Carnival of Homeschool: Week 262 - The 5th Anniversary

Welcome to the fifth anniversary of the Carnival of Homeschooling. This is the 262th edition! It is one of the longest running weekly blog carnivals.

My wife and I are very grateful that are so many people who participate, who help promote the carnival, and who give us encouragement. We are especially appreciative of the several dozen people who take turns hosting the carnival.



The theme for this carnival revolves around quotes from the movie Princess Bride. Our family loves Princess Bride. It is one of our favorite movies. It may be one of the most quoted movies of our generation. If you start to say anywhere in the English speaking world “I don’t think that word means …” Many people will be able to finish the line.

Most of the following quotes were taken from this web site: Princess Bride Quotes.


“When I was your age, television was called books.”

The movie starts off with Peter Falk as the grandfather offering to read a book to his sick grandson. At first the grandson isn’t that interested in something as old fashioned as books. Many homeschoolers are big time book lovers.

One family usually spends a week each semester visiting libraries. Library Story with alternat(or) ending is a report of one of the visits, written by the Home School Dad.

Marlis has a Giveaway! of a 6 set interactive science book. She has the three book set and all of her family loves learning together from it. Posted at The Itchy Homeschooler.

A consideration when there's reading trouble... is Mellisa’s journey in helping her son be a better reader, posted at Bugs, Knights, and Turkeys In the Yard.


“That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying ‘As you wish’, what he meant was, ‘I love you.’”

Early in the story Buttercup learns that Wesley loves her. Homeschooling often has huge portions of love. There are a huge variety of reasons for homeschooling. Trys explains a few of hers in Letting Go & Moving Forward, on her blog Trixi’s HomeSchool Academy.

The NerdMom writes about being thoughtful in what we expose our children to in Time and Influence, from the NerdFamily Blog.


Vizzini: HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE.

Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

This is one of the most famous set of lines from the movie. I’m using this category for those posts which I couldn’t imagine putting any where else.

It is still a bit amazing to me that this is the fifth anniversary of the Carnival of Homeschooling. Sarah provides An Anniversary Perspective, from SmallWorld.

Tiffany really likes SpellQuizzer and has it available as a Giveaway, over at her blog As For My House.

Homeschooling has become more and more popular. One of the problems that comes as more and more people buy products is Curriculum Overload! (From Chrysalis Academy)

Alasandra writes that Secular doesn't mean Anti-Christian at Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog.

WooHoo---Final Day of Ancient Greece by the Eclectic Momma is about the culmination of our unit on Ancient Greece complete with Mini-Metric Olympics, Greek feast and geometry.

With The Chinese Infiltration Of American Education Judy (of Consent of the Governed) has yet another reason to homeschool your children. The Communist Chinese government is now funding American public education.

First Works from Central Europe records the process a mother went through in answering some questions her daughter had, like “Why don’t butterflies have eyes and ears like foxes do?” from the blog Afterschooling Expat.


Man in Black: Oh, there's something I ought to tell you.

Inigo Montoya: Tell me.

Man in Black: I'm not left-handed either.

People are not always what they seem to be. This can be particularly true for Homeschoolers. Because we are a small minority, homeschoolers are considered unusual and a little odd. We are often called upon to justify our decision. Annie responds to this common question with Why I Choose to Homeschool, posted at Learn at Every Turn.

We include our recent post where Janine writes about how our younger two children are Playing “School.”


Man in Black: All right. Where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right... and who is dead.

Vizzini: But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you: are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

Food can be an important part of homeschooling. Christine shares some tips in How do I cook, and homeschool? at Our Curious Home. Janine and I are also big believers in having our children help with meals.

Kim provides a short summary on Robert Toombs & a recipe from Robert’s wife that Kim picked up at Robert’s home in Washington, Georgia, from Kim’s blog Life of a Homeschool Family.


Buttercup: You mock my pain.

Man in Black: Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.

Life is hard. Sometimes the hardest parts come from dealing with extended family. Christmas can be especially stressful, if not everyone supports your decision to homeschool. MamaMary has some great tips in Family Traditions or Family FEUDS? from the Parent Community and Forum.

Much of the East coast has been hit with snow over the Christmas break. In The Dreariness of Winter We Wonder: Is There Life After Homeschooling? It is easy to become weary and discouraged. Diane Allen has some encouragement to keep us going.

Homeschooling can be quite demanding. Katey would like to know So, what else do you do? from her blog Crazy Homeschool Mama.

Do you need to be refreshed? Do you need a new perspective? Jae has some thoughts on how to get there in Refreshed and Ready to go? posted at her blog Faith and a Full House...

Vered is surprised to learn that Kids Are So Expensive! Several of the comments at Money Ning reminder her that you have great discretion on just how expensive are children.


Inigo "That's enough! That's enough! Where is this Rugen now, so I might kill him?"

Fezzik "He's with the prince in the castle. But the castle gate is guarded by thirty men."

Inigo "How many could you handle?"

Fezzik "I don't think more than ten."

Inigo "Leaving twenty for me. At my best I could never defeat that many. I need Vizzini to plan. I have no gift for strategy."

Fezzik "But Vizzini is dead."

Inigo "No...not Vizzini. I need the man in black."

Fezzik "What?"

Inigo "Look, he bested you at strength, your greatness. He bested me with steel. He must have out-thought Vizzini, and a man who can do that can plan my castle onslaught any day! Let's go!"

Planning is a key with any endeavor, but it is doubly important with homeschooling. We have several posts in this carnival on how to be more effective in planning.

My Goals for 2011 is about Jennifer’s goals for herself (and for my family) for the year 2011, posted at Musings of a Real Housewife.

In Schedules, Schedules, and more Schedules! Heather shares her schedule looks like, and how she schedules special needs homeschooling days, at Special Needs Homeschooling.

Janice has some tips in Set Priorities for the New Year to help you make your personal New Year a time of renewal and refreshment, posted at Taking Time For Things That Matter.

Andrea reminds us that Deadlines are so important for homeschoolers at her blog Notes From A Homeschooling Mom.

Robin has a twist on New Year’s resolutions in 10 "Instead Ofs" to Kick Off the New Year, posted at Crack the Egg.

In Singing the back to work blues Marbel has a new approach for helping her children get back to homeschooling after a long vacation, posted at Two Kid Schoolhouse.

In The History of our Financial Lives Mrs. White writes about the value of keeping track of where the money goes. Posted at The Legacy of Home.

Already planning for the next school year Conni reveals some ideas on how to make homeschooling go smoother in Homeschool Planning - What Works for Me, from her blog MrsMamaHen.com)


Inigo Montoya: [pushing his way through a crowd] Excuse me... Pardon me, Please it's important... Fezzik, please?

Fezzik: EVERYBODY MOVE!
[everybody clears a path]

Inigo Montoya: Thank you.

Now after twenty years Inigo Montoya is close to his goal. But he needs help. He can not do it alone. Fezzik helps him many times along the way. Homeschoolers are also very helpful. They are frequently willing to share their knowledge and give advice.

Margy was homeschooled. She has just successfully (3.98 GPA) finished her first semester at college and writes about Getting Into College – An Insider’s Point of View, at her blog Homeschool Highschool.

Are you looks for variety of ideas for homeschooling? Jimmie has Fifty Things to Put in a Notebook, at The Notebooking Fairy.

Rebecca has some tips on How to incorporate a tutor into your homeschooling environment posted at Rebecca Zook's Blog About Learning.

Linda has some thoughts on What Does No Child Left Behind (Morphed Into Race to the Top) Mean Exactly? from PARENT AT THE HELM.

Many of the posts in the Carnival of Homeschooling tend to be from the United States with sprinklings from Canada and the United Kingdom. I enjoy reading posts from other countries. Sarah explains the legal process to homeschooling in Italy, from her blog Home Educate in Italy.


Miracle Max: Have fun storming the castle!

After healing Wesley, Miracle Max and his wife wish the adventures success. Homeschooling, when done right, can be a lot of fun.

Kat reminds us that one of the benefits of homeschooling is mentoring them in our own diverse hobbies, from model building to teaching another child to quilt. Posted at No Fighting, No Biting!

In Shapes Annette writes about a day when her son didn’t want to be homeschooled, but she was able to combine learning and fun, at A Net in Time.

Jimmie explains how Using Humor to Diffuse a Bad Attitude can work, at Jimmie's Collage.

Phyllis has a beautiful explanation with pictures on how to use Discoveries to facilitate the process of learning, at All Things Beautiful.
Amy shares the joy of reading with her children in Read Aloud Thursday–Best of 2010, at Hope Is the Word.

In Pyjama Math! Jennifer writes about a fun, cheap lesson in place value... while they were still in their jammies! Posted at Adventures in Mama-Land. (Note: Jennifer is the organizer for the Jewish Homeschooling Blog Carnival.)


Inigo Montoya: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Inigo Montoya spent much of his life dedicated to avenging his father’s death. Many of us dedicate ourselves to teaching our children.

In Dear Friends Jessica reflects on her growth, and her gratitude. Posted at Teachable Moments.

Elena looks back over My Last Five Years of Homeschooling for the Five Years of the Carnival of Homeschooling and shares ten things she has learned, from her blog My Domestic Church.

Hal explores just what it means to be a man in "Real Men" - What's That? At his blog Raising Real Men.

In Memories While Decluttering ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother is reminded of some good family and homeschooling memories while cleaning her son's closet.

With Marking the Passage of Time Cristina recounts the memory of her daughter's first college class, from Home Spun Juggling.

Winter Countdown with the Squirrelings details a process Mama Squirrel is using to help the children get through the winter, up at Dewey’s Treehouse.


The Grandson: Grandpa, maybe you could come over and read it again to me tomorrow.

Grandpa: As you wish.

After he finishes reading to his grandson, Peter Falk tells his grandson he loves him by saying “As you wish.” Love is so important in raising our children. And we want our children to develop a love for learning.

Love to Write has some helpful tips for raising kids who love to write and some creative ideas for writing activities that children of different ages can work on at the same time, from LIFEONCANTERBURYLANE in Canada.

Doing School with Dad, by Barbara Frank, is about how much fun it can be when Dads get involved with homeschooling.




If you have enjoyed this carnival, please spread the word. Please mention the carnival on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and other appropriate places. You can also help promote the carnival by adding the carnival images. Learn how by going here.

Go here for the archives of previous carnivals.

Next week the carnival will be held at The Common Room.

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.