| Save the Manatee
by Evamarie Spataro
  Manatees
thrive in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal
areas. Manatees are important to their ecosystems because they eat vegetation that grows
in estuaries. Manatees are teetering on the edge of extinction due to reckless
boat-driving humans. There is much work to be done and it can be helped with you. Find out more.
 "Developing Your Own Support
Group"
by Lauren
Brenner-Katz, homeschooling parent
This homeschooling mom says, ""What about socialization?" "How can I find a support group?"Ah, isn't this what everyone wants to know!
"How do your kids socialize when they don't go to school?" It's the top question
asked not just by prospective homeschoolers, but also by curious bystanders who seem to
imagine us cloistered alone at home, isolated from what they call 'The Real World.'"
What a turkey!!
This is our pet turkey Edward.
He was helping my husband put in the sprinklers.
See more farm animals
See Thanksgiving crafts & Thanksgiving recipes
Beth's Best Homemade Stuffing Ever!
  This
recipe is brought to us by Beth which will make a great addition to your Thanksgiving and Christmas table. Beth says, "I stumbled onto
this recipe when I used to work for a bakery , yes its good, my son who up until this
recipe would only eat stovetop, loves it you need loaf wheat bread, the gritty grainy type
(I use a 7 grain type) not wonder bread type loaf rye bread, the dark pumpernickel is
great."
 Thanksgiving Recipes
Theresa's Paper Turkeys
 This craft is from our friend Theresa Wagar. It is a fun and festive
activity especially for Thanksgiving. Theresa is always full of good ideas and willing to
share them with everyone. Theresa says, "We just had a few extra kids over for the
weekend so we did some Thanksgiving projects . . .the most exciting was making turkeys. We
did this with two 4 year olds and they loved it!"
"You're Not Crazy, It's Your
Hormones
by Larrian Gillespie
hosted by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN
  Dr. Larrian Gillespie’s newest book You're Not Crazy,
It's Your Hormones! is an intelligent guide to help ALL women understand how ALL of
their hormones work. This handbook gives women the latest health information and best
medical tools. Women, by using Dr. Gillespie’s book, can work with their physicians
in planning and utilizing the best up to date therapies.She possesses both the expertise
and real life experience to help all women. In this exclusive interview on HotFlash!, Dr
Gillespie discusses her work and she says, that "women were eager to find out how to
work through their hormone issues, but there simply wasn't any book that took them by the
hand and gave them the "inside" diagnostic tree used by physicians to figure out
WHICH hormone was at fault." Find
out more.
Paper Mache Glue Recipe
  This method of working with paper and paste allows you to mold and
work with the material much as you would clay. It is ideal for making jewelry such as pins
and earrings, and the pulp can be shaped easily to make small ornaments, decorations, and
figures. Also included are extra recipes from our members on our craft support group.
Faces of Home Education Profile
"Something
fishy?"
A passion for
oceanography
  Marsha
Ransom, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling and is the mom of 4
homeschooled kids (2 graduated and 2 to go!). Her new book is a step-by-step manual
written for the new and inexperienced homeschooler. She says, "My daughter Jacinta
Ransom has an interest in oceans. She stenciled fish and sea life on the walls of her
bedroom. We had been helping her find resources for studying the ocean for about a year
and a half when she and I decided to redecorate her room.
Want to see
Jacinta's room?"
Cat Party Favors
 This
week's Craft of the Week is brought to us from the popular activity book by Willie Ripple
author of Halloween School Parties. Willie's book not only has hundreds of Halloween
crafts but also includes ideas for foods, games, and other activities to celebrate
Halloween. Cat Favors can easily be made by children who are 4 and older. They make
terrific bookmarks and are a great activity for the kids.
Who has the
biggest dog ears in the world?
Aw, shucks I was hoping it would be me!!
See who it really is!!
"Getting Ahead of the College Game"
Helpful Hints for
Home Educated Students
by Susan Stewart
A step by plan to help you get ready for
college presented by Susan Stewart along with other articles to help you find alternative
paths to college, more about scholarhsips and more.
Christmas Gift Exchange Story
  Jenn sent in this story that is used
for a Christmas Gift Exchange. She says, "Have each guest bring a wrapped gift for
the gift exchange. Everyone sits in a circle while a narrator reads the following story.
Each time the words LEFT, RIGHT, or WRIGHT are mentioned, the gifts are passed in that
direction. Each person will keep the gift they are holding at the end of the story."
It's a lot of fun and you can print our the story to use at your party.
Reading
Rescue 1 - 2 - 3
Raise Your
Child's Reading Level 2 Grades
with This Easy 3-Step Program
Interview with Peggy M. Wilber, M.Ed.
hosted by Joe Spataro
  Peggy Wilber is
the cofounder of the Pikes Peak One+One Reading Tutoring Program and teaches parents,
grandparents, tutors and educators how to help children improve their reading skills. She
says, "Research has shown that children who don’t read well become better
readers when they receive auditory training." Find out more about her system, how it
relates to dyslexia and ADD/ADHD, and get some practical tips to help your child learn to
read better.
Find out more
Handprint Magnets
  This is brought to you by our good
friend and craft guru Kathy Ross, author of kids' craft and activity books. Her
craft this week, Handprint Magnets comes from her book called Crafts to Make in the
Fall. This craft requires very little supplies, is perfect for the individual child,
or a group setting. These magnets make wonderful homemade presents and are sure to
liven up any refrigerator!
Pumpkin Seed Flower
This craft is brought to you by Irene Hayes. She is the mother, works part time
and has been co-chair of her kids' school council the past 2 years and is president of the
P.T.O. Irene's children love to do crafts, so she has cupboards and cupboards in the
basement filled with anything and everything that you can make a craft with. This is an
excellent craft for all ages especially for our preschoolers. The seeds can be used to
help with both counting and spatial skills (placing the seeds in the circle).
"Internships & Apprenticeships"
from "The
Teenage Liberation Handbook"
by Grace Llewellyn
 Whenever a discussion ensues about
homeschooling, and especially unschooling, in our many discussion groups, Grace's name
always comes up along with her landmark book. Grace Llewellyn is a former middle school
English teacher, the director of Not Back to School Camp, the founder of the Genius Tribe
resource center and mail order catalog, and the editor of two other books on unschooling.
She has graciously permitted us to reprint part of Chapter 33 which deals with Internships
and Apprenticeships.Don't forget to join our unschoolng support group where you can ask
your questions or make a comment.
52 lbs of sweet
stubborn love
See Newman and his friends on our Basset Pics page
Real Homeschool
by Kathy Banks
  Kathy Banks is a home school mom who spent less than $500 in
thirteen years of home education. She wrote a practical guide for home school parents
needing encouragement and help in educating their children, those interested in finding
out about home school and those burned out by traditional methods of education. She
features two essays which will help you on your path to build your confidence and help you
find that creative spark that lies with you. She hopes you enjoy them and will provide
encouragement to you in your homeschooling endeavors.
Is HRT Dangerous?
How
Bio-identical Hormones Can Help with Menopausal Symptoms
by Lise Cloutier-Steele
  Since the U.S. National Health
Institutes pulled the plug on their largest study of conventional hormone replacement
therapy (HRT) last year, the media have issued countless reports on the dangers of
supplementing with hormones. Among the important research discoveries: Conventional HRT
does not protect your bones or your heart, two of the primary benefits once used by
doctors as selling points to get women to fill their prescriptions. Another claim was that
the conventional HRT could alleviate the discomfort of severe flushing and night sweats.
In this article, by author Lise Cloutier-Steele of "Misinformed Consent, she
describes how to use bio-identical hormones that are made from plants. You are welcomed to
join our support group and share your experiences with our group of over 4,000 women.
Getting College Credits in High School
Interview with Liz
Kroboth
high school homeschooler & college student
 Liz Kroboth is a perfect example of Alternative
Paths to College. She was a homeschooled student who took almost two full
years of college courses while she was in high school through the CPCC Concurrent Enrollment Program in
Charlotte, North Carolina. Not only was Liz a student at the college, she got involved
with student government in a big way. According to Tony Zeiss, the president of the
college, "Liz served as our student body president 2000-2001. She was home-schooled
and was very prepared for this leadership role. She served on our board of trustees and
had to learn to move with ease from working with peers to working with some of the
community's top leaders and policy makers."
Find out more about Liz and how she did it!!
"In the Kitchen with Nigella Lawson"
by Joanne Spataro
  If you're throwing a swank soiree, either formal or casual, you'll need a great
setting, your best buds, and tasty dishes to serve. Nigella Lawson is the author of the
cookbook, "Forever Summer," a guide to making fun summer food. This influential,
critically-acclaimed British food writer and television host of "Nigella Bites"
has gained international acclaim for her easygoing, joyful attitude to cooking and baking.
She sums up her approach to culinary matters as "minimum effort for maximum
pleasure." Find out more about her and join our cooking discussion group to join our
culinary wizards ask a question or just swap recipes.
"Homeschooling Without
Reason"
by Lauren
Brenner-Katz, homeschooling parent
This homeschooling mom says, "When I first started
homeschooling, the one thing that drove me crazy were the questions. Not the constant
stream of questions from my children. But rather the barrage of homeschooling questions
from neighbors, friends, family, and the world-at large....My kids do a whole lot of
learning by simply being involved our daily family life and in the real world. That
there’s no shortage of resources and support and information out there." Lauren
tells us about her personal journey with her family and how she handles the
"questions" from non-homeschoolers. As part of the essay, we have ideas and
support for you and the opportunity to ask your questions on our support group.
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