Homeschool Showcase #36

Welcome to the November 30, 2009 edition of Homeschool Showcase.  I hope all of my friends in the U.S. had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  This tends to be the time of year when everybody starts getting antsy for Christmas and no one — including Mom — really wants to do any school.  If you’re like us and didn’t plan the entire month off this year (we did it last year and I loved it, but vacation got us derailed this year), maybe you’ll find some ideas in this week’s Showcase to give you and the kids a boost to get you through the next few weeks of school while fighting off holiday anticipation.

Jennifer is a woman after my own heart with her suggestion to use Blogging as writing practice for children.  I completely agree that blogging can be a wonderful tool in a homeschooler’s writing curriculum.  Read the how’s and why’s of Jennifer’s family’s decision to utilize blogging as part of their homeschool curriculum at her blog, schooling memoirs.

Jolanthe continues all her globe-hopping fun over at Homeschool Creations!  They’ve been Learning About Nigeria.  Be sure to visit for links, lesson plans and printables!

Amida and her family always do such great art projects and House in the Night is no exception.  To learn how to make your own mock scratchboard illustrations, visit Journey Into Unschooling.

photo by amidaErin shares how her family is Passing on a love for missions at her blog, Delighting in His Richness.  Go pick up some ideas and be inspired.

Keira, a guest poster at Literature Young Adult Fiction, shares 9 Ways to Get Kids to Read.  These are great tips.  Buddy reading worked well for us — I was the buddy.  The competition of trying to keep up with me while we read the Twilight Saga really spurred Brianna on.  Finding a series that she enjoys seems to be a big help, too — knowing that there’s more to the story seems to encourage continued reading.

There’s no one more honest than a kid sometimes, as Stephanie, of Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood found out with Today’s Writing Prompt.  Enjoy a chuckle and get a link to daily writing prompts.

Brenda Sain shares some wonderful, step-by-step directions on how to make some of Leonardo’s Inventions, as well as a link to finding the book online for FREE.  Visit The Tie That Binds Us for details on making webbed gloves or plastic.  Very cool!

photo by brendaGet the scoop on an upcoming science contest for kids as Pamela Jorrick gives the details on More Challenging Science Fun posted at Blah, Blah, Blog.

Aimee Carter, of My life in the zoo, shares some really fun-looking, hands-on science and archaeological experimenting in her post, Dino Dig.  Be sure to check out this post if you have some fossil study coming up in your homeschooling future.

That concludes this week’s edition of Homeschool Showcase. Thanks to everyone who submitted a post.  Mark your calendars for the next edition, scheduled for Monday, December 14.  Post submissions will be due by Sunday, December 13, 4 PM (EST).  You can submit your blog post using our carnival submission form.  Past posts can be found on our blog carnival index page.