Category: podcast

How to Grow Your Homeschool Garden

Posted on by Crystal Javier

Guest: Janice Habermann

Topic:
In this special episode, Janice Habermann delivers an incredible keynote speech at the 2023 IDEA Curriculum Fair. Janice discusses the journey of homeschooling through the lens of constructing a garden. She discusses the planting of rich soil and seeds; the careful attention of watering; how to weed the garden and harvest your beautiful crops. You will come away with a heartwarming reminder of how to culivate each phase of your homeschool experience.

Guest Biography:
Janice Habermann is the mother of 3 and the grandmother of 6. She came to Alaska over 30 years ago and raised her family on the Kenai Peninsula. She bravely began homeschooling her children in 1993, before any of the homeschool support programs were available. Finding curriculum and quality supplies was a challenge, so she opened her own curriculum store, The Brain Box, in 1996. IDEA began in 1997 and with its inception, homeschooling became so much easier. After Janice sold The Brain Box, she joined the IDEA staff in 2004 in the Kenai office. She has held positions as Resource Room Coordinator (where she was in charge of curriculum resources), Contact Teacher in Soldotna, as well as her final role of Anchorage Site Administrator and the IDEA Assistant Director. Janice loved her time at IDEA, as mentoring homeschool families is one of her greatest passions! She retired from IDEA in 2021 and presently keeps busy with helping to homeschool her own grandchildren—now third-generation homeschoolers!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:33 — 49.4MB)

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Why Is Filling Out The FAFSA An Important Step Towards Your Postsecondary Plan?

Posted on by Crystal Javier

Guest:
Suzanne Alioto

Topic:
This episode covers the topic of financial aid, including the reasons why filling out the FAFSA is an important component of your child’s postsecondary plan. Suzanne Alioto, IDEA High School Specialist, covers the deadline to fill out the FAFSA for this school year and highlights the coming changes for the 23-24 school year. Learn about FAFSA resources and support you can find through the Alaska Commission on Post-Secondary Education. Suzanne also informs listeners about potential changes to the Alaska Performance Scholarship and what you need to do to ensure your child is eligible for this opportunity.

Guest Biography:
Suzanne has been homeschooling since 2005. Her two boys both graduated from IDEA Homeschool as UA Scholars and were awarded the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Both of her boys went on to college, one to University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the other to Baylor University in Texas. Her youngest child is a junior in high school and currently taking college courses. Suzanne loves to encourage families to make the most of their children’s high school years and to instill a love for learning. Her passion is to help students become lifelong learners and she has modeled this personally as she has earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education.

Resource Links
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education
https://acpe.alaska.gov/FINANCIAL-AID
Alaska Performance Scholarship
https://acpe.alaska.gov/FINANCIAL-AID/AK-Performance-Scholarship
IDEA High School Blog
https://www.ideafamilies.org/families/highschool/
IDEA Scholarship Opportunities
https://www.ideafamilies.org/families/highschool/scholarship-opportunities/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:42 — 11.8MB)

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Why Is The IDEA Curriculum Fair The Greatest Event Of The Year For Homeschoolers?

Posted on by Crystal Javier

Guest:

Janice Habermann

Topic:

Janice Habermann discusses the history of the IDEA Curriculum Fair and why this is the best event of the year to sharpen your homeschooling tools! This yearly event will happen the first 2 weeks of May in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Soldotna. There are many in-person workshops and opportunities to meet with curriculum vendors and purchase resources for your child. Whether this is the first time attending this event or you have attended multiple times, it is guaranteed that you will take away a new idea, a new approach to teaching, or a new/updated curriculum offering.

Guest Biography:

Janice Habermann is the mother of 3 and the grandmother of 6. She came to Alaska over 30 years ago and raised her family in Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula.  She started homeschooling her children in 1993, before any of the homeschool support programs. Finding curriculum and quality supplies was a challenge, so she opened her own curriculum store, The Brain Box, in 1996.  IDEA began in 1997 and with its inception homeschooling became so much easier. After Janice sold The Brain Box, she joined the IDEA staff in 2004 in the Kenai office. She has held positions as Resource Room Coordinator (in charge of curriculum resources), Contact Teacher, the Kenai and Anchorage Site Administrator and the IDEA Assistant Director. Janice loved her time at IDEA as mentoring homeschool families is her passion. She retired from IDEA in 2021 and now helps to homeschool her grandchildren.  


Resource Links:

2023 IDEA Curriculum Fair

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:10 — 22.8MB)

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