Homeschoolers Forum

TxBec | 07/23/2002 | TxBec

[TxBec]

I have been thinking lately it would be nice to have a thread (maybe even a forum later?) for the homeschooling families, because you know how many of us there are. This would not replace us pinging each other with all the great articles we find. It would be a place where we could discuss what curriculum we use, vent when needed, share our successes, compare notes, alert each other to cool things we find on the internet, and vent some more. I'm sure we all have found other sites with forums that we use, but since FReepers are such a cool breed, where better to start up a forum? What do you think?

[TxBec]

Great idea.

[homeschool mama]

You're too funny, K.

And yes, Grammie is dumpster diving again. This time it was kinda sorta my fault though. :o/

[homeschool mama]

I think it's a great idea, C. I noticed that TxBec pinged Jim Robinson for approval.

[2Jedismom]

I have neighbors who are always asking ME to homeschool their children

Why don't they want to do it? My neighbor asked me to do the same thing! I don't get this mentality of brushing your kids off on someone else. If people don't want to raise their kids, why have them?

I hear all kinds of excuses from people letting other people raise and educate their kids.

1. We can't afford it. (What they really mean is "Mom has to work so we can afford that second car and nice house.)

2. We live in a good school district. (What difference this makes, I have no idea...it's still someone else raising your kids)

3. My kids are too strong-willed for me to homeschool. (What they really mean is disobedient).

4. I don't have the patience. (They can't be bothered...too busy doing their own thing. Their kids already take up too much of their valuable time.)

5. I'm not smart enough to teach my kids...I don't have enough college education. (And yet this guy is smart enough?)

[Carolina]

For historical novels, we love the Waverly novels by Sir Walter Scott.

• Ivanhoe
• Rob Roy
• The Antiquary
• The Bride of Lammermoor
• The Heart of Midlothian

We read Victor Hugo (with extensive study of cathedrals in conjunction with Hunchback), Alexandre Dumas (Three Musketeers and Count), The Song of Roland (with a study of the code of chivalry).

We scoured EBay for lots of classical books and Cliffs Notes. A lot of the classics are also online that you can download.

Here is one link: Bibliomania

For a good online literary analysis source, here is NovelGuide

For an online resource of early Christian text and Medieval Classics, here is a great site: Online Medieval and Classical Library

And if you want to start your day out right, try the online daily office (morning prayer, evening prayer, etc.): Oremus or The Daily Office. They will have the Psalm of the day, OT, NT, Gospel readings for the day, prayers, and hymns.

[Carolina]

I hear all kinds of excuses from people letting other people raise and educate their kids.

Joseph Farah has been talking about this: More government-school bashing: Farah responds to readers who oppose his

[Tired of Taxes]

I should've mentioned that it also has a puzzlemaker section - crossword puzzles, word finds, etc. that you can design yourself.

Our kids might all be different ages, though. But I think there's something there for everyone.

Txbec - I noticed on your link that there are solar system and weather worksheets. If I'd only had that link sooner! I know close to nothing about either topic, and trying to keep up with the one son who's obsessed with both... This link would've been so much easier... lol.

[homeschool mama]

Every time I hear the phrase, "I can't wait for school to start and my kids get out of my house." I cringe. How very sad to not have a willing heart toward one's kiddos.

I *love* having my daughter with me. I *love* being a mother and home educator. I *love* the close bond we have.

[homeschool mama]

Wonderful sites and suggestions, Carolina! My 'favorites' column is growing quickly!

[2Jedismom]

And you only have that time for just a few relatively short years. I know when the time comes for my boys to leave the nest, the Lord will provide me with the strength to let them go (and perhaps even the joy at the time although the thought doesn't appeal to me right now!)

While I've got them, I'm going to enjoy every minute.

[TxBec]

I'm a compulsive bookmarker. I need to sort through my netscape bookmark page (with about 2 years worth of my "OOOo, I like this page" saves) and find the really post-worthy ones and post them here.

[homeschool mama]

***And you only have that time for just a few relatively short years.***

Exactly!

When my daughter was younger we'd spend about 3 hours per day at the kids park across the street from our home. Many in the neighborhood were there on a regular basis. One mom was pregnant with her 3rd child and had the day off from work...I struck up a conversation with her and asked if she'll be staying home to care for her kiddos now that the number will increase to 3. She looked at me as if I had 2 heads and said, "Why would I want to stay home and listen to those screaming mimi's?" That comment really heated me up and I replied with, "Then why have them if you're not going to raise them yourself?" Those kids were seen out in the neighborhood (blocks from their home) w/o any parental supervision. Oh...and their father is our current mayor. ugh.

[TxBec]

you may want to get on petuniasevan's Astronomy Picture of the day list. My kids look forward to seeing it every day

[homeschool mama]

I have about 50 or so in my list. lol

[madfly]

Great Idea! Please add my name.

[TxBec]

done!

[homeschool mama]

The list is growing!

[SLB]

We recently finished Ivanhoe as a family reading project. Then went to the library and checked out the movie (I think it was 4 videos long). It was great to do a critique of the movie compared to the book. Not a bad project for a 11 and 14 year old. How many of the public school systems have reading lists like these on this thread?

[TxBec]

Movie recommendation -- (bought it recently on DVD and my kids LOVED it)

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

[SuziQ]

Wow! Great sites, Carolina. I bought a book recommended by the authors of "The Well Trained Mind" named "How to Read a Book" (my daughter thought that was amusing, a book on How to Read a Book) by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren (yes, he of "Quiz Show" fame). Someone on our Classical Ed. chat board had written a Study Guide for the book and I bought it for our two kids who will be doing A LOT of reading over the next few years. It is a book on literary analysis, and teaches you how to think critically about the work you are studying.

We'll do that course in the fall before they jump into Ancient literature. It is designed to be done once a week over a 12 week period. If you're interested, freepmail me and I'll give you the author's e-mail address. I believe it cost $12.95 for the materials, and she allows you to photo copy for additional members of your homeschooling family. She only asks that individual copies be purchased if it is a teacher doing a class of students. I went ahead and bought the two copies I'd need because the materials are spiral bound, I wouldn't have to go to the trouble of doing the copying myself, and just to support her. It's great when homeschooling folks go to the effort to create materials to help all of us!