As this conversation between my six-year-old son and my 66-year-old father continued to unfold, I couldn’t help but smile and think, “This is homeschooling at its best.” My son’s enthusiasm for birds did not come from a science textbook, it came from the study of nature science in a relaxed home setting. Due to the birth of their new baby brother, Joe and his siblings had just spent eight weeks immersing themselves in the study of nature.

Preparing for a New Baby

Whenever a new baby comes into our lives, formal academics are put aside for six to eight weeks. However, learning is never put aside. With each new baby, I have sought to provide my other children with the tools necessary to spark their interest in various subjects. With a little preplanning, children can be kept busy with good educational activities.
For example, when my fourth child was born, I stocked up on board games. The older children entertained themselves with Scrabble, Yahtzee, backgammon, and more. They had great fun, while at the same time reinforcing their math, spelling, and logic skills. Baby number five was born in the summer, so we concentrated on gardening; that was also the year we first learned how to can our harvest. Baby number six came to us in the dead of winter, shortly after my husband had built an ice-skating rink in our backyard. The children spent day after day entertaining friends, playing hockey, and choreographing figure skating routines.
Early in my seventh pregnancy, I read an article in Homeschooling Today about teaching nature science by creating a backyard habitat. I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do with my children when our spring baby arrived. The article told of a family who dug a small backyard pond and then made daily observations to study the creatures that came to the man-made habitat. Even though I eventually decided against the building of a pond, much to my husband’s relief, the article was the inspiration that I needed to get started.

Preparing for Nature Science

We live in an urban area, but we are blessed to have a little strip of woods behind our home. A short walk takes us to a nice creek that eventually flows into the Grand River. This was our classroom for eight weeks of nature study.
Of course, the children have studied this area greatly over the many years that we have lived in our home: building forts, forging paths, planting flowers, etc. Now they would study the area as part of their school lessons.
My original plan was to simply purchase art sketch books, to be used as journals, and colored pencils for my four oldest children. Then once the new baby arrived, I would make a point to send the children out to the backyard each day for fifteen minutes to make observations, writing and drawing in their journals about their findings.
However, our foray into nature journaling turned into a bigger, and more enjoyable, project. In the seventh month of my pregnancy, the children accompanied me to the craft store to purchase their art sketch books. As we talked about my ideas for nature journaling, they began to come up with their own ideas. Soon they were eyeing the water colors, wondering if they could learn to use them to paint flowers and birds. Then the discussion took a turn to crafts using materials found in the backyard. We found ourselves becoming more and more enthused about our future project.
And future project it was. Our craft store purchases were set upon the bookshelf to wait for the arrival of the newest Wittmann. Though it was not my original intention, this arrangement was instrumental in creating an air of excitement about nature studies. The journals sat there on the bookshelf begging the children to take them down and draw in them. However, Mom insisted that the books remain empty until just the right time.
During this time of waiting, we began to learn more about nature science in a very relaxed manner. I found a set of flashcards that teach about the birds of North America. On the front of each of the oversized cards is a picture of a bird. The back contains vital information, including eating habits, size, range, habitat, etc. Two or three times a week the children and I would play with the cards, learning about a new bird at each sitting and reviewing the birds learned in previous lessons. The children really enjoyed these short 10-minute lessons.
During our weekly trips to the public library, I found myself scouring the shelves for books and videos on the topic. One book that I found was Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You by Clare Walker Leslie and Charles E. Roth. A book written for adults, it is filled with ideas and advice from both amateur and professional nature journalists. The authors provide an abundance of examples taken directly from a variety of journals. Sitting in my favorite reading chair with Keeping a Nature Journal, I often found myself surrounded by curious children. They couldn’t wait to see what Mom was enjoying; so together we studied the lovely drawings of animals, birds, and plant life. We didn’t read the book cover to cover, but we did pick up all kinds of tips on drawing techniques, advice on observing nature, and ideas about what to write in our journals.
At the local homeschool store I found a book titled Wild Days: Creating Discovery Journals by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe, a short easy read. This book is written with the homeschooling mom in mind. It includes examples from the journals of the author’s children, giving my children a realistic view to what their journals may look like. While the Homeschooling Today article suggested studying the same spot each day, Wild Days gives ideas for taking your nature studies outside of your backyard and to other habitats. This is an appealing approach to me.
Another treasure that I found was Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning by Karen Andreola, lent to me by a dear friend. Having read Karen’s other books, The Charlotte Mason Companion, Simply Grammar, and Beautiful Girlhood, I knew that I would enjoy Pocketful of Pinecones. The book presents journaling in a way that is very natural for families to learn. The approach is thoughtful, yet informal. The suggested reading list proved most helpful. It gave me the idea to add “living” books to our nature studies. I moved books such as Snowflake Bentley, Bully for You Teddy Roosevelt, Song of the Swallows, Crow Boy, All Creatures Great and Small, Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings, and Beatrix Potter books to the shelf next to the art sketch books.
Also during this time of waiting, I found bird feeders and baths on sale, I added those items to my school budget. In the past squirrels made bird feeders difficult to keep in our yard, so the children and I had to keep this in mind in choosing the design and placement of the new bird feeders.
Knowing that my children would want to properly identify the birds that they observed, I made sure that our shelves included several field guides. My husband is a bird lover, so the Audubon Society’s Master Guide to Birding was already in our home. To that I added Critters of Michigan: Pocket Guide by Ann E. McCarthy and Animal Tracks of the Great Lakes by Ian Sheldon, which I found at our local bookstore. These two small books were big hits with my children, especially with my boys. They loved learning about tracking and the comparisons between different animals. They were also interested in learning which animals are native to our part of the country. (I am confident that if you live outside of the Great Lakes region, similar books are available to you.)
Another great find at the bookstore was the Peterson Field Guide Coloring Books. They are very well drawn and informative. By coloring in the guides, the children became familiar with the coloration of many birds and animals.  They are available on birds, butterflies, reptiles, mammals, insects, wildflowers, fishes, and shells, and can be found at most bookstores.
The key for us here was to have the children see Dad checking his field guide when making a sighting, and then providing them with guides of their own.
A popular item with my children is my husband’s collection of bird songs on cassette tape. We listen to them during dinner time so that we can recognize the songs of the birds that visited our backyard. We learned to keep a pair of binoculars close by so that when a new song was heard in the yard, we could find the bird that produced it. In fact, we made a particularly rare sighting this way.
One evening our eight-year-old daughter thought that she heard a Purple Finch in the yard, but the binoculars told a different story. At first the bird appeared to be an Indigo Bunting, but further investigation revealed that what she heard was actually a Blue Grossbeak. The coloration of the two birds is similar; using the field guide we were able to correctly identify the bird. According to our field guide, the Blue Grossbeak’s song is very similar to the Purple Finch and furthermore it is not normally found in our part of the country. Though it sometimes wanders into the Great Lakes region, its normal range is no farther north than Illinois. It was an exciting event for the children and for Dad.
From Preparation to Action

By the time Brendan Thomas was born in April, our family had already begun our immersion into nature science and we were looking forward to nature journaling.
Shortly after coming home from the hospital, I sent my children out to the great backyard with their journals to observe nature. We had not done much in the way of journaling in the past, so this was a new experience for us. Of course, the children did not immediately fill their art sketch books with gorgeous watercolor pictures and beautiful poems about nature.

They were unsure at first as to what was expected of them. I reassured them that this was a fun project and that they should fill their journals with things that interested them. One child pressed wildflowers while another child chose to draw them with colored pencils. My oldest son wrote about the small animals that he tracked. When they brought their journals to me, I praised them for their efforts and gently offered ideas to expand on them. Soon the collections, artwork, and writings became more intricate.
You will be amazed at what your children will find in your backyard, even in the most urban of areas. Raccoons, foxes, pigeons, hawks, and others have adapted themselves to city life. Though in the past we had seen a variety of animals in our “little piece of country in the city,” new observations were now made. Muskrats were discovered for example. Holes that housed woodchucks were unearthed and deer tracks identified. An interesting find by my oldest son was pollutants in our creek. We live directly across the street from the airport and apparently the antifreeze used by the airlines to de-ice their planes runs off into our creek. This provided the opportunity to present several lessons. A science lesson in testing the water and a civics lesson in seeking a solution, just to start.
The Homeschooling Today article that was my inspiration suggested that children spend at least 15 minutes in one spot to make their observations. This is good advice. I stress the importance of quiet time in the woods to my children. They need to stay quiet in one spot for at least fifteen minutes if they want to observe animals and other creatures. It was in this way that the muskrat family was discovered. It was also in this way that my oldest son had a close encounter with two deer.  He was sitting quietly, partially hidden in the brush, when the deer walked up so close to him that he could reach out and touch them if he so wished.
I also like that they are becoming accustomed to sitting quietly for considerable lengths of time for another reason. We cannot hear God’s voice if we do not stop and listen. Our society is filled with noise. We need to block the noise out from time to time so that we can pray and reflect and, most importantly, listen. One of the many things that I enjoy about homeschooling is the opportunity to provide quiet times of reflection for my children. My husband does visit the Blessed Sacrament with the older children once a week for an hour, but I also want them to be able to pray quietly outside of church. I feel blessed as a home educator to be able to raise my children in a peaceful environment, since site-based schools are often filled with an overabundance of visual and audio stimuli.

Epilogue

Eight weeks after Brendan’s birth, the children and I traveled to St. Louis to visit family. Staying at my parents’ home, we were able to continue our backyard nature studies in new environments. During the long drive, we used our newly heightened observation skills to find buffalo, sheep, and deer, in addition to the usual cows and horses. In the middle of our stay we visited the Butterfly House, which was a huge hit. The children were able to stand still as butterflies landed on them, allowing them to observe the beautiful-winged creatures up close.
Also during our visit we met some homeschooling friends at a nearby state park. Between the two families, we had thirteen children in tow. We hiked to a lovely creek filled with all kinds of plant life and creatures just waiting to be observed. As the other mother pushed her stroller and I carried my eight-week-old baby nestled in his sling, the children brought nets, buckets, and other tools. They went on to collect tadpoles, crawdads (known as crawfish to you non-Missourians), and water samples. We were enjoying ourselves so immensely that a short downpour did not dampen our spirits. The children continued to play, and collect, through the rain. We found tadpoles in various stages of development, which was particularly educational. We even observed a Copperhead swimming near our group, reminding me that we were no longer in Michigan where poisonous snakes are rare.
In Grandma and Grandpa’s backyard the children observed the differences between Missouri and Michigan squirrels. In Michigan we have black squirrels and fox-tailed squirrels. Grandma and Grandpa’s squirrels are gray and larger in size. There were other differences that they discovered. Our bird feeders tend to attract Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Chickadees. Grandpa’s bird feeders attracted humming birds, robins, sparrows, goldfinches, mourning doves and more. We noticed the different eating habits of the birds, for example the goldfinches would eat at the feeder while the mourning doves ate the seed that fell to the ground. It was also noted that Grandpa used different types of birdseed in different bird feeders. It was decided that we would do the same at home to see if we could attract a wider variety of birds.
The best of the best was Grandpa’s raspberry patch. Each morning the children ran out to the yard to pick raspberries to put in their cereal, and again in the evening to serve with dinner. They came to appreciate God’s hand in nature. He provides us not only with beauty in nature to nurture our souls, but food to nourish our bodies.
My father sent me home to Michigan with a box full of Missouri Conservationist magazines. Published by the state of Missouri it is an excellent magazine. On our drive home the children began to pull them out and read. They found interesting articles on bugs, deer, wildflowers, and more. It was great fun for me to peek at them in the rearview mirror as they giggled at the gross pictures of fish guts and bugs. They also admired the beautiful pictures of wildlife and read the articles of interest. With three years worth of back issues, they should be enjoying these magazines for a long time. In fact, I look forward to enjoying nature science for a long long time!
Finally, as a homeschooling mother I have learned to keep my children involved in the decision-making process. I often introduce an idea to them and then ask for their input. I should say that while I do want my children to have a say in the direction of their education, the big decisions are made by my husband and me. There was never any question about whether or not we were going to immerse ourselves in nature science upon the arrival of our newest family member. I made that decision. However, I allowed the children to take ownership of the project and run with it. I stayed involved and studied alongside them, keeping their interest from waning.

Nature Science and Journaling in a Nutshell

Some useful tools:

1. Field guides
2. Magnifying glasses / binoculars
3. Journals / colored pencils / waterproof pens / water colors
4. Compass
5. Outdoor thermometer
6. Rainfall measure
7. Backpack
8. Flashlight

Basic rules

1. Spend a minimum of 15 minutes in observation
2. Describe the weather
3. Note any overnight changes
4. Record insects, animals, tracks, feathers, etc.
5. Identify plants and flowers
6. Draw and label something each day
7. Observe, record, comment

Ask yourself questions, for example:

1. Will the birds come to the feeder if you put up a scarecrow?
2. How close can you get to a bird before it flies away?
3. What birds like what kind of seeds?
4. What animals like what habitats?
5. How does the landscape change with the seasons? With the time of day?
6. When are the squirrels most active?
7. When do the birds begin to leave for the winter?
8. When do the animals begin to come out of hibernation?

Literature ideas:

1. Write poetry about sightings
2. Read the journals of famous naturalists
3. Read biographies of scientists/naturalists
4. Read books set in nature

Further study:

1. Topographical maps
2. Museums
3. Zoos

Other Observations:

1. Location
2. Time of day / date
3. Measurements – distance, length, width, and volume
4. Soil conditions

Collections:

1. Rocks
2. Shells
3. Butterflies
4. Insects
5. Feathers

Crafts:

1. Paper making
2. Pine cones
3. Rock painting
4. Leaf and bark rubbings
5. Flower press / dry flowers

Math:

1. Graphs
2. Measurements
3. Charting the weather

Missouri Conservationistis a monthly magazine. Every third issue contains a 16-page pullout magazine titled Outside In: The Missouri Conservationist for Kids, an excellent resource.Subscriptions free to Missouri residents and $7 per year for out of state and $10 for out of country residents. Mail to Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or email baineb@mail.conservation.state.mo.us. Website: www.conservation.state.mo.us. Many books, videos, and other resources are also available. Toll-free ordering line is (877)521-8632.

Websites

http://www.pclink.com/rlovgren/ – Backyard Nature Specialist

http://www.csuchico.edu/~pmaslin/nature/naturesites.html – Nature Study Websites

http://www.4reallearning.com/ – Catholic Charlotte Mason

Originally published by Catholic Home Educator, Pentecost 2002 issue. For ordering information see www.nache.org

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

Though the most well known Greek philosopher, Socrates did not leave the world any great writings.  What we know of Socrates comes from his students, Plato, Aristotle, and Xenophon.  Socrates did not teach through lecture, but rather through questioning.  He would approach his students as though he were ignorant and then ask specific questions about a subject until the student had to confess their own ignorance.  At this point, Socrates would start asking questions that would bring up a new way to view the subject thus opening the student’s eyes to new ideas and aspects.

Once, when my husband asked me to substitute teach his Confirmation class at the last minute, it was the Socratic Method that came to my rescue.  There was no time for lesson planning.  As I walked out the door, I grabbed a Catholic question and answer book for teens and decided to build my lesson around that.  I asked the students to pick a topic and I pulled a related question out of the book.  I didn’t lecture, hand out workbook pages, or organize a craft.  I just asked questions.  As the students answered, I resisted sharing my own opinions and instead threw out new questions.  “Just because” and “I don’t know” were not acceptable answers.  I forced them to look deep into their souls and really think about why they believe what they believe.  I was not worried about them ending up with erroneous conclusions, as I was there to guide them.

It was one of the best CCD class that I’ve ever taught.  The discussion was lively, almost every student spoke up, and everyone left with a lot to think about until the next class.  The students did not get bored or lose concentration, because they were actively participating.  It is much more fun to learn when you make a discovery on your own, even if it is guided by a facilitator.

This experience reinforced my desire to start a Socrates Cafe for the high school students in my local homeschool group.  Now that I have teenagers abound in my home, I have found it necessary to provide them with their own activities.  Play group just doesn’t cut it with teens.  Fortunately, Socrates Café has been a huge success with them.   We meet twice a month during the school year, however the teens have been trying to get me to agree to once a week year round.

Socrates Cafe is based on Christopher Phillips book by the same title. I don’t agree with everything Phillips writes in his books, but I love the idea of people gathering together for Socratic discussions. Phillips also promotes something called Philosophers Club for young children and has a children’s book published by the same name. I wouldn’t buy the book as the publisher puts out highly questionable materials, but you should be able to find it easily your library if you want to check it out.  Phillips has a website at www.philosopher.org/ which will give you all of the specifics needed to start your own Socrates Café or Philosophers Club.

One of the great things about Socrates Café is that it doesn’t cost any money to run. We meet at a local coffee house, so the teens and I do spend a little money on refreshments but that just adds to the fun.  We used to meet at the library, but the coffee house is so much more grown up and the teens enjoy the atmosphere more than the dungeon-like meeting rooms that my library offers.

We meet for an hour and a half. The first half hour is social time. We get our refreshments and chat before getting down to work. Sometimes we talk about what we are reading.  I try to encourage the teens to read philosophy related books. The final hour is spent in Socratic discussion.

The topic for the Socratic discussion is chosen at the previous meeting.  I let the teens pick the topic.  Everyone gives their ideas and then the group votes.  We try to keep the questions on current issues, yet general in nature.  For example, during the last November election, questions that came up were: What is a just war (Iraq and President Bush), Is it okay for a politician to ignore their religion when making laws (John Kerry and Catholicism), and What makes an excellent marriage (we had a gay marriage ban pass in Michigan).

I usually act as facilitator, though I sometimes let a teen take over the duties or invite a guest facilitator such as a priest.  I decide on many of my questions before the meeting. However, depending on what answers are given, some questions have to be thought up extemporaneously. At first this was a little hard to do, especially if the teens gave answers that were pretty far from what I anticipated, but I’m getting better at it with experience.

The best Socrates Cafes are when the members leave with more questions than they brought with them.  I want them thinking all the time.  Someday these kids will go off to college where their faith and world views will be not only be questioned but strongly challenged.  I hope that our meetings at the coffee house will help prepare them to answer those challenges confidently without their belief systems being shattered.

I encourage you to learn more about the Socratic Method and how you can implement it in your homeschool.  What can you lose?

Resources:

Websites
www.thomasaquinas.edu/curriculum/socratic.htm
The Socratic Method.
From Thomas Aquinas College (TAC) in California. TAC’s entire curriculum is based on the Socratic Method.  This website explains the method and will give you some ideas on how you can apply it in your homeschool.

www-ed.fnal.gov/trc/tutorial/taxonomy.html
Taxonomy of Socratic Questions
A list of probing questions to ask your students and, again, will give you some ideas and lead you in the direction of becoming a teacher in the tradition of Socrates.

www.newadvent.org/cathen/14119a.htm
Biogaphy of Socrates along with information on how he used questioning with his students.

www.garlikov.com/Soc_Meth.html
Transcript of a teacher using the Socratic Method to teach third graders about binary numbers.

Recommended Reading:

Sophie’s World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaardner
This novel that teaches about the great philosophers through an intriguing story.  Should be read by parents first as it is a secular book and there is an inappropriate reference late in the book regarding a teenaged couple.

Books by Peter Kreeft including Socrates Meets Jesus and Philosophy 101 by Socrates

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

Every family is different and so every homeschool is different. In our homeschool, I do not feel that my children are left behind by putting off formal academics. Little children are so curious that learning comes quite naturally.

In fact, they learn simply through their play.

That doesn’t mean to ignore wee ones and their learning. Instead take joy in playing with them and learning beside them. Look for those teachable moments.

Here are some ideas on teaching math and science skills without an expensive homeschool program.

Math

If you are in the McDonald’s drive-thru (and surely, being thrifty, you are only there because of an emergency and you are NOT ordering Happy Meals!) ask your wee ones how many chicken nuggets they are going to get after they share the 20-piece box with the rest of the family. Perhaps show them how ordering the 20-piece is cheaper than ordering 5 4-pieces.

Look for connect-the-dot and maze books at the grocery store. They are inexpensive and kids love them. Connecting the dots teach sequencing. Solving mazes teaches children to look several steps ahead – an important concept in higher mathematics.

Simple blocks and wooden puzzles will help with shape recognition. Don’t be afraid to get on the floor with your child and a mess of blocks. As you build together, point out the names of shapes. Search your house for shapes – the round pie pan, the rectangular aquarium, the square computer monitor, etc.

Cooking with little ones offers many opportunities for building math skills. I might say, “I need to divide this bread dough into 2 parts,” or “We have to roll this pastry out to nine inches.” Let them measure out ingredients or help double a recipe.

Give them a tape measure and let them measure everything in the house.

Read picture books that have a math theme. Ask your librarian for help if need be (or see The Catholic Homeschool Companion for a short list).

Play LEGOs or dominoes.

Science

In preparing a foundation upon which to build science skills, we must first ask ourselves “what is exactly is science.” Science is so much more than the simple collection of facts. Science is about observation. Yes, we need to know basic facts such as the boiling point for water and that the earth is the third planet from the sun, but we also need to remember that those facts were first discovered by observation.

Young children love memorizing facts and so teaching them science facts such as the order of the planets, would be both fun and useful. But I encourage you to do more than that. Teach them observation skills.

There are four parts to observation:
Ask what is happening.
Predict what might happen.
Test your prediction.
Make sense of the results.

Science involves trial and error, it is a way of thinking. Children learn science best if they are encouraged to investigate and experiment. Young children love to see, to touch, to manipulate. They like to see how things change.

When babies throw their plate off the highchair and onto the floor, they are not being bad, they are observing. They wonder what will happen if the plate goes over the edge. They may even be making a prediction. They test the prediction and then try to makes sense of the results. You might say that they are testing the theory of gravity.

In cooking, let children observe how the butter melts, how the texture of the bread dough is different from the finished loaf, or how vinegar curdles milk. Ask her why she thinks these things happen.

Take walks outdoors and observe the night sky. How does it change from day to night? From night to night? From season to season? Ask why he thinks these changes take place.

More important than anything, give your child lots of time to play. Children naturally explore and create. Play gives them opportunities to solve problems, learn about physics, shapes, and building foundations.

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

“Oh no! I’ve got forty Cinderella books on hold for a unit study the kids and I are working on. And I’ve probably got twenty books out on the Civil War, and then there are the books we check out just for fun. This is terrible!” I exclaimed, breaking out in a cold sweat, totally forgetting about the ten or so “real” math books sitting at home.

The librarian sought to comfort me and kindly suggested “You could check them out under your children’s names.”

That is how my 3- and 5-year-old children came to have their very own library cards.

At any given moment, I have somewhere between fifty and ninety books checked out from the public library. Because “real” books provide the foundation of my homeschool, the library has become a very necessary resource.

I have also found good textbooks on the shelves there, so always check with your library before making purchases. This is very easy to do if your library offers their catalog on the Internet.

Keep a Log and Designate a Special Place for Books

The library can be a free resource to homeschoolers, or it can be a financial drain. To keep things thrifty, it is absolutely necessary that you be organized. Otherwise, late fees and lost book charges will pile up.

I keep my library items organized in two ways. First I keep a log and second I designate a special place for library items.

Keeping a log is very easy for me, as my library gives me a printout of the books, videos, and magazines borrowed when I check out. This printout also includes the date that they are due for return. If your library does not provide this service, then make up your own log of items borrowed.

Write down the actual date returned when you take books back. Sometimes libraries miss books that have been returned. If the library shows that I have not returned an item, I check my log and notify the library clerk of the date returned. The clerk then puts a “search” on the missing item. Because I use the library quite frequently, this has happened to me a few times and I certainly don’t want to pay for books that I did indeed return.

The log can also double as a reading list for your homeschool. It is a very good idea to keep track of books read by your children for several reasons. For one thing, it impresses any nay-saying relatives. It also makes keeping a portfolio easier. At the end of each year, I go over our reading log to see just what we read for that year. This helps me in planning the next year’s curriculum, plus it reassures my husband and me that our children are doing a great job.

The second thing that I do to keep a handle on library books is to have a special place designated for library items only. I have a large wicker basket that I found for almost nothing at a garage sale. All items checked out from the library are to go into this basket. If a book ends up on one of my many bookshelves, it may not be found again for a long time.

Just doing these two things, and training your children to do them, will save you a lot of hassle on library day and it will save you money.

<Get to Know Your Librarian

My friend Dawn spends a lot of time at her small-town library. So much time that she is on a first-name basis with her librarian. Seeing that this mom of eight is dedicated to her children and to reading, the librarian seeks out Dawn’s advice in making book and magazine purchases. Though a small library, they carry several homeschooling titles (they even carry A Catholic Homeschool Treasury) and magazines, as well as children’s books popular with homeschoolers.

The library has little worth if it does not offer what you need. Get to know your librarian. Always smile and say “hi!” Let him or her know how much you would love it if they subscribed to Heart and Mind and other favorite homeschooling magazines. Make mention of your favorite children’s titles and let the librarian know that there are many other homeschoolers who would check out such books.

If you are too shy to speak up, that’s okay. Most libraries provide suggestion cards for your convenience. My library allows patrons to make book purchasing suggestions at their website. You can’t get much easier than that. Take 60 seconds to complete one card each time you visit the library or their website. Ask all your homeschooling friends to do the same.

Not too long ago, the children’s librarian at my library told me that she had a big order to place and wondered if I had any suggestions. I wish that I had a Bethlehem Book catalog handy to give her at that moment but I didn’t, so instead I sat down and spent some time talking to her about the children’s books that I love.

Get to know your librarian; you never know when he or she will ask your advice.
Take a Reading List with You to the Library

There are times when I go to the library and find books prominently displayed that I consider unsuitable for my family. Because I believe in teaching my children to be discerning readers, I will often give them a booklist to take to the library. They can choose any book from the list, but they must stick to the list.

The Internet is a great resource for free reading lists:

http://www.4reallearning.com/
4Real Learning Reading List
Catholic Charlotte Mason suggested literature list. First click on “Suggestions toward a Curriculum”, then click on your child’s grade level for a month-by-month reading list.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LiteratureAlive/
Living Literature!
This is a lively discussion group of mostly Catholic mothers who center their homeschools on living literature. The files contain several good reading lists.

http://www.readingyourwaythroughhistory.com
Reading through History
Alicia VanHecke’s excellent chronological reading list for history. Alicia also maintains www.love2learn.net, which is a treasure trove of book and test reviews.

http://www.setonhome.org/resources/index.shtml
Seton Home Study School
Seton’s list of great books, for K to 8th grade, to supplement their Catholic home study school. Scroll down and click on “reading lists.”

http://www.classicalhomeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html
1000 Good Books List
Reading list for primary school through high school provided by the Classical Christian Education Support Loop.

http://www.classicalhomeschooling.org/celoop/100.html
100 Great Books List
Reading list for adults provided by the Classical Christian Education Support Loop.

http://www.fiveinarow.com/before/booklist.html
Before FIAR: Book List
Great literature list for preschool.
http://www.fiveinarow.com/fiar/booklist.html
Five in a Row: Book List
Great reading list for grade school, whether you use the Five in a Row curriculum or not.

http://www.fiveinarow.com/beyond/booklist.html
Beyond FIAR: Book List
What do you do when you finish Five in a Row? Go Beyond Five in a Row. Great reading list for upper grade school years.

http://www.nikkisbooknook.com/home/slwtm.html
Sonlight Books and The Well Trained Mind
Sonlight books arranged by TWTM’s four-year history cycles.

http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1995/sept95/ersept6.html
A Child’s Reading List
Provided by Eagle Forum. Sorted by reading level within genre.

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=743
Ten Books Every Student Should Read in College
From the National Conservative Weekly

http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1997/june97/list.html
The Ultimate Reading List — Classics That Endure
From the June 1997 issue of Education Reporter

Check these books out from your library. Each contains a good reading list:

Books That Build Character: A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories by William Kilpatrick and Gregory & Suzanne Wolfe
The extensive reading list gives summaries on each of the recommended books. Very good.

Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education by Laura Berquist (Ignatius Press) – My favorite homeschooling book, it is worth the price just for the literary suggestions.

A Landscape With Dragons: The Battle for Your Child’s Mind by Michael O’Brien
An analysis of modern children’s literature. The suggested reading list in the appendices is very good.

These would probably need to be purchased:

A Mother’s List of Books by Theresa Fagan – Theresa is a Catholic homeschooling mother and has personally reviewed all of the books on her list. Her literary suggestions are separated by age group and arranged by authors’ last names. To order send $5 plus $1.50 s/h to: Theresa Fagan, 8801 Kensington Pkwy, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. For bulk orders call (301) 718-0851.

Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home by Elizabeth Foss – The back of the book contains a “Read Around the Year Booklist” segregated by grade level (similar to the list at www.4RealLearning.com ). To purchase visit www.bywayofthefamily.com or call (651) 778-0287.

Kolbe Academy’s reading list is available to non-enrolled families. Visit www.kolbe.org or call (707) 255-6499 for a catalog.

Another way to come up with terrific reading lists is to peruse homeschooling mail order catalogs such as Angelicum Academy, By Way of the Family, Emmanuel Books, Bethlehem Books, Sonlight, Elijah Company, Kolbe Academy, etc.

Books Are Not All That Libraries Offer

Do you ever feel like you carschool instead of homeschool? I have days when I feel like the children and I have spent more time on the road than in our home. We take advantage of that car time and listen to books on tape. Buying audio books requires a large financial commitment, so we get them free at the library. It is a great way to make use of time that might otherwise be idle.

Other free offerings that we have found at our library includes a toy and game lending program, educational videos, DVD’s, musical cd’s and cassette tapes, CD-ROM’s, meeting rooms for club meetings and co-op classes, lecture series, Saturday movies, and story time.

Not all libraries offer these free services. Some do not offer them at all, while others charge a fee. You may have to weigh the costs of library fees against the benefits received. Either way, take the initiative to find out if and how the public library can be an asset to your homeschool.

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

Following are thirteen tips, one for each week of the next three months. If you implement one new tip each week, you will see a significant drop in your grocery bill by the time the winter issue of Heart and Mind arrives in your mailbox. Make a copy of this article, put it in a prominent place, and commit yourself to working these tips.

Tip #1 – Don’t Go to the Store Hungry
This probably goes without saying, but make sure that you have a full tummy when you go grocery shopping. More importantly, make sure that any children who tag along have absolutely filled-to-the-brim tummies.

Grocery stores go to great lengths to psych you out and convince you to over buy. You have to out-psych them. If you’re tired and hungry, the children will have an easier time wearing down your resolve as they beg for all those colorful, attractive, prefab foods that require a mortgage to purchase.

Grocery Tip #2 – Make a List
Fifty-three percent of grocery purchases are made on the spur of the moment. Don’t let more than half of your groceries be bought without forethought.
Get up right now and put a piece of paper on your refrigerator and write at the top: “Grocery List.” Now here is what you do – when you start getting low on a staple item, write it down. Know what is, and is not, in your cupboards before you go to the store. Never, ever, go to the store without a list.
Don’t deviate from the list once you reach the store. Yes, that snack pack of premade pudding may be on sale, and it does looks so attractive displayed on the endcap of the aisle (the pudding manufacturer paid thousands of dollars for that placement), and it would be so easy to just plop those plastic pudding cups in front of the kiddies for lunch tomorrow, but it is NOT on your list. If it was important and really needed, you would have put it on your list

Grocery Tip #3 – Make a Menu
Every Monday I sit down at my dining room table with that week’s grocery store fliers, my grocery list, and my favorite cookbooks. I then make up a menu for the week based on what is on sale and what is currently in my cupboard.
If you have dozens of hard boiled eggs in the fridge left over from Easter, then you can have deviled eggs for dinner one night and egg salad sandwiches for lunch. Don’t buy new groceries when you have perfectly good groceries already on hand.
How does making a menu save you money?
– you buy only what you need.
– you use up what is already in your cupboards.
– you have no need to make unscheduled trips to the convenience store since you preplanned.
The first time that you make a menu, it will take some time. But trust me, once you make it a habit and do it every week, it will take no time at all. I promise.

Grocery Tip #4 – Leftover Night
Make sure that you set aside a day on your menu for leftover night. Never let anything go to waste. Every once in a while I go completely through my cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer to make sure that there aren’t forgotten items that I can put on that week’s menu. Sometimes we call this “Clean out the freezer night” and enjoy a smorgasbord of all different kinds of foods.

Grocery Tip #5 – Stock Up On Loss Leaders
If you are going through your grocery sales ads every week preparing your menu and grocery list, you are getting a pretty decent idea of sale prices. Beginning this week, keep a sharp eye out for loss-leaders.
Loss-leaders are sales items that are marked down far below the store’s profit margin. They do this to entice you into their store and buy high-end items, thus making a huge profit in the end. But you won’t fall for that con game because you’re making a list and sticking to it.
Take advantage of those loss-leaders by stocking up on them. If your family loves pasta, and macaroni is on sale for an unbelievable 25 cents, buy enough to last several months. Take advantage of any extra freezer space for meats and vegetables. My husband built extra shelves for me in the garage for my stockpile of loss-leaders.

Grocery Tip #6 – Use Your Crockpot
Do you have one day in your week where it seems you are on the go the entire day? You get home wiped out and the last thing that you want to do is make dinner. So you throw a few frozen pizzas in the oven or have your spouse pick up Chinese on the way home. Maybe you have several days like this each week.
I solve this problem with a little preplanning and putting something in the crockpot before I leave the house. It is nice to come home to a prepared dinner after a long day of running around. Another nice thing about crockpots is that you can make even the toughest, cheapest cut of meat delicious. Utilizing my crockpot saves on frustration and it saves on the wallet.
If you need recipes try these websites:
http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm
Crockpot Recipes – More than 1300 Recipes for the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker
http://www.recipesource.com/main-dishes/crockpot/
RecipeSource: Crockpot Recipes

Grocery Tip #7 – Use Caution in Clipping Coupons
Believe or not, there are times when coupon clipping can actually cause you to spend more money, rather than save money. Coupons can be a great thing, but you need to use a little extra common sense in choosing which coupons to clip.
If I see a coupon for a product that I normally buy, I clip it. Especially if it qualifies for my grocery store’s double coupon special and that item is on sale. I have gotten grocery items for free this way, but that is rare.
I avoid coupons for expensive name brands or prepackaged foods like the plague. Even with a coupon, these items are usually more expensive than store-name brands and homemade meals. So use caution in using coupons and make sure that you are actually saving money, not spending more, by clipping them.

Grocery Tip #8 – Use Caution in Visiting Warehouse Clubs
Just as coupons can work against you or in your favor, so goes warehouse clubs. If you throw caution to the wind, you can overspend. However, with a little smarts you can save a bundle.
First, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions:
If I have 100 rolls of paper towels stocked in the garage, and little Johnny spills an entire glass of milk on the floor, will I do the thrifty thing and use a rag to clean it up? Or will I use an entire roll of paper towels figuring that I will still have 99 left? If you chose the latter, then stay away from warehouse clubs.
Next question. Will you be tempted to buy the fifty-gallon jug of cheesy curls for snack time instead of carrot and celery sticks? If the answer is yes, stop here and never step inside of a Sam’s or Costco.
You should be stocking up on staples. Prepared, prepackaged foods cost too much at warehouse clubs too. Make sure that you are following all of your grocery tips at the warehouse club as you would at the grocery store.
There is a cost to join these clubs, so weigh the savings against that cost. See if your employer or spouse’s employer offers free memberships. My husband is self-employed, but we have a free membership through one of his clients as he takes care of this client’s purchasing.

Grocery Tip #9 – Pull Together Resources and Buy in Bulk
Warehouse clubs are not the only way of buying in bulk. I often times buy meat in bulk. Most recently, I split half of a side of beef with my friend Dawn.
This is a great way to save money, since meat is an expensive staple. I have an extra freezer, so I have plenty of room to stock up. If you don’t have extra freezer space, or you have a small family, find a friend or relative (or several if need be) willing to split the savings with you.
Look for reputable businesses that sell quantities of beef, chicken, and/or pork. There are some fly-by-night companies who will not think twice about stealing your money, so ask around to find out who provides the best product for the best price.

Grocery Tip #10 – Making Use of Throwaways
Think about all of the vegetable scraps and bones that you throw away. Now is the time to get into the mindset of always asking yourself if something can be put to good use before throwing it away.
For example, after cooking up a delicious roast chicken and serving it to my family, I take the carcass, throw it in a pot with some seasonings and vegetable scraps, cover it with water, and boil it to death. The resulting broth can be frozen if it is not needed in the near future. You can do this with beef, pork, turkey, and fish bones as well. I also make vegetable broth if I have a lot of vegetables scraps. Homemade broth is much better than a bouillon cube mixed with a cup of water. And it is so easy; if you can boil water you can make broth.
Another way to make use of food throwaways is to compost. Over the years the harvest from our gardens have gotten better and better do to our homemade compost. No more spending money each year on top soil, manure, and peat moss.
One more idea for you is Leftover Soup. When I have just a wee amount of vegetable or meat leftovers from dinner, not enough for a single serving the next day, I put it in a special container in the freezer. When my container is full, I make leftover soup. I mix it together with my homemade broth, perhaps throw in some rice, and I have a delicious soup.

Grocery Tip #11 – Forget the Cart
By now you are doing a terrific job in preplanning your grocery trips, but there will still be times when you have an emergency and have to run to the corner market for one or two items. When you do, walk right past the shopping carts. If you have to carry your groceries in your arms, you are not going to be as tempted to pick up that $5 bucket of ice cream that your hips don’t need anyway.

Grocery Tip #12 – Get to Know the Layout of Your Grocery Store
Getting to know the layout of your grocery store will save you money. Not loads, but some. The better you know where things are, the faster you can get to the things you want, and the better you can avoid things you don’t need.
I go so far to write up my grocery list items in the order that they are laid out in the store. As I cross items off of my shopping list it is a neater process and I am less likely to miss items. I have been going to the same store for many years and so have a pretty good idea of how things are arranged.
If you are in a new neighborhood, most stores have printouts of the store layout available just for the asking. It doesn’t have to be an exact science, usually you’ll find produce first, dairy items together, paper products and cleaning supplies last.

Grocery Tip #13 – Check Unit Prices
Make sure that you are checking unit prices. It is worth the cost of a little calculator to keep in your purse, so that it is handy while grocery shopping. My grocery store shows the unit price on regularly priced items, but not the sales items.
I have run across, one too many times, bulk items that were actually more expensive than smaller-unit items. I have also seen sales items that were still costlier than off-brand items, as well as same brand but smaller size items.
If you have not done this before, just take the price and divide by the number of ounces, or whatever unit of weight is used for that item.
This is a great math project to give a child. Or make a game of it and give calculators to several children and see who comes up with the answer first. Multi-tasking – school and shopping all in one – now that is thrifty.

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

I have learned since then that many different types of businesses extend discounts to teachers. Stores such as:

Arts & Crafts
Books & Periodicals
Computer (hardware / software, for teacher and student)
Copy services
Fabric and sewing
Furniture (student desks, tables, & chairs)
Hardware (building projects)
Music
Office supplies
Sporting goods
Teachers’ stores
Video rental

Now, whenever I am making a purchase that relates to my homeschool, or my homeschool support group, I ask if the business offers a discount for teachers. If the answer is “yes” then I say, “I am a home teacher.” On the rare occasion that a store employee tells me that the store does not extend their educators’ discount to home educators, I ask for a manager.

Usually, the clerk is in error, but there are times when I find myself explaining why I should receive the same discount as other teachers. Once, my friend Dawn was told by a clerk at an office supply store that they did not extend their discount to home educators because schoolteachers have to personally buy a lot of their own supplies. Dawn kindly pointed out that she has to personally buy ALL of her supplies.

I don’t encourage you to get into an argument with store personal in such situations. I do encourage you to educate them about homeschooling. Politely tell them that you spend a lot of money on books, paper products, copies, fabric, or whatever they sell, and you would love to purchase these items from their store. Let them know that you know lots of other home educators and will gladly send lots of business their way. The one time that a store still refused me (a locally-owned bookstore), I kept a smile on my face, said “thank you for your time, I will go to Barnes and Noble from now on,” laid my purchases down on the counter, and walked out.

Showing Proof

You will need to provide businesses with some kind of proof that you are a homeschooler. I use my local homeschool newsletter and that is usually enough. However, recently a fabric store that is part of a national chain refused my newsletter as proof and insisted on a state id card. The funny thing is that the state I live in does not provide any such thing. Plus, I had been issued discount cards for the previous two years with no problem. Upon my arrival home, I signed onto the chain’s website and sent an email to their customer service department. The problem was resolved within a day.

You shouldn’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get your educators’ discount and most times you won’t. There have been occasions when I got an educators’ discount simply because I was in the store during school hours with seven children.

You could go so far as to make your own school id card on your computer. I saw a website once that suggested that you make up your own school stationary, then type yourself a letter stating that you are the purchasing agent for your school. Personally, I think that it is a bit on the side of overkill, but if it works you may as well for it.

Discounts on Activities

Discounts do not only apply to supplies. Thanks to local homeschooling activists, I am eligible for many discounts at local gyms, dance studios, and more.

Think about it. Before homeschooling went mainstream, most of those places were empty throughout the day. During school hours, they did zero business. Now they can tap into the homeschooling community, offer us deep discounts, and fill their gyms and studios.

My children take gymnastics, and I get a 50% discount. The lessons take place during school hours and during the school year. I have friends who receive similar discount for dance and music lessons. Our local YMCA offers a Gym and Swim for a homeschoolers for very little money.

If you are not already getting these kinds of discounts, ask around and seek them out. If you can’t find any, be bold and take the initiative to ask for them.

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

“I’ll dub a copy for you,” she answered.

“That would be great,” I said, as I began to salivate over my soon-to-be new acquisition.

“Don’t worry about the copyright, teachers do this all the time. No reason we shouldn’t either,” my friend replied without any prompting from me. “They buy one original and then make copies for all the kids in their classroom. Our homeschool group is no different from a classroom. Besides it’s so expensive to homeschool, we shouldn’t be expected to have to buy all our materials.”

The more my friend justified making the copy for me, the more I realized that it was wrong. When I got home, I threw the dubbed tape away. To buy the original tape would’ve put too much strain on my budget, so I made the decision to simply live without it. Lyrical Science is something that surely would’ve added to my homeschool, but it was not an absolute need. I found other, less expensive, sources for science enrichment.

There was a time when I didn’t think twice about photocopying workbook pages, dubbing videotapes or audiotapes, or even pirating computer software. However, on that day I did think twice and I realized how wrong it is to do so.

First, it is illegal to steal intellectual property and as Catholics we are obliged to follow the law. (Unless, of course, it is an immoral law.) Though we may save ourselves a few dollars in copying, others are forced to pay for our “savings.” Much in the same way that shoplifters “save” themselves money but the rest of us pay more for our products to make up for the loss caused by the shoplifter.

For the purpose of this column, I’d like to focus on copying consumable workbooks. A consumable is designed to be used just once, unlike a textbook that can be reused and even resold (though not copied). It should be noted that it is not always illegal to copy consumables for multiple uses. Look at the inside cover of the workbook and read the copyright notice. Some educational publishers will grant permission there for you to make copies for your classroom. For homeschoolers, a classroom would be defined as our homeschooled children or the children in our homeschool co-op. It does not mean that we can photocopy and then sell or return.

If the copyright page does not grant permission to make copies and you truly cannot afford to buy multiple workbooks, then contact the publisher and ask permission. If the answer is “yes” that is wonderful, if the answer is “no” then you need to find another solution. At that point you should ask yourself if this particular workbook is a “need” or a “want.”

You should also consider the cost of photocopying, which isn’t always cheaper. For example, Beverly Gordon Adams grants permission to purchasers of her Spelling Power program to copy the consumable worksheets. However, it is cheaper to buy the Spelling Power workbook than to make copies at Kinko’s or Staples. (If your husband is photocopying at work, make sure that he has permission from his employer and has offered to pay for the service, ink, and paper.)

It is estimated that as much as 50% of Catholic homeschooling materials in circulation are being illicitly copied. Quite frankly, this estimate shocks me. An author recently shared with me stories of Catholic homeschool support groups who have purchased one copy of a consumable curriculum series and then passed it throughout the entire group for collective copies. She also told me of families who purchased a single workbook to photocopy for their whole family and then resold as new.

A publisher of a virtues based program told me once of how she had books returned for a refund, only to find photocopied pages still stuck inside the books. This is a program that teaches virtues! Being thrifty means being prudent, which is a virtue. It doesn’t mean taking undue advantage of writers and publishers in order to save a few dollars.

Illicit copying not only hurts writers and publishers, but also ultimately affects the cost of materials to the consumer. Catholic homeschooling publishers are already working on very thin margins. If materials are purchased instead of photocopied, then publishers can print in larger quantities, which in turn lowers the per-unit cost and results in a savings for all Catholic homeschooling families.

Most copyright and trademark violations are done out of ignorance. Just as I thought at first it was okay to accept a dubbed copy of Lyrical Science from my friend. If we choose to educate ourselves in this area and then follow the law, we will be better Christians in the end. We will be practicing the very virtues that we strive to teach our children.

Scripture tells us, “The worker is worth his wage.” The only way that an author can gain his wage is through the sale of his intellectual property. (This also applies to authors of music and software.) If we copy works without permission, we are literally stealing wages from the worker. On the other hand, if we take the time and make the effort to either seek permission to copy, or adjust our budget so that we can make the purchase, or even make the decision to utilize the library or Internet instead, we are growing in virtue.

If you are ever unsure of whether or not you can make copies of something, the solution is very simple – contact the publisher.

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

My husband, who has been involved in educational reform for more than two decades, keeps up-to-date in his field by subscribing to several good education magazines, reading all the right books, and attending conferences. We, as homeschoolers, are professional educators too and we should do no less.

We subscribe to Heart and Mind, read all the great homeschooling books, and now conference season is upon us. Is it possible to be thrifty and still attend a conference that asks us to fork out anywhere from $20 to $40? To answer this question we must first define the difference between thrifty and cheap. Thrifty is getting the most for your money. On the other hand, cheap is getting something of little worth.

When considering whether or not to attend a homeschooling conference make sure not to be cheap. Instead ask yourself if and how the conference will benefit you to determine if it is worth the money.

Ordering curricula sight unseen is never a safe bet. Conferences offer you the opportunity to see a lot of the great curricula available to homeschoolers, whether you plan to make a purchase that day or sometime in the future.

Conferences are also beneficial in other ways. We all have something to learn and attending the talks can give you ideas to improve your homeschool. Talks also often offer encouragement. Just being under one roof with hundreds of other homeschoolers is rejuvenating. I always come home from our Michigan conference pumped up and ready to face the next school year. To me, that alone is worth the cost of my admission ticket.

Saving Money in the Vending Area

Interestingly, when I speak at homeschooling conferences, my Thrifty Homeschooler talk is often scheduled during the final spot of the day. If I was one to dwell on conspiracy theories, I might believe that conference organizers are worried that I will tell my audience not to spend any money in the vending area. No, instead of telling my audience to pass by the vendors, I try to help them buy wisely. We all have books and curricula that we need to purchase. In a nutshell, we need to remember to distinguish the difference between our needs and our wants.

Last year my friend Karen St. John, a key figure in putting together the Michigan Catholic Home Educators’ conference, helped me put together a top-ten list to make your homeschooling conference experience a successful one.

1. Come with lists of what you need, want, and would like to have, for the upcoming school year. It saves LOTS of time by asking “Do you have . . .” If the answer is no, you can move on to the next vending table. This list is especially useful when looking through the used book sales. Include any needed OOP (out of print) books on your list.
Conferences give you the opportunity to check out books and curricula up close and personal! Even if you aren’t buying that day, you can get a feel of what vendors, books, and curricula, fit your future needs. You may also find that new colorful curricula that has been getting tons of hype, isn’t what you need after all.

2. Always make sure that you check the used book tables before buying new books, as well as checking for vendors offering discounts and “conference specials.” Also look for opportunities to sell your used books and curricula. Most conferences offer such opportunities.

3. Many vendors will allow you to order ahead of time so that you can pick up and pay for your package at the conference – shipping free! Plus you don’t have to worry about the vendor running out of stock before you get to their table. It’s worth an email or a phone call to find out if a favorite vendor will do this. If you don’t get around to ordering in advance and your favorite vendor is out of stock, many will offer free shipping and handling if you place an order at the conference.

4. Vendors are often looking for someone who will man a table. Call and see if a particular vendor would like you to work their table and then check with the vendor coordinator for that conference to see if a table can be rented through the company you wish to represent. You can negotiate for books and curricula in exchange for your time, or if you prefer – cash.

5. If you are traveling from out of town, check out campgrounds for rates cheaper than hotels. The most fun that I have had at conferences is when I have traveled with girlfriends and we split the cost of gas and lodging.

6. If you like to enter all of the free drawings at the conference, bring some return address labels with you. That way you aren’t wasting time filling out your name and address over and over again. Keep in mind though, that vendors often times offer free drawings so that they can put you on their mailing list.

7. Make a budget and stick to it. Also keep in mind that smaller vendors, and often the conference organizers, do not take credit cards. You will need to bring an allotted amount of cash or your checkbook.

8. Register early for a discount. Often times, joining the state or local support group will get you a discount to the conference. (In addition to a regular newsletter, sometimes a HSLDA discount, local support, etc.).

9. Volunteers receive discounts or sometimes get in for free. There are all kinds of volunteer jobs to do. If you want to make sure to get to all of the talks, you could volunteer to be a monitor. The monitor sits in on talks and helps the speaker if a need arises. Some other fun conference jobs – pick up the speakers from the airport, open your home to speakers or vendors, take phone inquiries, registration, and so on. You can also volunteer your teenaged children. My teens enjoy assisting with setup and takedown at our state conference.

10. Leave wee ones at home so that you can focus on the conference. I’m one of those moms who takes my kids everywhere with me. But on conference day I need to concentrate on the entire next school year and need to think clearly as I shop.

This article originally appeared in Heart and Mind magazine. For ordering information, see www.heart-and-mind.com or write PO Box 420881, San Diego, CA 92142

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann

If the thought of canning your own produce scares you half to death, know that I used to feel the same way. The whole process seemed too daunting, too large. But one day I took the plunge, and I’m so glad that I did.

How to Begin

Getting set up for canning would be expensive if you bought all of your supplies brand new. The good news is that you don’t have to do that. You can find canning equipment at garage sales and thrift stores. If you have elderly family members or friends, ask them if they have any equipment or supplies to pass down to you. More than likely, they will be thrilled to find someone who wants to carry on the art canning and pass it onto her children. Almost all of my canning equipment, including a large selection of jars, came from older acquaintances. I simply mentioned that I wanted to learn the art of canning to a few people and, before I knew it, my cupboards were full. All I pay for is labels and lids. Sometimes I forgo the labels and write on the lids with permanent marker.

Basic equipment that you’ll need for the Boiling-Water Canning Method (for high-acid foods such as fruits, including tomatoes):

• Ball Blue Book of Preserving
• Water canner
• Canning funnel
• Jar lifter
• Jars, lids, bands, and labels
• Basic kitchen utensils

There are other goodies that you can acquire, but these will get you started. If you’re going to can jellies or jams, you’ll want to add pectin and Fruit Fresh to your grocery list.

Once you’ve been canning a year or so and feel ready to can low-acid foods, such as vegetables and meats, then you will need to add a steam-pressure canner to your list of basic equipment. At that time you can look to acquire more specialized equipment, such as a food sieve, apple peeler/corer/slicer, or lid wand.

Finding Produce

The first place to look for produce is, of course, your own garden. Keep canning in mind when you plan your garden. For example, if you want to can a year’s worth of salsa, you’ll need to plan on planting plenty of tomatoes and peppers.

When your friends find out that you’re canning, they’ll bring their garden surpluses to you. I’ve been given full bushels of green beans as well as bags of tomatoes, peppers, and more. The children and I have also been invited by friends to pick pears and strawberries on their property.

Farmers’ markets are another great resource. Not only do you get fresh produce, often picked that morning, you get the wise counsel of the farmer. Don’t be shy and ask as many questions as your heart desires. I have found farmers to be wonderfully friendly and happy to share advice. They can tell you the best variety of apples for applesauce versus apple pie filling versus apple rings. They can tell which variety of peaches are best for eating fresh and which are best for making jam. They may even have a recipe or two to share.

My children can for 4-H and the county fair. The farmers especially love answering their questions and helping them choose their produce. In fact, upon finding out that we’re canning for 4-H, the farmer will usually give the children a little break on price or a few free samples.

Another resource is universities. We live close to Michigan State University, which has a degree program in agriculture. For this reason, they have several big produce sales at the end of harvest season. Also look into community gardens, co-ops, and city markets.

What’s Next?

Now that you have your equipment and your produce, you’re ready to get the real work. I highly recommend finding an experienced canner to help you with your first canning attempt. She can help you get over any little bumps and answer last-minute questions. Most of all, she can give you peace of mind. There’s nothing like having a friend close by when trying something new.

Plan ahead for canning day. Check the recipes that you have chosen and make sure that you have all of the equipment, supplies, and produce needed. Borrow anything that you don’t yet own. For example, if you’re attempting apple rings for the first time, you may need to borrow your friend’s apple peeler/corer/slicer.

If the children are helping, write out a list of everyone’s assignments and the order they will take place. Even the youngest of children can help with simple tasks, such as rinsing off produce or handing Mom supplies. Older children can slice and dice. My children’s favorite job is turning the crank of the sieve when we make applesauce or tomato sauce.

The kitchen should be clean and uncluttered. Everything should be laid out and ready to use. You’ll be less stressed and everything will go smoothly if you take care of these things in advance.

Next sterilize everything, following the instructions in your Ball Blue Book of Preserving. While waiting for everything to sterilize, you can start your prep work. Wash, peel, slice, dice, etc. As you prepare your recipe, get your water bath canner on the stove. After checking your jars for any cracks, fill them according the directions and seal. After removing them from the canner, put them onto a dry, clean tea cloth where they can sit for the next 24-hours. Check to make sure they do indeed seal and then put them up to enjoy come winter. Or enter them in the county fair!

Canning is not only thrifty, but it is very educational for your homeschooled children. My children love helping and they’ve learned a tremendous amount about food safety and food preservation. An additional benefit is that the food you preserve will taste better and be healthier than anything you can buy in the store. To learn more about canning, check out the following books and websites:

• Ball Blue Book of Preserving

• The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest: 150 Recipes for Freezing, Canning, Drying and Pickling Fruits and Vegetables

For recipes:

• http://www.homecanning.com
• http://www.recipezaar.com/r/16/85
• http://www.canning-food-recipes.com/

Food preservation websites from 4-H for homeschooling lessons:

• http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1540.html, All the info you’ll need for canning.
• http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/4-H933R.pdf, Food Preservation Record Form for the children to complete.

Copyright 2009 Maureen Wittmann