Mark your Calendar...

Unschoolers need a holiday. When people ask if they homeschool in the summer, they say yes. When people ask when they have a break from learning, they say never.

This has gone on for a long time now.

July 24, 2008 will be the first (and maybe last) annual Learn Nothing Day a vacation for unschoolers, though it may be celebrated by anyone who wishes.

Click on the above logo for the official "Learn Nothing Day" website.

Home is Where the School Is

Home Is Where the School Is
By Gregory J. Millman
Washington Post
Sunday, March 23, 2008

But "home-schooling" is a misnomer, really. Most of it doesn't even take place at home, and the schooling has little in common with what goes on in school. The legal definition varies from state to state, as do registration and other requirements. In New Jersey, the law only requires parents to see that their children get an education "equivalent" to public instruction.

What home-schoolers most readily reflect are the virtues of the old American frontier settlement or the Amish barn-raising -- we co-operate in self-reliance. My wife and I have been teaching our children ourselves for more than 15 years, and we've found that home-schooling opens doors that schools leave closed.

Unschooling Voices

Submissions for Issue #13 of Unschooling Voices are now being accepted.

Silvia at Po Moyemuwill be hosting this edition and has submitted this question:

What do you do, as an unschooling parent, when your child expresses an interest in a particular topic and you don't know how to help them in a way that doesn't involve lesson plans and curriculum?

If you would like to participate and don't have a place to post, Kansas area homeschoolers are invited to post their entries here.

John Holt Quotes

Joanne, at An Unschooling Life, recently posted some great John Holt quotes. If you haven't already read John Holt's books, I highly recommend them.

Show & Tell: Taliesin's Bookmark

Taliesin's artwork was selected by the Friends of the Salina Public Library for a bookmark.

Great Wolf Lodge: Virtual Scrapbook

GWL ~ Year 1

15 members of the Topeka (TAHN) and Lawrence (LAHN)Area Homeschool Networks shared three rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Second Annual Area Homeschoolers GWL Get-Away

TAHN, LAHN and GAHN (Gardner) got together with 41 attending the gathering.

Third Annual Area Homeschoolers GWL Get-Away

KSHomeschool.net organized the gathering with
a total of 140+ attendees from across the state of Kansas.

We met new friends from: Baldwin • Blue Springs
Dodge City • Edwardsville • Emporia • Gardner • Hutchinson • Kansas City KS
Lawrence • Lecompton • Lenexa • Manhattan • Osage City • Shawnee
Smithville MO • Spearville • Tonganoxie • Topeka • Wichita

Are You Going to Join us in 2008?

Kansas Area Homeschool Network in 2008

Where will Kansas Area Homeschool Network go in 2008?

Anywhere we want it to go. What would you like to see?

• Make sure your local support group is listed in our directory (or that the information is current if you are already there).


• Send us a link to your blog if you would like it listed (sidebar, right).


• Feel free to send us announcements and news of interest to Kansas Area Homeschoolers.


• Submit Show & Tell items by the first of each month.


• Send us your thoughts, comments, suggestions, articles and essays... or just leave notes in the comments section of this blog. We love to hear from you.

I have still not succeeded in transferring everything from the old KSHomeschool.net site to here, but I will continue to work on it as I have time. If there is anything specific that you are looking for, drop me a note and I'll put it on the priority list.

Thanks and Have a Great 2008!
Tracy

P.S. Don't forget to get your reservations in for Great Wolf Lodge! The rooms are filling up. If you need the details or have any questions, drop me an email at goobmom23 AT yahoo DOT com. This invitation is for homeschoolers. Feel free to share the news with your local groups.

Show & Tell: Graham Cracker Construction Party

What you can do with Graham Crackers, Icing, Candy, and a Little Imagination...

Show and Tell: Toa Mahri

drawing by Isaac, age 10

click on the image to see it in greater detail

Our Non-directed Support Organization

Got this link to a great essay through FutureMom's blog. Thanks, FutureMom!

Our Non-directed Support Organization
by Earl Gary Stevens
Home Education Magazine
May/June 1995 Issue

While it is true that a network is not a community, Eileen Yoder, who co-founded SMHESN with me, points out that within our network we are a community of people at various levels of commitment and caring and willingness to give. Some people give a great deal, and, as time passes, they tend to be seen as leaders. But as long as we claim ownership and responsibility only for what we as individuals offer to others and not for any kind of group authority, then we avoid misunderstandings and debilitating conflicts.

Unschooling Voices #11

The January 2008 edition of Unschooling Voices is up! There is always a lot of good reading at Unschooling Voices and lots of thoughtful blogs you might enjoy adding to your regular reading list.

If you are interested in participating in the next edition, it will be hosted by Relaxed Homeskool and you can check out the guidelines for entries here. Remember that if you don't have your own blog, I am always happy to post any Kansas Area Homeschooler here on this site.

Enjoy!