In the March-April issue, Larry and Susan Kaseman offer a realistic look at the positives a homeschooling life can mean for our families in these tough times. David Albert reminds us that a generation of families have lived a homeschooling life, and Linda Dobson's "Waiting for a Bad Teacher" punctuates the risk of not homeschooling. Tamara Orr mulls on the concern voiced by parents when winter weather closed down local schools, and Kathy Ceceri's "Hydroponic Gardening" brings us full circle on concrete things we can do for ourselves in tough times.

Our articles offer some inexpensive hands-on ideas, from Nancy Walters' story of "Destruction" to how Brooke Rosenbaum weaves yoga into her family's life and curriculum. Agnes Penny explains how the study of art is more than you might think, while Mary Potter Kenyon gives us hints about organizing our space, and Susan Mayclin Stephenson uses personal experience to explain Montessori philosophy and practice.

Features

Interviews - by Mary Nix
Interview with Rachel Barton Pine
Rachel Barton Pine is a virtuoso violinist, philanthropist and educator. Many of the skills she learned while homeschooling have helped her to not only play the music, but research it as well.

Articles

The Messies Move - by Mary Potter Kenyon
Mary Potter Kenyon downsized her house full of homeschoolers and their supplies and tells how she eliminated the junk and organized their new home.

Raising Art Critics - by Agnes Penny
Agnes Penny uses inexpensive art prints and lunchtime conversation to help her children discover and understand the art world, but finds they also learn history, philosophy, culture, and more about their religious faith while developing skills of observation and communication.

Young Herpetologists - by Nicole M Moore
How does an interest in reptiles and snakes transform into a passion for herpetology? Nicole Moore explains how her brothers and sister trailed frogs, salamanders, snakes and turtles, creating their own nature study while enjoying outdoor adventures in Maine.

Teach Your Child Yoga, A Skill for Life - by Brooke Rosenbaum

We learn from Brooke Rosenbaum that building yoga movement into the homeschool day can be a relaxing, fun, and educational way to spend time with your child. Her article explains that as you exercise and set goals together, you can help your child of any age build confidence and concentration while developing a tool for relaxation. The article includes great resources about yoga, including specific ideas for creating academic unit studies—even at the high school level!

Nurturing Destructive Tendencies - by Nancy Walters
Nancy Walters tells how she created an inexpensive and fun activity for her homeschool co-op when she hosted "Destruction," a day when kids gathered to take apart old appliances and machines. A great way to recycle and re-use broken stuff, the activity also allowed kids to get a peek at the inner workings of toasters and printers. Walters also offers readers a bonus list of ten other great activities her homeschool co-op has enjoyed together.

A Montessori Homeschool Story - by Susan Mayclin Stephenson
Susan Stephenson, a homeschool mom and Montessori educator, tells how Montessori methods and philosophy worked as her own son was learning at home. Now a grandmother, Stephenson shares her story, blending details of son Michael’s homeschooling days with an explanation of Montessori philosophy and practice, to create an article that is both informative and inspirational.

Departments

HEM Notebook -

Columns

Learning 101 - by Tamra Orr
Falling Behind
Examine the idea that, besides snow, winter storms always bring the notion of children falling behind in school.

Taking Charge - by Larry & Susan Kaseman
How Homeschooling Empowers Families in Tough Times
We homeschoolers are aware of the many advantages of homeschooling, but we may not have thought of them as part of our non-material wealth and as assets in tough times. Reviewing them now may also help us respond to questions about whether we’re going to give up homeschooling so we parents have more time to work for pay instead.

Good Stuff - by Becky Rupp
Peter Rabbit and Friends
Resources multiplying like rabbits when it comes to, well, rabbits!

My Word! - by David H. Albert
Moving Out
Another family experiences the emptying of the nest, and the evidence of very different characteristics in siblings.

Hands-On Learning - by Kathy Ceceri
Hydroponic Gardening
Many homeschooling families are growing their own food and already part of a self-reliant, healthy lifestyle. Hydroponic gardening is a way to bring the harvest indoors to small spaces year around.

Road Less Traveled - by Linda Dobson
Waiting for a Bad Teacher
The story of a family waiting for a bad teacher before beginning the homeschooling journey.

Questions & Answers - by Laura Weldon
Our best freinds are moving! and Am I spoiling my kindergartener?
Laura shares readers comments on the situation one family fids it self in, Our best freinds are moving! and another mom's concern, Am I spoiling my kindergartener?