I use Google Reader daily to skim through RSS feeds from blogs I like. I read lots of education blogs and some news and humor and, of course, articles about the beloved but often pathetic Cleveland Browns. Gary Davis at HomeSchoolBuzz has compiled a jaw-dropping list of homeschool blogs (including this humble blog) which includes […]

I’ve written on this subject before on using podcasts and Skype to learn Chinese or Spanish. But one cannot stop progress; here is another very cool web tool by Mango Languages offering free online instruction in nine languages for English speakers and in English for Polish and Spanish speakers.
I’ve clicked my way through some Spanish […]

We’re pretty bullish on Google at Frontier and also at our house. Here’s one reason why, Google Docs, the free, shareable web-based applications that include a word processor, spreadsheet and newly added presentation software. Here’s how it works and why it’s a great tool for collaboration.
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Seven years ago when our oldest was in English 10 the recommended dictionary was Webster’s 1828 Edition. We already had a collection of dictionaries, a newer Webster, Oxford, Merriam-Webster, American Heritage and several cheap pocket paperbacks. I really didn’t want to cough up more bucks for another one. We were off the hook when I […]

Last spring a required course for our daughter’s graduation was U.S. Government. Political discussion is standard fare at our house and we didn’t want a typical course that would be a dull review of what she already knew. At the time the Alaska Legislature was discussing a constitutional amendment that would require the Attorney General […]

I love to check out new, handy Web2.0 applications and see how they can make life easier. Here’s a very handy site for finding just the right app. SimpleSpark.com has catalogued as many Web2.0 sites as are submitted. Their collection of over 5000 sites is searchable, rateable and shareable. And, of course, in the spirit […]

Here’s a dramatic illustration of why one has to be wise about what’s posted online.
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HT: History Tech via cliotech

Here’s a radical proposal from Wesley Fryer at Infinite Thinking: A moratorium on text book purchases by schools.
The day of the paper-based textbook is over. The era of digital curriculum has dawned, and it is fiscally irresponsible for school district leaders to continue to purchase paper-based curriculum materials in light of the digital curriculum resources […]

I’ve tried to explain Del.icio.us to my friends but my enthusiasm cannot overcome my inadequate abilities to explain this stuff. So, here’s the latest from Commoncraft as they simply and elegantly explain how del.icio.us works and why all my friends should use it.
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Over the past few years we’ve had to handle the issue of social networking sites at our house. Our teenage daughter was the only one of our kids who wanted to use MySpace. At the time, my husband and I led the youth group at our church and put ourselves on a steep MySpace learning […]