Blog Your Way To Better Writing

At Cicero we get a lot of requests for writing support—whether embedded into our normal ELA courses as a strong focus or, in some cases, as stand-alone programs. This makes a lot of sense. Writing clear, compelling prose is critical for success in college and life. With this in mind, we sat down with one […]
Let’s Talk About Executive Function

We’ve been discussing executive function a lot in the halls of Cicero these days—ok, by “halls” we mean on our Slack channel for teachers. Executive function, or EF for short, is a professional term. It’s a big bucket of life skills that includes how to organize ourselves, be on time, keep track of events, appointments, […]
Core v Electives

It’s a classic dilemma for anyone who’s cast off the yoke of traditional schooling. I’ve got the freedom to design my curriculum in whatever way I’d like. And yet, for a variety of reasons—college requirements, local rules, family priorities—I need to ensure that my child is covering the core. What is the Core? Four courses […]
Study Hacks for Self Directed Learning

As a homeschooler or worldschooler you (and your parents) face a distinct challenge: What skills and habits will enable me to be a successful at self directed learning. In traditional school a lot of organization, time management, and study skills learning is done for you. There’s a bell that rings at the end of the […]
Homeschool Climate Change Curriculum

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the earth has been warming at a rate of about 1/3rd of a degree each decade since the 1980s, which is about twice as fast as it was warming over the previous century. It’s no secret that climate literacy will be extremely important for students in […]