The Carnival of Homeschooling

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Welcome to the Summer Transition Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling.

Summer may have started two days ago, but my routines have not caught up. I feel pulled in two directions at once!



Last month at the standardized testing co-op, I asked the Moms (and a few Dads) how they transitioned to Summer.  Many told me, "Testing is the end of the year," some adding, "If we’ve finished the math book!" One family mentioned the lure of the beach, and the freedom to decide on the day’s activities based on the weather. Two families school year round.


Dawn of my4sweetums describes her family’s yearly pattern in The Season’s of Homeschooling.

My year-round schooling friends said that their kids think that an afternoon of science experiments in the air conditioning is a treat.

GrrlsScientist of Living the Scientific Life identified an incredible TED talk.  You have got to see this. Warning: your children will want to climb walls using Gecko Paddles and Van Der Waals Forces! God is an awesome engineer.

Like science experiments, art projects seem easier to accomplish in the summer.

Annie, of Learning as We Go wryly documented a side effect of Summer Art Projects in Signs of Summer.

Kerry Fletcher of the Houston Interior Decorating Examiner wrote about How to Archive your Children’s Art.   My boys have a lot of nature stuff under the bed that needs organizing too.

I must not be the only person who likes to hold surveys,

because Misty of HomeschoolBytes asks What is your Favorite Homeschool Math Curriculum?

and Henry Cate of Why Homeschool has another alleged bias statistic to investigate in I Would Love to See this Data Broken Down for Homeschoolers.
Sometimes we wind up schooling into the Summer because – well, we aren’t done yet!  B estimates that we need another month around here.

Katherine at No Fighting, No Biting! compared her method of remediation with one described in a news article at But I’m sure their Social Skills will make up for that…. "One of the benefits of homeschooling is that there is no opportunity to play the blame game, "It’s the teacher’s fault, no, it’s the parent’s fault," we are both!"

Some of the families I talked to find that "school-y Homeschool," must end in June, if their children will take part in town sports, bands, and camp. There are only 24 hours in a day!


Vic of Medan Kota reflects on her friend’s children’s enrichment class schedules in Kids in Medan are doing too much.  Indonesia does not sound so different from here in that regard.
Barbara Frank describes the opportunity to spend One-on-one Time with each of her children in the summer at Barbara Frank Online.
Beverly Hernandes of About Homeschool writes, I’ve found that summer reading incentives can turn a child into an avid reader which can last a lifetime." in Summer Reading Programs for Kids.

While we were at the testing co-op, we prayed together for a local homeschooling family’s interaction with social services.  These sorts of heart-thumping challenges exist, but rude newspapers and bloggers are not quite in the same class.

(this photo was of some positive homeschooling coverage by a local public television show)

ChristineMM at The Thinking Mother wrote about Choosing to Not React to a Negative Homeschool Story in the Local News.  Christine writes, "I’m reserving my energy and the true fighting spirit for the times when my state seeks to restrict homeschooling by increasing government oversight."

 Looking back over the last few Summers, I tend to spend about 6 weeks deciding what to order and then studying the new books.  It’s more like re-tooling than a vacation.

Tonia at The Sunny Patch has written Geography Plans for Kindergarten.

PhatMommy has Five Kindergarten Math Resources. 

Tammy of Adventures on Beck’s Bounty has been Planning for History 2009-2010.
Sifting resources and calculating what books will fit the family best – now that’s familiar.

Michelle of Always Learning shares her resources for Fairy Week.


 The question, "How to order the day?" is a big part of retooling for the next schooling season.


Liz of Holy Family Classical Academy wrote Homeschooling Scheduling Tips: a How To Guide.  (And a non-guilt inducing how to guide I may add)

Good transitions take thought, especially about priorities.

Keith poses some convicting questions at CM Buzz about family time vs. Computer Time???

Cristina of Home Spun Juggling offers a Guest Writer on Video Games in the Learning Environment.

Rene at Life Nurturing Education describes her educational philosophy at Principle Approach is a Method.
The Britannica Blog asks What Happens to School Choice if People aren’t Rational and Choose Bad Schools?

And who can think without using their brain? Alvaro of Brain Fitness Revolution summarizes current research in Debunking 10 Brain Training/Cognitive Health Myths.

Alejandra of A Guide to Raising Great Kids writes Being Alert – Helping Them to be Aware of Drugs and Alcohol.

Some of my neighbors mark the transition to Summer by pulling out their patriotic decorations, planting flowers and vegetables, planning meals around the CSA box and cooking on the grill. 


After I collected ideas for this Carnival, I searched my photo archive for images to illustrate it.  The photos reminded me how worth while the transition is: climbing trees, Family reunions, shucking corn, tending the garden, all those day trips that double as homeschooling field trips, sitting on the front porch, camping

And picking berries!  Oh YUM! Silvia at Po Moyemu sent in a recipe for Sugar Cookie Tarts. "My daughter made these cookies–grabbing an egg from under one of our hens and collecting black raspberries from our own backyard plant. I wonder how many different things she learned from the baking, the hens/eggs, and the raspberry bush!"

When your family hangs out with you, are you like a fresh peach or moldy bread? For His Glory asks How Do you taste?


After our trip to upstate NY, my husband reminded me to buy the kids some cheap creek sneakers, so that their nice sneakers wouldn’t get full of clay and slime (and then stink).  My kids asked me to get water guns in May (I told them that was what allowances were for)

NerdMom at Making Money, Keeping money has some links for Learning Freebies.

Alvina of Smart Teaching.org lists Where Can I Find Teacher Scholarships?  In case you or one of your students are pursuing teaching certification.

I have never been "into," transitions. When I was a college senior, it hit me that I had cried whenever I had to move.  In August I cried because I would miss my parents; in April, because it was time to leave  Houghton College.  Since I cried in both August and April, then both places were good, I just didn’t like transitions!  (Yes, it did take me 4 years to figure that out.)  I still don’t like transitions, but I’m excited about the Summer now. I enjoyed reading these carnival entries, and remembering what I love about Summer.  I hope you did too.


Thank you for reading this week’s Carnival of Homeschooling.  Next week’s carnival will be at The Norfolk Homeschooling Examiner You can submit an entry from your blog at Blog Carnival (scroll down) or to CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com Most bloggers love comments, so remember to leave some interesting ones on the contributor’s sites.
 
Now, grab your sun hat and get outside this morning before it’s too hot to do anything, you never know what might come your way.




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