homeschooler

I thought it was time to do an update. So many are asking me how homeschooling is going. I can't give a short, quick answer! Here's a photo of my boys (well one of them) saying the Pledge of Allegiance. A looks so serious! Since I'm Canadian and don't intend to apply for American citizenship it is pretty weird that every morning I'm leading them in the pledge while holding the US flag! Math - Saxo

Thank you to all those who provided input and ideas. I appreciate every single comment. I'm getting ready to start officially on Tuesday, September 9th.For math, we're doing Saxon Math 1. My hubby will be doing the teaching. A is so eager to get started that they did lesson one today!For Bible, I'm going to read from Leading Little Ones to God, after saying the Lord's Prayer every day.For read alo

That's what I've decided to call myself. For now! I didn't imagine that I would be homeschooling. I don't have any philosophical objections to it but I don't believe that it suits my personality or that of my son. That being sad, here I am, preparing to homeschool. Here's the background. My oldest son has been on a waiting list for a private Christian school since March! It isn't looking good sinc

Is your love a listening love? Edited by Mimi Rothschild, CEO, Learning By Grace, Inc. the leading provider of online Christian educational programs for PreK-12 Homeschoolers. One of the cardinal principles which we must learn to follow if we expect to maintain and warmth of contact with our children is that when the child shares his problems [...]

The question that homeschoolers hear most often from people who aren't familiar with homeschooling is: "What About Socialization?"There are many opportunities for socialization!! Take a peek into the social life of a Southern California homeschooler to see for yourself... (I would include pictures of Tennessee engaging in these activities but other children would be in them. Out of respect for those children and their parents, I have chosen not to publish them...I wouldn't want someone to put pictures of my child on the internet without my permission).On Fridays, Tennessee plays sports. We are a part of a homeschooling group which consists of over 100 homeschooling families. This group meets on Mondays and Fridays(about 15 families or so attend these gatherings regularly) at various parks

 By: Mimi Rothschild “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Mark said as he used a feather and ink to scribble down a phrase on the back of a napkin. “What, isn’t school and education the same?” Mark’s friend, Ignorance, asked. Mark shook his head as he looked into the mirror at his age and [...]

If there is one thing homeschoolers do, it is pass around links to stories which portray homeschooling in a negative light. Homeschooler wins the National Spelling Bee? Ah, we expected that. Homeschooler founds a ministry? We think, "Cool," and continue with our day. A homeschooler could win the Nobel Peace Prize, and we just might glance over it with an approving, but not overly excited eye.Criticize homeschooling, however, and the internet is abuzz with the discussion. Letters will be written to the editor, entries will be written on blogs and links will be passed through countless forums. Whether it is a simple sleight, portraying too much of a stereotyped view of homeschooling, or actual criticism, it will gain our attention. And should a politician or government agency actuall

Florida Gators Quarterback, Tim Tebow makes history by becoming first underclassmen to win the Heisman Trophy. Tebow was homeschooled through high school, but took advantage of a Florida law that allows homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities in public and private schools.

This week’s Works For Me Wednesday is about last minute meal ideas. I shared a chili recipe at my personal blog that I think some of you might like. It’s vegetarian chili, but you can easily brown some ground meat and add to it if you prefer meaty chili. Around here because daddy works evenings and nights dinner is usually something light for me and the boys. Lunch is our big rush meal, trying to get something made that he can eat while getting ready and have enough to take to work to eat is tricky. Mine is usually a 11:45 scramble to figure out what to make and get it done with the boys needing me. And because I need another obsticle he eats meat and I don’t, so it has to be something everyone can happily enjoy. The midday rush does help to remind me that by getting to create our own schedule instead of the one that everyone else thinks is the only proper one they get more daddy time than if I had the boys in a typical school schedule. So here’s my quick and

This has been circulating around so I thought I would share it here too… Secular Homeschooling The Bitter Homeschooler’s Wish List By Deborah Markus, from Secular Homeschooling Magazine, Issue #1, Fall 2007 1 Please stop asking us if it’s legal. If it is — and it is — it’s insulting to imply that we’re criminals. And if we were criminals, would we admit it? 2 Learn what the words “socialize” and “socialization” mean, and use the one you really mean instead of mixing them up the way you do now. Socializing means hanging out with other people for fun. Socialization means having acquired the skills necessary to do so successfully and pleasantly. If you’re talking to me and my kids, that means that we do in fact go outside now and then to visit the other human beings on the planet, and you can safely assume that we’ve got a decent grasp of both concepts. 3 Quit interrupting my kid at her dance lesson, scout meeting, cho

This list has been spreading like a wildfire since it first made it online. I know I have seen at least 5 people share it on their blogs and have been email a dozen or so copies. It is certainly a great list, full of the things that I think most homeschoolers would have to get. (more…)

I was tipped off on this great shirt store online by The Thinking Mother. Suddenly I’m wishing I was rich. They have the best selection of shirts, bags, and bumperstickers - all about homeschooling. There are so many shirts I would love to have! I think especially this one: I might have to buy several so we would have a clean one to wear every day. Or at least on the days when we go somewhere that “the question” is bound to come up. What’s great is that the cloths aren’t priced too badly either. I’m a sucker for bargain kids clothes so if I can get it low cost I’m going to be happy. They have a great selection for both kids and moms, with even some “Future Homeschooler” shirts for the littles ones in your house. GreatHomeschoolTShirts.com, homeschool t-shirts, homeschool shirts

Here is a great give-away, hope I win! Take a trip over to My God Given Mission Field to enter. Ali is celebrating her two year blogiversary and in honor of that is giving away a free one year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse.

By Mimi Rothschild Andy Jones could have asked for anything for his 13th birthday. Most 13 year old boys I know would’ve asked for a bike, a video game, a gadget of some kind–but not Andy Jones. Instead, the homeschool student from North Carolina gave up receiving birthday gifts to help animals in need. Andy Jones asked his friends and family to give him pet food to help homeless pets at the Blue Ridge Humane Society. Jones felt bad that those animals don’t have a home so he decided to help them out. Jones also works with goats at the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site. Homeschoolers all across the nation should be proud of Jones and his commendable actions towards helping animals in need. What sort of projects are you and your homeschooling family taking on to help others in need? We’d love to hear about it. The summer is a great time to plan a project with your homeschooling family to help your neighbors, church, or even total strangers! To rea

I read a great blog post this morning at Toast Floats called We’re Not All Cut Out for Homeschool You should definitely go read it and have a good laugh. I’m sure with a little creativity we can add to the list with a few more. For instance, in my house if you can’t handle bugs and dirt you probably shouldn’t be homeschooling. Or at least you shouldn’t be homeschooling my kids. LOL Or if answering a billion “why” questions each day will drive you crazy maybe homeschooling won’t work out for you. Can you think of anything else to add? homeschool, homeschooling

Please go and visit a new multi-contributor blog that I set up, called The Well Drained Mind. If you would like to contribute, please feel free to e-mail me and "apply" and if you wouldn't mind, please post a link to it in your own blog to get the word out. It would be great to get a huge list of contributors going!Technorati Tags:homeschooling, home school, homeschoolers, home schoolers, home educationNan

I love learning about contests that homeschoolers are elegble to join. Loni over at Joy in the Morning shares an updated photo and writing contest for homeschoolers. There is a poetry contest and a photo contest sponcered by the HSLDA. Sylvan Publishing is hosting a Picture Book Writing contest for homeschoolers. The Air Force Association is having an essay contest for students in grades 7-12 that is also available to homeschoolers. The Midwest Creation Fellowship is having an essay contest on the topic of creationism verses evolution. There is a Holiday writing contest from the Homeschooler’s Writing club. They also have an open-ended contest to take a photo and write an essay about something where you live. And lastly ther is a writing contest hosted by children’s book author Tabitha Yeatts. Entrants are to write about a selected photo in any style they choose. Does anyone know of any other contests for homeschoolers going on? If so let me know and I’ll add them to

Last Thursday, a 17-year old German homeschooler was ripped from her family's arms in Nuremburg, Germany.  Melissa Busekros was forcibly removed by fifteen police officers from her home.  She was struggling in math and Latin, so her parents decided to tutor her at home.  She is currently being held in a child psychiatry unit in [...]

By Mimi Rothschild Here’s another example of the inability of the public school system to appropriately deal with homeschool students. A bright homeschooler wanted to participate in a Philadelphia-area homeschool spelling bee and she was declined because the first round of the spelling bee is a “classroom activity” rather than an extracurricular activity. Is there any reasonable way that the school administration can justify this behavior? What positive outcome can this decision yield? I can see only negatives. I am forced to assume that the school administration doesn’t like to see homeschoolers put their students to shame. The hostility that school administration has shown homeschooling families (especially ones with bright kids) is well documented. When a homeschooler comes into a classroom and shows everyone up it embarrasses teachers and administration. There is no other explanation. The law says that home-schoolers must be allowed to participate in

Last night I attended my first ever homeschool support group meeting. Perhaps odd since I haven’t started homeschooling quite yet—our first day is next week. But I know I’ll want a group of like-minded moms once I’m in the trenches. So last night was the night.Now I think I need a Support Group support group.I took notes during the meeting, not many, but here they are:And if you can’t read my handwriting, this is what I wrote.CM groupI am stupid.panic attack feeling – sick in stomachsomeone with 11 kids – oh god helppink sun agnst. bldg outside – run can I make it? flashback of factory wkpull-out chart – 6 pgs together colored sticky notesagonizing pain in seatwrite in pencil so you can erase it and it was never thereThose who were there (like the friend I had ice cream with later – our post-group support session) will know what that means. The rest of you will think I’ve lost my mind. But last night I wondered if I had.I took a semester off fr

Update 3: For further updates, I've dedicated a single post to summarizing the information as I come across it. Feel free to comment or let me know of other information. Just click here. Update 2: Wilkommen zu meinen vielen Besucher aus Deutschland! Wenn Sie Ihre Meinung zum Thema "Homeschooling" oder zum Falle von Melissa Busekros mitteilen möchten, können Sie gerne kommentieren. Ich kann