It's the Carnival of Homeschooling!

Welcome to the Carnival of Homeschooling! I'm glad you're visiting here at SmallWorld at Home. Let me introduce myself for those who are new here. I'm starting my 14th year of homeschooling, currently with an 8th grade son and an 11th grade daughter. Our oldest son is beginning his senior year in college. (And yes, he was homeschooled all the way through high school.)

But enough about me; you're here for the Carnival! We have a little something for everyone on this homeschooling journey with this carnival, from fun hands-on activities to thought-provoking posts about homeschooling issues. I've included a few photos from our recent "field trip" to France just because, um, I can. And also because we are trying to fix—in big steps and small steps— what I once called "My Biggest Homeschooling Mistake: Not Traveling More." Read on, and come back and visit!

Quintessentially French.

Mindy presents Starting the School Year with a BANG! posted at Homeschooling Articles, Freebies, Reviews and Giveaways.

As Julie Bogart of A Brave Writer's Life in Brief says, "The best curriculum is the one you use." Her article Less is more; less is more; less is more…  addresses curriculum choices and how to avoid frustration and keep focused.

Are you pondering schooling year 'round? Daniele of Domestic Serenity gives five reasons why homeschooling can work any time of the year in her post Why We're Switching to a Year-Around Homeschool Schedule.

For most of us, it's a new school year. Phyllis of Write the Vision provides thoughts on dealing with the stress of a new school year in Do You Feel Overwhelmed?

Kathy of Cornerstone Confessions says: "When starting to homeschool, I knew I wanted to teach my children in light of godly principles in the home environment. Little did I realize so many of the extra benefits of homeschooling until we were knee deep and loving it." She shares 10 Unexpected Benefits of Homeschooling.

Parisian gathering spot for writers and publishers: bliss!

Selena of Look! We're Learning! isn't afraid to give her kids the time they need to learn. In Why I'm Holding My Child Back This Year, she discusses the pressure homeschoolers feel to outperform their public school peers—and how she's doing what's best for her child.

Melissa at The Cork Board has a review of lapbooks that complement the Classical Conversations memory work. Head over for a chance to win a Cycle 2 package!

Looking for essentials for your homeschooling? Notes from a Homeschool Mom presents her Five Favorite Homeschool Books. You may want to add these to your collection!

Maureen of Spell Outloud shares what her preschooler did for a Preschool Fish Theme Unit—observing fish, creating fish puppets, fish sensory box and more

A view of Paris from the Notre Dame tower

Using a microscope can be intimidating! Ticia at Adventures in Mommydom has suggestions and quick rules for teaching your kids how to use a microscope with her Science Sunday: Learning How to Use a Microscope.

Homeschooling High School Science doesn't have to be intimidating.  There are so many resources out there to help!  In this post, Cindy of Our Journey Westward shares some of the things her family has done over the past couple of years to make high school science not only doable, but very successful.

Locks of love on the Seine. Paris is all about romance!

Is high school looming in your future? Kris of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers gives 5 Tips for Using 8th Grade as a High School Prep Year.

Mary of Homegrown Learners says that going from being a mom with children in traditional school to being a homeschool mom was a necessary priority shift in her life! In this article she details 10 Ways Homeschool Has Changed Me.

Mindy presents Getting Started posted at Homeschooling Articles, Freebies, Reviews and Giveaways.

Metaphysics for kids? Why not? Aadal of These Temporary Tents has an awesome lesson on philosophy with Kids Doing Philosophy Truth, Reality, and Dragons.

Terri of Round World Square Peg blogs about homeschooling with special needs and related issues. In You Should Homeschool Your Special Needs Child she discusses the benefits of bringing your special needs child home.

Flower market along the street—what could be more lovely?

And Marianne of Abundant Life agrees. In You Can Homeschool Your Dyslexic Child Successfully, she says, "over the past 18 years of homeschooling kids with dyslexia, I am convinced that it is not only doable but by far the best option for dyslexic kids."

Read what this formerly public-schooled gifted kid has to say about homeschooling in 10 Things I Love About Homeschooling: A Gifted Kid’s Perspective at Raising Lifelong Learners.

Have you seen all the school rooms over at iHomeschool Network? I could spend hours perusing all of these fabulous posts!

And last but certainly not least, from the Carnival of Homeschooling's own Henry and Janine Cate of Why Homeschool comes Preparing for a new school year, in which Janine shares some of the things she does in planning for another year of homeschooling.

That's it for this week's Carnival! Thanks to the Cates for organizing this fantastic resource each week and for all the bloggers for participating. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of homeschooling using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.