Carnival of Homeschooling-One Thousand Gifts
July 19, 2011
This Carnival is dedicated to Kristen Fagala, wife of Paul and mother to 7 children, who passed away from a sudden brain aneurysm. She was an inspiration and encouragement to homeschool leaders. What a loss to all of us in the homeschooling world, and especially to her family. Offer your condolences on her Facebook page.
Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling-One Thousand Gifts theme
The theme for this blog carnival is based on the book by homeschool mom Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gifts. We are focusing on all the gifts we’ve been given as homeschoolers and all the gifts (especially the unexpected ones) we’ve received.
Please post a comment and add to our list of gifts; we’d love to see your blessings!
My list begins with these gifts:
- air conditioning (so we’re not grumpy with each other!)
- other homeschool parents who share their experience
- books, books, books!
- homeschool conventions and vendors
- time with my daughters
Time with our children
Laura Grace Weldon shares how her kids are blessed with the freedom to be themselves can grow up strong enough to follow their dreams in “Strong Enough to be Ourselves” Laura’s gifts include lasting memories, laughter, family sayings worth repeating
The Home Educating Family Publishing Blog says that there’s one very special gift homeschooling brings to military families: time in a blog post titled The Gifts of Homeschooling. Some of the gifts homeschooling has brought include: time; family togetherness; opportunities; adventures; community; personalized education
Linda Dobson reminds parents that only you can rescue your child from the schooling that causes lasting psychic damage in Schooling Causes Psychic Damage Lasting Into Adulthood | PARENT AT THE HELM posted at PARENT AT THE HELM.
Henry from Why Homeschool writes about a new tradition for his family: Weekly Family Councils.
Homeschool vendors
Kay Ryan presents Internet Safety For Kids Podcast ? Episode #11 posted at Keep Your Family Safe Online, saying, “Bryan Bowers interviews Mary Kay Hoal, with YourSphere Media. Mary Kay is a nationally recognized expert in child Internet safety and was recently featured on the ABC News show 20/20. This is the second in a three part series.”
Amy shares Geography Resources posted at Hope Is the Word.
Nebby presents Things that are Supposed to be Good (re Homeschool Curricula) posted at Letters from Nebby.
Other who share their homeschool experience
Andrea of Notes from a Homeschool Mom shares Reasons why I’m glad we homeschool: CRCT fiasco. Local public schools were busted in a huge test cheating fiasco. So why do they want us homeschoolers testing again? Andrea’s gifts of homeschooling include closeness with my kids, expressive children, independent children, educational freedom and a heightened sense of responsibility.
Robin of Crack the Egg Blog blogs that if every homeschooling mom keeps these three things in mind, she won’t be bothered by watching other families with a summer break and wondering why she’s not getting one in Homeschool Organization: Three Tips to Help You Relax. Robin is thankful for these gifts: Not asking permission to pursue what we love, enjoying science with a cat in your lap and time and freedom to read about math, not just do it.
Lisa from Four Simply Living sees homeschooling not as a sacrifice but as a ministry. “How did do I change my pity to passion? I chose to look at homeschooling with different eyes. I no longer see this commitment as a sacrifice; I see it as a reward.” in her post Homeschooling Pity to Passion . Gifts that homeschooling has brought her include: turning pity to passion, knowing that God has my back, coffee, cookies and hot chocolate, home-ec at its best, really knowing who my kids are, and marveling at the gift of being able to spend every day with them, all day!
Cristina Payne presents Impressing Learning posted at Home Spun Juggling, saying, “Sometimes it’s better to lead by example. They learn when they are ready.” 3 gifts: wildlife (we learn so much from it!), a working car, art supplies.
ChristineMM presents A Risk My Husband (and I) Are Willing to Take posted at The Thinking Mother, saying, “ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother shares the content of a lecture her husband gave their 13 year old son about education.”
Jen from Chestnut Grove Academy explains the Why and How of using workboxes in a homeschool at Revisiting the ‘WHY’ and ‘HOW TO’ of work boxes
Book, books, books! (and other great stuff!)
Jen of Frugal Kids shows parents/teachers how to use foam shapes to explore sorting, matching, and making patterns with their preschoolers in Sorting, Matching, and Pattern Fun
Katherine of No fighting, no biting! blogs that after much angst, her 7 year old is reading in busting through the wall. Katherine’s gifts include a quality education for the children, more family cohesiveness, freedom, as opposed to being on someone else’s schedule
momtobe0520 presents the socialization issue posted at Bugs, Knights, and Turkeys in the Yard, saying, “Another voice on the issue of homeschool and socialization” as she reviews Rick Boyer’s The Socialization Trap.
Miss Nirvana presents Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Garden in Indianapolis posted at Nirvana Homeschooling.
Pamela Jorrick tells about the fun and trial of Early Morning Camp Week posted at Blah, Blah, Blog. Her gifts : Sleeping in * Reading books in PJs * Strong family relationships * Watching my children grow and learn * Rediscovering my own love of learning
Kathi Weiss shares what her family does for fun and learning in It’s Too Hot To Think posted at Homeschool Online.
Lisa at School Marm Ohio has been busy reading and shares her recommendations in Reads for High School. Her gift list includes Cuddle time on the couch, Dreams shared, “Ah-ha!” moments, Sharing life as a family, Being real, Sharing my passion for the Lord and life with my sons, Seizing the moment, Field trips, Thinking outside the box, Sock fights, Hugs and kisses (Still even though they are young men) and A lifetime of memories
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Thanks to everyone who shared.
Since I dedicated this Carnival to my friend, fellow homeschooler, Kristen Fagala, I need to add to my gift list: Friends I make via the internet, the hope of eternal life, examples of generosity from other homeschool mothers, prayers of others, kind words, reminders that life is short.
Please post a comment and add to our list of gifts; we’d love to see your blessings!
Next week’s carnival will be hosted at MrsMamaHen.blogspot.com/
Carol Topp, CPA
HomeschoolCPA.com
Tragic loss
July 17, 2011
I am in shock at the sudden loss of my friend Kristen Fragala, wife of Paul and mother to 7 children, who went to be with the Lord yesterday after having a brain aneurysm.
She wrote One By One: The Homeschool Group Leader’s Guide to Motivating Your Members and was an inspiration and encouragement to homeschool leaders. What a loss to us all, especially her family.
Kristen was a wonderful, generous woman who wanted to share what she knew about leading a homeschool group with others.
She also ran a website and Facebook group for homeschool leaders. Offer your condolences here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/72534255742
She will be greatly missed.
Carol Topp, CPA
P.S. If you would like to purchase Kristen’s book One by One (Ebook) just click here and I will donate all proceeds to her family.
I’ll be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling next week
July 12, 2011
Next week (starting Tuesday July 19), this blog, HomeschoolCPA will be hosting the Carnival Of Homeschooling.
The Carnival of Homeschooling is a weekly blog carnival. The carnival showcases posts about homeschooling from both seasoned and new bloggers. Various bloggers take turns hosting the carnival.
We welcome posts about homeschooling. (I will reject blog posts that do not apply to homeschooling). You can learn how to submit a post. Posts are due by Monday at 6 pm
The theme next week will be One Thousand Gifts based on the book by homeschool mom Ann Voskamp.
We’ll be focusing on all the gifts we’ve been given as homeschoolers and all the gifts (especially the unexpected ones) we’ve received.
When you submit a blog post will you consider adding to the list of 1,000 gifts with 3 to 5 more gifts of your own? Maybe we can get to 1,000!
I’ll start:
- air conditioning (so we’re not grumpy with each other!)
- other homeschool parents who share their experience
- books, books, books!
- homeschool conventions
- time with my daughters
Visit the One Thousand Gifts website and see the twitter feed as other post the gifts they are thankful for.
Submit your blog post on homeschooling and a few of the gifts you have received by sending the following to
CarnivalOfHomeschooling@Gmail.com
- Title of Post
- URL of Post
- Name of Blog
- URL of Blog
- Brief summary of the post
- Some of the gifts homeschooling has brought you (short phrases or single words please)
(With “carnival” or “submission” in the subject field of the email.)
Carol Topp, CPA
HomeschoolCPA.com
Do not use individual fund raising accounts
June 3, 2011
From Parent Booster USA comes this warning about fund raising accounts:
Do not use individual fundraising accounts (IFAs) without a legal review. The IRS has strict rules on any activity that benefits the individual members of a group. The IRS generally finds IFAs to violate its rules. IFAs are activities in which parents/students engage in cooperative fundraising activities, providing “credit” to the individual “accounts” of those who participate in the fundraising activity(ies). Only in very limited circumstances are IFAs considered legal fundraising activities of booster clubs. Parent Booster USA can provide assistance in obtaining a legal review of an organization’s IFA policy. See also Individual Fundraising Accounts.
I agree with Parent Booster USA, the IRS does not allow nonprofits to establish individual fund raising accounts, where an individual or family get a part of the fund raising proceeds for their personal use.
To learn more about fund raisers for your homeschool group, read my article “Easy Fund Raisers for Homeschool Groups” here
and my blog posts on fund raising here.
Carol Topp, CPA
I love webinars:The Old Schoolhouse Expo Preshow
March 16, 2011
Last night I sat with my feet up, laptop on my lap and headphone logged in and attended the Old Schoolhouse Expo March Preshow program.
I “arrived” to the webinar a bit late and caught just the end of Terri Johnson talking about all the cool ways she uses her iPad in homeschooling.
But then I spent an enjoyable hour hearing how Malia Russell manages 5 children, 4 business and homeschooling! She’s my hero!
I had just met Mary Jo Tate in person last week at a homeschool convention, and so I really enjoyed hearing her story of raising and homeschool 4 sons as a single mom. Her focus on balance and goal setting was very inspiring.
All in all, it was such a nice way to spend the evening. The technology worked great. I could see the speakers’ PowerPoint slides and hear them clearly. I didn’t worry about background noise at my house because we were all muted. I could also follow the chat going on in a sidebar. It was a handy way for the host to post links and for participants to ask questions.
If you’ve never tried on on-line webinar, you’re in for a treat.
The Old Schoolhouse Expo will have another Preshow on April 12, 2011 and their full week long Expo May 16-20, 2012.
I’ll be doing a workshop on Micro Business for Teens. I have my Powerpoint slides all ready to go!
Join us by grabbing a ticket to the Expo here.
Carol Topp, CPA
Special Needs Webinar Feb 22
February 12, 2011
Special Needs Webinar “Bringing Hope” February 22, 2011
For those who struggle silently at home with special needs children, this event is especially for you. More than just a pep-talk that “you can do this too,” these sessions give you real help from those who have been successful in working with children.
These are proven and tested ideas from the two of the trainers themselves, Tara Jenner (a homeschool mom) and Jane Davis who has pioneered brain potentials with phenomenal results. You will hear from Michael Hughes and expert on teaching reading and grammar, Christine Field, a past homeschool mom and attorney who discusses your rights, and Attorney Dorcey that shares how to plan financially for your children, and so much more!
Grab Your Ticket Today for Only $9.97
(Includes access to our Membership Site full of ebooks, audios, articles, and special offers from this expo.)
YOU CAN LISTEN FROM YOUR COMPUTER OR PHONE!
Everything is hosted online. EVERY seminar is recorded. Many sessions will be taught live and then posted on the private members only website created especially for you. You can enjoy everything on your own time!
Carol Topp, CPA
Give your heart a refill at the Schoolhouse Expo
January 26, 2011
Take time to “get a refill” at the
Schoolhouse Expo, May 16–20, 2011.
Right now, you can buy your ticket to the live 2011 Schoolhouse Expo for an amazing price! Purchase your ticket by February 9th, and receive a $20 discount and gifts (valued over $419.87) for only $19.50!
In addition to the privilege of attending approximately 20 live, hour-long sessions, you will receive a one-year membership to the Homeschool Legal Advantage and a free will, valued at $65; 21 downloadable gifts worth more than $200; access to MP3 files of the sessions, for future reference; door prizes; access to a virtual vendor hall jam-packed with the market’s most outstanding vendors; and a whole lot of fun!
This special offer won’t last long! The Early Bird Sale ends February 9 at 11:59 p.m. We’d love to have everyone there, but space at the Schoolhouse Expo is limited. Tickets for the live conference are available on a first come, first served basis—we only have a limited number of tickets. Our May 2010 conference sold out within a few weeks. We want you to join us, so make plans to pick up your ticket during the Early Bird Sale! Get all the details here!
I’ll be there speaking on Micro Business for Teens! This is an on-line event; you can join us live in May or order all the workshops to listen to later.
I hope you’ll join me there!
Carol Topp, CPA
I’ve been nominated! Please vote for this blog
November 9, 2010
HomeschoolCPA blog has been nominated for this year’s Homeschool Blog Awards!
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The Homeschool Post is a community of homeschooling parents and students and once a year they hold a contest to recognize and encourage blogs that are run by homeschoolers. I was thrilled to learn that my blog here at HomeschoolCPA.com has been nominated under the category of Best Curriculum or Business Blog
If my blog has helped you, I’d be honored if you would vote for HomeschoolCPA!
It’s easy. Here’s what you do:
Click over to this page: http://hsbapost.com/2010/11/07/let-the-voting-begin-2/
Scroll down to #15. Best Curriculum or Business Blog
You then click on the circle next to HomeschoolCPA, hit the submit at the bottom of the page, and you’ve voted!
Voting ends at midnight CST on November 18th.
Thank you so much!
Carol Topp, CPA
My free ebook featured at Homeschool Freebie of the Day
October 1, 2010
Special at The Old Schoolhouse magazine
July 1, 2010
My favorite homeschool magazine, The Old Schoolhouse, is running a special that you should check out!
Receive a 2-year subscription, free Homeschooling with Heart tote bag, and five FREE E-Books for just $17.76!
Sign up early to get all three goodies. It’s only good until July 4th, so don’t delay!
I think you’ll love this magazine as much as I do!
Carol Topp, CPA