We’re pleased to present a new series here on the blog. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing you to the people who worked tirelessly to make LessonPathways.com possible. We’ll be hearing from Pathway creators, editors and managers. We hope you enjoy this “behind the scenes” look at all of these fantastic people!
Jennifer G. is one of our fearless leaders here at Lesson Pathways. As you’ll learn from the following interview, she wears a variety of hats as she works to make our site a user-friendly, invaluable educational resource. We asked Jennifer to share her thoughts about education and Lesson Pathways. Here’s what she had to say:
What is your name?
Jennifer G.
How does education relate in your life?
Homeschooler.
What was your biggest triumph as a homeschooler?
I don’t know that it was a triumph, but more of a confirmation that all the hard work pays off. After homeschooling for 7 years, my son was accepted into a technology high school with strict entry requirements. He aced his placement exams and as a freshman, he is now taking two junior level courses. He is studying Biotechnology and was just accepted into an internship program with a local Biotechnology firm.
What was your biggest blunder?
Oh, there were many! I think the two biggest were:
1) Trying to follow a schedule that was too rigid. When we first started homeschooling, I tried to schedule every minute of the day and tried to do too much work each day. I didn’t allow for natural learning, but instead looked at the number of pages of material we got through. I soon realized that this causes a lot of anxiety for everyone!
2) Trying to teach my children using techniques that work best for *my* learning style. I’m a very visual learner, so I naturally tried to teach my children the same way. I finally stepped back and took some time to watch them learn and see what techniques were best for them. This was quite an eye-opening experience, as each of my children learns differently.
What has your role been with LessonPathways.com?
I originally started working on the ChoosyHomeschooler site and then became involved in the conceptual development of the Lesson Pathways site. I wear many hats, but mostly work on the technology, marketing, and operations aspects of the site.
How did you come to create Pathways for our site?
Our company founder, Richard Rasmus, and I had been discussing the concept of Lesson Pathways for many months. One day I sat down at my computer and decided to create a sample Pathway. My kids and I had just finished planting some seeds for our container garden and we had discussed the various types of seeds and how they grow into plants. We had used the Internet to find information, articles, and videos about seeds. I used these resources to create the very first Pathway on the site – Learning About Plants: Seeds
What was the most challenging part?
For me, the most challenging part of creating a Pathway is finding the resources and deciding
which ones to use. This is actually how we came up with the concept for Lesson Pathways. There are tons of great educational resources online, but it takes a lot of time to sort through them and find the ones that are 1) appropriate for children, 2) high quality, and 3) at the correct educational level. Many parents and teachers who use online resources spend a significant number of hours researching and planning. Our goal for Lesson Pathways is to reduce planning time, so educators can spend more time teaching and learning.
Of all the Pathways you created, which one did you enjoy the most?
Well, I guess it’s time for me to make a confession here. I’ve only create TWO Pathways! The first is the Seeds Pathway mentioned above. And the second is one of the new Travel & Field Trip Pathways, Lexington and Concord Massachusetts.
How do you feel Lesson Pathways impacts the educational community?
I believe that Lesson Pathways offers educators the ability to easily find and use online resources. My children are constantly asking questions about science and history. We used to Google everything, but now Lesson Pathways is our first stop. I know that if we type a term into the search field, we’re going to find results that have been hand-selected by the Lesson Pathways team.
If you could offer one piece of advice to a new homeschooler (or new teacher, if you are a classroom educator), what would it be?
My advice to new homeschoolers: RELAX! Your children are learning all the time and you don’t always need worksheets, quizzes and tests to prove it.
Jennifer G. is a mom of three very active boys. Her family enjoys taking educational field trips to destinations throughout Europe and the Caribbean islands. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, and local travel adventures. She also volunteers in a local women’s shelter, teaches yoga and relaxation classes.
In this unit, your child will review place value up to the hundreds and learn to write numbers in expanded form to 199. Hands-on activities, such as using manipulatives and playing games, will enhance this unit and provide your child with a more thorough understanding of place value. Online activities and worksheets are also provided to reinforce the concepts. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach math.
In this unit, you will Explore Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. Use common household objects like eggs, a milk carton, toilet paper, dolls, and skates to demonstrate the three laws of motion. On the computer, your child will see the laws demonstrated with roller coasters, bumper cars, balls, and a game. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach science.
What is your name? 
What is your name? 
Nikki P. has long played an important role in making sure the Pathways you enjoy are easy to read and use. She works behind the scenes on catching those frustrating errors, spelling mistakes, and typos that sneak into our content despite our best intentions. Get to know Nikki, below:
Subscribe to Our Feed
