Monthly newsletter packed with info on free and paid resources for homeschool parents wanting to prepare their children well for college and careers.
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August Bonus Newsletter: Self-Paced Art History, Free Three Day Summit, and More!
Published 10 days ago • 6 min read
Classes start TODAY, August 17th, but you can still sign up--you could even receive a FREE ACT Intro class as a thank-you gift. Are you on the fence about signing up? Check out our DEMO class! See below for details on the free ACT Intro class offer and the DEMO class.
We also have a new contest to announce and a new self-paced class! There are also details about a homeschool summit for new homeschoolers, as well as a couple of new podcast episodes and more!
This is our bonus August newsletter as classes start for the year - from next month we are back to just one newsletter each month.
Disclosure: This newsletter may feature affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission if you purchase through the links provided.
It's a great time to add a course you've been thinking about (classes start TODAY--August 17th). Or, maybe you've been looking at a self-paced class, or a few unit studies. Stock up now and you can receive the ACT Intro course for FREE!
Just purchase $100 or more this month and add the ACT Intro course to your cart. Use code FREEINTRO and the deduction will be taken at checkout.
New Guest Post
Meryl contributed a guest post to Homeschool Quest.
You can read her blog post "Spending Less on Curriculum: Without Sacrificing College Readiness".
This three-day summit is geared towards those who are in their first three years of homeschooling and those who are questioning their curriculum choices, who are homeschooling a child who pushes back or has learning differences, or who want to hear success stories and helpful tips from people who have "been there and done that".
The summit will take place September 1-3, 2026 and is FREE! Plus, every registrant will receive a FREE swag bag! Registration is open NOW!
There will be a different track each day: the practical side, the human side, the long game, and there will be a total of 17 speakers. Meryl will be one of the speakers! She'll be reassuring you that you are not ruining your child's future, and she'll be specifically zoning in on homeschooling and college admissions. Don't miss out! Sign up for the summit today!
Thinking about a FundaFunda class, but just not sure if it'll be a good fit for your child? No problem! Check out our DEMO classroom. You'll find the first week of assignments for most of our classes in the DEMO classroom.
We have everything from Adobe Photoshop to Forensics to Latin, to Writing Fun, and so much more!
Also, did you know we offer a money-back guarantee? If you realize our classes are not a good fit for you child, just email us within 7 days of the class starting, and we will refund 100% of the fees (less non-refundable PayPal fees).
Go on, give us a try! Learning is FUN with FundaFunda!
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual science video competition for high school students.
To enter, students create a short video (two minutes max) to explain a big idea in physics, mathematics, or life sciences.
The film can be an animation, talking head, documentary, dramatic reconstruction, etc. Keep in mind that you can use diagrams, simulations, physical demonstrations, etc. versus just standing in front of the camera talking.
The videos will be judged on engagement, illumination, creativity, and difficulty.
Deadline: September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT
AI Tip of the Month
Use ChatGPT or Gemini’s photo feature when you need help identifying something—such as a dashboard warning light—or figuring out which button to press on an unfamiliar device. Take a clear photo, upload it, and ask your question.
Upcoming FundaFunda Events
The Great Trivia Challenge
Homeschool students in grades 6–12 can join our two-week online trivia contest! Participants will test their knowledge, help fight hunger, and win prizes--Amazon gift cards (1st place $15, 2nd place $10, and 3rd place $5)!
Play trivia in our private room — select your trivia category (everything from geography to literature to science) and difficulty level.
For every question you answer correctly, Free Rice donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program--and you earn points in the contest!
It is FREE to enter, and the contest runs from SEPTEMBER 16 TO 30. Click below to register and to find out more details.
This is a one-semester class that introduces students to art history from 19th-century Impressionism to the present day. This online class is for homeschoolers in grades 9-12.
This course is asynchronous, self-paced, and parent-graded.
Collegewise is hosting a Live Q&A session on August 19, 2026, at 6:30pm CST to help guide seniors and their families through the college application process.
You’ll learn: ✔ How to craft a clear, compelling story throughout your application. ✔ What makes a great college essay (and how to refine yours). ✔ What admissions officers truly value when reviewing applications. ✔ Smart strategies for managing deadlines and reducing stress.
In our Homeschooling with Technology podcast, we explore new and different ways of using technology in homeschooling. There is an episode released every week!
You can start listening at any time. Just click on a link to listen in a browser, or find the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Email me if you need help! We have a tab on our website to browse through all our past podcast episodes easily. Check it out!
In this episode, Meryl talks with high school senior Ada Anderson about the technology skills she has found most useful throughout her high school years. Ada shares the tools she uses regularly for school, scholarships, personal projects, and staying organized. She also talks about some of the tech skills students are often expected to know even though no one has actually taught them how to use them well.
In this episode, Meryl talks with Sofia Alvarez de la Hoz, a former student in Meryl’s AI for Teens class. Sofia shares what she knew about AI before taking the course, what surprised her, and how her understanding changed as she learned about topics such as large language models, AI ethics, red teaming, and responsible use.
Sofia also explains how she currently uses AI tools for schoolwork and personal projects. She discusses using NotebookLM to study and an AI image generator to develop the design for her eighth-grade graduation cap.
The conversation addresses an important question for homeschool families: How can students use AI for support without allowing it to do the thinking for them? Sofia shares practical strategies, including asking AI to explain a concept without revealing the answer and recognizing when the tool is completing too much of the learning process.
Creating a website may sound intimidating, but today’s free tools make it surprisingly simple. This challenge gives you and your children a low-pressure opportunity to experiment with website design and discover how useful this skill can be.
Video creation is becoming an essential skill for today’s students. In this episode, homeschool families are challenged to create a short recommendation video using Canva. Whether you’ve never edited a video before or you’re ready to build your skills, this challenge provides a simple way to get started while creating something useful to share with others.
Students / Parents can recommend anything they enjoyed this summer—from books and games to museums, podcasts, travel destinations, or homeschool resources.
In this week’s Summer Tech Challenge, learn how to turn Google Slides into an interactive choose-your-own-adventure story. This activity combines creativity, planning, writing, and technology while giving students a fun way to present what they’ve learned.
Free Resource Library for Subscribers
Access the Free Resources Library HERE. Password: edufun
Classes start on August 17th, so now is the time to finalize your curriculum plans and make those last-minute purchases--you could even receive a FREE ACT Intro class as a thank-you gift. See the details below. We also have information about Literary Adventures FREE week of exploration, Stock Market Contest winners, and links to fun and interactive games to help you celebrate America's 250th birthday! You'll also find new information in our regular features like AI tips, ACT info, and a new...
This month, we have SO many freebies for you - for all ages. Go through the whole newsletter to find all 4 different sets mentioned. Two are from us (a July special deal and our latest subscriber freebies), and 2 from partners who have put together big lists to help you out! Also, take a look at the online conference and curriculum fair that is starting in a few weeks, and keep up with our weekly tech challenge happening over on our podcast. Finally, be sure to play 3 amazing games...
This month, we share a way to get a free self-paced class - these are great for summer learning, as students can earn credits without it affecting their vacation plans. This is an exclusive offer for newsletter subscribers! Need to up your tech game? We have a great tech challenge happening each week in June and July. In addition, we introduce you to our free summer learning calendar and remind you of 2 fun contests for your children. We have completely transitioned to a new home for our...
