Home School Magazine Newest Issue

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HO ESCHOOL
Ho Be
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agazine.com
Yes, My Grown Celebrating Our How Much

Homeschooled Children and History Do
Children Are Ourselves Kids Need?
Odd -- And Page 14 Page 16
Yours Will Be
Too! Page 18
Ad & Article Index Page 4
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Ad Index
Ace Ministries .............................. 17 Hemisphere Travel ....................... 56 Online Science Mall..................... 77
American Science Surplus ........... 47 Herbal Healer ............................... 27 Our Learning Folio ...................... 70
Apologia....................................... 29 Hewitt Homeschooling Resources73 Pearson VUE ................................ 88
Apprentice Doctor ........................ 55 Hilaria & Ludi .............................. 86 Peterson Direct ............................. 53
Art Instruction School .................... 2 History at our House .................... 50 PhonicsQ ...................................... 30
Bilingual Press ............................. 71 Home Tutoring Plus ..................... 72 Portland State University ............. 39
Birdcage Books ....................... 23,66 Homeschool Spanish Academy.... 71 Practical Learning Online ............ 34
BluTrack....................................... 83 Hugg A Planet .............................. 61 Professor in a Box ........................ 49
Bright Lines Paper ....................... 16 iPrep Press.................................... 40 Rod & Staff Publishing ................ 31
Building Blocks ........................... 83 Ivy Bound..................................... 34 Schola Publications, Inc. ......... 18,68
Cedar Valley Publishing ............... 47 Keen Skills, Inc. (QuickCert)......... 7 Schoolside Press........................... 81
Center on Congress ................. 10,11 Kitchen Specialties....................... 60 ScienceWorks ............................... 85
Children’s Software Online.......... 34 Kits For Kids ................................ 12 Scotto’s Place .......................... 30,77
College Plus ................................. 54 Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum ..... 16 Sea Mineral .................................. 79
Continental Academy ................... 16 Laurelwood Books ....................... 28 Sierra Madre Games .................... 84
Crafty Secrets ............................... 59 Learning By Grace ......................... 3 Sing N Learn ................................ 83
Creative Crafthouse ..................... 21 Lekha Publishers .......................... 67 Soft Star Shoes ............................. 45
Creekbed Tech......................... 46,76 Literacy Unlimited ....................... 74 Stanford University ...................... 37
Curriculum Design for Excellence32 Little Pim Company ................ 30,46 SuperCamp................................... 78
Databased Intelligence, Inc.. ........ 48 Maestro Learning, Inc. ................. 84 Swansbury, Inc. .............................. 6
Dee Walden Learning Solutions... 85 Maine Cloth Diaper Company ..... 23 Talking Fingers .............................. 9
Design a Study ........................ 23,79 Math Mammoth ........................... 72 Tattler ........................................... 26
Dianne Flynn Keith ...................... 61 Michigan Tech University ............ 87 The McHale Report...................... 35
Discovering Music.net ................. 40 Microscope Store, The ................. 13 The Oaks Private School.............. 67
Earth & Sky Magazine ................. 57 Middle School Science Activities 78 The Writing Musician .................. 41
eHarvey ........................................ 18 Monart School of Arts.................. 24 Toy Garden................................... 74
E-Tech .......................................... 36 Montessori Services ..................... 52 Troy University ............................ 61
Excellence In Education .............. 20 Moonjar ........................................ 13 University of Nebraska ................ 38
FACE............................................ 79 Mother Board Books .................... 66 Wall Words ..............................62-63
Find the Fun ................................. 80 National Institute for Genealogical Websters Academy ....................... 15
Fire Station Buddies, Inc.............. 64 Studies .......................................... 58 Wholesale Chess .......................... 76
Folkstyle Productions................... 15 Needak Manufacturing................. 19 Winsor Learning, Inc. .................. 75
Fraction Kits................................. 86 NEMC National Educational Music Woodloch Resort .......................... 44
Gotham Writer’s Workshop ......... 26 Company ...................................... 40 Wordsmiths Jensen Grammar ...... 80
Haan Crafts ............................. 68,85 New Jammies ............................... 14 Workbox System .......................... 35
Harris Communications ............... 22 Noodle Head Inc .......................... 14 Writing C.L.A.W, Inc. .................. 47
Article Index
Is Your Child Employable .............. 6 Scheduling a Charlotte Mason Day by Woodloch Resort .......................... 42
Homeschooling Intrigues Me - Where Do Sheila Carroll and James Carroll . 22 History of US Series by Joy Hakim
I Start? by Greg and Moira Bell..... 8 Non-Judgmental Drawing: The Monart Review by Michael Leppert ......... 43
Primary Sources and a Virtual Way by Mona Brookes................. 24 Waiting for “Superman” by Stacey
Congress....................................... 10 Art Instruction School .................. 26 Kannenberg .................................. 46
Why Can’t Saltwater Fish Live in Fresh Writing With Sharon Watson.com 30 Dr. Maria Montessori by Linda K.
water? by Connor Bernstein......... 12 AHA! Unit-based Instruction by Dr. T. Foster............................................ 52
Celebrating Our Children and Ourselves Roger Taylor and Dr. Beverly M. What Do You Mean by
by Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis, M.S.14 Taylor ........................................... 32 “Normalization?” ......................... 53
Rock ‘n’ Roll
How Much History Do Kids Need? by Ivy Bound SAT and ACT Prep ..... 34 Hemisphere Educational Travel by
Scott Powell ................................. 16 You Bought it, Let’s Use It! by Sue Michael Leppert ........................... 56
Yes, My Grown Homeschooled Children Patrick .......................................... 35 Giant Energy Bubbles in our Milky Way
Are Odd by Diane Flynn Keith .... 18 The Increasing Prevalence on Online Galaxy by Beth Lebwohl and Deborah
When All Else Fails, Play a Game! by Learning in Education .................. 36 Byrd.............................................. 57
Carolyn Forte ............................... 20 Michigan Technological University Pre- Genealogy: A New HomeSchooler
Do Smart People Play Chess or Does College Outreach ......................... 40 Opportunity by Louise St Denis, National
Playing Chess Make People Flink Learning by Emerson Institute for Genealogical Studies 59
Smart ............................................ 21 Sandow......................................... 42 Our Learning Folio ...................... 70
Page 4 HomeschoolMagazine.com • (805) 499-3306

Dear Readers:
After all these years of producing The Link and
now Homeschool Magazine.com, it is still excit-
ing to send our magazine to so many homeschool-
ing families and those interested in alternative
HO
M ESCHOOL
agazine.com
Editor-In-Chief: Mary Leppert
education.
mary@homeschoolmagazine.com
While I realize that homeschooling is not “for”
everyone, more than ever, I believe it is the best Managing Editor:
way to raise children. Not only does it provide for michael@homeschoolmagazine.com
the best academic environment, because it im-
Publisher: Mary Leppert
parts to children an interest in life and finding out
about all sorts of things, it also weaves the deep Layout: Lennon Leppert
and close fabric of family that has been significant Advertising Sales:
to the human race throughout history.
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I am proud to be a part of this homeschooling
world and to be able to bring great information General Office: info@homeschoolmagazine.com
to all of you who wish to read our publications. Editorial & Advertising Offices:
In this issue, we are pleased to offer you useful
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refuse advertising space at its sole discretion.
All Else Fails, Play a Game.” Conner Bernstein,
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Victoria. in homeschooling, regardless of religious or non-
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(855) 499-3306 • HomeschoolMagazine.com Page 5

Is Your Child Employable?
A
lthough the na- job seeking, interviewing, “Not only do they have individually or in a combi-
tionwide unem- acceptable work habits, to find a job,” Hoernlein nation pack).
ploy ment rate coping with criticism and continues, “but, then, po- T h e E m ploy a bi l it y
averages about 10%, that career management. Plus, tential employers put them Skills and Microsoft Of-
rate for 2009’s high school the course’s interactive through a battery of tests f ice Training courses
graduates is as high as exercises will ensure your to prove they have both the range from $99 - $299,
35% (according to the U.S. child has his or her own knowledge base – and the are designed for self-paced
Dept. of Labor). This star- resume and networking ability to use the tools – to learning and are available
tling statistic is a wakeup list ready to go by the time do it.” through the Internet or on
call that our school-aged it’s over. No matter the type of DVDs. This makes learn-
children have to do more With more than 15 mil- job, at the overwhelming ing inexpensive, flexible
than earn an education so lion people out of work, majority of corporations and convenient; whether
they can someday perform your child needs every those “tools” include Mi- you prefer to guide your
the job they want; they also edge he or she can get to crosoft Office’s Excel, child through each lesson
need to learn how to find, be competitive in a tight PowerPoint, Outlook and or let him or her learn
secure and keep it. job market. Sharp employ- Access. around other studies and
T h at’s wh at m a ke s ability skills can help him These writing, database, recreation.
QuickCert’s new Employ- or her stand out to hiring presentation and emailing Find out how QuickCert
ability Skills Training so managers filling a limited computer programs are can help prepare your child
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Homeschooling Intrigues Me - Where Do I Start?
By Greg and Moira Bell of time with their age MAY FACE
(20-year veteran homeschooling parents of seven) mates to develop impor- Be prepared for the
N
tant social skills? unleashing of adult peer
owadays, it is solving opportunities,
What do well-social- pressure if you decide
rare to meet an wh ich a r e t hei r ow n
ized kids look like any- to pursue homeschool-
American par- best tutorial.
way? ing. This is a hot issue
ent who hasn’t at least Yo u m ay s t a r t h o -
• Are they the teens and one that causes peo-
heard of home school- meschooling thinking
you see hanging around ple to react defensively
ing. Those looking at about “academics” and
the mall? about their own school
ho m e s cho ol i ng f r om “subjects”, but as you
• The kids who take choices, no matter how
t he out side rout i nely progress, you’ll discover
weapons to school and gracious you may be.
express two chief con- that the essence of suc-
use them? Try not to be shocked
c e r n s: 1) “ H o w c a n cessful homeschooling
• The kids who dis- when you’re hit with un-
homeschooling parents is less about “school-
cuss last night’s sitcoms solicited judgment. It’s
tolerate being with their i ng” a nd more about
as though the actors and wise not to announce a
kids 24 hours a day?” “ h o m e ”. Yo u m i g h t
situations are real? decision to homeschool
and 2) “What about so- realize that families are
• Those subdued with until you’ve done the
cialization?” the building blocks of
d r u g s t o m a ke t h e m research you need to
SO W H AT IS HO - human life and see that
“manageable”? become firm in the idea
MESCHOOLING R E- each child is constituted
• Those that pressure and observe for awhile.
ALLY? differently right from
each other to look, act, You will be char t i ng
In a nutshell, home- the beginning and their
speak, and believe just your own course. What
schooling is the process s t yle of nu r t u r e a nd
like the rest of the ado- other people think ho-
whe r e by r e s p o n si ble needs are unique.
lescent herd? meschooling is may be
parents choose to train, AT HOM E W I T H
When we’re willing to quite unlike your expe-
equip, and launch their MY KIDS ALL DAY?!!
face the facts, it’s obvi- rience. Many critics are
ow n c h i l d r e n a s r e - Much of the surliness
ous that a well-social- silenced when they see
sponsible, literate, and that kids exhibit toward
ized person is one who your children thriving
skillful on-going adult parents and siblings is
can respect and interact and learning.
learners. It differs from an outcome of spending
w it h t hose older a nd If you’ve ha d ch il-
traditional public/pri- too much t i me ever y
younger than himself; dren in school and are
vate schooling in that day receiving the verbal
m o r e k n owle d ge a ble br i ngi ng t hem home,
parents are the direct a nd e mot ion al abu se
and less so. give yourself and them
overseers of the child’s of other children in an
Some say that chil- a g r a c e p e r i o d of 6
l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s . It i n st it ut ion al set t i ng.
dren need to be with a months to decompress.
results in family glue When your kids realize
room full of age mates When your kids realize
rather than family frac- they have innate value
all day to learn to “face they have you all day,
ture, fostering real-life and uniqueness that is
real it y” a nd toug hen ever y day, and sense
maturity, from a young not being th reatened,
up. This does not har- that your attention is
age, and can be cus- they change for the bet-
monize with the “real t u r ne d t owa rd t he m ,
tomized to the learning ter.
world” adults inhabit. they will need you less!
style of each child. It SOCIALIZATION
You do not work with Don’t envision yourself
fosters genuine social What’s the real ques-
others your age, or so- chained to your kitchen
g races th rough inter- tion behind “What about
cial or economic back- t able, t e a ch i ng m at h
action with people of socialization?” Are we
g rou nd; why should facts ‘til you’re blue in
all ages. It is bursting laboring under the no-
children? the face.
with real-life problem- tion that kids need lots
C R I T I C I S M YO U continued on page 50

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Primary Sources and a Virtual Congress
THE CENTER ON – New Resources from the Center on Congress
CONGRESS
G
ive students the artifacts, and more. TPS
real story about resources, offered free of
at Indiana University historical events. charge to all educators, are
Help them understand how organized in collections
our government works around five themes:
and what it’s like to be a Public Criticisms of Con-
Member of Congress. Find gress: A Look at American
new, engaging resources to Political Cartoons – Get a
teach about Congress, rep- historical perspective on
resentative democracy, and the place of political car-
citizen participation. toons in our representative
The Center on Con- democracy, explore public
gress at Indiana University criticisms of Congress, and
(www.centeroncongress. develop your own views
org) has developed a rich about Congress.
collection of resources – in- Critical Thinking: Ana-
teractives, lesson plans, pri- lyzing Congressional Floor
mary source sets and more Debates – Examine the
– that gives students unique main components of an
access to primary sources, effective, thoughtful argu-
www.centeroncongress.org bringing government and ment in Congress, analyze
history to life – and takes examples of Congressional
YOUR SOURCE FOR them inside the workings debates, and learn how to
TEACHING ABOUT CONGRESS of our government to ex- present a case on a particu-
perience first-hand what lar issue.
• Interactive learning modules it’s like to be a member Consensus Building
• Facts of Congress short videos of Congress through the and the Virtual Congress
• Videos on compromise and Virtual Congress. To help – Delve into consensus
how Congress works educators learn more about building in the legislative
• Lesson plans these resources and how process by examining
• Teaching with Primary Sources to use them, the Center is historical examples and ex-
offering a series of webi- perience the process first-
• Virtual Congress
nars throughout spring and hand by taking on the role
• and more… Visit summer 2011. of Members of Congress
democracykids.org The Center’s Teaching
with Primary Sources
within a virtual world – the
Virtual Congress.
(TPS) project (www.tp- Still in development are
“Our mission is to improve the
scongress.org) is designed two more themes: The
public’s understanding about
to help teachers access and Impact of Congress: A
Congress and to encourage civic use the digitized online Look at the First Congress,
engagement.” primary source materials 1789-1791 – Examine bills
of the Library of Congress passed in the first Congress
THE CENTER ON
– documents, photographs, that still impact our lives
CONGRESS
AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY maps, speeches, cartoons, today; and Importance
letters, songs, journals/ of Citizen Participation:
diaries, autobiographies, American Social Move-

ments – Explore the roles Create lists of activities
citizens have played in to assign to students or
key 19th and 20th century groups. THE CENTER ON
social movements and get
involved in an issue impor-
View, grade, and mark
up your students’ work CONGRESS
tant to you. online. at Indiana University
Homeschool educators View and customize les-
can use the Center’s TPS sons that are aligned with
site in several ways. Let’s state standards.
take a quick tour. Registering on the TPS
When you go to www. site also gives you and your
tpscongress.org you can students access to an excit-
enter the site as a teacher ing new resource – the Vir-
or as a student. To begin, tual Congress. The Virtual
enter as a teacher and you’ll Congress is a fully func-
be taken to a “TPS Home” tional online 3D replica of
page. Then you will be the U.S. Congress. In the TEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES
invited to preview the Virtual Congress, you and
resources in each theme. your students can take a Engage middle and high school students in
Select a theme and access virtual tour of the Capitol learning about Congress, representative
videos, lesson plans, and and experience role playing democracy, and citizen participation!
student interactives – all of as members of Congress:
which you can either use or Proposing your own ideas • Lesson plans • Guides for searching
download right away. Back for legislation, discussing • Student interactives & using Library
• Teacher & student of Congress digital
on the TPS Home page, them in-world with other
workspaces collections
you will also be invited student-members, and
to register. Registration trying to find common
is simple and free, and it ground in order to move
allows you to use the TPS your proposals along. In the THE VIRTUAL
site and resources in a Virtual Congress, your stu- CONGRESS
unique way. Although you dents can meet up in a safe,
can use the TPS resources password-protected online Experience this fully functional online
without registration, by world with students around 3D replica of the U.S. Congress.
registering you will get a the community, region,
• Take a virtual tour • Involve students in
password-protected space or country to learn what role playing as
of the Capitol
on our server — accessible it’s like to be a Member of members of Congress
to you and your students Congress.
any time of day from any When you take a tour of www.tpscongress.org
computer with Internet ac- the Virtual Congress, you
cess. Registration provides will find information signs Provided free of charge www.centeroncongress.org
a simple and powerful that lead to collections of by the Center on Congress
way to choose, assign, and primary source materi- at Indiana University
through funding from the For more information:
grade the student activities als providing historical Library of Congress congress@indiana.edu
available on the TPS site – background of the various
a personalized workspace locations in and around the
from which you can: Capitol – the Capitol Build- THE CENTER ON
Provide students with ing, the Rotunda, House CONGRESS
AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY
their own workspaces to do and Senate committee
and save their work. continued on page 85

Why Can’t Saltwater Fish
Live in Fresh water?
By Connor Bernstein
In this article I’m going as stenohaline. There are
to discuss a topic that I also euryhaline fish, like
thought about a lot when salmon, that can survive
I was younger. Have you in salt water OR fresh wa-
ever wondered why, ex- ter. Why are fish so picky
actly, saltwater fish can’t about what kind of water
live in fresh water and they live in? Read on to
freshwater fish can’t live find out.
in salt water? When I was The key to the answer
creating my Insta-pets is osmosis. To explain
kit (see end of article) osmosis, let’s start with a
and watching the little cell -- the building block
guys swimming around of life. Cells are responsi-
in their saltwater tank, I ble for the vital functions
decided to find out why of all living things. We’re
the amount of salt in their made of them, plants are
water was so critical to made of them, and so are
their well-being. fish. Before I talk about
As most of us know, osmosis, let’s take a look
there are two main types at two important parts of
of fish: Saltwater and a cell: the cell membrane
freshwater. Saltwater fish and the cytosol.
can’t survive in fresh Think of the cell mem-
water, and freshwater fish brane as the “skin” that
can’t survive
in salt water.
In nat ure,
they live in
different en-
vironments
(t he ocea n
vs. a stream,
for example)
and in cap-
tivity, we keep them in surrounds a cell and think
different types of aquari- of the cytosol as the sub-
ums. If a saltwater fish stance that fills the cell
somehow makes its way and surrounds its contents.
into a freshwater aquari- The cell membrane’s job
um, it will die after only is to keep ever ything
a few hours. Most fish inside safe, and to keep a
can survive in just one balance between the lev-
type of water. These are els of chemicals (mostly
referred to by scientists salts) in the cell and in the

surrounding environment. tion below to get a bet- water fish get rid of salt
It’s made up of water and ter idea of how osmosis because they live in such a
lots of different kinds of works:
dissolved chemicals that salty envi-

a cell needs to work prop- ronment. Freshwa-
erly. Cells like to keep the An example of osmosis: ter fish concentrate salt in
concentration of chemi- Water is moving from an their bodies because they
cals on the inside the same area of low concentration live in an environment
as on the outside. For of salt, outside the cell, where salt is harder to
example, if a cell that was (notice the cell is smaller) come by.
previously surrounded by to an area of high concen- Saltwater fish’s cells
a fairly diluted solution tration of salt, inside the naturally contain a very
(like fresh water) is sud- cell. Once the process is high concentration of
denly exposed to a salty finished, the concentra- continued on page 28
solution, the cell mem- tion of salt is the same
brane will allow most of on the outside and inside
the water inside the cell of the cell (now the cell
to leave. This makes the is larger because there is
cell shrink, and increases more water in it). Before is
the concentration of salts on the left and after is on
in the cytosol so that the the right.
concentration inside the Fish need a cer tain
cell becomes equal to the amount of salt in their
concentration outside the bodies to stay healthy.
cell again. Too much or too little can
Confusing? Think of it cause problems. Since
this way: The cell mem- fish’s natural habitats are
brane lets water move always changing, due to
through it from areas of weather and other forces,
low concentration (less they have to be able to
chemicals, more water) adapt to small changes
to areas of high concen- in salinity by controlling
tration (more chemicals, how much salt is present
less water). This helps in their bodies. This is
keep the concentration called osmoregulation,
of chemicals the same on and it’s one of the func-
the inside and outside of tions of the kidneys, for
a cell. both fish and people. The
Check out the illustra- gills and kidneys of salt-

Celebrating Our Children and Ourselves
By Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis, M.S., How can we celebrate all
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Learning Styles Specialist for School & Life Success of our children and ensure
T
that they see themselves as
he New ebrate their children for the marvelous individuals
Ye a r who they are. Every single they are? Here are a few
has be- one of our children has ways:
gun! For many unique gifts and unique 1. Celebrate your chil-
of us that means contributions to make dren for who they are,
leaving behind the holiday to our world. If children NOT for the quality or
parties, perhaps making are not celebrated and quantity of their school
New Year resolutions and, ack nowledged for the work.
in general, looking for- wonders that they are and 2. Get into the habit
ward to new beginnings. for their unique contribu- of pointing out what is
20% off
Checkout Perhaps we are getting tions, they will not be able RIGHT about your chil-
Code: ready for the next round to discern their natural dren.
HmSch20 of parties and celebrations: gifts and talents and their 3. Acknowledge their
birthdays, Valentine’s Day, true “calling” during their interests, talents, and the
graduations, etc. We love growing-up years. contributions they make to
to celebrate! Too often, children are the family.
As we move into 2011, evaluated in terms of how 4. Encourage them to
newjammies.com I challenge parents (and they perform in school, pay attention to their own
teachers!) to really cel- and only those who do positive characteristics and
“well” receive acknowl- actions.
edgment. Children quickly 5. Teach them to rec-
lose heart when day after ognize their accomplish-
day they don’t do well ments.
on assignments, or fail a Compare these two sets
test, or are told they are of comments:
not measuring up. Or, “When are you going to
they become unmotivated get it right?...Well, if there’s
Get out and play! and even depressed when a way to mess it up you’ll
urged to go in a direction find it...You’re so clumsy...I
Travel & Adventure that is counter to their tal- know you’ll lose it...You’ll
ents and natural gifts -- in probably forget like you
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How Much History Do
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learning it, regularly, rigor- the history of Athens re-
brightlinespaper.com ously, and over the duration cently, I had seven year old
of their academic career. students unselfconscious-
Each stage of this process ly saying that what they
allows students to progress were learning was “cool.”
through natural levels of (When was the last time
awareness and ultimately you heard a student call his-
to emerge as historically- tory that? We were study-
minded adults. ing the Athenian Golden
The proper goal of early Age, which by any proper
history education is to standard certainly is one
help children develop the of the coolest things in the
“history habit.” To put world–ever!–but do most
the matter plainly, to learn kids think so?) Students
history children first have were learning for the first
to develop an interest in it. time what a democracy is
For that to happen it must by studying the example of
be presented in a manner Athens. When this same
that is compatible with their class of lower elementary
level of thinking and their students learned that Ath-
natural interests. History ens had lost the Pelopon-
has to be taught as an excit- nesian War against Sparta,
ing story, with characters I could hear voices crack-
and story lines as amazing ing. (Yes, I have actually
as any work of fiction. But seen tears shed by young
children must also learn to students in history classes,
appreciate the unique value continued on page 72

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Yes, My Grown Homeschooled
Children Are Odd --
And Yours Will Be Too!
See what By Diane Flynn Keith
real Online
I
am sick and tired of They stand out from the
defending homeschool- crowd, and a trained eye
Learning is ing from the ques- can spot them a mile away.
all about! tion, “What about social- Now, please understand
ization?” Members of that for years I’ve been a
The Harvey School has been a bricks and mortar
the modern homeschool champion for homeschool-
boarding school in New York for 94 years,
providing personal attention to each student. movement have insisted ing and have countered
for thirty years that home- the socialization argument
Now, eHarvey, the online schooled children are well- with rational explanations
socialized. We laughingly and practical examples of
division of The Harvey refer to socialization as the how homeschoolers are
School, brings the “S word.” We deflect the well-socialized. You know
same personal socialization question by the drill:
attention to your home! insisting it’s a myth. And Homeschool parents
yet, it persists. model appropriate social
Visit us at We trounced the aca- behavior and teach their
demic argument long ago. children how to interact
w w w. e H a r v e y. o r g Very few people challenge and get along with others.
the notion that home- Homeschoolers inter-
schoolers are intellectu- act and play with oth-
The PHONICS Road ally curious, self-directed er children and students
to Spelling and Reading learners who match or ex-
ceed the academic prowess
through homeschool sup-
port groups at Park Days,
of their school-going peers. in co-op classes, and on
So, why do you think we field trips, etc.
can’t shake the socializa- Homeschooled children
tion issue? participate in (and win!)
I’ll tell you what I think. math olympiads, spelling
The truth is, homeschool- bees, geography bees, sci-
ers are not well-socialized. ence competitions, and
There. I’ve said it. Some- debate teams.
one had to. Homeschoolers join
I say this with the great- choirs, orchestras, book
est respect and affection clubs, athletic events, and
for the homeschooled or they even go to home-
Complete 4-year curriculum: unschooled. Nevertheless, school proms!
spelling, writing, reading, grammar, in my experience, home- Homeschoolers take
composition, and intro to Latin schoolers deviate from the classes and compete aca-
norm. They are not well- demically in community
For a FREE brochure/sample DVD: socialized in the traditional college, adult education
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Homeschoolers partici- are more likely to be civi-
pate in community activi- cally engaged than families
ties such as Scouts, 4-H,
Little League, Pop Warner
Football, AYSO soccer,
theater classes, martial arts
who send their children to
public and private schools.
Homeschoolers display
fewer behavior problems
Get Into Shape!
classes, dance classes, etc. than do other children. as seen on NBC’s
Homeschoolers volun-
teer in the community.
Homeschoolers have
higher levels of parental “The Today Show”
Homeschoolers play interest and communica-
with neighborhood kids tion, peer independence, a Rebounding Benefits the
from both public and pri- sense of responsibility, and
vate schools. lowered anxiety levels. Body in 30 Healthy Ways!
I’ve also pointed out the Homeschooled children
advantage homeschoolers have higher achievement
have because instead of and mastery levels.
being socialized by inter- Homeschooled children
acting with the same 30 have good self-esteem.
children in a classroom, Homeschooled children
who are the exact same are more socially mature.
age, on the exact same aca- Homeschooled children
demic track, from the same have better leadership
geographic and socio-eco- skills than other children.
nomic area – homeschool- Homeschooled children
ers get to interact with who attempt higher educa-
people of varying ages, tion are successful.
abilities, ethnicities, and Homeschooled graduates
socio-economic diversity experience no prejudice re-
on a day-to-day basis in the garding employment.
real world. Homeschool graduates
I’ve pointed people to- function effectively as
ward the always-positive members of adult society.
research studies that have One research study even
been conducted on ho- concluded, “The socializa-
meschoolers over the past tion of home-educated Great for the entire family
three decades by the U.S. students was often better
Department of Education than that of their schooled A fun exercise for all ages
and other government and peers.” The research proves
private organizations. Here homeschoolers surpass
is a random compilation of standard social expecta- Call Today
findings from the reports:
Homeschoolers are not
isolated.
tions, and in exceeding
them, they fall short of
social mediocrity.
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Homeschool parents
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I hate to be the one to
break it to you, but there’s
Or Order Online
children to take advantage nothing “normal” about
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schooled child is odd com-
www.needakrebounders.com
Homeschooling families continued on page 60

Looking for the Best in When All Else Fails, Play a Game!
By Carolyn Forte of and cook a special din-
Homeschooling Support? Excellence in Education ner for Daddy, or play a
T
here are days when game. Most children love
nothing seems to games and a clever mom
work. The children can sneak a lot of learning
can’t concentrate on math into an otherwise hope-
and complain loudly about less morning by inserting
the writing assignment. games and activities into
They constantly invent the day. Often, physical
excuses to leave their work. activity is what is needed.
Even their favorite books Children need much more
and story CD’s are met with activity than adults, a fact
glazed eyes and whines of which is often overlooked
discontent. by parents. A physical-
You can bluster and activity-break is needed at
Bring the Joy of Learning Into bully, trying to force some least once every hour until
children reach age 12-14.
Your Homeschool With EiE’s... “learning” into their heads
Simple games like hop
– or you can recognize the
obvious: “Today is not a scotch, Frisbee, catch, jacks,
• Books day for formal academics.” marbles, juggling, jumping
rope, foursquare or shoot-
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Huge selection of ance, turning the day into a ies were not designed to sit
quality books and contest of wills of Olympic still for very long; if we try
materials in all proportions. I remember to fight the creator’s design,
many such days when my we’re asking for trouble.
subjects that are
blood started to boil with Active games develop both
both interesting
frustration. I knew I faced mind and body. Accurately
and educational, catching a ball or pick-
a choice: Continue to fight
at all reading and ing up jacks develops and
the reality of childish bio-
educational levels! rhythms, accomplishing refines hand-eye coordina-
New online nothing more than ruining tion and fine motor skills –
everyone’s day, or take an important component in
catalog!
charge of the situation by penmanship, math and any
changing gears and doing writing activity.
Log-on today at: Games can teach many
something else. Happily,
www.excellenceineducation.com I learned early to take the of the skills practiced in
Our website has many articles of second option. workbooks – without the
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Over 25 years’ experience in homeschooling the park for awhile, plan continued on page 74

Do Smart People Play Chess or Does
CREATIVE
Playing Chess Make People Smart
CRAFTHOUSE
W
ith all the tech- chess first began.”
nolog y out Nobody really knows
there, it is a bit just how old the game of
ironic that Chess, arguably chess is. However, Mrs.
Handcrafted Wooden
one of the oldest games in Graham said, some experts Puzzle & Games
the world, is still leaps and claim that chess is more FOR HOMESCHOOLER’S
bounds ahead of today’s than 2,000 years old. Some
electronic games in help- evidence suggests that Traditional and Unique
ing youth improve their chess, in its earliest form, designs for
cognitive skills and learn was played in India in the
- Focus
real lessons about life, ac- 6th century AD and from
cording to Lyndia Graham, there spread around the - Determination
manager of Wholesale world. Of course, over the - Problem Solving
Chess. years, the pieces and rules - Spatial Visualization
“Chess not only teaches changed somewhat. In the - Math skills
children critical analyti- 15th century, chess began & more all while having FUN
cal skills, but it teaches to more closely resemble
them about choices–that the game we now play,
each action is followed by she added. But chess re-
a natural—but very real– ally started taking off in the
consequence and that each 1800’s when tournaments,
of those choices must be chess clocks, champion-
carefully considered” she ships, and titles like Grand-
said. “Chess can help the master were introduced.
IQ, memory, pattern rec- Chess is now the most
ognition, analytical skills, popular game in the world
Math Games
overall comprehension, as and growing especially fast Dexterity and
well as develop patience.” among children, as schools
“It is an ideal game to and parents recognize Creativity Puzzles
use in a homeschool setting
because the implications
the social and intellectual
benefits associated with the
Classic Wooden Games
of choice and consequence game. There are hundreds
can be casually discussed of millions of players in
and reinforced in a positive, thousands of clubs around
Call us for help on
but fun setting,” she said. the planet. Women and selections and how
“Bad choices — or chess girls are learning chess in to teach with traditional
moves — have immediate record numbers. Younger puzzles & games
consequences and will im- and younger players are
pact the rest of your game achieving Grandmaster
— or the rest of your life. status and a few are not AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!
There are rules of play that even teenagers yet, she
must be followed, or the said.
end result is not what you The overall skill level
Dave Janelle
want. It’s an age-old lesson of chess players is also in- www.CreativeCrafthouse.com
as relevant today as when continued on page 86 352-683-6649

Scheduling a
Charlotte Mason Day
By Sheila Carroll and James Carroll
I
magine that it’s Mon- D o e s t h is s c e n a r io
day morning. It’s about sound possible to you? It
9AM, and after fin- is. Charlotte Mason under-
ishing their chores, your stood how children really
children sit down at the learn and laid out a set of
kitchen table and begin principles to make it pos-
school. Because they have sible to inspire children to
learned that all real learn- learn by their own self-ef-
ing begins with disciple- fort. To bring this wonder
ship, they study the Bible about, the teaching parent
with you. Following that, must first understand his
each knows they must or her role. “The children,
check their schedule of not the teacher, are the re-
readings and written work sponsible persons; they do
to be sure of the learning the work by self-effort.”
for the day. Your chil- There is a table at the
dren look forward to this end of this article outlining
because each book they a 4th grade student’s day
read is full of interesting and week. Don’t rush to it.
and memorable events of First take in the principles
history, science, nature or that lead to the creation of
“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but

the lighting of a fire.” —William Butler Yeats
people. such a schedule.

As they complete a sec- Charlotte Mason taught
tion of work they come that when books are many,
to you for oral narration. varied, and living, the
Science, by your choice, child is able to take up the
is a family learning time ideas in them like a plant
and so the books are read taking nutrients from the
aloud together and the soil. The result is “full
whole family narrates. happy living, resource-
History is also a family af- fulness, expansiveness,
fair, in fact, the book you expression, power of ini-
are currently reading is tiative, serviceableness—
so interesting the children in a word, character.”
are talking about how Charlotte Mason believed
they can “hardly wait” till children learn best when
after lunch for family read given abundant, high-
aloud. quality books; time in the

outdoors; and are taught my daughter’s 4th grade,
gently using methods such I went all out with CM.
as narration, short lessons, She is now the equivalent
and “masterly inactivity.” of a sophomore and what AFFORDABLE, UNIQUE CURRICULA
The Basics of CM we call an Independent
What is the “bottom Learner. Very self taught
line” for a Charlotte Ma- and self motivated. She is
son curriculum in my re-reading, on her own,
homeschool? The answer books such as Nariño and
is: 1) Understand the prin- Lord of the Rings. When
ciples of CM; 2) Consis- in Jr. High, she checked
tently apply the principles; out of the library and read Visit Our Website for:
3) Plan your school day to over 100 books on horses. •Natural Speller
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It really is that simple. To cus, and they still are. She •Maximum Math
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Charlotte Mason educa- competitions. •The Maya: Unit Study
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tion, visit our website for Your child or children •Workshop Audio Cassettes
the Seven Keys to Learn- have some subject(s) they Movies As Literature
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pursuing more informa-
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is a person. Children are tion about their favorite
born complete and full subject. Give them the
of endless possibilities. freedom to find those
Children are not incom- subjects.
plete adults; they become Once, in Jr. High, we be-
adults. They do not lack gan using some textbooks,
maturity, but rather guid- such as the Apologia Sci-
ance, nurture, and oppor- ence Textbook series, but
tunity. Your role as their retained the living books
teacher is to provide these reading for history, geog-
things. When you grasp raphy, picture study and
this single truth it will composer study.
change your understand- Ms. Mason once re-
ing of your homeschool counted her response to a
and your children. question which included
My Own Story the phrase, “I use your
For three years I waffled method more or less . . .”
in my consistent use of . Mason said, “Then you
Charlotte Mason’s prin- will achieve the results I
ciples such as narration. I promise . . . more or less.”
also “curriculum hopped”. The Magic of Short Les-
But I wasn’t seeing the sons
results I thought possible; Recently a mother asked
Bridgett had a very short for guidance in prevent-
attention span. Finally, in continued on page 68

Non-Judgmental Drawing: The Monart Way
By Mona Brookes ply come from what one but if you praise t he ent teachers. It wasn’t
has been told is “good” actual drawing it begins until after graduation
Author: Drawing with o r “ b a d ”. W h a t yo u to control the student’s that I was finally free
Children and Drawing for
think is bad art might experience. They lose to explore what I really
Older Children and Teens
Founder: Monart Drawing
be seen i n Nat ional focus on their experi- liked and find my own
Schools Museums and is worth ence and get consumed creativity.
T
millions. w it h lo ok i ng for t he
his article needs W hen I talk about praise. When teaching
to be understood non-judgment, the av- a dva nce d t e ch n ique s
f rom t he ba sic erage person assumes l i ke p e r s p e c t ive a nd
premise that I do not I am referring to criti- shading, a teacher needs
believe that there is “a cism. But if there re- to show the student the
r ig ht way t o do a r t ” ally is no such thing correct skills, but once
and that “everyone can a s “go o d ” o r “ b a d ”, those skills are learned
learn to draw”. I realize then I see no need to the student should have
that there is a right way i m p o s e o p i n i o n s o r the right to disregard
to do many subjects; preferences on a child. t h e m , t h e s a m e w ay
l i ke pl ay i ng a s o ng, When I explain this to many famous artists do.
solving a math problem, a child who is fishing As a serious art stu-
or reading a language. for compliments, they dent, I knew I had to Inspired by “Arty”
However, if you f re - truly understand, seem f ind out the teachers’ a stuffed toy
q ue nt a r t ga l le r ie s I relieved, and quickly prefe re nce s a nd p e r-
challenge you to tell me become more creative for m i n t hat st yle i n
what is “really” right or and confident. Yes, I am order to get good grades
wrong or good or bad actually suggesting that a nd receive pr aise. I
a r t. T here is end less you refrain from prais- eventually noticed that
variety in preferences ing a child’s drawings. the same piece of work
and judgments in the You can praise a child could end up with praise
visual arts. Sometimes for the way they work, or criticism from differ-
eduarts_HSM_onethird.pdf 12/7/10 11:34:00 AM Hollan-Age 5
these preferences sim-
Drawing
M
Y
thru
the Alphabet
CM
MY
CY
by Mona Bro
Author of Drawin
g with Childre
okes
CMY n and Founder
of
Drawing Schools
For Ages 3 – 8

tion before committing 3. When a child is un-
to the page and create happy with a drawing,
colorful drawings that don’t try to praise him
everyone loves. Learn- into liking it. That does
i ng to d r aw is about not work. Tell them the
learning to see! Avoid truth. Artists never like
crayons, colored pen- everything they do. This
cils, and cheap markers, gives them the opportu-
w h ic h c r e a t e b u m py nity to solve problems
lines or streaky, imma- and explore options.
ture affects. 4. Ma ke s u re t h at
2. Once a ch ild is children under 8 also
over 9, and has some have free time to draw
conf idence with two- by t hem selve s. St ick
d i me n sion a l i m a ge s , Figure Drawing is ex-
they can begin learning t remely i mpor t a nt to
the skills of accurate language development
perspective and three- a n d s el f- e x p r e s s io n .
dimensional shadi ng. Monar t is a Realistic
Krisztianna-Age 12
Pencil and pastels are D r aw i ng prog r a m. It
Holla n a nd K r isz- people never knew that t he most appropr iate is a completely differ-
tianna created totally the silent classrooms media in this case. ent subject. It does not
different results from and the safe non-judg- i nt e r fe re i n a ny way
the inspiration of the ment al envi ron ment with the child’s con-
st uf fed A r t y toy and were just as responsible t i nu e d e njoy m e nt of
observing other graphic for these results as the t he sy mbol ic i m age s
materials. Hollan used structured and academ- that they will draw by
only marker and Krisz- ic-based lesson plans. t he m s elve s. Mon a r t
tianna blended marker A f ter yea rs of expo - st udent s who ca n do
and colored pencil. sure with home school Jed-Age 6, using Markers. unbelievably realistic
Monart became very groups, I am more than 2 dimensional work d rawings still d raw
well known for unbe- excited that those lesson inspired by Laurel Burch stick f igure drawings
lievably skilled results plans are now expand- designs. by themselves, until 8
from very young chil- ing into a Drawing thru or 9 years old. Symbolic
dren to beginner adults, the Alphabet workbook st ick f ig u re d r aw i ng
the side benef its that for 3-to-8-year-olds. stops around that age
were seen in academic So, where do you start and does not eventually
perfor mance, and the if you intend to draw lead to realism. Except
fact that everyone could with children? for a rare few, people
be so successful. It was 1. Start with two-di- need structured infor-
hard for people to be- mensional f lat images, mation to learn realistic
lieve that children in the with children under 8 drawing. Do not ever
same class could have or beginners of any age. compare the two types
such a variety of results Avoid p e n c i l , w h ich of drawing. Children
from the same instruc- e n c o u r a ge s c o n s t a nt can, and will, happily
tions or that such young erasing and sloppy vi- do both, if given that
ch i ld r e n c ou ld d r aw sual observations. Use Michelle-Age 14, using oil non-judg mental envi-
from objects as well as markers, which encour- pastel. 3 dimensional work ronment. M.B.
graphic materials. Most age closer visual atten- done from observing a vase
of sun flowers.

Art Instruction School –
Distance Education Since 1914!
W
hen we think demand for cartoonists
of “distance would be growing, so
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part of homeschooling, color work and perspec-
we might not realize that tive d rawing, as well
Art Instruction School, as other specialized art
with their ubiquitous classes to their curricu-
“Draw Me” ads, is one lum.
of the oldest distance Today, AIS is recog-
educators in the country. nized as the top home
AIS was founded in 1914 study art school in the
and began its distance country. Much of this
art instruction programs success is a result of
shortly thereafter --long AIS graduates, such as
before the Inter net or Charles Schultz of “Pea-
even a-radio-in-every- nuts” cartoon fame, suc-
home level of technol- cessful fashion design-
ogy! ers, landscape, portrait,
The Bureau of Engrav- wildlife artists and art
ing, Inc., (not a govern- teachers in all walks of
ment agency) founded life.
A IS i n M i n ne ap ol is , In terms of the actual
as a bricks-and-mortar process of their lessons,
school to train illustra- each new subject begins
Creative Writing
tors for the burgeoning with a package delivered
printing industry – es- by mail or UPS, contain-
pecially its own segment ing a large-format, easy-
of that indust r y. T he to-follow, personalized
Online Classes for Teens Bureau’s methods and textbook that takes you
The professional writers at NYC’s leading creative writing school materials were so suc- through the art lesson
now offer online classes for teens! cessful that soon all of in detail. When needed,
Presented in collaboration with Teen Ink, these workshops are the advertising, newspa- new art tools and sup-
designed to foster creativity and self-expression in a supportive per and general printing plies are included with
atmosphere. Each class is taught by a professional writer adept at
helping young writers discover and develop their unique voices.
industry were seeking the lesson.
their teaching and train- Throughout the text-
In these engaging and pressure-free online classes, students
develop thinking and writing skills that will prove valuable in ing. The AIS building books you have plenty of
and beyond. could not accommodate opportunities to practice
or serve the needs of in- the assignment activi-
“This course was great. My school doesn’t offer a creative writing
course, so this was the perfect way to enhance my writing skills terested, prospective art ties. When you are satis-
and have fun along the way. I really enjoyed the smaller class size, students from all over fied that you have com-
and the fact that everyone received personal instruction
based on their writing style.” — CH Hollis, NH
the nation, so they began pleted the assignment
their distance education and done your best work,
“Absolutely amazing and totally worth it! It had to be the best
thing I’ve done in a long time!” — EB Youngsville, LA art instruction. you send it in, using the
The Bureau realized envelope provided, just
LEARN MORE AT WRITINGCLASSES.COM that cartooning was in like academic distance
continued on page 79
high popularity and the

1-870-269-4177
Why Can’t Saltwater Fish Live in Fresh water?
continued from page 13 to freshwater fish in a saltwater tion); in the middle are the cells in
chemicals so that they don’t shrink environment - water flows out of a solution with the same amount of
when exposed to the salt water their cells, dehydrating the fish and salt in it as there is inside the cells
they live in. When a saltwater fish disrupting cell function. Here’s how (an isotonic solution); on the right
is exposed to fresh water, all of osmosis can affect the size of blood are cells in a solution with less salt
that water floods into their cells in cells: in it than there is inside the cells (a
order to dilute the hypotonic solution).
chemicals inside Most fish are stenohaline,
and keep a bal- and will die when exposed to
ance with the sur- the wrong environment (salt
rounding environ- water vs. fresh water). But
ment. Two things what about euryhaline fish like
can happen when salmon, eels, and some trout?
water f loods in: Salmon, for example, can sur-
Some cells fill up vive in both fresh and salt wa-
with so much water because of their life cycle.
ter that they burst Salmon are born in freshwater
(scientists call this cytolysis), while An example of osmosis in blood streams, but then migrate into the
others just stop working because cells: On the left are cells in a solu- ocean where they mature and spend
the chemicals inside them are too tion with more salt in it than there is about 1-5 years. After that, they
diluted. Both of these things will inside the cells (a hypertonic solu- continued on page 45
kill the fish. The opposite happens
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children to a website. ic (brainstorming ideas and
foreign language. Q. I’m concerned that my examples) and organizing
student(s) won’t be ready his paragraphs (putting his
E
I NN R OF
W
for the essay portion of the points and examples in or-
SAT. What can I do to pre- der). Do this several times
TOP C
AR D S
pare them for it? with several quotations/
W
N A
O
SU
MER
A. First, your student topics -- without his ever

needs to understand that writing the essay. Break-
the SAT essay is a persua- ing the tasks down, first
sive essay. That means he untimed and then timed,
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Public Schools, spending hundreds of millions of dollars
AHA! Unit-based Instruction only to generate the lowest achievement results in the
past 30 years.
The Recipe for Homeschooling Unit of study instruction focuses on in-depth under-
standing, meaningful project-centered learning, higher-
By Dr. T. Roger Taylor and
order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and evalua-
Dr. Beverly M. Taylor
W
tion, creative thinking, and character/ethics education,
hy Teach via Unit of Study? which are woven throughout the fabric of each lesson.
Among the many reasons parents choose The disciplines of literature, history, mathematics, sci-
to leave the public, private or parochial ence and social studies are integrated so that learners un-
schools is the perception that there is very little, if any, derstand the relationship among the disciplines based on
rigor or substance in much of the instruction. This has a thematic topic or Big Idea. The curriculum unit of study
been referred to as teaching “an inch deep and a mile is differentiated by integrating media, literature, fine arts,
wide” vs. an inch wide and a mile deep. cultural literacy, social studies, science and mathematics
The cognitive domain in Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956) to create an environment where learners are successful in
centers on the skills of knowledge, comprehension, appli- understanding the connections among disciplines rather
cation, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Burns (1984) than memorizing facts within each discipline. (Taylor,
found that 75-95% of activities assigned by teachers to 2004)
their students focused on knowledge and comprehension, The Recipe
the two lowest levels of the taxonomy. By definition, Take one Big Idea
this form of instruction is without depth, where concepts Add the following disciplines…history, science, math-
are answered with a yes/no, true/false, or which of the ematics, literature
following is correct: a,b,c,d. This type of instruction has Mix with higher-level thinking skills, moral/ethical
resulted in public school districts, such as the Chicago dilemmas, creative thinking

Add a pinch of state and national standards machines/tools were perfected and, therefore, they be-
Integrate the arts, music, media and technology come the focus of the science unit. The mathematics unit
Sprinkle with communication skills, cooperative of study centers on linear measurements of distance and
learning and project-centered learning time. The units make interdisciplinary connections and
Fold in formative and summative assessment…divided tie the curriculum together. Title? How about, “Once
into self, peer and teacher Upon a Friend: Living Happily Ever After with Pipers,
Bake for four weeks Pigs and Princesses?”
Makes a motivated, intellectual, creative, ethical and Higher-Level Thinking Skills and Project-Cen-
productive learner tered Learning
Choosing the Big Idea or Theme With unit-based instruction, each lesson becomes
The Big Idea is often centered under the umbrella of so- totally relevant to the student’s life and experience be-
cial studies; however, science, mathematics and literature cause there are connections between and among the
are all equally powerful in anchoring the theme or Big disciplines. Each lesson is project-centered, with school
Idea. Themes can focus on a specific time period such as to career connections so that learners never have to ask,
medieval times, U.S. Revolutionary War, U.S. Civil War, “Why do I have to learn this?” Each lesson has writing
World War II, the 1950s and the Industrial Revolution or woven into the content so that students learn creative
on a specific Big Idea in science (aeronautics, micro-or- writing, grammar and syntax within every lesson instead
ganisms, animals and their habitats, oceanography, plate of being taught in isolation. Because of the relevance
tectonics and the solar system), mathematics (quadratic and depth in unit study, the ultimate result is not only a
equations, exponential growth, palindromes, patterns, highly-educated, knowledgeable student but, also, one
and geometric shapes) and literature (character-building whose mastery learning and critical thinking skills will
and man’s search for meaning through literature, study maximize results on admissions exams, such as SAT and
of authors, loss of innocence in literature, WWII and the ACT. Each lesson is aligned with state and national stan-
English Renaissance through literature or specific pieces dards so that exemplary performance on standardized
of literature such as “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “The tests is assured. Even though standards are not mandated
Door in the Wall,” “Johnny Tremain” and “Macbeth.”) for homeschooling, it is recommended to use the state
Add the Disciplines standards as a guideline and comparison.
In unit-based instruction, there is a series of in-depth Creative Thinking
lesson plans connected to content within that specific Ultimately, the love of learning is nurtured and de-
unit. The lesson plans are created to be interdisciplinary veloped in unit-based instruction. While much of tradi-
and connect to other teaching units during the day. For tional school learning is rote and non-engaging, the best
example, if the theme is the Holocaust, the history unit unit of study is compatible with how the human brain
is based on World War II, the literature unit may include functions. For learners who are naturally creative, each
“Diary of a Young Girl, the Anne Frank Story” or Elie lesson includes six levels of creativity to satisfy the learn-
Wiesel’s “Night.” The science unit may focus on genet- ing style of these students while demanding that learners
ics (Hitler was trying to create the super race) and the who think more in a linear manner open their minds
mathematics unit may center on chromosomes, DNA and to more creative and divergent thinking. In addition,
probability. Each unit of study for the theme Holocaust students who are the creative thinkers must stretch their
is interdisciplinary, thematic and integrated among the minds to think in an inductive/deductive manner. The
content areas. A fun and interesting title for the Unit of hands-on project-centered approach is equally creative
Study creates an interest in the theme. When creating and academic, as is the moral/ethical dilemmas woven
your own unit of study, think of a title that is engaging to into each lesson.
the learner. A suggested title for the holocaust theme is Multiple Intelligences and Assessment
“No Light in the Attic: Let’s be Frank. It’s up to you.” “If students do not learn the way you teach, teach the
A popular unit of study for younger children is fairy way they learn.” (Taylor, 2008) The Eight Intelligences
tales. Since many of the fairy tales we know come from of Howard Gardner (1983) are integrated into each lesson
the Middle Ages, this is a perfect time to align instruc- so that verbal/linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical/
tion so that the history unit is taught in parallel with the rhythmic, visual/spatial, body/ kinesthetic, interpersonal,
fairy tale unit. During the Middle Ages, the five simple continued on page 64

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long ago, homeschoolers It is not part of a to-do list. I am never going to choose
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Dedicating yourself children with the great-
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meschooling should be homeschooling. Rather

The Increasing Prevalence on
Online Learning in Education
Jovana Knezevic, Ph.D. line courses and programs.
Education Program for According to a Sloan Con-
Gifted Youth, Stanford sortium study, 50,000
A Window University students at the K-12 level
O
of Opportunity were enrolled in wholly
n li ne lea r n i ng
or partly online courses in
Awaits Your is a broad and
2000, a number which had
dynamic area of
Students... education whose signifi-
risen to more than a million
by 2008. The International
cance is receiving increas-
Association of K-12 Online
ing attention. Bill Gates
Want to EMPOWER your kids? recently predicted that in
Learning has predicted
that 10% of courses will be
five years much of college
computer-based by 2014,
Looking for more CHOICES education will have gone
increasing to 50% by 2019.
online. In keeping with this
in education? prediction, the Gates Foun-
This trend is reflected in
the increasing number of
dation and the Hewlett
studies examining the ef-
Need to prepare your children Foundation, together with
fectiveness of technology
nonprofit educational or-
for the REAL WORLD? ganizations, have invested
in improving education. In
its report, “Evaluation of
$20 million in accelerating
Evidence-Based Practices
the development and use
We provide of online learning tools
in Online Learning: A
Meta-Analysis and Review
for post-secondary on-
VOCATIONAL line courses, with another
of Online Learning Stud-
ies,” based on twelve years
EDUCATION round of grants for high
of comparative research
school programs scheduled
through online, for next year. The United
funded by the Department
of Education, SRI Interna-
States Department of Edu-
interactive cation has been develop-
tional concluded that online
learning on average bested
classes with ing a National Education
face-to-face teaching by
Technology Plan, aimed
LIVE INSTRUCTORS primarily at kindergarten
a modest, but statistically
significant, margin. A
to high school education,
study by the Open Learn-
which urges the use of
Take our FREE Career Assessment Survey technology for individual-
ing Initiative at Carnegie
Mellon, which compared
www.e—TechAcademy.org/blog/survey ization of learning experi-
students engaged in a hy-
ences for students and for
brid model of digital and
professional development
classroom instruction in
for teachers.
a college statistics course
This attention that online
855-680-0858 education has been getting
with students enrolled in
the conventional course,
e-TechAcademy.org in both the private and
demonstrated that the
public sectors is justified
students’ scores in the hy-
by the increasing numbers
brid courses were as high
of students enrolling in on-

or higher, even though it dents to pursue academic
lasted half as long. While programs that are best
not all studies have found suited to their individual
positive benefits from needs and goals. The time
online learning, with re- students do spend engaged
sults varying for different in online learning is thus
populations of students more productive and ef-
and online learning mod- fective. Online learning
els, underlying economic often resolves scheduling
realities coupled with the problems that preclude stu-
convenience of online dents enrolled in brick and
education for students and mortar schools from taking
institutions ensures these the courses they need to
trends will continue. meet their educational and
Accounting for this intellectual needs. It also
Trend allows students to find aca-
While the reason for the demic challenges beyond
growth in popularity of what might be available in
online education differs the curricular offerings at
for different populations of their local schools. Online
students, generally speak- learning also has the poten-
ing, online learning attracts tial to better accommodate
students because it presents students whose particular
broader opportunities by learning styles or excep-
eliminating obstacles.The tional talents and interests
reach of online education cannot be accommodated
is unfettered by geography, through existing educa-
allowing students access to tional offerings.
courses and programs they The growth in online
otherwise might not have learning is supported by
had. It also creates learn- continual developments
ing communities that bring in the technology; par-
together students from all ticularly developments in
over the world who share video-based web confer-
similar academic and intel- encing and social network-
lectual interests regardless ing facilitate the growth
of their location. Real-time of increasingly interactive
online instruction also models of online learning.
brings together students Mo d e l s of O n l i n e
that are not only from dif- Learning
ferent places, but actually The possibilities for
in different places, giving online learning span the
a unique and otherwise spectrum from fully asyn-
unattainable perspective to chronous, fully synchro-
class discussions. nous to blended learning
Online learning typi- models, which combine
cally provides flexibility in online instruction with
scheduling and enrollment face-to-face class time. De-
options, thus allowing stu- continued on page 38

The Increasing Prevalence on Online Learning in Education ment software.
Some online courses
continued from page 37
fully accredited, diploma- work during the academic utilize the computer as an
ciding on which model best granting institution like year is supplemented with intelligent agent in dif-
suits a student’s learning the Education Program for an optional summer resi- ferentiating instruction
needs depends both on the Gifted Youth Online High dential session on Stanford for students. The Stanford
student’s purpose in pursu- School (EPGY OHS) at campus. EPGY OHS also University Education Pro-
ing online learning and the Stanford University pres- offers part-time and single gram for Gifted Youth
kind of learning experience ents a good option. EPGY course enrollment options (EPGY) offers courses
a student seeks. Another OHS offers a full, rigorous for students seeking to in Kindergarten-Algebra
central question to consider academic program for stu- supplement the core edu- mathematics and elemen-
is what role the technol- dents in grades 7-12, which cational experience they tary-middle-school level
ogy plays in the learning includes a Core curriculum receive elsewhere. English that make non-
experience, whether it is as well as a broad offering Florida Virtual School trivial use of the computer
being used to facilitate of Advanced Placement (FLVS), founded as the to instruct and differentiate
teacher-student interaction, (AP) and university-level country’s first, state-wide instruction. Similar ap-
for asynchronous delivery courses across disciplines. Internet-based public high proaches are taken by the
of course content, or as an EPGY OHS uses a syn- school, which today serves ALEKS program, which
intelligent agent. chronous course model, students from kindergarten is grounded on research
For students who seek bringing students together through twelfth grade, is a done by Professor Jean
a core educational experi- with their instructors in supplemental online pro- Claude Falmange at the
ence online, a school at real-time seminars using gram whose course model University of California-
which they can be engaged web-based video confer- combines asynchronous Riverside into knowledge
in a school community encing software. Online and synchronous learning. spaces, and by Cognitive
and also earn a degree, a FLVS offers courses in Tutor, growing out of work
core subjects, world lan- in cognitive science done
to C o lle g e ? guages, electives, honors, by John Anderson. These
HeadedAccredited
and Advanced Placement. three programs, and others
Students work indepen- like them, are frequently
dently in the courses and offered both directly to
curriculum have regular contact with students and indirectly
on your terms. teachers over email and through schools, with
telephone. It is free of varying amounts of tutorial
charge to Florida residents support available.
and for a fee to out-of-state Identifying Viable On-
students. line Learning Options
More asynchronous on- As online learning be-
Ask about our transcript line learning models are comes increasingly main
evaluation offer, a $30 value! content-centric, focusing stream and as online offer-
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Toll-free (866) 700-4747 the learning experience is viable educational oppor-
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distance learning. This crediting associations, such
approach is generally sup- as the Western Association
ported by dominant pub- of Schools and Colleges
lishers and companies that (WASC) have been ap-
provide course manage- plying the same standards

the quality of traditional costs and maximize ef-
educational institutions in ficiency. Ideally, these
their evaluation of online measures aim at increasing
schools. T he “WASC access, but consumers will Prepare Them for the Future
Supplement for Schools need to be wary that such
with Online Learning as objectives are not pursued
the Primary Delivery Sys- at the expense of the basic
tem,” which is based on quality of education stu-
publications generated by dents receive. Other pro-
the North American Coun- grams will use the technol-
cil for Online Learning ogy to drive quality. Here,
(iNACOL), the Southern the difficulties will be in
Regional Education Board controlling costs to ensure
(SREB), and the National that high quality education
Council for Private School is available to all. Regard-
Accreditation (NCPSA), less of how these issues are
identifies the quality of addressed by online edu-
curriculum (its cultivation cation providers, online
of critical skills of analysis, learning is an endeavor
comprehension, com- whose time has come, and
munication and research as with all developments in
as well as its meeting education, will raise new
of state standards), ad- questions and challenges
equate assessments of even as it addresses cur- Independent Study courses offer an academically
student performance, the rent ones. rigorous option for students to get college credit,
academic qualifications of Further reading and make up missed high school credits, or take a college
instructors, the nature and resources: course for dual credit.
degree of student-teacher Allen, I. Elaine and Jeff
interaction, and academic Seaman, “Class Differ- Quality – All courses are accredited by
integrity as among the ences: Online Education NWCCU and NWAC.
central criteria upon which in the United States, 2010,”
online educational insti- Babson Survey Research Convenience – Students work at their own pace;
tutions are evaluated. In Group, Sloan Consortium, PSU admission is not required.
addition to these, WASC 2010. Value – Courses are available for high school,
considers whether an on- U.S. Depar t ment of college, and dual credit.
line school offers adequate Education, Evaluation of
and adequately maintained Evidence-Based Prac- For more information:
technology platforms and tices in Online Learning: 1-800-547-8887 ext. 54865
training in their use and A Meta-Analysis and Re- istudy@pdx.edu
how it addresses issues of view of Online Learning
student socialization. Studies, Washington, D.C., Register today at:
Commercial companies, 2010. (w w w2.ed.gov/ www.istudy.pdx.edu.
such as K12, are also rschstat/eval/tech/evi-
increasingly entering the dence-based-practices/
online education arena, finalreport.pdf)
often working with charter InternationalAssociation
schools. Moving forward, for K-12 Online Learning
some programs will use (iNACOL): www.inacol.
the technology to control org

Michigan Technological University
Learning Pre-College Outreach
Apps
www.youthprograms.mtu.edu director of outreach and
or 906-487-2219 engagement for Michigan
W
Tech’s Center for Pre-
hen was the last College Outreach, and his
time you had group of high-energy staff
the opportunity and Michigan Tech student
to walk on water? Students volunteers—attends expos
attending the recent Ein- and events throughout
stein Project Science Expo the region and across the
in Green Bay, Wis., can tell nation—wherever large
you all about it; they spent groups of impressionable
the day dashing, running, young people gather. Their
 Video/Audio Lit and dancing across the goal is simple: To get kids
Study Guides surface of a non-Newto- hooked on science.
 Video Math Tutors nian liquid called oobleck, According to Patchin,
- Algebra a sticky white substance the experiments aren’t just
- Geometry that will grab your feet and
- Trigonometry fun—they’re educational
hold them fast if you dare to students in a meaning-
- Calculus
to slow down. ful way. “It’s a once-in-a-
 More...
Oobleck is just one of lifetime opportunity for
the exciting hands-on ex- students to discover for
www.ipreppress.com periences that Michigan themselves the fun and
Technological University’s excitement of science and
Arts + History + Culture = Mind Trekkers STEM technology,” he says.
(Science Technology, En-
Discovering Music gineering, and Math) road
STEM education is an
extremely important topic
show uses to illustrate in our country right now.
A 300-year romp what a blast science can Some of tomorrow’s most
through Western music, be. They also give stu- important careers—those
literature, and the fine dents the chance to make in engineering, healthcare,
(and taste) liquid nitrogen
arts...within the history, alternative energies, and
ice cream, see “dragon’s more—will require indi-
politics, philosophy, breath” (graham crackers viduals who are thorough-
and culture of the times! frozen in liquid nitrogen), ly educated in STEM. Yet
make their hair stand on research shows that stu-
A Unique Multi-Media
end by touching a Van de dent interest in these areas,
• 8 DVDs course for families and
• 3 Audio CDs Graaff generator, ride a as well as understanding
high-school credit.
• 236-page soft hovercraft powered by a about career opportunities,
cover textbook Ideal for college prep! leaf blower, try a Rubens’ is on the decline. There
Tube (a physics experiment is currently a call to rede-
No music background needed
that demonstrates the re- fine STEM education, to
www.discoveringmusic.net lationship between sound change the way it is taught
Professor Carol Reynolds Ph.D. waves and sound pressure so that students engage
brings a mix of humor, substance, by making flames dance to with it.
and skilled performance to make
music), and more. Michigan Tech’s Center
the arts more accessible,
meaningful, and valuable. T he Mi nd Trek kers for Pre-College Outreach
team—Steve Patchin,

is answering that call. oping a handmade batch the laser communication Summer Transportation
Recently formed in an of biodiesel fuel. Who are and biodiesel projects Institute, was created two
effort to meet the grow- they? Not the scientists and mentioned above, but also years ago to stimulate
ing demand for dynamic researchers you might be strengthen their team and interest and create knowl-
K-12 STEM outreach, the picturing. They’re partici- group work skills, experi- edge about the opportuni-
Center encompasses a pants in Michigan Tech’s ence university residential ties and careers available
variety of Michigan Tech Women in Engineering life, learn how to succeed within the transportation
initiatives. By involv- (WIE) Summer Youth in engineering and science industry. Similar to WIE
ing students in hands-on Program—and they’re all undergraduate programs, and ESP, the program is
activities, the Center is high school girls. and interact with role built around group work,
working to show students WIE at Michigan Tech models. hands-on learning, and lots
that there’s more to STEM is a unique learning expe- WIE is a competitive of field trips—last year,
than periodic tables and rience—a weeklong sum- scholarship program open students toured the Macki-
flashcards—science is all mer exploration focusing to young women academi- nac Bridge Authority, the
around, and it’s exciting. on careers in mechanical, cally talented in math and Soo Locks shipping canal
Mind Trekkers, how- environmental, electri- science, with associated in Sault Ste. Marie, and
ever, is only one piece of cal, chemical, civil, geo- costs funded by endow- more.
the puzzle. The Center logical, and metallurgical ments—and it’s not the The students who attend
offers a variety of ways for engineering, as well as only one. Michigan Tech these programs are enthu-
students to explore, enjoy, mathematics, engineering also offers the Engineering siastic—both about being
and engage with Michigan technology, technical writ- Scholars Program (ESP), at Michigan Tech and
Tech’s innovative STEM ing, and computer science a program similar to WIE about learning in general.
programming. fields. It features a combi- but designed for academi- “I was excited about
Scholarship Programs nation of discovery-based cally talented high school coming here, but it’s even
They’ve examined ris- learning opportunities, st udents f rom u nder- better than I thought,” said
ing sea levels to study team projects, and one- represented engineering a participant of last year’s
global warming, built a on-one time with talented and science populations WIE program, a 16-year-
laser communication de- role models and peers. (including minority and old junior from Flint,
vice that can project audio Students not only have the economically disadvan- Mich. Her group visited
signals across the room, chance to perform hands- taged students). Michigan Michigan Tech’s foundry
and even studied green on research in 10 fields Tech’s newest scholarship and learned firsthand about
energy initiatives by devel- of engineering, including program, the National continued on page 84
The Contemporary Music Course

120 Video Lessons Online for
Beginners, Songwriters and Arrangers
Teach Or Learn... With No Prior Music Study!
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Created by
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Award Winning
Film & Television
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Soundtrack Musician See the review of The Contemporary Music Course in this issue.

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Using the Internet for You and your child can parents, teachers and kids lies, too, so if you have
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been live for a couple of hanced. It is very satisfy- Flink Learning Commu- your private community
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becoming popular with that does not look home- of every Flink Learning ceive a url and bookmark
teachers who have used it made. subscriber. As a member it and that is where your
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Woodloch Resort – downhill and cross-coun-

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Woodloch since 1958, and joy kayaking, sailing and for homeschoolers who can Woodloch is located
because it is a family busi- boating on Woodloch’s often get away in midweek! close to New York, Con-
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loch’s staff will strive to bird watching – and not just out the entire resort, so you www.woodloch.com, for
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ferred to as a “cruise on Poconos, skiing, both

History of US Series
by Joy Hakim
Published by Oxford University Press information that can be used as a and provide a keen and unusual
Customer Service Department
study tangent itself by the imagi- insight into how these events and
2001 Evans Road, Cary, North Caro-
lina, 27513
native parent-teacher. In fact, this people actually lived and died;
Phone: 1-800-445-9714 series could be the centerpiece for worried and celebrated; hated
custserv.us@oup.com a Unit Study on one or more of the and loved. She does not merely
periods covered. The photos and recount serial events or people,
10 volume set, plus Sourcebook/ side-bars tie-in intelligently and but offers clues as to their deeper
Index beautifully with the text, offering existence and how that existence
www.joyhakim.com much information for discussion has come to be ours. The play
Ages 10 to adult and deeper study. on words “History of US” is ac-
By Michael Leppert Some other titles in the series curate. We are not reading about
T
are: Book 3, From Colonies to people separated from ourselves,
his excellent set of U.S.
Country, 1735-91; Book 6, War, but those who actually came be-
History “storybooks” is
Terrible War, 1855-65 and Book fore us and made our present day
fun to read to your child
8, An Age of Extremes, 1880- world possible.
and discuss for hours! Long after
1917, which covers the era of To accomplish this, the series
your history “lesson” time should
the so-called “Robber Barons”, often offers some little-known in-
end, you may find yourself wish-
Carnegie, Rockefeller, J.P. Mor- formation as well as that which is
ing to push further into knowing
gan, Henry Ford and others, who commonplace, so that the reader
what Ms. Hakim is going to pres-
shaped much of our country’s can gain a great deal of knowl-
ent next.
current industrial and general edge. Joy Hakim writes with clar-
These attractive, sturdy, hard-
economic landscape and set the ity and ease so that nothing is lost
cover books will last through
tone for our modern idea of free in complex sentences or archaic
repeated readings to many chil-
markets, free enterprise and the “high brow” styles. She speaks as
dren and even grandchildren! The
government’s developing role in plainly as if she were your well-
inside covers are maps relating to
protection and regulation. traveled aunt or friend, coming to
an important topic of the book.
The author refers to her method visit with entire photo albums of
So, Book 1, The First Americans,
as stor ytelling and her books her travels, to spellbind you with
contains a U.S. map of some of the
come alive with historical infor- her most recent exploits – except
American Indian tribes’ original
mation that forms a tapestry-like that in this case, they may have
lands. Book 2, Making Thirteen
view of life past. As we know, this occurred 200 years ago!
Colonies, has a simplified “map”
is how life present occurs – the Do yourself and your child a
of the Mediterranean area; Book
threads of people’s ideas, desires, great service and acquire this
8, has a simplified map of the
hope and dreams with their striv- excellent series and read them
world titled “Immigration: 1820
ing for satisfaction, all intertwin- aloud. It will be a great pleasure
to 1920” showing how many peo-
ing, knotting, sometimes break- and you will barely be able to wait
ple from each country came to the
ing, but always pushing forward until the next history lesson time
United States. These and the ex-
creating the fabric of life as we to come ‘round! Please see the
cellent photographs and illustra-
live within it. Because Ms. Hakim website www.joyhakim.com to
tions sprinkled throughout each
writes of the past just as we live see and read about each volume.
volume, provide interesting topics
the present, her books breathe MjL
for discussion and supplemental

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Why Can’t Saltwater Fish
Live in Fresh water?
and very bendable. Like-
migrate back to the same
wise, the celery should be
freshwater streams they
bendable, too.
were born in so they can
Why did this happen?
reproduce. Their bodies
Check out the draw-
have adapted to use osmo-
ings above of osmosis and
regulation to either retain
blood cells. As the vegeta-
or get rid of salt depend-
ble absorbed more of the
ing on their surroundings.
salt water, the fresh water
O s m o s i s i n Yo u r
left its cells, making the
Kitchen
cells smaller. This shrank
If you want to see os-
the whole vegetable, and
mosis in action, here’s a
made it lose the firmness
quick and easy experi-
you noticed earlier. The
ment you can try at home!
vegetable will bend a lot
As always, make sure you
further before it breaks.
have an adult’s permis-
More information
sion first.
For another cool osmo-
Materials:
sis experiment and some
About 5 tablespoons of
links for further reading
table salt
about osmosis and fish,
Large glass that fits your
check out my website at
vegetable (a large drink-
www.kitsforkids.com/
ing glass works great)
homeschoolmagazine.
Fresh, crisp carrot or
stalk of celery
About Connor
Instructions:
Connor is the 16-year-
Measure about 5 table-
old founder of Connor’s
spoons of table salt into
Science Un iverse for
your glass, and fill it with
Kids, LLC. Connor’s Sci-
water. Stir to dissolve
ence Universe was found-
most of the salt.
ed in 2004 to show kids
Drop in a fresh carrot or
of all ages how much fun
stalk of celery (or both).
science can be, through
Before you put it into the
kid-designed science kits
salt solution, notice the
and free classroom visits
size of the vegetable and
to struggling schools. To
how it will break if you
learn more, please visit
bend it too far.
www.kitsforkids.com.
Leave your carrot or
celery to sit in the glass
P.S. An Insta-pet is a
overnight.
brine shrimp, from my
When you check on it in
Awesome Insta-pets™
the morning, you’ll notice
science kit.
that the carrot is smaller

Little Pim makes it
Waiting for “Superman”
easy and fun to By Stacey Kannenberg Francisco. They all have system resistant to change.
O
introduce young dreams and goals. They The film, from the mak-
n ly t h o s e l iv-
children to a all agree escaping public er of An Inconvenient
ing in the land of
foreign language.
Metropolis might schools is the only option Truth, shares the grim
E
have missed all the recent for each of them to suc- and depressing news that
I NN R OF
W
national media buzz and ceed but sadly, a lottery comes as no big surprise to
system is their only chance those in the homeschool-
TOP C
AR D S
hoopla over the release

to get into a more success- ing community: America’s
W
N A
of Davis Guggenheim’s
O
SU
MER
educational documentary ful charter school. The current public educational

Waiting for “Superman”. film highlights renegade system has been failing
Waiting for “Super- reformer and “Superman”, since 1970 and spending
man” shares the plight of Geoffrey Canada, who more and more money has
five compelling children tried and failed to change not made any significant
who are hungry and eager the public school system. difference!
to learn, but stuck inside So he started his own char- As many immersed in
DVDs, Teacher’s Kits, and
the walls of a failing public ter school, The Harlem the homeschooling world,
Deluxe Teacher’s Kits Children’s Zone, where his maybe you sighed loudly
school. We learn the heart-
Available in 10 languages.
breaking saga of Anthony, educators start with a child and rolled your eyes over
LittlePim.com/ Teachers Daisy, Bianca, Emily and and family at birth and this “breaking” news,
stay with them until they because it has been your
graduate from college. We mantra for decades; thus,
are also introduced to the your immersion in home-
KIPP Academy, another schooling. Were you a for-
successful charter school mer public school teacher
but we are also told in the who was exhausted from
movie that many charter trying to change all the
schools are also failing things that didn’t add up
schools. We meet another at your school and instead
superhero, Michelle Rhee opted for homeschooling
and her battle to change for your own children? Or
the system by cutting the a former PTA/PTO parent
central office and firing who grew tired of con-
bad principals and teach- stantly battling the public
ers who were ineffective, school system who avoided
inside an already failing using simple common
system. She found educa- sense and practical solu-
tion to be more about the tions? Maybe you finally
needs of the adults. Since snapped and said, “I can’t
the September, 2010, re- help but do better” since
lease of the documentary, the public system seemed
Michelle Rhee was let go to purposely make your
from her position at the top child’s life difficult?
of DC’s public schools. She The fall of our public
became another victim of a educational system fuels

the debate on whether it when it was riddled with
is our failing schools that all those ridiculous stereo-
AMERICAN
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ucational thought leaders
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Let’s Get Ready
Get Ready for Kindergarten
get ready for First Grade...
for “Superman” to do what Those that have battled the Award-winning,

Award-winning, state-approved
state-approved books for books for Kindergarten
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Kindergarten currently
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the nation, helping for that first day of school.
the non-paid homeschool- the organized teacher’s
ing teacher elected the hard union in the past know
way, becoming “Superhu- what a magnanimous task
man” to tackle, balance this will be. Already the
and juggle the education national media spotlight on
of the family from home. public education has faded
Age
s2
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Let‛s Get Ready For Kindergarten!
Let‛s Get Ready

l / i ition
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Un 10% de las ganancias
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You Bought it, Let’s Use It! ter sentence. First filling in
the blank:
future.” He is willing to
do that activity every day
continued from page 35 cabinet and teaching with 1. Billy _________ to and actually looks forward
in teaching style. Not your the curriculum you have? the store. to it. He will review on
teaching style, but from You bought it for a reason 2. Billy is __________ any subject long after he
you teaching in a way that in the first place, so let’s to the store. “gets it” because not only
your child learns best. use it! Use it in consid- 3. Billy ... does he get it, it is fun and
We certainly do not eration of your child. If Filling in past, present it even seems like a break
have to teach to our indi- the only thing wrong is and future options over during the school day
vidual children, but that that your child doesn’t and over will probably when he is really working
is one of the huge benefits understand tense from the supplement the curricu- on valuable review.
of homeschooling. Given grammar curriculum you lum enough to help him Hands-on, visual, sup-
that educational philoso- purchased, you don’t need understand. But what plemental materials are
phy, no longer do you another, you need to find a if instead of paper and motivating. They are mo-
need to keep searching fun activity that works on pencil, you spray-painted tivating for your child
for the just the right math teaching, and then review- a square tissue box and because he can lear n
cur riculum or a writing tenses. I say “fun”, glued library pockets to all things easily that he didn’t
ing curriculum that will because that is what your four sides.** Then, inside learn before. Even audi-
finally coerce your child child will be willing to do the tissue box are strips tory learners will benefit
into writing. You could and that is what will really of paper with sentences greatly from visual mate-
spend 10 times your bud- cement the material in his and verbs underlined. He rials. Many homeschool-
get that way -- and some head. You could give him pulls out a strip of paper ers emphasize to me that
of you have. How about pencil and paper and have and sorts it in the pocket their children are auditory
opening your homeschool him work on sentence af- labeled “past, present or learners and then e-mail
“I just learned
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Every day, 1 million gigabytes of data are added to the Web.
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me back, with total sur- That may mean something tables? I made hands-on, read the quiz question
prise, to tell me how much as little as scanning it into fun manipulative activi- and click on a drop-down
their auditory learners your computer so you can ties to help them learn menu choice to select their
benefited from the visual print it out with enlarged what multiplication really answer. They will actually
materials. These types of font size and white space, meant so that they were look forward to a quiz like
supplemental materials making it less overwhelm- not just memorizing a fact, this.
are motivating for you ing for your child.** Or they were learning the _________________
because you will see how perhaps you make an out- meaning behind it all.** **Please feel free to
your children light up line of the most important If your child is struggling go to my website: www.
when they “get it.” While material in the curriculum with learning to tell time, workboxsystem.com and
at first this may sound like -- the material that is there is nothing wrong click on the menu item
more work for you, you pivotal to understanding with the math curricu- Homeschool Magazine
will find yourself excited the subsequent chapters. lum, she just needs a little Article Examples to see
to think of new ways to Use that outline to make supplement to help it make these examples and get a
present materials rather supplemental projects or sense to her.** I have better idea of what I am
than assessing a curricu- to highlight and explain known people who have talking about. You will
lum on how little time it it in ways your child will purchased every timeline benefit from visuals too! I
takes on your part. better understand. For available trying to find the believe you will be able to
I believe any of the main- instance, if the curricu- one that “works.” They imagine how much your
stream curricula will work lum is teaching the three all work -- with repetition children will learn and en-
for your child. There is no types of heat: Convection, and fun ways to work on joy their curriculum, any
reason to buy Saxon, then conduction and radiant, recall. I make interactive curriculum, with simple
Math-U-See, then Teach- who would really learn MS Word documents to changes and additions like
ing Textbooks and more, it well and remember it quiz them on the mate- these. And with your great
just trying to find the right all by just reading it in a rial.** These documents attitude of professional-
one for your child. They paragraph in the textbook? are more enjoyable for ism and priority in home-
all teach math well. I cer- Create experiences with children than using a schooling, you will be able
tainly have my favorites. each type.** There is no black and white piece of to roll up your sleeves and
But if you have already substitute for hands-on ex- paper and pencil to fill in start using all that material
spent the money, use it. perience in learning. Why answers. With the interac- you have already invested
Just find a way to make it make your child “memo- tive Word document, they in. S.P.
make sense to your child. rize” the multiplication can go to the computer,
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Homeschooling Intrigues Me - Where Do I Start?
continued from page 8 covering Your Child’s and philosophies: Classical or Trivium
BEGINNING STEPS Learning Style by Wil- Delayed Academics (“ t h r e e r o a d s ” ) A p -
Where do you really lis and Kindle-Hodson. - based on the work of proach. This view em-
start? Observe, read and K nowi ng how you r lifelong educators, the phasizes thinking and
ask questions of other child takes information late Drs. Raymond and com munication skills
homeschoolers. in will save you time, Dorothy Moore, en- by learning fundamen-
Attend a homeschool energy and money. courages cultivating a tal factual knowledge
conference. They un- VA R IO US H O M E - heart to worship, work, (t h e “ g r a m m a r o f a
veil the vast and rich SCHOOLI NG A P- and serve others before subject ”); t he u nder-
net work of ideas and PROACHES mov i ng i nto for mal standing of the reason-
resources available to You’ll encounter some academics. It advocates ing and relationships
you. You’ll probably be major approaches to ho- waiting until a child’s behind knowledge (the
impressed by the fami- meschooling in the mar- rea d i ness to lea r n is “logic” of that subject);
lies and children you ket place. Read about evident (often not until and the ability to orga-
meet. Attend a support those that resonate with a ge s 9 -12). T h i s a p - nize and assimilate this
group meeting or park you. It is not uncommon proach often explains a understanding to gener-
day. Inquire about your for new homeschoolers lot to parents whose son ate new discoveries or
state’s homeschooling to buy a prepackaged or daughter just can’t sit convey this knowledge
requirements (see www. curriculum in order to still at a desk in the ear- t o ot he r s (cal le d t he
homeschoolmagazines. feel that they are cover- ly elementary grades. “rhetoric”).
com, State pages.). ing all the bases. With Charlotte Mason P r i nciple Approach
Study your child. This time, experience, and Method - Emphasizes - Using the four “R’s”
is important if you want g reater conf idence, “Living Books” (rich, of r e s e a r c h , r e a s o n ,
to have a satisfying and you may want to pick f irst-person literature relate, and record this
successful homeschool wh at work s f rom al l of all genres) and real- is popular among cer-
adventure. Look at his/ these approaches. This l i fe ex p e r ie nc e s , i n - t ai n Ch r ist ia n home-
her strengths, special is r efe r r e d t o a s t he cluding interaction with schoolers who believe
interests, free-time ac- “Eclect ic Approach”. original sources in art, America was founded
tivities of choice, and Here are some popular music, literat ure, and as a Ch r istian nation
appa rent wea k ness- homeschool approaches the natural world. with a Christian form of
es. Work through Dis-
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government. They seek to learn until they are
Here are some materials that Better Late Than Early, and
to raise young people blocked from doing so. can help you in your home- other titles, Dr. Raymond &
well-grounded in Bibli- Mistaken critics think schooling journey Dorothy Moore
cal principles who can that these families just For more extensive Resource The Moore Foundation,
govern themselves and let their kids run amok. information, visit www.home- www.moorefoundation.com
schoolnewslink.com, Product Charlotte Mason Method
pa r t icipat e i n r e pr e - SUMMARY Information Guide and www. The Original Homeschool-
sentative gover n ment The reasons to home- homeschoolmagazines.com. ing Series - 6 volumes, Char-
wisely. school include getting Homeschooling - lotte Mason c.1900
Unit-Study Approach away f r om u n s avor y The Big Picture: A Charlotte Mason Educa-
Dumbing Us Down -- John tion, Catherine Levinson (253-
- This method centers scho ol e nv i ron me nt s Taylor Gatto (author of many 879-0433)
on one topic at a time to gaining family free- other titles) Unit Studies:
and uses it as the theme dom, unity or teaching The Homeschooling Alma- Design-a-Study (302-998-
to study all other dis- a special-needs child. nac 2000-2001 & 2002-2003, 3889), www.designastudy.
Mary & Michael Leppert com
ciplines. If baseball is Once you’ve researched, Homeschooling - Taking the Starline Press, 877-543-5443,
the central topic, they read, and decided that First Step, Borg Hendrickson www.starlinepress.com
study the history of the homeschooling is right Homeschooling: The Right Classical/Trivium Approach
sport (and the world), for your family, take the Choice, Christopher Klicka The Well-Trained Mind: A
How to Stock A Quality Guide to Classical Education at
it ’s ke y f ig u r e s , t h e plunge. Home Library Inexpensively, Home, Jessie Wise and Susan
math of baseball stats, • Purchase materials Jane A. Williams Wise Bauer
the physics of pitching, for a particular interest Legal Requirements Teach i ng t he Tr iv iu m,
etc. -- all as part of an of your child’s, not just State by State: numerous resources, 309-
www.homeschoolmaga- 537-3641, www.muscanet.
integrated whole. “school” books. zines.com – See State pages com/~trivium
W o r k b o o k s / Te x t - • Homeschooling National Home Education Principle Approach:
books/School in a Box won’t magically trans- Research Institute, www. Renewing the Mind, Paul
– Many publishers fur- form your family over- nheri.org Jehle
Learning Styles: Radical Christianity, Paul
n ish c omplet e cu r r i- night but it will soften Discovering Your Child’s Godecke
cula offering textbooks, a nd re sh ap e t he m i n Learning Style, Mariaemma Unschooling:
workbooks, interactive healthy ways. Pellulo-Willis and Victoria How Children Learn and
C D s a n d /o r o n - l i n e • Allow for decom- Kindle Hodson other titles, John Holt
In Their Own Way, Awak- Homeschooling For Excel-
le a r n i ng. Ma ny lo ok pression f rom school ening Your Child’s Natural lence, David and Micki Colfax
and feel like “school” as and its negatives. Genius, and others by Thomas The Relaxed Homeschooler,
we remember it. When • Find a support group Armstrong The Joyful Homeschooler,
children first leave an yo u e njoy. T h e y i n - The Way They Learn, Cyn- Mary Hood
thia Tobias Prepackaged Curriculum:
i n s t it u t io n a l s ch o ol , clude moms networking Recommended Catalogs: A Beka (textbook approach)
these programs can pro- nights, field trip gener- Excellence in Education (Christian)
vide a good transition ators, park days for fun (EIE) (Secular and religious) 800-874-3592, www.ABe-
because they mimic and couples meetings. 626-821-0025, www.excel- ka.org
lenceineducation.com Alpha Omega (workbooks)
school to children and • Steadily improve the My Father’s World (Chris- (Christian)
new homeschooli ng learning value in your tian) 800-622-3070, www.home-
parents. home with good books, www.mfwbooks.com or schooling.com
Unschooling - One of toys and games. www.homeschoolmagazines. Calvert School (complete
com school in a box) (Non-religious)
the most misunderstood • Relax - No matter Rainbow Resource Center 410 - 2 43 - 6 0 3 0 , w w w.
ter ms withi n home- where you start or how (primarily Christian) calvertschool.org
schooling, unschooling faltering your first steps 888-841-3456 www.rain- Sonlight Curriculum (great
simply means not fol- may feel, your kids will bowresource.com books/read alouds) (Christian)
Harris Communications 303-730-6292, www.son-
low i ng t he c onveyor not be ruined by your (Deaf teaching products) light.com
belt school model, be- lov i ng i nvest ment i n www.harris.com or www. Home Study International
lieving that children are homeschooli ng them. homeschoolmagazines.com (Non-religious)
born curious and eager G&MB Delayed Academics 800-782-4769, www.hsi.edu

Since
1976 Dr. Maria Montessori
By Linda K. Foster Instituto, she developed
A
century ago, Dr. a love for biological sci-
Maria Montessori ences and tried to pursue a
founded an educa- career in medicine. When
tional movement that has she was denied entrance
been remarkably consis- to the medical program of
tent, despite time and loca- the University of Rome
tion. Throughout her life, because of her gender,
Find 1000s of child-size Dr. Montessori broke the Montessori enrolled at the
items for ages 3 to 9 traditional roles between University to study phys-
ics, mathematics and natu-
MontessoriServices.com male and female, teacher
and student and lived her ral sciences. Again, she
Every item selected excelled at the University
life as though she could
to support success and earned her Diploma
and would affect it.
& guaranteed to stand di Licenza two years later.
up to everyday use. Maria Montessori was
born August 31, 1870 in Her educational success
Cooking • Sewing Chiaravalle, Italy, to a could not be overlooked
Gardening civil servant father and and she was allowed to
Woodworking a mother who was an study medicine. In 1886,
Art • Music avid reader and unusually the brilliance of her thesis
educated for her time. A impressed the all-male
Geography
precocious, confident and board of review and they
Science • Language
strong-willed girl, Maria awarded her a full medical
Peace Education degree, making her Italy’s
followed in her mother’s
Resource Books first woman doctor.
footsteps in her quest for
education, excelling in Next, Dr. Montessori
school and often proving interned at the Psychiatric
herself a leader in games Clinic of the University of
and conversation. When Rome where she became
she was a young child, her interested in psychology
family moved to Rome, to and human behavior. This
take advantage of better included regular work in
educational facilities. Ma- insane asylums, with men-
FREE SHIPPING ria decided to venture into tally deficient children.
on orders of $50 or more the field of engineering Montessori felt strongly
February 1 – March 31, 2010 that mental deficiency was
Use Code: FREE SHIP 50 technology, enrolling in a
boy’s technical school at more of a pedagogical
age 13. In this school, she problem than a medical
FREE
100-PAGE received such high marks one and that with special
CATALOG that when she graduated, treatment, these children
she was able to enter the could be helped. In time,
Regio Instituto Technico her methods resulted in
Leonardo da Vinci where improvement in their abil-
she studied math, natural ity.
sciences, and languages, In 1907, Dr. Montessori
MontessoriServices.com again excelling beyond all took charge of fifty poor
Orders/Customer Service 887-975-3003 continued on page 54
expectations. At the Regio

What Do You Mean
by “Normalization?”
– Montessori Vocabulary Made Clear
If you sometimes wonder tessori coined the neces-
whether your child’s Mon- sary terms.
tessori teacher is talking
Tod ay’s Montessor i
about science or children,
the answer is yes! In this
teachers still learn from
two-part article, 12 key observing behaviors and
Handwriting
terms are defined by expe- assessing the individual
rienced Montessori parent, child’s development. And
teacher, school founder, even though they still use
Problems?
school director, and colum- Dr. Montessori’s scientific
nist Maren Schmidt M. Ed. vocabulary to describe the
• Normalization process, understanding
Montessori is not as hard
• Cosmic Education
• Four Planes of Devel- as it sounds. Peterson Directed
opment Montessori Vocabu- Handwriting
• Freedom & Respon- lary Made Clear
sibility These 12 definitions are FREE Tutorials on our
• Going Out representative of the key
• Absorbent Mind terms you’ll find defined website for the following:
• Point of Interest in Understanding Montes-
• Practical Life sori, by experienced Mon-
tessori parent, teacher,
• Prepared Environment
• Sensitive Periods school founder, school di- The Impact of Fluency
rector and columnist Mar-
• Work
en Schmidt M. Ed. Note: Please, No Pencil
• Work Cycle
Understanding Mon- in the interest of space, Tracing
tessori’s Terminology examples were edited out
Montessori’s was one of some definitions. Holding the Paper
of the first educational Normalization:
theories to spring from The natural or normal Right Handed
direct, ongoing scientific state for a human being
observation of children. is characterized by four Coaching A
Dr. Montessori did not attributes: Left-Hander
have a ready-made vo- 1. A love of work or
cabulary with which to activity Holding the Pencil
describe the behaviors 2. Concentration on an
and developmental stages activity Mr. Pencil’s
she observed. As a scien- 3. Self-discipline
tist, Montessori expected 4. Sociability or joyful Grip Exercise
teachers to use her same work
The understanding of
scientific methods of ob-
servation and analysis to normalization doesn’t re- www.peterson-handwriting.com/Info
help the children in their quire a leap of faith when
charge. In order to share
her knowledge, Dr. Mon-
you consider those mo-
ments you feel most alive
Online Training Classes!
Dr. Maria Montessori her Scientific Pedagogy as
Applied to Child Education
ing in the advancement
of early education. Dr.
continued from page 52 in the Children’s Houses. Montessori believed that
out that the “environment
children of the streets of should reveal the child, not Ironically, she did not de- education begins at birth
the San Lorenzo slum mold him/her. Casa dei rive her methods from any and that the first few years
on the outskirts of Rome Bambini developed in its extant pedagogical wis- of life (the formative years)
and opened the first Casa first year into a revolution- dom. She had sidestepped are the most important.
dei Bambini (Children’s ary new kind of school that the more traditional edu- She believed that children
House) for children under gained immediate world- cation path for women pass through sensitive
five years of age. wide fame for the Mon- — teacher’s training — to periods, phases of devel-
She described the child’s tessori system. Even Dr. pursue a career in science. opment appropriate to the
mind as the “absorbent Montessori herself could Montessori believed in learning of specific motor
mind” because of its ability never have imagined the respecting children and and cognitive skills. Dur-
to learn and assimilate ef- potential realized by the their abilities to learn and ing these periods, children
fortlessly and unconscious- tiny students of Casa dei her methods promoted her show their spontaneous
ly from the surrounding Bambini. The astonishing belief that children have an interest in learning and
environment. Based on her success of Montessori’s innate drive to learn. Prior should be allowed to learn
belief that a child absorbs early efforts generated a to Montessori’s time, it as much as possible.
learning from the physical large following, not only was assumed that children Montessori discovered
environment in which s/he of parents desperate for could only learn through that children grouped with
lives, she created the pre- her help, but of teachers instruction -- being lec- other children in a small
pared environment of Casa desperate to learn her tured by an adult. range of ages, i.e., birth
dei Bambini, at the same methods. Her “discovery of the – 3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-11, etc.,
time being quick to point In 1909, she published child” was an awaken- continued on page 83

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Giant Energy Bubbles in our
Milky Way Galaxy
By Beth Lebwohl and Deborah Byrd
You might be familiar originated. He said each
with images of our home bubble is about a third of
galaxy, the Milky Way. the size of the visible Milky
It’s a huge spiral-shaped Way and that the hot gas
pinwheel of stars, spinning inside the bubbles produces
over vast timescales in the gamma radiation. In fact,
dark space of the universe. that gamma radiation has
Although we live inside enabled astronomers to
the galaxy, and although find the bubbles.
astronomers have learned “Gamma radiation is
much about it, the Milky very high energy light,”
Way can still surprise us. said Finkbeiner. “These
A recent discovery filled photons have about a bil-
astronomers with wonder. lion times as much energy
A team of astronomers as visible light.”
announced this discovery Dr. Finkbeiner’s team
in late 2010. Harvard astro- found the bubbles extend-
physicist Doug Finkbeiner ing from the Milky Way’s
led the team that found two core with the aid of NASA’s
large, mysterious “bubbles” orbiting Fermi Gamma-ray
erupting from the Milky Space Telescope. Launched
Way’s center. The bubbles in 2008, this telescope has
appear to be filled with hot, the job of exploring some
charged gas. They extend of our universe’s most
north and south from our extreme environments;
galaxy’s core -- above and places where nature har-
below the center of the nesses energies far beyond
spiral -- and are so large what’s possible on Earth.
that a beam of light would Just as we can see in visible
have to travel 25,000 years light, so this telescope can
from one sharp edge of one see in gamma rays. That’s
bubble to the other edge. how it was able to see the
If you consider the two Milky Way’s giant bubbles
bubbles on either side of the of hot, charged gas.
galaxy, they look like a gi- Finkbeiner said that the
ant number “8” painted in edges of the bubbles are
the center of the galaxy. very distinct. Their sharp-
Doug Finkbeiner said ness in contrast to the
he and his team don’t re- overall structure of the
ally understand what these bubbles is a possible clue to
bubbles are, and they’re their origin. In other words,
not sure how the bubbles continued on page 65

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Get Back to Basics Yes, My Grown Homeschooled
Children Are Odd --
And Yours Will Be Too!
with...Quality continued from page 19
pared to the schooled pop-
without question.
They haven’t had to
Kitchen Products ulation because they have

not experienced ongoing
school-based socialization
surrender their individual-
ity and will to an authority
figure who may not have
and standardization. their best interests at heart.
When you consider that They aren’t subjected to
the homeschooled popula- judgment, grading, and
tion makes up only 3-6% the bestowment of rewards
of the entire school-going and punishments without
population, you may begin the ability to object or ap-
to understand just how peal.
different your kids are or They haven’t been con-
will be. ditioned to be passive and
Interestingly, you can compliant or dependent on
even pump them full of others to tell them what to
standardized curriculum do or how to spend their
• BOSCH MIXERS and their homeschooled time. They are not power-
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they will always think and bad situations or people
• GLUTEN FREE act differently than those and change the curriculum
who attend traditional
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mind that has been shaped and beliefs that resist the Your home-schooled student deserves every advantage available. And what could
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of “fitting in” to any social Flynn Keith, All Rights Visit troy.edu, click on eCampus and then click on A future of opportunities
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9525.1_eCampusAcceleratePrintAd.indd 1
Page 61
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#ED85- You don’t learn when you’re talking. -Watts Wacker #ED199- Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
#ED97- You are the only person on earth who can use your ability. #ED209- Don’t raise you voice. Improve your argument.
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#ED108- Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just #ED213- The world is but a canvas to the imagination. -Th
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AHA! Unit-based Instruction The Recipe for Homeschooling
continued from page 33 performance from the learners. in Elementary Schools: The Activity
intrapersonal and naturalist intel- When using the integrated, inter- Structure of Classrooms.” In Time
ligences are developed as part of the disciplinary approach for unit-based and School Learning, ed. Lorin W.
learning process. With these multiple instruction, there will be unique Anderso. Osford, England: Croom
intelligences, learners are validated “AHA!” moments on a daily basis Helm, 1984.
and reinforced in each lesson while that excite even the most reluctant
they are simultaneously challenged learner. Students become producers Gardner, Howard. Frames of mind:
and stretched to think in different and creators of ideas rather than rote The theory of multiple intelligences.
ways. Assessment is included in each consumers of knowledge. It’s a key New York: Basic Books, 1983.
lesson so that each part of the teach- to life-long learning.
ing process has formative assessment Go to www.rogertaylor.com Taylor, Roger, Differentiating
and feedback to correct misinforma- to view, download and print out the Curriculum: Using an Inte-
tion and to “fix it before it is broken.” sample curriculum units. Click on grated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic
The hands-on project-centered learn- “Homeschoolers” on the homep- Standards-based Approach (Sum-
ing is validated by a rubric, which is age. mer Resource Handbook) CDE, Inc.
determined before the project starts 2004.
so that each step of the project is as- Bloom, Benjamin S. Taxonomy of
sessed to assure the ultimate product Educational Objectives, Handbook Taylor, Roger. (December 16,
is excellent. At the end of each lesson 1: Cognitive Domain. Addison-Wes- 2008). If Kids Do Not Learn the way
there is a summative assessment not ley Publishing Company, 1956. you Teach, Teach the way they Learn
only from the teacher but, more im- [Webinar 02]. www.rogertaylor.
portantly, a reflective summation of Burns, Robert. “How Time is Used com.

Giant Energy Bubbles in our Milky Way Galaxy
continued from page 57 He said scientists didn’t spot these weren’t real, to thinking they were
picture something that is exploding bubbles before now, because they real. And that just had to do with
outward into space. The edges of the didn’t have the right telescope. The looking at the data, getting more data
explosion would indeed be very sharp gamma ray vision of the Fermi – because the telescope is always get-
as the explosion pushed outward. “It Telescope was needed to make this ting more data. Finding the bubbles
looks to me like something that’s cur- discovery.
rently exploding. It looks like a shock “Astrophysicists have been looking
wave propagating out from some at gamma rays for years, decades,” he
burst of energy,” said Finkbeiner. He said, “but the machinery gets better
said scientists are throwing around with each generation. This current
two ideas about how these bubbles gamma ray telescope is about 100
formed. times more powerful than its prede-
One relates to the supermassive cessor. Using this telescope is like
black hole thought to reside at the cen- putting on your glasses for the first
ter of our galaxy. This gigantic Milky time.”
The Andromeda Galaxy - thought
Way black hole – which contains mass What was the discovery like for to resemble our Milky Way - as
equal to millions of times the mass of Finkbeiner and his team? He talked
seen through a small telescope or
our sun – might have “burped,” said about the moment his team realized binoculars.
Finkbeiner, spewing out light and they had found the bubbles.
electric particles at incredibly high “Well, there’s a great quote from was about analyzing the data more
speeds. The remnants of this cosmic Isaac Asimov which is that the sound carefully.”
belch might be the mysterious Milky of discovery is not ‘Eureka, I found Finkbeiner and his team published
Way bubbles. it!’ but ‘Hmm, that looks funny!’ And their findings in November 2010 in
Or, the bubbles might have nothing that’s really how it was! We were star- The Astrophysical Journal. Now
to do with our galaxy’s central black ing at the computer screen and said, other astronomers will also use the
hole. Another idea is that a group of ‘Hmm, that looks funny…is that re- Fermi Space Telescope, and other
giant stars near the center of the Milky ally an edge to something?’” It turned telescopes, to study the region of
Way might have space around the bubbles, searching
exploded all at for clues about their origin.
once to for m In the meantime, the rest of us
the bubbles. As- can gaze at old images of our Milky
tronomers will Way galaxy and imagine something
be searching for new, something our eyes can’t see
more evidence -- something the gamma ray vision of
of such an ex- an orbiting telescope has seen for us.
plosion, which We can look and imagine and won-
might have hap- der what new surprises our universe
pened long ago, might hold.
although they are
not sure when. In 2010, astronomers discovered two large, mysterious
Beth Lebwohl and Deborah Byrd
“What seems “bubbles” erupting from the Milky Way’s center.
are producers and hosts for the inter-
clear is that the out to be an edge to the bubbles. nationally syndicated science series
bubbles were caused by some huge “Discovering the bubbles was a EarthSky - A Clear Voice for Science,
energy injection at some point in the progressive thing,” said Dr. Fink- heard on 1,500+ radio stations across
past. Whether they were caused one beiner. “But there was a particular the U.S. and the world. Visit them on
million or 10 million years ago, we day when I went from thinking they the Internet at www.earthsky.org.
don’t know,” Finkbeiner said.

Waiting for “Superman”
be their child’s first and
foremost TEACHER, en-
gaging, empowering and
continued from page 47 in the leadership positions inspiring their child every
on a foreign battlefield; it inside Corporate America; day to succeed.
will be determined in a those highest paid Ameri- Many critics have con-
battle over who controls can jobs in America are not veniently missed the truth
America’s classroom. being filled with Ameri- about Waiting for “Su-
Failing to make these cans. perman”. No one really
hard changes in our public It’s time for the ho- knows how many count-
educational system is al- meschooling and virtual less, nameless administers,
ready crippling America’s schools community to be educators, parents and
status as a superpower. vindicated for those old teachers have tried and
Many leaders, such as wounds at the hands of failed to change the cur-
Bill Gates, believe that if public education and join rent public educational
we continue to settle for forces with public school system. They have all
failing schools we will not families that still hear “no, failed because the top
be providing competitive, no, no” from those who tiers of education -- those
skilled workers to oper- were being paid plenty who are paid the most to
ate in the highest-paying with taxpayer funds to say care about education, care
jobs in our country and “yes, yes, yes” to make more about protecting
thus, changing our world sure no child in America their own jobs. They have
dominance. This move has is left behind. It’s also enabled a powerful ally in
already been happening time to finally silence that the teachers union with the
misguided public school counterproductive stance
stereotype always crying that all teachers should be
that public education is protected regardless of per-
underfunded. The ho- formance. Thus Guggen-
meschooling family has heim’s agenda is simple:
already proven that they Create a firestorm so hot
have the voice, the spirit that it smolders and burns
and the DNA makeup to down the current failing
galvanize and create suc- and crumbling foundation
cessful change in educa- formally know as public
tion without spending a education. The goal is that
dime of taxpayer money! failure to change is not
Homeschoolers hold the an option and we need an
key to education solutions uprising so big that change
that work. It’s about creat- is the only solution. It is not
ing a system that really about teacher bashing; it is
puts America’s families about a system that needs
and children first in the to crumble from the top.
equation from birth to col- T he on ly way for
lege or trade school to ca- Guggenheim to succeed in
reer. This “birth to college” his quest for change was to
concept has been missing keep it simple. He did. The
in public education but is film does not get into the
part of the homeschool- politics of any of the issues
ing DNA: Parents need to except blaming a system

set up to fail. Contrary to them to jail. example to galvanize these
what you may have heard, We owe it to the future public school families to Lekha
it is not about blaming prosperity of America to be part of taking charge School of
teachers! It is not about help all children succeed of education along with Creative
the success and boom in and rise up and collectively fixing each of their own Writing
homeschooling! It is not stop the insanity that is failing schools. Maybe by Spring & Summer Camps
even about the fight be- happening within the walls harnessing the power of in the Bay area
tween public and charter; of public education. As all homeschooling, virtual 25 Locations
the need for special needs; taxpayers we need to strip and public school families Over 500
teaching to each child; the waste from the top working together might we students published!
healthy lunches; exercis- tiers of education and put finally force public educa- www.lekhapublishers.com
ing during gym; national our might, power and re- tion to really change?
standards on the table that sources inside each class-
are still immeasurable and room at home and school St acey K a n nenberg
endless other areas that for all families and kids to “Ready To Learn Mom”
are all important issues in excel. Kryptonite can hurt was motivated to move off
education. Had the film in- Superman in the same way the sofa by Oprah eight
troduced any or all of these public education has hurt years ago and get involved
issues, the masses would America. Our leaders have in education with solu-
have had a field day debat- known for the last 40 years tions for change. She is an Interested in starting a
ing instead of fighting as a that our public educational author, publisher and Mom Writing Camp in your area?
united force. system has been failing! CEO making a difference We can help!
While watching Waiting Let’s not let 2011 be more at www.cedarvalleypub- Call us today!
for “Superman”, I cried of the same. If only we can lishing.com. 408-429-8880
at the injustice of living utilize the success of the
in the greatest country in homeschooling movement
the world, in the land of to stage a national interven-
freedom and opportunity, tion by helping all public
yet the hypocrisy for these school families stay home
families and millions more on that first day of school
comes down to a bounce and hold out until public
of a lottery ball? In the school finally crumbles.
film, Anthony has the best How long would it take
odds of that lottery ball to force public school to
being his ticket out of his change when no students
failing public school. He are showing up on the bus
is among 64 kids who vie or inside the buildings? By
for 24 spots and Francisco leveraging the help and
has the worst odds, with support of the homeschool-
792 applicants for 40 spots. ing and virtual families
Francisco’s mom broke to offer a temporary solu-
my heart when she said, tion by organizing school
“That ball could mean the help for America’s public
difference between my son school families. These
graduating from college or public school families
going to jail.” It is actually would be under the collec-
cheaper on the taxpayer’s tive wing of virtual classes
burden to send a child to and homeschooling to em-
college that it is to send power, inspire and lead by

Scheduling a Charlotte Mason Day
(Home Education, p. 142). appropriate. Requiring
ing “dawdling”. Another After the age of eight, a shor t nar ration will
asked for help with her the lesson can be length- demonstrate whether you
daughter who was unable ened to twenty minutes. need to adapt the material
to focus on one thing. For children ten years of or find other material for
Charlotte Mason wrote of age and up, thirty to forty- the work you want to ac-
the importance of secur- five minutes is sufficient. complish. A child cannot
ing a child’s full attention Care should be taken narrate what she does not
in order for them to learn that if a child appears know or understand.
and to establish the habit idle or not accomplishing • Alternate disciplinary
Quality Sewing Kits
of finishing things. the work with full atten- subjects with inspirational
* Easy-to-follow instructions The answer lies in the tion, the work should be subjects. Charlotte Mason
* All supplies included length of the lessons them-
* Developed especially for changed to something as recommended a disciplin-
educators selves. When the lessons unlike it as possible. ary subject be followed by
* Reinforce learning by are short and varied, your
stimulating your child’s Using short lessons is an inspirational one. Dr.
imagination child’s interest is always more than mere technique; Jack Beckman, Professor
fresh and ready for what Charlotte Mason calls this of Education at Covenant
comes next. Charlotte approach a “root prin- College in South Carolina
Mason recommended les- ciple”. By using short les- and a Charlotte Mason
sons be no more than ten sons, the child is permitted scholar, reminds us that,
minutes in length for a to bring the full power of “Inspirational subjects
child under the age of eight his attention to bear on a touch heart and mind and
subject. Doing on his own are ref lective of things
The LATIN Road what is often coerced or
persuaded, brings inner
such as art, music, litera-
ture, history, etc. Disci-
to English Grammar strength to the child. “To
make yourself attend, to
plinary subjects are those
in which teacher-student
make yourself know, this interactions are necessary
indeed is to come into a as students are unable to
kingdom, all the more apprehend their concepts,
satisfying to children content, and/or skills alone
because they are so made – mathematics, languages,
that they revel in knowl- handwriting, certain as-
edge.” (Charlotte Mason, pects of science, etc.”
A Philosophy of Educa- • Establish the habit of
tion, p. 77) finishing work in a timely
If your child is “taking way. Charlotte Mason said,
A complete Latin language more time than neces- “Habit is ten natures.” In
and English grammar study sary”, try these methods in other words, once the habit
in one curriculum your planning: forms it is as if it were the
• Use 20-minute lessons. child’s very nature to be
For a FREE brochure/sample packet: If a 20-minute lesson is that way. To read more on
www.thelatinroad.com too long, shorten it. Set an habit formation see Home
Schola Publications egg timer for your child, so Education, p.96-134. Full
215 Lake Blvd. #610, Redding, CA 96003 he has a clear sense of how text can be found online at
long the lesson is to be. http://www.amblesideon-
530-275-2064 • Use material that is line.org/CM/toc.html#1

• Each new lesson should a short break after the some outdoor activity. ing our Sampler at: www.
recall the last. When start- completion of a term, or Take the opportunity to go livingbookscurriculum.
ing a new lesson ask your conversely you may want on a nature walk instead of com. There are other ex-
child to recall the lesson to push ahead to have a the planned readings. amples of schedules found
that came the day before. longer break later in the Remember that most ev- in A Charlotte Mason
Recollection of the previ- year. erything takes longer than Education (Sourcebooks,
ous lesson gives a context Organizing by Day you think it will. If you Inc, 2000), More Charlotte
for the new knowledge. and Week plan well and adhere to the Mason Education (Sour-
Planning for Learn- Though a CM curricu- principle of short lessons cebooks, Inc, 2001) both
ing™ lum may at first appear to you will find teaching a by Catherine Levison and
Living Books Curric- be relaxed in form, it is in pleasure. Flexibility is When Children Love to
ulu m uses a 36 -week fact highly structured. But key. You and your child do Learn (Crossway, 2004)
schedule divided into four it is structured along the not need to rigidly adhere produced by Child Light
terms. Each term is eight lines of a child’s nature. to a schedule. There will Foundation
weeks of instruction, with The guiding principles are be times when you forge Sample Weekly Sched-
the ninth being what we those inherent in every ahead and times when you ule
call a “flex” week. The flex human being. To accom- may feel behind. Do not The following is a sug-
week permits the student plish the task of teaching worry, your long term goal gestion of how you might
to complete unfinished you must be clear where is to finish the year. Keep organize your week. Please
work; it gives the teach- to begin and where you that in mind if you have a note that, except for Bible
ing parent time to assess hope to end. The best way few days that do not go as Study and Math, not every
learning through end-of- to do that is to understand smoothly as you wish. subject is taught every day.
term narration questions, the CM principles, have a Below is an example of If you are new to organiz-
and also allows time for regular plan and adhere to a schedule from the Liv- ing your time in this way,
field trips. You can begin it, yet save some room for ing Books Curriculum start with our suggested
and end each term as best flexibility. For example, Teaching Guides. Other schedule and then adjust
fits your schedule. For there are days when the examples can be found on it as you learn what works
example, you may take weather is perfect for our website by download- for you.
Bible Study (daily)
Scripture Reading Journal Journal Jim Carroll is a professor
8:30–9:00 OT NT X
Heroes of the Faith Entry Entry of Educational Psychology
Practical Work
for Walden University.
9:00–9:45 Math (daily) X X X X X Sheila Carroll has master’s
Language Arts (daily) degrees in Children’s Lit-
Dictation-Spelling Intro-Dict. Dict./Spell. erature and in Educational
Leadership. She and her
Storytelling X X
9:45-10:30 husband are founders of
Poetry X X
Living Books Curriculum,
Recitation Practice X X
which produces a home-
Grammar (daily) X X X X X
school curriculum inspired
Science: Astronomy
10:30–11:00
(daily)
X X X X X by the work of Charlotte
Arranged Picture Study X X Mason. The proceeds of
11:00–11:10 Copy work (10 min. daily) X X X X X Living Books Curriculum
World History X X X provide their CM-based
11:15–12:00
American History X X educational materials to
Arranged
Music Study
X X families and schools in de-
Book of the Centuries
veloping nations, through
Nature
Afternoons
Nature Study (daily) X X X X
Journal their non-profit organiza-
Handcrafts X X X tion, Education in a Box.

Our Learning Folio of theirs asked them to
develop a similar tool,
but more homeschool
port group meetings, you
name it. For example, a
homeschooling group in
the perfect tool for Transcript-building Tracking
PO Box 510526 friendly. The design team the San Jose, California
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877-836-9960; www.ourlearningfolio.com homeschooling parents to per for m histor ical
T
from varied backgrounds r e - e n a c t m e nt s c o u ld
wo of the most t-r-a-n-s-c-r-i-p-t, which
and all over the U.S. to use OLF to create and
i mpor t a nt non- is a pretty scary endeavor
gain feedback about what maintain a shared group
teaching aspects for the ill-prepared. The
these potential everyday calendar to manage these
of homeschooling are creators of Our Learning
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plan ning and record- Folio have created a web-
t rack ing system. The in this way, the programs
keeping. A well-thought- based software program
program would not be creators hope it will aid
out plan can make ac- to help parents plan their
one to direct what was families in developing
quiring materials and instructional journey and
taught, but would stay fo- communities and net-
t e a ch i n g t h e m mu ch begin preparing for the
cused on helping families works to enhance their
easier and more efficient. Day of the Transcript
to manage, organize and homeschooling lives.
After completion, the from Day One.
present the child’s ac-
years and studied sub- Prior to creating Our
complishments and work Ou r Lear ning Folio
jects slip by much too Learning Folio (OLF), the
in any homeschooling also provides a Summary
rapidly and before a par- team had developed two
philosophy or practice, Report and the regular
ent knows it – it is time other software programs,
whether Charlotte Mason act of tracking helps to
for high school or college Project Foundry and Se-
or unschoolers. complete the Repor t.
admissions and time to nior Project Tracker. But
With O u r Lea r n i ng Therefore, five years in
create the often-dreaded homeschooling friends
Folio, the family can the future, the student
create a showcase port- can assemble a grand
folio, weaving the child’s summary of his/her ex-
interests and accomplish- periences. The creators
ments into an overview state that a parent doesn’t
for admissions people to have to use the tool every
examine. This provides day, but as people use it
a clea r a nd complete and have children in the
view of the prospective upper grades, the chil-
student as a person as dren will get involved in
well as a scholar. Most their own tracking and
colleges and universities planning. The designers
seek students who have of OLF feel that educa-
depth of personality and tion is preparing people
life experience, as well to be self-directed, in-
as academ ic prowess dependent citizens and
and OLF allows parents this hands-on application
to show their child in provides such indepen-
his/her best light. This dence. OLF is also very
makes OLF’s portfolio affordable and payments
deeper than a mere tran- are flexible. Please visit
script template. the website, www.our-
OLF also offers parents lear ningfolio.com for
a useful planning tool for complete information.
field trips, activities, sup- MjL

How Much History Do Kids Need? understand its relevance
– which only comes from
continued from page 73 kind. Having acquired the grasping the “big picture”
ability shattered the bal- “history habit” at a young first.
ance of power in the entire age, gained a strong base of With ten to twelve years
Ancient world. knowledge through “upper of proper history instruc-
Junior high students elementary” history, then tion under their belts, stu-
who are taught this same intensified and integrated dents can emerge with a
material a third time can that knowledge through wide base of knowledge
take the sequence and junior high, she is ready for of the past, and an under-
see how it translates into strive for the deeper insight standing of how its lessons
various phases of develop- into history that comes and causal progressions are
ment, such as the “Theban from studying the thoughts embedded in every aspect
Supremacy,” the “Rise of and actions of its pivotal of life around us. They
Macedonia,” and “The characters. know history. They know
Alexandrian Period,” and It is at the high school what drives it. They know
how these are periods that level that the student is how to use that knowledge.
can be subsumed under ready to start reading the And they are ready to
a more abstract heading, Inquiries of Herodotus to explore the vast treasure-
i.e. the decline of Greece see why Greco-Persian trove of humanity’s experi-
towards the Hellenistic Wars occurred, Pericles’ ences independently. They
Period, and ultimately how funeral oration to see what emerge as adults guided by
they all connect to the fall drove the Athenians to a keenly developed sense of
of Greece by later Roman empire, Plato’s Crito and historical-mindedness. S.P.
conquest. Phaedo, to see what mo-
Students at this level who tivated Socrates to accept
have done the prerequisite the injustices of unlimited
pineapple
work have had repeated democracy, and Demos-
exposure to the necessary thenes’ Philippics, to un-
facts and the instruction to
order and make sense of
derstand more precisely
how the Greeks responded
la piña
those facts so that they can to the growing threat of
independently describe the Macedonian power, etc.
general flow of history. But this type of work
Learn Spanish
Imagine a st udent can only be done with the
equipped with this level of necessary prerequisites in
knowledge entering into place. Reading Herodotus
high school. Given cur- or Demosthenes without
with our
rent educational standard, knowing Greek history audio-visual &
this is precisely what we may yield literary enjoy- interactive resources
must do–imagine–because ment, but their writing is used by hundreds
students rarely know this focused on episodes far too of schools,
much when graduating remote from the present homeschoolers
from college! But a student language academies,
to motivate students who university programs such as
• Texts • Audio CDs
so-equipped is ready to don’t understand why they the Johns Hopkins University • Activity Books
understand what moves matter. For such reading Center for Talented Youth • First Poems in Spanish
history. She is ready to to provide real, lasting • Parent-Teacher Guides
Ages
grasp the intellectual roots knowledge to a young stu- 4 and
of the progress of human- dent, that student must first above www.allbilingual.com

How Much History Do Kids Need?
Need Tutoring? continued from page 16
about events that occurred
ing the material previously
learned to help the students
We Come 2500 years ago!)
Emotional moments
create a basic framework of
To You! such as these demonstrate
knowledge. When students
repeat the same material
just how relevant history they once studied just three
In-Home and can be to a young audience. years earlier, they get to
Indeed, such moments are
Online Tutoring what history at the lower el-
have their first experience
of being historically-mind-
• All Subjects - All Ages ementary level is all about. ed, i.e. of applying histori-
I made sure to commiser- cal knowledge. They hear
• Portfolio Services
ate. (Whenever I return a story, which they learned
• HQT Grading to study Ancient history, not long before, and they
In-Home Services I always find myself sad- are able to recall parts of it.
in These Counties: dened that Athens was not In addition, they can antici-
able overcome the limita- pate what is coming.
• Alameda • Contra Costa
• El Dorado • Nevada • Placer
tm
tions of its historical setting This is like watching a
• Sacramento • San Joaquin and achieve an even deeper favorite movie again. The
530-878-1014 imprint on Western civi-
• Santa Clara • Stanislaus first time around, you get to
• Yolo • Yuba and more 888-368-8867 Toll-Free lization.) I explained that experience the story as new
there’s nothing wrong with and intriguing. The next
www.CharterSchoolResource.com having favorites in history,
Serving homeschoolers since 1997 time, you get to recall and
and admiring certain in- predict those enjoyable as-
dividuals and cultures, but pects of it, but you also find
that history is about what yourself seeing things you
actually happened, and we hadn’t seen before, and rev-
have to stick to the truth. eling in a heightened appre-
When children experi- ciation of the whole. To use
ence these moments of an example from Ancient
great value-significance as history: The student hears
they learn about the past, the name “Epaminondas”
they are on their way to be- and vaguely remembers
coming successful students it. She is reminded (by
of history. They are fueled me) that Epaminondas de-
by lasting impressions and feated the Spartans–whom
even armed with some spe- she remembers in greater
cific knowledge, but most detail, because they were
importantly they have a so important to the story
desire to learn more. They of Greece. She is also re-
have the “history habit.” minded that the infighting
Once children have a taste between the Greeks led
for history, it’s important to to their takeover by Alex-
continue providing for their ander the Great (who was
intellectual growth. The Macedonian, not Greek)
second stage of a proper but her recollection is im-
history program, which I perfect. Then she is further
call the “upper elementary” reminded that Philip of
level, focuses on reinforc-

Macedon was taken as a was that they had been
hostage by Epaminondas properly guided since they
as a youth and learned the were elementary-grade stu-
art of war from the great dents. (Conversely, I must
general. Then it clicks. The say, such mastery is never
student recalls that Philip achieved without that prior
was Alexander’s father. instruction.)
She sees the connection. Let us look more closely
She grasps a causal chain at some of the elements of
of events that unites all the Greek history discussed
different pieces of the story. above to elaborate on this
(It’s not uncommon in my later stage. Lower elemen-
experience to have kids’ tary instruction yields an
hands shoot up in class, or awareness of certain unit
for them to interject and facts such as that there was
interrupt the lesson when a man named Epaminon-
these identifications strike das, and that there was an
them. It’s exciting to real- event called the Pelopon-
ize that you are beginning nesian War. It also famil-
to understand how history iarizes the student with the
unfolds!) names of places such as
This is the beginning Sparta, Thebes, and Mace-
of an integrated aware- donia. At the upper el-
ness of the past. Content ementary level, this knowl-
previously understood edge is reinforced and more
is revisited and tied to carefully ordered. The
new identifications. The sequence of developments
old knowledge and new from the Peloponnesian
awareness complement and War (between Athens and
reinforce each other. When Sparta)–to the Battle of
this occurs, students expe- Leuctra (371 BC), in which
rience a sense of efficacy, Thebes defeated Sparta by
of wielding knowledge as the innovative use of the
a tool, and–once again–a phalanx by Epaminondas
desire to learn more. This – to the hostage-takings by
is the second stage in the Thebes in Macedonia dur-
development of historical- ing their period of ascen-
mindedness. dancy – to the instruction
Armed with this level of of Philip during his youth
awareness, a student who as a hostage by Epaminon-
enters the junior high his- das – to the Battle of Hera-
tory program is ready to clea of 338 BC (when Philip
achieve mastery over histo- applied his knowledge to
ry’s essential content. This defeat the Greeks)–and
may seem like a bold claim, finally, after the assassina-
but it is possible, and I have tion of Philip, to the ascen-
seen it. I have seen students dancy of his son Alexander,
achieve this mastery, and whose prodigal military
the reason they did so continued on page 71

When All Else Fails, Play a Game!
TEACHERS! continued from page 20
partly because the game
ing it. There are numerous
TEACHERS!
commercial variations on
TEACHERS!
HOMESCHOOLERS!
is fun and the child has
no trouble paying atten-
this game, from Chips, a
little $6.00 game, using
HOMESCHOOLERS!
tion, and partly because
HOMESCHOOLERS!
poker style chips in place
the game usually allows a of the levers in the box,
Volume II: The Next 100 Root Words learning curve while the
TEACHERS!
double-sided wooden ver-
flash cards demand that he
Volume II: The Next 100 Root Words sions ($26.95) so two can
Volume II: The Next 100 Root Words already knows the material. play at once, to Double
HOMESCHOOLERS!
Volume II $29.95 + $5 S&H All you accomplish with Shutter ($19.95) which has
Volume II $29.95 + $5 S&H most flash card activity
Volume II 29.95 + 5 S&H
“English
“Englishfrom
fromthe
$Roots
the Roots
$
is speed. The most useful
a double row of levers for
higher numbers and more
Up”Up” Volume
fromIIthe
Volume IIis now
isRoots
now
Volume
available!II:
“English
available!
Up”haveVolume
Home
Home The Next 100 Root Words
schoolers
school-
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games allow a child to
learn while playing. Speed
interesting play. You can
eagerly awaited this devise your own home
ers have
logicaleagerly
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Volume Home $awaited
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advancement 29.95from + $5 S&H comes naturally – in time. version with a pair of dice
thisthe
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eagerly advancement
awaited
basic 100 root words this Math and some playing cards (in
“English from the Roots
logical
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the basic
made
Up” Volume II is100
Volume I from
nowroot
a best- There is an ancient game place of the box and levers)
the seller across
basic 100 the country.
root words called Shut the Box which
words thatHome
available! madeschoolers
Volume or you can purchase the
that
I ahavemade Volume
bestseller
eagerly across
awaited I athis
best-
the is played with two dice and commercial version of your
seller across
logical
country. the country.
advancement from a box containing levers choice.
the basic 100 root words “Roots” “Roots” teaches teaches the the labeled 1 through 10. The Shut the Box can be
value
that made Volume I a best- value of understand-of understanding
player rolls the dice and addicting. If you don’t
seller across the country. the origin and defini- flips down levers to equal
ing
tion the
“Roots” origin
of words.teaches and
Kids the tell your children that it
defi
who nition
cannot of words.
pronounce, the amount shown on the is educational, they will
value of understanding
Kids
let alone who usecannot
big words pro- dice. He continues rolling almost certainly love it.
the
“Roots” origin
teaches and thedefini-
get excited about learn- the dice and flipping down You may even be able to
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dice, you can practice all 10 thusiastic children. Create-
times tables automatically, a-Story ($44.95) is an easy
just by playing a game. solution to this common
Actually, any game that problem. This engaging,
uses a pair of number dice easy-to-play game, teaches
(with dots or numbers that the players all the essential
you add to see how far you components of creative
get to move) will teach your story writing. By providing
children addition facts. intriguing prompts, includ- Learning To Read
You can play Parchisi or ing the always-painful
Monopoly or any board opening sentence, and
game with a path to follow encouraging cooperative Improve reading skills
on a dice roll and it will interaction among the play-
help your children learn ers, Create-a-Story pulls with mulitsensory
(memorize) the math facts. interesting original stories teaching methods.
I’m sure many of you are from children of all ages.
thinking right now that But don’t spoil the fun Use the same program that 25,000
this method is too slow. If by making your children educators are using to improve reading for
their students.
you are a paperwork-loving write the story out each
parent/teacher, playing a time you play. Most of the The author - Arlene Sonday has worked
board game like Parchisi components of creative with struggling readers for 35 years. She
doesn’t sound educational. writing will be learned is one of the nation’s leading experts in
The whole idea of discard- simply by playing the game multisensory teaching techniques.
ing a day’s worth of math and telling the stories at
worksheets in favor of the end. Once the children Settings:
playing a game sounds irre- feel comfortable creating
sponsible. Here’s a thought a story, they can start to • Begining Reading + ELL
for you: Which is more practice filling out the out- • Intervention for Struggling Students
educational as defined by line that is provided. Once
learning and remembering the outline is filled in, with
the subject matter, a trip to the help of cards from the
Yellowstone National Park game, writing the finished
All lessons are ready to use.
during which your child story is a snap.
acts as the family naviga- Have patience and let the 5 minutes of prep time.
tor, reading the road maps learning happen naturally.
and telling you where to Shakespeare’s genius didn’t All materials are provided.
turn, or a few days reading happen all at once. Have
about the geography of the fun with the game; let the
same region and filling in story elements gradually Learn more at
worksheets? become imbedded in your www.winsorlearning.com
Personal, practical expe- children’s brains. If you 800. 321. 7585
rience will almost always try to force it and hurry
be a more effective learn- the process by asking for
ing experience than text- too much at once, you will
books and worksheets.
Creative Writing
spoil both the fun and the
learning.
Winsor
,INC.
Creative writing is anoth- Remember that creative
er area which often elicits writing is nothing more
cries of protests from unen- continued on page 76

When All Else Fails, Play a Game!
continued from page 75 with placemats or even wall
than story telling. Most maps. Twenty Questions is
children will regale their always fun. It teaches chil-
parents with endless tales dren the logic of deduction
of their activities, dreams while encouraging map
and ideas. But, put a piece study. Have one player pick
of blank paper in front of a location on your map.
the same children and they The others can begin with
freeze up. Story games are questions to narrow down
a way to take the anxiety the choices: Is it North of
out of creative writing. the Equator? Is it East of
With a game, you can the Prime Meridian? Is it
gently introduce all the im- a landform? Is it a body of
portant elements of a story. water? . . . and so on.
This way, learning is a joy Always play with a map
instead of a chore. within sight until your
Geography children have a pretty good
Geography can seem map of the world in their
pretty dry if all it involves is heads.
copying maps and memo- A really fun beginner
rizing capital cities. For game for U.S. geography
most children, geography is Scrambled States. There
is very abstract and, there- is a card, which contains
fore, difficult to grasp. a stylized map for each of
Make geography fun and the states. The states have
memorable with games and silly faces which are a part
activities. If your children of the game. Four United
are young, a good starter States maps are provided
game is Explore! Photo for reference. Another card
Safari. The game board is deck is used to give direc-
a colorful physical map of tions for each round. Play-
the world with several doz- ers each have state cards in
en animals pictured on the their hands. When a leader
appropriate continents. As turns over and reads a di-
a leader reads clues, players rection card (Example: “A
compete to find the animals state that begins and ends
described. Gradually, chil- with a vowel” or “A state
dren learn the continents with 4 or more syllables”)
and many of the animals the players race to slap
which inhabit them. down a card that fits the de-
It is important to have a scription. Scrambled States
map to look at when learn- is a big hit with children: It
ing geography, so games combines a little bit of skill
which include a map as part with just enough silliness
of the play are very effec- and surprise to make it
tive. You can devise your very fun. There are a wide
own map games to play variety of directions, many

of which require children to and an effective learning
refer to the map (Example: tool. As a regular part of
“A state that is east of Kan- your homeschool routine,
sas”). Although this is an games will lighten your
easy game for beginners, day, bring your family
it is fun enough for teens closer and yield educational
and adults to play, too, fruit. Now, go play a game!
which makes it a great fam- C.F.
ily game. It teaches states,
capitals, locations in the Carolyn and husband,
U.S. and state nicknames. Martin, homeschooled
If you want a game with their now-grown daughters
challenging strategy (for and also own and operate
age 10 and up) that will Excellence In Education,
teach you world political an Independent Study Pro-
geography, try the 10 Days gram and bookstore/learn-
In … series. Choose from ing center in Monrovia,
Asia, USA, Africa, Europe California, a suburb of Los
or The Americas. These Angeles, where Carolyn
games require strategy, a developed a game-based
poker face and nerves of curriculum. Please visit the
steel as you discard a coun- Fortes’ website, www.ex-
try you need and hope no cellenceineducation.com
one takes it or covers it up for much information.
before you can retake it, to
place it where you want it.
All the games have similar
rules, but they use different
modes of transportation
that you can use to create
a 10-day journey. A two-
player game lasts about 20
minutes, but you won’t be
able to stop at one game.
Up to four can play – the
more players, the more
difficult the strategy. This
game is great for teens and
adults. I guarantee that
if you play these games
often, you will soon know
political geography very
well. Not only will you and
your kids recognize the
names of most countries in
the world, you will know
where they are.
Games can be both a
refreshing change of pace

What Do You Mean by
“Normalization?”
An academic continued from page 53 Going Out:
summer camp and more “you” than any
other time. When we do
The idea of going out
is very different than the
that works! what we love and love do-

ing it because we have the
typical field trip that tradi-
tional elementary students
skill and self-discipline take. Students in a Mon-
Change your teen’s to do the activity well,
those are the blissful mo-
tessori elementary class-
room will go out in small
life in 10 days ments of being human. In
a Montessori school we
groups of two to perhaps
six students into the com-
are trying to help the child munity to gather infor-
attain a natural or normal mation or experiences in
developmental process, an area of interest. For
which is referred to as example, some schools are
normalization. able to let students walk
Four Planes of Devel- a few blocks to the city
opment: library. Other schools al-
Dr. Montessor i saw low students to take public
Thirty years of Making Great Kids
the human being going transportation to go to
Greater! From sixth grade through
through four planes, or museums or college cam-
college, SuperCamp will give your stages, of development puses to visit with experts
homeschooled son or daughter an with each plane having in their field of study. Oth-
academic and personal edge at unique characteristics and ers have a system of par-
our exciting 7-10 day teen summer opportunities for learn- ent volunteers who drive
programs. ing. and chaperone students
First plane: from birth to going out. A going out
Camps are located at prestigious six years program is possible due
universities around the country: Second plane: from six to the child’s developing
• Stanford to twelve years freedom and responsibil-
• UC Berkeley Third plane: from twelve ity over a period of many
• Brown to eighteen years, and years. Students must earn
• Wake Forest Fourth plane: from eigh- the right to go out.
• University of teen to twenty four years Continued in next issue
South Florida
of HomeschoolMagazine.
• San Jose State
• UCLA Middle School Science com
1.98
• Loyola Marymount
Home $ — Maren Schmidt with
• Kent State
of the Dana Schmidt, Under-
Get more information today by visiting Science standing Montessori: A
Guide for Parents© 2009
SuperCamp.com or calling 800-285-3276 experiment by Maren Stark Schmidt;
supercamp® reprinted with permission

of the publisher. Please
inspiring brilliance www.MiddleSchool
see www.montessoriser-
vices.com for f ur ther
ScienceActivities.com information.

Art Instruction School –
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Genealogy: A New HomeSchooler Opportunity
stories get embellished
ing the will left by one of --- and the information is
“Probably the most comprehensive
your ancestors! Imagine recorded incorrectly.
tool for teaching expository writing looking through military There is also proper re-
at the lowest price!” - Cathy Duffy documents describing your search methodology. This
grandfather! Genealogy could include how to ac-
Why Are People research is not just about curately transcribe a docu-
dates and locations. It is ment, or how to prepare
Making Such a Fuss also important to ‘flesh- an abstract of a document,
the-bones’. By searching and citing your sources is
About This Book? through a variety of re- so important. And what
cords, you will be able to are you going to do with
a. It’s a top 100 pick
visualize your ancestor, the the mountains of paper you
by Cathy Duffy. Supplemental
DVD Now Available! type of person he or she will accumulate? How will
b. Students are writing was, the type of life they you organize it all?
better because of it. led. This is how you will I know, you just want to
c. Teachers love the analytical keys. make your ancestors come jump in and start finding
d. Ever yone recognizes its practicality. back to life; this is when those ancestors. But you
e. All of the above. the rewards of climbing know the value of doing it
your family tree will be right the first time around,
*Correct Answer: “e. All of the above!”
evident. and, therefore, learning
Just like with any re- what you need before get-
• Paragraphs • Five Paragraph Essays search project, there are
• Research Papers • Resumes
ting ahead of yourself, is
steps and procedures to quite important.
• Business Letters • Book Reports follow. Proving your re- So, where do you turn?
• Answering Essay Questions search is very important. There are genealogical
Certain documents are
It’s All Covered more credible than others.
societies and public librar-
ies that offer seminars, and
and put to work in.. For example, a document your local college or com-
that was created at the time
Jensen’s Format Writing! the event occurred is much
munity center may have a
class on genealogy.
more reliable than one Here’s a solution right
created years later about from your own home!
that same event. Memories In 1999, The National
fade, facts get distorted, Institute for Genealogi-
cal Studies offered its
Award-Winning
first genealogy course
Interactive Media
online. Today, we offer
We also carry other books and writings on:
over 175 online courses.
*English Fun Stuff *Journey Into Grammer Land
But why would you want
*Sound Spelling *Writing to Change the World... & More to take an online home
study course in genealogy?
call: 541-476-3080 Because it’s convenient!
or visit our website: www.jsgrammar.com Providing a Relevant All courses are delivered
Pulse of America’s entirely over the Internet,
Schools, Libraries, and Resellers: Past that Engages
Today’s kids there is no need to inter-
institutional discounts are available! rupt your busy schedule
www.FindTheFunProductions.com

to attend classes. You par- forefathers. You won’t have
ticipate on your own time, to wait until you are in the
and at your own pace. We classroom for next week’s
have successfully mar- lesson to find out why your
ried the traditional con- ancestor decided to go out
cepts of in-classroom and west - you will know by
correspondence courses. simply logging on to the
You can sit at your kitchen website and communicat-
table in your PJs, have a ing with others who are
coffee, and learn how to taking the course.
do genealogy. There are How do I know which
courses on how to conduct courses to take?
research, how to search Maybe this question is
for land records, and what best answered by asking,
to look for when trying to “What do you need to
find out who was in the know? What do you want
household in the 1901 cen- to find in your family his-
sus, for example. tory? Who do you want to
The objective with our find?”.
courses is that you learn If you want to know
how to use the resources when your ancestor came
that are available to you to the US from Canada,
- not simply that the re- or why they came to the
sources are available. You States, maybe the best
can find that out on your course to take would be
own, but we take you one one on migration. Or may-
step closer to your goal be you want to find out
of finding your ancestors: where they lived during the
That is, how to search the first years that they were in
records. the States. If you have an
The courses have been idea, but are not quite sure,
developed by experts in then a course on census re-
their field. You are invited search may be just the one
to go to our website www. for you. Decide what your
genealogicalstudies.com genealogy objectives are,
and see how the top ge- look at the topics, then join
nealogists in the United the two together. That’s the
States, Canada and the UK course you need!
have designed the courses You are invited to go to
you would be taking. the website and see what
You can associate with other people are saying
other genealogists from about the online courses.
all over the world. You are You can e-mail the Insti-
free to ask questions, and tute for more information
have a free interchange on the courses which inter-
of ideas right in your own est you, or call the office to
home. You will not feel discuss your objectives.
alone in your quest for What types of cours-
information about your continued on page 82

Genealogy: A New HomeSchooler Opportunity Institute’s WebBoard, and
shared with the instructor
America to Europe and
Australia and all over the
continued from page 81 are also available from the and other students. We en- world. Students enjoy the
es and programs does Institute. courage all of our students flexibility of our courses
the I nst it ut e of fer? Having indivudal cours- to read assignment submis- and are taking advantage
Individuals may sign up to es and certificate programs sions from other students, of this convenient and
take a single course to en- available, offers the flex- as valuable information practical way of mastering
hance their knowledge on ibility needed to accom- can be found. the techniques of genea-
that topic. You know your modate both the family There are also optional logical research.
ancestor was in the mili- historian as well as those interactive online live After all, to do the very
tary, taking the military who would like to get their meetings. Both the as- best family history re-
record course will help you professional designation. signments and the live search, you have to have
understand those records. The certificate courses meetings enable students the best courses on how to
Four online ‘Live Meet- may be taken on a stand- to learn not only from the conduct the research avail-
ings’ are available when alone basis by those who reading materials, but also able to you.
taking the Short Term do not wish to complete the from real-life experiences Complete information
Intensive Courses so that full certificate load. Com- other students and the in- on our courses and our
you can discuss with your pletion of the assignments structor may have had. programs may be obtained
instructors your personal and the exam is required We suggest that students by going to the National
genealogy problems. for the Certificate in Ge- allow between five to eight Institute for Genealogical
Courses are available for nealogical Studies. This is hours each week to com- Studies website at www.
the records of many dif- optional for those register- fortably cover the material genealogicalstudies.com.
ferent countries including ing simply to enhance their and complete the assign- About the Institute
the United States, Canada, knowledge. ments. The National Institute for
England, Ireland, Scotland, A student registers for a After 10 years of see- Genealogical Studies is a
Germany, Poland, Slo- Certificate Program in the ing the program go from Toronto-based internation-
vakia, etc. There are also record courses most appro- a fledgling organization al organization mandated
courses to show you how priate to their research goal offering a few courses to to provide educational op-
to get started research- or their personal interests. a full-grown organization portunities for anyone in-
ing, how to organize your The Basic Level Certificate now offering over 175 terested in genealogy, from
research, how to prove it, Courses are the first stage. courses, I firmly believe family historians to profes-
how to read the old hand- Those aspiring to become the National Institute for sional genealogists. www.
writing, how to understand professional genealogists, Genealogical Studies has genealogicalstudies.com,
genealogy and genetics, or those who wish to com- revolutionized the teaching 1-800-580-0165, admin@
etc. There are also some plete their family genealo- of one of my favorite hob- genealogicalstudies.com.
courses that are general in gy as a professional would bies -- family history! Ab out t he Aut hor
nature, such as Creating a also complete the Interme- It has enabled people Louise St Denis, Managing
Family Website, or Plan- diate and Advanced Level from remote locations to Director of The National
ning a Fabulous Family Certificates. participate in genealogy Institute for Genealogical
Reunion. Here’s how the courses courses, which are usu- Studies, is an international
If you prefer a more work. Each Monday morn- ally only available in larger speaker, the author of sev-
formal education program, ing, a new module of in- centers. Ten years after eral books, and publisher
programs leading to a formation is available. Stu- offering its first course, of the Heritage Book Se-
Certificate in Genealogical dents work with the lessons mainly as a result of word- ries with over 100 geneal-
Studies in affiliation with and the course material. of-mouth testimonials, the ogy titles. Louise can be
the Continuing Education Next is the interactivity be- Institute has students from reached at stdenis@genea-
unit of The University of tween classmates and the Texas to the Yukon, from logicalstudies, or toll-free
St. Michael’s College in instructor. Weekly assign- California to Newfound- at 1-800-580-0165. ♦
The University of Toronto ments are submitted to the land, from all over North

Dr. Maria Montessori
continued from page 54 Dr. Montessori’s theory
would work together and that, given the right envi-
also help teach each other. ronment and the freedom
Older children would learn to explore that environ-
teaching and nurturing ment, children can learn to
skills; younger children read, write and calculate
would see new ways of as easily and naturally
learning and playing. The as they learn to walk and
function of the teacher is to talk. For those who have
provide didactic material, made the effort to un-
such as counting beads or derstand, her concept of
geometric puzzles, and act “freedom within limits”
as an adviser and guide, re- is as valid today as ever;
maining in the background good Montessori environ-
as much as possible. ments still offer the child Souns is an evidence based literacy program that builds letter
Dr. Montessori believed an experience that builds sound associations without TV, flash cards, or pressure.
that a child’s innate pow- competence and confi-
er for learning worked dence with unsurpassed
when the child was turned effectiveness—a timeless
loose in a safe, hands-on gift from one of the world’s
learning environment. great educators, Dr. Maria
Montessori found that Montessori. L.F.
given small, child-sized
f ur nit ure, equipment,
and supplies, children are
naturally self-motivated to
H av in g
t r o u b le
explore, experiment, and
understand their environ-
s
ment. Young children fin di ng re so ur ce
are very hand-minded fo r yo ur au di to ry
and materials should be le ar ne rs ?
geared accordingly. Dr.
Montessori stressed the
Sing ‘n Learn
importance of beauty in
the classroom and stressed
has the answer!
the importance of well- www.SingNLear n.com
made and well-maintained 1.800.460.1973
materials. She believed Learn through
that everything in the Music:
Geography
classroom had a specific
History
use and there should not be Math
anything in the classroom & more!
that the child could not see
and touch.
Over sixty years of ex-
perience with children
around the world proved

Michigan Technological University
Pre-College Outreach
continued from page 41 gan Tech’s scholarship
metallurgy by taking part programs, the summer
in a hands-on demonstra- camps and explorations are
tion of molten metal cast- set up for plenty of hands-
ing. “I look at some of the on, innovative activities,
Over 4,000 stuff we’re doing and it’s group projects, and field
like, I can’t believe they’re trips. Students don’t just
Online Learning letting us work on things learn about the subjects—
like this!” they program computers,
Activites... Summer Camps and solve mock crime scenes,
And You Can Career and Adventure Ex- backpack through a scenic
plorations wilderness area, cast mol-
Make Your Michigan Tech’s WIE, ten metal, and more.
ESP, NSTI, and other It may sound like seri-
Own Games! The scholarship programs are ous business for a summer
Place to just one way for students vacation, but the students
• Instructional Games to get active and involved will be the first to tell you
• Fun Tutorials Play, during the summer. In ad- that when learning is this
• Interactive E-Books Make, & dition, the Center’s Youth much fun, it hardly feels
Learn! Programs division offers like work at all.
• Electronic Worksheets
more than 50 weeklong “Coming to this program
summer camps (for stu- at Michigan Tech was one
Easy to Use, dents in grades 6-8) and of the best experiences I’ve
For You career and adventure ex- ever had,” says 17-year-old
And Your plorations (for students in Angelo, of Atlanta, Ga. “I
Children grades 9-11). met so many great people
Programs are offered in a and made new friends. The
wide variety of concentra- program not only equipped
tions, including engineer- me with some great tools,
Enhance ing, digital photography, but it tipped my decision to
mobile robotics, aquatic attend college.”
Learning in K-5: ecology, forensic science To learn more about
• Reading • Math and CSI, blacksmithing, Michigan Tech’s Center
and more. And like Michi- for Pre-College Outreach,
• Phonics • Writing including the Mind Trek-
• Spelling • Science kers road show; Women in
Engineering, Engineering
• Social Studies Scholars, and National
Summer Transportation
Think Flink, Try Flink for Institute scholarship pro-
Think Fun! Free! grams; and summer camps
and career and adventure
explorations, visit www.
www.flinklearning.com youthprograms.mt u.
edu or contact the Center
30-day money back guarantee
at 906-487-2219 or yp@
mtu.edu.

Primary Sources and a Virtual Congress
Hold a
– New Resources from the Center on Congress
ipper
FunnelGr ce
®
continued from page 11 Congress on their main

rien
rooms, a Member’s office website at www.center- and Expe on...
rip
in DC and back home in oncongress.org. These a Firm G ip! ansh
Good Penm
their district, the House resources include interac-
floor, and the Senate floor. tive learning modules,
Students’ experiences in videos, lesson plans, ar-
the Virtual Congress can ticles, and professional
range from a one-class- development opportunities
period tour of the various for educators. The Center
locations to a multi-session was founded over a decade
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support as it trains the finger * Reinforce learning by
representative democracy, muscles to stay in position stimulating your child’s
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Virtual Congress at www. and citizen participation. / Aids children or adults with
tpscongress.org/teachers/ The Center on Congress special fine motor difficulties
virtual_congress.php. TPS project is provided Many colors to choose from!
Whether you are looking free of charge through order online at:
for some new online inter- funding from the Library www.deewalden.com
actives to teach about the of Congress. Nationally, For large/wholesale orders, call
history of our government TPS is managed and imple- (813) 988-5872
or to help students under- mented by an educational
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in the legislative process – K-12 school districts. The
or you would like to delve Center on Congress has
into a virtual experience been a member of this con-
of Congress – the Center sortium since 2004.
n
on Congress Teaching with
Primary Sources website
To get more information
about these resources, in-
D ig it a l D is e c t io
gives you options that can cluding upcoming informa-
meet your needs. tional webinars, contact the
Teaching with Primary Center on Congress at 812-
Sources is part of the larger 856-4706, or congress@
collection of resources indiana.edu, or visit www.
provided by the Center on centeroncongress.org.
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Do Smart People Play Chess or Does Playing
Chess Make People Smart
continued from page 21 an inexpensive bag for
creasing because of the In- pieces to be carried in.
ternet and computers. Play- “Wholesale Chess has a
ers are able to play a game very basic chess curricu-
at any time online and can lum that we recommend to
use computers to help them work with beginners,” she
train and learn. There are said. The suggested cur-
huge numbers of software riculum is as follows. Only
programs, some that even move to the next step when
pit a player against famous you know your child has a
grandmaster games. There real understanding of what
are also many hand-held you have already taught.
computer games for chess
that give those die-hard 1. How the pieces move
electronic users a chance to and how to setup the board
have chess on–the-go with- 2. How to capture
out the need of a partner. pieces (its ok to capture
If you see the benefits the King before you learn
of chess and want to teach checkmate!)
them to a child you don’t 3. Check and check-
have to be afraid of not mate
knowing what to do or how 4. More advanced rules
to play, Graham said. There of castling, en passant, and
are plenty of resources to pawn promotion
help you. 5. The values of the
“Remember that you are pieces and making good
passing on a wonderful captures and trades
gift to them,” Mrs. Gra- 6. Developing your
ham said. “Learn or renew pieces and controlling the
your skills right along with center
them. Make sure you use 7. Using multiple pieces
care, patience and respect to attack and defend
while teaching. Also, try to 8. Basic tactics – forks
be interesting! Use humor, and pins
funny voices, cartwheels 9. Basic strategies –
— whatever it takes to controlling squares, diago-
Eliminate the mystery behind fractions make your chess students nals, and files
pay attention and have a 10. Basic opening prin-
• What Is - Invert and multiply • Hands On
good time.” ciples – control key squares,
• What Is - A Common Denominator • Engaging Mrs. Graham suggests activate your pieces, get
• What Is - An Abstract Algorithm • Fun each child have their own your king to safety
• Why - Doctor Loyd’s? chess set. It doesn’t have
to be fancy or expensive. To be a good chess par-
Fax orders to: 314-275-7657
Most students use a roll-up ent or teacher you must
Mail orders to: Dr Loyd c/o Pegasus Publications Ltd vinyl board, plastic pieces, be sure to get plenty of
PO Box 410193 St. Louis MO 63141-0193 either weighted or not, and feedback from the student,

Mrs. Graham said. “Make “A nother impor t ant
sure you know how your thing, perhaps the most im-
children feel about chess. If portant, is to always make
they are feeling burned out, sure that your child knows
then pressuring them may
just turn them off more. If
how much you love them
regardless of whether they Youth Programs
they are hungry for chess are winning or losing their
and you are not feeding chess games,” she added. • Summer camps and career and
that, they may become “Never show disappoint-
adventure explorations for
frustrated. ment at their performance
“If you have a child who — they are most likely students in grades 6–11
enjoys learning and play- frustrated enough on their
ing chess, you should en- own!” • More than fifty hands-on programs
courage that as much as is “Chess will certainly
healthy,” she said. “Chess grow in the future,” she in exciting areas like engineering,
has great social and intel- said. “Players will have to outdoor adventure, creative arts,
lectual benefits that can be more accurate in play, as
affect other aspects of life, computer training becomes technology, and business
but remember that chess more available. But most
is a part of life, not the of us hope that the essence
purpose of life. I suggest and fun of the game doesn’t
chess parents watch or read change at all!” Please visit
Searching for Bobby Fis- Wholesale Chess’ website,
cher with their child. It is a www.wholesalechess.com
great story. We also recom- Copyright, 2009 by The
mend the book, Survival Link Homeschool Publica-
Guide for Chess Parents. tions. All rights reserved.
Flink Learning -
the place to play, make, learn and share for Free!
ers have little time to
child can go to view the
teach, so one parent can
phonics activity.
create a math project and
Parents who subscribe
his community can cre-
to Flink Learning have
ate 4 or 5 other projects
3 sources for material –
and they can share all of
4,000 professionally cre-
them. Or, they can use the
ated activities by Flink
already-existing projects.
Learning; their own ac-
This is perfect for the al-
tivities and what other
ready-existing atmosphere Start planning your
subscribers have written.
of homeschooling and,
Children don’t have access summer adventure now at
since subscribing is free,
to the 2nd and 3rd options,
what more could one ask?
only parents have access www.youthprograms.mtu.edu
Please visit www.f lin-
and can police the content
klearning.com and see
themselves.
for yourself the potential it www.mtu.edu • 1-888-773-2655 • 906-487-2219
Sharing activities can
holds for increasing your Michigan Technological University • Houghton, MI
be very important because
homeschooling! E.S. Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.
sometimes homeschool-

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