May-June/04

Table of Contents HEM May-June 2004

Articles

Ode to a Maternal Teacher - by Sarah Fletcher
How do you know you made the right decision to homeschool? Just hope you get a thank you letter like the one Sarah Fletcher wrote to her mom.

Kinder "Garden:" A Harvest of Math Lessons - by Carrie De Francisco
Carrie De Francisco learns how much math her daughter can learn from measuring their vegetables.

Summer Enrichment or Core Curriculum: What They Do for Fun; We Do for School! - by Joanne Yeck
Joanne Yeck's family learns together by taking advantage of summer study programs.

Home Exchange Vacation - by Lynne Lisa
Lynne Lisa describes how her family enjoyed a vacation in Paris by trading homes with a French family.

A View from the Other Side - by Deb Ramsey
When Deb Ramsey's daughter asked to go to "real" school, she followed her unschooling philosophy and signed her up. In doing so, Deb received an education she didn't expect.

Confessions of a Conniving Homeschool Mom - by Karen Kirkwood
With a little manipulation, Karen Kirkwood enjoys the rewards of her daughter's interests while they learn.

Changing Lives - by Nancy Friedland
Nancy Friedland shares her feelings about her daughter moving away from home.

Free Software--A Homeschooler's Dream - by Janean Nusz
Janean Nusz knows how to find free Internet software and she'

Departments

Letters and Discussions -
Readers write about articles and columns including: Does Homeschooling Have To Be Political?, Editorial: Schooling, Viva La Nerds!, African-American Homeschoolers, Homeschooled Teens Can Rest Easier, Too Much of a Good Thing?

Homescholing History -
A Large Dose of Reality
An important 'History in the Making' compilation of mainstream media news stories from the last year, with many reports connected to public school enrollment.

Columns

Ask Carol - by Carol Narigon
What's the Right Way to Write?
Advice on helping pre-teen boys become excited and curious about writing.

Questions & Answers - by Laura Weldon
Homeschooling with Chronic Fatigue and Finding Local Homeschoolers
Laura shares readers answers to questions about getting tired teens ready for college and how to seek out local homeschooling families?

Taking Charge - by Larry & Susan Kaseman
Let's Keep Homeschoolers Out Of Public School ID Systems
This column discusses reasons the ID numbers and databases are being established, problems with them, and what we can do to help ensure that we homeschoolers are not drawn into them.

Publisher's Notes - by Helen Hegener
Apples and Oranges, Pears and Rocks, Schools and Homeschools
Helen explores the similarities of and differences between schools and homeschools.

News & Commentary - by Ann Lahrson Fisher
Winning Kids, Attack of the Army Ants, Pro-Active Bills
Ann reviews highlights from her weekly news updates.

Good Stuff - by Becky Rupp
Under the Big Top: Elephants, Acrobats and Tricycles
Homeschoolers don't have to leave home to run away to the circus.

Homeschooling Books - by Elizabeth McCullough
Home Schooling Reflections and Unqualified Education
Reviews of two self-published books, Home Schooling Reflections and Unqualified Education.

My Word! - by David H. Albert
A Long Way Since Yo-Yos
An essay discussing the relative pros and cons of the video game phenomenon: insidious evil or brilliant development?

Unschooling - by Sandra Dodd
Jubilation and Triangulation
Sandra remnds us that learning works best when we're playing around. It has to do with merrily connecting the dots, in a real world way, and in a mental-connection way.

Road Less Traveled - by Linda Dobson
C'mon, People Now, Smile on Your Brother, Everybody Get Together...
Networking is vital to maintaining interest and passion in home education, and there's no place to network like a conference.