| 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.'"
"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.
"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.
"Sing With Me A-B-C"
by Bente
Martinsen and Solveig Pedersen
hosted by Joe Spataro
featuring FREE samples of her program
  "Sing With Me ABC" works with basic
letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and also with numbers and rhythm and rhyme. The
books supplement any reading and music curriculum for pre-school and kindergarten. In this
interview with author Bente Martinsen, she discusses how music is such a valuable part of
the learning process, how the program was developed, her perspectives from Europe compared
to the US, how the collaboration began with her co-author Solveig Pedersen; and FREE
samples of how the program works with the letters A, N, P & the whole alphabet. If you
have a question about the program, you are welcome to participate in our discussion group
and ask a question.
Martin Luther King & Rosa Parks
by Harold Evans
excerpted from "The American Century"
  Learn more about how Martin Luther King & Rosa Parks emerged on the
national scene from a wonderful excerpt from The American Century from Harold Evans who
writes, "...late on the afternoon of December 1, 1955, a simple seamstress in
Montgomery, Alabama, refused to give up her bus seat to a white man because she was too
tired, and unknowingly sparked the historic confrontation of the Montgomery bus boycott.
The real story is more complex – and more inspiring." Find out more about these
pivotal events in the history of the Civil Right movement.
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
"Fundamentals of Homeschooling"
featuring "Your
Trusty Homeschool Emergency Kit"
by Ann Lahrson Fisher
 Ann Lahrson-Fisher has written an extensive exploration of how children
learn naturally in families through play, conversation, family togetherness, and the
process of growing up. This book is a common sense discussion that probes the underlying
elements of homeschool success. Ann has also graciously given us her "Trusty
Homeschool Emergency Kit" for FREE to help you get started. Don't forget to click on
the contact us to ask a question which will be forwarded to Ann and you can be part of our
FREE educational support groups. You can't get too much help!
"Keeping
American Schools Safe"
by Dr. Anne Garrett
 The headlines have been horrifying. The names of once obscure towns are
now familiar, linked to nearly overwhelming tragedy: Littleton, Colorado; Jonesboro,
Arkansas; West Paducah, Kentucky; Springfield, Oregon. Arguments rage over the possible
causes of the rash of shootings - lack of family values, violent popular culture, the easy
accessibility of guns. Find out more about identifying the characteristics or symptoms of
children with violent tendencies and learn more about what you can do to help the ones you
love to be safer from these threats.
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.
Positive Thinking for Kids
by Elizabeth Pantley
author of "Kid Cooperation, Perfect Parenting & more
 During
their growth and development, children go through many stages of self-doubt. They are
always comparing themselves to others, and they often see themselves as coming up short.
As parents, we can offset this natural tendency in our children by giving them the skills
to think more positively. We need to arm our children with a positive attitude, so that
they can stay focused in the right direction. We'll look at some typical negative
statements from children, along with some positive responses from their wise parents.
Modeling a positive attitude is one of the most effective ways of teaching your children.
Children learn what they live. Find out more.
Christian Unschooling:
Growing Your Child
in the Freedom of Christ
by Teri Brown with Elissa Wahl
  Unschooling,
child-led learning, free learning, interest based education, child-delighted learning -
These are the many names that are used to describe unschooling. Teri Brown with Elissa
Wahl have a book that addresses the needs of both "Christians" and "unschoolers". For
those Christian parents who are facing school-at-home burnout form a strict schedule, they
offer another path to learning. The book includes many essays from veteran homeschoolers
as well as practical information on how to start your own support group is included. In
this essay which is the first chapter in her book, she describes "The Dream" of
homeschooling and how to achieve it. There is also the opportunity to ask your question in
our many different homeschooling support groups.
Gour-den Delights
Using
gardening as part of a homeschooling curriculum
by Blythe Pelham
  As an
artist I'm very much a create-as-I-go kinda gal. Our children have been homeschooled since
birth, though since I think of life as learning it often seems silly to me to label what
we do as schooling. One method I frequently use in guiding/teaching involves doing
something I enjoy and pulling the children into the activity along with me. One such
passion for me is gardening. Our current gardening project took us in many directions from
which learning can 'grow' from a garden! Our gourds have seeded projects in music,
history, art, science, marketing, and more. Take a look at what we've done and tell us
what you're doing!
How to Nurture Compassion
in Your Special Child's World"
excerpted from
"Special Kids Need Special Parents"
A resource for Parents of Children With Special Needs
by Judy Lavin
  With 20 million plus families in the United States having a
child with special needs, more children with challenges are being mainstreamed into
America's public schools. Unfortunately, too often those without special needs feel
uncomfortable around a classmate who seems out-of-sync. What's more, they can translate
their discomfort into ugly behaviors, such as verbally demeaning or physically hurting the
individual with differences. Helping youngsters become more sensitive is always important.
Here are some specific ways to make kids feel more comfortable.
"Homeschooling the Child with ADD"
(Or Other Special
Needs): Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the Child with Learning
Differences
by Lenore Colacion Hayes
 Lenore is a counselor who has worked with students in a public
school and at the university level. She is also the director of BayShore School and is
also the coordinator for the annual Southern CA Homeschool Conference. In this interview
and FREE excerpt from her book, Lenore shares with us how she became interested in special
needs kids and how to deal with the special challenges that homeschooling can present. In
her essay from her book, "What's Wrong with My Child?" she explores how to deal
with the realization that your child is different and why homeschooling is a viable
alternative. It's a great opportunity to join our ADD support group and get answers to
your questions.
"Why Do You Homeschool"
by Blythe
Pelham
A friend and fellow homeschooler asked recently what my answer was
when people inquired why I homeschool. I replied that it depended on who was asking and
what I thought their motivation might be. Even when I thought I could trust the question
and the questioner, I didn't have a neat little response to pull from my pocket. My
friend's query did get me thinking . . . and thinking quite a bit. I know the pieces I
write for the newsletter help me to clarify my own reasons for homeschooling.
Let me tell you more...
"Are
You Qualified to Homeschool?"
by Julie
Gattis
excerpted from "McGraw Hill Homeschool Companion"
hosted by Joe Spataro
 Julie
Gattis is a homeschooling mom of four children and the co-author of the McGraw Hill
Homeschooling Companion. She took her experience and collaborated with her co-author Laura
Saba to create a book which is a comprehensive guide containing vital information. In this
interview and FREE excerpt from her book, Julie shares with us some of her insights on
what it takes for a parent to be "qualified to homeschool" and also some tips on
educating children with special needs.
Summer
Learning by Osmosis
by Beth Bruno
 Many educators say, "Students leave us every spring as
efficient, effective learners, but after two months of vacation their minds have turned to
mush! We have to spend many weeks every fall reviewing and re-teaching them what they have
forgotten over the summer." Whether your child is in a traditional school or you are
a homeschooler, essential skills can be lost over the summer, unless you take an active,
yet subtle, role in your kids continuing education over the summer.
Doggie Diva in Seventeen Magazine
by Joanne
Spataro
 A young impressionable homeschooling dog takes an impromptu picture
in the backyard. Through the efforts of her homeschooling human companions, she now graces
the pages of Seventeen magazine in the June 2002 issue.
Has success gone to her head?
Will she ever eat regular dog food again?
Find out as we trace her canine journey from obscurity to her fifteen minutes of fame!!
"Nebel's
Elementary Education"
A Complete
Guide for an entire K-5 curriculum
by Bernard Nebel, Ph.D.
hosted by Joe Spataro
  Dr. Nebel has a new book which is an easy-to-read, one-stop
resource providing both subject material and methods of presentation to help guide
children (K-5) to superior levels of achievement. In this interview, he tells us a bit
about how he developed this book which is filled with hundreds of hands-on exercises,
logically compiled and integrated in a thematic manner. In an excerpt from his book he
describes four basic methods of teaching, which may help you to structure your own
program. Best of all, he will be available to answer questions that you may have on our
discussion groups.
Shakespeare Youth Theatre
by Beth Bruno
& Lois Lake Church
 The
Shakespearean Youth Theatre, a group of 14 homeschooled young people, ages 12 to 17, from
many parts of Connecticut, has performed annually since 1997 at the Puppet House Theater
in Stony Creek (Branford), CT. Each January the troupe chooses a play and begins
rehearsing. The entire troupe is dedicated to performing quality productions of
Shakespeare and learning about the play, the playwright and theater. To this end, the cast
is highly involved in every aspect of the production, from selecting and editing the play,
to publicity, sets and costumes. Find out more about the troupe and how you might be able
to form your own company where you live.
  homeschooling
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