Updated: We Are Not Alone

Published with Permission
Written by Katharine Trauger
katharinetrauger.wordpress.com

What would it be like to be the mother of one of the world’s greatest thinkers?

First, you live an uneventful life in pre-Nazi Germany, married to Herman, a mattress salesman. You, Pauline, stay busy setting up household repeatedly, as your husband’s businesses often change. He settles into electrochemical manufacturing and you move again, after your son is born.

Nothing about this birth or your heritage foreshadows your son’s greatness. In fact, your family worries that he might be slow-witted. When his sister, born two years later, passes him in speech skills, you join the others’ alarm.

Eventually he talks, hesitantly, and you learn to accept life with an odd child who has his own timetable. During the “why” stage of development, one of his favorite questions is, “Why do we hurry?” He does everything slowly and people notice. (more…)

Homeschooling High School

Published with Permission
Written by Lisa Trombley
thehappyhomeschoolmom.blogspot.com

Two words that are likely to strike fear in the heart of a homeschooling mama “High School.” For some reason we (and I am speaking of myself too) consider ourselves perfectly capable of teaching during the younger years, but start to get worried somewhere around the 8th grade that we will not be capable of teaching our children. Maybe it’s because we just don’t remember that much from when we went to school (like Algebra that I hadn’t done in 15 years!) Or maybe our child has a talent/interest in something we know nothing about. Maybe it’s because we have several younger children also and are worried about being able to spend the proper amount of time teaching High School, or that we won’t prepare them properly for the college they want to attend. I remember the first year I started homeschooling and I asked a dear friend, “What am I going to do when her knowledge surpasses mine?” Whatever the reason that we get nervous about this time period in our child’s life, it is entirely possible to home school successfully though the High School years, and your children will be much better off for it.

What I was told when I asked the question about what to do when her knowledge surpasses mine is (more…)

Top 10 Home School Websites

Published with Permission
Written by Kimberly Williams
www.untilthedaydawn.wordpress.com

A generation ago, the homeschooling movement was considered to be at best cutting-edge, eccentric, and alternative.  At its worst it was considered strange, rare, and in some states illegal.  But today the movement has become more main-stream.  Currently with over 2 million home educated children, homeschooling may be the fastest growing form of education in the United States.  I consider being able to teach my children at home a wonderful privilege, a huge responsibility, and an awesome calling from God.  With the loving support and encouragement from my husband and the amazing grace of God, we have been homeschooling for over 10 years.  Each year brings new experiences, creates wonderful memories, and brings our family closer together.

Each fall as we start back to school, my husband and I have spend weeks pouring through our curriculum, praying for wisdom, and writing out schedules and lesson plans.  I also spend a lot of time online so I thought I would share my Top 10 Favorite Homeschool Websites with each of you.  Hope you enjoy! (more…)