Welcome to Latitude Learners

For Homeschoolers & Unschoolers

This Is for You . . . 

  • if you’re feeling overwhelmed, lost and confused
  • if you’re having doubts about whether or not you can teach your kids
  • if you need encouragement, direction and ideas
  • If you’re feeling lonely, bored and isolated
  • if you’re having trouble getting your kids to focus, learn and get things done
  • if you want a place for your kids, and you, to make friends and have fun

You’re In the Right Place!

As a member of Latitude Learners International you’ll be a part of something different that was designed for people just like you. Here are some of the benefits that you and your children will experience by being part of this new network:

  • the ability to connect, make friends and get involved in a fun, supportive community
  • live online clubs and classes where your kids can learn with other kids, explore their passions and learn in a fun relaxed environment
  • a chance to get involved in a supportive community where you can find help, tips, encouragement, fun and connection for you and for your kids.

Your kids will love…

As a mom who loves her kids you’re making a huge sacrifice to stay home and do what’s best for your children. You could be going out for lunch, shopping, working to bring in extra money or so many other things. It can get hard sometimes. You’re responsible for not just their education but also most likely meals for the family, laundry, keeping a clean house, running errands and so much more. 

Sometimes it gets monotonous, exhausting and even lonely with little time for yourself. In this community we don’t just focus on the kids, we focus on you too! Your kids deserve a happy mother that takes care of herself too. We are going to make sure that happens here. You owe it to yourself and most importantly to your kids.  

Relaxed and Eclectic Homeschooling

Relaxed and eclectic homeschooling are very similar and the terms are often used interchangeably. Eclectic homeschoolers use various methods to learn about subjects depending on their interests and the methods that suit them best.

Relaxed homeschoolers take a similar approach to learning and are very relaxed in how they learn allowing the children to learn whatever it is they want to learn, much like unschooling. 

The Latitude Learners System© is a combination of these two with some flexible structure thrown in to ensure that the child is meeting certain educational goals that the child and parents have agreed to.

The purpose is to maximize learning, build independence, and optimize often overlooked life skills that are necessary for success. In the community you’ll have access to the following resources that we’ve procured for our members.

Homeschool Resources

  • YouTube channels
  • websites
  • apps
  • podcasts
  • books and workbooks
  • the clubs and classes offered in our co-op

Included in the membership is a guide to The Latitude Learners System©, a system I created to help my children learn to work independently, manage their time, set goals and build confidence. 

This is free for you to explore and use as you like. It’s very flexible and easy to use. All the instructions are in the community and I’ll do live Q & A sessions to help you get started.

Why Latitude Learners?

When I decided to educate my kids at home, I didn’t really like any of the options available to describe what we were doing. We didn’t always learn at home. In fact, one of the reasons my husband and I decided to take our kids out of school was because we knew our kids would learn much more by seeing the world, instead of just reading about it.

So we traveled, near and far, and we visited museums, monuments, old towns, antique stores and other educational centers. We participated in co-ops, so my kids could learn from others and with other children at times. We watched YouTube, did critical thinking exercises, played games and spent lots of time being creative which I think is incredibly important.

I encouraged my kids to take part in the planning of their curriculum, and how we learned each subject the best. Much of this was self-led and we were very flexible when things didn’t go well. We focused on their interests and I challenged them in fun ways. 

We had fun, they became involved and independent, self-motivated (sometimes) and learned to set goals and solve problems. That’s what’s part of what’s missing from lots of learning environments and it’s so important.

Latitude is the freedom to do it your way and to go in the direction you choose. It indicates to me that you’re setting your course for your best life. As a life coach that loves her kids more than anything in the world, as I know you do too, it’s what I want for my kids. If you do too, we’d love for you to join us.

The problem with homeschool curriculum

Purchasing a curriculum to follow sounds great. I even did it once. Soon after, my kids were begging for mommy’s school. The problem with curriculum is that it’s just too much. Too much information, too much to memorize, too much to try to understand, learn and figure out. 

When there’s just so much information, your kids get lost. They don’t know what’s important and what’s not so they end up retaining very little and possibly the wrong information. 

This is why you see so many people that can’t write a Facebook post without lots of grammatical mistakes. They were simply overwhelmed with way too much and weren’t able to get the basics, which of course, are very important. 

As a college teacher for several years I new what my students needed to know and that’s what I focused on. I repeated that information over and over to be sure it was understood and that’s what I did with my kids too. 

If you’re a parent who didn’t do well in school you might feel a little insecure about what your kids need to know and maybe that’s why you feel frustrated and full of doubt about how you’re doing as their teacher. You don’t have to! 

In this community you’ll find the support you need to feel confident, more relaxed and happy about your child’s learning experience. If this sounds good to you. Come on in, we are waiting for you!

About the co-op

A co-op is a group of parents that contribute their knowledge and skills to create a shared learning experience for their children

Latitude Learners is network of families that educate our kids at home using multiple resources so that we can piece together a valuable home-ed experience that encourages our children to flourish and learn the way that suits them best.

If you’re looking for other homeschool families that share this philosophy, and want to create a home education experience that is encouraging, relaxed and meaningful, then you’ve found the right place!

What is Latitude Learners?

Latitude Learners is a community of homeschool families that want to enjoy their home education experience in a relaxed,  and fun way. At Latitude Learners we believe that learning should be fun, engaging and rewarding. 

Essentially, Latitude Learners is an online community for homeschooling and unschooling families with an optional co-op where familites can share the educational demands of teaching their kids together.

How it works

As a member your family will get six classes that you can divvy up between your children. More classes can be added if you volunteer to teach (2 for each class taught). Your kids will have their own account and can add a photo, or avatar, and use a pseudonym if they like. 

You will also have an account and access to the private Mom’s Lounge where you can connect with other moms, answer questions and attend special events, all at no extra charge!

Your children will be able to make friends in the live online classes or clubs and message their new friends (a feature that can be turned off, if you or they prefer). The kids will also have places to connect, answer questions and join special events just for them also.

For this you pay a monthly fee. There are no contracts and you can cancel anytime. 


I know there are so many ways to learn and that’s what I want to provide to your kids in this community. When we were learning we explored lots of learning options. Some were great and others didn’t work for us, but in the end my kids learned enough, are very confident, doing very well in college and most importantly are happy, kind and well-rounded people. They will both be helping run this community. I know your kids will love them!

We have lots of fun things in store for you and your children. We want your kids to have things to look forward to and we want both of you to feel that you belong to a community of like-minded home/unschooling families that believe that learning should be fun.  Here are some of the clubs and classes we have in store:

  • book clubs (for you and your kids)
  • horror story writing club 
  • fantasy story writing club
  • design club
  • show and tell for the little ones
  • investor’s club
  • drama club
  • art journaling
  • presentation skills
  • Algebra I
  • business masterminds
  • graphic design

Over the summer we will be coordinating additional clubs and classes planned and hosted by members of the co-op. 

If you would like to lead a club or a class please let us know. Members that contribute two hours for every six classes they purchase receive a discount on membership. This offer is available only after your clubs/classes have been accepted by Latitude Learners.

Do I have to teach a class?

No. It’s not a requirement at all. In fact most families won’t be teaching classes or facilitating clubs, but if you do decide to teach two or more classes, you’ll receive a 50% savings on your membership. Please let me know if you’re interested.

How we ensure that our community is safe

All of our members and their kids must meet with a member of our team to verify that they are in fact who they say they are. Once you join, you’ll be asked to make an appointment to speak with us on Zoom, once we’ve met you and your child you’ll be approved and let into the community to explore and join events and classes. 

You’ll have opportunities to meet with guides that will answer questions and show you how to move around the community so that you can connect and enjoy all of the benefits the community offers.

If you’re new to home education, or you’re having trouble motivating your kids to learn, and you yourself love learning, then you will love the coaching option. This option involves group coaching where I meet with small groups once a week at pre-arranged times on Zoom. 

You’re able to ask questions and be coached, which involves me asking you questions in order to help you find what works best for your family and your kids. 

These sessions will be held three times a week to start with until we have enough people to break out in to groups with similar goals. 

If you are going through something that’s not related to educating your kids at home consider talking to me about private coaching. I’ve helped many teens and parents over the past several years and I’d love to help you too.

About Me

Hello! I’m Candice Ricketts, a former college professor and certified life coach. I homeschooled my kids from 1st and 3rd grades all the way through high school. We tried the public school system twice and two private schools, I wasn’t at all happy with either for many reasons that I’ll share inside the community. I believe that home (or out and about) education has so much to offer and I’m a huge advocate for families that choose to take this journey.

I was actually homeschooled in 8th grade, even though I didn’t realize it until I began to explore the possibility of educating my own kids at home. Back in those days it was actually called a correspondence course. 

The military provided it to my family when we lived on the island of Sardinia, Italy. Our box arrived from the University of Maryland with all the books, instructions and a schedule. It was divided into eight sections. I completed one section, I think my brother completed three. Instead, I learned to speak Italian fluently, travel and learn about people. An education I now know was much more valuable that anything inside that box!

I’m fortunate to have a different perspective to many, probably because my mother was English and my father was an American, in the USAF. I grew up in seven countries. My family believed that travel and learning about different cultures teaches you so much about the world and yourself. I believe that too and that’s one of the reasons we chose to homeschool.

Values Statement

Latitude Learners is a community of homeschoolers that have different beliefs, political opinions, cultures and values. 

Although we are run as a secular community, you are welcome to request special groups, like bible studies and other special interest groups to be arranged so that you can meet with members that share those values with you.. 

As a member you agree to refrain from speaking about those topics in the community except when in your special interest clubs. No hate speech of any kind is permitted anywhere in the network at all and will be grounds for removal in the community.

This community focuses on what we all have in common, helping our kids grow to be successful, confident adults that are kind, curious and life long learners, while providing a relaxed and rewarding learning experience for both our kids and ourselves.

Mission Statement

To provide connection, community, coaching, clubs, classes, resources and support. for both kids and parents in a fun and positive atmosphere.

Vision Statement

My vision for this community is one where members feel supported, welcome and important. I want this community to learn from each other, explore new ideas, feel confident in how they are educating their children and most importantly, become friends with one another. This goes  for their children too!

Our Golden Rule

Treat everyone with kindness and respect (no judging) as we are all doing our best to educate our children. Please keep in mind that it’s impossible to know what someone else is going through and kind words and a little encouragement could be what another member needs today.