152. Computer Science Skills Basic Curriculum Won't Teach

152. Computer Science Skills Basic Curriculum Won't Teach

Most kids will pick up basic computer skills just by living life. But there's a whole layer underneath that, problem solving, logic, design, that only comes from real computer science, and most of us were never taught it ourselves. In this episode, Curtis Grover, a homeschool dad and computer science teacher with 11+ years of experience including AP Computer Science A, walks through what computer science actually builds in kids, how AI fits into the picture, and where to start even if your family has never touched a coding curriculum. 👉 Inside this episode: * Why computer science builds skills far beyond the keyboard * How AI changes what kids need to know * What's really taught in a computer science class * How to support a computer-curious kid without limiting their creativity * What counts for high school transcripts and college credit * Where to start, no matter your student's age or experience **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspire Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH CURTIS: -FREE "5 Keys to Success in AP Computer Science A" guide: https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/kOFsAd0htQVkBUrNZBGF/media/6a4d8df1b7dbcd41491a2c2c.pdf [https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/kOFsAd0htQVkBUrNZBGF/media/6a4d8df1b7dbcd41491a2c2c.pdf]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588974867710 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588974867710]  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18g12625Qy/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18g12625Qy/]   CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

151. You Left the School System. Did You Bring It With You?

You chose homeschool because something about the traditional system wasn't working for your kid. But what happens when the pressure, the box-checking, and the constant pushing follow you home anyway? This episode is about homeschool freedom — what it actually means, why fear quietly rebuilds the system you left, and how mentored ownership changes the emotional tone of your entire homeschool. This isn't about letting kids roam free. It's about building the kind of structure and culture where motivation grows from the inside — and where you stop carrying all of it alone. 👉 In this episode: * Why homeschool moms often recreate the pressure culture they left * What managing mode does to a child's motivation over time * What mentored ownership actually looks like in real life * Why when your child owns their learning, you get your freedom back too * How to know if fear is driving your homeschool decisions **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspire Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

150. Homeschool Families and Professional Support: Knowing When to Ask for Help

You've wondered it. Most homeschool moms have. Is what I'm doing enough? Or does my child need something I can't give them? In this episode, I'm joined by Kimberly Bennett — Licensed Professional Counselor, homeschooling mom, and founder of the Homeschool Counseling Network — to talk honestly about when outside professional support makes sense, what to look for in a provider, and why finding someone who actually understands homeschooling changes everything. Whether you're navigating learning differences, emotional struggles, health needs, or just a season that feels bigger than you can handle alone — this conversation will help you know what to look for and where to find it. This isn't a scary conversation. It's a relief. Inside this episode: * Signs it may be time to seek outside support * Why a provider who doesn't understand homeschool culture can do more harm than good * What the Homeschool Counseling Network's professional support directory actually includes * Support options across mental health, tutoring, parenting, health, and more * Why asking for help is one of the most powerful things a mentoring mom can do CONNECT WITH KIMBERLY: -FREE 100+page Guide Homeschoolers' Mental Health Toolkit Homeschoolers' Mental Health Toolkit [https://www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com/mental-health-toolkit] -FREE HCN Preferred Provider Directory Mental Health Providers - Find & Compare Education Professionals [https://www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com/search_results] Website: http://www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com/ [http://www.homeschoolcounselingnetwork.com/]  Instagram:  @kimberlybennettlpc_hcn  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.bennett.lpc/ [https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.bennett.lpc/]  Facebook Group: HCN Public Resource Sharing Group-  https://www.facebook.com/groups/935707694836042 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/935707694836042]  CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

149. Google's AI Search Change: What It Actually Means for Your Kids

Google's AI search change has been making the rounds in homeschool communities — and a lot of parents aren't sure what to make of it. In this episode I sit down with my son Kenyon, an AI researcher and author writing a book on AI safety, to separate what's actually changed from what hasn't — and what homeschool families specifically need to do about it. The short version? It's not the crisis some parents fear. But there are real things worth teaching your kids right now. Inside this episode: * Why Google was already curating results long before AI got involved * What AI Overviews are and where they actually pull from * The legitimate concerns — and the ones you can release * A simple three-part framework for teaching kids to search with confidence and skepticism * Why this moment is actually a great opportunity for homeschool families Search has always been a skill. This episode will help you teach it. **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspire Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]

148. Teaching Writing at Home (Even If You've Been Avoiding It)

If writing is the subject you've been quietly skipping over, assigning without much confidence, or just hoping your kid figures out eventually… this episode is for you. Melissa Webb — founder of Write On Webb and a teacher with 30 years of experience — joins me to talk about why writing feels so hard to teach at home, why it matters more than most moms realize, and what a clear, structured approach actually looks like in a real homeschool. Inside this episode: * Why homeschool moms feel unqualified to teach writing (and why that's completely understandable) * Why writing is really thinking on paper — and what that means for how you teach it * The most common mistake families make with writing instruction * What confident, structured writing looks like at home * What changes when a kid finally starts to feel like a writer **Save your seat for the upcoming FREE Inspire Lifelong Learners Masterclass!  https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0 [https://illlive.thefreedomscholar.org/illliverp0] CONNECT WITH MELISSA: Grab Melissa’s “4 Week Writing Success Calendar”: Teach your child how to write a complete essay in just 30 minutes a day with a clear, step-by-step plan. This free resource removes the guesswork and gives families a simple structure to follow, so students can quickly build confidence and momentum. https://writeonwebb.myflodesk.com/4-week-writing-plan [https://writeonwebb.myflodesk.com/4-week-writing-plan]  Website: https://writeonwebb.com/ [https://writeonwebb.com/]   Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/writeonwebb/ [https://www.instagram.com/writeonwebb/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writeonwebb/ [https://www.facebook.com/writeonwebb/]  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homeschool-is-a-work-of-heart/id1639428614 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homeschool-is-a-work-of-heart/id1639428614]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteOnwithMelissaWebb [https://www.youtube.com/@WriteOnwithMelissaWebb]  Webinar: https://writeonwebb.com/webinar-registration [https://writeonwebb.com/webinar-registration]  WOW Essay Essentials: https://writeonwebb.teachable.com/p/essayessentials?preview=logged_out [https://writeonwebb.teachable.com/p/essayessentials?preview=logged_out]  🎓 New to The Freedom Scholar? Start here: The Freedom Scholar Podcast is for homeschool moms who want to raise kids who love learning — not just kids who complete assignments. We talk about building a learning culture at home, moving from managing to mentoring, and creating homeschool days that feel more like living and less like school.  CONNECT WITH KAMI: Schedule a free Homeschool Confidence Call with Kami: https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn [https://link.thefreedomscholar.com/widget/bookings/fn]  “Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous” live in Facebook & YouTube every Thursday at 12pm PT & links to Podcast:  https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast [https://thefreedomscholar.com/podcast]  Website: https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/ [https://www.thefreedomscholar.com/] Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/216184786279733] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar [https://www.instagram.com/thefreedomscholar] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-wanous/]