The Sequoia Breeze

AB 84 is a bill that, if passed, could drastically impact our flex-based charter school model and affect all of our families. In this episode, Rebecca interviews Cynthia Rachel, who offers a knowledgeable and clear explanation of what this bill means for us and how we can take action to make our voices heard by our representatives.Don’t miss this vital conversation.Show notes:stopab84.comA.P.P.L.E. WebsiteA.P.P.L.E. Facebook Group

Come back for more! In Part 2 of this conversation, Rebecca and her sisters-in-law continue discussing how to give our TK and Kindergarten students a healthy start to school. Dive into the conversation about the importance of play and music. This episode has lots of encouragement for parents and educators of our curious, busy, always-learning, littles! Featuring guests Eliza Reed and Elisabeth Harmon.Show Notes:“Play is the serious business of children” seems to be an idea taken from psychologist Jean Piaget (“Play is the work of children”) and Fred Rogers, who said “Play is often talked about as a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”Roxaboxen by Alice McLarrenThe Raft by Jim LaMarcheTchaikovskyLadysmith Black Mambazo

Whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay. What are the implications of artificial intelligence for our students? Can AI be a helpful tool in homeschool education? How do we teach our kids to use it wisely when we may not fully understand it ourselves? In this week's episode of The Sequoia Breeze, Rebecca welcomes back Trisha Brandow, one of our administrators and a devoted homeschool parent, to help us navigate these and other pressing questions. Trisha discusses the benefits that AI can offer within our homeschool settings, while also highlighting the caution we should exercise. This timely and insightful episode aims to empower parents and educators to embrace AI thoughtfully, ensuring our kids are equipped to use it responsibly. Tune in for a conversation that promises to inform and inspire.Tools to Help You Learn More About AIPlease start here if you are just starting to learn how to navigate this digital world with your child:Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Parent PresentationChatGPT Unveiled: Presentation (an overview of what ChatGPT is and how it can be used)Prompts to Try to help you learn how ChatGPT works:Help with emailsLesson Planning HelpPersonal Life HelpSetting GoalsJust for FunSal Khan (Khan Academy) on How AI Could Save (Not Destroy) EducationKhanmigo (Khan Academy’s AI-powered teaching assistant)Common Sense Media: (A great resource for all things tech and parenting)Common Sense Education: AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6-12Common Sense Media: Parents' Ultimate Guide to Generative AIGoogle’s Free Course: Introduction to Generative AIMagic School (Free, AI powered tools for teachers)

Educational best practices increasingly emphasize using questions that ignite curiosity and engage students deeply in the learning process. This inquiry approach goes beyond simply asking what a student wants to learn; it's about sparking genuine interest. When applied effectively, it “hooks” learners by gradually shifting responsibility for the learning process from teacher to student. So how does this work in the homeschool setting?In this informative podcast, Erika Barrish, a Lake View HST and homeschool parent, guides you through crafting quality questions that inspire thinking and exploration in your kids—and even yourself. You’ll discover that with the right questions, there’s no limit to creative learning.Notes:What is Inquiry?Social Studies: InquirED.org Blog post on InquiryScience: Description of the 5 Steps of Inquiry from The Wonder of ScienceSome Good Resources for Building Inquiries in Social Studies and Science National Archives Educator Resources: Register for a free account to utilize DocsTeach for primary source documents organized by topic.Library of Congress: Primary Source Sets under Teachers: Classroom Resources.The Wonder of Science: has a great bank of Phenomena and resources to support Inquiry in the sciences.Smithsonian Science Education Center: Navigate to Free Resources under the Curriculum menu.Some Resources for Teaching Strategies to Support Inquiry:The Right Question InstituteThinking Routines Toolbox: Project Zero from the Harvard Graduate School of EducationLearning By Inquiry

This week Rebecca welcomes Cori Doerrfeld, author of the book, The Rabbit Listened, a heartfelt story that was born out of Cori’s deep empathy and desire to comfort friends in difficult times. This book, along with many others she has written and illustrated, has become a gift to readers and a powerful tool for teaching emotional intelligence to both children and adults. In this episode, Cori shares her passion for books and demonstrates how the power of stories can inspire and connect us all.Cori Doerrfeld's WebsiteThe Rabbit Listened

Is your phone running your life? Do you find yourself getting sucked into it or other devices losing track of time that would be better spent doing other things? Does your (or your student’s!) phone use impact your school day? Our very own Jenny Johnston joins Rebecca to talk about the principles in the book How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price. Our phones are designed to addict us–so how can we combat it so that we are in charge of our time? Is it possible to reset our priorities, without giving up the conveniences we depend on? Jenny has great advice for us!Book Club ParticipationSign Up HereBook Club info sheet.Contact Jenny: Jenny.Johnston@sequoiagrove.orgResourcesHow to Break Up with Your Phone bookHands-Free Mama WebsiteThe Anxious Generation bookScreen Time and Mental Health PodcastVideosSimon Sinek How Do Cell Phones Impact Our Relationships?Addiction to Technology is Ruining LivesSocial dilemma Netflix documentaryFriday FocusLow-Tech PhonesPinwheel phonesGabb watch

The BookShark Way: Inspiring Learning Through StoriesHave you heard the phrase, “Learning from living books?” Are you curious to know what it means and whether or not it’s effective? This week, Rebecca sits down with Janna Koch from BookShark, a popular, literature-based curriculum publisher, to learn more about:the advantages of learning through storieshow to use BookShark effectivelycustomizing BookShark to fit your family’s needsMake sure to tune into this week’s episode and discover how BookShark can help bring learning to life.Show NotesBookShark websiteHomeschool Your Way - A BookShark podcast hosted by Janna KochThe Joy of Reading Aloud, The Sequoia Breeze Season 2, Episode 6