http://www.homeschoolcafe.org Homeschool Cafe - Ordering Excellence in Academia and Life Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:47:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Is education the filling of a pail or the lighting of a fire?  I think almost all home educators would agree that children are not simple pails to be filled, but complex human beings with the capacity to relate to a great many things.  Thus, education is the lighting of a ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/teachers-lounge/how-to-light-a-fire My oldest and I are slowly reading through Mortimer Adler's classic, How to Read a Book. By slowly, I mean we have been reading the book for two years and are on schedule to finish it in two more. It is a book about, you guessed it, learning to read ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/book-reviews/how-to-read-a-book-and-logic-and-stuff Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer for many students. At our house, we officially hit the summer schedule in a week. The kids are looking forward to travel, rest and lots of fun. I am looking forward to preparations for the next school year and a lot of ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/teachers-lounge/summer-schedules Paper is the bane of my existence.  But it does exist, and it exists in this house.  I have worked hard the last several years to eliminate the need for paper where possible, and to streamline our paper usage (with bound notebooks, etc.) when we have to use it.  This has ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/book-reviews/_the-organized-student_-by-donna-goldberg-spring-cleaning-in-the-schoolroom-part-i Written by a homeschooling husband and wife team, College Prep Homeschooling is a handbook meant to prepare parents to teach through the high school years.  Byers is a college professor, and homeschooling was the topic of his doctoral dissertation.  This book is the result of his research and experience, as well ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/book-reviews/review-college-prep-homeschooling-your-complete-guide-to-homeschooling-through-high-school-by-david-p-byers-phd-and-chandra-byers The other day I was making the bed when my hand hit something hard.  I reached between the mattresses and pulled out a chunky plastic toy ring-- the kind you might get from a gumball machine.  Wondering a little, I set it on my husband's nightstand and finished making the ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/kid-funnies/of-a-prince-and-a-pea-i-mean-a-ring Pray a lot. (That's all I can say. ) "My help cometh from the Lord, which made Heaven and Earth..." Homeschooling requires lots of prayer-- and here are some other places to look for help: www.amblesideonline.org www.simplycharlottemason.net www.livingmath.net www.bravewriter.com www.sizzlebop.com www.donnayoung.org http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/homeschooling-resources/homeschooling-help We are a reading family.  We love books, and would simply sit and read aloud or quietly to ourselves all day long and call it school, if it weren’t for such “non-essentials” as penmanship, spelling, grammar, writing skills, map-reading lessons, math.  Math-- the kids spend an hour or more on ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/language-arts-and-literature/what-we-are-reading The tulips and irises are out, and redbud trees covered with blooms.  The daffodils have been and gone already, and snowy blossoms fall from the pear trees, replaced by the bright green of new leaves.   I just love going past a wooded area and being surprised by gorgeous flower branches in ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/science-and-nature/time-for-flowers One of my favorite books from Triss’ toddlerhood is _Happy Birthday, Moon_ by Frank Asch. It is about a little bear who tries to talk to the moon. He climbs the tallest tree on the highest mountain and yells hello. His voice echoes back. He gets very excited to be “talking ... http://www.homeschoolcafe.org/language-arts-and-literature/childish-wonder