The Wired Homeschool
Tech, tools, & tips for homeschooling the digital generation.
Episodes
A total solar eclipse that will traverse North America is quickly approaching. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a phenomenon you and your kids will talk about for years. Please note: This podcast episode is from 2017 but I have updated this blog post for the upcoming solar eclipse in 2024.
The best way to see the eclipse in 2024 is to be somewhere along the path of totality that goes...
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...
If you were forced into homeschooling because of an emergency, you may have found that it works well for your family and want to continue.
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 Th...
If you’re looking for homeschooling inspiration, you might not immediately think of a Fortune 500 CEO. But Ursula Burns—the powerhouse who led Xerox and headed the White House STEM program—is a masterclass in authenticity and strategic thinking.
Whether you are a veteran homeschooler or just starting out, here are six leadership lessons from Ursula Burns that can transform your school year.
1. Ow...
Educational content is available all over the Internet. As streaming services become more popular, more educational documentaries become available to homeschoolers.
Previously, I’ve shared YouTube channels and documentaries on Netflix that are educational. In this episode of The Wired Homeschool, I share 10 documentaries you can find on Hulu right now that you can use for homeschooling.
The list reflects my leaning tow...
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
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, star, or just an airplane.
About Luke Gilkerson
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 learn.
If you have a budding mechanic or if you don’t think you can’t teach your kids to change the oil in a car, you can lean on these 7 YouTube channels to help ...
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 designed for home use and homeschoolers can use them to teach STEM topics.
Your kids can learn about 3D modelling, engineering, and other scientific principles while designing their own crea...
Sometimes being on the Internet is like driving into oncoming traffic. It’s bad enough there are potholes, reckless drivers, and traffic jams to deal with when making your way down the “information superhighway” (bonus points for 90s tech references) but if you’re not careful you and your kids can inadvertently swerve into oncoming traffic.
Following simple safety tips will keep you safe on the real roads and these 10 Internet safet...
When you think of Bill Gates, you probably think of Microsoft, massive innovation, and—let’s be honest—being one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He didn’t get there by accident. He got there through a specific mindset and a few core strategies.
As a homeschool parent, you might feel more like a stressed-out startup founder than a billionaire tech mogul. But here’s the cool part: the same principles that built a tech empire c...
Teaching STEM isn’t just about textbooks; it’s about tinkering, failing, and finally getting that “Aha!” moment. Whether you’re on a budget or looking to invest in some cool tech, these 15 ideas will keep your kids engaged and curious.
1. Binge-Watch “Smart” YouTube
YouTube is a goldmine for visual learners. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, point your kids toward these five heavy-hitters that make complex science feel like a...
When you think of Sir Richard Branson, you probably picture private islands, Virgin Records, or commercial space flights. You might not immediately think of homeschooling.
But here’s the thing: Branson’s approach to business and life is actually the perfect blueprint for a thriving homeschool. He’s built an empire on curiosity, risk-taking, and—most importantly—having a blast.
If you’re feeling a little burnt out by the daily grind o...
If you had to pick one piece of tech that completely flipped the script on homeschooling, it’s gotta be the iPad. It’s hard to imagine getting through a school day without it. But more than just giving us a cool gadget, Steve Jobs actually left behind a pretty solid roadmap for how to approach education differently.
If you’re looking to shake things up, here are four ways to channel your inner Steve Jobs in your homeschool:
1. Do...
Did you know Elon Musk, the genius behind Tesla, SpaceX, and PayPal, homeschools his kids? Well, sort of! He actually started his own super innovative private school for them and about 15 other children. The cool part? No grades, and they pretty much take an unschooling approach to education.
It turns out, his way of thinking about education is a lot like how he tackles his businesses. And guess what? We can totally apply these basi...
This week I’m super-psyched to bring you an interview with Rob Jensen from Art for Kids Hub.
Rob Jensen is a father to four children (Jack, Hadley, Austin, and Olivia) and married to Teryn.
His YouTube channel and website have thousands of videos that teach kids (and parents too) how to draw, paint, and more.
Since this interview was recorded, Rob and his family have created a line of art supplies and a subscription service that allow...
Just a quick note for those of you who may be coming across this for the first time: This podcast is no longer active. It was regularly published from July 2010 to July 2019. I’ve republished this episode for archival purposes.
What is a Wired Homeschool?
A wired homeschool is any homeschool that leverages technology to improve their homeschooling experience. If you’re a parent that uses a computer or tablet as the primary m...
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