A Quiet Sun, a Cold Winter

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a colder-than-normal winter. One contributing factor is sunspots—or the lack of them!

This year and next, sunspot activity will be very, very light. Whenever this phenomenon has occurred in the past, the result has been a cooling influence on Earth. Solar experts believe that the Sun will remain calm for another year.
See sunspot activity for 2009.

Robert B. Thomas, who founded this Almanac in 1792, believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots and solar radiation. Sunspots are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Click here to read “What Are Sunspots?”


To this day, the Almanac uses three disciplines to predict the weather: meteorology, climatology, and solar activity. (See How We Predict the Weather.)

If you’re interested in learning more about the Sun’s effect on our climate, read “The Influence of Solar Activity on the Weather.”

Or, join this forum: “Are Sunspots Disappearing?”

Seasons of the Sun

Learn about the discovery of the 11-year solar cycle and its importance in predicting the frequency of sun spots and the strength of solar storms.

Have you ever stopped to take the time to thank the person(s) who first educated you on the subject of homeschooling?

Where would we (and our families) be without them and the concern they showed us by taking the time to explain this godly plan of education?

Think of all the things you would have missed in your children’s lives.  Wasn’t it wonderful to watch that light come on in their eyes when they finally realized that the numeral 3 represented three things?  Wasn’t it exciting when she was so inspired by a book she had just read to sit down and write a story of fiction herself?...And it was good!  Wasn’t it incredible when he found that cicada shell on the tree, got out his magnifying glass and really got excited about pointing our that he knew where the head, thorax and abdomen were without being asked?  Wasn’t it thrilling when your family went to the beach for the first time (remember, I’m from Ohio!) and your kids couldn’t collect enough seashells because they finally, fully realized that God made each and every one of them and that there were no two alike?  Oh, the things we would have missed if not for these faithful friends who told us that our kids could stay home for school!

Think of the relationship you have with each child that you would not have if they had spent 6-8 hours a day, over 24,000 hours, away from you each day during their school career.  Aren’t you grateful that you could instill your values and the teachings of Scripture to them instead of “de-programming” them every night?  Or that they are not caught “between the rock and the hard place” of having to “divide allegiances”?  By that I mean that they don’t have to be seduced  by the pressure of believing that “cool” socialist Humanities teacher or that smug, self-assured atheistic Biology teacher vs. Dad, Mom and the Bible.  Think of the heartache, and possible harassment, they have been spared so that they can be nurtured in the Truth of the Gospel and taught to defend their faith in the proper time.  (I can find  no place in Scripture where God sent a child out to evangelize.)  By the time they complete their home education, by God’s grace, they will be mature and secure enough in their faith that they can defend themselves against the “cool” socialist and the smug, self-assured atheist.  I must be frank and tell you that I know very few Christian kids in public schools who are secure enough in their faith that they can properly defend it.  Thanks to God’s faithfulness and those dear friends who told us about homeschooling, you and I have had the opportunity to instruct our  children “in the way they should go.”  (Prov. 22:6 & Deut. 6:4-9)

Titus 2:7 says, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and  soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose  you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you.”  Now it’s our turn.  If you have a year or more of homeschooling under your belt, then welcome to The Example Club!  Just as those who blazed the trails ahead of us, just as those who lovingly mentored us, just as those who set that godly example for us to follow…let us not miss the chance to encourage a nervous mom full of questions, hopes and dreams.  Don’t be afraid to be used by God!...If God used Balaam’s donkey, I KNOW He can use me…and you, too!  Someone is watching and wants what you have, just as you watched someone else at one time.

Thank the dear ones who God used to get you on the road to homeschooling and don’t be afraid for Him to use you in the same way.

Blessings from Ohio,

Kim Wolf<><

P.S.  Thanks Sono and Gregg!!

On May 28, 2009 USA Today published a story based on a report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which is part of the Federal Department of Education, titled “The Condition of Education 2009.” The headline of the USA Today story was “Profound shift in kind of families who are homeschooling their children.” A few days later the title was changed to “More higher-income families are homeschooling their children.”

Regrettably, among other problems with the article, USA Today made one blatant error and one very misleading claim. The blatant error is USA Today’s statement that homeschoolers are increasingly white. We do not understand how USA Today can reach this conclusion. Simply by reading the NCES report you will discover that the estimates for white homeschoolers, as a percentage of the entire homeschool population, were 75.3% in 1999, 77% in 2003 and 76.8% in 2007. The obvious conclusion is that for the years 1999–2007 white homeschoolers consistently represented just over three-quarters of the homeschool population.

HSLDA asked the NCES to comment on the USA Today article. Below is a statement from JoAnn Webb, a spokesman for the NCES, “The percentage of all homeschoolers who are White, non-Hispanic has not changed over this period (in the mid-70 percent range).”

Another misleading claim, as the revised title for the story states, is that more higher-income families are homeschooling their children. Again, USA Today failed to correctly read the report. In order to make their point, USA Today defines “higher-income” as families whose household income is over $50,000. How many people really consider $50,000 in household income “higher-income?” For comparison, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006 married-couple families with one or more related children under age 18, the median nationwide income was $74,049. It is very misleading for USA Today to boldly assert that more “higher-income” families are homeschooling when out of the 60% of families they cite as being “higher-income” — (26.8% in the $50,001–$75,000 bracket and 33.2% in the $75,001 or more bracket) the 26.8% that USA Today believes to be “higher-income” actually have below average incomes.

Also, as has been confirmed by the NCES, the income figures between 1999 and 2007 were not adjusted for inflation. This means that the same type of person answering the NCES survey in 1999 that fell in the $25,001–$50,000 income bracket could easily find themselves in the $50,001–$75,000 bracket in 2007 since an income of $45,000 in 1999 becomes $55,518.63 in 2007 after adjusting for inflation.

It’s a shame that in an era when hundreds of diverse media outlets are able to accurately report on the homeschool movement a major newspaper has made such simple errors.

Perhaps the writer was just in a rush to be first, since his story was published on the day the NCES report was released online, or perhaps he has an agenda to falsely paint homeschoolers as rich and white, thereby dismissing the full range of people who are making tremendous sacrifices on limited budgets to ensure that the next generation receives the best education and upbringing available. Either way USA Today should make additional corrections to their factually inaccurate story.

Yesterday, my DH & I deep cleaned our school room (A.K.A. the laundry room, the computer room).  We found things tucked - or stuffed - away that we had forgotting about.  Things we hadn't seen in years.  LOTS of memories after 16 years of homeschooling.

It surprised & some-what saddened me that the girls didn't want to keep certain things; and as I don't want to be a pack-rat, I didn't keep them, either.  We are keeping certain things b/c of sentiment & b/c  our girls will most likely homeschool their children (HOPING that it is STILL LEGAL by then).  Books and resources covering all age/grade levels; particularly those wonderful old readers that were once my grandmother's or my mother's or mine; and especially the McGuffey Reader's, Ray's Arithmetic, classics & old home-keeping manuals. 

But there are other books and resources we are keeping for other reasons.

We are keeping their high school History, Government & Science books b/c, as things are changing so quickly in America, even IF homeschooling should be legal when our DDs homeschool their children, we fear that it will be strickly controlled.  They may not be able to purchase books and resources containing GOD'S TRUTH about the Sciences or they may contain even more revisionist history than our public schools already spew.  We want our children to be able to teach our grandchildren TRUTH.  God's truth, as it applies to these subjects. 

We continue to pray for our beloved America, but we look to the East, as well.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Jenna and I are back from the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cinci where we were blessed, once again, to work The Old Schoolhouse booth!!

Isn't that the cutest little booth worker you ever saw?  Now...HOW could anyone resist buying a subscription from her - the deal is great enough - but how could you resist that sweet smile?!  lol  She was SUCH a great help and she had a far better time than she thought she would at working a booth for the 1st time.  So many of her homeschool friends were there and stopped by to say 'hi' and that really made her (OUR!) day.

I hope that if you were there that you got a chance to say 'hi' to Kris and Jim Price.  Kris works for TOS and they are so much fun to work with.  What great booth-mates!  At one point, things were so busy on Friday that we couldn't even look at their end of the table for 2 hours!  It was awesome!

Here's our TOS gang:  Spunky, Jim, Kris, Jenna and me.  Also there was Karen "Spunky" Braun from her famous blog: www.spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com  If you don't read it yet, you need to start.  Very smart, very engaging, very thought-provoking.  If you want a blog that will make you think, that's it.  Spunky did a workshop on blogging and was blogging live throughout the convention.  She's so much fun - we worked together at the TOS booth at CHEO in '08, too.  Great to see you again, Spunk!

Here's another TOS alum and one of the funniest people of the weekend..."Jay From Cleveland" and his lovely wife, Deb!!  (www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jayfromcleveland)  Their great family was w/them, too.  Jay has a great blog and if you want an INCREDIBLE curriculum on Astronomy (did I 'say' it right, there, Jay?!  Hahahaha!) he has written exactly what you need!  You can find out how to get it on his blog or on his Facebook.  YOU NEED THIS!! 

So many bloggers know Jen Ig (Igarashi) and her lovely blogging daughter, Coie.  They were there representing Rosetta Stone Language curriculum.  Two of my favorite people!  We hadn't seen each other since last year's CHEO.  Here's Coie hard at work - all the booth workers were really hoppin'!

Here's Jen Ig and sweet Marsha Drews during a rare lull in the action on Saturday.  Many of you know Marsha from her great blog:  www.homeschoolblogger.com/drewsfamilytx.  What a doll!  I SO enjoyed meeting her - all the way from TEXAS!  We had a sweet conversation and shared our hearts.  (Marsha's youngest little boy died from an accidental drowning in their pool last summer - please remember her family in your prayers.)  Marsha - what a pleasure to finally meet you!!

Here's a fun group!  lol  This is Jen Ig, Coie, me and blogger Julie Park!  Hers is another blog you must read, if you don't already ~ www.inlightofeternity.wordpress.com.  What a FUN girl!

I know what you're thinking..."Now, THERE'S trouble!"  lol  Really, we didn't cause any at all!    We were too busy to get into trouble...so...we'll just have get together AGAIN!  By the way, that's Jenna, Coie, Jen and me.

Jenna and I were so excited to see so many people from McCHEO and the surrounding area!  The Snyder's, Striebich's, Welborn's, Heiss's, Carter's, Goodwin's, Raddick's, Cheatwood's...I know there were more...but...I'm old!  Ha! 

There were SO MANY incredible bloggers that came up and introduced themselves to me!  THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME!  Seriously, there had to have been at least 50 from Homesteadblogger, Homeschoolblogger and Homeschool Lounge.  I could kick myself that I didn't think of this sooner, but it wasn't until late afternoon on Friday that I thought of writing down the blog friends who stopped by...I mentioned Marsha, Julie, Jay and Deb, but there was also Amy W., Jen from Mrs. Incredible!  I was SO excited to meet her - another Ohioan!  (www.homeschoolblogger.com/MrsIncredible)  And then there were the awesome bloggers who are part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew: 

Regenia Speirndle (www.homeschoolreview4you.blogspot.com and www.homeschoolblogger.com/supermomof5kids),

Christy Lucas (www.mercyeverymorning.blogspot.com),

Heidi Pair (www.chatterandclatter.blogspot.com),

Penny Ray (www.notnewtoautism.blogspot.com)

and Angela Richter (www.homeschoolblogger.com/byourlove1).  What a GREAT group of ladies! 

Please forgive me if I have missed you!  It was no less of a thrill to have met you or to have talked to you as you passed by the booth, but I just turned 50 you know, and I can only stuff so much info into my head before SOMETHING has to fall out!

If you didn't make the Midwest Homeschool Convention this year, you need to try to go next year.  There were people there from 22 states!  I've never been to a homeschool convention w/that kind of saturation before.  Brennan Dean, you should be thrilled with what you have done!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

In the market to sell your old curriculum?

Needing to buy curriculum for next year?

Want to meet other local homeschoolers?

Homeschool Book Sale

Join us at Community Grace Brethren Church

Saturday, April 4th 2009

12:00 pm- 3:00 pm

No cost to set up a table!

Refreshments for all!

Large gymnasium with room for all!

Located on State Route 48 in West Milton, Ohio

Contact us for more information and to and to have your name added to the sellers list!  (937) 829-8294                          

HSLDA urges members to take advantage of discounts being offered at Borders bookstores March 19-25. As part of Educator Appreciation week, Borders will offer homeschoolers in-store discounts of 25% off most items. Just show your HSLDA membership card (if you've misplaced it, to print a new one click here >> ).

If you are not an HSLDA member, you can show your Notification Form or Notice of Notification letter from your superintendent.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Washington Times Op-ed—Homeschooling Popularity Grows

by J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President

Once again, a family had to learn the hard way that Charter/Cyber schools ~ a.k.a. School-at-Home ~ IS NOT the same as TRUE homeschooling.  I'm sure it's the same in other states, but in Ohio, Charter/Cyber schools are even listed under the PUBLIC SCHOOL section of Ohio Administrative Code (OAC).  Charter/Cyber schools are nothing but trouble; they bring government over-sight right into our homes.  In my years as County Coordinator I NEVER ONCE met a person who was talked into using Charter/Cyber schools by their local district who was told that they were about to sign away their 4th Amendment rights...OR...that this was NOT homeschooling.  They all called it homeschooling. 

The article below happened to a family in Minnesota, but the story is the same no matter what state you are in.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Family Decides Price of Charter School’s Free Education Is Too High

The Smith family (name changed to protect privacy) in Minnesota decided to try out the virtual charter school Connections Academy this school year. As all charter schools are, Connections Academy is a public school. However, the financial advantages of a free education, reduced recordkeeping, and the accountability and assistance of a certified teacher persuaded the Smiths to enroll their two children.

During the first semester, the Smiths discovered that Connections Academy was not quite as wonderful as it had first seemed. The curriculum required memorization of obscure information and writing assignments that were too long for young children. As a result of the one-size-fits-all curriculum and the standardized benchmarks, the children were not able to work at their own pace.

“Keeping up with the course work was beyond any curriculum I have ever used,” said Mrs. Smith.

The children were not permitted to work ahead in subjects they found easy or to move at a slower pace through a subject they had difficulty with. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had no input as to what curriculum their children were being taught. For example, the Connections Academy science curriculum taught that evolution and Darwinism are proven facts, as opposed to theories, and did not include alternate theories about the origins of the universe, such as intelligent design or biblical creation.

After one semester, the Smiths decided they had no choice but to withdraw their children from Connections Academy and return to homeschooling.

There are many benefits to homeschooling. You can choose a curriculum tailored to your children’s learning style, encouraging children to learn at their own pace and to master material, rather than stick to a strict schedule. Children may explore areas of interest more deeply. Work assignments are flexible, allowing for other important co-curricular and extra-curricular activities such as field trips and sports programs. And you can include a broad variety of subject matter and information beyond the textbooks that reflect—or at least respect—the beliefs and values of your family.

The Smiths, now members of HSLDA, realized that school at home is not the same thing as homeschool. With this experience under their belt, the Smiths are back on the road to enjoying the liberty and flexibility that comes from a truly free homeschooling program. HSLDA is pleased to assist them, and any others similarly situated, with the problems that sometimes arise when parents withdraw children from a government school program, like the Connections Academy virtual charter school.

What is all this fuss about Darwin’s 200^th birthday??!!

The evolutionists are planning a media blitz in February to celebrate Darwin’s birthday and the 150^th anniversary of Origin of the Species! But you can get the REAL STORY right at Troy [Ohio] Grace Baptist Church, 1400 North Market St. on CREATION SUNDAY, Feb. 15.

Jeff Mann, creation evangelist, will be speaking at the 8:30 and 11:00 services to challenge our thinking on this vital topic. Creation science materials will be available in the lobby, too. Then everyone can come back at 2:00 to watch some fascinating DVD’s from Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum. Get free popcorn, too!

Questions? Contact Clint or Madonna Corwin at ccorwin1@woh.rr.com or 937-335-0176. SEE YOU THERE!

Something that I dearly enjoy is the reading old books.  My collection started off w/my dear Bigmom's (maternal gr-ma) copy of her McGuffey's Second Reader.

I can still hear her reciting some of her favorites...

Once there was a little kitty,

White as the snow;

In a barn he used to frolic,

Long time ago.

In the barn a little mousie

Ran to and fro;

For she heard the little kitty,

Long time ago...

She passed away in 1977, at 90, and could still recite so many of the stories until shortly before she died. 

So, as the years progressed I added more to my humble colletion.  Then, as I started homeschooling my daughters, I began collecting antique school books and we have actually used many as a part of our schoolwork.  The McGuffey Readers and Ray's Arithmetic, especially.  I even wrote about these as the subject of one of my TOS columns "The Lesson Planner" last year.

Most of the antique books I keep displayed on an antique school desk that my Daddy refinished for me. 

It's a little crowded right now, but until Ty builds (or buys) me the bookshelf he's been promising me for the last several years (eh-hem), it will remian in this little corner of the living room w/my hammered dulcimer music books and other books stacked around it.  It's so nice to just pick up the 1894 leather-bound volume of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and even though I have an entire set of reproduction McGuffey's I still like to look through Bigmom's or even the Fourth Reader I have that someone wrote "Feb. 20th, 1896" inside the cover.  When we want an older view of Ohio history we can turn to our 1933 volume of "History & Geography of Ohio."

I have often thought what my Bigmom and my Grandpa C. would have thought of our homeschooling.  I remember having conversations w/both of them about how odd it seemed to me that they had to BUY all of their schoolbooks!  It was so foreign to me!  Wouldn't they laugh if they knew that NOW WE have to BUY all of our schoolbooks?  lol 

There's nothing like an old book - even if it's a reproduction.  Holding a bit of history in your hands, especially when it had belonged to someone you loved, makes learning more enjoyable and even more interesting.  Not only to me, but it did to my daughters, too.  How cool I would have thought it to be to actually be learning out of the same book MY gr-grandmother used in HER schooling?!  I'm glad my daughters had that privilege.  Wow.  

How special.

Blessings, Kim Wolf<><