Not Another Homeschool Blog

 Welcome to the March 30, 2010 edition of carnival of educators. For those of us dedicated to teaching, we learn just as much as the students if not more.  Some of these entries are straight "how to" entries...  The others have hidden lessons.      Mathew Needleman presents How to Improve Comprehension Scores posted at Creating Lifelong Learners . Fredric Cernick presents How To Calculate / Read An SAT Score | How To E-D-U posted at How To E-D-U , saying, "Many students opt to take the SAT more than once, as you can submit your second, higher scores to colleges if the first attempt left you with less than desirable numbers." Andrea Hermitt Presents Mommas have to Socialize Too posted at Notes from a homeschooling mom ... Or How to Have a live and homeschool too.  Carol Richtsmeier presents Spring Break, New York City & Shoe Stores posted at Bellringers . Or How to Survive New York with teenagers. Liam Goldrick presen...

As a homeschooler of many years, I am very aware that things happen out in the world that before long will greatly affect our ability to homeschool, but the email I got this morning, really bothered me.  I am paraphrasing here, but it suggested that because the government is issuing student loans that they would next want to affect college curriculum.  I can't see them affecting college curriculum any more than they do now.... plus there are far too many layers of bureaucracy in colleges already for them to be able cut through... Just my opinion anyway.  This is just a sampling of the things I see daily that says because Obama is president, the sky will fall. But then again, I don't thing the h ealthcare bill is unconsititutional .  I don't see the President of the United States as the Antichrist either. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschoo...

Sweden, Germany, and Venezuela provide free college for their students, so why can't America -- which is, after all, "the land of the free"?  You might think it is not fiscally possible, but this list of 12 free college and university... READ MORE HERE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

I had a convesation today with another mom whose kid was a little stressed du e to all of the activities (read socialization ), plus academic homeschooling.  The child is in a play along with one of mine, and I suggested that they take a break of teaching until the play was over... the thought of this stressed the mom out, but she did see how taking a short break would cause more peace. This is why we homeschool isn't it?  We want to provude more opportunities for our kids as well as allow them to learn at their own pace.  In our desire to do it all, and do it all right, we tend to get a little carried away.  There is a time to work and a time to play and a time for enrichment.  We don't need to do them all at the same time. What does this have to do with unschooling?  Unschoolers seem to handle letting education follow the rhythm of life than us Academically focussed homeschoolers.  They don't worry about checking off everything from a list...

I have been making it a point this year to network more with other homeschoolers, writers, and business women.  Today, I did both... in duplicate.  I had breakfast with a business owner/homeschooling mom and her daughter... my daughter of course was there.  Then in the late afternoon, I met another writer/homeschooling mom on her way through Atlanta from Detroit to Florida.  She took a little detour and we talked, and talked, and talked...  poor thing had to get back on the road...  She's a machine... I don't think I would do it.  It feels to great to meet with like minded women, who I have soooo much in common with.  Not that I don't have plenty in common with other homeschooling moms, but these two women were particularly  of a similar mindset as me.  Tomorrow morning I meet with one of my best friends that I hardly ever see.  ... after I drop the kids off for their Arts program. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~...

You may or may not have noticed that I redesigned my website last night.  No, I didn't sleep.  I don't sleep well when my husband is traveling.  Anyway, I discovered the blogger has new templates that are kind of hard to find.  They also have pages you can add with tabs at the top of your page.  I really like that feature. BTW, I also redid my FreeHomeEd website...( link below).  It needs a little tweaking, but I am very happy with it.   This actually had nothing to do with Tyler Perry .  But he did sent out a letter to his followers today.  It was very inspiring.  He ended his note with God didn't give your friends and family your vision - He gave it to you. You have to try. I think that is why there are so many unhappy people. I think so many people have walked away from their dreams because it got too hard; they stopped believing because they got discouraged...don't stop believing!Every miracle in my life started with someo...

Enjoy this weeks Carnival of Eductors, Rewards of Teaching Edition. It is posted at the  Education Headlines Examiner blog.  The posts are all from educators with very little filler. enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

 I'm tired of HSLDA telling homeschoolers how to think.  I am even more tired of people thinking the way they say we should. I don't care if you hate Obama or not... I don't care if you want healthcare or not.  But I do want you to read the bill and make the decision to call your Rep yourself. Read more about my rant here: Homeschoolers against the health care bill?  The HSLDA made no qualms that the organization was anti-Obama during the election.  They are continuing the trend with opposition to the healthcare bill .  The message, mailed out to homeschoolers all over the country today, encourages  homeschoolers to call their US representative and say the following (while not identifying yourself as a homeschooler):... continued ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUC...

So glad I don't have to hear this every morning. My homeschooled kids only take classes one day a week... one lousy day a week.  Yet, they are downstairs wailing that they don't want to go today.  Granted, we are all emotionally exhausted over the loss of our cat, but they only go one lousy day a week, and they they are making all kinds of excuses to stay home.  The boy is suffering from allergies.... he has them year round.... The girl is tired....  If she went to sleep at night we would not have this problem. Hats off to those parents who have to deal with this daily! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

After a long sleepless night (between taking husband to teh train to catch a flight, and caring for a sick kitty), I woke up my daughter to tell her it was time to spend some time with the cat as it was time to put her to sleep.  She cried for about 5 minutes, then I cried for about 5 minutes, then we called the vet and made the appointment.  We had 4 hours to spend with her and made the most of it.  My kids were so much stronger than me.  They are clearly sad, but understand that 18 years with a cat is a very, very long life.  I got this cat and her long ago deceased sister the year I was married, several years before my first child.  I feel lkike I lost a child.  My daughter says she was losing a mother-cat. It's like my son is losing a sibling. They mange to put it all into perspective though and keep a stiff upperlip and a brave front.  They are making the process much easier for me. Sigh.  Just wanted to say that DALE, ...

As I look toward graduation season for this year, I realize that in two years, my son will be graduating, and my daughter will graduate in 3 years. This is wonderful, scary, freaky, horrifying, and awesome for so many reasons.  But this is not the point of my revelation. When I am done homeschooling, I will need to start doing something for/with myself! For that reason, I have made it a point to get myself out in the  world more.  Lunches, professional and personal networking, etc.  I am attempting to do all of those things that will prepare me for the next stage in my life. While I want to take my time and savor these last years with my kids, I can't wait to see what happens next. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

Welcome to the March 9, 2010 edition of carnival of educators. It's march and the natives are starting to get a little cagey.  Some of use are planning for next year, others are looking back over the past year and holding our heads in our hands.  Others are just holding it together... barely.  Regardless of what state you are in, here are some blog entries from educators across the net to keep  you company. The State of Education Andrea presents She helped ruin schools but wants to remain influential at Education Headlines Examiner . Teacher musings siobhan curious presents Encountering the Other: How Literature Will Save the World posted at Siobhan Curious , saying, "If I read more novels, will it fix the world?" teachin' presents I'm a Dreamer: Worth the fear. posted at I'm a Dreamer , saying, "Why it's worth it to have students evaluate your class." Cool teacher tools     Rachel Lynette presents Teaching Tools: 7 Way...