Leaping From The Box

For several years now, so many that I’ve lost count, I have hosted a weekly homeschool chat on IRC. Every Friday I “meet” other homeschoolers from across the globe and we chat. What do we chat about? The list is endless. Here are just a few topics that we have touched on recently:

• Handwriting skills
• Math curriculums and websites for the elementary aged student
• Changing food diets
• Field trips
• Co-ops, what they are and how to find one
• Finding social avenues for homeschooled teens
• How formal learning should or should not be for Preschool and Kindergarten
• Parenting techniques
• Housecleaning tips
• New pets
• Decluttering ideas
• How to begin homeschooling
• How the weekly chat has helped some members get through the burnout state of mind
• Having a schedule vs. not having a schedule
• Planning for college
• Online virtual schools

As you can see, we do not stick solely to homeschooling topics. As long-time homeschoolers know, almost everything that affects homeschooling also affects our daily lives, and vice versa. So homeschooling becomes life. Maybe I should promote my chat as a “Life Chat” in the future? What do you think?

Our chat members come from the fifty states along with several countries, which is why I call it an “International” homeschool chat. One of our regular chatters is from London and is currently visiting the U.S. with her family. We had fun exchanging ideas of places she and her family should see on their visit.

We meet every Friday, 9 a.m. US/Canada Eastern time, GMT -5. You will find the details for joining on my Homeschool Chat page.

Do join us! We love assisting new homeschoolers and talking life with the long-time homeschoolers!

A couple of months ago we were discussing toddlers and temper tantrums on my Friday morning homeschool chat. One chatter mentioned that using the Signing Time series with her pre-speaking toddler had brought about good results in reducing temper tantrums. Since Miss Munchkin seemed to be just entering the temper tantrum stage, I sent away for the Baby Signing DVDs without even telling Kat about them! Was she ever surprised!

I just posted up an article telling about Miss Munchkin’s experiences with sign language. It has been fun watching pure unschooling in action. When you have teens, you miss seeing the joy and excitement that little ones express when they learn something brand new.

Come on over and read American Sign Language (ASL) for Toddlers and Children.

About three weeks ago, maybe four, someone on chat mentioned that they had used the Signing Times program with their toddler with good success. At the time my daughter was experiencing some difficulties with Miss Munchkin’s temper and I thought that might be due, in part, to Miss Munchkin’s inability to make her needs known. So I checked out the Signing Time website and ordered the Baby Signing Time gift set and had it shipped to my daughter. It seems they are a big success! Check out Adventures With Miss Munchkin, July 15th post, for Kat & Miss Munchkin’s experience with them.

And a big thank you to the chat member (sorry, I don’t remember who it was) who mentioned the Signing Times DVDs.