July-August/10 Raising a Librarian - Jon helping his sister choose a book. We Stopped Doing School at Home - Keeping a close watch on the chickens Sunshine, Fairies and Physics? - Exploring optics in the Jacobins Cathedral Pre-order July-August/10 Top

Table of Contents HEM July-August 2010 Our July-August issue features Mary Nix's interview with author and homeschooling dad David Albert, who's been writing for Home Education Magazine for ten years. Articles in this issue: Letting go of 'school at home', video games as a valuable learning opportunity, proceeding from natural discovery to scientific investigation, a handful of articles on homeschooling and libraries, and a delicious way to study the solar system! As always, our columns explore a wide range of ideas, from designing your own curriculum to the elusive element of popularity to how parents benefit from homeschooling and what do we hope for and dream of for our children? Another issue of thoughtful writing and terrific reading! Features Interviews - by Mary Nix Interview with David Albert David completes ten years of his wonderful My Word! columns in the September-October 2010 issue of Home Education Magazine Articles We Stopped Doing "School at Home" - by Denice Dible After years of setting up a scheduled school routine at home, this mother finally let go of her preconceived notions of the right way to educate children and relaxed into simply living as a homesteading Catholic family. Cosmic Cuisine: An Edible Journey through the Solar System - by Lisa Stevenson This article describes a fun, easy, and delicious way to study the solar system. Mindless Video Games? - by Deena Sao Video games are not the exception to the unschooling rule. Hours of play can be a valuable learning opportunity. Deena Sao, unschooling mom, explains why she supports video game play. Sunshine, Fairies and Physics? - by Angela Chenus How does the study of science proceed from natural discovery to scientific investigation, from the fairies that live in the forest to the stars that shine in the sky? Accompanying her five children on this voyage has taught one mother and writer Angela Chenus much about instigating interest and keeping it alive in multiple ways. Raising a Librarian - by Caroline Kiberd A great-grandmother's passion for books leads to great adventures for a homeschooled boy--including a job at the library he loves. The Home Library: A Labor of Love - by Lisa Hartman Lisa Hartman writes about developing your homeschool library. Departments HEM Classics - Good Stuff - Designing Your Own Curriculum In this Good Stuff column, originally published in September-October 1997 Becky Rupp discusses how to develop an "ordered core," which is an organizing principle around which to build an effective curriculum. Also reviews of E.D. Hirsch's "What Your First Grader Needs to Know","A Birthday a Day" and more. Columns Questions and Answers - by Laura Weldon Homeschool While Unemployed? and Won't Work On Her Own? Homeschool While Unemployed? We don't want to put the kids back but in school, they're doing so well here, but maybe it will relieve some stress. Wynne, Louisiana Won't Work On Her Own? My daughter is too dependent on me. We have many things available to her in our home, but she won't do anything unless I sit down and do them with her, and this is really draining me. How would you handle this? Lorraine Learning 101 - by Tamra Orr The Elusive Element of Popularity On a search for the elusive element of popularity, one mom finds that homeschooling can't protect children when it's just not part of their experience. Taking Charge - by Larry & Susan Kaseman How Parents Benefit From Homeschooling We parents put a lot into homeschooling. So what do we get in return? Publisher's Note - by Helen Hegener Ever-Bigger Questions What should be the end result of homeschooling? What greater goal, what worthy purpose do we seek in educating our children? What do we hope for and dream of for our children? Good Stuff - by Becky Rupp Marvelous Maps: Nebraska, Neverland, and Treasure Island Maps, maps and more maps! 'Bloodstained' maps leading to chest of gold doubloons, zany takes on geography, maps of your daily world, poetic maps and even road maps, Becky's column leads you to wonderful resources of maps. My Word! - by David H. Albert A Little Conversation Conversation, ability to think, and education go hand-in-hand. Homeschooling provides the opportunity for ongoing conversation with your child. Road Less Traveled - by Linda Dobson Bridging the Great Schooling Divide Linda explores the lasting value of trusting family vs the dependency fostered by trusting the experts.