Everyday Education News

3 May 2011 

Dear Friend,

Spring fever-- do you have it too? I hope you're enjoying this lovely season as much as I am. When I looked out this morning, I discovered red roses blooming high in a crape myrtle. Such a pretty surprise from our Creator. 

This is just a brief note to share two new articles that are intended to encourage you as we draw toward the close of the school year. I remember sometimes feeling a bit discouraged at this time of year because our real school year rarely matched the perfectly scheduled vision I'd created before the year started. I'm pretty sure that we aren't the only family in which that happened, so I just wanted to remind you that learning is a lifestyle, and it happens whether we're perfectly scheduled and organized or not. 

Also, someone e-mailed to share the Top 25 Homeschool Blog Contest with me so I added my blog to the list. I'm starting a bit late, but if you enjoy Taking Time for Things that Matter, I'd appreciate a quick vote. All you have to do is click the "Vote" button-- there's nothing else required.


Here are the articles:

Of Daffodils and Diesels, Revisited

This classic essay by an unknown author has been around since I began homeschooling, and I often recommend it to parents of children who just don’t fit the college-bound mold. As it becomes more and more common to try to shove every student into a college, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit this essay and think about the consequences of expecting every young person to walk the same path.

As much as I value the beauty found in literature, art, and music and enjoy studying it, I realize that the world would be a wee bit lopsided if everyone were just like me. We need machinists and mechanics, soldiers and sailors, builders and bricklayers . . . READ MORE . . .

What Does Education Look Like? Part III: Immune to Elephants 

It’s been awhile since I posted the first two parts of this series, but the contrast between a true, living education and the stale, dead imitation that often replaces it continues to niggle at my thoughts. So here’s another brief scene that highlights the contrast.

Scene 1

The elephant turned his trunk toward the audience, and surprised them with a cold shower. The twins pressed closer to the edge of the enclosure, shaking water from their eyes. “Read us what it says, Momma,” they asked, looking at the sign on the rail.

“It’s an Asian elephant,” ventured one twin, pointing at the map.

“And it eats roots, grasses, fruit, and bark,” said the other, looking at the photos of the elephant in the wild.

The twins listened intently, eyes studying the elephant’s leathery hide, giant ears, and stringy tail . . . READ MORE . . .

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Upcoming Events

We have had a busy spring with conferences and workshops, but we're in a bit of a lull at the moment. The very next thing coming up is a workshop for the amazing Schoolhouse Expo, sponsored by The Old Schoolhouse magazine. There are a lot of doorprizes and giveaways, and it's going to be a lot of fun. I hope you'll join us!

Monday, May 16, 2011
Speaker: Janice Campbell
Get a Jump Start on College: Make Those Teen Years Count!
1:00pm to 2:00pm EDT

You can catch the end of Felice Gerwitz's Ultimate Homeschool Expo -- she just hosted a surprise guest, Christian comedian Tim Hawkins, so you won't want to miss that and all the other great recordings and gifts!

In June, we're looking forward to the Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV) Conference, as well as a webinar with Kerry Beck. You can learn more about it through the HEAV website or Facebook page.

That's it for this time-- please remember to vote for Taking Time in the Top 25 Homeschool Blog Contest and "Like" our Excellence in Literature Facebook page. If you'd like to connect in Twitter, I tweet as both janicecampbell and everydayedu, as well as NAIWENews.

I wish you a joyous spring and many blessings,

Janice Campbell
www.Everyday-Education.com
www.NAIWE.com