classroom resources Archives - Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Jan 30 2018

25 Great YouTube Channels for Students

People have long watched YouTube for entertainment. But, as the amount of educational content keeps growing, YouTube is increasingly becoming a valid learning tool for today’s students.

For myself, YouTube is one of the first places I go to learn something free. I see and hear of its benefits from families I work with throughout the year. I imagine a not-too-distant future in which people learn directly from YouTube and similar platforms, and no longer need anything else. Strange as it seems, a world without the need for books or organized curriculum may not be very far away.

I spent this morning trying to recall some of the YouTube channels my family really enjoyed over the last few years. I created a list of some of our favorite channels, and added several I recently discovered on my own. With so much content, it wasn’t easy choosing only 25 channels to share with you. Once you begin watching, you’ll probably find others that appeal to you, too. Stick with a couple of topics, or branch off as you desire. Sometimes, following rabbit trails and discovering new things can be part of the fun.

To protect your students, I must suggest you preview all videos first. Then, enjoy some of my picks with your students this year.

My Top 25 YouTube Learning Channels

in alphabetical order, each opens new window

The Backyard Scientist

The Brain Scoop

The Slow Mo Guys

Timeline – World History Documentaries

Today I Found Out

Veritasium

Know of a great learning channel I missed? Add a COMMENT for my readers.

And SHARE with friends, will you? Other parents want to hear about this!

Happy viewing!

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Check out Marie-Claire’s new book for Florida home educators…it’s on Amazon HERE.

Nov 14 2017

Struggling with times tables? These tools can help.

May contain affiliate links

Students of all ages sometimes need help learning “times tables” or other math facts. While this can be inconvenient, it’s not at all uncommon, so I urge parents not to worry.

When math facts seem to be taking a while, it’s a good idea to step back and try other ways to approach it before moving on. Since all children are unique, finding the right system could take a couple of tries…but the facts will come (take heart, eventually…) either thru learning, rote memorization, some other way that makes sense to the student, or all of the above.

Here’s a short list of products, printables and services to try:

a basic “times table” you can print from your desk top (see photo of my desktop, above, for examples)
Times Tales book and/or DVD system, purchase required, free sample download
Learn Math Fast system teaching basic math facts, counting money; free online samples and placement tests
MobyMax free and subscription based math practice online for grades K-8
Xtramath free practice in basic facts, requires a login; resources for students, parents and teachers
Fun4TheBrain’s Alien Munchtime Game Free online game for younger students, olders may enjoy, too
Master Math free middle school math instruction using videos, worksheets and self-grading quizzes
Multiplication dot com free practice with math facts, requires a log in, resources for students, parents and teachers
Instructables free instructions for learning times tables using fingers and hands
Quick Study Laminated Guide quick reference sheet available for purchase
Multiplication Wrap Ups hand-held learning tool available for purchase
Times Tables the Fun Way book of stories and rhymes
Multiplication War card game available for purchase
Multiplication Rap CD available for purchase
Schoolhouse Rock videos found free on Youtube

List of products to teach multiplication “times tables”:

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For math facts, there’s almost always a method, tool, or product that resonates with each unique student. For us, homemade games, visuals, rhymes, and all kinds of silliness worked well, too!

If you’ve had success with a method not listed here, please leave a COMMENT so my readers can give it a try.

To your success,

Oct 25 2017

If you’re suddenly homeschooling, these free downloads can help

In the typical scenario, families decide to homeschool, spend time preparing, and have flexibility in making decisions leading up to the big day.

In other homes, unexpected circumstances can require making quick decisions to provide schooling for children who’ve been displaced, or whose homes or schools have been destroyed.

Families have long chosen homeschooling for reasons of health, travel, unexpected job loss, and a host of other issues. The recent weather emergencies in Texas, Florida and California have added to the list of reasons for suddenly homeschooling, affecting families who’d never considered this method of education before.

A large part of what I do is help families in unplanned homeschooling situations, helping to get them established where they live, and collect the resources they need to jump in as best they can during unsettled situations.

I even wrote a book to explain how sudden and unexpected homeschooling can occur — and be successful – with only 2 short weeks of planning and preparation (often less).

Homeschooling isn’t always a family’s first choice.

Those of us who’ve been homeschooling for many years may tend to forget that many families homeschool in less than ideal situations.

If you’re a family who is homeschooling when you never expected you’d be, I’d like to be helpful as you get ready to bring your children home.

I’ve included some links, below, where you can get 2 of my resources absolutely free. It’s my way of saying “welcome” to home education, and letting you know you are not alone as you stick your toes into uncharted waters.

If there is anything else I can do, don’t hesitate to ask.

Get a free chapter of my book “Suddenly Homeschooling” (instant download on your screen)

Get a free copy of my lesson planning booklet called “Plan Your Own Homeschool Curriculum” (requires coupon code: FREEPLANNER17)

This isn’t just for you. Feel free to share with other friends in need.

To your success,

If you’re in Florida, be sure to check out Marie-Claire’s new book especially for families in the Sunshine State:

The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling

Aug 02 2017

Sex Education: Secular and biblical resources to help teach about puberty, birth control, abstinence, and more

May contain affiliate links

Each family is different and each prefers to handle these topics their own way. In this article, I present just a few of the many, many resources available to help parents introduce these topics in their own way, at a time deemed appropriate by them.

Note, I have not personally reviewed each of these books and courses — that is up to you, the parent, to preview in advance of giving to your child.

Listed in no particular order. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. All open a new window:

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Lifespan Sexuality Education

There’s No Place Like Home for Sex Education lesson plans from Advocates for Youth

Passport 2 Purity program

Sonlight Health curriculum

Becoming a Teen by Jossey-Bass

Time 4 Learning high school health course

Changing Lives, Changing Bodies book by Harmony Press

Tim Tebow’s Guide, entitled “Know Who You Are”

Resources by Pam Stenzel

What’s Happening to my Body? by William Morrow books

What’s Going On Down There? by Karen Gravelle

The Guy Book: An Owner’s Manual by Crown Books

How to talk confidently to your child about sex from Concordia Press

It’s Perfectly Normal from The Family Library

Digital tools from Planned Parenthood

Health Course Grades 9-12 From Currclick

The Talk Book: 7 lessons about biblical sexuality

For Goodness Sex book Al Vernacchio

Taking Charge of Your Fertility book Tony Weschler

Art of Natural Family Planning book

Love, Sex and God (for young men)

Love, Sex and God (for young women)

Sex Ed Library of resources from SEICUS Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States

Kiss The Girls and Made Them Cry book Lisa Bevere

The Story of Me (God’s Design for Sex) book

Facing the Facts book Stan and Brenna Jones

For more curriculum products and book lists, you may want to search HERE.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Jun 30 2017

High School Literature: When you want to use whole books

May contain affiliate links

When high schooling our students, it’s important to cram in as much literature as is reasonably possible. Without getting into the rationale, I cannot overstate the value of reading good books.

If you’re searching for products to use, please know that high school lit can be read/taught in pieces or using whole books. Those in the market for a whole book approach will appreciate this list.

Resources for High School Literature

Using whole books

(Each opens a new window)

For purchase:

Carol Kinsey’s Creative Writing Through Literature: Adventures in Non-Fiction

Sharon Watson’s Illuminating Literature: When Worlds Collide

Hewitt Homeschooling’s Literature Courses

Progeny Press Literature Guides

Notgrass History / Literature

Brave Writer’s Literature

Learning Language Arts Through Literature

Essentials in Writing’s Course entitled, “Essentials in Literature”

7 Sisters Literature Guides

Total Language Plus

Memoria Press

Sonlight

The Reader’s Odyssey by Dena M. Luchsinger

Classic Academic Press’s Literature Guides

For Free:

Cummings Study Guides

Spark Notes

Novel Guide

Glencoe’s Literature Guides

Nancy Polette’s Literature Guides

Class Zone

Grade Saver

The Best Notes

Georgia Department of Virtual Learning

Literature Learning Ladders

Shmoop

Cliff Notes

Litcharts

Not responsible for broken or inactive links. Please preview content before assigning to your student.

Looking for more curriculum choices? You might like my BIG LISTS.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschool pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed for illustrating how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.