Carnival of Homeschooling: The Juggling Workshop

Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling Juggling Workshop! I have heard many people use the term juggling when talking about their homeschooling life. This always makes me smile, because I am a juggler! I figured I would walk you all through one of my juggling workshops as you read this week's contributions to the carnival.

Balance.

One of the first things I teach students is how to balance an object. This is very simple. Place a peacock feather or pool cue (or broom, bat, or other similar object) on your hand. The wider or heavier end should be up in the air. Keep your eyes on the top. When you see the top shift, move your hand underneath it to maintain balance. Keeping your eyes on the top is sort of like watching your goal. Things are easier to balance if you are always looking up. If you watch the end in your hand you are more likely to struggle with balance because you don't notice your object is tipping until it has already moved significantly from 90º and is about to fall. Sometimes homeschoolers feel out of balance when they lose sight of their goals.

Carolyn at Guilt-Free Homeschooling helps us keep our goals in sight as we head Back to Homeschool with New Ideas. After all, moms need back-to-school supplies, too!

More words of wisdom from Alison at The Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy. Just in case you forgot my theme, this one is called Juggling Homeschooling.

Monica from Paper Bridges describes how a glance from her son set them on a path to rediscovering the joy of reading in Truth in his eyes.

As a new school year approaches, it's important for homeschooling parents to remember that their mixed emotions come with the territory. Barbara Frank looks forward to the new homeschooling year in Won't Be Long Now...

Dave at Home School Dad is setting up his goals for the new school year in Hark! The New School Year Approacheth!! All this, and he tells jokes too!

Juggling is Throwing Up!

With any juggling form, we start with one object and learn how to throw it properly before we move on to two, three, etc. Taking things one step at a time is the key to success.


Taking things one step at a time is certainly helpful when moving from school environment to homeschool environment. In New Home Scholar Not Behaving? Ruby at Freehold has advice for any parent who is new to homeschooling, and worrying about getting the kids to settle in & take Mom or Dad seriously as a teacher.

Katherine at No Fighting, No Biting! has finally finished her school year, two weeks before they start all over again. Hallelujah!

Scarf Juggling.

Scarf juggling is one of the easier forms of juggling. I teach scarves to beginners because they fall slowly, which gives the juggler more time to catch. Scarf juggling throws are different from beanbags. With scarves, we direct the scarf to where we want it, before we let it go. Scarves help us learn the basics of throwing and catching in a slower and gentler form.

Speaking of basics...

Pat from I would never wear orange talks about learning and reading in You can do anything?

Bur Bur & Friends has a fun way to promote education and physical activity together in this article, Hey teachers and caregivers! GREAT ideas to get kids moving. It emphasizes the importance of healty lifestyles!

Jennifer at Quiverfull Family shares a free online phonics program that motivated her daughter to practice. My youngest used this particular site as well. Who needs All Those Fancy Phonics Programs?

Barbara at Online College.org lists links for learning foreign languages in 101 Tools to Learn ANY Foreign Language for Free.


Beanbag and Ball Juggling.

Beanbags and balls are a different throw. These objects are tossed into the air and the juggler must be prepared to catch it before it falls to the ground. This isn't as hard as it seems! If you throw it well, it should land safely in your other hand. Just as homeschoolers are trusting that we have given our children what they need before we let them go out and explore their interests. But we are always there to lend a hand when they need it!

Susan of The Expanding Life considers When are Books Better, and When are They Not?

ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother shares her Thoughts on Plagiarism and Homeschool Writing Composition. She shares a link to a great article about teaching our homeschooled kids about plagiarism and writing composition.

Beyond the Basics.

More advanced students of juggling want a challenge. Like homeschooling, there are as many different ways to throw as there are objects for throwing. Luckily, once you learn the basics of balance, throwing and catching, the possibilities are endless!

Susan at Corn and Oil discusses the recent passing of John Hughes and relates Ferris Bueller's Day Off to homeschooling in "The Philosopher of Adolescence"-Rest in Peace.

Vicki at Balderdash & Blokus talks about unschooling and college in Is College for Unschoolers even Possible?


Club Juggling.

Many jugglers move on to clubs, a.k.a. pins, for more challenging juggling. Club juggling can be beautiful and artistic.

Aimee's Land has some wonderful ideas for teaching literature at Homeschool Talk: Literature Units. Aimee, your daughter's bread looks delicious!







Let's Pass!

Another wonderful challenge is passing. Jugglers like to get together to do some partner juggling. Passing can be as simple as juggling with one partner and sharing objects, to juggling in groups where you pass in various patterns. Sometimes one juggler will lead a "feed." Feed juggling involves a leader taking turns passing with a line of jugglers. Homeschoolers often pool their resources like this. Two families take turns teaching the children. Parents form a co-op where they take turns leading children in various subjects. We look to our community to enrich our children's lives.

My mother, Inner Elder, takes a look at Grandparents as Resources.

Lydia at Little Blue School talks about the Junior Secret Noveling Club she formed in How to Teach a Child to Write a Novel. Bonus! She gives links to her lessons for us to use!

Jugglers also enjoy getting together at clubs and events for social juggling. There. I said it. Socialization.

Lara at Texas Homesteader offers 5 Reasons to Attend a Homeschooling Conference.

Connecting with other homeschoolers who blog can be another way of socializing. Kate from Online Education.net lists the 100 Best Blogs for Homeschooling Moms.

Get out the Knives and Torches!

To the audience, knives and torches look very dangerous. They are certain the juggler is going to get herself hurt doing that. But to the juggler, these objects are no more dangerous than club juggling. In fact, close examination of the knives will show that the juggler has taken the necessary precautions--the edges are dull. Homeschoolers know that people who watch them from a distance don't always recognize how careful they truly are.

Teresa from Higher Education addresses some of these criticisms in Top 12 Reasons to Ditch Homeschooling.









Sometimes even closer examination causes criticism. The knives may be dull, but they could still hurt if the blade hits you. And you could burn yourself with those torches! Sometimes we have to trust our instincts that we are doing this right.

Arby from Boarding in Bedlam has a thought provoking piece on academic freedom and criticism from defenders of public education in Breaking the Mirror.



That concludes this edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling. I hope you enjoyed it! The next carnival will be at Homeschool Bytes. Submit your blog article to the next carnival by using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.