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January2002
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In the January issue:
~ Empowered by Homeschooling ~
~ Make Your Own Snowflake ~
~ Ask Carol ~
~ unschooling.com ~
~ Fetch My Book! ~
~ Building a House ~
~ US Consumer Product Safety Commission ~
~ Schooling: The Hidden Agenda ~
~ Writer's Guidelines ~
~ It's a Mystery! ~
~ The Final Word ~
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"Many students, especially those who are poor, intuitively know what the schools do for them. They school them to confuse process and substance. Once these become blurred, a new logic is assumed: the more treatment there is, the better are the results; or, escalation leads to success. The pupil is thereby 'schooled' to confuse teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to say something new. His imagination is 'schooled' to accept service in place of value. Medical treatment is mistaken for health care, social work for the improvement of community life, police protection for safety, military poise for national security, the rat race for productive work.
~~ Ivan Illich (1926-2002) ~~
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EMPOWERED BY HOMESCHOOLING
http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/201.html
Because we had learned to question the experts, we researched alternatives to childbirth in a hospital. I read books, searched the Internet, and finally made an appointment with a midwife to discuss home birth. Until I homeschooled, I had never met anyone who had given birth at home. Now, as a homeschooling mom, I know several. I don't have any statistics on the matter, but I'd venture to say a greater percentage of homeschoolers choose home birth than women in the general population. I think the same spirit that allows you to question the experts about education carries over to every other part of your life. Setting the spirit free allowed me to question the medical experts and choose to give birth to my third child at home.
Entering the world of homeschooling empowered me in yet another way. I find I'm rubbing elbows with women who are independent, creative, and industrious. Their lives aren't just about educating their children. These women--my friends--are writers, artists, business owners, philanthropists, consultants, empowered. Is it homeschooling that empowered them? I think not. I think we all have an empowered spirit within us, and that spirit is what allows them, and me, to put aside the advice of the experts and follow our own paths. It is homeschooling, though, that helped me get in touch with the empowered woman inside.
When I started homeschooling my children I woke up and opened my eyes, and now I see everything differently. I no longer dream of a showcase home and two new cars in the garage. I dream much bigger dreams now. I want to be everything God created me to be.
Robert Browning said, "My business is not to remake myself, but make the absolute best of what God made." I know now what he made is pretty incredible, powerful even, and I've only begun to imagine the things of which I am capable. I want to be the absolute best I can be. I want the same for my children, and I think homeschooling them is the very best start.
~~ Excerpt from Jennifer Miller's article in the Jan/Feb 2003 issue of Home Education Magazine.
You can read the rest of this article, as well as a couple other articles and columns from the current HEM at the address above, but you'll have to get the magazine--the one you hold in your hands--to read them all! See special subscription information in this newsletter, or visit your local bookseller to get your copy today.
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MAKE YOUR OWN SNOWFLAKE
http://www.carolina.com/earth/snowflake.asp
Whether you've got snow on the ground or not, you can make your own snowflake inside with just a few simple materials. (Although this experiment calls for a Bunsen burner or hotplate, a microwave or stove will boil the water adequately.) Carolina Biological offers a number of science experiments on their website and their catalog is a homeschooler's dream list of science goodies.
To supplement your snowflake experiment, check out the information at these sites as well:
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals
http://www.teelfamily.com/activities/snow/science.html
Finally, a great book on snowflakes is "Snowflake Bentley" by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Check it out at your local library, and read more about Bentley at http://www.snowflakebentley.com.
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ASK CAROL
In addition to editing this newsletter, I write a column for Home Education Magazine. Now, I don't want to take Dear Abby's place, but I will take those thorny questions and problems you struggle with and try to give you some options or information that might help you. Although I don't answer the questions in this newsletter (this month is an exception), I do answer them in every issue of HEM, the original print version where homeschoolers have found support for over 20 years. A couple of them are online (http://www.homeedmag.com), but most you have to read in the magazine.
I really like to get your questions-any questions at all, even if you think your question is too stupid and you're the only one who has your particular problem (probably not true). So, don't be shy; don't procrastinate; send me your questions. I even have a special email address: askcarol@homeedmag.com. Of course, I don't promise I can answer every question in the magazine (especially if you don't send one!), but I try to respond to each one, whether I use it for a column or not. Don't wait! (~ CN ~)
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UNSCHOOLING.COM
http://www.unschooling.com
Posted on the unschooling-dotcom email list by Lee:
"In a book I am currently reading 'Bread Alone' by Judith Ryan Hendricks (not a particularly great novel - one I call a fine beach read) the following dialogue takes place between two people in their early 30s (who will end up together in the end, I can already surmise!)
'Why did you drop out of school?' I ask. He doesn't look up from his coffee. 'Don't you want a degree?'
A tolerant smile. 'It's just a piece of paper that says you did what's expected.'
'It's too easy to trivialize things like education?or marriage-by saying it's just a piece of paper.'
'Those things have already been trivialized. The purpose of going to college isn't to learn, it's to get the paper. The purpose of the paper is to get you the job so you can keep on doing what's expected.'
'Are you really that cynical?' I blow on my coffee to cool it, take a tentative sip.
'I'm not cynical. I'm realistic. I like my life. I don't need any more than what I have.'
'That's fine for now. You're young and strong. What about the future?'
'The future is something dreamed up by insurance companies and high school guidance counselors to keep you from enjoying the present.'
'You're going to get old, Peter Pan. What if you get sick? What if--'
He laughs. 'I prefer to burn my bridges as I come to them.'"
Unschooling.com offers a free monthly newsletter, message boards, an email list and more just for unschoolers. To subscribe to the email list send a blank email to: Unschooling-dotcom-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Or visit the email list website at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom .
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FETCH MY BOOK!
http://www.fetchbook.info
Looking for the best price on a particular book? You'll love this website. Enter the title, author or ISBN and FetchBook.Info will search 62 popular bookstores for the lowest price. You can also search by genre if you'd rather browse. This site is a must for any bibliophile or college student. (I found my son's college textbooks for next quarter at less than half the price of the college bookstore. Don't you love a bargain?)
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HOME EDUCATION MAGAZINE
http://www.homeedmag.com
To mark the start of our 20th year, Home Education Magazine is offering a one year introductory subscription for $20.00! (reg $32.00)
The Jan/Feb 2003 issue of Home Education Magazine articles on surviving tough times, non-school recess, homeschool empowerment, math renovation and more. From the columnists: the Kaseman's keep your privacy; Becky Rupp tells folktales; David Albert learns to love math; Sandra Dodd respects children; Elizabeth McCullough reviews "Fundamentals of Homeschooling"; and Carol Narigon (that's me) gets dad off your back. Other columnists include Ann Zeise, Peter Kowalke, Linda Dobson, and Laura Weldon. HEM also offers a special essay by publisher Helen Hegener, classified ads, letters and discussion, pen pals and networking, and more. (http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/201/issuecontent.html)
To take advantage of this price mention HEM Online News when contacting us. To order write: Home Education Magazine, PO Box 1083, Tonasket WA 98855; call toll-free 1-800-236-3278; email orders@homeedmag.com. Or use our secure online form at: http://www.homeedmag.com/ORD/_hemonline.html. MC/Visa/Disc cards accepted.
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BUILDING A HOUSE
http://www.homesofourown.org
If you've got a potential architect, carpenter, or contractor in your family, you'll want to send for the free Building Homes of Our Own software from the National Association of Home Builders. The software recently won the 2002 International EMMA (Electronic Multimedia Award) in the Learning 3-18 category.
According to the NAHB website, "Building Homes of Our Own is an interactive teaching tool developed for the middle school classroom environment. The game presents a macro view of the entire home building process from site selection to final sale. Players will collect information, solve problems and make choices as they build a 3D home against a budget. When complete, players review credit applications and sell to the buyer of their choice." The game comes with a teaching guide as well.
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US CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
http://www.cpsc.gov
Whether you like to keep up on product recalls, want to report an unsafe product or are looking for safety information for your children, this website has a lot to offer. You can find recalls, press releases and safety information on everything from air conditioners to ice cream scoops to paper weights to worm probes. (Yeah, I had to go look at that last one. Don't think I want one.) If you have any doubts about the safety of any of the holiday gifts in your house, it wouldn't hurt to check at the CPSC site. Doing so could save a life.
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SCHOOLING: THE HIDDEN AGENDA
http://www.ishmael.org/Education/Writings/unschooling.shtml
"I'd been hired at SRA to work on a major new mathematics program that had been under development for several years in Cleveland. In my first year, we were going to publish the kindergarten and first-grade programs. In the second year, we'd publish the second-grade program, in the third year, the third-grade program, and so on. Working on the kindergarten and first-grade programs, I observed something that I thought was truly remarkable. In these grades, children spend most of their time learning things that no one growing up in our culture could possibly avoid learning. For example, they learn the names of the primary colors. Wow, just imagine missing school on the day when they were learning blue. You'd spend the rest of your life wondering what color the sky is. They learn to tell time, to count, and to add and subtract, as if anyone could possibly fail to learn these things in this culture. And of course they make the beginnings of learning how to read. I'll go out on a limb here and suggest an experiment. Two classes of 30 kids, taught identically and given the identical text materials throughout their school experience, but one class is given no instruction in reading at all and the other is given the usual instruction. Call it the Quinn Conjecture: both classes will test the same on reading skills at the end of twelve years. I feel safe in making this conjecture because ultimately kids learn to read the same way they learn to speak, by hanging around people who read and by wanting to be able to do what these people do."
~~ Daniel Quinn ~~
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WRITER'S GUIDELINES
If you'd like to write for HEM or submit photos for an upcoming issue, write for a copy of Home Education Magazine's writer's guidelines by sending an email titled "writer's guidelines" to HEM-Editor@homeedmag.com.
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IT'S A MYSTERY!
http://www.enc.org/redirect/dd/?dd_id=1054
Here's a great site for older kids and adults. From Access Excellence, the site for health and bioscience teachers and learners, the Mystery Spot offers several rather complicated medical mysteries to solve using clues and interviews interspersed throughout an illustrated storyline. You really have to pay attention and use your brain to solve these mysteries. See how you do, and then browse the parent site at http://www.accessexcellence.org for much more information on biology and life sciences. You'll find other games, lesson plans and news about a broad range of health issues.
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HEM ONLINE NEWS UNCLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
For information on purchasing unclassified advertising space in this newsletter, please contact the editor at Newsletter Email.
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USBORNE
UsborneAmerica.com
New books are in -- browse our new titles list and enter a drawing for $50 in free books at http://www.UsborneAmerica.com. New consultant kit for January includes a free business website. Email sharonve@aol.com or call 888-474-8499 for personal shopping service. Sharon Vander Ende, Independent supervisor, Usborne America.
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GNARLY MATH
gnarlymath.com
LEARN WHY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE changed a famous speech in his play "As You Like It". We interview him, Queen Elizabeth I, and the scientist who proved the Earth is a magnet in the new issue of our FREE math newsletter the Gnarly Gnews --- this issue dated January, 1599. Subscribe now at http://www.gnarlymath.com , where you'll discover a moneyback-guaranteed CD-ROM that will show your kids how easy and fun math can be, and will help you refresh your own math.
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THE RESOURCEFUL HOMESCHOOLER
resourcefulhomeschooler.com
Looking for something to do? Why not: ** Stage a Costume Ball from the Middle Ages ** Fly Through Human Anatomy ** Take a Virtual Walk through the Rainforest ** Program a Robot ** Build a Computer Game ** The Resourceful Homeschooler carries great books, science materials and kits, learning games, and the most interesting software. Visit http://www.resourcefulhomeschooler.com. Materials to involve, inspire and support independent learners of all ages!
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TEACH YOUR CHILD TO READ! TRY ONLINE LESSONS NOW FOR FREE!
Headsprout.com
Headsprout Reading is the fun, Internet-delivered beginning reading program that will give your child a real advantage by systematically teaching essential skills and strategies ensuring reading success and confidence. Outstanding fast results! After just five 20-minute animated, interactive episodes, children read their first Headsprout book. Act quickly! For a limited time you can try out Headsprout Reading FOR FREE! http://www.headsprout.com Please enter the promotional code: HENA3
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THE GREAT WORD RACE
TheGreatWordRace.com
Now that the holidays have passed, let's get ready to start an exciting new year with an exciting game, The Great Word Race. People of all ages will have fun challenging their spelling skills as you roll dice to build words as you race to the finish line. Special playing cards use prefixes, suffixes, and word blends to help you build words. Other cards let you keep special letters for the rest of the game. Visit our website for additional information. http://www.TheGreatWordRace.com
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HomeSchool FreeStuff
HomeschoolFREEStuff.com
Homeschool Curriculum-Fair In-A-Box! Why go to the fair, when the fair can come to you! If you already use a curriculum, you can find great ways to supplement your curriculum. If you haven't selected a curriculum, this is the best way to find out! Now you can find out which curriculum is best for your child! https://www.3moms.com/html/SECURE_curriculum_sampler_kit.asp?adid=162
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FINAL WORD
"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost."
~~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr. ~~
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See you next month!
Carol Narigon, Newsletter Editor Newsletter Email
Mark and Helen Hegener, Publishers of Home Education Magazine
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