I found some interesting reading out there in Internet Land- here are some links:

To get you thinking about “Back to School Planning” (did I just hear a big groan?) here is the Charlotte Mason Carnival- Back to Schooling Bash at On Our Journey Westward. There are a great many articles for you to sort through and I’m sure you’ll find something of interest, even if you aren’t following the Charlotte Mason method.

What makes a bad homeschool day? Guilt Free Homeschooling examines that question in an appropriately titled post- What made this a “bad” homeschool day? There are some ideas worth thinking about in this article.

Finally, Why Homeschool highlights an article that examines the question “Why Homeschoolers threaten our Cultural Comfort” and points us to a post by Judy that contemplates the question further in “Judy responds to why many hate homeschoolers.”

Go check them out and come back and tell us what you think.

We recently had an air show here in town, sponsored by the Pendleton Air Museum. It came at the end of the bi-annual Advanced World Aerobatic Championship that was held here too. Pilots came from many different countries to compete and the United States was well represented.

The weather was great and there was spectacular flying to be seen!

The FA18 getting ready to take off. It was very loud as it sat warming up it’s engines and doing system checks. It did a low fly over.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge.)

This plane went cork screwing up, hung in the air…

and came straight down!

The winner of the World Aerobatic competition, Rob Holland, is finishing up a heart here.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon and I saw many homeschool families enjoying themselves.

I have heard that there is a homeschool curriculum store in College Place, Washington.  It sells new and used curriculum.  I didn’t know that it was there.

Here is the information that I have:

Lamplighter Countryside Store

374 S.E. Highland Park Drive

Call for directions: 509-525-8143

M-Th 1-5

Friday 10-2

A Google Map.  I can’t guarantee that it is accurate.

Go find it, then come back here and tell us all about it.

Wonders never cease. I figured out how to put the sign up form on here.

There are two pages to this form- the second page is the bylaws. You can print it on the back side of the membership form, if you want. Be sure to read them.

Most of the form is pretty standard. One of the items that is on there is asking what curriculum you are using. Just give us a general idea. The main reason we ask this is so we can put it in our directory so if someone has a question about a certain curriculum they will have a go-to person for answers.

If you have more kids than lines- continue on another sheet of paper.

It’s on the forms page. Print it out and mail it in. We look forward to having you join us!

The June 10th edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling is up at The Common Room!

Check it out to see if you are a “typical” homeschooler or to learn how the brain works.

PHSA sponsors and coordinates numerous other projects and events. The Watershed Field Day is coordinated through ESD with 5th graders in public schools. Community Concerts and the Oregon East Symphony both schedule performances for school-agers. The spelling contest feeds into the county and state contests in the spring. The poetry contest entries can be submitted to the state contest in February. PHSA also coordinates annual state testing through Basic Skills out of Oregon City.

The annual Science Share is a time to show and demonstrate what we have done in our various topics of study but is not a contest. It is held in January or February and members are invited to participate. No project is too small! It is based on the concept that “you learn what you teach”. Preparing and presenting an exhibit is part of the learning.

Presentation Night is a much anticipated annual event held in the spring. Families display things they have been working on all year. Children sing, play musical instruments, recite poetry or memory verses, do a mini-skit, report states and capitals, present a square dance, or do something in a foreign language. PHSA contest winners are honored and parents can give award certificates. The evening can be used as a graduation ceremony. Both the performance and the display portions of the event are fun and rewarding to homeschoolers. Grandparents and friends are invited to attend, as well as anyone interested in homeschooling.

During the winter months, when everyone is tired of being cooped up in the house, and when it’s too cold to meet someone at the park, PHSA organizes Rec. Days at the Recreation Center (next to the Pendleton Library on Dorion Street).

The Rec. Center charges an hourly fee so PHSA gives members the option of participating. Each family pays an additional fee for the 3 month session. This fee varies depending on the fee that the Rec. Center charges. The Coordinator schedules as many days as possilbe, depending on how many families sign up. Time and day of the week are varied according to the Rec. Center’s busy schedule. Each signed-up family attends when they can.

The Rec. Center has equipment for volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, and many other activities for all ages. Sometimes we do organized games, and sometimes the kids just play while the parents talk.

When the weather turns nice again, the group meets weekly at one of the local parks. These times run from the spring through the summer and into the fall.

The newest Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Tami’s blog.  Check out the links for some great reading!

When the moms or dads get together, it’s a time of visiting, making friends, sharing ideas, and encouraging each other. There is usually a topic scheduled for these every other month meetings, but it’s a broad guideline that gets the conversation started and gives everyone something to think about. Mostly it’s a time to talk to other adults with varying perspectives of the problems that homeschoolers (and parents) face.

Topics have included record-keeping hints, keeping up with housework, ideas for teaching science, handling sibling rivalry, dealing with anti-homeschoolers, how to use unit studies, and preparing for college.

Hosts can use their homes, or arrange for another location, and provide snacks or dessert. There is plenty of time for camaraderie.

Several times a year, PHSA sponsors seminars that differ from the field trips. If we can’t go to Spain, we have someone come give us a presentation about their experience. If the subject is more academic than active, we have someone in that field give a seminar.

The Civil War, rocks and minerals, essay writing, Ecuador, and first aid are some of the seminars we’ve had in the past. Periodically a member will set up a series of classes on drawing, sign language, crocheting or quilting. Seminars and workshops have been held in various churches, homes and community rooms.