Prop up Your Feet and Enjoy a Homeschool Conference from Home! Mood: a-ok Topic: Homeschool Helps
Last year, I had he extreme pleasure of going to my first homeschool convention in Cincinnati! It was a blast and I'm looking forward to going again. However, big homeschool conventions only happen once a year, and the expense of going to a big convention can only happen once a year. Wouldn't it be fun to be able to get a refresher without all of the fuss of making hotel reservations, soothing tired feet, and rushing to make sue there's enough room in the session that you want to attend? Well, recently I was asked to promote a way that you can do just that! Instead of making hotel reservations, make reservations for the:
It's back to homeschool time and registration is open for the online Schoolhouse Expo, October 4-8. It's five days of top homeschool speakers, fellowship, and fun door prizes.
Save $5 per ticket! Register between August 16 and midnight August 22, and you'll pay only $19.99. Plus you'll receive over $200 in free E-Books.
You'll be inspired by speakers including: Zan Tyler, Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright, Carol Barnier, Diana Waring, Todd Wilson, Davis Carman, Kim Kautzer, Lee Binz, and many more!
A special teen track is planned--the entire family will definitely want to listen to these special sessions. We've also planned a special focus on a topic that touches every homeschool--writing. Plus, an array of other topics that will inform and inspire you throughout your homeschooling years.
Don't forget, MP3 copies of each session comes with your LIVE event ticket.
Two special preconference shows on August 24 and September 21 with Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright, and Kim Kautzer!
Register starting 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16.
The theme this fall is "Celebrate Homeschooling!" We're going to celebrate the unique blessings of homeschooling, the beginning of another school year, our families, and the freedom to tailor our children's education to best meet their needs.
If you cannot make the Live event, then the October Expo To Go is just your ticket! You'll reserve MP3s from all of the workshops. This week only, pay just $14.95!
Now, all of the above stuff is their advertisement, but remember I promised long ago that I would always give my honest opinion and I would not promote anything that I did not believe in on my blog. In the past year an a half I have grown to love The Old Schoolhouse and all that it represents and does. They do quality stuff, and their Expo's are no exception. What they promote above is what they will do. So, put of your dogs and give he Expo a try! See you there!
In full disclosure, I am receiving free Expo-To-Go tickets in exchange for this post
It's Good to Have Friends in High Places! Mood: happy Topic: Compassion International
Take a look at the boy above! That's our sponsored child, Marcelo. That's from the photo taken to update his Compassion profile. They take a new picture every two years and send a copy to their sponsors. We received that one a few months ago. This past summer our friend Kees, a compassion advocate, spent a couple of months in Bolivia working with Compassion. He was able to travel and visit a lot of the centers where the Compassions kids go on a weekly basis. Including the one where Marcelo goes. He wrote to me recently to tell me that he was able to talk with Marcelo for a little while and take some pictures of him AND get a video of him! We were so excited. Kees called me on the phone a few days ago to tell me that he had left Bolivia and to be looking for the photo of Marcelo in the next few days. I asked him where he was and he said HOLLAND! It's not every day that you talk for a half an hour to someone in Holland! He was visiting family and friends there (that's his home country) before flying back to the U.S. Unfortunately, since things are a little different in Holland than the U.S., he won't be able to send the video to us until he gets home to Florida. We can't wait to see it. I wanted to share the new photo with you now though. Remember, Bolivia is south of the equator and the seasons are opposite there so it is winter right now - hence the coat and scarf. In fact, La Paz, where Marcelo is from, is one of the coldest spots in Bolivia. There is much sickness, especially in the poorer areas like Marcelo's, since many houses, including the one Marcelo lives in, do not have heat. Please pray that they will stay warm and not become too ill. And thanks for praying for all of our kids - Marcelo from Bolivia is the one that we actually financially sponsor and we have four correspondence kids that we don't sponsor financially, but we are the ones who send letters to them, encourage them, and mentor them. Their names and countries are Feyber - Colombia, Somi - Indonesia, Emmanuel - Tanzania, and Ismael - Nicaragua.
I'd Like to Thank All of the Little People! Mood: a-ok Topic: General
I've been given another award! And, I haven't even officially told you about the last award! I'm way behind, and I'm not going to be able to officially tell you all about them even tonight. Life is driving me crazy these days and I feel like I am so behind. Which, is one big reason why I so appreciate these little pick-me-up awards that these great folks are giving me. I promise I will cover both awards later this week so keep watching. Anyway, this award is the...
And it was given to me by a great blogging friend of mine Jennifer at Creative Learners. Please click on her blog address and leave her a comment as a thank you for me. You'll be doing me a favor and checking out a great blog all at once!
Now, let me tell you, this unit study will really give you a lot of thrills. It is jam packed full of 98 pages of fun! All right, let me give you my personal opinion. I have done two or three Download N Go unit studies, geared toward first through fourth graders over the past year and I'm going to be doing a lot this year. Supposedly the author, Amanda Bennett, wrote these studies to be done in five days. However, I'm here to tell you from experience that there is no way on this green earth that you can do everything in the Download N Go unit studies in five days! There is enough to fill two weeks. It's for that exact reason that I'm glad that they give us two weeks to review the Download N Go studies.
Okay, I know what Amanda is thinking. She's going to make sure that there is enough for every kind of learner in her studies and then the parent can pick and choose what to do. So, that's exactly what we did. Roller Coasters has five units in it (one for each day):
Day 1: What Is a Roller Coaster?
Day 2: The History of Roller Coasters
Day 3: People and Places of Roller Coasters
Day 4: Science Secrets of Roller Coasters and Rides
Day 5: Goodies and Gadgets of Roller Coasters
One of the most unique features is that Amanda has put in automatic links to everything that you need. You just download the Download N Go, click each day, and there will be links to all of the information that you need for that day - and links to a lot of other fun stuff as well. Joshua really enjoyed seeing the videos that were taken by people riding the roller coasters and he especially liked the video of the backyard roller coaster that someone had built! All of the links to dictionaries and other fun information about roller coasters were great as well. In fact, everything you need is right there. You don't need anything else but the download of this study.
Another really neat feature of these studies is the way every subject is interwoven - especially social studies and science. I'm going to tell you a little secret. Because I was reviewing this Download N Go, I felt like I should try out everything. That's a mistake I will not repeat! There is so much that even after a week, we are only about half way done. But, so far Joshua has already learned to locate Russia, France and, of course, the United States on a world map; he's learned about climates in these countries (yes believe it or not that has to do with roller coasters); he's learned about the historical times of the first roller coasters; and more. It's amazing how much information that the author can weave into a study. Along the way Joshua is also learning new vocabulary words, science terms, dictionary skills, and more. And, did I mention that each study has a lapbook that goes along with it! Yep, and each of the lapbook components are right there. There's no hunting around for this flapbook or that pocket. It's all included.
As you can tell I'm really impressed with these studies. And, they are inexpensive! Each Download N Go Study is only $7.95! They're even cheaper if you buy one of the bundles. All you have to do is to click here or on any one of the links above to get to the Roller Coasters Download N Go page and check it out.
If you'd like to find out more about Roller Coasters or any one of the other great Download N Go product click here. Or, to find out what some of the other Download N Go reviewers think about this great product click here.
Still not convinced? How about a free copy of Download N Go's Roller Coasters to try out for yourself? Well, I'm giving away one and there are a bunch of ways to win. Here's what you have to do to get your name in the drawing.
1. Leave a comment below telling me why you would like a copy of Download N Go's Roller Coasters (worth one entry).
2. Subscribe to my blog by clicking on the subscribe button at the end of this post and then leave a comment saying that you did (worth one entry).
3. Subscribe to my blog by clicking on the Networked blog button in the left column and then leave a comment saying that you did (worth one entry).
4. Become a fan on my Families Again Facebook page by clicking here and then leave a comment saying that you did (worth one entry).
5. Follow me in Twitter by clicking here and then leave a comment saying that you did (worth one entry).
6. Twitter or Facebook about this give-away and leave a comment with a link to the post(s) (worth one entry per day. Must make a separate comment each day).
7. Blog about this give-away and leave three comments saying that you did (worth 3 entries).
8. Become a fan of Download N Go by clicking on the Download N Go Facebook button in the left hand column and leave two comments saying that you did (worth 2 entries).
The drawing will be Friday, August 27, so enter, tweet, facebook and blog quickly! Thanks.
As a member of the Download N Go review team I was given a free copy of Roller Coasters to use and review on my blog. They have also allowed me to give one free copy of Roller Coasters away to the winner of a drawing on my blog. No other compensation was given and this review is my honest opinion of this product.
Announcing the 2010 Schoolhouse Planner! Mood: happy Topic: Homeschool Helps
Scene One - Panicky Homeschool Mom - A Month Before School Begins:
I'm homeschooling Danny this year. That makes four kids!
How am I going to keep everyone straight?
What about scheduling?
What about lesson plans?
Scene Two - Harried Homeschool Mom - Two Months Later:
Johnie, you're going to have to use the computer to find that capital. Wait a minute. Debbie's using it for her book report.
We really need a new computer but we're never able to stay on budget.
No, Danny, I don't know the name of that other library book, but you'd better find it. It's due today!
*Ring, ring* Hello. I'm sorry Honey. No I don't know what we're having for supper tonight. Could you just pick up a pizza on the way home? Yes I know that we've already had take out three times this week, but I just can't seem to get everything done. This homeschool group planning has really bogged me down. I just don't have time to plan a menu.
Scene Three - Calm, Organized Homeschool Mom - Four Months Later:
Debbie when you get done looking that up, it's Johnie's turn to use the computer. Until then, I think there's something about the presidents in our Schoolhouse Planner.
Only two more months, kids, and we should be able to buy that new laptop. I'm sure thankful for the Schoolhouse Planner's Budget Sheets.
Danny the list of your library books is posted on the refrigerator on the Schoolhouse Planner's library items list. Check it out, please, and see when they are due.
*Ring, ring* Hello. Yes Dear. I think I'm going to try that new Slow Cooker Pizza recipe I found in the Schoolhouse Planner. What? Oh, no need to pick up anything. I used one of the grocery lists from my Schoolhouse Planner and have everything we need. I love you too Dear. Bye
*Ring, ring* Oh, hello Babs. Yes, everything is planned for the homeschool group tomorrow. I used the Co-op planning list from my Schoolhouse Planner. I wanted to ask if you got yours yet? Yes, isn't it wonderful?! Since I received mine, I have been so much calmer. Not as much stress. And the kids are calmer, too. Since using the homeschool schedulers from the Planner the day is so much easier. Oh, yes, the lapbook section was worth it all! Have you tried that July recipe...
OK, the above scenario may sound a little like "Leave it to Beaver", but being a homeschooling mom (or dad) can be stressful. You have to make sure that you have lesson plans, and a grade book, and book report forms, and a schedule, and...and...and! You could look all over the internet and download everything, but then you would have to remember which file you stored it all in and then open every file until you found the exact thing that you needed. What a pain! The Homeschool Planner was written by homeschool parents from suggestions that came from homeschool parents. It has everything that you can think of whether it has to do with homeschooling or not. AND, when you download all of those lesson plan forms, grade forms, and schedules from other places, you have to print them out then fill them out, then put then in a binder, etc. With the Schoolhouse Planner's down-loadable e-book, you can fill everything out right on your computer and then print it out or save it for later! Let's look at some of the sections.
There is a Calender section with timely homeschool articles, resource lists and easy recipes (yes, RECIPES) for each month.
There's a Miscellaneous Educational Information section with tons of helpful information for homeschoolers and non-homeschoolers alike.
There's the great, ready to type on Homeschool Form section with all kinds of different forms. Many, like the Nature Journal and the Library Item list can be used by non-homeschool families as well.
Perhaps the most surprising section is the Household Forms section. In this section you'll find forms for anything from household chores to planning budgets to menu planning. All, of course, can be typed on straight from the computer.
So, how much does all of this cost? Don't worry, you won't have to get a second job of selling eggs at the market to buy this great planner. It's only $39! Still think it's too good to be true? Just click on the price button or here to get to The Old Schoolhouse store and you'll find more information about this and other great TOS products!
As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I have written this sell sheet (fancy way of saying add) as an entry into a most creative add contest for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Schoolhouse Planner. Although I was given a free copy of the 2010 Planner to download and use, this is not a review of the product but an add for the product.
.gif)
a-ok
happy
happy
