Spunky Homeschool

Odds and Ends Before I Go

Jan. 27, 2006 at 9:10 AM

Gatto in Grand Rapids
I'm leaving after lunch to go to Grand Rapids, MI for the Mid-Winter Home Educator's Conference. This is a smaller conference and not nearly as frenetic as the bigger conventions. John Taylor Gatto and Rob Shearer are both giving talks. The Deputy Headmistress of the Common Room is going to be there. Sallie from Two Talent Living is also nearby. I hope to get a chance to meet up with them. This conference is a great way to beat back the blahs of winter. I'll be back Saturday night.

Here are a few other odds and ends to think about....

This isn't my goal. Is it yours?
Governor Granholm gave the State of the State address Wednesday night. Here's her stated goal for education,
First, we must make sure that every parent who’s watching tonight can afford to send their children to college. To achieve our goal of a workforce that's second to none, we must be first when it comes to giving citizens access to higher education.
A "workforce second to none" is NOT why I educate my children. I'm sure I'll have more to say on that topic when I return.

Calling all Homeschooling Moms of High Schoolers
Gena Suarez, Publisher of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, is looking for homeschool moms to write about high school for an upcoming e-book, Homeschooling the High Schooler - From Transcripts to Graduation. She is specifically looking for another chapter or two that is math and science related. Get all the details at The Company Porch.

Blooks
If your expertise isn't high school that doesn't mean you can't be in a book. You can publish one of your own. There is actually a way you can turn your blog into a book. They call them "blooks". Lulu is a site to help you if you're interested in learning more. I have seen a few homeschoolers use this service to publish curriculum as well.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
If e-books and blooks are too high tech for you then check out the winter issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. It should be arriving in mailboxes soon. I have two articles in this issue. Successful Bloggers and Homeschoolers and an article featuring HomeschoolBlogger.com bloggers: Karen at Wired Wisdom. , Ann at Holy Experience, Cindy Downes, Patricia Hunter, Jane Bulivant, Shiela Lange, and Donna Booshay. They are all excellent bloggers with something to say. I'm excited to be able to introduce them to a wider audience of homeschoolers who may not even know what a blog is yet.

There's also an article by Bruce Shortt author of the book The Harsh Truths of the Public Schools. This issue also contains loads of information on the subject of writing. Including an article by Herb Meyers author of the book How to Write. I am currently having my 15 year old son read his e-book which you can download for only $1.99. (Note: He doesn't pay me to say that. )

HomeschoolBlogger.com News
Don't miss this week's featured blogger, ChefMommy. It's a new blog for exchanging recipes. Great idea. I hope it takes off. Now if they can come up with a way to get if from screen to the oven I'd be in blogging heaven.

Vigilante Dad
David Swafford, an irate father, punched a teacher's assistant for allegedly inappropriately touching his 15 year old daughter. The father had this to say,

"I'm not real proud of what I did," [said Swafford] "You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me."

"If some other parents would do this, maybe some of these pedophiles would crawl back under rocks where they belong,''

Punching wasn't the best response but honestly can you blame him? The teacher was still in the classroom despite the allegation. What would you do?  (Update:  Turns out the daughter may be totally accurate in her story.  Thanks to BlestWithSons for the heads up.)

Update on the Vermont Judge
Do you remember the Vermont judge who gave a 60-day sentence to a man who repeatedly molested a seven year old girl? Well he's since changed his mind on the sentencing. .He now says he will increase the sentence to at least three years. With dumb decisions like this is it any wonder why fathers like Mr. Swafford decide to take matters into their own hands?

Super Bowl XL
If you read that and thought of a large bowl suitable for munching popcorn then you probably don't live near Detroit or follow pro football. Detroit's gone crazy for football. But you can't really blame us there hasn't been a serious pro football game in Detroit for a long time. Needless to say I won't be watching. But it is fun to watch the politicians spruce the place up for the company. Our highways have never been this clean. Unfortunately, the real mess in this state isn't the highways.

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7 Comments and Trackbacks

posted by on Jan. 27, 2006 at 1:16 PM

Hi Spunky. I just love your blog. It is always filled with so many great posts and resources to check out.

Thanks for stopping in and visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I am so pleased you shared your family story. Plus we are going to enjoy checking out the Civil War Dads blog. It is one of our favorite time periods. We visit Civil War sites, read books, and attend re-enactments. Our favorite thing is to research personal accounts. So I am so glad you shared your link!!

I have been researching our family history for the past couple of years. One of my uncles fought for the Union and the other for the Confederacy. Most of the ancestors on my father's side hail from Tennessee. This year I hope to visit some of the lands they once owned because I found land deeds and grants which listed helpful info. I am definately at novice at researching family history but I am trying to learn more.

Thanks for sharing! May you be blessed in your travels!

Blessings,
Sharra

Edited by SBadgley on Jan. 27, 2006 at 10:17 AM

posted by Hobbitsmom on Jan. 27, 2006 at 6:54 PM

Hi, Spunky!

I've been following your blog for quite sometime - it is on my 'favorites' list. I appreciated you coming by my blog and saying hi - I've wanted to return the favor, but wasn't able to comment til today I realized the blog save on my 'favorites' was your 'other blog'. So, now that I'm in the right place.......

Thanks for stopping by with your encouragement. Here is one gal who will have her eyes on Detroit next weekend cheering for the blue and green team. ;)

Appreciate all the insight you give to all things home school related.

posted by sherrydhoneycutt on Jan. 28, 2006 at 8:53 AM

Hi there! I found your blog through Lonestarmama's blog and saw that you live in Michigan! I'm just south of Detroit myself! Not too far from the big blue footbally thing they built over I-94! It is hilarious to see how they are trying to make Detroit more "visitor friendly". Did you hear they are putting the homeless up in a hotel (I think) with meals and a big screen t.v. so they are off the street when the tourists arrive for the Super Bowl? *sigh*

I love your blog and will add you to my friends list if you don't mind :-)

I didn't know about the homeschool conference in Grand Rapids. Wish I would have. This is my first year homeschooling and it would have been great to get up there.

Well, have a great weekend!

Sherry

posted by blestwithsons on Jan. 28, 2006 at 2:32 PM

One small problem with vigilante dad - his daughter made the whole thing up. She was mad about getting detention for pouring a drink on another student so she and some friends made up the story. Thinklings has the links to the news stories...

posted by chickadee on Jan. 28, 2006 at 4:19 PM

i've heard you say that you are keeping your blog as a record for you kids to have someday. i think that's a great idea. i've always kept a journal and a blog is a new way to keep a record. but i'm wondering if you print out your blog entries or save them any other way than in cyperspace?

thanks. love reading your blog.

melissa

posted by spunkyhomeschool on Jan. 30, 2006 at 1:10 PM

At this point I am printing many of them off. I also archive some in MS Word. I'm not sure how this will all be done. A e-book is another idea I have thought of. But at this point I don't want to invest too much money into it. So I'm content to just continue it this way. I have it all on two sites so I feel somewhat secure that the information will be retained electronically as well.

posted by Robin on Jan. 31, 2006 at 11:52 AM

I just discovered your blog and I am so thrilled! I will be back daily. Keep up the good work.

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