Check out this great opportunity for educators and it says it includes home educators as well. It might be good to bring some kind of card verifying your homeschool status if you have one:
 |
 |
 |
Tag: Books
Giveaway — Two Little Blessings books
If you would like to win one of these books (a new copy, straight from the publisher) for a preschooler you love, head over to Delighting In His Richness to enter. Contest is only open until next Tuesday, so check it out soon!
Taking full advantage of your library
Formerly, I thought I had a pretty good handle on all my library had to offer:
Reading programs — great incentives in summer for individual reading and in the winter for family reading and we earn free stuff in the process of doing something we would spend our time doing anyway. And, the kids got even more excited about time spent reading.
Books — Obviously, books hold the main draw of the library. Thousands of books on any topic you could want to read on. I’m still not quite sure how I would homeschool if I did not have weekly access to the library and daily access to the Internet. I would spend a lot more money, I am sure.
Non-book items — we also enjoy magazines, CD’s, movies, puzzles, and other items the library makes available for home use through borrowing.
Online account access — We can easily keep tabs on all these items that constantly flow in and out of our house online with our account information readily available and renewable with the click of the mouse.
All those things are great. However, I recently found out I had just scratched the surface of information available to me through the library.
This summer I discovered the World Catalog (claims to have 1.4 billion items on record right now!) which I had access to from home with my library card. I can reserve a book from just about anywhere in the world and they will send it to my library for me to pick up. Now, living near a large city like Chicago, I rarely have a book sent from outside of my state, but I did recently get a book from Arkansas. If you have not learned to navigate the “World Cat” get in touch with your librarian and find out about the billions of items that you have access to through this data base.
We love audiobooks and devour a few of them each month during our errand running. Well, they come in a new format we can check out from the library as well. Playaways are preloaded auidobooks in an MP3 type device that you check out and take with you.
But, there’s more. My librarian also showed me the depths of internet options and subscriptions available through my library website. This will vary widely from library to library, but here is just some of what I can access with my library card, from the comfort of my own home (Clicking to these sites through my library site automatically enters me as a subscriber. On some I need to set up a free account to use them):
- Online language course through Byki.
- Book review sites
- Online picture books, through Tumblebooks.
- Local newspaper websites
- Premium research databases
- NetLibrary‘s 16,000 electronic version of printed books.
- Naxos music library’s recordings of 85,000 pieces. (We love this one for our composer studies, no more scouring the internet for a suitable recording or trying to remember to get a recording while at the library. Immediate access from home!)
And the list goes on and on, figured I would just share a few favorites we have already used. When she started showing us this I could not believe the information that I had in front of me. All these memberships and subscriptions that I have a part of through my library card. Now, of course, as I said this will vary widely by library, but if you want your library to offer something that they do not already offer, just ask. If they can find a way to fit it in the budget, they might just do it.
Tiny, but powerful! The Homeschool Resource Center. Four walls packed with resources.
I could not talk about libraries and homeschooling without mentioning the Johnsburg Public Library. Tucked away in this small, unassuming town library is a Homeschool Resource Center that has helped homeschoolers across the country. If you live in Illinois you can drive to the library and check out items with your valid Illinois library card. They have microscopes, models, a vacuum pump, and lots of other larger items to help teach some of those tougher topics. Those items you must physically pick up and drop off at their library.
However, they have also used this $55,000 grant to stock its shelves with books, curriculum samples, and other resources that homeschoolers will benefit from. And, they are open to suggestions for new purchases as well. It would most likely be worth your time to peruse the 2000 plus items they have specifically for the homeschooler.
One last library advantage . . . If you live in the Chicago, Detroit or Minneapolis area (click city names for various local program sites), you have the opportunity to “check out” museum passes each week. These can provide for some great, inexpensive field trips for your family or homeschool group. They are first come, first served, but make sure to look into this great program if you live in any of those areas.
Enjoy more Works for Me Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday
TOS Crew Review — STUDYPOD
With how often I have a book in my hands while still trying to accomplish something else (tie a shoe, referee a disagreement, answer the phone without losing my place, etc.), I looked forward to the opportunity to review the STUDYPOD, put out by Genio, “Smart Products for Smart People.”
This handy little gadget will hold your book of just about any size in an easily readable position while keeping your hands free for the other tasks of motherhood, blogging, paperwork, composition, Bible study, etc.
Earlier this year, for no apparent reason I experienced the pain of a ruptured disc in my lower neck. Proper posture holds a much greater weight in my estimation now more than ever before. The STUDYPOD puts my reading material at a more readable height and at a position that helps me maintain good posture while typing, reading, studying, and teaching my kids.
What I love about the STUDYPOD . . .
– stores right along with your books, and even looks similar to a book when closed up
– has a small storage area for pens, notecards, etc. right inside
– holds a variety of sizes of books and papers
– helps establish and maintain good posture while reading and studying
– keeps study area neat, encouraging focus and good time management
Not much to tweak in the use of this product. You can employ it in just about every room in the house. I was a little concerned initially that it might leave a mark or imprint on the page of the book. However, even after I left it for a while on one of our thicker books (still under the two and a quarter inch limit for thickness), it only left a small, almost imperceptible mark. Turning pages requires you to carefully work around the page support arm, but this can be accomplished with one hand without too much trouble.
As you can see, this versatile book stand can find many uses in your home and school. Everyone just might want their own . . . They have another version called the “Book” pod, so don’t feel like you have to be studying something to use their product. Pick from pink, black, blue, grey and beige. It regularly retails for $19.95, but if you buy two or more of either the BOOKPOD or STUDYPOD they will only cost $16.95 each and you can even take another $5 off your order with the code: TOSBLOG5
Might be an easy gift idea to tuck away for the upcoming holiday season.
Check out the TOS Crew blog for other reviewers’ thoughts on the STUDYPOD.
Free Magic School Bus
The buzz around the blog world is a free book from the Magic School Bus series.
Here is the info from the EPA website:
“The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up”
EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program has partnered with Scholastic to write, illustrate, and publish a new book in the popular “Magic School Bus” children’s series. In this acclaimed educational series of books and videos for children from kindergarten through fourth grade, a teacher named Ms. Frizzle takes her class on several science-oriented field trips, riding in their magical school bus.
In “The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up,” the children and Ms. Frizzle explore the pollution emitted from their own diesel school bus and learn about how to reduce the emissions as they find themselves traveling through a diesel engine. The children learn about idle reduction and ways the community can help reduce the health risks from diesel exhaust. At the end of the book, the “Magic School Bus” gets its own pollution control device, a diesel particulate-matter filter.
Released on October 18th, this special-edition book is intended to be used by libraries, schools, state and local air programs, non-profit education and outreach campaigns, and for other targeted opportunities to increase awareness of the importance of reducing diesel emissions.
The books are free and can be ordered from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications, EPA’s publication warehouse. They may not be sold.
Quantities are limited due to the popularity of the book. Individuals, schools, and libraries may order up to 20 copies. Non-profit organizations working on diesel emissions issues and outreach may order up to 500. Other organizations, including for-profit companies, may order up to 100. Larger requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information give them a call at: 1-800-490-9198 and request item number EPA420-K-07-001
It may not be as subject appropriate for homeschoolers as the topic addressed is making a school bus more environmentally friendly, but you can still learn about the engine workings and the impact on the environment. And, of course, it’s Magic School Bus, and FREE!
Info on a free book on homeschooling
Received this interesting tidbit thanks to homeschool.com:
Laurel Springs School is giving away FREE copies of “Homeschooling and Loving It.” Normally, this popular book sells for $15.95.
Here’s the Coupon Code: LSS
Go To: http://store.laurelsprings.com/
Limit 5 copies per person. While supplies last.Be sure to watch the short video on the ordering page, telling all about the book. I used the “Homeschooling & Loving It” method with my own children and my son has just gone off to the college of his choice. It works. I don’t know how long the copies will last so be sure to get your copy right away.
Charlotte Mason Homeschooler available to inspire your group
The following was received from a homeschooling mom excited about sharing her knowledge and experience with your homeschooling group:
Do You Need a Speaker for Your Support Group or Conference Workshop?
Let “The Charlotte Mason Girl” help you!
HI! I’m Sue Pruett, and I have been teaching my children with the gentle ways of Charlotte Mason for 9 years. I continue to study and learn of her ways, and constantly improve my methods. I love this way of educating my children, and I desire to show others how gentle and natural this way is! I am available to speak at groups or conventions – large or small – on a Charlotte Mason Education.
I have 5 children, and so I can also add the perspective of a Mom of Many to my mix. How do you achieve a good education for your school aged children, while not neglecting your pre-schoolers? I can help answer that question!
Talk topics I can deliver:
- An Introduction to a Charlotte Mason Education
- Living books – how to pick them, how to obtain them, how to use them.
- Nature Study – Yes you CAN do it!
- Scheduling and a Charlotte Mason Education – can it work?
- You CAN start with a Charlotte Mason education Monday!(Or Tomorrow!)
- It IS Possible to Teach ALL Your Children Well!
I have been speaking for over 5 years at local homeschool support group meetings, encouraging moms in their homeschool journey. I have a burden to see families not just survive, but thrive as they teach their children at home. Let me come and encourage your families as I introduce them to the Charlotte Mason method of education!
My husband and I own Ancient Paths Christian Bookstore, and we have been involved in supplying families with great books since 2005. We love to be a part of helping families disciple their children well, and we desire to continue doing so for many years to come. In making myself available for speaking opportunities, we are furthering our mission of helping families disciple their children well.
To learn just how easy it is to have me come to your group or conference, please contact me at sapruett {at} sbcglobal {dot} net.
TOS Crew Review — Grapevine Studies
“Look, Mom. I just finished my third copy of the Old Testament stick figures.”
I guess we can say this one’s a keeper. Paige voluntarily drew three sets of the Old Testament stick figures from Adam to the 400 years of silence. All of my kids enjoyed Grapevine Studies‘ hands on approach to Bible study in which they actually get to draw the story.
The first two weeks we sped through the entire Old Testament, highlighting all the major stories in a stick figure time line. Since then we have gone back to the beginning for a more detailed look at the events that started the world on its downward spiral of sin while those individuals kept their eyes seeking desperately forward to the promised Messiah.
Even for the non-artisan this is an excellent curriculum. It allows for creativity of expression, but also can simply provide a framework for reinforcing the story. They can just draw what they are shown, or they can run with it. You can draw the pictures yourself as you teach, or you can hold up the book for them to duplicate or gather inspiration.
Here is one of Faith’s (7yo)pages.
She wrote the letters in a color pattern,
which was time consuming, but it was uniquely her as a result.
What I loved:
– Getting the overall picture of God’s working through the Old Testament (we are still really at the beginning, but I can see my kids really putting together the red thread that ties all these well loved stories together)
– The simplicity of stick figuring. I am not a great artist and many of my kids take after me in that regard. This is something anyone can do. My five year old sometimes comes up with a better rendition than I have put together. Everyone gets to do their own thing as long as they accurately represent Scripture
– I love that we do this all together. From my four year old (who doodles along on his white board), to my 12 year old (who zips through the basic drawings and moves on to pondering the deeper messages of the Scripture passages), they all learn at their level, yet we go through it together. The Level 1 book was easily adaptable for all of them to benefit from. Getting a higher level book and expecting less of the younger students would most likely work as well. And, they do also have mutli-level studies available.
– The application is not book driven. The writer intentionally does this so as not to limit the products to any specific doctrinal background. We loved it. Our conversation each day took a personal path. We dug through Scripture, discussed what these events had to do with our daily lives, and benefited from the thinking patterns of each individual in the family. God speaks so clearly through His Word, that this provides us the order to follow and the framework for learning, and we take it from there.
What I tweaked:
– The memory verses. I like that they have a weekly memory verse, and that ones from earlier weeks are reviewed periodically to keep them from getting unmemorized. I wrote the verses out on note cards and we reviewed multiple verses each day. This way even when we have multiple verses to review we should get through most of them every week (or two), always keeping them fresh.
– The cards that are drawn up to summarize the lesson are helpful to bring it all together. I allowed my younger ones to draw the summary points (with stick figures) rather than write the many words out. We also did not use the actual page from the book, but rather used a simple 3×5 card for these review cards.
Challenges I faced:
– Dealing with the different speeds at which the kids worked and their level of interest in creating detailed drawings. To allow for this we went through the drawings together and discussed the verses and applications. Then if they needed extra time, they could use our read aloud time (which immediately follows Bible time) to finish up their drawings for the day.
Would I buy it?
Probably. When we first started, I thought probably not. As much as we were enjoying it, I personally have a strong Biblical knowledge base and I didn’t think a program like this would add much to what I could do on my own. However, it gives us a great framework and direction for our Bible times this school year. The kids are personally involved in recording the story so they really connect with it.I enjoy how easy it is to use, and yet how adaptable it is as well.
Would I recommend others to buy it?
Definitely. Memory work, multiple learning styles, easy to use format, reasonable price, all in one package. They have a New Testament survey as well which I might consider purchasing for next year.
If you do decide this is something that you would like for your homeschool, right now you can get it for an even better price.Grapevine has allowed you to enjoy 30% off their products for the next 30 days. Use this code: crews to receive your discount.You can choose between ebooks and regular books, whole Testament studies or special topics. The whole Testament overviews can take a full year to work through, but there are shorter studies available as well (Esther, Birth of Jesus, etc.)
The products that I actually used included the Old Testament Overview Level 1 student ebook ($25.95 for use in family), and the Level 1/2 Teacher book ($45.95 for the book or $22.95 for the ebook).
If you would like to read other reviews on Grapevine Studies, check out the TOS Crew blog.
Scholastic Warehouse sale
More sales . . .
I have personally enjoyed shopping this sale to stock up on free reading books, craft sets, and even stocking stuffers. Much of the warehouse is available at 50% off or more, they often have items for $1, and you can print out a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase when you register in advance. I don’t usually have a hard time finding $50 worth of items to fill my cart with.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Sale!!!
Home School Textbook and Guided Reading Sale
When: Friday August 7th from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: 439 S. Liberty St. Elgin, IL 60120
What: Great bargains on individual and whole book sets including —
- Houghton Mifflin,
- Saxon
- Purposeful Design
- A Reason for…
- Open Court
- and more.
Plus guided reading sets to build your school library.
From K-12, new and used.
Cash only.