Can you feel it? On Saturday I could feel the change in the weather. You know that autumn change. It’s coming and it feels great! I love that the stores are full of educational supplies once again. I love that feeling and the thought of warm baked apple pies and being able to light candles in the morning again.(Because it’s much too hot to light them now!) With this change of seasons I’m beginning to see more educational blog entries among our community and I am enjoying each and every one of them. Of course you know that California homeschoolers are safe, with the help of all your prayers and our government leaders.

Miss Amanda has a book giveaway going on at The Daily Planet.

We have a listing for homeschool carnivals now and you’ll see the most recent and upcoming carnivals that you won’t want to miss.

Sprittibee has some good news to share and I’m sure her little bees will be thrilled to learn about how life is a natural process in their science class this year. ;O)

Spunky shares 7 Secrets to a Highly Successful year!

Miss Jocelyn let a cat out of the bag about her plans for this year hidden in this article.

Jamin’ shares a link to a free 2008 Olympic Lapbook project.

Here’s a list of things one family is doing in their educational shopping this year Under The Monkey Bars.

Laura is showing us all about her homeschool shopping trip at The Heavenly Homemakers.

I know I have a few things left to pick up, but I’m happy I found paper on sale for 50cents a pack at Walmart. In about another week those prices will go up as parents rush to get their supplies last minute. What do you have on your list? Share your link with us, maybe we forgot something and you’ll be our reminder. ;o)

A few commonly forgotten items:

A compass

A projector

Graph paper

Erasable pens

Pencil sharpener

Staples

Paper clips

Manilla Folders for lapbooking

Glue

Your renewal of TOS magazine!

And don’t forget your free e-mail subscription of The Homeschool Blog Awards! :O)

This week in our Tuesday tour, I’d like to direct your attention to a book giveaway I’m having at Apples of Gold Ministries. ‘With This Ring’ is written by Joanna Weaver, who also wrote ‘Having Mary Heart in a Martha World’. We have two new contributing authors writing at AGM now and looking to add a few guest contributors as well. We’re have begun a marriage study and you’ll want to head over there while it’s still in the beginning stages. The deadline for the book giveaway is June 15th.

In addition to this book giveaway, I was able to have a phone Interview With Erin Bethea, who is Kirk Cameron’s co-star in his upcoming film, ‘Fireproof‘. ‘Fireproof’ is the third film produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. You may remember ‘Facing the Giants‘ as it gave hope to our souls in 2006. The key to these films is that they receive a substantial amount of support during opening weekend. If ‘Fireproof’ does well, it will open the doors for more theaters to show the film, and reach more lives. This film is not just an action drama, but a vessel to be used to reach wounded marriages with the Gospel and Redemptive Power through the Lord Jesus. You can swing by and grab a widget for your blog to help spread the word about this powerful ministry.

Sprittibee shares more about her gardening adventures and is having a flower quiz and you can have a chance to win a packet of seeds!

Heather posted an article titled ‘Why Homeschool‘ in Heart of the Matter’s June 2008 Issue. I’m always inspired by her articles and you won’t want to miss this one!

Growing in Grace Magazine also has their June issue available and their pdf version is for a limited time only. So be sure to get it while it’s hot!

I’d also like to introduce you to a wonderful sweet friend of mine Mama Bug, Analene at UsLoves. I tell ya this blogosphere is a SMALL world! Analene and I became acquainted at The Homeschool Lounge, only to find out a month later that her mother is one of my dear friends right in my very own church! Who knew? We were all so pleasantly surprised to make that connection! On top of that I had a dream that I met her, then her little sister, who is friends with my daughter Jess, came to help with my little ones today. She told me that they’re coming back for a visit soon! How very cool to be able to finally meet her in person.

So please go on by and say Hello to her and her little love bugs! Now have I told you yet that Analene is one of 7 children who all homeschooled? She’s a second generation homeschooler and has fabulous siblings. One of them is also friends with my daughter Jess and is currently visiting Mama Bug, but I wanted to be sure to introduce you to her as well. This is our sweet friend, Emma! She’s an 18 year old Auntie and her adorable little nieces and nephews even call her Auntie EM. ( I just love that!) I’m still stunned that I didn’t realize these wonderful ladies were all related. What an amazing world we live in.

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Hello everybody! I haven’t posted much yet, but I’m Sheila, and I’m great! At least, that’s what I’m telling myself as I am sitting here with wet hair at 8:52 a.m. when school is set to begin at 9:00 and I haven’t had breakfast yet and the kids are complaining. But I’m great! Yeah, right.

In my public life, I write. A lot. I’m the author of four books, and you can check them out here. In my private life I homeschool three kids and I surf the internet and I pretend that I am not sneaking chocolate every chance I get.

But while I surf the internet, I come up with things for your benefit! So here is our Tuesday Tour.

First, for a laugh, you have to watch Tim Hawkins’ video on being a Homeschool Family. I think I posted this before, but it’s worth another go.

Now for the serious stuff. Make sure you read my post here and watch the accompanying video if your children have ever learned math in public school. Or if you’re not sure if your math textbook is really teaching your children to do multiplication and long division properly. Sorry for linking to myself, but it’s really the video you have to watch!

 But let’s talk SUMMER! The school year’s winding down, so we parents are wondering if we should throw in the towel now on school or keep slogging away. And next year’s curriculum is on everybody’s mind.

The Thinking Mother has a great post on 10 things to think about when choosing curriculum.

Our own Sprittibee is talking Elementary Grammar curriculum!

Stepping Heavenward is a recovering curriculum junkie, and has a couple of posts up about trying to decide what to do for next year. Start here and then look around.

For those still heading out to conventions, Mingo has a good post on how to handle all the pressure in the curriculum hall!

With a Taste of Chocolate helps you put standardized testing in perspective. And gives her thoughts on the end of the school year. But be sure to read her other posts; she’s got some funny stuff in there.

And here’s something cool: Want to teach your kids Hebrew for free? Heart of Wisdom has a link to how you can get a great Hebrew tutorial by email for no money! It looks promising, and I’ve signed up.

That’s all for now! Have a great one!

And be sure to stop by To Love, Honor and Vacuum! I’ve got a book giveaway contest going on!