Which is all well and glorious, these homeschooling days of wonder. But there are other days wracked with a whole different sort of wonder, particularly if you are a parent. Why can’t he write a paragraph by himself if schoolkids his age can? Should I push her to read instead of listening to audiobooks for hours on end? Do I really need to teach long division if it makes him throw things and his mental estimates come pretty close? Does watching back-to-back episodes of MythBusters count as science? Will he always do the least amount of work necessary to get what he wants? And does that prove that he’s lazy—or incredibly smart?
That’s a snippet from my first column for home/school/life magazine, from last summer. The magazine is featuring the entire column on its blog today, so if you want to find out why I’ve spent the past eighteen years wondering so much, you can find out here.
Even better, through August 1 you can download a free copy of the magazine’s current issue! Whoopie, free beach reading! I’m so proud to be writing for this magazine. It’s the homeschooling magazine I wished for when I was first starting out: professional-looking, full of inspiring ideas, and not preaching to a certain homeschooling style. See for yourself by going here, adding the issue to your shopping basket and putting OUTFORAWALK in as your coupon code.
As I move into what looks like our last year of homeschooling, do I still wonder a lot? All the time, my friends, all the time.
Thank you, I have passed this link to many friends after checking out the magazine myself. Where have I been? This truly is a wonderful magazine filled with the kind of articles I, someone who has two of my four homeschooled kids “graduated,” wants to read. I will be subscribing to it!
Oh, I’m so happy to hear this! Isn’t the magazine fantastic? I keep hoping and hoping that subscriptions will increase enough for Amy and Jason to release it in print–once they get there, I know the homeschooling masses will discover and embrace it. When seasoned homeschoolers like you find it useful, you know it’s a good thing! Thanks so much for sharing it with your friends.
Rats, OUTFORAWALK has expired — isn’t it supposed to work through tomorrow?
Let me look into that for you, Lizzie!
Lizzie, this is Amy’s response: “It looks like everything should be working, but just in case she added it to her cart more than once (which can throw things off — if someone adds it and then doesn’t finish the download), I increased the number of allowed uses per customer. If that doesn’t fix it for her, tell her to email me, and I will send her the manual download! :)” I can give you Amy’s email address if you need help.
Thanks and sorry if it was user error!! I’ve got it and am really looking forward to reading it. Amy Bowers suggested your blog and I am thoroughly enjoying it!!
Oh, phew! Amy Bowers is the best. Her homeschooling lab sounds fantastic–so glad you’re taking part!