Wolfram Alpha is a new search engine set to launch on Monday, May 18. It works differently than other search engines, though. When you search a topic, Wolfram Alpha creates a single page of information including charts and graphs. It looks like an encyclopedia page online. You can even refine the search once you’ve started. You can read this article about Wolfram Alpha at Search Engine Land and watch detailed videos on how to use the “fact engine”.

Wolfram Alpha may be a great way to maximize your research time with your kids. With one page of facts at your fingertips you can quickly hone a particular research topic and find relevant information more effectively. Rather than spend time sifting through links, you can quickly find a whole host of data and immediately start a project.

If you try out Wolfram Alpha in your homeschool, I would love to hear what you think about it! Go to Wolfram Alpha to try it out.

Photo courtesy of Home Biss

It saddens me that Joy Behar, an educator herself, would look down on the home education movement. She has been in the classroom and knows that not all children learn the same way. Children need different educational choices because each child is unique. Homeschooling provides children lots of flexibility that allows parents to meet their children’s needs. Sadly, Joy Behar does not see it that way.

Katie, at Moms in the Right, gave me a link to this article by John Taylor Gatto. It is a satirical piece, so please take it from that perspective. Overall, John Taylor Gotto sounds like an interesting author and educator. I plan to read some of his work.

Hopefully, home educators can continue to work towards changing stereotypical views about homeschooling. It is unfortunate when someone who has a powerful opinion makes comments that are both hurtful and untrue.