The Carnival of Homeschooling - the Founding Fathers edition

Welcome to the 184th edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling!



July fourth is when the United States celebrates its independence from Great Britain. School taught me the basic facts of the Revolutionary War. As I grew older I grew more impressed by the caliber of men and the momentous events that lead to the formation of the United States.

(The following images are from various US Federal Government web sites.)

Founding Fathers

The Founding Fathers were an amazing set of men. They created a new country on a foundation of freedom. For centuries most countries were lead by kings. The Founding Fathers organized a new type of government. They were wise. They put limits on government and separated the powers. These men often gave credit to their mothers.

Homeschoolers know that mothers are very important in the raising of sons and daughters. Homeschoolers recognize the important of family, and spending time together as a family.

Beth shares some great thoughts about boys~ wild at heart, on her blog the brew*crew adventure. Now that Janine and I have a boy we’ve noticed some of the same issues.

Elena has 8 tips for homeschooling little boys! at her blog My Domestic Church.

Tonya writes about Getting Boys Interested in Reading on her blog Explore-Discover-Learn.

Keith wonders about the balance between Family Time vs. Computer Time??? Children's Ministry Buzz.


Freedom

The Founding Fathers saw Freedom as being at the very corner stone of life. Men should be free to make chooses. Men should be free to live their lives as they saw fit. The Founding Fathers created the United States with the intent that men would be free and stay free.

Homeschoolers also revere freedom. They fight to maintain their freedom from government interference. They oppose needless regulations. They stay informed and organized to keep limits on government bureaucracies.

Lara writes in Summer School Anyone? that one of the reasons she homeschools is: “…having the freedom to create your own school calendar is one of the many reasons I enjoy homeschooling.” on her blog Texas Homesteader.

Homeschoolers choose to homeschool for many reasons. In response to a post by Heather, Alasandra says two reasons to homeschool are Not the worst reasons to homeschool.

Free publications and fast food prizes can be useful in YOUR homeschool, too! Mrs. C explains how at her blog Homeschool and Etc.

Independence

Initially few American Colonists pushed for independence. The majority saw themselves as Englishmen. They wanted the rights and privileges of Englishmen. As Great Britain attempted to treat them as second class citizens more and more colonists decided independence as the only option for free man.

Many homeschoolers like their independence. They like being able to go slower, or faster, or deeper, or even skip certain topics. They like being able to teach when, where and how they feel is best.

We can be independent about where we learn. For example we can learn a lot outside the classic academic curriculum, here are some Life lessons on the farm, at Learning at Home.

We can be independent about how we learn. Jugglingpaynes has thoughts on exactly How do we learn? at Home Spun Juggling.

Not everything has to be learned from a book. Sebastian and her family been enjoying using audiobooks for school and have found some great sources of free books on audio. (From Percival Blakeney Academy)

Many of the Founding Fathers had private tutors. Meaghan has 5 Reasons You Should Find a Tutor for Your Child at Tutorfi.com.


Responsibility

The Founding Fathers understand that with freedom come responsibilities. Free men have a responsibility to maintain freedom. They need to continually watch the government, stay informed, be informed in their voting, and stay active in politics.

Homeschoolers recognize that they are responsible for the education of their children. It is often daunting at first, but over time they step up and shoulder their responsibilities.

Matthew comments on USA Today on Freedom from Responsibility on Jay P. Greene’s Blog. Matthew makes the point that many want freedom, but not responsibility.

As homeschoolers we have responsibilities to our children. We may also have responsibilities to each other. With Homeschooling, unschooling, not schooling Andrea encourages us as homeschoolers to work harder to get along, on her Atlanta Education Homeschool Blog.

Part of our responsibility can be to help others. Kerry answers the question about homeschooling of How did you get started? (From A Ten O'Clock Scholar)

Dana responds to a frequent question about multi-aged homeschooling on her blog Principled Discovery. You might drop by and see how others handle teaching children of different ages.

Trust in God

The Founding Fathers were varied in their religious beliefs, but they had a reference for the divine. They often started their meetings with prayer. Many pleaded with God for help in making decisions and his support in carrying out their plans.

Many homeschoolers are also deeply religious. They pray and study scriptures as a family. Many homeschool because they want their children to know God.

In Do They See God? Amy asks “When our children look at us, our actions and reactions and our every day interactions, do they readily see the Lord working in and through OUR lives?” from her blog Raising Arrows.

Jaime writes about Training Children on her blog For His Glory. She expands on the scripture from Proverbs 22:6 about training up a child.

With In God We Trust Wendy reflects on Independence Day reflections on what we should be teaching our children regarding the faith of our founding fathers, at A Divine Calling - Musings on Motherhood.

Sam reminds us about the Importance of Nature from My Green Garden.

Mama4x provides a thoughtful review of “Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space” on her blog higher education.

Growing in Grace has religious related posts by three young homeschooled girls. Miss Jessica wrote about sandalwood trees and their root system. Miss Monica June wrote about gathering and choosing acorns for planting. And Lady Jess has a fruit salad recipe.


Plans

The Founding Fathers were organized. They made plans on how to fight the war, how to work together, and what needed to be done. In crafting the structure of the Federal government they planned for the future.

Homeschoolers plan on a small scale. They make plans for meals, for school, for family activities and long range plans for their children.

Christy shares her plans about the Lazy Days of Summer? at her blog Mercy Every Morning.



























Writing

The Founding Fathers wrote to each other all the time. They gave each other support; they asked for help and advice; they gave warnings about the British troops. They wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

Homeschoolers also write all the time. They blog. They teach their children to write. They writer each other emails. They send questions and answers via mailing lists.

Writing Games is an introduction to a new, several-times-a-week sharing of writing prompts and ideas. PisecoMom says “We're hoping to have folks stop by and share their own writing!”

Misty asks How Do You Get Your Kids to Enjoy Writing? at Homeschool Bytes. She has some ideas to make writing more fun and interesting, but wants more.

Three letter printables help preschoolers to help spell short, simple words. Jolanthe gives the details from Homeschool Creations.


Learned from history

The Founding Fathers studied history. They realized that the best way to anticipate the future was to understand the past.

Homeschoolers also study history. They want to provide a strong understanding of major events and the motivations of people and nations.

MiaZagora listened to a radio program called “Talking it Over with Janet Parshall.” The program partly answered the question: What are the most reliable history resources? (From MiaZagora's Homeschool Minutes) I’ve asked my daughters to listen to the program.

Homeschoolers learn from history. Debbie shares the lessons she’s learned in Choosing Curriculum (and she has a freebie) at Debbie’s Digest.

Summer Learning....It's All Been Arranged has an observation from Barbara Frank that Summer is a good time to observe that our kids are wired to learn.

Homeschoolers also contemplate on their own history. After Six Years of Homeschooling Renae is feeling settled! Check out her recent experience which prompted this on her blog Life Nurturing Education.

In Reflections in Progress Amy ponders on a book she is reading and shares some homeschooling angst as she near the beginning of kindergarten for her eldest daughter, at her blog Hope Is the Word.

Educated

The Founding Fathers were all educated men. They were well read and recognized the value of education.

Homeschoolers also recognize the value of education. They work hard to make sure their children are educated.

Alan summarizes the results of a family "stock market" game for Economics credit, and the three important lessons that our kids learned, at Prose, Politics and Piety.

Math in the Real World: Erasing Debt Activity has some idea on developing relevant math lessons, at I Want to Teach Forever.

With My 10th grade report card qualifies me to have an opinion... Steven shares some of his concerns about public schools at Rough Fractals.

In Aiming For the Ideal Brenda (of The Family Revised) writes about how she learned to dream about the ideal homeschool space and then how to get that instead of limiting her dreams to just the space she had.

In Why didn't the Other Birds Help Him? Sister Lisa writes about a life lesson for my 6 yr old with the help from a science lesson, on her blog The HomeSpun Life.

In Credit Given Where Credit is Due Susan writes about the process an Illinois school district is determining how important accreditation is to quality learning. If a homeschooler/physician taught anatomy class isn't accredited, shouldn't it still be acknowledged in transfer to a public school? (From Corn and Oil)

Tiffany is Announcing - the Punctuation Police! from her blog Life on the Road. She admits “we're a bit on the ‘stickler’ side of things... But, hey, you have to draw a line somewhere!”

Christine was surprised to find that sometimes a day's activities get themed unexpectedly in Breakfast Entertainment, from her blog Our Curious Home.

Reviewed, again and again

For decades historians have reviewed the Founding Fathers. They point out their strengths and weaknesses.

Homeschoolers also do reviews. They review books and curriculums, giving their insights and observations.

Debbie reviews TOPS Green Thumbs: Corn and Beans, a science project, at her blog Debbie’s Homeschool Corner.

The Expanding Life has a review of “A Gift for Baby” by Jan Hunt

Summer can be a time to tweak our curriculum choices as well as new strategies to get the work done. Cheryl explores different resources and ideas about homeschooling and picking the right combination of resources. (Her blog HS-WAHM)

In New World Kids Review and Giveaway NerdMom reviewed a great book on teaching and encouraging creative thinking. She also has a copy to give away! (At Nerd Family Things)

Kris shares her Ten Must-Have's From the Back-to-School Aisle, from her blog Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.




If you have enjoyed this carnival, please spread the word. Please mention the carnival on your blog, and other appropriate places.

Go here for the archives of previous carnivals.

Next week the carnival will be held at Tami's Thoughts and Views.

If you are interested in submitting a post for a future carnival, click here for information.

We thank everyone who has helped out. Thank you to all the participants in this carnival. And thanks to all those who help promote the Carnival of Homeschooling.




----------
Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling