YouTube for Teens Review

I have another product to share with you from Timberdoodle, YouTube for Teens!  YouTube for Teens is a 12-week interactive course that equates to a 1-semester elective credit from Film School 4 Teens.

In this course, teens will learn about choosing a content area, shooting and editing quality footage as well as optimizing their channel in a safe way.  Basically everything they need to know to create and get a YouTube channel running.  I appreciate that it challenges them to think about if their channel has intrinsic value and helps improve people's lives 😉.

This online course is geared for ages 12 and up or 7th grade and beyond.

I printed the PDF workbook and put it in a binder for the kids to use as they work through this course.

Inside our binder, including the Table of Contents

As mentioned previously this is a 12-week course so it is broken into 12 sections.

Damon Evans is the director of YouTube 4 Teens and he walks you through the lessons.

Above you can see YouTube channel examples found in Section 1.  Also notice on our dashboard that there is a progress bar in the top left hand corner that tracks your completion of this course.  Above it shows 8%.

Working through Section 1 of our binder.

Each of the 12 sections includes videos with lessons and interviews with established YouTubers.  I love that it lays out tasks and assignments clearly.  I also like that as you progress through the course you follow a case study of a few teens establishing their own channel.

Okay, there are 12 sections, how are they broken down?

• Section 1 covers the introduction and overview of this course and has you determine your why.
• Section 2 encourages you to choose your topic and write a purpose statement.
• Section 3 is about planning your videos and organizing your ideas.
• Section 4 is about choosing your tech and selecting your gear.
• Section 5 is about editing your videos and choosing your software.
• Section 6 is about shooting a VLOG and taking a video for your channel.
• Section 7 is about editing 4 YouTube and editing the video you took.
• Section 8 is about starting your own channel.
• Section 9 is about optimizing your videos.
• Section 10 is about creating revenue streams.
• Section 11 is about marketing your channel and choosing your marketing strategy.
• Section 12 contains final instructions for launching your channel!

This course is straightforward.  You watch the video lectures (which are fun and engaging), complete your assignment questions and work through the deep thought questions for every section.  These action steps need to be completed before moving onto the next section.  And at the end of it all, you will have your own YouTube channel or understand how to create one if you desire.  I love that this course is fresh, fun and emphasizes safety on a platform that is not always safe.  And while this is a 12-week course, I don't see any problem with taking it a little slower if you need to.  We are going a little slower mainly because the oldest 3 have such varying schedules and I really wanted them to work on this course together.  I have since decided to have them work through it individually when they have time and then they can confer together as needed.  On a side note, I have enjoyed working through this course as well.  My YouTube channel is in dire need of help and revamping and this is a great opportunity for me to do that so stay tuned for more on that in the near future 😉.

 

YouTube for Teens is currently a part of Timberdoodle's 10th Grade Curriculum Kit.  This is such a fun elective and we highly recommend it!  I'm looking forward to seeing my teenagers final creation.

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  I received YouTube for Teens in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

A's 13th Star Wars Birthday Party

 

 A's Star Wars Cake

As you guys know, A turned 13 yesterday.  I am still trying to process that, our first teenager!  We celebrated her birthday on Saturday with a Star Wars themed birthday party.  She dressed up in her Rey costume and had such a good time with family and friends.  2016 was a really challenging year for our family, especially A, and it was so fun to celebrate her and her life.  I am so blessed to be her Mom.  Enjoy the photos!

David went with a 3D effect, so fun.

 A and her cake!

 Blowing out her candles in one breath...

The food spread

I had a lot of fun with the food for this party.  We served Princess Leia buns, green/blue/red light saber pretzels, Storm Trooper deviled eggs, fruit/veggie trays, various chips and dips, Strom Trooper Chex Mix, etc.

A and B actually made most of these!

Princess Leia Buns

I bought prepackaged Chex Mix and then used a food coloring marker to make Storm Trooper marshmallows and added them.

And of course there was Yoda Soda - just Sprite mixed with Lime Sherbet.

 We borrowed a projector and watched The Force Awakens.

 Thanks so much to everyone who made it!!  

And a huge shout out to everyone who has stood by us this last year and loved on us and our darling girl.  I don't think there is a way to thank everyone enough.  I always think of our birthday parties as a celebration of our children's lives and this one just seemed extra special with everything since the accident.  I am so grateful for family, friends, and a huge community of people who love!!

Happy 13th Birthday A!

Happy Birthday to my now teenager A!  I want you to know that you are beautiful, bright and I love you more than I can express.

Enough 10 Things We Should Be Telling Our Teenage Girls Book Review & Giveaway

I just finished reading Enough 10 Things We Should Be Telling Teenage Girls by Kate Conner.  I know I don't have any teenagers just yet but it won't be long.  In just a few short years A will be 13 and eventually I will have multiple teenagers at the same time, most of them girls!

I love the the messages - You are beautiful.  You are valuable.  You are enough.  I think these statements are so profound and if my daughters could grasp these truths as a teenager it would serve them well.

I have wondered about our children and the rise of social media.  Currently our children do not have facebook accounts and the like but that will not be true forever.  I like that Kate brought this up in her book.  Not only is there the issue of safety but also the fact that our words are swords.  They can be used powerfully for good, or evil.  I hope and pray that my kids learn this early.  There are still some adults that haven't fully grasped this.

One of the most profound statements that I learned from the movie Fireproof was the advice that you cannot follow your heart as it can lead you astray.  It was spot on!  I love that Kate discusses this in her book.  Better yet follow your passions, dreams, intuition, God's word - that is where you want to be.

Did I agree with everything?  No, but I love Kate's heart and her way of communication.  I am as white as they come and tanning beds were never appealing to me and maybe I am the only one on the planet but I do not watch The Bachelor.  However, I could appreciate and understand Kate's use of these examples.  Thank you Kate for stepping up and helping us teach our girls that they are loved, valued and treasured.

Read more about this book below and enter to win your own copy!

About Enough: 10 Things You Should Be Telling Teenage Girls
In a book based on her post, Kate Conner calls us to action in Enough.  We all have teenage girls in our lives who we love, whether it's a sister, friend, or daughter.  Kate has identified 10 things these girls need to hear today from someone who loves her.  Peppered with wit and laced with grace, Kate's list tackles relevant issues like Facebook, emotions, drama, tanning beds, modesty, and flirtation.  Woven into each chapter is a powerful message of worth that transcends age, and will touch the souls of women, young and old alike: You are beautiful.  You are valuable.  You are enough.  A former youth-worker, wife to a college minister, and a young mom in her twenties, Conner stands squarely in generational gap, the perfect place from which to bridge it.  Conner offers herself as a translator, helping you to speak your teenager's language and quipping you with a fresh perspective from which to engage your teenage girl - one that may enable her to truly hear your heart (and your wisdom) for the first time since puberty.  Check out the official website for this book here.

Ready for a giveaway?  One of you will win your own copy of this book.  Just enter below and good luck.

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Disclosure:  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive my own copy of Enough in exchange for this review and post.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.