Table of Contents HEM May-June 2001

Articles

Unschooling? School-at-Home? Does It matter? - by Melinda Roth
M. Roth issues a call to unity among homeschoolers, no matter how we educate our kids, showing that all those terms for homeschooler are vaguer than we think.

Big Hairy Audacious Goals - by Julie Bogart
Julie Bogart shows how encouraging her children to describe and pursue their big dreams and goals opened up a whole new world of homeschooling.

A Closet Case - by Catherine W Crawford
Homeschool mom Catherine Walsh Crawford gives us a candid glimpse of what she finds in the depths of her family's closets. Why is there always cheese?

The Evolution of a Young Philanthropist - by Erika Leonard Holmes
Erika Leonard Holmes describes, with almost a sense of awe, how her five-year-old son discovered the joy of giving to make the world a better place.

Resistant Relatives - by Jennifer Logner
Jenny Logner tells how her family responded when relatives insisted they stop homeschooling, and why they are now some of her family's most enthusiastic supporters.

My Graduation Night - by Jacinda Timmerman
Jacinda Timmerman gives a first-person account, from an at-first-reluctant teenager's point of view, of a joyful and rewarding homeschool graduation ceremony.

The Art of Waiting - by Sherry Boas
Sherry Boas confesses that she sometimes feels guilty while waiting for her children's interests to catch hold, but even if they seem to be "behind" in some areas, it's worth the wait.

Waiting for Unschooling to Work - by Shay Seaborne
Shay Seaborne reveals that unschooling is not easier for its lack of structure, and that sometimes the hardest task of all is to simply let go and trust.

The Rabid Duck - by Melanie Walenciak
Melanie Walenciak shares the lessons she learned from the unexpected visit from an agitated, drooling "rabid duck" - which turned out to be something entirely different.

Columns

Forum: Ask Carol - by Carol Narigon
The Prom and Learning at Grade Level
How important is the prom, really? And what if my kids aren't up-to-speed with school children?

Questions and Answers - by Laura Weldon
What About My Dreams? and Alternatives to College
Laura Weldon shares answers from readers to the question, What About My Dreams? and concerns about Alternatives to College.

Taking Charge - by Larry & Susan Kaseman
Working for Homeschooling Freedoms: Chore or Opportunity?
Why it's important for homeschoolers to continue working to protect hard-won homeschooling freedoms

It's Only Natural - by Barbara Theisen
Wild and Free
The Theisen family spent several summers cheek-to-flank with wild horses. Here are some of the lessons they learned.

Good Stuff - by Becky Rupp
Letter Writing
With today's light-speed communications networks, sometimes the best thing to do is sit down and write an old-fashioned letter.

My Word! - by David H. Albert
Time to cash in the reality check
Sometimes the best way to get your child to learn is to just get your hands dirty and do some learning yourself.f

Notes From A Homeschooling Dad - by Jeff Kelety
On the Merits of Being a Bum
Find out how Jeff Kelety discovered that his kids are bums, and why he's so glad about it.

Grown Homeschoolers - by Peter Kowalke
Continuing the Family Business
How one teen left the nest, and eventually returned even more committed to her family and its business.

The Road Less Traveled - by Linda Dobson
Childhood Regained
A young adult makes an astute observation that reminds our writer just how fast kids are forced to abandon their childhood these days ... yet another reason to celebrate homeschooling.