My Favorite Things

FAVORITE THINGS

Throwback photo of daughter

• If Oprah has favorite things, why can't I?  
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• Most of these items are motivated by my need to not shop in stores, cook or clean!... or at least to make it easier. 
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• MY YOUTUBE PAGE (not all videos posted here)
• Organic foods and etc. $3.00 each  by Brandless delivered to your door.  
• Discount Eyeglasses online
• Robotics Curriculum
• Amazon Fresh Food Delivery
• Dinnerly meal Kit only $5.00 a serving
• Ritual Vitamins coupon code Eliminate your vitamin deficiencies (after 30 days my energy has increased exponentially and I eliminated most of my other vitamins)

teAchnology website review (Free worksheets)

teAchnology is a website that specializes in providing teacher-made worksheets for educators.  That have 30,000 free worksheets, and for a seasonably priced prescription, you can have access to online worksheet makers and online interactive games.

Let's start with the free worksheets.  What homeschoolers wouldn't want free worksheets?  Right?

It took me a while to find the free worksheets area, so let me lead it to you.  Start out on the main page of Teachnology.com  Click on the words " 9,000 free printable worksheets"  in the first paragraph on the first section of the page.  This will take you to the page for Free teacher worksheets.  You can now choose the worksheet you need by subject.  When you get to your chosen page, for example, in my case, Printable Geometry Worksheets, stick to the text links.  The photos of the worksheets at the bottom will take you to the paid prescription page.  

Now there's nothing wrong with going to the prescription page, it does add extra value.  However, if you want to try out the site first, you will follow my steps that take you to the free worksheets.  They will give a good idea as to what you can expect on the subscription site where you can practically access full workbooks!  From the time I spent viewing the site, I can tell you that if you choose to subscribe, you will not need to purchase any other worksheets or supplemental materials for your homeschooling needs.

Whether you choose the free worksheets only, or the paid subscription, you will find  worksheets for grades k-12 and all subjects such as language arts, math, science, social studies, and holidays.   I also noticed that the for the worksheets I most needed, such as the Algebra and Geometry packs, for high school students, a subscription is necessary.  The worksheets I could access for free, however, are well done and appear to be be good educational exercises.   Also, I did find the free math worksheets  and vocabulary worksheets to be very useful.

Colleges On Our Long List: University of Redlands

Yes, we have started looking at colleges with a rising Jr, and a rising Sophmore.  Our long list (for our son) should turn into a short list in a year. 

As a homeschooling beginning to start the college search process with her children, I am drawn to colleges that allow you to design your own program. The University of Redlands in California is one of those colleges that allows you to "Design Your Own Education".

The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies at the University of Redlands has a "radical vision for undergraduate education". For over 20 years, this program trusts in the students ability to active in their own education process and take ownership over their studies. This program currently has 200 students who live and work together in the Johnston complex in their own little areaq of the University of Redlands.

My kids may or may not end up in a program such as this, but it is good to know that these options exist for independant learners like my own.

In addition to the Johnston Center, the University of Redlands also has a traditional education program with over 40 available majors. It has ranked been ranked a top university for three decades and is a top California University. It is part of the Inland Empire college system and is a top notch California business school.

Does Your Homeschooler Need an Academic Coach?

Academic Coaching is a relatively new term that basicially is a notch above tutoring. Where a tutor will focus on teaching subject matter in the short term, an academic coach will focus on developing core academic skills that will apply across all disciplines.  Where a tutor will help a student get up to par in one academic area, a coach will help a student fine tune his or her abilities, study skills, and, give them the confidence to perform across all subject areas. 

As homeschoolers our focus in generally more focussed on coaching our children across all disciplines over teaching them individual subjects.  We want them to learn how to and also to desire to learn more.  Homeschoolers are never hesitant to hire a teacher as once we have set the desire to learn and given the childen the resources to discover, it is not threat or slight to us to hire someone to introduce subject matter.

It is also important for us to recognize when we need help in coaching our child by recognizing weak points that we, ourselves have been unable to inspire or motivate the child.  In these cases an academic coach is absolutely necessary.  It is becoming easier and easier to find such academic coaches on the internet.

As a native New Yorker, I wish there had been as much access to science tutoring in New York City as there is now. While I was strong in most areas and even got good grades in science, I would hve benefited from Tutoring Services in New York City to make me feel like I actually understood the knowledge I was memorizing and regurgitating on exams.   I also have great access to tutors and Academic Coaches in the Atlanta Area (where I now live), as do homeschoolers all across the country.

I am glad that I now have access to academic coaching as needed so that my kids never end up science phobic (or any other subject for that matter) as I did.  With the help of experienced professionals, I know that there is not limit for my homeschooled students as they learn the more difficult subjects and prepare for the much dreaded standardized tests.

Using Halloween Costumes for Drama Club

I spent the whole day on drama club duties. The homeschool program my kids go to is having three plays this year. The first on is Secret Garden, the second is Once Upon a Mattress Jr., and the third is a musical called Just So.

Our first play is coming up fast so I have to collect all the fees, order all the t-shirts, and arrange for rehearsal meals, cast dinners, and parties. When I wasn't doing actual drama club duties, I was scouring websites for costumes for the productions. For the second play especially, Medieval, Renaissance, Lord of the Ring, or Maid Marion Halloween costumes will serve our needs just well. I especially like the one in the above image.

I realized that Halloween Costumes make great drama and play outfits last winter when my daughter was in the Bugsy Malone Jr. Play, we were able to get great flapper outfits for the showgirls, as well as gangster outfits too. I noticed that the halloween costumes are of much better quality that what was available when I was a kid. In fact, many of them can be washed and worn again and again.

Homeschool Resource Review: Knowledge Adventure

I have always said that the best way to teach children is to not even let them know they are learning. Of course this is easier to do with elementary aged kids than middle and high school kids are there is not as much educational software available for older kids as there is for younger kids.

When we first started homeschooling, we took full advantage of software such as Math Blaster, Reading Blaster, and similar titles. These games are as much fun as they are educational, and it sure made me happy when my kids came to me asking if they could "play" their educational games.

These games I mentioned and more are available through a company called Knowledge Adventure who creates many award winning multimedia educational software that is used in both homes and schools.

I haven't used their product much in the last few years since my kids are getting older, but Say it in Spanish looks good for my Christmas list. I wonder if they plan do make one for Mandarin Chinese... my daughter would love it.


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Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog

Why do we have to Learn English?

Why do we have to learn English, anyway? My son asked. We already speak it. Aren’t we wasting our time? I had to sit and think about it for a while before answering. Then I remembered what my mother told me when I asked the same question.

We need to learn English because most of us, do not speak true English. Our language in a mixture of English from England, foreign words that were mixed in as immigrants came over, slang and mispronunciations that have managed to stick over the decades. The reason we must learn English is so that everyone across the country, other English speaking countries, and other countries where people learn English for business and educational reasons are all on the same ground.

If we did not teach our kids English, then they could pick up bad habits from your family (whose family does not have a few made up words), from your friends, your ethnic makeup (i.e. Ebonics and Jamaican patios) and from your region. Before you know it, it will seem like people from the next town are all speaking a foreign language. English lessons, even in English speaking countries is the glue that helps to tie all versions of the English language back together.

Now that we have covered the necessity of English lessons, comes the job of finding fun and interesting. Most American homeschoolers can teach students English with a simple guide and good literature. Non English speaking (or English as a second language) homeschoolers can make good use of on an online English school.


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Educational Website Reviews: Atomic Elephant Toy Company

One of the best science lessons my homeschooled children ever had was a trip to “Bodies” the Exhibition where we were able to see real human specimens dissected and displayed in numerous ways that made human biology easy to understand. “Bodies” is a traveling exhibition that visits several cities each year and if you can catch it, you will be pleased with how much your kids will learn.

If you cannot catch the Bodies exhibition, the next best thing in my estimation is the Ultimate Human Body 2.2, an interactive computed program full of 3D models, a body scanner, views of human organs from every angle, and even a journey into a cell. I do not think there is a better biology tool for home use available. To top it off, this program set costs no more than the price of one ticket to the Bodies exhibition.

The program and other science toys and kits are available through Atomic Elephant Toy Company, an online store that specializes in making learning about science fun. You can purchase learning toys according to subject from Aeronautics to Engineering, to Plant Life. You can also find the right science learning kit by using the shop by age tool.


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Keeping in Touch?

While my high school career was far from perfect, it had its fun and educational moments. Still, I have maintained little connections since then. In fact, I have not spoken with anyone I went to college with in 10 years. I only have a handful of acquaintances from high school. Fortunately, I do have ways to get in touch with people I have not seen in years.

There are high school reunion sites like reunion.com and the new onlyalumni.com that can put me in touch with schools alumni from my previous high schools and colleges. It does not matter if a person goes to school in Eugene Oregon Schools or if a person goes to Arizona schools, this web site helps you keep in tough with old classmates and friends. While reuinion.com is a relatively brand new website, I like the features it ads to the business of keeping in touch. This new online alumni and school reunion community allows blogs, alumni planning, and more. It also gives users the ability to meet new friends. Onlyalumni.com promises to give reuinion.com a run for its money.

I wonder if it is the conveniences of knowing we can get in touch if we need to, is what actually keeps us from staying in touch. As of right now, homeschoolers do not have access to such services that will help they stay in touch with kids they attended homeschool co-op and drama club with. It would help homeschoolers if such sites would add a homeschool category by city so that homeschoolers can locate friends and family from the homeschooling community. Or… perhaps homeschooling kids will keep closer contact with relationships they made especially since they are not forced into classrooms with people their own age and are therefore able to make more natural friendships that will last longer.



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Educational Website Review: Jubilee Academy

The Jubilee Academy is one of the more popular and long-standing names in Homeschooling. It is a Christian, bible-based, online homeschool program for students from Kindergarten to grade 12. It is fully accredited.

I am a strong advocate of using technology to educate children. Having used an online technology based homeschooling program myself for several years, I know that combining computers with homeschooling is the right thing to do for children. Jubilee Academy uses a combination of EBooks, Videos, Workbooks and CD-ROMs to educate students. Students can receive curriculum support any hour of the day or night.

For Preschoolers, Jubilee Academy is built upon weekly themes in unit-study fashion. Elementary students study reading and language arts, math, social studies, creation science, and have religious instruction. Middle school courses are designed to prepare your student for high school classes. Parents are encouraged to mix and match grade levels to meet a students specific needs. The high school program allows parents and students to further customize their education. Jubilee Academy also has a summer school program allowing students to improve grades or gain an academic advantage.

Tuition prices at Jubilee Academy are very reasonable with half-year discounts available for the many students who begin homeschooling half year. I recommend this program to new homeschoolers who need some guidance and the comfort of knowing that your student is receiving a complete homeschool education.

Check out all of my reviews of homeschool websites at this link.

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Educational Website Review: K-12 Free Homeschool

I saw the words K-12 Free Homeschool and got nervous. I am going to have to give a bad review, I thought. One public school at home program is no different from the rest, not to mention the fact that veteran homeschoolers everywhere are waving their arms and yelling NOOOO about free k-12 homeschool programs. But this one is different.

First of all, it is not a public school program. K-12 Free Academy is an online "cutting edge solution for home school families who wish to provide their children with a quality CHRISTIAN education at home." Yes, I sad Christian and Free in the same sentence.
Here's how it can be tuition-free.

But what about the courses? K-12 Free provides 6 courses per year for elementary students, Middle school students can choose electives and alternate learning paths in addition to core courses. High schoolers can choose from free core courses and elective courses. The large variety of courses includes Crime Scene Investigation and piano lessons. The programs are based on CD-roms, audio, videos, workbooks, textbooks, and off line activities. They also provide record keeping software and access to teacher assistance, portfolio creation and more. Check out the K-12FreeHomeschool.org Course Catalog for more information.

So what do I think about K-12 Free Home School? I am certainly intrigued by the program. I looked at the sample lessons and found the fraction lesson to be intensive, complete, and concise. I love the way the lesson was followed up by links to more information and Internet activities. I am sure a child would learn well using lessons like these.

So if you are willing to put in a little work (reviewing products and completing surveys), you can take advantage of this new homeschool program.

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