The most common arguments I hear against homeschooling tend to be concerns over socialization and over sheltering. Many people seem to think that homeschoolers live inside some sort of bubble, shut away from the outside world, but that couldn't be further from the truth for the majority of home educating families.  Homeschooling tends to make a child's world bigger, not smaller. If you stop to think about it, kids in the public school system are the ones who are sheltered from the outside world. They spend a large portion of their days with the same small group of children, their exact same age, tucked away from the rest of society. They spend their days in a system that allows very little autonomy, very little decision making, and very little real-life experience. When else in life are people so segregated by age? Or in a system that allows them so little interaction  with the greater community? There's a reason so many of our youth enter adulthood without th...

Fall is a fantastic time of year for nature study- the leaves are changing, the weather is shifting, and the animals are getting prepared for the winter cold. There are just so many fascinating things going on in the natural world this time of year. Below are 19 fall themed nature study ideas: Fall Nature Study Activities Go Bird Watching and Learn About Bird Migration Many birds migrate in the fall, which gives us the opportunity to observe them as they pass by on their way south. Wildlife refuges, wetlands, rivers, lakes, parks, and even your own backyard are all excellent places to bird watch.  Plant a Fall Garden Carrots, green onions, peas, lettuces, and other green leafy vegetables all tend do well in cooler fall weather. Night Sky Gazing The days getting shorter in fall gives us more dark hours before bed to get outside and enjoy the night sky! Watch the moon as it moves through it's phases, learn to find prominent constellations, or just kick back and enjoy t...