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Real Homeschool
by Kathy Banks
Kathy Banks is a home school mom who spent less than $500 in thirteen years of home education. She wrote a practical guide for home school parents needing encouragement and help in educating their children, those interested in finding out about home school and those burned out by traditional methods of education. She features two essays which will help you on your path to build your confidence and help you find that creative spark that lies with you. She hopes you enjoy them and will provide encouragement to you in your homeschooling endeavors.

Christian Unschooling:
Growing Your Child in the Freedom of Christ
by Teri Brown with Elissa Wahl
Unschooling, child-led learning, free learning, interest based education, child-delighted learning - These are the many names that are used to describe unschooling. Teri Brown with Elissa Wahl have a book that addresses the needs of both "Christians" and "unschoolers". For those Christian parents who are facing school-at-home burnout form a strict schedule, they offer another path to learning. The book includes many essays from veteran homeschoolers as well as practical information on how to start your own support group is included. In this essay which is the first chapter in her book, she describes "The Dream" of homeschooling and how to achieve it. There is also the opportunity to ask your question in our many different homeschooling support groups.

Story of the Candy Cane
This is a very nice explanation of the meaning behind the candy cane which you can print out. It was sent to us by Dana who says, "I have a story of the candy cane that I hope you like.  I hope  that everyone is enjoys this and passes it along."

"Deck the Halls with Boughs of Challah"
Interweaving interfaith religions & traditions
by Beth Bruno & Deirdre O'Gorman Goldsmith
Many families interweave the traditions of different religions. My friends, Scott and Deirdre, who were raised in Jewish and Roman Catholic families, respectively, combined their religions when they married and now look ahead to educating their children, families and friends through the richness each religion brings into their lives. Find out more with a wonderful essay from my friend Dierdre.

African-American Homeschooling
An interview with Judi Thomas
of HERITAGE Homeschoolers
hosted by Joe Spataro
Former middle school teacher Judi Thomas of Marietta, Ga., started HERITAGE Homeschoolers, a support group for minorities, after finding other organizations included few, if any, black families. She has been homeschooling her daughter Juliet (age 9) and her daughter Jacqueline (age 4). Judi in many ways is like any homeschooling mom but with some unique perspectives. As a former middle school teacher she has an intimate inside knowledge of how the "system" works. As an African-American homeschooler, she has developed a support group for this community of homeschoolers, adding to the diversity of the homeschooling movement. She was recently featured in a Time Magazine article, and I thought it might be fun to chat with Judi a bit and have her tell us more about herself, her family and her support group.

Life's Little Lessons
"The Grey Knit Vest"
by Linda Caroll
Grandpapa always read to me....
It is my sincere hope that sharing this story with you will inspire you to share something of yourself. How wise the words, "Sharing makes everything better." The need to reach out to another human being is instinctive, and as necessary as the air that we breathe.
Please read on

Meet the Author
"Easy Homeschooling Techniques"
by Lorraine Curry
hosted by Joe Spataro
interview & FREE excerpt for working parents
Lorraine Curry started EasyHomeschooling her own children in 1989, and began writing about the method in 1994. She has written for Practical Homeschooling, Homeschooling Today and published Tips & Topics – The East Homeschooling Journal for four years. In her interview here on the Zone, Lorraine will chat with us about the costs of homeschooling & how to save money, how working people can homeschool which she shares from her book, and the role of Christian teachings in homeschooling.

Accomplishment Pen Can
This week's Craft of the Week is brought to us by Kathy Ross the author of Crafts for Christian Values  and countless other fabulous craft books. This week's Christian craft is the Accomplishment Pencil Can.  This is a terrific activity and reinforces the value of perseverance as a positive virtue. Keep accomplishment can on your desk for your pencils and pens.  It will serve as a reminder to work hard at being the person that God wants you to be.

Creation Wheel

This week is brought to us from the noted craft author Kathy Ross and her new book Crafts from your favorite Bible stories. Kathy has created a wonderful collection of crafts that will help children learn about the Bible stories and their underlying messages.  This craft tells the story of creation in a wheel going through the seven days.

Life's Little Lessons
"What - Me Worry?"
by Tammy Faye
Don't be a victim of "worry-fear"
I don't know if you are like me but I can't just worry about ONE thing. When I jump on the "worry wagon" I fill it up. The two words that always start me worrying are "what if"! What if this happens, what if it doesn't happen? And before I know it I'm scared to death or life AGAIN and wonder if I can make it. So we add another phase to worry-fear! The Bible says that "fear bringeth torment". And mental torment can be devastating to your life.

Life's Little Lessons
"Nothing Nice to Say? The Unspoken Word"
by Tammy Faye
Words CAN and DO Hurt People
There is an old saying,
"Sticks and stones may break my bones
but words will never hurt me."
That old saying is FALSE!
Words CAN and DO hurt people
Every one of us needs to start putting ourselves in other people's shoes. Try to think of yourself as the brunt of what you hear yourself saying.
Find out more.

Faces of Home Education Profile
Dancing Homeschoolers

Karen Pennebaker's offering this week in our Faces of Home Education series shows her granddaughter Linda who is involved in an Irish Dancing group. This shows how homeschoolers and their frineds come together in social groups that help each of us to grow in a community.

Meet the Authors
David & Laurie Callihan
"The Guidance manual for the Christian Homeschool"
hosted by Joe Spataro
Interview & how to get a diploma
They have been homeschooling support group leaders and activists for more than 15 years. In their book, they help Christian homeschool parents gather all the information a high school counselor usually supplies: information on colleges, careers, the military, standardized testing, and future planning. In this interview, we discuss the advantages of a Christian based program, perspectives on unschooling, and what they are doing now as part of the homeschooling movement. As a bonus, they have graciously agreed to share with us a portion of their book on providing a diploma for your children. This is all very valuable information which I hope you get a chance to see. Also, they have agreed to answer some of your questions on our Christian support group. I hope everyone gets a chance to stop by and see the interview and perhaps ask a question.

Meet the Authors:
Kim Bolton and Chris Wave
authors of "The Girlville Diner"
Interview
& FREE recipe for Love Soup
The Girlville Diner written by Kim Bolton and Chris Wave is a wonderfully charming collection of inspiring everyday life stories from a Christian woman's point of view.  These stories bring people closer to the true values of Christianity and remind us of how good life is and what values really are.

"An Author’s Journey"
by Connie Bowen
"I'm Connie Bowen, author/illustrator of the affirmation books entitled "I Believe In Me" and "I Turn to the Light." I would like to share some insights that I have about affirmations and how they help children learn to think in positive terms and the effect that can have on building a positive self-image and enhance self-esteem.

Crafts from Your Favorite Bible Stories
by Kathy Ross

FREE Bible Crafts

Comfort Foods
by Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray
Interview & recipe

Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning:
An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education
(Turning Point Christian Worldview Series)

The Well-Trained Mind:
A Guide to Classical Education at Home
by Jessie Wise, Susan Wise Bauer

The Story of the World:
History for the Classical Child;
Volume 1: Ancient Times
by Susan Wise Bauer

The Home School Manual:
Plans, Pointers, Reasons and Resources, 7th ed.
by Theodore E. Wade, Lishi Laurance

Wade has been in contact with just about everyone in homeschooling for the past 30 years. His encyclopedic resource evaluates the content, method, and philosophy of homeschooling materials from a Biblical perspective. His painstaking efforts to maintain objectivity and avoid polemic without compromising his own sincere beliefs give the manual enormous credibility.