What's in Practical Homeschooling #75?

FEATURES

• 2007 Interactive Learning Awards ballot. Vote for your favorite educational software and websites . . . and maybe win a prize!
• Filmmaking 101, Part 2. Now we're getting serious. Where you can find books, DVDs, and even apprenticeship programs that teach the practical techniques of filmmaking.
• A fully accredited diploma, using YOUR choice of curriculum. Here's how.
• Choosing a co-op can be tricky. Tips to help you find the best one.
• How a donut shop owner and a pastor's family handle their homeschool days.
• A "GRAMMY" award before you're out of your teens? Yes, for these three homeschooled sisters.

COLUMNS

• What on earth is "phonemic awareness"? HINT: It's the second step towards reading success.
• Second grade on next to nothing, with these tips from Melissa Morgan, co-author of Homeschooling on a Shoestring.
• Canada's National Educator Literacy Award winner Michael Maloney shows how to make geography and history both come alive by teaching them together.
• M.I.T. graduate (and holder of an M.A. in Math) Bill Pride on whether the graphing calculator is an educational boon or boondoggle.
• Education expert Sam Blumenfeld with some surprising information on how history USED to be taught in American schools.
• Is college "dangerous" for conservative and Christian kids? Find out whathomeschool grad (and CalTech student) Austin Webb thinks.
• Mary Biever finds out how to relax . . . at a robotics competition!

NEWS

• The Marines become more homeschool-friendly
• . . . And so does the Veterans Administration
• Where to find all about summer camps
• German authorities kidnap a young homeschooled girl (RELIEF! Since we wrote this, she has turned 16, which gives her more decision-making rights under German law, and returned to her family)
• How to locate predators in your neighborhood via this handy online tool
• Super cool "Diet Coke fountains" experiments - where to see them online
• New site lists educational games by topic - great for unit studies!
• How to find hotels that don't offer embarrassing choices in "in room" entertainment

SPOTLIGHT REVIEWS

• We review the writing and literature courses from Scholars Online
• So . . . what do you want to know about Rocket Phonics?
• Math as a story . . . it's been done before, but not like this! From pre-algebra to calculus with the "Life of Fred" series.

MORE REVIEWS

• Classic readers return with the American Schoolhouse Readers
• Constitution Translated for Kids
• Software that helps color-blind people use a computer better
• Origami with rubber bands . . . who can resist?
• Book on how to write better, for kids
• Noah Plan math curriculum
• A curriculum on creationism
• Writing fun for elementary kids
• Treasury of Vintage Housekeeping Skills

PLUS...

• Letters from our readers
• Contests for subscribers
• Envelope Gallery of homeschooled kids' art
• Our full-color Home Life Catalog
• Ads with special offers