Home Schooling- News, trends, opinions and blogs on the homeschool culture

 
 

 
 

  • HomeschoolBuzz.com

  • Belated carnivals of homeschooling

    Belated carnivals of homeschooling
    I’ve been lax again. More belated carnivals of homeschooling.  May 9 - The NerdMom is hosting Carnival of Homeschooling – jump right in Welcome to the Carnival of Homechooling! Won’t you come on in, get a cup of coffee and make yourself comfortable? We have quite a few great entrys this week so lets jump right in!  No [...]

  • Homeschooling: the infographic

    Homeschooling: the infographic
    Some comforting statistics about homeschooling brought to life here by this inforgraphic.  One interesting point, homeschool sucess is not significantly affected by household income, teacher certification or curriculum budget. These are all the things public schools reflexively cite for the reason for their failures.  Created by: CollegeAtHome.com

  • A month?s worth of Homeschool Carnivals

    A month?s worth of Homeschool Carnivals
    I have been lax in posting carnivals recently. Too much going in the non-virtual world. Here are the carnivals I missed but you don’t want to miss: April 17 – Carnival of Homeschooling: The Balloon Dog Lessons via Home Spun Juggling April 10 – Carnival of Homeschooling – instead of TV… via bugs, knights and [...]

  • Carnival of Homeschooling ? Creativity Edition

    Carnival of Homeschooling ? Creativity Edition
    Homeschool Bytes is hosting theHomeschool Blog Carnival – Creativity Edition We’ve all chosen to homeschool for a variety of reasons and many of us have discovered that every child is a bundle of different needs, learning styles, and undiscovered talents. Nurturing the creativity of our children fills the journey with diverse and amazing discoveries.

  • Carnival of Homeschooling, to those who homeschool because of illness

    Carnival of Homeschooling, to those who homeschool because of illness
    This week, Notes From A Homeschooled Mom is hosting Carnival of Homeschooling, to those who homeschool because of illness Hi and Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling at Notes from a Homeschooled Mom. I am have homeschooled for nearly a decade now and am near the end of the journey with my children. You may [...]
 
 
  • Notes From A Homeschooled Mom

  • Count down to graduation (video)

    Count down to graduation (video)

    Video Summary:

    Sharing my excitement about our upcoming graduation ceremonies this weekend.
    The college admissions process was actually pretty easy, and my best tip is to apply early.
    We've come a long way from the depressed child we pulled out of public school over 8 years ago.

    We are very happy to be graduating our first homeschooler... one more to go- next year!



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  • I love being weird

    I love being weird
    As long as I can remember I have been strange.  My family told me so.  The only problem is that they made it seem like a bad thing.

    First I was the quiet one in my family.... always thinking.  (yes, that was said negatively)

    Then I was the bookworm. (also an insult)

    Then I was the home-girl (which was a good thing in the 1980s' if you were hip and cool, but in my case, they meant it quite literal.  Everyone else was a homegirl, and I was a home....girl. get it?  Not funny.)
      Then I was just strange (my mother's own words.... expressed after I brought home a creative writing assignment with A+ written on it.  It was a take on Tale of Two Cities where we were required to write from the viewpoints of either a Surf or Nobility.... I chose Nobility.)

    At this point, I'd have enough of my family of 11 pointing out how much I stood out from the pack.  I decided to embrace it.  Soon after, my mother was calling me strange based on something I'd said or did, and I stood up in the middle of the living room and exclaimed:

    MAYBE I'M NOT THE STRANGE ONE HERE.  (as I pointed to each family member I continued) MAYBE YOU ARE ALL THE STRANGE ONES (I then pointed to myself and said) PERHAPS, I AM THE NORMAL ONE.  .... and they all decided it wasn't worth arguing and changed the conversation.

    Some 30-odd years later and I am still the strange one.  Eight years ago, when I finally told my older brother (who I thought would try to get custody of my kids for homeschooling) that I was homeschooling, his answer was "well, you've always been weird, but you seem to make it work, go for it".  At least they now appreciate my weirdness.

    And now I do too:

    Over at the Education Explorers blog, I just read the post, Dear God, Please Don't Let my children be "normal" where the writer clearly lays out the differences between the words "Normal" and "Quirky".  You have to read it.  It's delightful.

    ps.  I have weird kids too... and they embrace it.  I'm so glad they don't have to wait until they are in their 40's to love that they are wired differently.




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  • Silly Homeschoolers

    Silly Homeschoolers
    Everybody makes mistakes but when we make mistakes we like to blame it on being homeschoolers (in jest of course). Today, we had two doozies!

    #1: After driving across the county twice, I stopped for a quick appointment that was supposed to take 5 minutes.  We were tired and out of gas, but it was important.  After 10 minutes waiting to see the person I had to speak to, I called my kids out in the car and told them to turn on the air conditioning, but watch the gas.  (Don't call DFACS, they're both teens).  As I walked back out to the car, I heard what sounded like someone trying to start a car, but the battery was dead.  Too bad I thought.  Then I found out it was my car.  To watch the gas, they only turned on the battery and drained it dead using the air conditioning and charging games.  We spent the next hour waiting, getting attacked by ants, and finally having someone other than roadside assistance starting the car.

    #2:  We get home and I go straight to the kitchen to make dinner.  I look in the sink and it looks like we had a sewage back up.  I try to clean the sink and turn on the garbage disposal and it sounds like it's working, only muffled.  I asked my daughter who I knew was in the kitchen last if she noticed anything.  She says, "no, but a put a lemon down the drain to freshen it".  Hmmm I think.  I poked around a few more minutes, then it hit me.... she didn't cut the lemon up. .... yep, there was a whole lemon stuffed down my garbage disposal.  I fished it out, plunged it to get it going and sliced the lemon before putting it back down the drain.

    Silly homeschoolers.



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  • What are you going to do when the kids are gone?

    What are you going to do when the kids are gone?
    With my son graduating this year and my daughter graduating next, the end of my years as a homeschool mom are fast approaching.

    But people keep asking me "What are you going to do when the kids are gone?".... in a response, I do a little dance.

    Aren't you sad, they say... NO I reply.


    But your kids are leaving they say...  I reply with a big grin.

    It's not like I am glad that my kids are leaving me soon and it's not like I am glad homeschooling is almost over.  It's just that I am just so darned proud of them and excited for them.

    I also don't want to steal their thunder.

    You see, my mom (God rest her soul), had trouble letting go.  She raised 9 kids, 4 of whom she gave birth to and every time it was time for someone to fly the nest she became, angry, bitter, and argumentative.  She made leaving home difficult and stressful.  I am not going there.  I am going to set my kids free when they are ready and be here if they need me, both with a cheerful attitude.

    I am also going to rely on sage advice and prepare to chart a course for myself, (which I believe is in helping drop-outs get into college through homeschooling... just haven't figured out how to proceed yet.)



    So while on the inside, I kinda feel like that lady in the Verizon cell phone commercial, I am also celebrating their accomplishments and will continue to be their biggest fan and cheerleader, where ever that may take them.


    FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
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  • Strange but true homeschool behaviors

    Strange but true homeschool behaviors
    Here are a few of the more interesting things my kids have reported about their homeschool friends (some of them lifted from facebook)

    • Girl finds that someone put $70 Euros IN in her wallet. 
    • A lightsaber duel breaks out in the middle of prom (it was the May 5... National Star Wars Day... May the Fourth be with you... never mind)
    •  One girl has a notebook in which she records the most interesting comments.  Best quote of the year is probably "Who died and made you Jesus?"
    • In a conversation about Ho's vs Bros, it was agreed that once a girl and guy become close, the girl moves from "ho" category to "bro". 
    • There were very few actual dates at prom, most went in groups, and there were at least a couple brother-sister sets.... no one thought it was strange. 
    • The Hunger Games are reenacted for a film class project.... lots of "blood" but no real deaths. 
    • There's a serious discussion about dragons and unicorns in the bible
    • A portable basketball goal was used to adjust stage lights
    • fezes are cool!
    • Kids request facebook friending from their friends parents
    We like to keep things interesting don't we



    FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
    MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
  • SpunkyHomeSchool

  • Merry Christmas

    Spunky
    Merry Christmas
    Life has a way of taking unexpected twists and turns, doesn't it? And the older I get (fast approaching the big five OH no!) the more I accept that fact and attempt to adjust accordingly. That adjusting has also left me with little extra time for blogging but for anyone who wants to keep up with small snippets I do post on Facebook and accept most friend requests. But for now, I'd like to send

  • Motivation to Homeschool

    Spunky
    Motivation to Homeschool
    • Homeschool Blog

    • Fun Find: Simply Spray

      Fun Find: Simply Spray
      What is Simply Spray? Simply Spray is a fun way to make banners, school projects, and more! It sprays easily and evenly. The formula is non-toxic and non-flammable making it perfect for children. The low odor makes it tolerable to use indoors.

    • Family Game Night: Flash Point

      Family Game Night: Flash Point
      Game: Flash Point: Fire Rescue Made by: Indie Boards and Games Age Recommendation: 10 and up but can be adjusted with Family Rules and supervision for younger players.

    • Family Game Night: Reverse Charades

      Family Game Night: Reverse Charades
      Game: Reverse Charades (Junior Edition) Made by: Retro Games Age Recommendation: All Ages Number of Players: 6 or more, teams, party game Game Description: Reverse Charades is a hilarious twist on the classic game of charades.

    • Family Game Night: Flippin' Out!

      Family Game Night: Flippin' Out!
      Game: Flippin' Out Made by: Endless Games Age Recommendation: 10 and up Number of Players: 2 or more people or teams Game Description: Flippin' Out: The outrageous category-party game where a Letter or a Pla...

    • Top 10 Ways to Get Kids Excited About Reading: Cultivate Down Time From Media

      Top 10 Ways to Get Kids Excited About Reading: Cultivate Down Time From Media
      Do you want to get your kids excited about reading? If so, get ready for the countdown: ten days of ideas that will get you and yours into reading! This is day 3 of our countdown. We live in an age of distraction, and modern distractions can be hard to resist.
     
     
    • Homeschool Insider Blog

    • Get Off The Fence Now

      Get Off The Fence Now
      For anyone who is still on the fence about whether to avoid public schools and homeschool your children, or not, here is some food for thought. Very distasteful food, actually. “San Francisco Bay-area Alameda Unified School District has approved a “lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender” (LGBT) curriculum for use with kindergarten through fifth-grade students. The curriculum is intended to [...]

    • Credit Crisis Explained (Video)

      Credit Crisis Explained (Video)
      The Great Credit Crisis. What is it? How and why did it happen? What events led us to this crisis? Who is responsible? How will it affect me, or has it already? These are some of the questions you may be asking yourself as you continue to press forward in your homeschooling program amid the [...]

    • America?s Deadly Schools

      America?s Deadly Schools
      Has it really been over 2 months since we made a post? No excuses, other than we’ve been so busy DOING homeschool we haven’t had much time to WRITE about homeschooling. But we did run across this provocative article, part of which we wanted to share with you. It was written by Don Stott as part of [...]

    • Math Facts Anyone?

      Math Facts Anyone?
      Some of you may be home schooling because your child has a specific learning problem. If that problem is learning math facts, you’re not alone. Our second son has been having this problem. For over a year we have tried to get him to memorize his addition and subtraction facts. Three months ago, he had [...]

    • Have you checked these out?

      Have you checked these out?
      Here we are again at the beginning of another school year. OK, so we’re actually already in the thick of it here in the Northern hemisphere. To say we’ve had a busy summer would be a gross understatement. Where’d it go? Whew! Hopefully, you’ve long since jumped into teaching/learning mode, and have settled into your home schooling routine without too many [...]
    • Eduwonk

    • This Week?s TIME Student Loan Hysteria

      This Week?s TIME Student Loan Hysteria
      To understand what’s happening with student loans you need to keep two things in mind at once:  There is a problem, yes, but there is also a lot of hysteria. And increasingly lost in the hysteria are the students we should worry about most – those making poor choices based on bad information or attending [...]

    • David Coleman ? Onboard At College Board

      David Coleman ? Onboard At College Board
      The Times breaks the news this morning that David Coleman is taking the helm at College Board when Gaston Caperton retires this fall.  It’s an inspired and non-traditional choice but David’s background brings a lot to the iconic organization – especially at a time of a lot of change in its part of the sector.  [...]

    • School Boards

      School Boards
      Bellwether helped the National Chamber of Commerce take a look at school boards around the country and discuss some key takeaways and ideas for how business can play a constructive role in school board issues.  You can read about the cities – including some off-the-beaten path in ND and WY and some that are more [...]

    • Tell Us What You Think?By Weds PM

      Tell Us What You Think?By Weds PM
      We’re going to close the Bellwether feedback survey on Wednesday evening.  Many thanks to all those who have responded, if you’re not among them you can learn more and respond via this link.  Will just take a few minutes.

    • Mississippi Smoldering, Hechinger Burning, Mead Profiling, And Links

      Mississippi Smoldering, Hechinger Burning, Mead Profiling, And Links
      If you only read one thing today, this WaPo op-ed by Mississippi TFA’er Eli Hager is a pretty good bet.  Unfortunately, the consensus he describes isn’t a simple right – left issue. Wondering what MOOC is and what it means for higher education?  Laura McKenna tells you.  Joel Rose discusses an ed tech revolution.  Brooklyn [...]