Not Another Homeschool Blog

Check out this cute video post I found on youtube. If you need to learn about cells, you HAVE TO WATCH this video. for lyrics, go to the website littleblueschool.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyday Education. Homeschool Through High School & Beyond With Easy To Use Resources! Transcripts Made Easy, Get A Jump Start On College, Grammar Made Easy, And More. We Are A Real Company With Quality Books And Audio Resources.

When kids start needing bullet proof backpacks. So naturally their backs are covered and they cannot take a direct hit in the back. thier sides however are unprotected. To protect thier fronts, they have to take the pack off and use it as a shield which can take some training. They can still get hit in the legs and head. When I was in school, the biggest danger was getting beat up by someone who had a "beef" with one for one reason or another. I remember two or three incedents where I had to talk my way out of a fight either through explanation, apology, or reasoning. You can't reason with a gun... and probably not a gun holder either. see stories below:

Isn't it wonderful that a kid can have such great success by working her education around her tennis career. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Common Room presents another Carnival of Homeschooling that boasts almost entries from every type of homeschooler in existance. Some of my favorite posts include Mucking in the Rain a post about interning at the Bronx Zoo and A Couple of New Experiences with chronicles a dad taking over Moms homeschooling role for a morning. His link to a muppet show analogy is priceless. Oh and then there is my post on Denying Our Gifted Children . The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Secrets To Successful Homeschooling.

HEY! I can upload videos without first posting on YouTube... Awesome! I hate the screen shots though... I look like I've been drinking! So basically what I am saying is dress codes make no real difference to me one way or another. Kids will dress in a way that reflects what they value. But when a kid is suspended for showing that he values giving a good impression. That's just criminal.

Seems to me like no tolerance laws are not working. When I was back in school, they used to give early morning detention for being late. I was late once after my sisters nurse was late for work (I had a sister on home care and could not leave until the nurse got there). No one wanted to listen long enough to hear that I had a real reason for being late. It took days and alot of defiance on my part to get my point across. I suspect they listen even less these days. $$$ The Scholarship & Grant Guide ~ Americas #1 Guide For 10 Years! Search 20 Million Scholarships And Free Grants From 'One' Guide - Amazingly Fast And Easy! Highly Recommended By Educators For All* Students Including Minorites And Returning Adults! Brand-New 2008 Online Edition Now Available.

Off the topic of homeschool but a reason why I am glad I do. This is a story that all parents should be aware of if anyone transports their kids for any reason. It is a shame that this went on for three years What is even more of a shame is that there was a block in familial communication that prevented the girl from letting her parents know what was going on for a whole three years! Oh, and speaking of keeping children safe here is a website that will help monitor internet use.

A recent time magazine story profiled below talks about "failing our geniuses". It is a big concern for me because my son was denied the chance to take testing for gifted kids when he was in school even though the school in our previous state had planned to test him. We knew he was bright, but we also knew he was having social issues (not just for homeschoolers). The problems was with his maturity level. He did not have patience with "Kid things". He preferred the company of adults. It was clear my daughter was different too. As far as the schools were concerned, she needed ritalin in order to concentrate. They never considered that slowing her mind down would stunt her intelligence. Her problems in school were the reasons we decided to homeschool. Years later, I still haven't had my kids officially tested for giftedness. While my daughters standarized tests in the 95th percentile could qualify her for gifted classes, and my son's advanced computer science...

If you are looking for candidates that believe in homeschooling, this is a good indication that Edwards should be considered: hmmm, I wonder if they will use a curriculum like Rv Education 101 ? Rv Expert Mark Polk Is The Producer & Host Of Americas Most Highly Regarded Series Of DVDs, Videos, Books, And E-books. Polk Provides RVers With Qualified Rv Information, Tips And Safety Advice.

My great room is being invaded with homeschooling stuff ! My bedoom office area is being invaded with homeschooling stuff! And this does not even include the room with 6 bookshelves, a sink, and a work counter specifically designated for homeschooling stuff! I think I need to start from scratch and start over again! I am seriously considering getting industrial shelving for the actual "homeschool room" to help contain some of this stuff that seems to be taking up the rest of the house! CarGuyGarage.com carries heavy duty products like industrial shelving and things that would help pull off a serious reorganizing product. Oh you want to see what the real homeshcooling room looks like? I am far too ashamed to show you. Perhaps after I have reorganized it!

My son is taking Algebra and physical science this year. Since these are highschool level classes, it is oficially time to start the college portfolio. We are also looking at his interests and strenghts and beginning to consider what colleges would be best for him. I realize he is only 13 but before we know it, he will be driving and it will be time to leave for college.

A quick synopis of a day in the life of "this" homeschooler.

Two school boys went on a butt slapping spree in school. They spent a couple of nights in jail and are faced with fines and more. It looks like they have learned their lesson. I doubt they'll be slapping any other girls on their behinds. But... can you imagine someone doing that to your daughter? How would you feel? Would you let your girls drop the charges for an apology and small fine? It reminds me of the boys who used to flip up the back of my catholic school uniform skirt in school. I wish such harrassment had been taken as seriously.

It very well could be. Whether purposely or not, if homeschoolers migrate to this eaiser (for parents) and cheaper (free) means of homeschooling, with its accreditation and government controls, colleges may begin to demand the same credentials from all students. read what Mary Hood had to say:

I just came across this cool video entitled socialization blues. The only blues I have is the 'talkin about socializatin' blues. That woman across the street doesn't harass me about it anymore, but now everytime she sees my husband she tries to convince him to "make me" put the kids back in school... as if I am homeschooling them against his will... ugh! Anyway, hope you enjoyed the video!

This "back to school" gadget is great for homeschoolers too! Check out the very first item in this report on back to school gadgets!

Random Principal decides to randomly yank AP classes mid year and replace with useless electives. ( find full story on Joanne Jacobs blog)

I first noticed Morgan Harper about 4 months ago on Youtube when I was looking for videos of other homeschoolers. Here is a funny/cool video of her and her little sister. (Don't be alarmed, they were acting a crazy at first because they are trying to make a point about being "homeskooled") Now today, s he was profiled on the local news ... she is the hottest new thing in folk music. Too cool! This encourages me because my kids are both artistic.

More thoughts and feelings on my kids taking academic courses outside the home.

Am I crazy, paranoid, or both? someone please just tell me these are normal feelings.

The 85th carnival of homeschooling is up. You will find it at Dewey's Treehouse. One of my posts is listed: "Andrea presents a video post, People who don't know... criticize, posted at Notes From A Homeschooling Mom." Read it here:

So often when homeschoolers gush about just how much we love what we are doing with our kids, teachers feel that we are putting them down as educators. That is just not true. Just as we homeschooling moms feel that we can do the best possible job with our childen that we have raised and in most cased given birth to, most of us feel that teachers are certainly better at managing a class full of children, than we would be. This article I stumbled upon portrays this sentiment well.

Why do I read the homeschooling questions on Yahoo answers? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

This is a question I came across asking if I was enabling my child to avoid tough situations. My answer is recorded in this video.

There is no such thing as a perfect curriculum. There just isn't. There are however curriculums that will work well for for different people. There are optimum curriculums for certain people, but they are still far from perfect. But we will all look back at one point and say, I wish I'd tried that. I wonder if that would have been better. With my curriculum for this year set, It is killing me that I am now stumbling upon different programs and curriculums that make me wonder. Some cost less... alot less. Some seem more geared to the way my kids learn. Some just look cool. But decisions have been made, and books and supplies purchased. I guess all I can do is file those programs away for later reference, just in case.

I touched on this subject last summer in one of my videos. In one case, a teacher had told a student to pee in a bottle instead of excusing himself... In the other case, I think a student had wet himself. You can see why I am glad we homeschool. My son has collitus and when he was in school, he had horrible pain and felt sick all the time because he could not do what he had to do in the alloted time. When we started homeschooling, his problem became much less severe.

It's back to homeschool week. I found out about this a bit late, but since I have spent the whole day catching up with other homeschool blogs instead of writing my own (sometimes you gotta do that), I thought I would jump in... better late than never they say. Anyway out of the five questions, I thought I would answser this one. How Do you homeschool? If I had to put a label on our homeschooling, I would have to call us Car-relaxed-classical-unschoolers. We do a little of everything. My kids take classes We try to keep it relaxed and informal We believe in the value of classical curriculum We leave the afternoons free for unschooling time.

I think unschooling is an awesome and freeing way to learn, It's just that I'm not that evolved yet. I don't feel comfortable until all the criteria on the curriculum list has been checked off. I do, however know enough to allow him time and space to do a little unschooling on his own. view this youtube video to get the whole story.

I have homeschooled from Hotel rooms. I have homeschooled from my bed. I have had our homeschool activities confined to just one room. My daughter likes to homeschool under a table. What about you? This video talks to someone who was worried about having too little space to homeschool. I would love to hear from homeschoolers with simlar problems. Please tell me how you overcame them.

Read the carnival (and all the links attatched to it) to get a real sense of what homeschooling is about.

Do a good job! Here is a video I recorded in answer to that question.

I waited until the local school year started because last year I sent them in too early (at the end of the previous year) and ended up on the Truancy list for not sending them in at the beginning of the years... There was a truant officer sitting outside my home for 1/2 hour, I guess while they filled out paper work. When one of my kids stepped out the door and stared at them, they finally drove away. I got a phone call the next day asking where my forms were since I was still homeschooling. I sent them in again, and made sure my attendance forms went out on time. I really have to mind my p's and q's this year as my son is 13 and will start driving lessons in just a few years. In Georgia, if your attendance forms are not sent in exactly as required, your child will not be able to get a liscense. They have managed to tie drivers liscences to school attendance, which is a royal pain for homeschoolers. btw, here is a recording I did answering the question, what to do teach ...

My kids are taking classes this year (I am sure I have mentioned this a million times, sorry) On Mondays they are going to Masters Academy of Fine Arts where they learn Art, music, drama, and history all combined. My son in starting the high school program (at 13) and majoring in film. In drama class everyone has to participate so since he hates being the center of attention, he will be doing tech work... so I have to get going soon to the audition for a "charlie brown" play... he even has to audition for the tech spot. (school has unofficially started back for the year) I think there is great value in having your kid involved in a activity that forces interaction like drama. My son is one of the less outgoing people, so we really push him in this area, but because he wants to learn film making he is willing to step out of his comfort zone. I am proud of him for stretching himself. Speaking of kids in drama, I found these great youtube videos of homeschool kids in the ar...

This homeschooling supporter is hardly a forerunner, or at least he is off my radar, but he certainly has the support of homeschoolers. Learn More abut Mike Huckabee

I may have misphrased something I was trying to say in this video ... homeschooling when you don't agree will not necessarily lead to divorce, but it will make bad matters worse.

As homeschoolers, we often feel that hiring a tutor means we are not capable of educating a child ourselves. We would rather stay up all night before a new lesson is to be introduced learning the lesson ourselves. As for myself, I decided some years ago, that I would rather pay for a tutor than the throw myself into a subject I was not passionate about. I would rather hire someone who has the passion that a subject needs to pass on that excitement to my kids. Securing proper Tutoring for a homeschoolers is not the easiest job. It takes time and connections to find someone whose personality meshes well with that of your child’s. Even when a good tutor is found, you never know when the life of that tutor will change, and therefore that tutor is gone. Despite the struggles in getting a tutor, I have to say that the person I hired to teach my children Math did an excellent job helping my children to excel where I was just helping them to keep up. The degree of guidance and Math Tu...

In this video I disscuss the problem with trying to make one's wife homeschool the kids when she is not committed to it. I don't feel that any parent who does not WANT to homeschool should homeschool. A little cajoling is one thing, but forced homeschooling is bad homeschooling. I believe the parent who truly wants the kids homeschooled should take the reigns.

A new school year often renews a zeal for all things... like homeschool blogging for instance. For the past 7 months, my presense here has been sporadic as I was working for families.com where I wrote a blog post or more each day. I have since given up that job. Besides having to temper everything I wrote with political correctiveness, the amount of time it took to write a professional blog was not commensurate with the pay. So, I have gone back to freelance writing which pays more. Meanwhile, I will have more time for my homeschool blog/vlog. Here is my latest youtube video.

This post is my answer to this question. (click here video)