Table of Contents HEM September-October 2007

September-October 2007 Subscribe to HEM HEM Information Being 16 and in Cairo makes sense for Meera. (c) Cleo Photography (c) Cleo Photography Top

Features Illiberal Education: Constitutional Constraints on Homeschooling - by Valerie Bonham Moon - page 36 In the first three sentences of a recent paper, "Illiberal Education: Constitutional Constraints on Homeschooling," Professor Kimberly Yuracko of Chicago's Northwestern University School of Law, sets the psychological stage to promote the legal duty of American states to stringently regulate homeschooling Articles Stop Me Before I Buy Again! - by Karen Vogel - page 27 Karen Vogel exposes homeschooling's dirty little secret--curriculum addiction--in this humorous article. Homeschooling for Free - by Kathryn Frazier - page 28 Kathryn Frazier offers her suggestions for free or inexpensive homeschool materials. Where Experts Fear to Tread - by Shay Seaborne - page 29 Do we really need experts or does the independent nature of many homeschoolers give us the ability to live beyond what the experts know? Shay Seaborne shares her ideas on going where "experts fear to tread." I Forgot to Unschool Me - by Cindy Englan - page 30 Cindy Englan has an epiphany when she realizes she enjoyed homeschooling her sons, but she forgot about her own dreams. In this inspiring article, she describes how she learned to unschool herself. National Novel Writing Month - by Wendy Gregory Kaho - page 32 Wendy Gregory Kaho shares how she and several teenage friends took up the challenge of writing a novel in one month. Homeschooling by the Creed - by Rachel Berg Bithell - page 33 Writing a homeschool creed can keep us on track on those days when nothing goes right. Rachel Berg Bithell describes her reasons for writing hers in this thoughtful article. Support for Everyone - by Diana North - page 34 Diana North offers possibilities for cooperation among support groups with different agendas in order to help support all homeschoolers. Departments HEM Notebook - - page 3 Letters and Discussions - - page 8 Columns Ask Carol - by Carol Narigon - page 16 Get Started with a Little Help from Your Friends Carol explains a new homeschoolers' five new best friends. Questions & Answers - by Laura Weldon - page 18 Grayhaired Old Bats? and Mom Moving In? One reader asks why there seem to be a lot of "old bats" running support groups, while another another reader is concerned about how her mother moving in will affect her family's homeschooling. Learning 101 - by Tamra Orr - page 22 Homeschoolers and Confronting Reality Living in reality is an important way in which homeschooled children learn and live morals and values. Taking Charge - by Larry & Susan Kaseman - page 24 Let's Not Institutionalize 3, 4, and 5 Year Olds This column discusses ways in which young children learn, how well they learn at home, downsides to preschool, and suggestions for what we can do. News & Commentary - by Valerie Bonham Moon - page 41 An Era Ends, and Activists, Legislators and Researchers Still Lead the Homeschool Parade Valerie reviews homeschooling news. Good Stuff - by Becky Rupp - page 42 Pumpkins! Becky outdoes herself with a plethora of pumpkin resources, along with some wonderful new books, and an online newspaper for kids ages 8-10. My Word! - by David H. Albert - page 50 Home Alone - Home Together Homeschooling parents work their way out of a job, and that includes when the children become world travelers. Hands-On Learning - by Kathy Ceceri - page 52 Inventions Old and New Kathy tells us how we can get a taste of inventing by making a model of Morse's telegraph. The Homeschool Kitchen - by Christine Gable - page 54 Delicious, Delectable Dessert You may find a bit more help cleaning up and putting away after cooking when dessert fills the plate. Road Less Traveled - by Linda Dobson - page 58 Don't Forget the Little Things Homeschooling gives you a chance to show your children what's really important in life.