Are you a "newbie" and trying to figure out just where to start with this whole homeschooling thing? Well, we've all been there, and most of us survived, too!!! (as far as sanity staying intact, that's another story....)

I could give you lots of advice (some good, some maybe not so much), but I'm going to let others do that for me... here are some links to check out, as well as some "bugs in your ear"...

The Canadian Homeschooler's Board-- a forum dedicated to homeschooling moms in Canada. Topics aren't strictly homeschooling-related, but run the gamut of what we experience as homeschooling moms (and a couple of dads are there, too)... curriculum, learning styles, discipline issues, special needs, homemaking, pregnancy, fertility issues, you name it. If we go through it as a mom who teaches her kids at home, it's probably represented there.

Donna Young's Homeschool Printables and Resources-- Donna is a homeschool mom from Tennessee. She has this incredible website with great ideas, schedules, and loads of printables.

TOS Company Front Porch-- cool ideas, lots of encouragement, you're bound to find something relevant.

Now... go to Yahoo groups, and do a search for homeschool groups. There's one there for homeschoolers in NB, as well as ones that are curriculum-specific (ie: The Mystery of History, or Saxon math). There's also one for used curriculum-- Canadian Book Exchange-- which is great to get a good deal without paying customs/ duties from one of the many MANY used curriculum sites in the States.

Homeschooling can be a little daunting at first, but you know what? It's rewarding, and a great way to get to realllllly know your kids... warts and all!

Enjoy the ride!!!!

Now that Fredericton is drying out, you might want to check out an event coming up-- Homeschool Day at the Legislature.

This event is ideal for those homeschoolers wanting an up-close look at how our province is run. Check out the above link for further information.

UPCOMING: HENB Conference

When:  this coming weekend! May 23/24, 2008

Check out the HENB website-- http://www.henb.org/conference.htm -- for ALL the details!

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For those who go to the conference:

I will be more than happy to post pictures here of the event, if you'd like to share! Also, if anyone is interested in submitting a short post about their experience (what your favourite part was, what you found most encouraging), I would like to feature that as well.

My husband was watching a show on urban legends the other night, and one little story between the segments caught his attention-- it was about a flood that happened in Boston back in 1919. He asked the kids today if they knew about it-- which they didn't--- and then asked me-- which I also didn't-- and so then went and searched it online. He got a return to a site that is really interesting-- some of it's educational, and so could be tied in with your lessons, and some of it is just plain fun. Kind of reminds me of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story.

The site is called American Storyteller, and it's worth checking out.

And by the way.... you can find out all about that flood HERE. It seems molasses isn't neccessarily that slow after all, running uphill in January.

Take care, and happy homeschooling!

~jen~

I am one of the cheapest people I know. I hate spending money!!!! Free is the best, and most of my personal software is shareware or borrowed-ware (don't ask). Anyway... my copy of Microsoft Office was a trial version that ended, and so I went comparison-shopping (eeek! Those things are $$$$$$$$). Lo and behold, I found a great deal (comparitively speaking) on Microsoft Office 2007 titles (Professional, and Home and Student versions in particular).

Did you know that there are Academic Editions available? You can't buy them everywhere--- only certain resellers have permission from Microsoft, but you can find out who in your area carries them. Check the Microsoft site HERE for more information. Homeschoolers are indeed eligible-- as long as you can show proof, such as a letter from your school district, or from a recognized homeschooling organization. Your local reseller can let you know exactly what they will accept. This is far from free, but the pricing is a considerable savings (you wind up paying about 1/3 the going price). So, if you are in the market for some new software, this might be just what you need.

While you're checking out the above site, mosey around looking at their educational offerings. You might find a freebie that fits in with something you're already doing.

Well, folks, it's just what we've all been wanting-- a break on international pricing!!!

Everyone in Canada has been patiently (or maybe not so patiently) waiting for prices to come down with our dollar going up, and the wonderful folks at The Old Schoolhouse magazine have listened. Postal costs to Canada are  not as high as to other international locations, so the new pricing reflects that as well.

Hurry and subscribe while the exchange rate is in your favour! You can check out all the info here, as well as the 19 FREE GIFTS you get with your paid subscription.

Every year, I receive informationthrough my local school district about Heritage Fairs. We have yet to participate, but I thought this might be a good place to share the information. I won't transcribe the entire brochure here, but basically, it's about undertaking projects that have a Canadian theme (history, geography, or heritage) and presenting them at a local Heritage Fair (I'm assuming through a local school-- which, please.... doesn't mean the government is sticking their nose in your business!!!! It's a venue.). These projects can be models, caricatures, posters, collections, maps, demonstrations,  crafts, artistic displays, short stories and heritage journal writing, poetry, theatrical scripts, debates and public speaking, dramatic productions, music, dance, computer presentations, video "Heritage Minutes", oral interviews, photography exhibits... [taken from brochure]

For more information, please contact your local school district for an information packet (which includes a really cool game-- play it and call it school! what could be easier???), or go to http://www.gnb.ca/0007/heritage/

Relavent school... fun projects... free stuff.... what's not to like????

Here we are at the end of 2007, and most of us are taking a bit of a break from homeschooling. With the new year approaching, it's likely that many of us are also taking stock of what we've accomplished so far in the school year, and re-evaluating decisions as we get ready to start back in, in a week or two. There's also the possibility that some of us have overspent for our respective holidays, and despite desperately wanting to try something new, we simply cannot afford more curriculum. Take heart!!! There are freebies out there just waiting for you!!!

The following are some things I've found (and may have posted about them before, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself)... if anyone has other gems they've found and want to share, please comment below or e-mail me directly.

~ Homeschool E-store (soon to be renamed something else, but I can't remember what)

~ Free teaching resources from Statistics Canada (StatsCan)

~ Discovering Canada through national maps and facts-- Atlas Canada

~ Learning Center for teachers (Collections Canada)

~ Virtual Museum

~ online books from Answers in Genesis (REALLY cool site)

Enjoy!!!

~jen

I am shamefully lazy... I could've gotten creative and written my own text, but Tia said it so well...!!! So, check out what Tia Linschied had to say over on Gena's blog about our new survey:

HomeschoolBlogger.com is now hosting its own survey to get a better idea of what the bloggers here are like and what kinds of changes they would like to see take place to make HSB a better blog host.  Go on over and take the survey, it's short and painless.  Just click on the graphic below.