Webinars

Videos to Help You on Your Homeschool Journey

Help for your homeschooling adventure. Learn about socialization, testing, organization, getting started with Sonlight and more! Enjoy these free homeschool workshops and webinars. Learn from veteran homeschool moms as they share the tips, tricks and reminders we can all use as we homeschool our children.

Be sure to check out our YouTube page and online homeschool events for even more (and current) homeschool videos.

Still have questions after watching these videos? Do you have even more questions now? Please contact one of our Sonlight Homeschool Advisors and we'll be happy to get you the answers you need.

Workshops

Sonlight also offers a helpful Homeschool Podcast.


What About Socialization?

Homeschool veterans tackle the question: What about socialization?

Are homeschoolers socialized?

This webinar is filled with tips and suggestions--as well as excellent reminders--that homeschooling provides the best socialization opportunities and environment. Homeschooled students are active in their homes and their communities. Your children can make friends.

You will also discover the ways that traditional school environments create a non-optimal socialization experience. You'll see how homeschooling can be the best socialization preparation your student can get. Homeschooling is a great opportunity to make friends and gain real-world experience in society.


To Test or Not to Test

What about tests in your homeschool? Do you need to do standardized testing? Should you test?

Homeschool veterans tackle tests in homeschooling. Learn about the history of testing and how it was designed for classroom teachers to gauge how all their students were doing on a very broad level. As a homeschool parent, you know how you child is doing even without tests. Your daily interactions give you a very good idea of how your student is doing.

On the other hand, standardized tests are a great way to get an outside perspective on your student. Tests can help you discover the areas and subjects in which your students excel and struggle. Taking a standardized test while homeschooling can be encouraging and informative.

Be sure to learn about your state's standardized test regulations. Some states have strict rules you must follow when it comes to testing for your homeschool.


Getting Started with Sonlight

You're going to have a great year with Sonlight. Sonlight guarantees it with a money back "Love to Learn" guarantee. This webinar will help you organize and get started using Sonlight's homeschool curriculum.

Double check to make sure your order came with everything. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Next, put together your Instructor's Guide, week by week.

Tweak your binder so it works for your homeschool.

Sit down and read the Instructor's Guide introduction so you can get the most from your IG.


Taming the Rug Rats

Toddlers add a whole new layer of difficulty to homeschooling. How do you keep your toddlers happily occupied while you teach your older children?

Homeschool moms share the things they've learned about homeschooling with toddlers in this helpful webinar.

When homeschooling with preschoolers, it's important to have special school supplies just for them. Get some great picture books, some "school only" toys, and some large crayons and paper. This will make school time special for your preschoolers while giving you time to homeschool your other students.

It is important to schedule your school time strategically as well. Do the subjects where you need to really devote attention and time to your students during nap time. Even setting up a special quiet time will enable you to homeschool with your preschooler.

It's also helpful to get your older children involved with helping their younger siblings. Older students can read the school read-alouds to their siblings while you care for the toddler.

Also make sure you have "Mom Time" where you can spend time one-on-one with your preschooler.

Play Dates can be a great way to interact with friends, change things up, and give you connections. But be careful to not get so many people together that you can't pay attention to your children anymore. You can find support and friends for both you and your children.

Homeschooling with preschoolers is a challenge, but it is only a season. This time passes quickly, so don't miss opportunities to value and include your preschooler in your homeschool.


Homeschool High School Transcripts

Homeschooling high school brings with it the world of transcripts. Don't let transcripts keep you from homeschooling your high schooler.

Packed with helpful information, this webinar walks you through the basics of creating a high school transcript for your homeschool. This video gives you plenty of tips and tricks to get you started down the right path of high school record keeping.

You can homeschool high school. Start keeping records early and you'll do just fine when it comes time to submit your transcript for college admissions.


Exploring Your Child's Learning Styles

Do you and your child clash? Are you concerned about homeschooling because your student is just so different from you? You're not alone! Each student is different and this can prove challenging to teachers. As a homeschooler, however, you have the unique opportunity to find tools that match your student's unique learning style.

Learn how to homechool with various learning styles. Whether your student is an auditory, visual or kinetic learner, you can homeschool. Homeschool moms share what they have learned about homeschooling various learning styles in this informative and insightful webinar.

When you understand your child's learning style, you will be able to make better curriculum choices for your homeschool. You will also be a more effective teacher.

Find tips for your child's learning style, no matter what grade you student is in. These ideas will help you match your learning environment to your kinetic, auditory or visual learner.


Learning Challenges

Children can be challenged in their learning when they struggle and when they excel in their learning when compared to the "norm." Join five homeschool moms as they share their insights and encouragement from their personal experiences with their students.

Find the resources and support groups available to you. Learn about your educational options and if homeschooling is even possible. From there, you'll be able to find *THE* curriculum that is best for your student. Get tips for adapting and combining resources to meet your child's needs.

As you look toward the future, these homeschool moms help you consider the future for your student for some college is simply not an option. They also discuss your student who is ready for college by age 14. They also explain the pros and cons of getting an official diagnosis for your child's learning challenge.

Whether your student excels or struggles, you will find practical, helpful insights into choosing the best educational approach.


Summer Suggestions

What can you do over the summer with your homeschoolers? Find ideas you can implement today!

Limit TV, computer games. The more they are on, the more easily children become bored.

Carry some of the "school time" schedule into the summer. Read-aloud over the summer. Daily chores. Keep some routine. This makes school re-entry easier.

Get them started playing outside and they are likely to continue.

Sometimes it's hard to get creative. So it's good to have some ideas for your children to do:

  • Set days a week we go to the beach/park/pool
  • Do some backyard cooking/camping
  • Have your children start a small personal garden
  • Play board games

Find things for rainy-days: Great DVDs, crafts, unfinished school read-alouds...

Take the summer opportunity to teach a new skill/chore--tied to privilege.

Suggestions for Summer Road Trips:

  • Mad-Libs, magnet games, tic-tac-toe
  • Take a read-aloud book along. Read one chapter every hour to schedule books.
  • Books on tape, Adventures in Odyssey
  • Have children map the journey and journal/scrapbook about the day.
  • Keep a list of all the license plates you see.

Summer Suggestions for Teenagers:

Jobs!

Volunteer opportunities that match their interests.

Take a summer class at a college/community center to learn something fun. Some families do their science homeschool program over the summer.


Organize Your Home for Success

Homeschool moms share practical tips and suggestions for getting organized while homeschooling.

  1. Set your priorities.
  2. Start with devotions.

Remember, for household tasks, your family is a team. Conquer the clutter, don't let it conquer you.

For meals, create a weekly plan, shop based off that plan, and be sure to use a crock-pot to make your life easier.

Laundry is something even little ones can do. The goal would be that, eventually, everyone does their own laundry.

To succeed in your homeschool, get a basic plan down and make sure you have all the tools you need.

The bottom line: Invest time now so you'll have less stress in the future. Set your own standards, and enjoy the process!


Get More from Your Program: World Cultures

Suggestions for field trips, more hands-on activities, writing & geography projects, and more for your World Cultures studies. Sonlight's World Cultures programs include levels A and F.


  • Get More from Your Program: World History

    Suggestions for field trips, more hands-on activities, writing & geography projects, and more for your World History studies. Sonlight's World History programs include levels B, B+C, C, G, H and W.


  • Get More from Your Program: American History

    Suggestions for field trips, more hands-on activities, writing & geography projects, and more for your American History studies. Sonlight's American History programs include levels D, D+E, E and 100.


    You CAN Homeschool

    In this workshop, homeschool mom's share the truth that: You CAN Homeschool.

    Practical tips and ideas as you begin your home education journey. Learn about homeschool conventions, support groups, homeschool books and more!


    How to Organize Your Homeschool

    Learn how to organize your homeschool.

    How to homeschool and get the laundry, shopping and cooking done. Do you start the day already feeling behind? Do you feel like you can't homeschool because you can't seem to get your act together?

    You can! Just follow these tips on how to organize your homeschool.

    1. Set your priorities.
    2. Start with devotions.

    Remember, for household tasks, your family is a team.
    Conquer the clutter, don't let it conquer you.
    Laundry is something even little ones can do. The goal would be that, eventually, everyone does their own laundry.
    For meals, create a weekly plan, shop based off that plan, and be sure to use a crock-pot to make your life easier.

    To succeed in your homeschool, get a basic plan down and make sure you have all the tools you need.

    The bottom line: Invest time now so you'll have less stress in the future. Set your own standards, and enjoy the process!


    Homeschool High School

    In this workshop, Kelly walks you through the high school years of homeschooling. She shows you how to teach advanced subjects, prepare your children for college, gives you pointers on preparing transcripts and more.