Digital Tools Archives - Loving Learning Freely

Digital Homeschool Project: Virtual Art Gallery

How would your kids like to create a virtual art gallery? They can use this webtool to share their own artwork or to demonstrate what they have learned about famous artists and artwork. This is a 'must do' project for any homeschool art curriculum. Get your free template today.

I’m always on the lookout for nifty webtools for home learning projects. Our kids are digital natives and have different learning needs than we did at their age. Navigating online and using digital tools is second nature. We need to guide them towards productive tech use and assign some digital projects as part of their home education. [Related post: What Homeschoolers Don’t Know (& what they need)] I discovered Emaze, a phenomenal tool for creating presentations. It’s Powerpoint on steroids and a “must have” for your homeshool’s webtoolbox. How would your kids like to create a virtual art gallery using Emaze? … [Read on, my friend]

What Are You Teaching Your Kids About Social Media?

My momma friend, it's your responsibility to teach your children healthy social media habits while they're in your care. Just like you need to let them experience money so that they grow up to be fiscally responsible, you need to let them experience social media so that they grow up to be digitally responsible. Read to find out how to get started teaching your kids about social media

Let’s talk about social media. For us parents, it’s a hot topic. We wonder, “Should I let my kids engage in social media? When? Is it safe? What if they see something they shouldn’t? What if they get addicted? What rules do I need to set?” The uncertainties go on and on. That’s because we are the first generation of digital moms who need to figure this out. We can’t ignore it. Social media and online relating are here to stay. If we do our job properly, our kids will one day leave our care and make decisions on their … [Read on, my friend]

The Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Using Online Images in Student Projects

Can you confidently direct your kiddos about the legal use of digital media in their learning projects so that they are not stealing someone else's property? Are you teaching them how to be an upstanding digital citizen? Read this guide to help your homeschoolers understand the rules about using online images in student projects.

Let’s face it, my homeschoolin’ momma friend. Our kids learn differently than we did at their age. They have access to all the information they need in their back pockets. They can run circles around us when it comes to navigating apps and computer programs. And they are bold about trying new learning webtools. [Related post: What Homeschoolers Don’t Know (& what they need] And here we are, digital immigrants, with the duty to guide our digital natives toward healthy media habits and productive tech usage. We need to teach them how to use technology appropriately and responsibly. Now, you … [Read on, my friend]

A Homeschool Mom’s “Must Have” Webtools for Teaching Writing

This week I read a post at My Learning Table with ‘7 Tips for Teaching Teen Writers’. As a former English teacher and current facilitator for a homeschool teen literature group, Anne shared her discovery that ”many homeschool moms don’t even know where to begin teaching writing to their teens.” In her post, she identified two types of writers and ‘7 Tips for Teaching Teen Writers‘ through the writing process of Prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, proofreading and publishing. You may remember the good ol’ writing process from your days as a student. However, you may not realize that the “how … [Read on, my friend]

What I Discovered on My Teen Daughter’s Pinterest

Recent conversation with my 14-year-old… Me: “What are you working on, Sweetie?” Her: “Oh, I’m just on Pinterest.” Me: “Really? What are you doing?” Her: “Just getting ideas” Doubts that hit my brain…. “Again? She’s always on Pinterest.” “Should I let her be on so much?” “Is she being productive?” “Is this helping her grow?” (These is the same “in-my-head” conversations I had when she was younger and always had her nose in a book.) We’ve been teaching our 5 daughters to develop healthy tech habits. [Read 5 Tips for Healthy Tech Habits in Your Family] So, I needed to … [Read on, my friend]

25 Free Webtools for Creating Homeschool Projects (Free Printable)

“25 Free Webtools for Creating Homeschool Projects” is a must-have list for digital learners. Discover cloud-based applications for creating graphics, video, infographics, timelines, maps and more. Want to see how these webtools can be used? Check out Online Unit Studies. Students use these tools for digital projects in most Online Unit Studies. Download your copy of “25 Free Webtools for Creating Homeschool Projects” To discover more digital learning tools and resources, follow me on Pinterest. Visit Loving Learning Freely’s profile on Pinterest.

5 Ways to Create a Timeline Online

Many homeschool methods and curriculums encourage timeline creation. Check out these 5 tools digital learners can use to create interactive, multi-media timelines.

Timelines….a common discussion topic in the homeschool community. So many popular homeschool methods and curriculums encourage timeline creation, so most likely it is part of your home learning. I was going to let you know all the wonderful things about using timelines, but realized some other bloggers have said it better than I can. Check out Why You Should Make Time for Timelines @ The Unlikely Homeschool or Why Timelines Matter When Teaching History @ Our Journey Westward. I am a history lover, organization freak and visual learner, so I pretty much geek out over timelines. To add history to our unit studies, our family … [Read on, my friend]

15 Projects Homeschoolers Can Create With Canva

Visual design projects are a great way for homeschoolers to share what they learn. Do you need to add more projects into your homeschool lesson plans? Be inspired with these 15 awesome projects homschoolers can create with Canva.

I don’t think anyone can argue that we live in a visual world. 90% of the information sent to our brains is visual, and we retain 80% of what we see as compared to 20% of what we just read or 10% of what we hear. [Check out this infographic] And this doesn’t just apply to adults, my homeschoolin’ momma friend. Your kiddos respond to visual information the same way, if not more. Now combine this with the fact that 21st century learners need to apply what they learn. They want to do something with the information they take in, putting … [Read on, my friend]

8 Homeschool Webtools for an Aspiring Designer

Do you have an aspiring designer in your home? You can nurture their interest and point them towards information that will introduce them to design concepts. Your budding designer needs to “play” with the digital tools that real designers use. Check out these 8 Homeschool Webtools that "real" designers use.

Do you have an aspiring designer at home? A child who… Is always itching to make stuff Likes things “just so” Gets excited about art or building supplies Carries around a notebook just in case they see anything they need to draw Sees shapes in everything Uses color names like “coral” and “salmon” instead of “orange” Likes to take things apart to figure out how they work Explains things in pictures Whether it be graphic design or industrial design….fashion design or interior design….it is up to you, my homeschoolin’ momma friend, to nurture their interest. You don’t need to … [Read on, my friend]