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TheHomeSchoolMom's Free Homeschool Resources - February, 2005
3. Deep Discount Software from WorldStart (Our Sponsor)
6. Stayin' Home and Lovin' It (Our Sponsor)
Welcome to the February issue of TheHomeSchoolMom's Free Homeschool Resources. This month I have a review of great family products from Family Tools, as well as an essay contest, information on The Congressional Award, and several free resources.
Enjoy this month's resources.
Warm regards,
Mary Ann Kelley
Editor, TheHomeSchoolMom's Free Homeschool Resources
- Recent homeschooling news articles
- New planner pages
- Homeschool conventions
- Academic contests
- Support Groups
- January Free Homeschool Resources Newsletter
3. Discount Software from WoldStart (our sponsor)
Looking for current software at a discount? WorldStart has hundreds of current titles like these at 50-80% off of retail prices!
Arthur's Computer Adventure |
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| Super Tutor Biology A comprehensive CD-ROM learning tool for today's student where learning is made easy with rich graphics, sounds and narration, understandable examples and exercises, plus easy-to-use bookmarking and searching. Students can review each chapter on the disc by taking quizzes and tests. Super Tutor Biology contains a full year of classroom biology on one clear and concise multimedia CD-ROM. Super Tutor Biology is great for home work review, regular course study, or college entrance exam study. This program will prove invaluable when studying for your SAT, ACT, or CBEST exams. Only $7.97 |
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| The Amazon Trail 3rd Edition Brings the Rainforest to Life (Ages 10 to Adult) The Amazon Trail 3rd Edition: Rainforest Adventures combines decision-making, critical thinking, history, geography, ecology and science into one thrilling, suspense-filled adventure in this rarely seen part of the world. Guide your canoe on a wild rainforest adventure through the Amazon. Build real life skills in decision making and problem solving as your navigate the Amazon River on a wild rainforest adventure. Your survival depends on the many decisions you make along the way! Only $7.97 |
Check out the hundreds of other products at WorldStart.com!
4.Educational Sites & Freebies
Lincoln Essay Contest
To commemorate the opening of the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois, on April 19, 2005, C-SPAN and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are asking students to read and consider the sentiments expressed in the Gettysburg Address. In the speech, Lincoln asked his audience to resolve that the country "...shall have a new birth of freedom...." Students are invited to write and submit an essay not to exceed 272 words (the same number of words in the Gettysburg Address) with their own thoughts about "a new birth of freedom" in the 21st century.
http://www.c-span.org/classroom/lincolncontest/
Freebies from Teacher Created Materials
Teacher Created Materials has many free resources on their website including a variety of weekly lessons for grades 1-8, activities related to current holidays and events, and a monthly calendar with historical notes of interest. Most resources are PDF and require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
http://www.teachercreated.com/free/
Free math and language arts resources
SGBox (sellers of the popular Singapore Math) offers free resources including online versions of dozens of Aesop's fables, free math resources, irregular verbs, and a synonyms quiz.
http://www.sgbox.com/library.html
DLTK's Printable Crafts for Kids
"DLTK's Crafts for Kids features a variety of fun, printable children's crafts, coloring pages and more including projects for holidays, educational themes and some of our children's favorite cartoon characters." This site has dozens of mini-books for printing, including ones for each letter of the alphabet, bible stories, custom stories, and topical stories. The resources on this site are best suited for pre-K through early elementary.
http://www.dltk-kids.com/
The Congressional Award
"The Congressional Award is the U.S. Congress' award for young Americans. It is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas; Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. Earning the Award is a fun and interesting way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you'd like to try for the first time. You move at your own pace - on your own or with your friends. This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, you are honored for achieving your own challenging goals. Regardless of your situation, you can earn The Congressional Award. The Congressional Award has no minimum grade point average requirements. It accommodates young people with special needs or disabilities who are willing to take the challenge. The Congressional Award is open to all."
http://www.congressionalaward.org/congress/netscape/about_who.htm
5. Great teacher sites
Sites For Teachers
Sites for Teachers is regularly featured in TheHomeSchoolMom Newsletter because it is one stop shopping for lesson plans, activity sheets, unit studies, and more. Over 500 of the best teacher sites! State Reports and Capitals (number 9) is an excellent resource site for anyone looking for state information. We have used it extensively while creating a state notebook for our 4th grade geography and history studies.
Top Teacher Sites
Teach-nology.com has put together a list with the top 200 teacher sites that they have found on the web. Great resources! I love the fact that these resources always have new sites on them. The Large Selection of Printable Graphic Organizers (number 29) has downloads in DOC and PDF format to help with research and organization.
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6. Stayin' Home and Lovin' It (Our Sponsor)
My name is Hope and I’m a home school mother of 2 daughters. |
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I’ve found a HOME business that I can do from HOME! I want other moms to know that there is a legitimate way for them to work at home and be with their families. There are a lot of scams out there targeted at moms! |
Check us out! You’ll find real people working together to help each other. |
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7. Product Review - Family Tools
It is not often that I have the opportunity to review a product that everyone in the family loves, but this one is exactly that. For the past month, our family has been using the P.E.G.S.®™ system, an ingenious combination of a chore chart and motivational tool. The PEGS® system equips parents with a tool to challenge and motivate their children to learn responsibility and to develop character.
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The system consists of a magnet-backed pegboard (available in 2 sizes, either 13" or 20" wide) and a set of vinyl discs. The chore discs are pre-printed with pictorial depictions of chores on them and are hung on the pegs with one column for each child. As the chores are completed, the discs are turned over to the blank side, which can be decorated with stickers if you would prefer. The best part of the system is not the chore chart, however. There are also bonus and penalty discs included for character training. The green bonus discs can be awarded for any positive attitude, behavior, or communication observed as well as for completing the chores on the chore section of the chart. |
The penalty discs, preprinted with a red circle and a diagonal line, likewise can be given for poor attitude, behavior, or communication. These are the ABC's of good character and the awarding of the bonus and penalty discs in these categories helps the children to think of their character in those terms.
In addition to the PEGS® pegboard, we also are using the Pick A Privilege™ and Choose A Chore™ products. They are excellent companions to the PEGS® system and are used to reward good behavior or to discipline poor behavior when the awarding of a penalty disc is not sufficient. These products have the same type vinyl discs as the PEGS® system, but with stickers to put on them representing rewards and chores that are outside the scope of daily chores. The awards range from a can of whipped cream to use however the recipient wishes (the favorite of my daughter) to a date with mom or dad. The discs come with a small plastic container for storage and can be hung on the pegboard with the other discs after use.
The entire PEGS® system is easily customizable for each individual family. We have chosen to simply award privileges when a specified number of bonus discs are awarded. The system can also be implemented with a more elaborate point system to use in conjunction with the bonus discs and chore chart. The system comes with a thorough instructional guide that explains the system and includes blackline forms (along with examples that have been filled out) for you to use. The product is durable and a great replacement for paper chore charts and stickers. Because it contains pictorial depictions of the chores, it can be used with children not yet reading, yet the wide range of chores depicted on the discs includes chores appropriate for teens as well.
PEGS stands for Practical Encouragement and Guidance System, which is exactly what the system is. All three products are sold exclusively through Family Tools at www.familytools.com, where you will find a detailed tour of this product along with other useful family products.
Freebies and Bargains: http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/teacherslounge/freebies.php
TheHomeSchoolMom Cooking Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehomeschoolmominthekitchen
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Hope you found something useful for your homeschool in this issue of TheHomeSchoolMom newsletter! More great stuff next time...
Mary Ann Kelley
Editor, TheHomeSchoolMom Newsletter
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