BJU Press Distance Learning

Creating Sets for Distance Learning with Jodi Kappel

July 19, 2018 by Jenna

In a previous post we learned how Del Thompson influences BJU Press textbooks through art. But there’s also a lot of art that goes into creating sets for Distance Learning. If you take a tour of our Distance Learning studios, you’ll be able to go through the scene shop, and you might even meet the person behind creating sets and props you get to see on-screen!

Jodi Kappel: Distance Learning Art Director

Jodi has been the art director for Distance Learning for eighteen years. In her position, she faces some challenges that demand creative solutions. How can she construct a unique set piece requested by the teacher? Or how is she able to change out large sets multiple times a day during peak filming season? How does she design pieces that enhance learning experiences rather than detracting from them?

Behind the Scenes of Creating Sets and Props

As an innovative artist, Jodi gets to take unconventional materials and turn them into incredibly realistic pieces. One of the pieces we saw when we visited recently was a special request for Mrs. Walker’s Reading 2 class. Mrs. Walker wanted a sign to add depth to her amusement park theme. Making a sign out of wood would have taken too long and would have made set changes too hard. So Jodi was able to put the sign together with an old lamp, tape, stickers, and Styrofoam. In the end, she had a fun sign that looks real, but was lighter and easier to carry.

Styrofoam actually makes up most of the props and sets that Jodi uses for Distance Learning videos. When we were there, the scene shop was full of pieces for the new K5 math course that’s being filmed. She was able to make picture frames, small props, and even a large shelf—all out of Styrofoam! A special tool, a hot wire cutter, allows her to make intricate shapes and designs, and with her artistic skills she can turn Styrofoam into something that looks like real wood!

One of our favorite pieces was a piece of apple pie that she made for Mrs. Walker. She made ice cream out of hair conditioner, water, and corn starch, and she made the pie with bread dough, Styrofoam, and hot glue—and cinnamon to make it look authentic!

Props and Sets on Screen

The pieces Jodi creates serve a unique function for the teachers. The props and sets are realistic enough so that they won’t distract from the lesson, yet functional enough that teachers can still use them.

The next time you see a brick wall or wooden cupboard on set, remember that everything may not be as it seems. With a little bit of creativity and innovation, who knows what you can create!

Getting a Head Start with K4

April 24, 2018 by Guest Writer

I always knew I wanted to homeschool my children, and I even knew which curriculum I would use. Having worked in the marketing department at BJU Press for three years, I had become convinced of the excellence of their materials. But there was still that nagging doubt in the back of my mind: Can I really do this? I have no idea what I’m doing! What if I mess up and my kids turn out to be ignoramuses? K4 would be my first test.

When my older daughter was four, I bought a preschool workbook and taught her from it for several minutes a day. She was catching on quickly with letters, simple words and numbers. But I felt she still might not be ready for kindergarten. So after looking online at BJU Press materials, I decided the K4 DVD program would provide a solid bridge between “pre-preschool” and K5. I thought it might also help me as a first-time homeschooler to establish a consistent routine.

Happy K4 Kid

The K4 DVD program didn’t disappoint—in fact, it exceeded my expectations. The DVDs kept my daughter interested and engaged with colorful graphics, animal characters, puppets, and fun songs. She was always eager and excited to do her daily lesson. Her teachers presented the material in a way that was easy for her to understand. I love that the program taught my daughter to listen, pay attention, and follow the teachers’ instructions. It also introduced basic but important concepts of English, reading, and math through emphasizing the alphabet and counting. Finally—and most importantly—it centered on God’s Word and incorporated its truth into every lesson.

Happy Mama

As the parent, I appreciated the fact that the program was well organized and easy to follow. I also liked the length of the DVD lessons, about sixty minutes—not too long, not too short. Using the DVDs was convenient as well; I was able to pause or rewind the program as needed. And since there were only 153 lessons, I enjoyed the flexibility of choosing how many days per week to have school.

Ready for K5

By the end of the program, I felt confident that my daughter would be ready for kindergarten the following year. She had a good grasp of the fundamentals of phonics, reading, and math. She had also developed a love for learning that helped her look forward to kindergarten with great anticipation. We had established a good, consistent school routine that helped me to plan for the next year. And I felt much more confident about this whole homeschooling thing. Kindergarten went great (I decided to stick with the DVD format); and when my younger daughter was approaching school age, there was no doubt in my mind about where to start. Using the K4 program was one of the best decisions I’ve made as a home educator, and I would highly recommend it to both new and experienced homeschoolers with preschool children.

• • • • •

Jennifer is a pastor’s wife and mom of two young girls and loves being able to homeschool them. During her own twelve years of homeschooling, Jennifer developed a passion for reading and writing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and relishes writing during her free time.

Meet Your Distance Learning Teachers: Jessica Ingersoll

March 29, 2018 by Jenna

If you went to school as a kid, you may have had the odd experience of running into a teacher at the store. It’s still easy for kids who go to school to forget that teachers are real people who need groceries. But for kids who use only videos, it’s even easier to start thinking of their Distance Learning teachers as celebrities. It’s always fun to get to know our celebrities, so I sat down with Miss Ingersoll for an interview. Here are some things I learned about her.

She loves . . .

Food!

One of the reasons she’s excited about the new 2018 World Studies course is getting to introduce her students to new foods from around the world. She has a wonderful selection of cultural cuisines lined up for her students!

Traveling!

One part of studying history and science that we don’t often consider is that it takes us to new places. Miss Ingersoll loves to travel. She’s even gone hiking in Alaska and Hawaii. In her classes, she gets to create interest in other cultures by bringing in elements of other places and times. In her elementary class, she puts on fun hats, and in world studies, she has filled her classroom with items from all around the world.

Teaching!

One big ways Distance Learning differs from a regular classroom is that the teacher doesn’t always get to immediately know the impact of her teaching on her students. Miss Ingersoll wants to inspire her students to love learning. To do that, she uses various tools and techniques to make sure her students stay engaged. She keeps lessons as hands-on as they can be, and she shares interesting facts in each lesson. But she can’t help but wonder how God will use her lessons. She loves hearing from her students!

Teaching WWII!

I never thought of World War II as interesting until Miss Ingersoll started talking about it. Many of the factors in play during that part of history are things we don’t often think about, like how different cultures interacting contributed to the war and how soldiers had to make do with the equipment they had. She tries to start every lesson by being excited about the day’s topic, but I can tell she is most excited about teaching World War II.

Remember, Miss Ingersoll won’t be Miss Ingersoll for much longer. In May, she’ll become Mrs. Bancroft, and we’re all praying for her as she makes preparations!

Stay tuned for more opportunities to get to know your Distance Learning teachers on Facebook, Instagram, and right here on the BJU Press Homeschool blog. If you’d like to learn more about Mrs. Walker, check out some of her secrets for unforgettable teaching. In the meantime, you can visit our website to learn some brief fun facts about each of them!

Helping Children Reach Independence Through Routine

April 20, 2017 by Jenna

How do I teach my children to be independent learners? How do I handle the rigors of a homeschooling schedule? Where do I start? These are some of the questions Dynel Fuller, homeschool mother of ten, had to face before she could dive into homeschooling her first child. She soon found that the key to her homeschooling success would be creating a routine that fostered her children’s independence.

Where did she begin?

She started her first child (now a college graduate) on BJU Press Distance Learning. The Fullers wanted to give their children a quality education that would complement their unique skills and abilities. The clear structure of BJU Press curriculum was a perfect fit. As she began homeschooling more of her children, Dynel found that the structure allowed her to balance multiple schedules with ease. She could even incorporate music lessons and extra activities.

Where has her journey taken her?

Today, three of the ten have graduated and moved on, but Dynel still homeschools six children. Each child has an hour of practice time on the piano and an hour of another instrument in addition to regular studies. She even has a special time when all of the children still at home gather for Reading Corner, when mom reads aloud for about an hour.

A day in the Fuller household would never pass smoothly if all of her children didn’t always know what to do, where to go, and when. Their routine has fostered her children’s independence, so much so that Dynel has confidence that she can go about her errands and not worry about disrupting their education. Her children know how to complete their lessons on their own, and if they need extra help, they also know to move on to a different subject until mom is free.

What bumps in the road has she faced?

No routine can be expected to work perfectly from elementary through high school. A big challenge she has had to overcome is the transition from middle school to high school. During their elementary grades, her kids found it easy to complete all the lessons in the textbooks. In high school, they struggled to finish everything in the normal amount of school time. Her goal of having them complete every lesson was throwing off her routine—until she learned that most high school classes don’t finish the entire textbook. Instead of working to finish every lesson in the high school textbooks, she focuses on lessons that will be valuable for each child’s unique learning goals. Her adjustments have further fostered her children’s independence because their learning goals center on their particular talents and interests. Their routine encourages them to pursue subjects that they have an interest in.

Every homeschool mom has valuable lessons to share, and Dynel’s story is full of inspiring lessons. Look for more about Dynel and her homeschooling journey in future posts!