Welcome to the 180th Carnival of Homeschooling! This week, we will be consulting the Field Guide to Homeschoolers to attempt to describe this fascinating specimen of educational freedom and gain a greater understanding of its habits, habitat and daily life.
The homeschooler, elusive and quick, is one of the most difficult creatures to study. They do not survive well in captivity, and field studies to date have focused on small, easily observable populations.
Five j’s discusses some of the trauma of being captive to the scope and sequence and how she freed herself.
On Living by Learning shares her use of standardized tests, and how this is a little different from their uses in public schools.
Life is Not Cereal takes a moment to examine what her children were really asking for when they asked to go to school.
Homeschoolers of all kinds are known to aggressively defend their territories, making them one of the few species left not threatened by habitat loss.
Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog defends herself well in The Case for Homeschooling.
No Fighting, No Biting also joins in with there are some pretty mean people out there.
Bending the Twigs defends homeschoolers agains the attack that homeschooling may be racially motivated.
Why Homeschool takes a closer look at research suggesting more girls are homeschooled than boys.
SpunkyHomeSchool wants to know whether homeschooling is a preference or a conviction.
Principled Discovery takes a moment to answer whether homeschoolers should stick with the system.
It is, however, difficult to define exactly what the homeschooler’s habitat consists of. They move freely and frequently through different environments and seem to thrive on variety and diversity of surroundings.
Treasure Seekers has been spotted outside catching tadpoles and shares many other ways to explore the outdoors.
Cage Free Monkeys was sighted taking a bike ride along the Erie Canal.
The Science Mouse, who would prefer if I let her live outside and sleep on the roof, shares The Great American Backyard Campout.
Lisa Russell’s children were spotted making their own world in the bottom of an old, dry swimming pool.
Learning Curve shares the story of Flat Stella who is exploring the United States via the US Postal Service.
They even seem to be able to find sustenance online, as About Homeschooling shares the 2009 Summer Reading Club.
Others, like Mama Squirrel and her family, are frequently found in the library, this time navigating the Dewey Decimal System.
They search far and wide for materials to build their educational nests with, and are not afraid to learn a little themselves.
Help Notes shares a list of websites which she has found helpful.
The More the Messier asks Remember the What? as she learns a little history herself.
A Day in the Life offers a comparison between Tapestry of Grace and Sonlight.
Nerd Family has discovered an interesting dissection alternative in It’s all about the info.
Janice Campbell has searched and returned with College Choices–Homeschoolers Have Options!
Olive Shoot did some thinking and searching and found a way to use the bible to teach division.
A Ten O’Clock Scholar writes about establishing a summer routine.
Principled Mom shares Comfy Shoes.
Homeschoolers can frequently be found gathering in small groups, displaying their accomplishments, sharing their learning or otherwise supporting one another.
Our Curious Home was recently spotted at a homeschool expo, with a few interesting projects to share.
Unfortunately, when anyone meets in groups, accidents can happen. The Homeschool CPA shares three kinds of insurance homeschool groups may want to take a look at.
The Homeschooler is inherently inquisitive.
The Thinking Mother demonstrates this through Taking the 100 species challenge.
The Stone Age Techie presents Interview with Daniel Wolff, Author of How Lincoln Learned to Read.
MiaZagora’s Homeschool Minutes shares a stunning photo of a Jacques Cousteau cloud and links to more information about cloud types.
Homesteaderbelle’s Blog shares how to pasteurize milk.
S.A.G.A. takes an inquisitive look back to evaluate the school year.
They are also creative problems solvers.
Texas Homesteader has found a new and very useful way to use Skype.
A Ten O’Clock Scholar combines a Classical Conversations with Tapestry of Grace and is offering her guide to combining the two.
The Creative Homeschool shares 15 Great Uses for a Digital Camera.
Note From the Teacher offers some advice for free tutoring (mostly helpful if you have a child in school.)
The homeschooler tends to be very protective of its young, and supportive of their growing independence. She seeks out opportunities for her offspring to stretch both mentally and physically.
Reinforcing the need for such vigilance, Creative Ministry Buzz shares some disturbing facts and How to partner with parents and protect kids in our culture.
Associate Degree also provides a list of 25 shocking facts about American high schools.
Inspiration for Moms offers Principles of Empowerment to teach your children.
Home Grown Mommy shares the importance of an encouraging word, with an interesting case study of her own.
Higher education shares a day in which character training for her young fledgling became the focus of the lesson.
Day by Day Discoveries has been enjoying a bit of Ovid in Our Day with her family.
Katie’s Homeschool Cottage uses copywork in a meaningful way.
Taschek Tales has found an excellent program for the blind and dyslexic and shares How our struggling reader learned to love to read.
The Adversarian discusses 10 Thoughts on Encouraging Independent Learning.
Homeschoolers are also very willing to try new things, do things differently and report on their experiences.
LLRHomeschool shares their first week using workboxes.
Polliwogs and Doodles has finished reading Deschooling Society.
Barbara Frank presents Summer and Homeschooling.
Homeschoolers are tenacious. Once they have a goal, no obstacle is too large, no amount of work too difficult. And no lesson is too small.
Stop the Ride provides a glimpse at the stresses of going back to work. . .and at the debt they have been able to pay off.
Life Nurturing Education focuses on what needs to be done in a day.
The Homeschool Project takes a humbling look inside in Using our Time Wisely, part 1.
And Learning at Home, after all these years, is still looking for matching socks since the one-footed space aliens have been visiting her home.
Should you come across a homeschooler in the wild, DO NOT APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Such cautiousness can easily be misinterpreted and you may find yourself the subject of a blog post. Remain calm, strike up a conversation like you would with any other stranger you meet in an elevator and indulge your curiosity.
There are few things homeschoolers enjoy more than telling you how much they love homeschooling.
Thank you for visiting this week’s edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling, ran by Why Homeschool. If you are interested in further historical studies of the homeschooler, you may visit the archives. If you have sighted a homeschooler and would like to share your findings, you may enter them in this form. Next week’s researcher will be The Daily Planet.
If you have appreciated the research found here, please consider sharing it with others through your blog, forums and other places you frequent.
What a clever theme. I have errands to run today, but I am looking forward to coming back to read all the great post.
Your final comment:”There are few things homeschoolers enjoy more than telling you how much they love homeschooling.” was a large factor for me in deciding to homeschool.
12 years ago my daughter graduated from a private school kindergarten. As the parents talked about their school choice for 1st grade (this school didn’t go higher than K), everyone was grumbling and complaining about their choices. I had chosen to homeschool and I was the only one looking forward to next year. That really spoke to me.
We have loved homeschooling and last month my daughter graduated from homeschool high school.
Thanks for hosting the carnival.
Carol Topp
Bravo Dana! One of the best themes yet! Thanks for hosting.
This is a great Carnival. I can’t wait to get to look into this one.
Such a clever and charming theme, thanks!
-Christine
Great job. The theme is fabulous, great for all those who want to study the phenomenon.
What an appropriate theme for summer. Thank for taking the time to put everything together so creatively!
You made one point that is often overlooked: “[The homeschooler] is supportive of their growing independence. She seeks out opportunities for her offspring to stretch both mentally and physically.” Although many people believe that our children can’t be independent when homeschooled, I have seen that many homeschoolers are more mature and self-motivated than their institutionally-schooled counterparts. It’s a joy to see them stretch their wings and take flight in a direction all their own, especially when they fly higher or faster than their parents. It’s all about growth!
I have no kids at home to homeschool, but I have to say that this was an extremely well-done approach. Truly creative and fun to read. Thanks for doing it.
Thank you, everyone! Makes it worth the very little sleep. I think. It is still early so we’ll see how I’m doing by this afternoon!
Oh, what fun! I’m linking to it right now
This is cute you did a really goood job. I passed it on to my other home school friends.
I love this carnival! There are so many informative and amusing articles to inspire my Read Across America Road Trip. It’s a good thing I’m taking a netbook so I can read these at my leisure.
I love your Field Guide to homeschooling. Thats hilarious!
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to do.
Nice work. I got a post this into my homeschooling site for others to come here and see this in here! Thanks
Thank you for adding my post to the carnival. I enjoyed reading this carnival!
Thanks Again!
Belle
Great job!
Wow – how did you compile all of these amazing posts. Can’t wait to dig in. I was just mentioning that I am not connected with enough homeschool blogs even though I have been homeschooling since the start and now have K – high school. This is that answer.
I loved the theme. Thanks for the hard work!
Hi Dana,
Great job. Sorry I didn’t get a link to you – intently preparing for my hs seminar this weekend. I do have a free audio offer on my blog on why to homeschool though.:-)
Blessings!
Lisa @ Me and My House
What a great way to present a carnival. Well done to you, it looks terrific.
Am off to check out Science Mouse’s ezine now!
Oh, Dana! This is the best carnival, I just love the theme! I can’t wait to read all the entries. You really did a wonderful job on it! I just posted about it.
Blessings!!
Nancy
Excellent job!
What an excellent format for the carnival! LOVE IT!
“They do not survive well in captivity.”
Hehe, ain’t THAT the truth!
Clever way to set up the carnival…..congrats on a job well done, and thanks for including my post