A creative homeschooling mother has transformed Michael Scott’s infamous ‘That’s What She Said’ gag from The Office into a legitimate women’s history lesson, sparking a revolutionary approach to education that’s captivating families nationwide.
In an educational landscape where screen time is often viewed as the enemy, one innovative mother has flipped the script entirely. Amanda, a homeschooling parent with nearly a decade of experience, has developed what she calls “TVschooling” – a method that transforms popular television shows into comprehensive learning experiences.
The concept emerged during the 2020 lockdowns when Amanda found herself rewatching The Office for what she estimates was “the millionth time.” While the show played in the background, she began envisioning how she could use her favorite episodes to teach her six children about everything from workplace ethics to women’s history.
From Dunder Mifflin to the Classroom
Amanda’s homeschooling journey began in 2016 after her oldest son found traditional kindergarten underwhelming. “I had already taught him how to read while we were home all day together,” she explains. “I knew about halfway through kindergarten that we needed a different approach.”
The breakthrough moment came when Amanda considered how to make Michael Scott’s signature phrase educational. “I was like, ‘How can I make ‘That’s what she said’ appropriate?’ And I realized I would love to make that into a women’s history worksheet, where they look up a quote from a famous woman in history, and they study it… because that’s literally what she said,” she laughs.
This creative approach allows families to discuss complex topics through the lens of fictional characters. “It’s easier to talk about hot topics through the lens of a fictional character rather than just waiting for that topic to come up in real life,” Amanda notes.
The TVschooling Method Explained
Amanda’s method goes far beyond simple viewing. Each lesson includes:
- Discussion questions that prompt critical thinking about plot points and character decisions
- Vocabulary expansion based on dialogue and context
- Historical and cultural exploration of references within the shows
- Creative projects inspired by episode themes
- Critical analysis of how content has aged and modern perspectives
What makes TVschooling particularly effective is its adaptability to different learning styles and interests. “I could meet them where they are, engage in their interests in different movies and shows,” Amanda explains. “Right now, my daughter is obsessed with robots, so I look for robot shows and movies. My son loves dinosaurs, and we’re learning pre-history, so we watched The Flintstones and talked about how it’s fun, but unrealistic.”
Building a Curriculum Empire
After perfecting the method with her own children, Amanda decided to share her creations with the broader homeschooling community. She launched her @TVschooling Instagram account and began developing comprehensive companion guides for entire seasons of popular shows.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. “People have told me they look forward to the next one and that their kids love these lessons,” Amanda shares. “It’s been kind of validating to see that, and it’s such an honor that families would want to use something that I started at my kitchen table.”
Gilmore Girls: A Case Study in Pop Culture Education
One of Amanda’s most popular creations is her season 1 Gilmore Girls companion guide, titled “Books, Banter, and Brew.” The curriculum leverages the show’s rapid-fire dialogue and cultural references to teach:
- Vocabulary building through context clues
- Literary analysis of referenced works
- Historical exploration of pop culture moments
- Critical thinking about how content ages
“I like the idea of turning pop culture into conversations that matter,” Amanda explains. “Gilmore Girls has pop culture references that I wasn’t even aware of, and I had to look them up! It just dives into so much history, and you notice themes about what’s popular, and it’s important for people to understand the references, even when they’re silly.”
Addressing Modern Sensitivities
A crucial component of Amanda’s approach involves helping students analyze content through a contemporary lens. Her worksheets encourage critical examination of how shows have aged, particularly regarding sensitive topics.
“They look up the actual pop culture reference and then, after that, they could replace it with something more modern to today,” she says. “Some of the shows are outdated, and so I do include questions about that, because things that did slide back then are totally not appropriate now, and it’s important to understand why and have those conversations.”
The Future of TVschooling
Amanda continues to expand her curriculum offerings, with plans for Stranger Things, Friends, and other popular series in development. She actively engages with her growing community through a Facebook group where she gathers feedback and suggestions for new content.
“I love that there are so many different groups for homeschooling and the different types – unschooling, Waldorf, anything, there’s a group for it,” Amanda notes. “You can find community and ask questions, and it’s really special.”
For Amanda, the ultimate reward comes from the time spent with her children. “People just want to do what’s best for their kids. I really enjoy getting to spend all this extra time with my kids because they’re only little for so long.”
The success of TVschooling demonstrates how innovative approaches to education can bridge the gap between entertainment and learning, creating meaningful experiences that resonate with digital-native generations while maintaining academic rigor.
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