Life On The Planet

We Need a New Microscope.

When, in the course of summer vacation, it becomes necessary for one mom to cease the fooling around and to become aware that it is time to plan for the upcoming school year, it is sometimes necessary to throw out old, dilapidated equipment and seek more adequate supplies.

(We need a new microscope.)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all microscopes are not created equal, that many are endowed by their creators with very hefty price tags, that some may not be worth the cost.

(As I am overwhelmed by the choices available, I am seeking the counsel of my peers. Which 'scope will give us the most bang for our bucks?)

Having realized the necessity of a new microscope, we, therefore, the homeschoolers in this house, in the state of Mississippi, appealing to frugal shoppers and tightwad homeschoolers everywhere who read this blog, declare our intention to find a new, more powerful microscope at a reasonable price.

(Help, please! Thanks!)

Now that you mention it...

I wouldn't mind a little supervision while I balance the check book!

But for homeschooling?....Nah! I'm good.

Three Words

We've been having a little fun over at Principled Discovery in Dana's comment section. Rather than completely hijack her blog with my silliness, I've decided to continue the fun here.

The question posed was, "What can public schools learn from homeschoolers?"

My response (not nearly as intellectual as the others) was,

"Three words...Edible School Lunches."

JJ Ross from Cocking a Snook chimed in with,

"Teaching isn't learning."

Truer words, JJ... My response was slightly less philosophical.

"Sleep until eight."

Well, I ask ya...?

Dana, undoubtedly tired of my goofiness in the midst of a serious conversation, but still a good sport brought up,

"Play outside. Lots."

I figured I'd better get while the getting was good, so I took my foolishness and boogied back on over to my own blog.

So how about it? Feel like giving the public school system a helping hand?

All it takes is three little words. 

 

 

Homeschooler recommends stricter monitoring of Social Services

Does it seem to you that every time Social Services ignores a report of abuse and a child dies, homeschooling is to blame? This excuse is used whether or not the child is of legal school age. It doesn't seem to matter if the parents are registered homeschoolers or not. Oddly enough, when abuse happens to a child who is enrolled in a public school (here's the shocker) - the school system doesn't get beat up in the media or in the legislature - even if the abuse is perpetrated by a school employee!  

I for one am tired of my educational choice being used to cover Social Services collective rear ends. Not being in favor of child abuse, and therefore looking for a logical solution to the problem, I think we need to more closely monitor Social Services case work.

Lives could be saved.

HT to Dana

She's All That...

and a bag of kibbles. She's the star of blog talk radio - The one, the only, the incomparable...

Scratchy-Cat!!!

Hey there, Scratchy. How do you think your debut on Home School Talk went today?

"How did you get in here?"

I thought it went well. How about you?

"I have no comment at this time."

I especially liked the audio recordings of you meowing. Weren't they great?

"Get that camera out of my face."

It's a shame it only lasted an hour!

"She pushed me! I was pushed! Did you see that? SECURITY!"

Thinks she's the cat's meow, doesn't she? What a Diva!

What exactly is a valid reason to homeschool?

Sunniemom's got me thinking.

Her Debut

Scratchy-Cat will be a guest meow-er on Home School Talk ! Can you believe it? The show's host, Dana from Principled Discovery, has invited Scratchy (and me, her humble servant) to be guests on the first ever Home School Talk. Home School Talk is (or will be) an online talk show about, what else, homeschooling. It will be live Mondays at 1PM CST. Here is the link.

 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/homeschooltalk

If you miss it (although, why would ya?) you can play it back after it's over.

As it is the first ever Home School Talk, very important issues will be discussed. How to meow loudly during a spelling test. How to knock to be let in fifty times a day. How to stare at a door until it magically opens for you to be let out. How to properly chase a pencil while its owner is attempting to complete a math worksheet. How to hamper housework. And finally, how to shred a work book.

Edu-Kitty may make a guest appearance!

"Are you ready, Scratchy?"

How foolish of me to ask!

See ya Monday!

Homeschool Stuff

Homeschool Super-Moms: Reality or Myth? Here's Dawn's take.

Homeschoolers Under Fire.

Prom for Homeschoolers.

Educational Anarchy...Better Than the Alternative

I am an anarchist. Deal with it. I'm not speeding. I'm not robbing grocery stores. I'm educating my children. According to the California chapter of the National Education Association, that makes me guilty of "educational anarchy." Sweet.

However, in my humble opinion, Educational Anarchy beats Educational Chaos any day. But what do I know? I'm just an anarchist.

Fireflies

We were driving home this evening and saw the first fireflies of the season. Fireflies are a science question begging to be answered, aren't they? So, if like Tiger, you're wondering why and how a firefly lights up, howstuffworks.com has the answer. Or you can visit this interesting site to learn all you ever wanted to know and more about the little bugs.

Why every simple question has to become a unit study, I'm not sure. However, if you are interested in Firefly poems go here. If you want to learn how fireflies are helping cancer researchers, go here.

If you are looking for some neat and informative firefly sites for kids, go here, here, and here.

Hope you found this illuminating. Gotta glow!