Friday, March 16, 2012

20 Essential Twitter Chats for Homeschoolers

Twitter earns its fair share of criticism, warranted or not, but all the same, nobody can deny just how much it's revolutionized communication and networking. Homeschooled students and their parents especially benefit from its offerings, with numerous scheduled chats available addressing the unique needs that crop up in such arrangements. No matter the methods or learning styles, there exists at least one other user with something to share, hopefully improving classrooms on both sides of the monitor. The following stand as some of the best resources the social networking site currently offers, with new ones cropping up regularly. For the tech-loving moms and pops of the world, give these a shot and maybe learn a thing or two about effective teaching strategies, parenting, general education, and more.

Please do keep in mind, technical adjustments oftentimes mean archives of these talks wind up deleted or "temporarily unavailable." So try and show up on time to participate, or ask someone for a transcript shortly after it finishes. It is also likely that other users will toss up the utilized hashtags outside the given times, adding even more resources and insights to the discussions at hand.

  1. #DADCHAT

    Whether homeschooling or not, these fathers meet up every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. PST in order to trade advice on how to be the best parent possible.

  2. #EDCHAT

    The largest general education-related Twitter chat meets twice every Tuesday, at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST, and covers pretty much every relevant topic imaginable – including homeschooling.

  3. #GTCHAT

    Homeschooling parents of gifted children should tune in every Friday at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST to vote about that week's specific discussion subject. Keep in mind, however, that many users post this hashtag outside the given times.

  4. #LRNCHAT

    Like #edchat, #lrnchat's emphasis is so broad, homeschooling parents (who are, of course, most welcome) will undoubtedly find something useful during meetings. This discussion takes place every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EST and Friday at 9:30 a.m. EST.

  5. #LANGCHAT

    Language educators convene here every Thursday at 8 p.m. EST to exchange ideas and insights about new strategies and findings, making it a handy dandy resource for homeschooling moms and dads.

  6. #TCK

    Parents homeschooling special needs children should know that The Coffee Klatch hosts at least one Twitter chat a day (except for Saturdays) covering different diagnoses and parenting and education strategies.

  7. #TICHAT

    For the tech-savvy home educators out there looking to pick up everything they can about integration into the classroom, #tichat at 8 p.m. EST on Thursdays delivers.

  8. #PBLCHAT

    Read more about project-based learning every Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST; or any other time, really, as this chat extends well past its scheduled time into daily discussions.

  9. #ELEMCHAT

    On Saturdays at 5 p.m. EST and Sundays at 9 a.m. Sydney daylight savings time, teachers and parents convene to talk about subjects relating to elementary age children.

  10. #CAMPUSCHAT

    Homeschooling parents with teens hoping to hit college would do well to hop on Twitter every Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST for a general discussion about understanding and succeeding in higher ed.

  1. #MATHCHAT

    Participate in #mathchat, which happens on a rotating basis, for tips and tricks about teaching mathematics efficiently and effectively.

  2. #THEONLINEMOM

    Because it focuses on both technology, parenting, education, child-rearing and their intersections, #theonlinemom works particularly well for homeschooling mothers. Check it out on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. PST.

  3. #ARTSED

    Like the hashtag says, #artsed allows all participants a chance to share and ask questions relating to encouraging kids to be as creative as they can. It meets Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. EST.

  4. #MIDLEVED

    Parents of middle school kiddos will appreciate networking with others in their position – not to mention teachers and other education pros – at this 8 to 9 p.m. rap session.

  5. #KINDERCHAT

    #Kinderchat happens every Monday at 9 p.m. EST and networks parents, teachers, and other education professionals together to talk about the best strategies for nurturing early childhood learning.

  6. #SCICHAT

    When blinding those kiddos with SCIENCE, try #scichat and link up with teachers, parents, and even professionals and enthusiasts to talk about amazing findings and a few education techniques.

  7. #PSCHAT

    Join Parenting Squad every Thursday at 2 p.m. EST for straightforward talks about staying sane as moms and dads – not just as educators!

  8. #SPEDCHAT

    On Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. EST, tune into this Twitter chat for more information about the latest special education strategies, advice, and other extremely valuable resources.

  9. #KIDLITCHAT

    Check out the moderated #kidlitchat every on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST and learn about the best reads to assign kids and teens alike.

  10. #COLLEGEBOUND

    While not used exclusively for scheduled chats, Collegebound Network hosts #collegebound every Monday at 4 p.m. EST; this is ideal for homeschooled students hoping to learn more about admissions and what to expect once they hit college.

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