HEM's Online Newsletter - May 2001
[email protected]
Welcome to HEM'S ONLINE NEWS, a free monthly newsletter published by
Home Education Magazine and full of the best internet resources,
homeschooling news, announcements and article excerpts. For more
information on Home Education Magazine, see the end of this
newsletter or visit our web site at http://home-ed-magazine.com For
subscription information for the newsletter, scroll to the end,
reading everything in between. Send your comments and questions to
editor Carol Narigon at HEM-Newsletter@....
In the May issue:
~ Big Hairy Audacious Goals ~
~ Congratulations New Mexico ~
~ New HEM email lists ~
~ Don't you hate when that happens! ~
~ HEM Online Resources ~
~ deschooling.org ~
~ Critters ~
~ Seven Times Smarter ~
~ The Final Word ~
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
So you can be your kids' best teacher simply by turning them loose in
your basement, backyard, or garage. On their own they'll discover
hundreds of ways to get smarter, with little prompting and no money
changing hands. Using simple things like muffin tins, scrap wood,
recycled cans, and old shoes, they can launch a learning festival
that will run for years. ~~ Laurel Schmidt in Seven Times Smarter
(reviewed below) ~~
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/HEM/183.html
Last spring I learned an acronym that changed the lives of my kids:
B-HAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goals. My husband's company set their
long-term goals using that term and I thought, "Aha! Perfect for
homeschool."
So I asked my kids what big, hairy, audacious, sky's-the-limit kind
of goals they would like to pursue while they're still kids at home.
I was startled by the clarity and unique vision of each child.
My oldest son, Noah (13), said that he'd like to act in a Shakespeare
play, learn to design computer games and play the piano. Piano, it
turns out, was the secret passion of Noah's heart. He had wanted
lessons for years and began to well up with tears when he told me
that his life would be happy if he could just learn how to play.
Gulp! How come I hadn't known that?
Next in line was my daughter, Johannah (11). She reeled off two
enormous projects that took my breath away. She wants to produce a
Jane Austen-style ball instead of a high school prom for herself and
other homeschooled friends. In order to do it, she needs to take
vintage dance lessons, then hold classes to teach these dances to
other kids. In addition, she plans to learn how to sew the dresses
from that era so that she can make costumes.
Her second goal (as if that one didn't already overwhelm me) is to
direct her own production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. "And I'm
going to do it, Mom," she told me emphatically. I didn't doubt her!
When I was a kid, school provided me with sensible goals that
wouldn't interfere with my parents' lives too much. I wasn't taught
to dream about bigger-than-life projects that would require driving
all over kingdom come or that would oblige my family to participate
in my areas of interest. Instead, I joined the pre-fab school
organizations that offered me bite-sized experiences of the interests
I had. Certainly some of my teachers rose above the mediocrity and
contributed profoundly to my life, but on the whole, most of my
school life was keenly managed and required mere compliance from me.
I didn't own the experiences and I certainly didn't orchestrate them.
Enter the B-HAG into our family. Suddenly I'm on a radical learning
curve led by my kids. It dawned on me that instead of micro-managing
their experiences, I could throw myself into their big dreams by
offering the kind of support that an adult can give to a young person
- I can drive, I can look stuff up in the phone book, on the Internet
and in the community papers, I can fix hair to look like Lizzie
Bennett.
What I don't have to muster is the energy to "get up" for these
activities. We've found that the B-HAG itself drives our children to
a level of motivation that releases energy throughout the family. ~
Julie Bogart in the May/June 2001 issue of Home Education Magazine ~
You can read the rest of this article at our website at the address
under the title of this excerpt. For more great articles like
Julie's, look for Home Education Magazine at your favorite bookstore
or follow the subscription instructions at the end of this article.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
NEW MEXICAN HOMESCHOOLERS WIN!
Homeschoolers in New Mexico worked hard to change an oppressive
homeschool law that required mandatory testing and THEY WON! No more
state-mandated testing for these homeschoolers. The relevant section
of the law reads as follows:
45th Legislature, First Session, Laws 2001, Chapter 62,
Senate Bill 374 as amended
22-1-2.1 HOME SCHOOL -- REQUIREMENTS.-- Any person operating or
intending to operate a home school shall:
A. within thirty days of its establishment, notify the state
superintendent of the establishment of a home school within thirty
days of its establishment and notify the state superintendent in
writing on or before April 1 of each subsequent year of operation of
the school district from which the home school is drawing students;
B. maintain records of student disease immunization or a waiver of
that requirement; and
C. provide instruction by a person possessing at least a high school
diploma or its equivalent.
Congratulations New Mexico homeschoolers, on a job well done! You can
find more information at the CAPE-NM website at http://
www.cape-nm.org.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
NEW HEM EMAIL LISTS
The HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES email discussion list focuses on
materials and resources of interest to homeschooling families. The
list welcomes press releases, product announcements, news and
information about books, videos, catalogs, websites, software, games,
publications, conferences and much more. If you have a press release
or other informational message, feel free to post it to our
un-moderated Homeschooling Resources list. If you're looking for
homeschool resources, writing a homeschool newsletter, or if you
offer a homeschool website with lists of resources, you'll love this
list.
For further information, to post a press release or message, or to
join the HEM Resource list please visit the website:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeschoolingResources
And there's our new HOMESCHOOLING MOVIELOVERS list, created just for
Movielovers! Join us for discussion of the best new movies, the best
old videos, and everything in between. Share your favorite movie
moments, discuss background details, movie goofs, favorite actors and
actresses, and yes - even how movies can be used in homeschooling.
But this isn't strictly a "how to enrich your curriculum" list - it's
just for homeschoolers of all ages who love movies!
To subscribe, send an email to:
[email protected]
Or subscribe at the website at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homeschooling-Movielovers
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
UNSCHOOLING.COM
http://www.unschooling.com
Most of us have forgotten what it was like to follow our own noses,
to ask our own questions and find our own answers. Years of
educational treatment have convinced us that learning is, and can
only be, the result of teaching. We grow up into adults who insist
that our children "receive" an education. We trust neither ourselves
nor our children.
~~ Aaron Falbel ~~
Unschooling.com offers a free monthly newsletter, message boards,
weekly essays, an email list and more just for unschoolers. Check it
out!
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
DON'T YOU JUST HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!
Two months ago I sent the plea below, asking you to ask me questions.
Two weeks ago, during a hard drive spring cleaning, my email programs
were deleted. I don't know how many emails you've saved over the past
7 years, but I lost a bunch-including all the wonderful questions
readers had sent me. So if you sent me a question and I told you I'd
consider answering it in a future column, that probably won't happen
unless you are kind enough to send it again. If you didn't send me a
question, don't let this mishap deter you! I'm backing everything up
these days and I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Do you have questions about homeschooling that you never seem to find
the answer for? Are you struggling with a part of homeschooling that
you'd like to get advice about? Is there a question you'd like to see
answered so you can show the answer to friends or family who don't
seem to get what homeschoolers do? If you answered yes to any of MY
questions, this is your chance to send YOUR question to me! In every
issue of Home Education Magazine, I answer one or two questions in a
column called Ask Carol. Some of the questions I've been asked are:
* Can I homeschool if I have a tattoo and ride a Harley?
* What if my kids won't work?
* How can I unschool and still test?
* How can I homeschool with a toddler in the house?
If you have a troubling or intriguing question, a funny or serious
question, or just want to dig a little deeper into homeschooling
issues, let me know by sending an email to
AskCarol@.... Or you can send a letter by snail mail
to Carol Narigon c/o Home Education Magazine, PO Box 1083, Tonasket
WA 98855.
Questions will be edited for length and clarity.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
HEM RESOURCES
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/HSRSC/hsrsc_gn.html
HEM's online resources page was updated last month to provide you
with the best, most current information on popular homeschool
resources such as book catalogs, software companies, curricula
providers, math and science resources and more. Check it out at the
web address above.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
DESCHOOLING.ORG
http://www.deschooling.org
"What would a world without school be like? Without certified
experts? Without forced associations? Coerced tests and grades?
Arbitrary rules? We don't mean just for children, but for all of
society. What would the ripple effects be? In Chicken Run, Ginger
said, "You know what the problem is here. The fence isn't just around
the farm. It's up here, in your heads." This is our humble attempt at
tearing down the fence in our heads.
Deschooling.org will post original articles exploring the effects of
compulsory schooling on society and what a world returned to
intellectual liberty might look like. We are firm believers in the
moral imperative of liberty, so Illich's...insight (read it at the
website) will be applied using liberty as our prism."
Whether you agree with everything you read there or not, you will
find thought-provoking articles and intelligent discourse at the
deschooling.org website.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
CRITTERS
http://www.nahee.org
Why do deer have smelly feet? What animal is the world's best jumper?
When do chickens do the cha-cha? What happens if you tickle a rat?
Find out with the KIND News Book of Critter Clues and the KIND News
Book of Critter Views, two books that are sure to be a hit with your
homeschoolers!
Recently published by the nonprofit National Association for Humane
and Environmental Education (NAHEE), these pocket-sized books make
reading, learning, and natural science a blast with their kid-
friendly formats and quirky facts about animals and their behaviors.
Both books can be used by students alone or in groups, while
homeschooling parents can easily incorporate them into their lessons.
The KIND News Book of Critter Clues features fun (and tricky) clues
to 30 familiar wild animals and pets. Answer keys reveal the
identities of mystery critters plus fascinating facts about their
behaviors, history and habitats. The KIND News Book of Critter Views
is packed with humorous illustrations and amazing but true tales from
the world of animals. Information for the books was culled from KIND
(Kids In Nature's Defense) News, NAHEE's award-winning newspaper for
elementary school-age children.
The KIND News Book of Critter Clues and the KIND News Book of Critter
Views are priced at just $2.50 each. To order online, visit
www.nahee.org.
(Editor's note: My 10-year-old animal lover reviewed the Critter
books and here's what she has to say: "As for Critter Clues, it was a
wonderful, interesting book with lots of info on the habits and
strange preferences of many different animals, including humans.
Critter Views was great, with creative illustrations and weird, fun
facts. For example, I didn't know shrews eat three times their small
weight every day!")
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
SEVEN TIMES SMARTER
All of those books based on Howard Gardner's seven (eight now)
intelligences are innovative, interesting and really hit home for
many homeschoolers, but how do you put the theory into practical use
in your own home? Laurel Schmidt's book Seven Time Smarter: 50
Activities, Games, and Projects to Develop the Seven Intelligences of
Your Child can not only help, most of the activities are perfect for
unschooling and homeschooling families. In fact, Schmidt says about
schools, "With all these ways of being smart, why do so many kids
feel dumb? One big reason is school, which can be a crushing
experience for any kid, unless they have strong linguistic and
mathematical intelligence...So you can be your kids' best teacher
simply by turning them loose in your basement, backyard, or garage.
On their own they'll discover hundreds of ways to get smarter, with
little prompting, and no money changing hands."
Schmidt believes parents should let kids explore and create on their
own. For instance, she recommends making "un-models" by throwing away
the instructions for model kits and letting kids put them together
their own way or by mixing up the pieces of several models and seeing
what they come up with. She's also a big fan of boredom, believing as
many homeschoolers do that boredom encourages imagination. Kids are
much more likely to build a fort from tables and sheets if they
aren't being shuttled from one "enrichment" opportunity to another.
You provide the sheets and card tables.
Eleven chapters show you ways to encourage your child's creativity
and intelligence, mostly using materials you have around the house or
recycled "junk." Each chapter offers several options, geared toward
the particular intelligences, for investigating different topics
including families and self; movement and sound; odds and ends
(junk); writing; handmade tasks; books; art; out-of-doors and your
community. Many of the sections in the chapters also include a list
of books or other resources to encourage reading and further
exploration.
Seven Times Smarter is available through your favorite bookseller or
from Amazon.com for $15.00 ($12 at Amazon).
^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^
HEM ONLINE NEWS UNCLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
For information on purchasing unclassified advertising space in this
newsletter, please contact the editor at
HEM-Newsletter@....
________
USBORNE
UsborneAmerica.com
New titles for Spring and Summer are here -- including
Internet-Linked history and science books! Shop online and earn FREE
and discounted books. Visit our Books from Britain bookstore at:
http://www.UsborneAmerica.com Home business opportunity--information
available onsite. Email SharonVE@... or call 888-474-8499 toll
free. Sharon Vander Ende, Independent Executive Supervisor.
________
GNARLY MATH
gnarlymath.com
THESEUS KILLS THE MINOTAUR and escapes from the labyrinth! You, too,
can learn how to escape next time you're lost in a maze, if you click
on http://www.gnarlymath.com and read our free hilarious math
newsletter, the Gnarly Gnews, dated 1480 BC at Knossos. The Gnews
also tells how the ancient Cretans jumped bulls for fun. And you'll
learn about our money-back-guaranteed CD-ROM Solid Gold Gnarly Math,
which brings humor to Geometry, Algebra, Trig, Probability, Numbers
and Topology.
_________
HANDY HOMESCHOOL HELPER for English ages 6 to 11
http://www.ies.tradeplaza.co.nz
How to help children with English: speeches, research projects,
spelling, book reviews, proofreading, interview techniques, story
writing, letter writing, posters and comprehension skills.
International Education Services have other great English resources
for homeschoolers aged 11 to 17. We offer novel studies, skills
units, genre studies, poetry and drama units as well as our Reading
Tutoring Program, with constructive guidelines for helping your child
become an independent reader. Student and support material are
included with each unit. Visit our web site for details.
_________
ABC of LIFE
http://abc-of-life.com/someofthis.htm
Free EBook (I.E. 4.0+, Windows 95, or later, required). 300-plus
pages of useful information - including articles on ecology,
psychology, ezines, science, and search engines, as well as sections
with quotations - some are humorous but all are thought-provoking; a
smattering of poetry; and hundreds of organized e-commerce links. In
addition, learn about the Gamut Project, an educational tool for the
Internet, and also find out about a variety of home-based business
products/services which pay 50% COMMISSION.
_________
HOME EDUCATION MAGAZINE
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
The May/June issue of HEM includes profiles of the HEM Supporting
Staff - those hardworking individuals who answer the phones, maintain
databases, fill orders, design ads, manage websites, and edit our
free newsletters like this one!
The May/June issue of Home Education Magazine also features articles
on unschooling, setting goals, graduating, resistant relatives,
dealing with a rabid duck and much more! Columnists: Carol Narigon
writes about The Prom; Becky Rupp shares resources for letter
writing; Jeff Kelety goes bummin', and David Albert cashes in the
reality check! Other columnists include Linda Dobson, Laura Weldon,
Larry and Susan Kaseman, Barbara Theisen, and Peter Kowalke.
Subscriptions to Home Education Magazine are currently $32.00 for one
year/6 issues; single issue $6.50. Home Education Magazine, PO Box
1083, Tonasket WA 98855; for orders: toll-free 1-800-236-3278; email
HEM-Info@.... MC/Visa cards accepted. DON'T MISS IT!
^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^
FINAL WORD
We provide time for doing the thinking. Doing schoolwork is learning
about other folks' thoughts, but doing your own thinking is what
counts. Time for playing, time for experimenting, time for just
sitting and pondering--these are the luxuries that gift the child
with thinking skills beyond the ordinary.
~~ Kathleen McCurdy, homeschool@... ~~
^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^
Thanks for reading HEM's Online News! Pass it on to your friends! To
subscribe, visit our web site at
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/wlcm_hemnewsltr.html and type your
name into the little box, or send an email to
majordomo@... with the words subscribe
hem-online-newsletter followed by your name@your address.com in the
body of the email. (e.g. subscribe hem-online-newsletter
youremailaddress). To unsubscribe, send an email to
majordomo@... with the words unsubscribe
hem-online-newsletter followed by your name@your address.com in the
body of the email. (e.g. unsubscribe hem-online-newsletter
youremailaddress). To change the address at which you receive the
newsletter, unsubscribe your old address and then subscribe to your
new one.
See you next month!
Carol Narigon, Newsletter Editor
HEM-Newsletter@...
Mark and Helen Hegener, Publishers of Home Education Magazine
Home Education Magazine and full of the best internet resources,
homeschooling news, announcements and article excerpts. For more
information on Home Education Magazine, see the end of this
newsletter or visit our web site at http://home-ed-magazine.com For
subscription information for the newsletter, scroll to the end,
reading everything in between. Send your comments and questions to
editor Carol Narigon at HEM-Newsletter@....
In the May issue:
~ Big Hairy Audacious Goals ~
~ Congratulations New Mexico ~
~ New HEM email lists ~
~ Don't you hate when that happens! ~
~ HEM Online Resources ~
~ deschooling.org ~
~ Critters ~
~ Seven Times Smarter ~
~ The Final Word ~
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
So you can be your kids' best teacher simply by turning them loose in
your basement, backyard, or garage. On their own they'll discover
hundreds of ways to get smarter, with little prompting and no money
changing hands. Using simple things like muffin tins, scrap wood,
recycled cans, and old shoes, they can launch a learning festival
that will run for years. ~~ Laurel Schmidt in Seven Times Smarter
(reviewed below) ~~
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/HEM/183.html
Last spring I learned an acronym that changed the lives of my kids:
B-HAG - Big Hairy Audacious Goals. My husband's company set their
long-term goals using that term and I thought, "Aha! Perfect for
homeschool."
So I asked my kids what big, hairy, audacious, sky's-the-limit kind
of goals they would like to pursue while they're still kids at home.
I was startled by the clarity and unique vision of each child.
My oldest son, Noah (13), said that he'd like to act in a Shakespeare
play, learn to design computer games and play the piano. Piano, it
turns out, was the secret passion of Noah's heart. He had wanted
lessons for years and began to well up with tears when he told me
that his life would be happy if he could just learn how to play.
Gulp! How come I hadn't known that?
Next in line was my daughter, Johannah (11). She reeled off two
enormous projects that took my breath away. She wants to produce a
Jane Austen-style ball instead of a high school prom for herself and
other homeschooled friends. In order to do it, she needs to take
vintage dance lessons, then hold classes to teach these dances to
other kids. In addition, she plans to learn how to sew the dresses
from that era so that she can make costumes.
Her second goal (as if that one didn't already overwhelm me) is to
direct her own production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. "And I'm
going to do it, Mom," she told me emphatically. I didn't doubt her!
When I was a kid, school provided me with sensible goals that
wouldn't interfere with my parents' lives too much. I wasn't taught
to dream about bigger-than-life projects that would require driving
all over kingdom come or that would oblige my family to participate
in my areas of interest. Instead, I joined the pre-fab school
organizations that offered me bite-sized experiences of the interests
I had. Certainly some of my teachers rose above the mediocrity and
contributed profoundly to my life, but on the whole, most of my
school life was keenly managed and required mere compliance from me.
I didn't own the experiences and I certainly didn't orchestrate them.
Enter the B-HAG into our family. Suddenly I'm on a radical learning
curve led by my kids. It dawned on me that instead of micro-managing
their experiences, I could throw myself into their big dreams by
offering the kind of support that an adult can give to a young person
- I can drive, I can look stuff up in the phone book, on the Internet
and in the community papers, I can fix hair to look like Lizzie
Bennett.
What I don't have to muster is the energy to "get up" for these
activities. We've found that the B-HAG itself drives our children to
a level of motivation that releases energy throughout the family. ~
Julie Bogart in the May/June 2001 issue of Home Education Magazine ~
You can read the rest of this article at our website at the address
under the title of this excerpt. For more great articles like
Julie's, look for Home Education Magazine at your favorite bookstore
or follow the subscription instructions at the end of this article.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
NEW MEXICAN HOMESCHOOLERS WIN!
Homeschoolers in New Mexico worked hard to change an oppressive
homeschool law that required mandatory testing and THEY WON! No more
state-mandated testing for these homeschoolers. The relevant section
of the law reads as follows:
45th Legislature, First Session, Laws 2001, Chapter 62,
Senate Bill 374 as amended
22-1-2.1 HOME SCHOOL -- REQUIREMENTS.-- Any person operating or
intending to operate a home school shall:
A. within thirty days of its establishment, notify the state
superintendent of the establishment of a home school within thirty
days of its establishment and notify the state superintendent in
writing on or before April 1 of each subsequent year of operation of
the school district from which the home school is drawing students;
B. maintain records of student disease immunization or a waiver of
that requirement; and
C. provide instruction by a person possessing at least a high school
diploma or its equivalent.
Congratulations New Mexico homeschoolers, on a job well done! You can
find more information at the CAPE-NM website at http://
www.cape-nm.org.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
NEW HEM EMAIL LISTS
The HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES email discussion list focuses on
materials and resources of interest to homeschooling families. The
list welcomes press releases, product announcements, news and
information about books, videos, catalogs, websites, software, games,
publications, conferences and much more. If you have a press release
or other informational message, feel free to post it to our
un-moderated Homeschooling Resources list. If you're looking for
homeschool resources, writing a homeschool newsletter, or if you
offer a homeschool website with lists of resources, you'll love this
list.
For further information, to post a press release or message, or to
join the HEM Resource list please visit the website:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeschoolingResources
And there's our new HOMESCHOOLING MOVIELOVERS list, created just for
Movielovers! Join us for discussion of the best new movies, the best
old videos, and everything in between. Share your favorite movie
moments, discuss background details, movie goofs, favorite actors and
actresses, and yes - even how movies can be used in homeschooling.
But this isn't strictly a "how to enrich your curriculum" list - it's
just for homeschoolers of all ages who love movies!
To subscribe, send an email to:
[email protected]
Or subscribe at the website at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homeschooling-Movielovers
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
UNSCHOOLING.COM
http://www.unschooling.com
Most of us have forgotten what it was like to follow our own noses,
to ask our own questions and find our own answers. Years of
educational treatment have convinced us that learning is, and can
only be, the result of teaching. We grow up into adults who insist
that our children "receive" an education. We trust neither ourselves
nor our children.
~~ Aaron Falbel ~~
Unschooling.com offers a free monthly newsletter, message boards,
weekly essays, an email list and more just for unschoolers. Check it
out!
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
DON'T YOU JUST HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!
Two months ago I sent the plea below, asking you to ask me questions.
Two weeks ago, during a hard drive spring cleaning, my email programs
were deleted. I don't know how many emails you've saved over the past
7 years, but I lost a bunch-including all the wonderful questions
readers had sent me. So if you sent me a question and I told you I'd
consider answering it in a future column, that probably won't happen
unless you are kind enough to send it again. If you didn't send me a
question, don't let this mishap deter you! I'm backing everything up
these days and I'd love to hear what you have to say.
Do you have questions about homeschooling that you never seem to find
the answer for? Are you struggling with a part of homeschooling that
you'd like to get advice about? Is there a question you'd like to see
answered so you can show the answer to friends or family who don't
seem to get what homeschoolers do? If you answered yes to any of MY
questions, this is your chance to send YOUR question to me! In every
issue of Home Education Magazine, I answer one or two questions in a
column called Ask Carol. Some of the questions I've been asked are:
* Can I homeschool if I have a tattoo and ride a Harley?
* What if my kids won't work?
* How can I unschool and still test?
* How can I homeschool with a toddler in the house?
If you have a troubling or intriguing question, a funny or serious
question, or just want to dig a little deeper into homeschooling
issues, let me know by sending an email to
AskCarol@.... Or you can send a letter by snail mail
to Carol Narigon c/o Home Education Magazine, PO Box 1083, Tonasket
WA 98855.
Questions will be edited for length and clarity.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
HEM RESOURCES
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/HSRSC/hsrsc_gn.html
HEM's online resources page was updated last month to provide you
with the best, most current information on popular homeschool
resources such as book catalogs, software companies, curricula
providers, math and science resources and more. Check it out at the
web address above.
<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**<<**
DESCHOOLING.ORG
http://www.deschooling.org
"What would a world without school be like? Without certified
experts? Without forced associations? Coerced tests and grades?
Arbitrary rules? We don't mean just for children, but for all of
society. What would the ripple effects be? In Chicken Run, Ginger
said, "You know what the problem is here. The fence isn't just around
the farm. It's up here, in your heads." This is our humble attempt at
tearing down the fence in our heads.
Deschooling.org will post original articles exploring the effects of
compulsory schooling on society and what a world returned to
intellectual liberty might look like. We are firm believers in the
moral imperative of liberty, so Illich's...insight (read it at the
website) will be applied using liberty as our prism."
Whether you agree with everything you read there or not, you will
find thought-provoking articles and intelligent discourse at the
deschooling.org website.
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CRITTERS
http://www.nahee.org
Why do deer have smelly feet? What animal is the world's best jumper?
When do chickens do the cha-cha? What happens if you tickle a rat?
Find out with the KIND News Book of Critter Clues and the KIND News
Book of Critter Views, two books that are sure to be a hit with your
homeschoolers!
Recently published by the nonprofit National Association for Humane
and Environmental Education (NAHEE), these pocket-sized books make
reading, learning, and natural science a blast with their kid-
friendly formats and quirky facts about animals and their behaviors.
Both books can be used by students alone or in groups, while
homeschooling parents can easily incorporate them into their lessons.
The KIND News Book of Critter Clues features fun (and tricky) clues
to 30 familiar wild animals and pets. Answer keys reveal the
identities of mystery critters plus fascinating facts about their
behaviors, history and habitats. The KIND News Book of Critter Views
is packed with humorous illustrations and amazing but true tales from
the world of animals. Information for the books was culled from KIND
(Kids In Nature's Defense) News, NAHEE's award-winning newspaper for
elementary school-age children.
The KIND News Book of Critter Clues and the KIND News Book of Critter
Views are priced at just $2.50 each. To order online, visit
www.nahee.org.
(Editor's note: My 10-year-old animal lover reviewed the Critter
books and here's what she has to say: "As for Critter Clues, it was a
wonderful, interesting book with lots of info on the habits and
strange preferences of many different animals, including humans.
Critter Views was great, with creative illustrations and weird, fun
facts. For example, I didn't know shrews eat three times their small
weight every day!")
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SEVEN TIMES SMARTER
All of those books based on Howard Gardner's seven (eight now)
intelligences are innovative, interesting and really hit home for
many homeschoolers, but how do you put the theory into practical use
in your own home? Laurel Schmidt's book Seven Time Smarter: 50
Activities, Games, and Projects to Develop the Seven Intelligences of
Your Child can not only help, most of the activities are perfect for
unschooling and homeschooling families. In fact, Schmidt says about
schools, "With all these ways of being smart, why do so many kids
feel dumb? One big reason is school, which can be a crushing
experience for any kid, unless they have strong linguistic and
mathematical intelligence...So you can be your kids' best teacher
simply by turning them loose in your basement, backyard, or garage.
On their own they'll discover hundreds of ways to get smarter, with
little prompting, and no money changing hands."
Schmidt believes parents should let kids explore and create on their
own. For instance, she recommends making "un-models" by throwing away
the instructions for model kits and letting kids put them together
their own way or by mixing up the pieces of several models and seeing
what they come up with. She's also a big fan of boredom, believing as
many homeschoolers do that boredom encourages imagination. Kids are
much more likely to build a fort from tables and sheets if they
aren't being shuttled from one "enrichment" opportunity to another.
You provide the sheets and card tables.
Eleven chapters show you ways to encourage your child's creativity
and intelligence, mostly using materials you have around the house or
recycled "junk." Each chapter offers several options, geared toward
the particular intelligences, for investigating different topics
including families and self; movement and sound; odds and ends
(junk); writing; handmade tasks; books; art; out-of-doors and your
community. Many of the sections in the chapters also include a list
of books or other resources to encourage reading and further
exploration.
Seven Times Smarter is available through your favorite bookseller or
from Amazon.com for $15.00 ($12 at Amazon).
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HEM ONLINE NEWS UNCLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
For information on purchasing unclassified advertising space in this
newsletter, please contact the editor at
HEM-Newsletter@....
________
USBORNE
UsborneAmerica.com
New titles for Spring and Summer are here -- including
Internet-Linked history and science books! Shop online and earn FREE
and discounted books. Visit our Books from Britain bookstore at:
http://www.UsborneAmerica.com Home business opportunity--information
available onsite. Email SharonVE@... or call 888-474-8499 toll
free. Sharon Vander Ende, Independent Executive Supervisor.
________
GNARLY MATH
gnarlymath.com
THESEUS KILLS THE MINOTAUR and escapes from the labyrinth! You, too,
can learn how to escape next time you're lost in a maze, if you click
on http://www.gnarlymath.com and read our free hilarious math
newsletter, the Gnarly Gnews, dated 1480 BC at Knossos. The Gnews
also tells how the ancient Cretans jumped bulls for fun. And you'll
learn about our money-back-guaranteed CD-ROM Solid Gold Gnarly Math,
which brings humor to Geometry, Algebra, Trig, Probability, Numbers
and Topology.
_________
HANDY HOMESCHOOL HELPER for English ages 6 to 11
http://www.ies.tradeplaza.co.nz
How to help children with English: speeches, research projects,
spelling, book reviews, proofreading, interview techniques, story
writing, letter writing, posters and comprehension skills.
International Education Services have other great English resources
for homeschoolers aged 11 to 17. We offer novel studies, skills
units, genre studies, poetry and drama units as well as our Reading
Tutoring Program, with constructive guidelines for helping your child
become an independent reader. Student and support material are
included with each unit. Visit our web site for details.
_________
ABC of LIFE
http://abc-of-life.com/someofthis.htm
Free EBook (I.E. 4.0+, Windows 95, or later, required). 300-plus
pages of useful information - including articles on ecology,
psychology, ezines, science, and search engines, as well as sections
with quotations - some are humorous but all are thought-provoking; a
smattering of poetry; and hundreds of organized e-commerce links. In
addition, learn about the Gamut Project, an educational tool for the
Internet, and also find out about a variety of home-based business
products/services which pay 50% COMMISSION.
_________
HOME EDUCATION MAGAZINE
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
The May/June issue of HEM includes profiles of the HEM Supporting
Staff - those hardworking individuals who answer the phones, maintain
databases, fill orders, design ads, manage websites, and edit our
free newsletters like this one!
The May/June issue of Home Education Magazine also features articles
on unschooling, setting goals, graduating, resistant relatives,
dealing with a rabid duck and much more! Columnists: Carol Narigon
writes about The Prom; Becky Rupp shares resources for letter
writing; Jeff Kelety goes bummin', and David Albert cashes in the
reality check! Other columnists include Linda Dobson, Laura Weldon,
Larry and Susan Kaseman, Barbara Theisen, and Peter Kowalke.
Subscriptions to Home Education Magazine are currently $32.00 for one
year/6 issues; single issue $6.50. Home Education Magazine, PO Box
1083, Tonasket WA 98855; for orders: toll-free 1-800-236-3278; email
HEM-Info@.... MC/Visa cards accepted. DON'T MISS IT!
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FINAL WORD
We provide time for doing the thinking. Doing schoolwork is learning
about other folks' thoughts, but doing your own thinking is what
counts. Time for playing, time for experimenting, time for just
sitting and pondering--these are the luxuries that gift the child
with thinking skills beyond the ordinary.
~~ Kathleen McCurdy, homeschool@... ~~
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Thanks for reading HEM's Online News! Pass it on to your friends! To
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http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/wlcm_hemnewsltr.html and type your
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See you next month!
Carol Narigon, Newsletter Editor
HEM-Newsletter@...
Mark and Helen Hegener, Publishers of Home Education Magazine