Homeschool Works
Power your homeschool with tangible takeaways from the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and education. Featuring homeschool authors and mother-daughter team, Dr. Debra Bell and Kathryn Gomes. Find us at DebraBell.com and @homeschoolmathmom on Instagram.
Episodes
24 episodes
24. Back to Homeschool
Tips for how to mark the start of your school year in a memorable way that sets your children (and you) up for success!
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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15:42
23: HW Skinny: Summer Slide
Kayte and Debra discuss the science behind the notion of summer slide. Then give tips for helping your kids recover what they may have (temporarily) lost over the summer break.
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13:30
22. HW Skinny: Chunking
Kathryn and Debra discuss chunking, a strategy that will help students increase their working memory. Debra gives a quick test to help you assess your child's working memory and then discusses ways to extend their ability to work with a lot of ...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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24:26
21. HW Skinny: Focused and Diffuse Modes of Thinking
In this episode, Kathryn and Debra discuss how students can use their understanding of the mind's two modes for thinking to better apply their attention to their studies.A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley:
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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19:00
20. HW Skinny: Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is an effective strategy to promote durable learning. When kids struggle to recall what they learned about previously, they strengthen the neural pathways that deepen their understanding and connections to prior learning...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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18:36
19. Teaching Math and Science Together with Sherri Seligson, Author and Marine Biologist
Kathryn sits down with fellow Apologia author Sherri Seligson to talk about teaching math and science together. Sherri explains how math functions as the language of science while Kathryn chimes in with ways you can use science as a context for...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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47:34
18: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia with Amy Bodkin
Kathryn discusses the neurodivergent child with Amy Bodkin, a homeschool mom, autistic adult, and licensed school psychologist. We discuss learning differences and recent dramatic changes in the research and our understanding of these ver...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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41:51
17. Determining Your Child's Learning Style: Part 2
In part 2, Kathryn and Debra dive into the four types of learners researchers have found in an educational setting. This model is an easy one for homeschool parents to use because the clues are the observable preferences you can readily see in ...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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55:53
16. Determining Your Child's Learning Style: Part 1
What does the research say about learning styles? How can homeschool parents leverage this information to algin with how each child learns best (and still keep your program manageable)?We open with a discussion about the Big 5 Personali...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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47:58
15. Understanding Your Teen's Personality Traits
We look at 5 dimensions of personality that influence how our teens interact with others and how they respond to new experiences. We also touch on other areas of individual differences parents should be attuned to so they can calibrate their pr...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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39:05
14. Understanding Your Teen's Brain
Your teen's brain changes and develops during early adolescence as dramatically as it did from birth-3 yrs of age. Learn how to work with (not against) those changes. Be the source of stability and wisdom your teen needs. Kayte and...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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44:49
13. Homeschooling through Grief and Loss
Grief and loss can be overwhelming for a child and their grieving process is often different from adult grieving. Parents may not recognize the significance of a loss in a child's life that we may take in stride--the loss of a pet, changing chu...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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43:31
12. Preschool Homeschooling: Part 2
Play is essential to your preschooler's optimal cognitive development. Here's the confidence you need to give your little ones freedom and leisure!
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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37:31
11. Preschool Homeschooling: Part 1
What three ingredients are most important to help your preschoolers get ready to learn? You'll find out in this episode. Plus, we talk about lots of EASY ways for parents to support their preschoolers' cognitive growth and language acquisition ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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57:43
10. Introduction to Online Learning and Aim Academy
Online learning is a major reason homeschooling is growing rapidly in the U.S. and around the world. Here's an inside look at Aim Academy Online, a learning services provider founded by Debra Bell more than a decade ago. Kate and D...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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29:30
9. Choosing Curriculum to Fit Your Child--From the Research
Support your child's optimal learning with the right curriculum fit. Let the research guide your decision-making. Here are three questions to ask yourself as you look at all your curriculum choices. We also talk about how tex...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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48:10
8. Teaching Writing: The Nuts and Bolts
In our final episode of Season 1, we talk about the six traits of great writing, how to evaluate your child's writing, and wrap up with a hot take on avoiding the pitfalls of teaching writing. From the research, folks, here's what you need to k...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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45:32
7. Teaching Writing: Big Picture
Why should writing be a central component of your homeschool program? Because writing is a learning tool. Children learn what they write about. In this episode, we talk about the writing process--the key steps students should step thro...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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40:59
6. Teaching Reading: The Nuts and Bolts
In this episode we talk about how to use the preschool years to get your child ready to read. Then we look at how to teach reading and what to do once your child is reading independently. We also give listeners tips for the middle school and hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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50:28
5. Teaching Reading: Big Picture
Here are the high level goals for teaching a child how to read and what to do once they are reading independently. We start with an overview of the research into how children learn to read.
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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48:30
4. Teaching Math: The Nuts and Bolts
Kathryn gives an overview of the scope of math education from K-12. Then she drills down into the priorities at each grade level. Finally, we close with a conversation about how to make math fun, and why you should!
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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54:10
3. Teaching Math: Big Picture
In this episode, Kathryn shares the most important goals to prioritize in your math program. The conversation includes great examples and simple strategies to use. Debra and Kathryn also discuss what to look for in a math curriculum and h...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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46:11
2. Looking Back: Our Homeschool Story
Kathryn and Debra discuss why their family chose homeschooling in the first place. Kathryn shares what she remembers about the elementary and high school years, what was great about the college transition and what was not so great, some of thei...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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49:21
1. Why Homeschooling Works with Dr. Debra Bell and Kathryn Gomes
Why does homeschooling work? Join mother-daughter team, Debra Bell and Kathryn Gomes, for a lively discussion of the research that points to why homeschooling works for so many families. We then explore the ways to individualize your homeschool...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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53:34