On Wednesday, August 18, Walgreen’s is offering a free photo cling, one per photo account. This is part of their seven days of deals going on this week. Note: If you are checking this on Tuesday evening, you will see their deal for Tuesday, but after midnight the photo cling should be their featured daily special.

Now, with a new school year just around the corner, I immediately thought about far more than just that cute picture of my kids languishing on my camera’s memory card.

These photo clings can be up to 11×17 in size. So, how much educational content can you cram into that space?

Here are some ideas I came up with:

- Time line figures

- Maps

- Diagrams

- First day of school photo

- School information (your schedule, expectations, inspirational quotes, etc.)

- A serene picture to serve as a mental pick-me-up on “those” days

- A flag

- Flags from around the world

- Presidents

You could even make a game out of it. Match countries with their flags, put presidents in order, put together a diagram of a flower or a model of the solar system.

I can seen your wheels turning, so go order your cling for free (you will have to pay shipping which is $5.99. Most deals you can opt to pick up in store and forgo the shipping charge, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with this product), and please share your ideas here or on our facebook page as well. And, if you decide to use it for that memorable picture from your summer vacation, it will also be well used.

Free and inspires creativity, that works for me!

If anyone is interested, you might find some school equipment useful to your homeschool at this rummage sale at the old Arlington High School building, now Christian Liberty Academy. The article only really mentions lockers, but I am sure there will be a lot of other finds as well:

Rummage sale of furniture and equipment from old Arlington High School.

• When: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 12-13; 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Aug. 14.

• Where: In the cafeteria of Christian Liberty Academy, 502 Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights.

• Money raised: Will be put toward Christian Liberty Academy’s scholarship fund.

I wanted to let you all know about a special on a great homeschool magazine going on just this weekend. The Old Schoolhouse is a quarterly publication with over 200 pages in each issue. I have appreciated the many articles on homeschool organization, maintaining your focus, and special tips to add some fun to your day. Once or twice a year they have a great sale going on the magazine, and one of those times is this weekend.

If you missed attending a homeschool convention this year, or find yourself needing a little encouragement as we head into a new school year, you will enjoy the free gift that comes with a 2 year subscription — Schoolhouse Expo to Go. Read about the deal, and check out the link below:

TOS Magazine has a VERY exciting special happening from now until August 1, only. Normally our two-year subscriptions are $39, but right now they are $17.95 AND anyone who subscribes for those two years will receive for FREE our Schoolhouse Expo to Go which is hours and hours of our recent (Spring) online convention recordings. Speakers like Susan Wise Bauer, Diana Waring, Todd Wilson, Mark Hamby, Deborah Wuehler, Andrew Pudewa, Carol Barnier, Amanda Bennett, and more are all YOURS, free with a two year subscription. Here is the link to check out and share: http://tinyurl.com/2d9y755

If you already subscribe you can add on during this deal to get another 2 years and the free Expo.

Hope you find this helpful!

Borders book store has some deals designed specially for teacher’s looking to stock their classroom libraries. If you are in the market for inexpensive books for your school room, this could be just for you!

Fourth of July must be over because the back to school deals have begun!

ONLY THROUGH WEDNESDAY~

Be sure to swing by Staples for their penny deals. See all the details in their add or view it online.

While it is a good deal, it is not as incredible as past years because this time around they require an additional purchase.  Be sure to read the stipulations carefully.

So, with an additional $5 purchase you can get pencils and folders for a penny each! They have lots of other great deals for $1, so be sure to look and see what you can use or stock up for the year ahead with these great prices.

I’m sure there are more to come in the weeks ahead. They usually have different items on sale for a penny or a nickle each week for a few weeks. Snatch them up while you can!

Special free download in celebration of the Fourth of July. Also, a special sale on Marilyn Boyer’s new book.

Great reminders to focus on more than barbecues and fireworks this weekend.

Happy Fourth of July!

FREE Download to Celebrate Independence Day Uncle Rick’s Tribute to America no purchase necessary Use Promo Code: TRIBUTE Paul Revere`s Ride, The Declaration of Independence, Concord Hymn, The Mayflower  Compact, The Star Spangled Banner. (All 4 verses!) For You They Signed: $35

Special Offer- All July Revisionist history is exploded as Marilyn chronicles the lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. By reading about one of the 56 Signers per week, you can give your family more than a year`s worth of exciting “family times.” Learn together about the sacrifices made by these great men for our freedom. Inspire your children to become citizens who will reclaim the Christian heritage of America A code inside the book gives you free access to a companion ebook containing coloring pages for little hands to complete and hang on the refrigerator to learn to identify the Signers, character quality definitions and Scripture verses to learn (one per week,) and Family Fun Quizzes to use every other week to review the information and make it stick. All Month Regular Price: $49.95 Sale Price: $35 Buy Now

“More than 2.000 years ago, Nehemiah undertook the rebuilding of his nation. As part of the process, he constructed a “House of Heroes” (Neh. 3:16) by which those in his generation could learn of the courage and sacrifices made by previous ones. Through For You They Signed , Marilyn has created a much-needed inspirational “House of Heroes” for this generation. “ David Barton Wallbuilders

Need some last minute Father’s Day ideas for the kids to make or put together? Here are some from Lapbook Lessons. I know my crafty daughters will have a blast with these:

Hey Everyone!

Just some helpful links if you’re planning on a Father’s Day Lapbook……

or if you need something for you’re little ones to present Dad with this Sunday…..

Father’s Day Bible Printables:

Father’s Day Treat Tags (for gifts)

Dad’s Tool Belt

Father’s Day Coupon Cards/ Bookmark Coupons

Me & My Dad Printable Card

Father’s Day Coloring Pages

Father’s Day Poem

(CLICK HERE for Above Printables)

Father’s Day Lapbooks:

Father’s Day Lapbook & Notebooking Pages

Father’s Day Lapbook (free membership)

Father’s Day Freebies:

A Day in Father’s Life File Folder Game

Father’s Day Notebooking Pages

Nuts & Bolts Father’s Day Card

Lapbook Examples:

Penny’s Father’s Day Lapbook

Another Penny’s Father’s Day Lapbook

Jamin’s Father’s Day Lapbook

And if you know of any more Father’s Day Lapbook Links you’d like to share,

please visit our forum and leave it in the comments section!

Don’t forget to post what you make!

Blessings,

Valerie

To register, please visit:  http://sites.google.com/site/hrcopenhouse/

Johnsburg Library HRC Open House and Used Curriculum Flea Market

July 10th from 10:00 – 4:00

(set-up for the Flea Market begins at 8:30 when the library opens)

10:00 – 12:00 Used Curriculum Flea Market

Sell some stuff, buy some stuff, ask lots of questions!

A limited number of tables and parking spaces are available by advance reservation only.

Those who do not register in advance may bring a blanket and use the lawn to sell.

Each seller is responsible for pricing and selling his/her own materials.

To reserve a space (free!) to sell at the used curriculum flea market please fill out the form below.

Answers to all questions are REQUIRED.

12:00 – 1:00 Eat, Meet and Greet

Bring a lunch or purchase a boxed lunch ($10 each) and join us!

You must reserve boxed lunches in advance (see below).

1:00 – 4:00 Open Forum Panel Discussion Q&A

Ask questions and hear real answers about the different homeschooling styles, curriculum choices, what has worked (and what hasn’t!), legal information, where to find resources, and much more!

This year’s featured panel members are:
Barbara Frank,

author of The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling and LifePrep for Homeschool Teenagers

&

Alison McKee,

author of From Homeschool to College and Work: Turning Your Homeschooled Experiences into College and Job Portfolios and Homeschooling Ourselves, Unschooling our Children.

This event is FREE.

Children are, of course, invited to attend but we do not have room for child care

and any noise must be kept to a minimum in the library.

Homeschool Resource Center at the Johnsburg Public Library
3000 N Johnsburg Rd, Johnsburg, IL 60051
(located on Johnsburg/Wilmot Rd. – 2 blocks north of Chapel Hill Rd.)