Welcome to the June 1, 2009 edition of Homeschool Showcase, where we spotlight all the the encouraging, inspiring, hands-on, and just plain fun ways that homeschooling families live, learn and enjoy life together. Wow! I have so many great articles to share with you this week! Thanks to everyone who submitted a post. I'm wondering if it just worked out that so many people remembered to submit something this week or if the Twitter updates I posted helped. I hope you'll leave me a comment and let me know.I think I'm going to do away with the featured post each week because, well, you all are submitting so many incredible ideas that it's becoming harder and harder to choose just one. If you're just really dying to see a featured post each week, feel free to let me know, but I think every one of these is pretty fabulous.
Jimmie, who always has such fantastic ideas, shares another one with Fun Grammar posted at One Child Policy Homeschool, saying, "Make your own board game for a fun way to review and learn!" We used to make games for everything, but somehow the game-making has fallen by the wayside. Jimmie's post has inspired me to encourage the kids to start making games again so we can have some fun.
Have you ever tried to select a book to go with a certain unit -- or to read yourself -- and wished you could find out a bit more about the book before purchasing it or borrowing it from the library? Here's a website that will help you to do just that: Bridget Verhaaren introduces us to The Literate Mother, which offers a synopsis and rating system for a wide range of books for children and adults. The rating system looks at language, violence, sexuality and adult content. Do be sure to watch for spoilers in the synopses. Read a sample review of the childhood favorite I'll be reading with my kids this summer, Where the Red Fern Grows.
Maybe you'll find a book you can use with Kristen Hamilton's idea for a Homeschool Book Club posted at A Day in the Life! What a fun way to encourage reading a variety of genres and to sharpen those organizational, presentation and public speaking skills.
Admit it: we homeschoolers love knowing what other homeschooling families are doing. Amy Smith, of Kids Love Learning, knows it. That's why she's giving us a peek into her family's homeschool in her post, Our Homeschooling Curriculum: First Grade.
Gabriele Hester lets us take a peek into her homeschool, too. Workboxes are all the buzz these days and Gabriele shows us how she's using hers in her post, Word Filled Wednesday, posted at The Work of Childhood.
And, if you're dying for more inspiration on what to put in your workboxes, Momma Snail, of The Snail's Trail, tells us What's In The [work]BOX? Handmade Word Family Game. In this case, it's a "handmade word family game using paint chips. Your child can make over 500+ words with this set!"
Sarah at SmallWorld is speaking my language! Free creative writing lessons for your homeschool! Does it get any better for us word-smithy mom bloggers?? Check out Introducing SmallWorld's WordSmithery posted at SmallWorld and get ready to have a blast sharing -- or creating -- a love of writing with your kids!
Brenda Sain provides us with some inspiring ideas for celebrating a meaningful Memorial Day at her blog, The Tie That Binds Us.
Joshua presents Tips for Learning during Summertime posted at Family and Parenting, saying, "Even though it is summertime, it is a good idea to keep your child's mind active."
I can so relate to Stephanie's experience with her kids' The Secret Clubhouse. My kids have been all about their backyard hide-out for weeks. Read about Stephanie's kids' adventures and enjoy pictures of their not-so-secret clubhouse at Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood.
When I was in high school, I was in the Underwater Basket-Weaving Club, a spoof club in which we got together, ate food, watched movies and hung out. Oh! And, we had sweatshirts made with official-looking Greek letters. There was no water and no baskets were woven. However, Erin and her kids actually did weave some pretty nifty baskets out of scraps of fabric and she shows us how in her post, Basketweaving, which you can find at Delighting in His Richness. What a great craft for summertime fun when it's too hot to do anything outside!
If there are any future attorneys out there, you'll appreciate Margaret Garcia's, The Ultimate Guide to Law Job Interviews: 100 Essential Tools and Resources posted at Online University Lowdown.
How many of you have kids that just loved the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom? If you raised your hand, you have to go check out Jennifer's Weekly Wrap-Up: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom posted at The Extreme Housewife. With lots of cute craft and activity ideas, Jennifer shares how much fun she and her kids had exploring the alphabet with this fun little book.
Another blogger who always has fabulous, crafty ideas is Amida and her DIY Puzzle Blocks are no exception. I love that the blocks are so versatile. Not only can you put the puzzles together the way they're "supposed" to be, but you can mix and match to make all kinds of fun shapes and designs. Go visit Journey Into Unschooling for the how-to's.
Jolanthe shares another of her incredible preschool printables, Fruit and Vegetable Matching Cards {Preschool Printables}. Go snag your set of store-quality cards at her blog, Homeschool Creations.
I'll definitely be checking out Misty's suggestion this week: Timez Attack! The best and FREE multiplication game ever!. She tells us all about the multiplication-based video game that has captured her boys' attention at Homeschool Bytes. I can't wait to show this one to Josh!
Jimmie has a fantastic new blog, Jimmie's Collage and I'm excited to share the innaugural Homeschool Showcase post from her new site. Her post, Building a Straw Tower, features the tower that Jimmie and her daughter built from straws and tape that is strong enough to hold a baseball!
Thanks to all who submitted posts for this week's Homeschool Showcase! Be sure and mark your calendar's for the next edition, scheduled for June 15. If you'd like a reminder tweet, be sure to follow me on Twitter. You can submit your blog article by using our carnival submission form and you can find the Showcase guidelines here. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free bookcase!
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