needed. This can prevent the "summer slide," where students lose some of the knowledge and skills they gained during the school year, and can help maintain a consistent learning experience.

3. One-on-One Instruction

In traditional classrooms, teachers are often responsible for managing large groups of students, which can make it difficult to provide individualized attention. As a result, some students may not receive the support they need to fully understand the material, while others may not be challenged enough.

Homeschooling, on the other hand, allows for one-on-one instruction, which can be highly effective in meeting the student's individual needs. With homeschooling, the educator (often a parent) can focus entirely on the student, providing immediate feedback, answering questions, and offering guidance as needed. This personalized attention can lead to a deeper understanding of the material and greater academic success.

4. Fostering a Love of Learning

One of the most important goals of education is to foster a love of learning that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, traditional schooling, with its emphasis on standardized testing and rigid curricula, can sometimes stifle students' natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

Homeschooling, by contrast, offers the opportunity to create a learning environment that is engaging, stimulating, and fun. Because the curriculum and teaching methods can be tailored to the student's interests and learning style, homeschooling can help cultivate a genuine passion for learning. Whether it's exploring a new subject, working on a creative project, or taking a field trip to a museum, homeschooling provides endless opportunities for students to discover the joy of learning.

5. Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Personalized education through homeschooling encourages students to take ownership of their learning. This autonomy fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students learn to set goals, seek out resources, and reflect on their progress.

For example, in a homeschooling environment, students might be given the freedom to choose a research project on a topic of interest. This requires them to identify a research question, gather information from various sources, analyze the data, and present their findings. This process not only deepens their understanding of the subject but also helps them develop valuable skills in critical thinking, research, and communication.

These skills are essential not only for academic success but also for navigating the complexities of the modern world. By encouraging students to think critically and solve problems independently, homeschooling helps prepare them for the challenges they will face in higher education, their careers, and beyond.

6. Building Confidence and Self-Esteem

When education is tailored to their individual needs, students are more likely to succeed and gain confidence in their abilities. This boost in self-esteem can positively impact all areas of their lives, from academics to social interactions.

In a traditional school setting, students may feel pressure to conform to the expectations of their peers and teachers, which can lead to anxiety and a lack of confidence. Homeschooling, however, allows students to learn in a supportive, non-judgmental environment where they can be themselves and take pride in their accomplishments.

This positive self-image can carry over into other areas of life, helping students build strong relationships, take on leadership roles, and pursue their goals with confidence.

7. Stronger Family Bonds

One of the often-overlooked benefits of homeschooling is the opportunity it provides for strengthening family bonds. In a homeschooling environment, parents and children spend more time together, working closely on educational activities and exploring new topics. This shared experience can lead to stronger relationships and a deeper understanding of each other's strengths, challenges, and interests.

Homeschooling also allows for more family involvement in the learning process. Parents can take an active role in their child's education, offering guidance, support, and encouragement. Siblings can learn together, helping each other and sharing their discoveries. This collaborative approach to education can create a strong sense of family unity and shared purpose.

8. Preparation for the Future

The personalized education model aligns closely with the demands of the 21st-century workforce, which values adaptability, creativity, and lifelong learning. By nurturing these skills from an early age, personalized education through homeschooling prepares students to navigate the ever-changing landscape of future careers and societal challenges.

In a homeschooling environment, students have the flexibility to explore a wide range of subjects and interests, from traditional academic topics to more practical skills like coding, entrepreneurship, or environmental stewardship. This broad-based education helps students develop the versatility and resilience they will need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Moreover, homeschooling allows students to take on real-world responsibilities, such as managing their time, setting goals, and pursuing independent projects. These experiences build the self-discipline, initiative, and problem-solving abilities that are essential for success in higher education and beyond.

Conclusion

Every student deserves an education that is as unique as they are, and homeschooling offers an ideal platform for delivering personalized education. By tailoring the learning experience to the individual needs, interests, and goals of each student, homeschooling can unlock their full potential and set them on a path to lifelong success.

The benefits of personalized education through homeschooling are profound and far-reaching. From enhanced academic performance to the development of critical thinking skills, increased confidence, and stronger family bonds, homeschooling provides a rich and rewarding educational experience that prepares students not just for academic success, but for life.

As we continue to evolve our understanding of education and the diverse needs of learners, it is essential to recognize the value of personalized education and the unique opportunities that homeschooling provides. By embracing this approach, we can create a more equitable, engaging, and effective education system that truly meets the needs of every student.

Lonestar Homeschool Academy is an educational support program focused on nurturing minds and empowering futures through a purely academic and life skills-oriented approach. The program emphasizes a flexible and personalized learning environment, allowing students to learn at their own pace and utilize technology responsibly. On top of core subjects, their curriculum includes essential life skills, such as personal finance and auto maintenance. They advocate for educational freedom, contrasting with traditional school restrictions like phone bans and the one-size-fits-all teaching method. The program fosters a supportive community for like-minded families and are building the program for and with their families.

At IndyEd.com, our goal is to provide students with a diverse array of learning opportunities. That's why we provide both secular and nonsecular (religious) education options. These designations are the divisions we use to categorize our educators and their offerings, as we recognize the importance of these two primary educational hierarchies to learners. However, we understand that these terms can be confusing for some. Let's clarify their meanings!

Secular Curriculum

Secular curriculum refers to educational content that is entirely free from religious influence or affiliation. While it may mention religion in a historical or cultural context, it does not promote or advocate for any specific religious beliefs or doctrines. Secular curricula are designed to provide a learning environment for students who prefer an education free from religious influence. With secular curriculum, you can expect topics such as evolution, the geologic age of the Earth, and other topics that don't always align with faith-based systems. You will NOT encounter topics such as young Earth creationism. There is no discussion at all of any topics that pertain to religious belief systems.Religion can and should be discussed as needed in various secular classes. For example, a secular class on European history will discuss various religions and the role those religions played in a historical and/or cultural context. The class would NOT promote any of the doctrines or beliefs of those religions as fact. 

Nonsecular Curriculum

Nonsecular (religious) curriculum incorporates religious beliefs, teachings, or doctrines into the educational content. It may be affiliated with a specific religion or religious institution, and the curriculum reflects the values, beliefs, and teachings of that religion. Nonsecular curricula are used when the goal is to integrate religious teachings into academic subjects. With nonsecular curricula, depending on the belief system being taught, you may encounter topics such as young Earth creationism in science and history. You may or may not encounter topics such as evolution, and those topics may be discussed from an apologetics standpoint. 

There is a subset of religious curriculum called neutral. Neutral curriculum refers to educational content that, while not specifically teaching any faith based content, also does not teach secular content. In neutral science or history curriculum for example, there would be no mention of evolution or young Earth creationism.

In summary, secular curriculum is entirely free from religious influence and nonsecular curriculum incorporates religious teachings into the educational content. The choice of curriculum depends on the educational philosophy, goals, and preferences of the learner. To find the curriculum and educational resources that best fit your individual learning goals, make sure you choose secular or nonsecular from the CURRICULUM TYPE dropdown menu in our search engine. If the designation of secular and nonsecular is important to you, we recommend that you have a thorough discussion with the educator prior to purchase to ensure you are receiving the curriculum type you desire.

You may be surprised how many times a day a student raises their hand, says they have a question, and then proceeds to describe their favorite ice cream toppings.   

As a teacher, I love having conversations and chatting with my students about all of the fun activities of their weeks and learning about their favorite interests! This brings so much joy to the classroom and really helps teachers, students, and classmates to connect. 

However, when this type of conversation begins to shift the classroom off of topic from the lesson at hand, then it can cause a distraction and keep the learning environment from being the best that it can be. 

It is important for students to understand the difference between a question and a comment, especially when participating in an online class. This will help the class to run smoother, stay on topic, and improve the overall class environment. Many younger students, ages 10 and younger, often confuse the difference between the two. One of my favorite ways to help students grasp this concept is by playing the game I created called, 'Comment vs. Question.'

How to play

First, explain to the child(ren) the difference between a question and a comment: 

A question seeks information, an answer, or clarification on a topic. It often asks about the other person's interest or experiences, and typically ends with a question mark (?). For example: 'What is your name?', 'How old are you?', 'Do you have any pets?' 

On the other hand, a comment expressions a statement, typically a fact, it provides information or expresses an opinion. This type of statement typically ends with a period (.) or an exclamation mark (!). For example: I have 3 dogs. I love chocolate cake. I am six years old. 

Setup

The purpose of the game, Questions vs. Comments, is to help the child(ren) to grasp the differences between these two concepts. This game is excellent for building mastery on the topic, while still having lots of fun! 

The game will be set up similarly to Red Light, Green Light. You may play this game indoors or outdoors. Find a large space such as a living room, yard, or driveway. Have the child(ren) stand against a wall, fence, or line. Remove any objects out of the way, the students will be running or walking across the area. Choose someone (typically an adult or older sibling) to be "it". This individual will be the person who asks the questions and makes the statements, while the children are the active participates.

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to get to the other side of the room before your opponent (if only one child is playing, then the purpose is simply to reach the other side as quickly as possible) in order to win.

When the child(ren) are asked a question, they must STOP (this is the Red Light). When a child is told a statement they are allowed to GO (this is the Green Light). If the child goes when they are supposed to stop, or stop when they are supposed to go, they must take one step back. For more of a challenge, you can have the child return all the way back to the beginning. As the guardian, you may chose the best fit for your child. 

Winning

The first child to reach the other side of the room, yard, or driveway wins the game. If only one child is playing, you can time the race and have the child try to beat their time across the area each time they play. The game is then repeated until the child(ren) have built an understanding of the difference between a question and a comment, or have grown tired of playing and need a break.

Questions

Here are some questions and comments you may state during the game. Feel free to come up with your own as well! Get creative and have fun! The kids LOVE silly questions and comments.    

1. My dog loves to eat bacon flavored ice cream and pizza. 

2. What would you do if you woke up one morning and everything was upside down?

3. What do you think would happen if an elephant tried to ride a bike?

4. I saw a cow surfing in the ocean yesterday, her fur was blowing in the breeze.

5. What would you do if you woke up with blue hair?

6. If you eat too many carrots, you might start hopping like a bunny.

7. Penguins secretly love to surf when no one is watching.

8. Do you think dinosaurs have pillow fights before bedtime?

9. What would your house look like if it were made entirely out of candy?

10. If you drink too much gatorade, you might turn into a gator. 

11. If you had to wear a costume all day, what would you wear?

12. If you had to chose between eating something really sour or really spicy, which would you chose?

13. I love singing at the top of my lungs in the shower.

14. If you could chose to switch places with any cartoon character, who would you chose?

15. If you could fly like a bird, where would you go?

16. If I had a pet dragon, I would name it Reginald. 

17. Why do you think giraffes have really long necks?

18. If my dog talked, I think it would have a really high pitch voice and sound like Mickey Mouse.

19. What do you think a rainbow tastes like? 

20. I saw a chipmunk wearing tiny sunglasses today, it was adorable!

21. My hotdog just told me that it wants to be a superhero when it grows up.

22. If you could be any fruit, which one you be and why?

23. Did you know that your dental floss secretly does the floss dance when no one is looking?

24. I think I saw my pencil writing by itself the other day, it was magical! 

25. Do you think fish need swimming lessons?

I truly hope your family enjoyed playing this game and helping your student(s) grasp the concept between a question and a comment!

I would be delighted to have your student in my classroom! Feel free to reach out with any questions! 

~ Sara K.

https://www.indyed.com/secular-curriculum/sara-kalbhenn