High School Life Skills Course

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with Thrive Academics and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

Like most parents, I like to think that I'm doing everything I can to prepare my kids for adulthood. That's my intention anyway. But with my oldest starting her senior year and my middle kid going into 10th grade, I feel a certain amount of panic and wonder if I'm covering everything. I had a chance to view a demo of Voyage and it is everything I could want in an online course teaching really important life skills.

Quick Overview

Program: Thrive Academics
Class: Voyage
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Online
Grades: 9th - 12th
Price: $60

Teaching Teens Life Skills

Over and over, I have written about how important it is for us to take time to teach those life skills that are usually overlooked in schools. In fact, you may remember me sharing a free download last year that is a check list of life skills. I felt being stuck at home was a great time to work on them! 

Seriously, so many teens are graduating and heading into the world without knowing really important skills such as: 

• how to create and manage a budget, 
• how to plan for a career,
• how to compare insurance companies, 
• how to book appointments, 
• how to file taxes,
• how to read a map (without technology!)
• how to establish good credit,
• what to look for in health insurance,
• how to apply for a job, 
• what to do if their car breaks down,
• how to manage their time,
• how to TRAVEL through an airport, train station, etc.,
• and SO MUCH MORE!
  
  

A Focus on Life Prep

I love that Voyage is a course that carefully focuses on guiding young adults through important skills. The program has forced my 15yo son to stop and think carefully about what HE enjoys doing and how he might translate that into a career. 

Here's how it works...

There are five modules in total: 

1. Who Am I
2. Career Planning
3. College Planning
4. Financial Responsibility
5. Everyday Living

Each module has a series of lessons covering different concepts. Some of the modules have a lot more lessons than others. For example, Financial Responsibility is pretty large, but totally appropriate in length and topics.

Students log in and begin the course by setting up their own profile in the Who Am I module. They are first shown a "map" of their area. It includes their "house" and several other buildings that they enter to learn more about certain skills or to complete specific activities.

Next, they are asked to put together their virtual "room" (which looks like a teen bedroom) with items that represent the things they enjoy most. For example, if they like playing music, they can add a guitar; or if they are budding photographers, they can add a camera. If they love reading, they can add books. Or if they love sports, maybe they have a pair of running shoes on the floor or trophies on display. You get the idea.

Teens have to think carefully about who they are and what make them them by identifying their strengths, skills, and interests. 

In Career Planning, the students are directed to an interest profiler. After taking a short quiz, it makes recommendations of possible careers based on their responses. Students can click on each one to learn more about it.

College Planning teaches students how to think about and prepare for college. They'll learn how to research colleges, apply to schools, learn about financial aid, what to do after they're accepted and what to expect from campus life. This is an especially valuable module for homeschooled students, in my opinion!

Financial Responsibility is a big module. I love it. Kids learn about the different types of bank accounts and how to open one. They also learn how to balance their account, why it's important to have a savings account and how much to save, and learn about interest and retirement. They'll learn about credit cards and credit scores and how to maintain good credit. They'll learn about taxes, paying bills, and finally about student loans. 

These are SUCH IMPORTANT skills to teach and pass on to our children! It baffles me that all high school students aren't taught these in school. They are so important for success in adulthood.

The final module is Everyday Living and it touches on big things such as personal health, housing, drivers license, and good communication skills. 

Even if I had sat down and made a checklist myself of all the life skills I thought my kids needed to learn, I would have forgotten a good chunk of this. 

When I asked my son if and what he liked about it, he said he liked the idea and concept of how it was presented. He also enjoyed that the program gives him lots of resources that he can print out and keep. 

A High School Elective

My son in only through Module 3, but I'm planning to have him finish it when we start back to school in a couple of weeks. I'll then add it to his high school transcript as an elective, which is what I think all teens should do! Personally, I think colleges would really appreciate seeing this on their transcripts.

Your Free Download

Remember my comment about a checklist? Well, Thrive Academy is offering a free Adulting Checklist that helps high school students prepare for life after they graduate. This is available in an eBook format and I HIGHLY recommend downloading it. It's a valuable resource for parents (like me!!) who are trying to get it all done, but need something in front of them with everything laid out.

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5 Things We Love About CTC Math

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with CTCMath and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

Advanced math is not my strong suit. And teaching high school math can leave both me and my kid frustrated. We've tried a variety of math curricula over the years. We're both really, really happy with this one for high school math. I wish I had used CTCMath for Algebra I, which was really hard for my son. But I'm delighted that we have it now for the next few years!

PSST! Don't miss the GIVEAWAY at the end of this post!

Quick Overview

Program: CTCMath
Class: Homeschool Family membership
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Recorded
Grades: K - 12th
Price: There are different membership levels ranging from $29.97/month up to $297/year*
*BUT pricing is half price for homeschoolers! Just use any of the links in this post, to get 50% off!

Self-Paced Geometry

Over and over, I have shared self-paced programs here on MommyMaestra. That's because as a homeschooler, we have really fluid schedules. While some classes have a regular schedule, most subjects are tackled at different times of the day. PLUS, it's important to me that my kid actually learns the content. So if he finishes in 15 minutes or an hour and a half, I don't care as long as he understands the work and it's a bonus if he's mastered it by the time he's done. Some things come quite easily, while others take a little more concentration and study. 

Which leads me to the other part of a self-paced class: the ability to go back as often as necessary to listen to/read the lesson. I love recorded classes. Because it's easy to simply rewind and listen again if my kid didn't understand it the first time. Or because my 3yo came screaming into the room at a critical moment of explanation. The rewind option is a blessing and recorded classes like these don't have a teacher that gets frustrated at having to repeat everything they just said.

The Brevity of the Lessons

Each lesson is short. It focuses on one concept for my kid to learn. He loves that it doesn't take ages to complete one lesson and that makes the self-paced aspect SO much more attractive. He's motivated to complete more than one lesson, unlike his experience with other math programs, where he tried to do as little as possible. 

And when you are able to get through several lessons in a day, you feel much more accomplished. "Wow! I did so much today! I feel great about that."

Easy to Understand

This! This is probably the one thing that makes this entire program work for us. Mr. Murray, whose voice is the one we hear explaining each lesson, teaches each concept in simple, direct, easy-to-understand language. His explanations don't require an explanation. 

I think that the best way is to just show you. Take a look at this sample lesson from Geometry. (But note that if you are looking for math for a different grade, there are sample lessons for each grade on CTCMath's YouTube channel - no discount with this link.)

The Accent!

Y'all, this is just a fun thing, but it absolutely makes the list because it makes the whole experience more enjoyable for my son. He has been intrigued with accents for years, probably because his Grandpa was born in England and raised in Australia. And many of his favorite characters in his favorite shows - Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Doctor Who - are British or Australian.

Anyway, Pat Murray who is the teacher behind CTCMath and who narrates each lesson, is a native Australian living in Sydney with his family. In fact, CTCMath originally started in Australia and has now branched out around the world. We use the United States version of their math program. 

All this to say that Murray's accent has really changed things up for my son who is much more alert and responsive to this slight change in what he hears on a daily basis.

Self-Grading

Yes! Self-grading is awesome. 

First, let me explain how the lessons work. 

Students login and go to their dashboard. From there, they select the class and the section that they're working on. It's easy to see where they left off.

They click on the next lesson. Then they begin by watching the video lesson. Next, they click on the tab to answer the self-grading questions. 

Students also have the option of printing worksheets with additional questions/equations to solve, but they must grade their work themselves (or have a parent do so) using the answer keys that are included, and then they can enter their grade manually.

One really cool thing about the dashboard is that kids can actually rate their understanding of a lesson/concept by highlighting stars next to the lesson title. So if they feel like they've mastered it - five stars! If they feel fairly confident in their understanding, maybe just four stars. 

There's a lot of emphasis on independent work in this course. Kids complete the work on their own and giving them the option to self-grade really encourages them to take on their role and responsibility in their own education. I love this about the program.

CTCMath Free Trial

If you are already convinced this is the program you need for your family, head over and check out CTCMath today. Don't forget that you can sign up for a FREE TRIAL!

If you're ready to buy, be sure to use this link to access the homeschool pricing with 50% off!

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5 Things We Love About Virtual Biology Lab

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with College Prep Science and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

One of the biggest challenges to homeschoolers can be providing science labs for their kids. From the expense of buying materials, to safety equipment and space, science labs can be difficult for homeschoolers to complete outside of a co-op or museum course.

This is why I love College Prep Science's VIRTUAL Biology Lab class! Read on to learn our five reasons for loving this program.

Before going further, I want to note here that MommyMaestra shares homeschool resources for families of all faiths. This particular program has a Christian perspective.

Quick Overview

Program: College Prep Science
Class: Interactive Virtual Science Lab   
Religious Perspective: Christian
Format: Live & Recorded
Grades: 7th - 12th
Price: Tuition is $280 for recorded and $390 for live, 2-week intensive

Why do a science lab?

Some homeschoolers may be tempted to just ignore the labs, but the reality is that labs are an integral part of science. They teach some of the very basic skills and one of the tenets of science: The Scientific Method. Kids NEED to learn the process of following a step-by-step procedure and then recording it from start to finish in a lab report.

I can't express how important this whole experience is for high schoolers. And if you are dithering about virtual labs, read on to learn the five things we love most about the Virtual Biology Lab from College Prep Science!

This Virtual Biology Lab counts as a supplement to any biology class and it has 11 lab experiments, including cell mitosis, blood type, and FROG DISSECTION! 

1) It's saves money

Flasks. Petri dishes. Microscopes. Slides. Droppers. Pipets. Test tubes. Bunsen burner. Safety goggles. Forceps...

I think you get the idea. Once you start adding up all the materials needed, it gets a little crazy. And very expensive! I'm pretty sure I spent close to $300 or more for materials when I was teaching General Science to 7th and 8th grade at our local co-op a few years ago.

This virtual lab saves us money. 

2) It saves space

You don't have to find MORE storage space for all of the science gear - OR for the experiments themselves, which are then sometimes forgotten only to be discovered in horror when you mistakenly stumble upon petri dishes that have been sitting for a few days or weeks in a cupboard. 

3) It's safe!

I don't have to worry about my kid blowing stuff up. Or slicing himself with a scalpel. Or my 3yo wandering up and sticking his fingers in acid. Or having to set up an eye wash station (just in case). Why? BECAUSE IT'S ALL ONLINE!!

My boy can still wear eye goggles if he wants to, but at least it's not because he HAS to. 

4) It's easy to navigate

For a kid who is a Minecraft fanatic, navigating any online portal is under scrutiny. But this one is very easy and intuitive. My 15 yo had no problems finding and manipulating the items in the online lab. But just to be on the safe side, the teacher, Greg Landry, does an introductory video explaining how to navigate the lab.

We chose to do the self-paced, recorded lab. Professor Landry also offers a 2-week intensive live program in the summer (it starts THIS MONDAY, July 12th!!). But with sporadic summer schedules, the self-paced program works better for us. You can still be assured that if you or your child have ANY questions during the recorded lessons, it's not a problem because you can just use your College Prep Science portal to send Professor Landry an email.

5) There's NO MESS

Okay. This one is my favorite. I don't have to set up or clean up. There are no stains on my ceiling or floor or dining room table (not from science experiments anyway). I like that I don't have to put down a drop cloth across my furniture or mop every time a lab is done. 

Maybe this doesn't teach my male teen not to make a mess or to clean up after himself, but he has plenty of other opportunities to practice that!

If you're convinced or just want to learn more about the Virtual Labs (Biology/Anatomy& Physiology, Chemistry, & Physics), visit the College Prep Science website.

All of this again on video...

Virtual Language Camp by Cultural Bytes

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with Cultural Bytes. This review is written by MommyMaestra reader and homeschooling mom, Nisha Congrove. 

Online Language Learning

Virtual Language Camp (ViLaCa) is a set of online Spanish immersion courses for elementary school aged children offered through Cultural Bytes. Classes meet Monday through Thursday (1 hour per day) for an entire month. Each class is designed to stand alone, so you can pay per individual class ($10 each), or for the entire month ($60) and attend as many classes as you like within that time period. For the month of April, class met 17 times, so that worked out to be about $3.50 per class. 

There are two levels available. A younger class is directed towards kindergarteners and first graders, and an older class is geared for those in the 2nd through 4th grades (per ViLaCa’s website), although director Jackie Amaya said the younger group could work for ages 4-6 and the older one for ages 7-12. I did try the “Little Kids Group” with my 4 year old (nearly 5), but it was not ideal. The level of the vocabulary, the amount of written text and the length of the class (1 hour) made it a stretch for her. It was, however, a great fit for my first grader. A mature kindergartener might benefit from the class, but personally, I would recommend it for 1st grade and above. 

While I am on the topic of who this class is directed towards, please note that this camp is for students who already have a fairly high proficiency in Spanish. All materials and information are presented in Spanish by native speakers and the only reference to English is a brief “glosario” at the end of each class. While children don’t necessarily need to have strong skills in speaking Spanish, they should be able to comprehend it at a high level or they will likely be frustrated. 

What we enjoyed about our experience 

My favorite part about this camp is the approach that it takes toward language teaching: Content Based Instruction (CBI). Students are presented with interesting new content in the target language. For example, one course we attended was all about the guaraná fruit. My kids were introduced to where it grows, how it is eaten, its presence in indigenous myths, and medicinal properties. The benefit of such an approach is that the students are gaining new information (which is inherently motivating!) and which keeps them engaged as they are being exposed to large amounts of input. This approach worked, for I noticed that my kids were excited to share what they learned later with friends and family. 

In addition, the content presented in ViLaCa is not only appealing for kids, but also culturally relevant. Topics all relate to the Spanish-speaking world, which made me as a mamá quite happy. Besides the guaraná fruit, my kids learned about Andean bears, a national park in Colombia, and a couple games played in the Spanish-speaking countries. This prompted me to pull out pictures from my own travels in South America to share with the kids, so I greatly appreciated the chance to make these connections with them.    

Another aspect of ViLaCa that we loved were the teachers. We got to experience two of them, and both were excellent. They interacted on a personal level with my kids and quickly adapted to their differing ages and language abilities. They were cheerful, funny, and seemed to take genuine interest in my children. 

In addition, as advertised, the classes were certainly “cozy.” Classes are capped at 10 students per level, but the week we attended I saw no more than 3 students per class. In fact, a couple of the days we got one-on-one attention! 

Finally, the classes made effective use of multimedia. They typically included a short video or two, visually appealing slides, plenty of pictures, background music, and crafts. This variety helped keep the students’ interest. My kids took note of fun details such as animations and the ability to use the screen sharing function to color slides.  

What we'd like to see in future classes

Consistency in the level of content 
It seemed to me that the difficulty of particular classes widely varied. For example, the class on games had very manageable content for my 1st grader. The PowerPoint slides had a reasonable amount of text and contained mostly familiar language with unfamiliar vocabulary sprinkled throughout. In contrast, the class on the Andean bear (oso de anteojos) went into so much scientific detail that individual slides often had numerous terms that needed explaining. The difference in difficulty of the text affected student interaction, as seen in my next point. 

Interactivity 
While the classes were certainly interactive, I would have preferred even more opportunities for my kids to give oral responses. On some days the amount of text on the PowerPoint slides meant that the teacher needed to spend significant amounts of time reading or going over the information on the slides, which necessarily limited questions and responses.  

Creativity of crafts
I appreciated the effort to include a craft or two each day. (Parents are emailed a link to documents that can be printed out). My children enjoyed the coloring pages and creating objects out of playdough. This seemed to be the extent of the crafts, though it's possible that the crafts change each week. While it didn’t bother my children to repeat these activities each day for a week, I doubt they would have been as interested to continue in the same vein for an entire month. I think more development in this area would increase the effectiveness of the class.

Conclusion

       For Spanish-speaking elementary school kids this camp is well worth your while to check out! Its approach to teaching language is solid and effective. The camp is also very reasonably priced with quality teachers. Kids will leave it having gained greater knowledge of the world, been exposed to large amounts of rich input, and established positive cultural connections to the Hispanic world. With a few tweaks to the content and crafts, this great program might be even better, but for the price we were quite happy. 

To try a class on your own, visit Cultural Bytes to sign up today!

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Disclosure: I was given a week of free classes for review purposes. All opinions are my own. 

---------------

Nisha Elena Congrove is a second-generation homeschooler and mom of 4.  She is currently bilingually homeschooling a 1st grader and a preschooler. She also holds a B.A. in Spanish education, and an M.A. in TESOL and Second Language Acquisition. 

Homeschool Student Success Skills Class

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with College Prep Science and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

I've been saying for a while that academic classes are great for high school, but there are several desperately needed courses that are not often on a high school curriculum. They are the classes that teach practical skills to teens to prepare them for life in college and life after graduation. 

I have a homeschooled 9th grader and private college prep schooled 11th grader. The two are like night and day in their approaches to school. But I have watched my oldest carefully and seen her develop skills that I know my freshman desperately needs to learn for success not just in high school classes that are getting harder and harder, but also the college courses that are hopefully to come. At the same time, I've been stressing wondering where to start and how to teach him.

So I was VERY pleased to learn that College Prep Science offers a class on Student Success Skills. Read more about it below!

Before going further, I want to note here that MommyMaestra shares homeschool resources for families of all faiths. This particular program has a Christian perspective.

Quick Overview

Program: College Prep Science
Class: Student Success Skills
Religious Perspective: Christian
Format: Live & Recorded
Grades: 7th - 12th
Price: Tuition is $120 (recorded) or $155 (live)

Self-Paced Online Student Skills Class

In January, I wrote a review about one of the science classes College Prep Science offers. But Greg Landry (the owner) offers more than just science classes through his site. And this Student Success Skills class is one example.

First, let me give you the nuts and bolts. This is not a year-long class. It actually earns your child half a semester credit.

Self-paced (recorded) classes have seven lessons total. The live classes are 4 weeks long. The class includes a .pdf file of excellent printables to supplement the videos. The topics include:

• Taking Notes, Note-Sketching, & Studying
• Test Taking
• Measurement & the Metric (SI) System
• Temperature & Graphing
• The Scientific Method & Lab Reports
• Scientific Notation & Magnitude Perspective
• Statistics, Probability, Accuracy, and Precision

This class is designed to help students learn skills needed for academic success, but also has practical applications for life.

Take a quick look at my IG video about this class:

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A post shared by Monica: Author & Homeschooler (@mommymaestra)

Benefits for Students & Parents

I don't like to make any comparisons to public or private schools when discussing homeschooling. Instead, I prefer to focus on end goals. And if your family's plan is for your child to attend a college or university, then making sure they are equipped with the tools and skills to be successful is really important. Some students learn these in a college preparatory school. And some homeschoolers develop these skills when they take dual-enrollment courses.

But many homeschoolers don't even think about teaching skills for college success. Or they aren't quite sure how to teach them. We're talking skills like note-taking (SO many different and effective ways!), how to write up lab reports, how to study, and how to take tests. For some of us parents, college was a long time ago, if that was the path we chose! I know that I've forgotten a lot of the skills I used for academic achievement. (That's okay. They were important for me in that season of life, and now I have had to learn new skills for a different season!)

So this class totally takes the burden off of me and helps reassure me that my kid is still learning some of these vital tools he's going to need in just a few years. Plus they will really help him as he moves through high school.

Also, the fact that this is worth half a semester, means that this is an excellent choice for summer learning if you choose to school year round, or just want your kids to take a class or two to keep up their learning habits.

The self-paced aspect is just so fantastic as it lets my son learn as quickly or as slowly as he likes. this makes it easier to motivate my son to actually get the work done. Knowing he has control over his own education in that sense is empowering for him.

If you are a parent looking to offer your child a skills class like this one, head over to College Prep Science to register!

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Online Flamenco Dance Classes for Kids

The following post is in collaboration with Mr. D Math. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm pretty excited to share today's new resource! 

After I graduated from college, I spent time traveling abroad. One of my stops was in Spain where I spent months with my family in Sevilla. While I was there, I took flamenco lessons and it was fabulous. But they were over before I could learn as much as I wanted. 

Still, the experience was just wonderful and flamenco remains close to my heart. In fact, I have a post dedicated to flamenco lesson plans, crafts, videos, books, and more here. 

So when I discovered that there is a self-paced flamenco class available online for students, I was crazy delighted to test it out and see if it was a good fit for MommyMaestra readers. It TOTALLY is!

It's a little confusing because the lessons are housed on the Mr. D Math website. But this site isn't just about math classes (although there are a LOT of great ones!) - it also has dance, music, sports, sign language, and more. The company is based in Spain, so it's no surprise that flamenco dance and guitar classes are included!

Quick Overview

Program: Mr. D Math Flamenco Dance
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: (Self-Paced) Recorded
Grades: 5 and higher
Price: $97

Self-Paced Flamenco Lessons

I love that these classes are recorded and that students can follow along at their own pace. When you register for a class, you'll gain access to your own student dashboard. From there, you can click on your class and begin lesson 1. 

The flamenco dance lessons are taught by the remarkable Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer, Marta Fernández. She's a fantastic teacher. Super personable, she shares her own story with the student and then launches into the lessons.

Each lesson has several short videos that focus on a different aspect of the dance. And then there is assigned homework. For example in lesson 1, students are asked to investigate the different palos of flamenco. (Palos are the traditional musical forms of the dance.) And then they are assigned to practice the foot and hand movements they were shown in the video for a specific amount of time.

There are 10 lessons in total. The first also discusses what equipment you need (flamenco shoes) and includes links on where to purchase them in the U. S. (Alternatives are mentioned.)

Then you will be taught beginning footwork, hand movements, and body posturing. You'll also learn specific terminology such as zapateados, marcaje, and more. Marta gives instructions for both male and female students as they sometimes have different movements, hand positions, etc.

Marta demonstrates all of the dance moves herself in the videos. And she does them slowly for you to see and replicate. You can then practice them over and over to get comfortable and faster. 

By the end, you will have learned all the elements necessary to perform the choreography for basic tangos. And they encourage you to film yourself and submit your performance directly to Marta - but it's not required. 

These lessons are in English

Although Marta teaches the lessons in Spanish, these classes are designed for English-speaking students and the lessons have subtitles or are dubbed over in some sections.

I realize that there are many of you who are looking for a Spanish-immersive experience. So if this sounds like something your child would enjoy doing, I encourage you to reach out to the company and ask them if they have any plans to offer Marta's classes without dubbing or subtitles.

The BEST part!

As a homeschooling family with one income in the middle of COVID, I'm not able to send my kid(s) to Spain to study flamenco. I'm guessing that the majority of you can relate. So the fact that I can have my kids do these self-paced lessons online for only $97 (that's less than $10 per lesson!) from an actual professional flamenco dancer and choreographer who has lived and breathed it her whole life - that's UNBELIEVABLE! What an incredible opportunity this is. It's like having private lessons in your own home from an actual artist and expert in the field.

Homeschoolers, this should also count as a P.E. credit! Seriously, it's win-win all around.

If this sounds like something that would be perfect for your family, go and sign up for a class today.

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Other Posts You May Enjoy:

• Self-Paced Economics Class for High School
  
  
• Book Review: TEACH by Dennis Dinoia
  
  
• Online SAT Prep Classes for Homeschoolers
  
  
• Exploring Spain: A Printable Coloring Page for Hispanic Heritage Month
  
  
• 5 Resources for Studying Spain in your Homeschool

Online Technology Education Classes with MYTEK LAB

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with MYTEK LAB and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

Technology Education

Without a doubt, computer science is one of the classes I was dreading trying to teach my tech-savvy kid. At 14, he already can easily understand technology in a way that has taken me years (decades?) to become familiar with. So MYTEK LAB has been a fantastic addition to our homeschool curriculum.

Now that my son has started 9th grade, technology classes are on our list for the next four years. Most states don't require them for graduation (although, did you know that in Texas, computer science can also fulfill a foreign language requirement?). BUT I personally think that computer science is a must for young adults as they prepare not just for college, but for most careers. 

And my son, in particular, loves tech. In fact, it has certainly been a constant challenge to limit not just screen time but online gaming with my kid. (I think a lot of parents are finding themselves in this situation.) 

So if my kid is going to spend time online, I'd rather make it education and useful and channel his energy into learning concepts and skills that will serve him well in the future.

Quick Overview

Program: MYTEK LAB
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Live & Recorded
Grades: 2nd - 12th
Price: Most of the classes are $49/m (one class is $98/m)

Coding Classes

If you've never heard of MYTEK LAB, let me give you a quick summary before I share my son's experience. This online program offers families technology education classes for kids in 2nd through 12th grade. The classes are Live and recorded. They vary in complexity, depending on the age of the student. But they are all accessed through a user-friendly dashboard.

Take a look at the classes MYTEK LAB is offering.

None of the classes require additional materials; your child just needs access to a computer and internet to view the classes and complete their work (obviously).

Students and parents have access to different dashboards, so parents can monitor their child's progress.

What the Classes are Like

We started in the middle of a semester, and since this was our first experience, I didn't worry as much about having my son catch up so much as I just let him do the course at his own pace. He has LOVED it.

My son is still big into Minecraft. He loves building things virtually. So the class I signed him up for was TEKnology Lab level 1. The course description says that students in this class will learn "programming fundamentals, many different creative applications, web design tools as well as many general technology concepts."

This was a perfect fit. He may have learned one or two things before, but the class really took things to a new level and helped him apply the coding skills in ways that he probably hadn't thought of, but that will be super useful should his life's journey take him into a career where he'll need to build a website.

MYTEK LAB recommends that students use two screens: one to view the video lesson, and the other to do their class assignment. Most kids, I suppose, use a phone or tablet to watch the video and they do their work on their computers. My son preferred to split the screen on his desktop monitor and do the class that way.

Each class lasts approximately 50 minutes (give or take a few) and teaches a new concept by having the student complete a project on their desktop using the program's software. 

Since the beginning of the school year, students have created pixel projects (such as a square block image made up of pixels for game backgrounds), web development (forms, text, background colors, etc.), and 3D VR blocks (Minecrafters will LOVE these tasks).

The program also keeps track of grades for those of you who want to record them. This is especially important for high school transcripts. But for homeschoolers of kids in lower grades who don't worry about grading, it's optional. 

What my son thinks about the program

At first, my kid was complaining about taking the classes. But almost instantly, he was doing them on his own. I was so flabbergasted when the words "I want to do MYTEK," left his lips. But I was so happy that we finally hit on an online program that I haven't had to force him to complete. 

When I asked him what he likes about MYTEK LAB, he said that he enjoys creating the activities and that they are related to something with which he is familiar. But now he really wants to learn how to create his own app or video game. So maybe that will be his next class!

What I love about the program

I love that my kid is motivated to do it himself. It's not something I have to insist he complete. I love that he is learning skills that I know he'll need in the future, especially as I see him pursuing a career that involves technology. 

Also, my kid really, really struggles with dysgraphia. It's something we've been dealing with for a while, and programs that involve a lot of writing just aren't his thing. So I'm really happy to see him build his confidence with this program and enjoy doing it.

I also love that the classes are recorded. Of course, the benefits of a live class are that students can interact with each other and the teacher, and also so they can ask teachers questions. But don't worry, if your child is doing the recorded classes, MYTEK LAB also offers weekly live help classes that your child can use to ask questions and get help with anything they don't understand or that isn't working the way it's supposed to. 

And finally, I really like the instructors. We both do, actually. Jacky and Stephen Souders are the owners of MYTEK LAB. I believe that Stephen teaches all the classes? He does my son's class anyway, and he is such an easygoing instructor. My son really enjoys learning from him. And that is the icing on the cake for this whole program.

Register for your class!

Check out MYTEK LAB yourself to see if they are offering any courses that you think are a good fit for your kids.

And if you know this is right for your family, go and register for a class!

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Self-Paced Online Science Classes

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with College Prep Science and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

Whether you're homeschooling for the first time or are a veteran homeschooler, there's a good chance that there's one class or subject that you are nervous about teaching. The two subjects that I hear parents say over and over again that they often feel unprepared to teach are math and science. 

And many other parents who are working from home are simply looking to free up some of their time by having their children do a few subjects online.

So I think many of you will love learning about College Prep Science, a program for parents who are looking to "outsource" their child's homeschool science lessons.

Before going further, I want to note here that MommyMaestra shares homeschool resources for families of all faiths. This particular science program has a Christian perspective.

Quick Overview

Program: College Prep Science
Religious Perspective: Christian
Format: Live & Recorded
Grades: 4th - 12th
Price: Tuition varies from $120 to $880

Online Homeschool

I've talked before about the difference between homeschooling and distance learning. And if you pulled your child out of school because they switched to distance learning and it just wasn't working for your family, don't worry. This online program is nothing like doing school remotely. 

Lots of homeschool families incorporate online learning into their school year. But you are still in charge of your child's overall education when you homeschool. And College Prep Science both acknowledges and encourages parental control. 

When you first sign up for a class, you are encouraged to watch the Class Intro video in which the owner, Greg Landry, shares instructions for parents (and students). This video introduces parents to the class, then shares what they can expect out of it. He makes it 100% clear that parents are to use the classes as a tool in their homeschool programs to teach their children science - but that they are still in charge. College Prep Science provides all the information for each class through video lessons and pdf printables, but parents decide what their child will be required to complete in terms of labs, homework, and tests.

The courses are taught by Greg Landry, who is a veteran science teacher and homeschool dad, as well as a former college professor. 

Self-Paced Science Classes

The best part (in my opinion) is that College Prep Science offers both live classes and RECORDED videos posted online. Live classes often don't fit into a homeschool family's flexible and dynamic schedule. And some students do better with recorded videos. Others may not have internet that's reliable enough for live classes. So when there is an opportunity for kids to watch videos on their own time and at their own pace, it's gold!

In my opinion, self-paced courses nurture confidence and mastery. 

Recorded classes let children pause and replay important information, which is so much better for mastery of concepts and subjects. The whole point of an education is to teach the child in a way that they can understand, learn, and master knowledge and skills. I've often found the expectation for a child to keep up with the teacher to be counter-productive. As homeschoolers, we really want our kids to understand what they are learning and stay engaged. For some students, this requires a lot of repetition, while for others, they want to move on as soon as they feel they understand. So if your child wants to watch a portion of the video two or three times (or more!), let them! And if they feel confident they understand after one time, let them move on.

And if you are worried that your child will have questions that you can't understand, no worries! The portal that College Prep Science uses has a user-friendly dashboard that includes an inbox in the sidebar through which you can email your instructor directly with any questions or comments you may have about your class/lessons. (It really is a brilliant setup.)

How it works

Once you register for a class, you'll receive access to the site's Learning Management System. From your dashboard, you can select the class you want. That will take you to the class's "homeroom" page where you will find a list of the links to each video lesson, as well as any PDF downloads (with printable worksheets and more) your student will need, and instructions.

I had a chance to look at the Young Scientist Anatomy & Physiology class for students in 4th - 7th. Here's what I liked about it. 

First, Mr. Landry is just a great teacher. He's knowledgeable and affable. It's easy to listen to him and - more importantly - to learn from him. He presents the information to children in words that kids can understand and pulls examples using items and concepts with which students are already familiar. And Mr. Landry frequently looks right at the camera making you feel like he's talking directly to you. 

Next, the videos are set up very well. On one side you see Mr. Landry giving the lecture. And on the other side you see the visuals (like a powerpoint). It's like you are sitting with him and he has a printable on the table between you. And you can see all the notes he makes. He points things out, circles other things, etc.

Most of the visuals that I saw were also found in the PDF files for the class, allowing students to follow along and complete them at the same time. 

But the best part, in my opinion, was the first class in which he teaches note taking. It's so great that I even had my 9th grader watch it! Because the ability to take good notes is one of the most valuable skills a child can learn. Taking good notes can make a world of difference in a student's academic success. And while there are many methods of taking notes, this was one of the best, I think, for engaging a student's memory skills.

If you are a parent looking to outsource your child's science class and this sounds like the type of program you need, head over to College Prep Science to look through the list of courses that they offer!

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New Virtual Language Camp in Spanish

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Cultural Bytes and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

So many families are homeschooling their children for the first time this year, and many of those had children in dual-language/immersion programs. And many more are find this as an opportunity to nurture and develop their children's bilingualism.  

Therefore a LOT of families are looking for classes and other opportunities that teach kids Spanish, or allow interaction for practicing their Spanish-speaking skills. But that can be hard when places are closed and/or your stuck at home. I've seen a lot of requests like these in our Hispanic & Bilingual Homeschool group on Facebook.

Virtual Language Camp (ViLaCa)

So I was delighted with Cultural Bytes emailed me to tell me about their newest virtual language camp for native, bilingual, and intermediate speakers ages 5 to 12! ViLaCa will meet for 60 minutes four days a week - Monday through Friday - and each day has a different theme:

• Mondays: Food
• Tuesdays: Animals
• Wednesdays: Places
• Thursdays: Games

They have morning and afternoon sessions. Each class is limited to 7 children max. 

You can attend all four days, or just one. The camp is VERY affordable in my opinion. You can sign up for a whole month (16 sessions) for $60 or just one session for $10. And they accept PayPal or Venmo.

THIS WEEK ONLY!  Classes are FREE if you use the discount code “FREEVilaca”

Don't wait! Go sign up today and get your child talking in Spanish.

Free 30-Minute Language Learning Online Class for MommyMaestra Readers

The following is a sponsored post by Cultural Bytes. 

This month is our favorite month here at Cultural Bytes because it’s the month to share our heritage. Cultural Bytes is a FULL IMMERSION language program that focuses on teaching children many languages - Spanish, French, and Mandarin. 

Due to the pandemic, we changed our methods of teaching. At first, we thought it was going to be difficult since it was ALL online but luckily parents, as well as their children, have loved our classes! We have students all over the world learning with the Cultural Bytes teachers. The advantage of learning a language not only gives our students the ability to develop their critical thinking, their communication skills, and their vocabulary faster, but it also includes the most important part:  CULTURE! 

These classes focus INDIVIDUALLY on the student. What that means is that the teacher finds out what the student likes and enjoys and from there, the class is built. The only catch is that it’s fully in the language they will be learning. It is really fun! And for that reason we would like to offer a 30-minutes FREE class to all MommyMaestra readers when you fill out this form! 

We are so excited to hear from you! 

If you want to learn more visit www.cultural-bytes.org. 

Have you had your cultural byte today? 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Cultural Bytes. MommyMaestra only accepts sponsorships by approved education companies.

Cultural Bytes Online Spanish Courses

A lot of parents are looking for online courses as part of their homeschool lesson plans for this fall... especially first-time homeschoolers and those whose children were in immersion programs last year.

So I'm excited to share that Cultural Bytes has offered one of their foreign language courses to be part of the Back-to-School Fiesta!

Cultural Bytes is based in Southern California. It provides immersion classes for Spanish, French, and Mandarin. In addition to teaching the language, they also focus on cultural awareness. And the classes also focus on four skills:

1. reading
2. writing
3. listening
4. speaking

Their classes are fun and engaging thanks to their differentiated learning approach and game-based environment.

The Giveaway

Cultural Bytes is offering 1 FREE online class (35 minutes) of the language of your choice! The options are: Spanish or French or Mandarin.

Try it out and see if it is a good fit for your family!

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lingua Garden Offers Free Course Demo

Opportunity alert!

For those of you looking for an online Spanish class, here's a chance to sample the ones offered by Lingua Garden. Here's a message from my friend, Denise, the owner:

Over the next 48 hours, sign up to demo my new online Spanish course for children (2-10 yo) at no cost!

Yep, FREE! No scam, I am just asking for your support and feedback in return.

If interested, please read more below... 

Hola! My name is Denise and I am a fellow homeschooling mom raising two amazing bilingual children. I am also a passionate educator and entrepreneur who specializes in early childhood and elementary foreign language education. I currently dedicate my time to teaching local Spanish lessons to children, live online lessons to children, and homeschooling.

Would you be interested in trying this new Spanish course I have developed at no cost? If so, sign up today! Just click the link below. I would very much appreciate your feedback once you have completed the course. :)

CLICK HERE TO TRY THE FREE SPANISH COURSE

Why am I doing this?
A few homeschooling families I currently work with have encouraged me to reach out to you because they strongly believe that future courses like this one could fill a need in current homeschooling households. I am curious to know what you think.

I love teaching Spanish and about Hispanic cultures. This is my passion. If possible, I want to help homeschooling families in their bilingual journey. I believe that your feedback is essential as I continue to consider the idea of adding more courses with new content. :) 

Ms. Denise