Isa in Michigan posted a good question to the Homeschooling Forum. She writes:

"I'm interested in finding out what you consider to be your biggest homeschooling challenge. This could be having to do with academics or something different.

For example, I consider my biggest homeschooling challenge to be spending enough time with my younger children where I sufficiently meet their needs, while at the same time effectively homeschooling my school-aged children. This is my first year where I've done most of the homeschooling in the morning, instead of during nap times. Because of this, I've had to figure out ways to keep my younger children happily occupied."

So, what do you consider to be your biggest homeschooling challenge? You can post your reply here as a comment or in response to the post in the forum. I look forward to reading the responses.

This weeks edition of the Homeschooling Carnival is hosted by Melissa's Idea Garden. With Mother's Day just around the corner, Melissa shares the history of Mother's Day, and ties in all the posts to the holiday and mothers.

The next carnival will be hosted by the Mom Is Teaching. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.

Carnival of Homeschooling Schedule

As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to start planning a lemonade stand to help your neighbors cool off and make a little spending money for yourself. Use these free Lemonade Stand Printables to get started.

But better than spending your earnings, you can donate it to your favorite charity. Sunkist is inviting kids 7 to 12 years old across America to Take a Stand for their favorite charity. Sunkist plans to give out 20,000 free lemonade stands this year to thoughtful kids eager to make a difference. Registration began on May 1, so act quickly.

If Mom Were President is a Mother's Day poem written by a homeschooling father for his own wife and mother. Enjoy these words by Matthew Moran. This year they've added a narrated video. The narration was done by his daughter, Sara.

Don't miss the Mother's Day Coupon Book and poetry from the Writing Club.

Thanks to Diane Flynn Keith of Clickschooling, I discovered Singing Science Records. These science themed songs are from a collection of Singing Science Records from the 1950's/1960's provided by Jef Poskanzer. The songs are perfect for homeschooling...I think you'll get a kick out of them. I will be featuring the songs in the appropriate unit studies and printable pages. The first of these is Newton's Laws of Motion Unit Study and Newton's Laws of Motion Printable pages.

This weeks edition of the Homeschooling Carnival is hosted by A Pondering Heart. The theme this week is Working Out, so get your tennis shoes on and start your warm up and stretching.

The next carnival will be hosted by the Nerd Family. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.

Carnival of Homeschooling Schedule

Seema Mehta, Staff Writer for Los Angeles Times, wrote a nice article on homeschooling and the California Court case. She tells the story of two families that homeschool for different reasons and using different methods. It's a refreshing article showing how religious and secular families have united over the legal battle in California. Don't miss the video clips featuring homeschooling and unschooling.

I know I've said it before, but I am extremely pleased to see the homeschooling world unite and work together on this issue.

You might remember my daughter, Julee Huy, who wrote the Homeschool Daze Blog here on the About.com Homeschooling site. She shares a letter with you on the first World Autism Day, in which she writes:

Today (Wednesday, April 2nd) is the first World Autism Day, as proclaimed by the United Nations, and even CNN will be dedicating the day to the topic.

This is an interesting day for our family because our son Nathan was diagnosed with Autism in August 2007 at the age of 26 months...

In July 2007, Nathan would cry for 30 minutes if I (his mother!) or others made eye contact with him. Now he will run to people and say “Hi” and give them a big hug. In June 2007 he had one word and by August that one word; “look” was scarcely heard....

Read the letter...

Homeschooling community, your daughters are invited to be a Discovery Girl star!

Discovery Girls Magazine is reaching out to the homeschooling community to find tween homeschooled girls to profile in their magazine. In a feature about homeschooling, they want to let their readers know how homeschool is structured, how it operates and feature 2-3 girls so their readers can get a better grasp and have a face for the homeschooler. They will see that they look, dress and probably enjoy the same things as other girls their age. This will be a positive piece, as their magazine is inspirational and educational.

For more information, visit the Discovery Girls Magazine website, and submit a questionnaire.

They’ve already chosen a homeschooled Discovery Girl from Tennessee for the next issue. The next three states after that are going to be New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The deadline for submission is April 18. Here are some tips on making a terrific questionnaire that stands out from the rest.

If you're not in one of those three state, you can still submit a questionnaire and they'll file it away for a future issue.

NOTE: The questionnaire has been updated to include homeschooling questions. Also, though you don’t need to, you can certainly talk about homeschooling in answers on any of the questions if it's relevant (like for sports or activities that you feel passionate about, maybe there’s a peer group of homeschooled children that has an organized sport or activity). Every questionnaire is read closely, so this will get the appropriate notice.

The Second District Court of Appeal granted a motion for rehearing in the In re Rachel L. case.

"The Court of Appeal has solicited a number of public school establishment organizations to submit amicus briefs including the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and three California teacher unions. The court also granted permission to Sunland Christian School to file an amicus brief. The order also indicates that it will consider amicus applications from other groups." from HSLDA

Growing up here in Southern California, I don't feel that hearing from the Department of Education or any teacher's unions can be a good thing...but we shall see.

I am pleased that the major California homeschool organizations and HSLDA have banned together to fight the fight for us. They will seek permission to file an amicus brief. I've been involved in the homeschooling community since 1985 and have seen these groups in action. We are in good hands, California.