Homeschool Showcase (Formerly The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers) #14

Welcome to the December 29 edition of Homeschool Showcase (formerly The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers)! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Our kids proclaimed it "the best Christmas ever!" just as they did last year and the year before. At least it keeps getting better. ;-)

We had scaled back this year, due to the economy, so we were worriedthat the kids might be disappointed. Once again, though, their gratefulness surprised me. It's too bad they're not still in the "having more fun playing with the box" stage like my almost-nephew, Zachary. However, maybe if we'd gotten a beanbag chair like Laura of Practical Homeschooling that might have been the case. If you need a good laugh, be sure to read Laura's post, The Beanbag Chair Debacle . Too funny!

And speaking of grateful kids, Becca presents some excellent tips on How to teach your kids about abundance while living frugally posted at Inspiration for Mothers.

Although Christmas may be over this year, it's never too late to start planning for next year -- or for the birthdays, weddings and other gift-giving occasions that will come up this year. Belle has some great tips for making Handmade Christmas Gifts: Embroidered Tea Towels, including some pictures, or you can buy her handmade towels and support your fellow homeschoolers. Visit Belle at Homesteaderbelle's Blog.

We went over a river, but skipped the woods to visit the grandparents for Christmas, but that was the extent of our holiday travel. We'll save the real traveling for next fall when the weather is more pleasant. Are you planning any trips for 2009? What about a visit to one of the nation's best known symbols of freedom, the Statue of Liberty? If so, Liberty Visitor's post Come Prepared, posted at Statue Of Liberty, is a must-read.

Maybe you'll have an opportunity to go camping in 2009. I am so not a camper, but for those who are, Ruth presents 4 Tips For Avoiding Crowds While Camping posted at Camping Earth: Family Camping Tips. If you and your family love camping, or are considering trying it, be sure and check out her tips before you pack up and head out.

Will you have an opportunity to travel abroad? That's something I've never done, but would love to do if the opportunity were to present itself. If a visit to beautiful Germany is on your family's travel agenda, be sure to read German Castles and Residences posted at Germany Travel Tips. If you can't actually go to Germany, visit the site anyway and meander through the German countryside virtually with Marcus as your tour guide.

If you're traveling to Germany or other locations abroad, you might also want to check out Heather Johnson's exhaustive list of links to see, hear, and learn new languages -- including games to play to facilitate learning and comprehension -- in her post, 100 Best Web tools to Teach Yourself a New Language at Find Schools Online.com.

Maybe you, or someone you know, is an adult learning English as a second language. If so, you may find the tips and tools you need in the post, How to Learn English as an Adult presented by Language Learner of Learn English.

Alasandra of Alasandra's Homeschool Blog Awards shows a firm command of the English language as she takes on the anti-homeschooling arguments of one mom and asks an interesting question: Why do public school Mothers have to trash homeschooling in order to feel good about themselves?

It often seems that, no matter what our particular course in live, as human beings we tend to feel a need to justify our choices by pointing out all the things wrong with someone else's choices, rather than just resting in what's right about the path we have chosen for our own families. People seem to miss the fact that we would live such a boring world if we lacked all diversity. And, as Alasandra points out, this particular mom's arguments against homeschooling don't even make a whole lot of sense.

Gina shares a bit about the choice her family has made about homeschooling and shares some awesome thoughts about unschooling, as she prepares to begin her family's homeschooling journey. What a fantastic outlook! I think Gina and her girls are going to love every minute of living and learning together. See what I mean when you read What I mean when I say unschooling posted at an unpink life.

Kevin, of More4kids Homeschooling, shares some wonderful ideas for living and learning togehter in his article on Beginning Science Experiments for the Homeschooler. Not only does Kevin discuss the reasons homeschooling parents need to include science experiments, but he also includes two fun, easy projects the whole family will enjoy. Be sure to check out...and have fun!

One of my favorites bloggers, Jimmie at One Child Policy Homeschool - Homeschool Blogger, and her daughter have been having fun with science. Jimmie shares another one her daughter's wonderful lapbooks in her post, Magnets Lapbook. She includes pictures and a link to more resources. Visit her and pick up some tips to use in your homeschool.

Also in the category of really awesome things to do with your kids, Erin gives a beautiful step-by-step guide to quilling, an easy-to-learn paper craft that even the younger children in her group were able to complete with on their own, in her post Giving and Quilling found at Delighting in His Richness.

My kids and I had a wonderful time baking together last week. It wasn't something I'd planned to do, but I'm glad that we did. My oldest is becoming quite the cook. We'll have to give quilling a try soon.

Finally, if you're looking for some wonderful Bible story vidoes, visit Greg Nemer as he presents Inspire and Entertain Your Family for Christmas With Nest Entertainment posted at Internet Marketing with Purpose.

This concludes this week's edition of Homeschool Showcase. I'd like to thank all those who allowed me to showcase their talents, tips and ideas this week. If you'd like to submit a post for the next Homeschool Showcase, scheduled for January 12, please review the guidelines and details for post submissions. I'd love to put the spotlight on you and your family!

Statue of Liberty photo by Mark Heard

Campfire photo by chanchan222