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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September Newsletter: ACT and College App Webinars, Fall Scavenger Hunt fun, new Canva Class, and More!
Published about 1 month ago • 6 min read
This month we introduce our brand new Graphic Design with Canva self-paced class - and its instructor. There is also a new contest coming up for teens - Google Slides this time. Plus some fall scavenger hunt fun for younger children.
Don't forget about our free webinars! Tomorrow's is on the ACT and next month we cover College Applications. Plus a 50% discount on one of our ACT products. Read on for all the info!
Disclosure: This newsletter may feature affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission if you purchase through the links provided.
Teacher Spotlight
Rebecca's first (and last) time in a hard hat: photographing volunteers for a Habitat house build.
Rebecca Brinkman
Rebecca Brinkman is our Graphic Design with Canva instructor. She'll be releasing a Self-Paced version of her course VERY soon!
Rebecca is a digital media creator who has enjoyed a long career of providing print and digital media services for a diverse group of clients including a major telecom company in Atlanta, a church in Tennessee, and an international travel company.
In her free time, Rebecca loves writing, photography, being outdoors, and taking road trips from her home in the Ozarks to Minnesota to visit her grandchildren.
In addition to teaching graphic design, Rebecca runs a small design business called Rose and Bird Studio. She specializes in creating digital marketing booklets for clients, but is also a busy studio photographer. She recently began creating a collection of photos called “Assembled Story.” Each one is a flat lay style collage photo whose multiple objects tell a story. You can see her collection so far here.
"This course is the best course I have taken with FundaFunda. The course wasn’t necessarily easy, but Ms. Brinkman made it accessible. I really enjoyed her comments because they were very encouraging to me and she stated specifically what she liked about my designs. Whenever I got something wrong she was very nice about it and gave clear and concise instructions on how I could redo the assignment. Overall, I think this course is one of the best ones I have taken from any program mostly because of Ms. Brinkman."
~Dinah
JUST FOR YOU:
September Special
The changes to the ACT took effect this month for both online and paper testing, so now is a great time to grab our ACT Introduction course at half price!
This self-paced class is designed for the student who has not taken an official ACT test. It would also be beneficial for the student who has taken the test and wants to see an increase in scores.
Recently updated to include details about the enhancements to the ACT, students (and parents) will learn
when to take the test
how to register
when/how to send your score reports to colleges
what to expect on test day
what to expect on the test
how the test is scored
what resources are available for test prep (many are free)
how to find free practice tests/questions
and more!
Use the code INTRO50 to purchase the ACT Introduction course for just $5 from now through September 30, 2025.
Our popular Graphic Design with Canva class is now available as a self-paced, parent-graded option as well as the regular semester class where the teacher grades and gives feedback.
This version is great if you want to save money, and have not have to worry about deadlines. It can also be used by all the children in your family just for $75!
For the G2 Overachievers Grant, participants send a handwritten story describing what they or someone they know is doing to be a difference-maker.
For the G2 Overachievers Student Grant, participants describe in 1,000 – 2,000 handwrittenwords why they believes the Nominee to be an Overachiever Student. The Nomination Story must address several questions:
The nomination period for both grants closes on December 15th.
AI Tip of the Month
If you ask an AI tool for assistance - add this to the end of your prompt: "Is there anything else you need to know?" This will allow you to provide any details you may have forgotten to provide.
Upcoming FundaFunda Events
Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 23rd), parents and teens should join us at 8pm EST for a FREE webinar: General ACT Info.
We'll cover the enhanced version of the ACT and answer questions.
Save the date for our October FREE webinar on College Applications.
We'll cover the keys to strong recommendation letters, practical essay advice, and how to stay organized through deadlines and application choices like Early Action and Early Decision. Plus, there will be an opportunity to ask questions!
If you and/or your child want to join us on Tuesday, October 21st at 8pm EST, please complete this form to register.
In October, teens (ages 13+) can compete in our Google Slides contest. Students will create a slideshow using Google Slides on the topic of Daylight Saving Time. (History, Pros and Cons etc) . The contest costs $10 but includes our Google Drive unit study (worth $20) to help students learn how to use Google Slides.
The top three winners will receive Amazon gift cards!
Slideshows must be submitted by noon on October 31, 2025 EST.
The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the minimum college readiness assessment scores required for students to have a high probability of success in credit-bearing college courses.
Students who meet a Benchmark on the ACT have an estimated 50% chance of earning a B or better and 75% chance of earning a C or better in the corresponding college course or courses.
ACT Benchmark scores are currently 18 in English, 22 in math and reading, and 23 in science.
Latest Podcast Episodes
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!
Looking for video scholarship tips that actually work? In this episode, scholarship expert Monica Matthews shares practical video scholarship tips for high school (and younger) students—how to hook judges fast, align your story with a sponsor’s mission, film with simple lighting and clear audio, avoid script-reading, and submit authentic, AI-proof entries that stand out in college scholarship competitions.
In this episode, we learn about a unique geography game that blends fun with learning: Hide and Seekand its companion app World Streaks Geography. Whether you’re looking for a quick game to play in the car, a way to make geography more interactive, or a multiplayer activity for your teens, this resource has something for everyone.
In this episode, you’ll learn practical strategies for guiding your teen without micromanaging, helping them develop independence, and avoiding common pitfalls when taking online classes.
In today’s episode, learn how to write better AI prompts for homeschooling—tips, examples, and hacks to save you time and spark creativity in your lessons.
Are your children complaining that writing isn’t fun? Transform writing time into creative fun with these 10 tech tools—each designed to spark imagination and ease the writing struggle.
Free Resource Library for Subscribers
Access the Free Resources Library HERE. Password: edufun
This month, we have a chance for you to win a free self-paced class! There is also a Google slides contest for teens, information about a new app developed with homeschoolers in mind, and fun fall links. Plus, we have updates on our regular features like the teacher spotlight, AI and ACT tips, and podcast episodes. Disclosure: This newsletter may feature affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission if you purchase through the links provided. Teacher Spotlight Jeremiah and his...
In this month's bonus newsletter, we have a HUGE giveaway for you as well as a discount on the Critical Thinking class. We also found some links to help with back-to-school organization, and we have links to over 30 freebies. We have a trivia contest (not live this time), webinar announcement, new podcast episodes, etc., so take a moment and check out all the goodies in our bonus newsletter! MOST IMPORTANT: Our semester classes started on Monday, August 18! It's not too late to register....
This month you'll find information about FundaFunda's trivia nights for teens, webinars for adults, as well as a reminder about fall semester courses. We also found some links to curriculum ideas to help you fill those empty spots this fall. And, we have a new teacher spotlight, a new AI tip, ACT updates, new podcast episodes, and more, so take a little break and see all that we have for you this month! Our first Teen Trivia Night is tomorrow! See below for information on how to sign up!...
