e-course 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 16 2017

What’s your adrenal story? Are you lazy? Are you crazy?

I am not a medical doctor. Use this information at your own risk.

I’ve been writing about my journey to adrenal health (starting here), sharing my research, and explaining what has worked for me and countless sufferers I’ve met over the years. In the previous article, I recommended adding nutriceuticals to your diet. In upcoming articles, I’ll share even more tips for achieving adrenal balance.

Today’s topic is about looking back on your adrenal journey. This exercise is important since it identifies behaviors leading to adrenal imbalance in the first place. Looking to the past is crucial in avoiding the same kinds of problems in the future.

I’ll use myself as an example. Bear with me as I describe how long this took me to finally figure out.

Back to My Story

The first time I experienced adrenal fatigue, I was married and in my early 30’s, juggling a challenging job with a stressful daily commute, and trying to deal with several difficult people who just wouldn’t go away. I didn’t know what it was then, but I see clearly in the rear view mirror. I was skipping meals and skipping sleep. Most days, I was even skipping going to the bathroom. I wasn’t taking proper care of myself.

The second time I had adrenal issues, I was chasing around a toddler and expecting another child, trying to maintain a successful career, and still be the kind of wife and mother I thought I should be. Also, those stressful people were still making me miserable — I hadn’t learned how to disconnect from others who stole my happiness. Again, I didn’t know what was going on. But, looking back, I see the stress I put on my adrenal glands (and, frankly, other parts of my body too).

In those early cases, I tried different things and eventually felt a little better. But I didn’t have a comprehensive plan for healing (articles like these weren’t available). Worse, I went back to the same habits after every crisis.

Which explains why it happened a third time after delivering a third child and enduring a houseful of foreign guests a few weeks later. I was beginning to understand myself at that point, so I knew some of the things that sent me over the edge (overscheduling myself, too high expectations, energy vampires, and house guests). Though I finally started disconnecting from people who caused me stress, I remained stubborn about the other life changes I really needed to make.

By the fourth time my adrenals went out, I studied about hormones and the human body and learned everything about natural healing I could get my hands on. Feeling the worst I’d ever felt in my life, I was desperate for answers. With no other choice, I finally put all the pieces together, and healed myself for good.

Examining past behaviors can prevent the same crisis from happening in the future #adrenal fatigue…

Click To Tweet

What’s Your Story?

The reason I told you my history was so you would understand how these things can go. It isn’t mysterious, but a clear pattern of not listening to the body as it gradually falls apart.

As you can see, I wasn’t lazy and I wasn’t crazy — what happened to me was real (and perfectly understandable). No amount of being told I needed exercise or a trip to the psychiatrist would’ve helped. In fact, those things only added guilt and frustration to a struggle that was already hard enough to figure out.

Maybe your story is like mine, or maybe it’s quite a bit different. Your body might be like mine, but probably it’s a little different, too. I could tell you what I did each time my adrenals broke down, but could never guarantee the same results. It’s like that list of stressors I wrote about. I felt better after eliminating certain stressors of mine, but there are likely others that really bother you.

What’s important, then, is to review your own life story. What kinds of things set you over the edge? What are your exact symptoms? When do you notice your adrenal fatigue is at its worst (morning, late at night, after a meal)? Do you notice anything different when you eat/don’t eat certain foods? Keeping a journal for a few weeks can be really helpful when answering these questions. If you’ve got recent labs or blood work, tuck those in your journal, too.

You’e not lazy or crazy. Here’s what to do. #adrenalfatigue #notlazyorcrazy

Click To Tweet

Stick with me as we conclude this series in the next few articles (SUBSCRIBE on my home page if you like). If you start doing the things I’m suggesting, I think you’ll notice improvements very soon.

As a coach, writer, recovered over-doer and busyness addict, I understand the challenges of creating a balanced, healthy lifestyle while the mind tries to sabotage your success. In my journey to vibrant health, I created a personalized health system of nutrition and supplementation, lifestyle changes, and I retrained my mind and the energy of my body. I view my success as the formula to my happy, healthy life. I now empower other women to create their own personalized formulas, including the tools and strategies just right for them! Amazing life shifts come from our relationships. I look forward to helping you, too!

Nov 10 2017

Targeted Supplements for Adrenal Health

I am not a medical doctor. Use this information at your own risk. This article may contain affiliate links.

I’ve been writing about my journey with adrenal fatigue (starting here), sharing some of my research, and explaining what has worked for me and others I’ve encountered over the years. In my previous article, I told you what I eat. In this article, I’ll tell you the other things I eat.

But, first, this.

Can You Heal Yourself?

My goal in writing this series was to to give you enough information to help yourself. Many people heal from dis-ease and illness on their own, so it’s possible to DIY the rebalancing of adrenal hormones, too.

On the other hand, what I’m sharing about today is confusing and more complicated than previous topics. If performed incorrectly, there’s the potential of disrupting health in other ways; frankly, it can even be dangerous. In light of the seriousness of this topic, it’s a good idea to hire a health partner for this part of your healing. If you do, I recommend finding a natural, alternative, functional, integrative or holistic health practitioner to get this step right (that’s important, since traditional doctors are usually unable to help).

Taking Vitamins and Supplements

By now, most people know it’s impossible to get the nutrients our bodies need from food alone. At least, not from the foods readily available in this country, and certainly not in the quantities it would take for optimal health. It’s why so many Americans are chronically ill, why there’s a huge market for miracle products, and why advertisers are successful pushing systems to [allegedly] solve all manner of health issues.

I am of the opinion that every American would probably benefit by supplementing what they eat with “nutriceuticals” (the term used to describe vitamins, minerals, and other formulas designed to create health). But, instead of going with the latest all-in-one product or formulation, I think people should take a very exact approach.

To me, nutritional supplementation is like chemistry — it requires accuracy and precision, not just the dumping of substances into a container and waiting for a reaction. That’s my approach — full disclosure. I’m not big on multi-vitamins, unless someone needs exactly what is in the formulation, in exactly those doses.

Supplementation is like chemistry. It requires accuracy & precision #adrenalfatigue…

Click To Tweet

Adrenal Support

Turns out, when the adrenals are imbalanced, nutritional supplementation is very important. Since the adrenals produce many hormones that perform many jobs, in addition to hormones themselves, other things can go out of balance, too. So, this is where the nutriceuticals come in, and where it becomes confusing trying to figure out which exact formulas will solve the imbalance.

Not everyone understands how vitamins and supplements work. I know I didn’t at first. What happens is that some substances work together, while others interfere with each other in a way. Still others require their own support in order to even be effective. It’s a puzzle for sure, but a puzzle that someone with the right training can figure out quickly and easily.

When adrenals are imbalanced supplementation is really important. #adrenalfatigue #notlazyorcrazy

Click To Tweet

I personally take many things when my adrenals are run down. I also take other things every single day of the year. Something I learned over the years is to tune in to all the areas of my body, not just the ones I think require support, and help them each individually. What that looks like, at least for me, is continually checking in, monitoring, tweaking, and changing the supplements I take throughout my life.

People want specifics, so I’ll share examples that work for me (but may not be appropriate for you): Though I eat well, I consume extra iodine. Even though I live in Florida, I watch my level of vitamin D3. For adrenal support, I add this magnesium powder into my green drinks. I use Holy Basil when stressed or very busy, enjoying this particular tea on a regular basis.

Those are just examples of products that work for me. I could tell you everything else I take, but I can’t tell you what your body requires. I wish I could give you a list, but because I care about you, I want you to get this part exactly right.

What I Recommend

What I recommend for supplementation is one of two things. Either A) do some testing on yourself (either muscle test, carefully experiment, get your own lab work, or all of the above) and do extensive research to learn what you need; or B) hire a professional.

If it’s your desire to study this field and take the DIY approach, do it. Though I warn you — it’s a part-time job! Or, if it’s within your budget to hire a practitioner, I highly recommend doing that instead.

In the next article, I’ll share additional techniques that may help re-balance adrenal hormones. You’re invited to SUBSCRIBE using the button on my home page, and the article will be delivered to your Inbox when it’s ready.

Hope to see you in the next article,

Nov 05 2014

Climb that ladder. But remember to bring the kiddies along, too.

I’m about to push a button. By writing about something a little touchy.

I fear I may ruffle some feathers.

In advance — I’m sorry.

But, if you’ve been with me for some time, you’ve begun to understand. Read previous posts if you have to.

You know I don’t want you to settle. And I don’t think you need to sacrifice yourself just to homeschool, either.

Remember, I started this blog, this web site, and began offering my services because I want your life to be extraordinary.

Mine is.

I know you want that, too.

But, if I’m right, in addition to homeschooling, making a home, and being a parent, another part of you wants personal and professional success.

You want a job, a career, and a reason to get up in the morning besides math and laundry.

You seek online popularity. A following. Connection. A side income. Free product. An outlet, a hobby, fulfillment, recognition, appreciation, and the rest. Or, maybe you need to replace — even exceed – a full-time income, too. I get that. I really do.

You can have it.

But, a word of caution…

Your kids need you, too.

See, if you aren’t careful, observant, ultra vigilant and very-very-very aware, your path to success can be detrimental to your kids.

That’s right — you might actually harm them.

In fact, while it may seem innocent enough, your commitment to your success, your personal evolution, your professional development — while commendable and certainly very valuable for you – well, it could leave them (your kids) in the dust.

…your personal evolution, your professional development…could leave your kids in the dust.

Click To Tweet

The dust, folks.

In search of your own success, isn’t it possible — even a teensy bit possible – that there isn’t enough of you left for them?

Taking your attention away from your kids and heaping it upon yourself has a way of undermining things. Your homeschooling, for sure. But, in reality, everything surrounding and having to do with your kids.

Let me be very clear. For us homeschool parents, focusing on ourselves is necessary. It’s required for our health, a prerequisite for our sanity, and critically necessary for our relationships and overall happiness. It’s a no-brainer, really. ALL parents need a break every once in a while.

But overly focusing on ourselves (our blogs, our stats, our social media, our goals, our training) is risky. Unless well-scheduled and well-balanced, there may be little time left to focus on the other things we need to do. As in, our kiddies.

When climbing your own ladder of success, please — I beg you. Take your children with you.

When climbing your own ladder of success, please — I beg you. Take your children with you.

Click To Tweet

See, it’s a balancing act. And I’m worried. Because, for some of you, that balance may not be quite right.

I worry you may ignore them.

I worry you may shush them, assign busywork, brush them off, or turn on the television/computer/video box, a little too much.

I worry the lure of a second income, the distraction of social media, and the whole ‘I can have it all’ mentality may suck you in.

And, heck, I’ll just say it…I worry achieving your professional goals may make you less-than-a-great-parent. Not forever. But at a time when your kids really need you.

Have I ever been guilty? You bet. But, fortunately, I think I learned quickly. I can tell when I’ve ignored my role or my family just a little too much. I can recognize when I have allowed something in our home or school or health or relationships to slip. Either I notice it, or they tell me.

That’s why I don’t blog more often.

That’s why my list of projects is always a mile long.

Believe me, this all takes practice. I’m not perfect, either. It takes trial and error to get the balance just right, and then things go and change, so you have to start all over again. In our home, this seems to happen several times a year.

But it’s worth it, don’t you think? Because the kids won’t need 100% of you forever.

Besides, your kids want to climb, too. They need to. That’s why you’re doing everything you do!

Try to remember why you’re homeschooling, as this will guide you. You’ll know when to give the kids a boost, helping them to reach the first and second steps. You’ll know when to hold their hands, and when to back up and just start holding the ladder. You’ll know when to stand there watching nervously, and when it’s time to turn your back so they can climb alone.

And, if you’ve done your job right, they’ll know how to avoid the top-most, wobbly step.

And then there will be more time for you.

So, when you plan your success, parents, feel free to climb separately from your children, or by holding hands together.

But, please, just don’t climb alone.

Other articles you might like:

Time out for moms and dads

Growing great habits

The importance of listening to your kids

Working parents can homeschool, too

SHARE it:

Jul 25 2014

{Day 5} College Prep High Schooling — Marketing Yourself

Day 5: Marketing Yourself

[View the entire series HERE]

By now, you understand the importance of taking the right courses, prioritizing extra-curriculars and preparing for tests so you can earn great scores. Following that advice, you’ll graduate successfully and be ready to rock the college world.

But there is still one step left, and it’s a big one — “marketing” yourself (a/k/a reminding colleges why they should pick you). This is not the time to be timid about your accomplishments, because college acceptance depends on it. For best results, you’ll really need to toot your own horn.

So, how exactly do homeschooled Seniors communicate with the colleges of their choice? And what does it actually take to get their attention?

1. For starters, there’s the application — a time-consuming but fairly straight-forward process. Applicants should submit the best application they can, by answering all questions honestly, by writing well, and by remembering not to leave out anything important. Writing a great application already starts making you look good.

But since so many students apply, and because many applications look somewhat the same, you’ll need to do a little more than submit a good application to get noticed. You’ll want to attach extra documentation to convince someone to choose you instead of somebody else.

How to market yourself to colleges and get noticed.

Click To Tweet

So, to stand out — and I mean really grab somebody’s attention in the admissions office – teens should include some of these documents, too:

2. A killer Freshman Resume — which is like a flyer or a marketing brochure, except it’s all about you. Create one that summarizes who you are, lists a whole bunch of cool things you’ve done and highlights several of your proudest accomplishments in more detail.

3. A knock-out transcript — and not just an ordinary one, either. One with your test scores and grade point average; one listing your honors courses, AP courses and early college credits; one that looks great and has been edited for grammar, spelling and mathematical accuracy; and one that clearly demonstrates you’re not the same as everybody else, but have taken lots of substantial, relevant and fascinating electives, too. You’ll find an example of a basic transcript HERE.

4. A list of course descriptions — that you attached to the back of your transcript. List all the classes on your transcript and explain each in a little bit of detail. Include what you studied, the books you read, and maybe some of the assignments you completed. You can copy course descriptions from other places if they match exactly what you did. But it’s better if you write up every course as it was uniquely completed by you — and not by anybody else. That makes you stand out, too.

5. Examples of your work — if they’ll accept it (and not all colleges do). Re-read a previous post in this series to get ideas.

Finally, if possible, shoot for:

6. A personal interview — during which you start by being yourself, proceed by responding intelligently to questions, and end by explaining why you’ll be a good fit for the college and what you’d like to do once you get there.

Combining these elements is the best way to get noticed by the colleges you apply to. Chances are, they’ll notice, and your efforts will pay off for the next four years.

Want to re-read any of the articles? Here’s the list again.

Need more high school information? Click the “high school” tag (below) and just follow the trail.

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, was 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. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.