Facebook welcomes homeschoolers
Facebook welcomes homeschoolers
Way back in February I posted a story about how Facebook inadvertently discriminates against homeschoolers. Now they finally changed their account creation process to allow minors join without listing a school affiliation.
From the facebook blog:
We've been working on ways to solve this—we want minors to use Facebook safely above all. Today, we're happy to announce that we've recently come up with a way for homeschoolers to join. We've created a new verification system—one that doesn't depend on being in a high school, but still provides the level of security we believe is required. So welcome, everyone, to Facebook. Read more...
Hat tip to Spunky for first posting about this yesterday.
Labels: Blogs, homeschool, web
Who better to teach about unschooling?
Who better to teach about unschooling?
An unschooler named Andi wrote this comprehensive how-to on unschooling aka"worldschooling." It's fairly balanced and informative for anyone who's considering homeschooling or unschooling. You can even add to parts of it.
Hi, I'm Andi. I wrote this lens. (In case you don't know, a 'lens' is Squidoo's name for a user-made page about a topic.)
From the time I was six, I was homeschooled. From the time I was twelve, I was worldschooled. Then, this spring, I graduated.
So I've been through the whole thing - all the way until I was accepted into my top choice college and awarded 60% tuition in grants.
And you know what? You can do it too. You can follow your interests during your teens years and have an incredible launch into your adult life.
That's what this lens is about. Read more...
Labels: College, homeschool, unschool, web
Google maps the sky
Google maps the sky
Most of us have seen Google maps of the earth. Less have heard of Google Moon and Google Mars. Now Google has mapped the sky with Google Sky.
Nice for budding astronomers during daylight hours or on a cloudy day. Just don't forget to go outside once in a while. Go there...
Labels: homeschool, science, web
Does Facebook Discriminate Against Homeschoolers?
Does Facebook Discriminate Against Homeschoolers?
From the "OFF/beat Real, Strange News" section of the Washington Post today:
Like a lot of people his age, Teran McKinney wanted an account on Facebook. But when the 15-year-old from Hendersonville, N.C., began filling out the online application, he hit a roadblock. Facebook requires all people under 18 to give the name of the school they attend, but McKinney is homeschooled. And without a school affiliation, minors can't join.
So McKinney did what thousands of kids in his position have already done. He selected a nearby school, in his case Hendersonville High, as his school. "After joining Facebook, I became fairly fascinated with it," he wrote Read more...
Labels: homeschool, web
10 Geeky websites
10 Geeky websites
GeekParenting has this list of 10 websites for geeky kids. (HT: Wired: GeekDad)
Though my kids have yet to do anything with my computer other than rip off the shift keys, I do try to keep my eye out for coolhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif sites for children. I actually write for a few, so I make a mental note whenever I see something interesting.
Mind you, this list is far from exhaustive and I urge you to suggest more below, but these are my picks for the top 10 Websites for geeky kids. Read more...
Labels: Blogs, homeschool, web
Homeschooled teen runs cookie business
Homeschooled teen runs cookie business
See her site at: www.homemadecookiesbyemily.com.
When most 15-year-olds go to school, they write English papers, run around in gym shorts and play on computers.
When Emily Savine goes to school, she writes content for a Web site, runs a business and plays the stock market. Read more...
Labels: business, homeschool, web
Free trial: the Quiz Hub
Free trial: the Quiz Hub
I just got this email from Dyann Schmidel of Quiz Hub. I thought I'd pass it on.
The Quiz Hub is a fun online interactive learning center that features educational quiz games for language arts, mathematics, geography, history, and science.
All HomeSchoolBuzz readers can preview the Quiz Hub through January 1, 2008 via the following account.
account: buzz
password: home Read more...
Labels: free, homeschool, web
Homeschool Search now actually works
Homeschool Search now actually works
I assumed because my new homeschool flavored search worked in Firefox, it would work in Internet Explorer. Thanks to Henry Cate's patient emails explaining it wouldn't work for him, I discovered the problem and fixed it.
My apologies to the majority of you who use IE as your browser. Please give me a second chance and try out homeschool search.
Labels: homeschool, web
New Homeschool flavored search engine
New Homeschool flavored search engine
HomeschoolBuzz.com is launching a Homeschool flavored, Google custom search engine. What is homeschool flavor? Some say it tastes like chicken but it's actually a Google custom search limited to only homeschooling related sites and pages. You can search hundreds of homeschool sites, blogs, articles, vendors and resources to get search results with a homeschool focus.
If I left out some of your favorite sites, it was unintentional. I can only add a site if I know about it. I want them ALL! That's where you come in...
Leave a comment to tell me about the homeschool sites I missed. You can also send a list of sites yourself. I'm sure there are hundreds of them. The only requirement is that the site is homeschool focused or an educational resource that could be used by homeschoolers. The list is not limited by politics, religion or educational philosophy, only topic. (Search for the site's name to see if it's included.)
(NOTE: Earlier, I requested contributors but this is hard for me to manage so please comment to leave info about sites you want included. I usually add them quickly.)
I also implemented a search plug-in for Firefox or ie7.
Google provides a way you can put the search box on your blog or site or add it to your Google homepage (iGoogle).
Try it out. Tell me what you think.
Labels: Blogs, homeschool, web
Site Problems
Site Problems
Sorry if this site is a little... strange. It had been moved to a new server, not without some problems. I don't have time to fully fix everything until later today. Bear with me. - Gary
Labels: web
Future's channel: Free Career Videos online
We got an email recently from Jenna, the head of distribution at the Future's channel telling us about their website.
She writes,
We make "micro-documentary" videos that explore different careers that are both interesting and innovative to find how they use math and science.This is a really cool educational website Be sure to check them out.Visit the site...
Our website has more than 70 of these different videos, and they're completely free to access. The subjects of the videos cover a wide variety of professions including a backpack designer, a landscape architect and a robotics engineer. They can really help kids think about what they can do with the math and science they're learning. All are welcome and we'd like to let the homeschool community know that this resource is out there for them.
Labels: web
Free teacher workshops online
Matt Navitsky contacted us on behalf of Motorola and its recent Chicago teacher workshop event co-hosted by the Department of Education. The workshop focused on science and math education. (They also have other educational initiatives.) All of the presentations from the workshop are online and free. You might find some useful nuggets for your own homeschools. Below are links to just a few of the presentations. There are many more:
- Analogical Reasoning: Real-World Examples for Scientific Concepts
- Force Me to Move
- Creating a College-Going Culture
- The Color of Science
- Balancing Math and Science
- Why Ben Franklin Didn't Fry: Discover Concepts of Electricity the Way
History Did
More presentations are available at the Motorola site. Read more...
Labels: web
Homeschooler's anti-war Web site draw 2 million a month
Turns out the new world looks a lot like the old one: a white house in a leafy neighborhood of a Southern milltown; a soccer decal stuck to the trunk of a car parked in the driveway; a pink bicycle with training wheels in the backyard.
Even inside, there's nothing that hints this is ground zero for a 16-year-old home schooled redhead whose videos on her anti-war Web site have lit up the blogosphere with as many as 2 million visitors a month. Read more...
Calamity Jack
Calamity Jack is the hero of this engaging graphic novel. Born to "scheme", Jack sets his sights on what he wants and will go for it no matter what the consequences. Unfortunately it seems bad luck follows him. Good intentions he may have, but the end result is not always "ideal". Just like another Jack we've heard about, Calamity Jack buys some magic beans that lead him straight to some cranky giants. Read more...
Twinkle: Star of the Week
In this children's picture book, we meet Twinkle and her fellow star classmates. Yes, they are literal hot balls of gas and they have Ms. Sun as their teacher. When Ms. Sun announces to the class each of the stars will have a turn to be Star of the week, Twinkle had planned to share her favorite star song with the class. Wouldn't you know Blink had his turn before Twinkle and shared the exact same song! Now she has to go back to the drawing board and come up with something else to share. Read more...
The Periodic Table: Elements with Style
Do you find chemistry boring? Do you think that the Periodic Table is a strange kind of dining-room furniture, or that Molybdenum is a meaningless word that the smart kids use to confuse you? If so, The Periodic Table: Elements with Style is a perfect book for you. The book features brief descriptions of 54 of the chemical elements. Read more...
The School Story
Dream of writing a novel? 12-year-old Natalie does, and she goes beyond dreaming – she actually writes one. And, it's good. But the problem any new writer has is how to get it published? Her BFF Zoe and her English teacher Ms. Clayton team up with Natalie to help. Still, the biggest hill to cross is how to get the publisher to read it and not file it away in the "slush" pile. Natalie's mom works as an editor, so Natalie knows how the system works. Read more...
The Thing About Georgie
The thing about Georgie is it's a neat book that puts you in the shoes of Georgie, 10- year-old who's facing quite a few challenges at once. First, there are his physical challenges: he's a dwarf. Next, there is personal conflict. His best friend Andy is becoming buddies with another kid named Russ, and Georgie thinks he's sure to lose his friendship. There's also Jeanie Meanie, a girl who torments him with her sharp tongue and bully behaviors. And the biggest problem is his family. Read more...
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
It's the 1860's and Homer and his older brother Harold are orphans stuck with their mean guardian Squint, who neglects them by locking them in the barn and denying them proper nourishment. Then the old coot goes and illegally sells an underage Harold into the Union army. It's up to 12-year-old Homer to find Harold and rescue him from the war. On his journey many an adventure, some good, and some bad delay Homer. Read more...
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science
Phineas Gage, a 19th century railroad construction foreman, survived an accident that blew a 13-pound 3 foot 7inch iron rod through his cheek and out the top of his skull. He should have been dead, but rather he was able to walk, talk, and account his accident to others. His recovery was not unremarkable though, after battling infection and suffering from delirious spells, his convalescence would last several months. Yes, he survived a catastrophic injury, but Phineas would never be the same. Read more...
Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys
As a mom to three active boys, I'm always eager to read what others have to say about raising boys to be men. What better people to take advice from than Hal and Melanie Young, parents to 6 boys (and 2 girls). In their book, Raising Real men, they discuss the intricacies of bringing up boys within a biblical worldview. They address numerous issues, such as boys needing heroes to look up to, leadership, competitiveness, stewardship, manners, and much more. Read more...
Blizzard!
Having grown up in Upstate New York and now living in Western New York, I have grown accustomed to snow. Winters last sometimes 6 months here, and you learn to deal with it. But only a handful of times do I remember experiencing a true blizzard, the kind that closes shopping malls, grocery stores, and schools. In his riveting book, Blizzard, Jim Murphy tells of the infamous blizzard of 1888, where not only towns came to a standstill, but also 600+ people lost their lives. Read more...
When You Reach Me
Twelve-year-old Miranda is living in New York City with her mom, who has just learned she will be a contestant on the 20,000 Pyramid game show (book is set in the 70's). Excitement abounds and Miranda helps her mom prepare for the show with timed quizzes. Miranda is a latch key kid, and when she starts receiving some unusual notes from an unknown person she is intrigued, and a little spooked. Read more...
Frankie: The Walk 'n Roll Dog
In this touching story we meet Frankie, an adorable dachshund who suffered rear leg paralysis after a spinal cord injury. You might think her quality of life would be compromised with such a handicap, but shortly after her injury she became fitted with a harness with wheels, and regains her mobility. Her uplifting and true story is told by her human mom Barb, but it is Frankie's voice. Read more...
Pajama School: Stories From the Life of a Homeschool Graduate
As a homeschooling mom to three boys, Pajama School brought me both sighs of relief and smiles. The author's recollection of her homeschooling days gave me much needed encouragement. After all, don't we sometimes wonder if we are doing the right thing, educating our children at home? What about socialization, team sports, band, the "prom" and high school requirements? Are they missing out? Of course my answer to those questions is a big no, but every once in a while I wonder…. Read more...
Camp Club Girls and the Mystery at Discovery Lake
In The Mystery at Discovery lake, summer camp cabin-mates turned friends Elizabeth, Alexis, Sydney, Mackenzie and Kate team up to investigate first some strange howlings, and then some strange diggings at the adjacent golf course. One of the girls brought with her some neat gadgets such as a robot spy-cam, which proves useful to the novice detectives. When they are not sleuthing around, they are doing regular camp activities such as crafts, horseback riding, and learning Bible memory verses. Read more...
The Make Today Matter Makeover
I wish I were thinner. I need to get back to working out. I have a list of books I'd like to read. I want to break a bad habit. I must get more organized. Sound familiar? All of us have things in our life that we'd like to change. But where do we begin? How do we get from here to there? One resource that may help is the Make Today Matter Makeover: The 26 Best Ways to Recapture Daily Magic, Kick-start High-Energy Living, and Get the Most out of Life. Read more...
On the Edge with Coolhead Luke
Do you enjoy poetry? Then you should like this book. Mother and son team, in which author Jennifer White produced the poems and artist Colin White provided the illustrations, came out with Coolhead Luke and Other Stories in 2007. Cynthia Clarke said this about it on Home School Buzz. “In the introduction the author, Jennifer White, explains that her son’s pictures ‘had a story to tell’ so she found the words and the book was born. Read more...