Mara Linaberger joins me to talk about the changes that families are facing as everyone finds themselves homeschooling during COVID. What are the opportunities for learning? Are you homeschooling or doing school-at-home? We discuss the effects that COVID could have on the education system and helpful tools for parents during this time.

About Mara

Mara Linaberger's essential belief is that each of us has chosen to be here on the planet at this moment in time for a specific reason - that we're all on a mission we chose for ourselves.

And figuring out what it is that we love, what we're good at, and why we've chosen to be here now, is the main reason for continuing to engage in rich and meaningful learning throughout a lifetime.

Mara also believes that many schools actually slow down or stifle those goals and outcomes. She's passionate about helping parents and kids figure out the very best ways to harness learning in order to develop to their highest potentials! 

Mara is a life-long educator, author, musician, and artist, having spent 25 years in service as a public school educator, teacher trainer, and administrator. She first earned her doctorate in Instructional Technology, then went on to earn a Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility in the state of Pennsylvania. Having seen the reality of school from top to bottom, she then sensed it was time for her to change directions.

Mara began to explore new ways of teaching and learning with her first business, Mindful Technology Consultants. Mara currently lives with her husband Michael in Harmony, PA. Her newest endeavor, Microschool Builders - is a virtual company that supports teachers across the globe to envision, launch, and network a bespoke microschool of their very own.

In This Episode

Are you homeschooling during COVID? Is this new to you? In this episode we talked about considering your options at home as opposed to re-creating school at home. Mara provides insight and tools for parents. I asked Mara;

• What effect will COVID have on education as we know it?

• Why is it easier to make changes outside of the bigger school system?

• What should our main concerns be for our kids right now? (Here's a hint- it's not grades and the amount of school work completed)

• The tools kids need to be effective learners

• Deprograming and Deschooling

• Helpful tools for parents

• The skills of self regulation

• The benefits of boredom

• Why we don't want to recreate the classroom in our dining room

• Self Directed Learning

• What can a parent do right now to best support their child?

In response to the many families homeschooling during COVID, the Micro School Builders Network are opening their doors to families. Kids have the chance to attend a week of virtual classes with a Micro-School. You can go to their website to find out more~ https://microschoolbuilders.com/programs/network/

Resources

Micro-School Builders- https://microschoolbuilders.com/

Documentary - Class Dismissed

Micro-School Builders Facebook

Mara has been a previous guest on the show. If you'd like to learn more about Micro-School Builders you can go to this episode~ http://imhomeschooling.com/micro-schools-mara-linaberger/ . Mara has been working with families for years to help them find the best educational setting. That means a place that allows their kids to be happy and thriving. She talks more about this work in this episode, http://imhomeschooling.com/hihtk-004-help-my-child-hates-school/

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