If you are looking for a great writing experience for your homeschool, then you will want to be sure to check out the NanoWriMo Young Writers Program. This is a free program that is there to encourage the creativity of your child by writing their own novel in thirty days. Yes, I said 30 days!

The event kicks off November 1 and goes through November 30. The purpose of the event is to promote creative writing without the constraints of editing for grammar and spelling. The kids are just encouraged to use their imaginations and WRITE.

In the adult program of NanoWriMo, the expected word goal is 50,000 words. In the Young Writers Program, all participants age 17 and younger, are able to choose an age appropriate and challenging word count goal. This makes it accessible to all school age children, from Kindergarten through High School.

As the parent of a homeschooler, you are invited at the site to create your own log in and register as an educator. When you do this, you will have access to a complete curriculum that is based on the school age level of your child or children. The curriculum will help you to prepare them to write their fictional masterpieces. They will learn how to create plot and characters. But most of all, they will learn how to have fun when they are writing. As the mother of a reluctant writer, I find this to be perhaps the most exciting aspect of all!

You will also have access to a writing workbook. The workbooks are downloadable and are again based on the age of your child. The workbooks have lots of great advice and lots of worksheets that will help your child grasp the concepts that will be needed to write their novel.

We are participating in the NanoWriMo Young Writers Program this year in our homeschool. We are excited to write our own novels and meet the challenge that is before us. Even my reluctant writer is thrilled with the aspect of writing his very own book. He has some really great ideas so far and I can’t wait to see his finished product when the month is over. He loves that we won’t even worry about editing his story until December, because that is when it is time to edit. November is the time to just write, write, write.

I will be participating in the adult version of NanoWriMo. This gives me something else to do with my child and will help to form an even greater bond between us. I will post updates for you on both of our progress through this venture. I invite you to join us and see what we will each create, being limited only by our own unique imaginations!

The planner runs $39 and is a great value for everything that is included. There are even sheets to help organize your household! There are articles by several of the great homeschooling authors that are informative and inspiring. There are even recipes included for dinner ideas each month. Yumm!

If you want a sneak peek at this planner, then you can visit The Old Schoolhouse store. BUT if you want a chance to win one of these planners for free, (actually 3 chances) then you will want to visit this post over at Homeschooling From the Trenches. The contest ends on September 12, 2008, so hurry and enter! You will love, love, love this e-book and I want you to have a chance to win a free copy. Just follow the directions in the blog post and you could very well be the proud new owner of a free copy of The Schoolhouse Planner.

This little video that I am sharing with you today shows the fun that can be had in a homeschool. If you are not engaging in fun activities, then I hope it will inspire you. If you already are, then I hope it will bring a smile to your face as you watch it.

What are some of your favorite homeschool activities? Leave me a comment and share.

I think that perhaps one of my very favorite functions of the Homeschool Tracker is that I can generate a report card for my child. This makes him feel like he is accountable for his grades and it ensures that I am doing what I need to do also. I can also generate a transcript for my child when necessary.

The program takes a little bit to get used to, but there are several helps all along the way. The user manual is put together very well and their site offers step by step guides with screen shots if you really want to have your hand held. There is also a forum that you can register for and ask other homeschool parents any questions that you may have.

The basic edition of the Homeschool Tracker is free and includes any updates that you may need forever. It has many useful functions and many people find they are able to accomplish all that they need to with this version.

I upgraded this year to the Homeschool Tracker Plus version which is a paid version. I wanted to try out the other functions that are included with this version and I am now wondering why I didn’t upgrade sooner. I absolutely love all of the little extra’s that are included for what I consider to be a rather nominal and extremely reasonable price. Again, any future upgrades are included in the price forever.

I know that this school year will be organized and I will be able to generate just about any kind of report that I can possibly think of with ease. I will be able to motivate my child and account for his studies. If you are looking for a great organizational tool for your homeschool, I highly suggest this great product.

What do you use to organize your homeschool? Have you used Homeschool Tracker? What did you think and why? Leave me a comment and share.

Here is the first part of the video series:

What are your thoughts about homeschooling now? Leave me a comment and share.

Many people do not like the HSLDA or Home School Legal Defense Association. There are many people I know who disagree with some of their stances and causes. However, I have found lots of useful information on their site that is available for free. They are advocates of the right to homeschool and their organization works to further this cause and belief.

One of the most useful bits of information is the breakdown that they provide of requirements by each state. This information can help you to comply with your state standards and to know your legal rights as a homeschool family. I visited this part of the site to save myself some time in discovering what the requirements were for my new state.

I was able to find out that our new state needed notice of our intent to homeschool and they also needed proof of an educational plan and curriculum. I was able to file this information in the local school district office. It was pretty painless, and now I do not need to worry about being found truant by the local school district.

Do you know what the laws are for your state and homeschooling? If you are not sure, you may want to visit the HSLDA website and become informed. I have always kept a copy in my school files just in case I should ever need to use it. Knowing the requirements for your state is not just a good idea. It is a necessary exercise in order to keep your rights safe as a homeschooler.

So, what do you need to do in order to legally homeschool in your state? Leave me a comment and share.

Photo provided by jeltovski

A lapbook is simply a portfolio of your child’s work that is presented in a creative and eye catching manner. It will encompass a series of creative creations made of paper that will focus on various aspects of the topic you are studying in your homeschool. As your child learns new material, you will want them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. This can be accomplished by making a series of mini reports, charts, graphs, illustrations, photos, recipes and the list can go on and on. All of these mini projects are then compiled into a special folder that you make and then display creatively.

For example, suppose you are studying geography and you want to study each of the states in the US. You could make a variety of flap books, mini booklets, pamphlets and pop ups that will display the many different aspects of the topic. You could have a layered tabbed book with four different panels that could list the state bird, state flower, state motto and the date inducted into the union. A pop up could show a picture of the state’s flag and any information about it. A three fold pamphlet could describe any information about that state you want to cover such as national parks, tourist attractions, etc. After you have completed the many different elements of your lapbook, you will then fasten each element into a colored file folder. This will create a vast array of visual pleasure when you open it.

You will find that your kids are drawn to creating these lapbooks in your homeschool. It provides them with many opportunities to present key information in a condensed format that is fun. They will also gain an element of graphic art presentation as they learn to present their materials in a manner that is visually stimulating. It will keep them stimulated and excited to learn even when faced with tedious studies. By having your kids share their creations, they gain self esteem and also review the materials without being forced to.

To see some samples of finished lapbooks, you can visit Peakmore Academy Lapbooks. For more information on how to create the different elements of your lapbooks, please download this guide provided by Tobin’s Lab.

The possibilities of using lapbooking in your homeschool are endless. What are some of the ways you will use this technique in your homeschool?

Photo courtesy of Peakmore Academy Lapbooks

Cinco de Mayo is observed on May 5th. It is the celebration of courage exhibited, by the Mexican people during the La Batalla de Puebla… a battle that was fought on May 5th, 1862. (It is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day.)

On that day, in history, Mexican soldiers defeated the French army, who held the distinction of being the then strongest military force in the world.

Even though Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, it is observed more by the Mexican population, living in the U.S., than in Mexico. Even so, it remains a celebration of Mexican culture… featuring wonderful tradition, festive music and yummy food.

The resources I’ve included here are really just the tip of the iceberg. You can always perform your own search to generate even more ideas.

A to Z Teacher Stuff is a WONDERFUL site, for all of your lesson plan needs. They feature links to all kinds of Cinco de Mayo crafts, themed activities designed for special needs children, Cinco de Mayo bingo, tortilla wrap recipe, a mini theme unit and a whole lot more. Lesson plans available for grade levels K-12.

The Teacher’s Corner features tons of great teaching ideas, relating to Cinco de Mayo. These include, but are no limited to, a word search generator (this can actually be used to make your own word search puzzles, for ANY subject), theme units, instructions for making a piñata or paper bag poncho and a trivia hunt.

Scholastic Teaching Resources provides several interesting lesson plan ideas, for grade levels 3 through 8. Some of these include: interview transcripts with famous Latinos, a yummy enchilada recipe, a global trek through Mexico, Hispanic history makers, Mexican-related web quests and more.

What is your favorite Cinco de Mayo website? If celebrating the holiday is traditional in your family, what do you love most about it? Maybe you have a Mexican recipe you’d love to share? Please take the time to comment to these questions, below.

Comments? Questions? Please email me, TODAY!

Photo by: CORunner

Brenda, the financial editor here on our network, has put together a very informative post entitled ‘High Gas Prices Affecting Families’. It is definitely must read material. To begin, Brenda tells us…

“As gas prices climb to record highs ($3.51/gallon national average) every family is affected financially. Even those who don’t commute to their jobs find themselves paying higher and higher prices for groceries trucked across the country and for airline tickets.

According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, gasoline prices top concerns over jobs and health troubles. Families are more concerned about the rising cost of gas than about paying their mortgage or health care bills.”

Sadly, this is true. These ungodly prices seem almost life changing. Most of us are in the same boat right now, just trying to keep our heads above water. If we don’t see a decline in prices… who knows what will happen.

In the meantime, there are things you can do to make your homeschooling day more affordable. Consider virtual field trips and the many online resources available to you, in regard to no-cost worksheets, school supplies, etc.

If you hang out with other families who homeschool, talk to them about swapping supplies that are no longer needed. You might be surprised by what they have to offer.

How are you dealing with soaring prices? What have you had to eliminate from your day and have you found an adequate replacement? Now, more than ever, we need to share ideas. Let’s not let the rising cost of gas rain on our homeschooling parade!

Comments? Questions? Please email me, TODAY!

The following video features an excellent explanation of events that occurred. The purchase is commonly referred to as the best real estate deal in history… for just pennies an acre I am inclined to agree.

The following sources provide lesson plans, appropriate for all grade levels. If you have never incorporated the Louisiana Purchase into your curriculum, there’s no better time than today!

At Teachers Guides/Lesson Plans, K-4 lesson plans include: French sayings and map reading. Grades 5-9 will enjoy making trivia books. 9-12 grade level curriculum includes: Louisiana’s Indian tribes, the 1812 Louisiana Constitution and the price of European commodities, in 1803.

If you are considering teaching your children about the Louisiana Purchase, what unique ideas do you have? Have you found other curriculum sources you are willing to share? If so, please post them here.

Comments? Questions? Please email me, TODAY!