The Wired Homeschool

Tech, Tools, & Tips for Homeschooling the Digital Generation


By John Wilkerson

https://thewiredhomeschool.com

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How to View the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

June 20, 2023

Seeing a total solar eclipse is an experience you and your children will never forget!

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Special Announcement for New Listeners

October 12, 2021

If you’re new to the podcast, you might be wondering why I haven’t released an episode. If you’ve been around here for a long time you may want to know what’s going on.

If you want to keep up with me on social media (not the blog/podcast) you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

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4 Important Things To Do Before Giving Your Child A Smartphone

December 16, 2020

Are you planning to give your child a smartphone, tablet, or console this holiday season? Before you wrap it (if you haven’t already) consider doing a few things first.

Set Expectations

The number one piece of advice I give parents when buying their child a device is to set expectations. You need to decide what kind of restrictions you’ll put in place and how you want it to be used. Will you limit how often and how long they’re allowed to use it? Will you limit the types of games they’re allowed to play? All of these things should be thought about before you give them the device so you can set their expectations after they receive it.

Device Controls

Nearly every electronic device comes with some form of parental controls. I’ve advocated for them for over 10 years and companies are finally making it easier for parents to manage how, when, and how long their children use their devices.

Screen Time (iOS) – Apple has always had a walled garden so you’ll either need to manage your child’s device directly or use another iOS device. Screen Time has great controls and works well with Family Sharing.

Family Link (Android) If you got your child any smartphone besides an iPhone you most-likely will use Family Link to manage parental controls. Fortunately, they have an iOS app too.

Amazon FreeTime Fire tablets, TVs, and even Alexa-enable devices can be managed with Amazon’s FreeTime. In my experience, Amazon has the weakest controls.

Consoles: The Nintendo Switch and XBox both have dedicated apps that you can use to manage parental controls on their consoles. Sony’s Playstation requires you to use a browser or its general Playstation app.

Network Controls

For whole-house Internet controls you can turn to your router or a secondary device. If you’re using the router your Internet provider installed, check with them for information on parental controls. I suggest either a second router for the kids or Circle by Disney.

Circle Home Plus – The Circle Home Plus device connects with your router to manage every Internet-connected device on your home network.

Home Router – Every home router these days has some level of parental controls. Check your manufacturer’s website for instructions to configure those settings.

Software and Apps

No solution will fully protect you and your children so if you need to take a belt and suspenders approach I recommend installing an app on their device for additional monitoring.

Covenant Eyes – I’ve been an advocate (and affiliate) for Covenant Eyes for over a decade. They’re the gold-standard when it comes to monitoring and filtering.

Accountable2You – If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, Accountable2You has got you covered. It occasionally triggers false alarms but I’ve still found it to be a useful tool.

If you found value in this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider a donation that reflects the value you received by buying me a coffee.

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Music for the podcast is “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Some of the links in the posts on this site are “affiliate links.” That means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

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MySchool: A Tech Tool for Homeschoolers with Justin Shell

November 17, 2020

One of the most difficult things for new homeschoolers, and even some experienced homeschoolers, is finding community resources that are friendly to homeschoolers.

MySchool is a community-driven resource that connects parents to homeschool spots (like museums, co-ops, and nature centers). It’s like an Airbnb for home education.

Justin Shell started MySchool after he and his wife started homeschooling and were looking for locations and activities for their children.

Homeschooling families are encouraged to sign up for MySchool and add “spots” that other homeschooling families could use for learning and social activities.

You can follow MySchool on Twitter, join the Facebook group, or sign-up for their newsletter when you register to keep up-to-date on all their latest developments.

If you found value in this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider a donation that reflects the value you received by buying me a coffee.

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Music for the podcast is “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Some of the links in the posts on this site are “affiliate links.” That means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

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Not All Online Schooling is Homeschooling

November 02, 2020

Doing school online isn't homeschooling despite what some parents and teachers think.

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Not All Online Schooling is Homeschooling

November 02, 2020

Doing school online isn't homeschooling despite what some parents and teachers think.

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Homeschooling After a Pandemic

June 19, 2020

If you were forced into homeschooling because of the pandemic this year, you may be considering continuing to homeschool your children. Maybe you’re not comfortable with how your school district is planning to reopen or you’ve decided that this is some...

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Homeschooling After a Pandemic

June 19, 2020

If you were forced into homeschooling because of the pandemic, you may want to continue homeschooling.

Maybe you’re not comfortable with how your school district is planning to reopen or you’ve decided that this is something you think is a good fit for your family.

In this episode of The Wired Homeschool, my wife, Lisa joins me to talk about homeschooling philosophy, curriculum, online resources, and more.

We condense 20 years of homeschooling into a 30-minute episode. Listen in to learn what you need to know if you plan to homeschool after COVID.

Resources mentioned (in order):

DuckstersCathy Duffy ReviewsThe Great CoursesKhan AcademyMultiflyerMark RoberCincinnati ZooDeep Space SparkleArt for Kids HubScouter MomDanica McKellar’s Math Books

If you received value from this episode, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee. Although the podcast isn’t actively being produced, there are still costs associated with hosting the files and maintaining the website.

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.

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Kirk Martin (Encore)

May 31, 2020

This month’s encore episode is an interview with Kirk Martin from October 2017. Kirk helps parents restore calm in their homes with practical advice for parents of strong-willed children. Find out more about his courses and seminars.

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Kirk Martin (Encore)

May 31, 2020

This month’s encore episode is an interview with Kirk Martin from October 2017. Kirk helps parents restore calm in their homes with practical advice for parents of strong-willed children. Find out more about his courses and seminars.

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Tony Ceraso (Encore)

April 17, 2020

This interview from 2012 highlights the importance of including astronomy in your homeschool curriculum.

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Tony Ceraso (Encore)

April 17, 2020

This interview from 2012 highlights the importance of including astronomy in your homeschool curriculum.

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Todd Wilson (Encore)

April 02, 2020

In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Todd Wilson from Familyman Ministries. This interview was conducted in June of 2012 at the Northeast Great Homeschool Convention.

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Todd Wilson (Encore)

April 02, 2020

In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Todd Wilson from Familyman Ministries.

This interview was conducted in June of 2012 at the Northeast Great Homeschool Convention.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Wired Homeschool, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.

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Andrew Pudewa (Encore)

March 26, 2020

In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

This interview was conducted in June of 2012 at the Northeast Great Homeschool Convention.

If you enjoyed this encore presentation of The Wired Homeschool, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.

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Andrew Pudewa (Encore)

March 26, 2020

In this encore episode, we revisit an interview I did with Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

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Emergency Homeschooling and COVID-19

March 13, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has led a number of school districts across the United States and the world to close.

Due to these unforeseen circumstances, many parents are now considering or have been compelled to homeschool their children.

For many of these parents, this is an especially stressful time full of uncertainty.It’s important that we in the homeschooling community do not panic and show kindness and compassion towards each other during these difficult times.

If you’re new to homeschooling or if you’re looking for additional resources I’ve listed a few below.

7 Online Writing Classes for Homeschoolers10 Educational Shows for Tweens and Teens5 Online Science Classes for HomeschoolersHomeschooling With Hulu? 10 Documentaries You Can Watch NowKathy Ceceri has a great article about emergency homeschooling and has also provided some resources. HSLDA Quick-Start Guide to HomeschoolingCoronavirus (COVID-19) and Homeschooling: 5 Things to Consider

If you have any resources you’d like to share, please reach out to me on Twitter or via the contact page.

If you received value from this episode, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee. Although the podcast isn’t actively being produced, there are still costs associated with hosting the files and maintaining the website.

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.

Download

Emergency Homeschooling and COVID-19

March 13, 2020

COVID-19 has led a number of school districts across the United States and the world to close. It’s important that we do not panic and show kindness and compassion towards each other during these difficult times.

If you’re new to homeschooling or if you’re looking for additional resources I’ve listed a few below.

7 Online Writing Classes for Homeschoolers10 Educational Shows for Tweens and Teens5 Online Science Classes for HomeschoolersKathy Ceceri has a great article about emergency homeschooling and has also provided some resources. HSLDA Quick-Start Guide to Homeschooling

If you have any resources you’d like to share, please reach out to me on Twitter or via the contact page.

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The Final Episode

July 11, 2019

This is the final episode of The Wired Homeschool. Thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast by listening, advertising, or donating. Your support has been greatly appreciated over the past 9 years!

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Noah Tetzner - Homeschooler to Full-Time Podcaster

June 10, 2019

About Noah Tetzner Noah Tetzner is a homeschool graduate who enjoys sharing his passion for history with the world! He is the host of multiple historical podcasts that feature interviews with some of the world brightest scholars. Recently,

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5 Traits Your Child Can't Learn from Textbooks or Online Curriculum

April 15, 2019

Our children can learn a lot of things from textbooks and online curriculum but there are some intangible things that cannot be learned through typical schooling. Often, it’s intangible traits or characteristics in our children that determine whether o...

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How to Homeschool Like Ursula Burns

March 30, 2019

Ursula M. Burns became the first black woman to head a Fortune 500 company when she was appointed CEO of Xerox. She also became the first woman to succeed another as head of a Fortune 500 company. Burns led the STEM program of the White House from 2009...

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What Homeschoolers Need to Know About Stadia

March 25, 2019

Google recently announced a gaming service that requires no console. They’ve made some big promises about this new product and it looks to be the future of gaming. Michael Prince from BecauseFamily joins me today to discuss what parents and homeschoole...

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Rob Jensen and Art for Kids Hub

March 01, 2019

Teaching art online with YouTube

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Scratch That Coding Itch with Ryan Swanstrom

February 15, 2019

Scratch 3.0 was released in January 2019 and includes a number of great new features including the ability to create and play projects on a tablet. Ryan Swanstrom joins me today to discuss Scratch 3.0 and how homeschoolers can use it to teach their kid...

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Homeschooling With Hulu? 10 Documentaries You Can Watch Now

January 30, 2019

Educational content is available all over the Internet. As streaming services become more popular, more educational documentaries become available to homeschoolers. Previously, Ive shared YouTube channels and documentaries on Netflix that are educational

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CES 2019 Round-Up

January 15, 2019

This year at CES, there were a number of themes amid all the tech that was on display. This is the third year in a row I’ve covered CES from afar and each year things get more and more interesting. Last year,

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Top 5 Blog Posts & Podcasts of 2018

December 31, 2018

Throughout 2018, there were a number of blog posts and podcasts that readers and listeners found helpful. Some of them were published this year, and some are more popular now than they have been in the past.

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How to Include STEM in Your Homeschooling Every Day

December 15, 2018

Looking for practical ways to teach your kids STEM topics? Today I share some suggestions for teaching your kids about STEM topics through everyday things like visiting the gas pump or watching sports. Briefly,

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Getting Devices Ready for Giving with Michael Prince

November 30, 2018

Michael Prince from BecauseFamily joins me again to discuss safe digital parenting.

With the holidays just around the corner, you’ll want to make sure any gifts you’re giving to your kids are safe and ready to use when they’re unwrapped.

Michael and I talk about some of the things you’ll want to do before handing a pocket-computer over to your kids this Christmas.

Resources

iOS 12’s Screen Time App Changes Everything!The Best Way to Keep Your Kids Safe On YoutubeCircle With Disney Whole-House Device ManagementAccountable2You – Accountability SoftwareBark – Monitor Your Kid’s Online Activity

If you received value from this episode, consider supporting the podcast by buying me a coffee. Although the podcast isn’t actively being produced, there are still costs associated with hosting the files and maintaining the website.

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Music for the podcast is “RetroFuture Clean” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. In some cases, I may have been given a free sample of a product to review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement.

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Code Apprentice Online Curriculum and Mentorship

November 15, 2018

Today I’m talking with Paul Drake. Paul is a homeschool alumnus, software designer, and founder/director of Code Apprentice, a program that provides high school students the skills and guidance they need to get a job in tech after graduation.

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Dave Stotts – Drive Thru History Adventures – WHS 235

October 30, 2018

About Dave Stotts and Drive Thru History Dave Stotts has spent the last two decades in professional video and media production. His career in documentary production has taken him to nearly 30 countries to shoot and edit films on a wide variety of topic...

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Podcast on Hold

October 17, 2018

Due to some technical issues, the podcast is on hold until further notice.

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Experience Astronomy with Luke Gilkerson

August 30, 2018

Many kids and parents are fascinated by the night sky but don’t know where to start with nightly observations. With Experience Astronomy homeschool parents and students can learn to navigate the heavens and figure out if that bright light is a planet,

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Teaching With Film - Hannah Ruth Earl From The Moving Picture Institute - WHS 234

August 30, 2018

Today I’m speaking with Hannah Ruth Earl of The Moving Picture Institute. Hannah works on MPI’s talent development programs, including recruiting and acquisitions for grants, internships, and masterclasses.

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Online Great Books with Scott Hambrick

August 15, 2018

Every homeschooler understands that reading is essential. However, sometimes we may not know what our children should be reading. Or, perhaps we know what they should read but we don’t understand the essential themes and ideas of a piece of great liter...

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7 Alexa Skills Homeschoolers Can Use With Their Amazon Echo – WHS 231

August 04, 2018

Last week I talked about 10 Ways to Use an Amazon Echo Dot for Homeschooling and one of those ways was to use educational skills. This week I’ll share 7 Alexa skills homeschoolers can use with their Amazon Echo.

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10 Ways to Use an Amazon Echo Dot in Your Homeschool

July 20, 2018

When the Amazon Echo Dot was originally released many people saw the smart speaker as nothing more than a novelty. Many people bought it and its older sibling the Amazon Echo and quickly realized how helpful it could be in their day-to-day lives.

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Episode Delayed - The Wired Homeschool

July 15, 2018

Due to some technical issues, today’s normally schedule episode has been delayed. Once those issues have been addressed, I’ll release the episode. Until then, you may want to check out the conversation I had with Michael Prince from BecauseFamily about...

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7 YouTube Channels for Homeschoolers to Learn How to Fix Cars

June 30, 2018

A major part of homeschooling involves teaching practical life-skills like how to fix cars. OK, maybe not everyone needs to learn to fix a car but basic maintenance or knowing when to take your car to a mechanic are skills every homeschooler should lea...

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Shawn Barrieau of My Fun Science

June 15, 2018

Shawn and Heather Barrieau founded MyFunScience in 2016 to fill a need they saw in the homeschooling community. They noticed that parents were struggling to teach math and science starting in the middle and high school grades.

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How to Become Fluent in a Foreign Language with Duolingo

April 30, 2018

I stumbled across a video on YouTube a few weeks ago by Evan Edinger wherein he talked about how he learned German using Duolingo. If you’re not familiar with Duolingo, it’s a website and app that helps you learn to speak a foreign language through gam...

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Acer Chromebook Tab 10 vs 2018 Apple iPad: Which is Better for Homeschooling?

April 16, 2018

At the end of March, Acer and Apple announced new tablets targeted at education. Acer’s Chromebook Tab 10 and Apple’s 2018 iPad are priced competitively but which is better for homeschooling? Acer Chromebook Tab 10 Google has dominated the public educa...

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5 Steps to Protect Your Facebook Privacy – WHS 225

March 31, 2018

Facebook has been in the news quite a bit lately because of privacy concerns. A third-party (Cambridge Analytica) used data it collected from Facebook to profile users. That information was used to serve ads and articles to people via the social media ...

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Connect Movie Review and Discussion with Michael Prince of Family Tech Blog

March 03, 2018

Kirk Cameron’s new movie Connect aims to make parents aware of the dangers of social media for teens and provide parents with tools to steer kids away from social media’s traps. Does it succeed? Michael Prince from Because Family joins me to review the...

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Winter Olympic Games and STEM

February 16, 2018

I recently became a grandfather so there is no full podcast for February 15th. Instead, I’ve provided links to some videos that explain the science behind some of the Olympic events. Please check out the Homeschooling and Liberty Summit to hear my sess...

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5 3D Printers Under $500 for Homeschooling – WHS 223

January 30, 2018

When you think of 3D printers, what comes to mind? Do you think technology like 3d printing is beyond the reach of homeschoolers? It’s not! 3D printers have become affordable and easy to use. There are many 3D printers that have been specifically desig...

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CES 2018 with Matt Kamla and Michael Prince – WHS 222

January 18, 2018

CES 2018 has passed but coverage still continues. There’s no doubt you’re seeing many articles about the gadgets and gizmos from CES 2018 that will make your life easier or more connected. Matt Kamla (a listener of the podcast) and Michael Prince from ...

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Top Posts and Podcasts for 2017 – WHS 221 - The Wired Homeschool

December 14, 2017

Throughout the year it’s interesting to see which posts and podcasts are the most popular with my readers and listeners. I’m not counting only those posts published this year. I’m counting the ones that got the most reads or listens.

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10 More Internet Safety Tips for Homeschoolers - The Wired Homeschool

November 09, 2017

As our kids grow up, we begin to give them a little bit more freedom. Maybe they get a smartphone or a laptop for themselves. This can be a scary time for parents who are concerned about the safety of their children.

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