Welcome to the Party Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling

With all the tools, materials, LEGOS, and especially ideas around our house, something is being built every day.  Here are some ideas for having a homeschool . . .

Building Party

Barbara Frank presents Tinkering School posted at Barbara Frank. What a great idea – invite kids, bring tools and supplies, add a couple dads and a garage, and make your own tinkering school.

Christine at Our Curious Home gives a run down on a fun science project involving spinning tops while coping with the winter illnesses many of us are enduring now.

Jenny at Home is Where You Start From presents Growing borax crystals, a homeschool Science project.  She says, “We successfully grew borax crystals on pipe-cleaner “stars” in a jar.  They were beautiful and educational.  I walk you through the simple steps of completing this project.  Home school = fun school.”

Kaye Swain presents Cheap Scrapbook Supplies + Great Scrapbook Inspirational Sayings = Happy Grandkids posted at SandwichINK.  She says, “My grandkids and I have had fun combining cheap scrapbook supplies and sweet scrapbook inspirational sayings to make all sorts of fun projects.  I love it when we can combine fun, giving, and learning – making it perfect for their homeschooling programs.”

Young kids learn while they’re laughing, giggling, running, and having a homeschool . . .

Play Party

Lara DeHaven presents Having a Purim Party posted at Texas Homesteader.  She gives some great ideas for celebrating various holidays throughout the year.

Sarah presents Preschool Play posted at The Forest Room.  She explains “Various preschool work from this week with some comments on development and quotes.”  I really enjoyed her art, muffin tin, and preschool letter ideas.

DeputyHeadmistress presents I had a different schedule planned for today… posted at The Common Room, saying, “The DHM had a schedule all planned and organized, and then the boys got busy with something else.”  I loved the map ‘fun’ – kids learn so well when they’re playing.

Tom DeRosa presents See the Ultimate Number Line Game in Action [Video] posted at I Want to Teach Forever, saying, “Here’s a math idea that will get your kids up and moving!”

We all have our own beliefs and many of us are happy share to them with others.  Browse these interesting opinions, and I couldn’t resist calling it a homeschool . . .

Political Party (and Opinions on Homeschooling)

Katherine presents budget cut suggestion posted at No fighting, no biting! She says, “As states and counties cut workers, perhaps they could slash some positions that seem to exist primarily to harass homeschoolers.”

Cristina presents The Department Store World posted at Home Spun Juggling. She shares, “My thoughts on how our society separates issues and subjects into different categories and my own ideas about taking a more holistic approach. ”

Janine writes about how “homeschooling allows us to have our children work on hard things that really matter,” in her article called Life stress and homeschooling posted at Why Homeschool.

Dana presents In defense of the Pearls…some thoughts posted at Roscommon Acres.  She gives her take on the debate involving the Pearls who lean heavily towards not ‘sparing the rod’ and the controversy involving the death of a young girl in a family following that philosophy.

Rodney C. Nanney presents Homeschooling Dad Running for State Representative posted at Put Michigan Back to Work.  Both he and his wife share their thoughts and motivations for his first foray into politics.

Alasandra presents Political Asylum for Homeschooling? posted at Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog Awards, saying, “I am really tired of bigots like Libby who know nothing about homeschooling harassing, bashing and insulting homeschoolers.”

Crazy Stats People presents Press Release: Chocolate Versus Vanilla posted at Count By Homeschoolers, saying, “Are homeschoolers particular about their ice cream? Help us find out by participating in our latest survey!”

ChristineMM presents Thoughts on Homeschooled Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts posted at The Thinking Mother.  She shares her thoughts after reading an article on the topic in Scouting magazine.”

Susan Ryan presents Useful Homeschoolers posted at Corn and Oil.  She offers her own review of articles in Scouting and Yes Magazines.

We’re often stumped and looking for something new.  What you need to do is attend a homeschool . . .

Party of Ideas

Rachel Lynette presents 8 Fun things to do with Idioms posted at Minds in Bloom. She says, “I know I am preaching to the choir when I say that idioms are more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Check out these out of this world ideas – they’re the cat’s pajamas! ”

Christina S. presents Project: Popcorn! posted at Lesson Pathways Blog.  She says, “A fun post from a homeschool mom about her ‘Popcorn’ theme unit. Great ideas!”

Barbra Sundquist presents Time Management: Procrastination posted at HomeBusinessWiz.  She says, “New research shows that contrary to common belief, procrastination has very little to do with our skills to plan or manage time. The root of the avoidance is our reaction to work, sense of purpose, or self-esteem.”

Sebastion, who presents Questions about Homeschooling posted at Percival Blakeney Academy needs some help with questions for a homeschool Q&A panel.

Mrs. White presents The Cleanest House Ever posted at The Legacy of Home.  She’s got some great ideas for your next big cleaning day . . . and how to get the kids to do it all.

Shannon Entin presents Learning Through Living posted at Mom Improvement. Check out the great living history restaurant they found.

GrrlScientist presents BirdNote Radio Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “BirdNote is a radio series about the intriguing ways of birds. BirdNote programs are two-minute vignettes that incorporate the rich sounds of birds with stories that illustrate the interesting — and in some cases, truly amazing — abilities of birds.”

NerdMom presents Book It Time!!! posted at Making Money, Keeping Money.

Kristie presents How to Save On Your Grocery Bill posted at Saving Dollars and Sense, saying, “This post offers practical tips for bring down your grocery bill.”

If you want to see some variety, compare the bookshelves and teaching methods of a few homeschoolers.  And we’re always looking for more ideas.  Make sure to check out this homeschool . . .

Curriculum Party

Tiana Krenz presents What Does “Enough” Look Like? posted at God Made, Home Grown.  She gives some advice to help box-checking parents who are trying to evaluate if they are doing enough schooling.

Kerry Jones presents Make Way for Change! posted at Parent Community and Forum.  Some great thoughts on the evolution of homeschooling in their home.

Katie presents Uses and Benefits of Audio Books posted at Katie’s Homeschool Cottage.  She says, “So many uses for audio books and so many free places to get them!”

Amy Bowen presents It’s too much!!! posted at Eclectic Homeschooling.  She shares how many things she’s able to do and enjoy with her children because she homeschools.

Catherine presents Applying Montessori principles in our home, part 1 posted at Petticoat Government.  She gives some great insights into “applying Maria Montessori’s principles to be a better teacher and mother.”

Dave Roller presents Structured and Unstructured posted at Home School Dad, saying, “I have been struggling lately with my home schooling style lately should I be structured or unstructured. Here is what I’m thinking.”

Nak presents “Ulysses S. Grant as Desdemona” or “Adventures in Speech Class” posted at Sage Parnassus.

And some days it all just doesn’t work out so well.  Here’s some advice that might help the next time you feel like having a homeschool . . .

Pity Party

Amy presents The Homeschool Schedule Blues posted at Raising Arrows.  She gives some great ideas when you feel like your curriculum just isn’t working for you.

Amy @ Hope Is the Word presents Sick Day posted at Hope Is the Word.  She says, “Observations and questions from a “sick day” in our homeschool.”

Linda Dobson presents Homeschooling: The Gift That Keeps Giving posted at PARENT AT THE HELM.  She gives us hope and a fun look into the future as she enjoys her homeschooled daughter now continuing the tradition with her own daughter.

You’re also welcome to submit an article to the next addition using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Enjoy!

I’m hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling next week, so if you blog about homeschooling, or even have a post that you think homeschoolers would find useful, please submit your article through the link below, and I will include your post:

Submit your blog post to the Carnival of Homeschooling

A blog carnival is a collection of links and descriptions to a bunch of good articles on a certain topic – in this case, homeschooling.  It’s a nice way to browse through a bunch of articles at the same time, while also getting a chance to find new blogs and meet new people.  For the blogger, its a great way to exposure and more readers for your blog.

I hope to see your articles!

Misty

The Homeschool Carnival this week is titled “What Matters Most” posted over at “As For My House” – I’ve been having fun browsing all the great articles this morning.

Pop over to Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog to read the latest articles in the “Dog and Cat” Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling.  Enjoy!

Looking for some fun and informative reading?  Grab a drink (or some chocolate) and enjoy perusing the most recent Homeschooling Blog Carnival:

The 4th Anniversary Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling

Enjoy!

P.S.  If you blog about homeschooling, consider submitting one of your articles and contribute to the fun.

Homeschoolers have Style!  Lots of it, in all kinds of flavors.

With the freedom homeschooling affords, comes individual style.  We can afford to experiment, jump around, take a leisurely path through phonics, or whatever suits our family best.

Check out these styles!

Proactive

ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother shares thoughts about unique classes taught by subject matter experts that homeschoolers can take advantage of in her article The Thinking Mother: Homeschool Filmmaking Class for My Kids This Fall.

Shannon tells of her experience with filing a “notice of intent” to homeschool: Get this . . . posted at Mountaineer Country.

If you’ve wondered why public schools don’t teach based on skill level instead of age, Susan Gaissert writes about how that may be changing in:  Who is Leading When It Comes to Educational Innovations? posted at The Expanding Life.

Elena LaVictoire presents A few tips for Ohio homeschoolers posted at My Domestic Church.

If you’ve given some thought to a homeschool name or ID cards, Beverly has some tips in “Do You Name Your Homeschool?” at Beverly’s Homeschooling Blog.

Barbara, from Barbara Frank Online, motivates us with some encouragement for the new school year in Fasten Your Seat Belts…..

And Christine gives us her take on planning the school year and juggling paperwork in Planning the School Year at Our Curious Home.

Playful

Need a fun, make-at-home, game to liven up your school drills?  Kris presents Giant Board Game posted at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Kaye presents Rainy Day + Chuck E. Cheese = Happy Grandkids & Grandparents! posted at SandwichINK.com.  “Chuck E. Cheese can be a great “friend” to grandparents who help with their grandkids’ homeschooling programs!”

Summer presents A Day In Our Homeschooling Life posted at Wired For Noise.

Beautiful

In How to Educate for Beautiful Results, posted at Pajama School Blog, Natalie Wickham shares the importance of identifying and working on the parts that ultimately contribute to a whole education.

Make sure to check out these great art ideas:  Julie Moses presents Follow the Yellow Brick Road- More Oz projects! posted at Kids Art Projects and Lessons at Ms. Julie’s Place.  “Just a few projects to get us going somewhere over the rainbow!”

Annette Berlin presents 37 Ways To Share Crafts With Kids posted at Craft Stew.  “If you love crafting, chances are good you want to share that love with your children. Here are some easy (and frugal) ways to help your child also develop an interest in crafting.”

Studious

Kathy presents her review of Andrew Peterson’s North! Or Be Eaten: The Wingfeather Saga Book 2: Homeschool Review posted at Homeschoolbuzz.com Reviews.

Dave Roller presents Reading Programs posted at Home School Dad.  “I wanted to share some of the reading programs my children have been participating in.”

Amanda gives an in-depth look into the history of the atomic bombs dropped at the end of WWII in The Daily Planet » Blog Archive » The “Little Boy” Was Dropped posted at The Daily Planet.

Stephanie shares her excitement about learning Latin for the first time together with her children in I Am Just The Lead Student, That’s All at All About Homeschool.

Ruby shares her insight into using computers, the internet, and online learning to have a positive impact in schooling with one article at Freehold2 called “Internet as a Teaching Tool” and another titled “Online Learning Benefits” at School’s Out.

Adventuresome

Need some ideas for field trips?  Kristen Hamilton presents A Day in the Life – Field Trips posted at A Day in the Life – Homeschool Blogger.

If you’re trying to plan for fun AND learning this fall, check out this post:  The Family presents What to do, what not to do posted at Once Upon a Family.

Lynda at The Adventures of A Princess and the Bear writes Bear’ Geography: “about our doing geography and learning the continents with literature and lapbooking. We are making an apple pie in this post, to go along with the book, How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World”

John shares thoughts along with the inspirational story of a Zac, a homeschool teen who sailed around the world alone.  He writes Home School Encourages Independence In  Learning and Life at Independent Learning and Home Schooling.  He says, “Rather than isolating students, home school encourages students to develop independence in the way they handle the way they live and the way they learn.”

Amy shares her summertime adventures in Summer Time Learning posted at Kids Love Learning.

We can all empathize with Janine at Why Homeschool who writes about struggles with starting backup with school in “Not Quite Ready to Start School.”

Successful

Margaret writes about her plans for not teaching history this school year at Semi-Schooling History posted at Two Kid Schoolhouse

Barbra Sundquist presents Do You Need to Get Angry Before Anyone Listens? posted at Barbra Sundquist.  “Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Why is it that I have to get angry to get what I want?”

Lynn shares her successful first week of school along with some great resources, ideas, and links.  Check out First Week of School Done! posted at Eclectic Education – Homeschool Blogger.

Ben presents 7 Ways to Save Money on Back to School Shopping posted at Money Smart Life.

Scott Palat presents Parental Involvement Affects the Academic Success of Children posted at TutorFi.

Freestyle – a bit of everything

Susan Ryan presents Open Education – It’s the Learning that Counts posted at Corn and Oil.  “There are many high quality, free learning resources available for homeschoolers, including MIT’s free online courses.”

Shelly presents Vintage Video – Jay Can Do It posted at Homemade Homeschoolers.  “This episode of Vintage Video – Jay Can Do It – is part of the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcasts. The post includes thoughts about the difference between how non-homeschoolers define “socialization” and how we at Homemade Homeschoolers define it. We hope you enjoy!”

And if you haven’t settled into a homeschooling style yet, check out Choosyhomeschooler’s article PURLs of Wisdom Blog » Choosing a Teaching Style or Homeschooling Method posted at PURLs of Wisdom Blog.

Help Aimee out with some new lunch ideas as she shares hers in Homeschool Talk: School lunches at Aimee’s Land.

Experimental

If you haven’t done the soda bottle and Mentos experiment, you’re in for some fun.  See how Lara DeHaven did it in A Homemade Geyser posted at Texas Homesteader.  My boys are itching to do this!

And if you need some ideas to let your enjoyment and study of nature branch out into other science topics, check out Katie Glennon and her article: Using Nature Study to Study all Areas of Science posted at Katie’s Homeschool Cottage.

Grateful

Leah at The Courtney Six shares Just In Case I Haven’t Mentioned It Lately…:  “My thoughts on why I’m so glad we homeschool.”

Amy at Raising Arrows presents “The Shame On Me Sea“.  The homeschooling parent’s life is often fraught with guilt. Amy writes about her own personal struggle to stay out of the Shame On Me Sea.

I’m grateful, too!

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Homeschool Carnival.  Thank you for all your contributions!

Please take a moment to comment and/or spread the word by posting to your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Next week the carnival will be held at Home Grown Mommy.com and submissions are due Monday, Aug. 31st at 6 pm.  Visit here to submit your post.

Or if you’d like to peruse previous editions, they are listed at Why Homeschool.

Thank you again to all those who took the time to submit posts and share!

– Misty

FYI – I’m hosting the next Homeschool Blog Carnival.  Woo-hoo! 

If you have a blog post you’re particularly proud of or would just like to share with the rest of us, please send me the info by 6 pm today (Monday).

Here’s a guideline on the information I need to include your article:

How to submit an article to the Homeschool Blog Carnival

I hope to see some of your stuff!  If not, make sure to check back tomorrow to see what everyone else has contributed.

Enjoy!

Misty

Grab a snack and a drink, and spend a few minutes perusing these excellent blog carnivals.

If you haven’t seen a blog carnival before, they are blog posts full of great ideas and links from many different homeschool and math bloggers who share their ideas and tips with all of us.  Like a carnival with booths, there are lots of interesting things to see, all in one place.

1. The Math Teachers at Play Carnival is up at Math Momma Writes Blog.  Check out the post on the “Michigan Smith” game, a simple idea for math and fun with a printed game page, some rulers, and colored pencils.
2. The Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Tami Fox’s Blog.  There’s a fun idea for a whole unit study on the kid’s picture book: Chocolate Fever.  I think I’ve had that illness before! 
3. And if you didn’t catch last weeks Carnival of Homeschooling, it was a Founding Father’s Edition in honor of the 4th of July.  Some great reading there on freedom, independence, responsibility, and more.

Enjoy!

Game Time!

With a ‘pentad’ of little kids running around my house, math works best as a game in our family.  What do you need to play some interesting math games?  Read on . . .

A Deck of Cards

John Golden presents an article Trig Rummy which includes a link to rules and a nice printable card PDF, posted at Math Hombre.

Don’t forget Denise’s popular article The Game that Is Worth 1,000 Worksheets at Let’s Play Math.  It was the first article I read on her great blog.

And an oldie-but-goodie, the “10-out” math game by Maria at Homeschool Math Blog.

A Few Magic Tricks

You know those illusions on the back of cereal boxes where your eyes trick you into thinking two identical objects aren’t? Well, Pat Ballew has a very interesting post on the subject, including links to video and some java applets that let you play with and manipulate the shapes. Check it out: Fool me once, Fool me Everytime? posted at Pat’sBlog.

And if you really want to confuse your brain and eyes, check out “A Pattern’s Math Magic” and Nick’s review of Tokolo Pattern Magnets and the math behind them at NYTimes Blog:  The Moment.

Oh, yeah, and some Instructions

Meaghan presents 10 Tips to Improve Your Math Skills Everyday posted at TutorFi.com.

Glowing Face Man gives all of us some encouraging ideas in his post, Five Ways To Be Better At Math posted at Glowing Face Man.

Erin suggests contacting textbook companies and their websites for free quality math practice material. Also, teachers often have resources they are willing to lend, including extra practice books from the textbook companies. Check out the article:Note from the Teacher: Free Tutoring posted at Note from the Teacher.

And if you’ve ever been curious about how many ways people have figured out how to multiply numbers together, you’ll enjoy Ξ (Heather)’s article, The First Bunch of Ways to Multiply posted at 360. Maybe I’ll teach a few to my kids. I can hear them groaning already. . . maybe if I make it into a game of Rummy

And to make your game a little more interesting:

Some Silver, or Gold

John Cook writes about The silver ratio, the gold ratio and its geometric  interpretation, posted at The Endeavour.

Finally, if you’re into coins and puzzles with them, you’ll find a wealth of brain teasers over at Physically Incorrect, like this “Yet Another Coin Tossing Game”.

I hope you enjoyed the carnival and help spread the word.  If you have an interesting blog post on math for K-12, we’d love to see it in the next carnival coming June 26th at the Homeschool Math Blog.  Submit your article here.

photo by StuSeeger

Check out the latest edition of the excellent Homeschool Carnival over at Kris’s blog:  Wierd, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.  What a hilarious blog title

A blog carnival is a collection of articles from a whole bunch of blogs and you can read and sample – like going from booth to booth at a carnival.  Submit your blog article by June 15th to the next carnival and join the fun.