Today was the first day of the fall semester at our homeschool coop. We started out with a group assembly, so today's class times were shortened somewhat. All the kids were very excited to see each other again. Coop meets weekly on Friday afternoons.
I am teaching two classes this semester, and aiding in a third. I teach "Awesome America" twice (2 different age groups) and then aid in divers ed.
In the past, our coop has offered 4 class periods per semester per student, but this semester we are only offering three class periods. Classes my daughters are taking include Awesome America, baton, debate (a 2 hour block), Prairie Days, yearbook, The People in your Neighborhood, Games Galore, and PE Sports. Our wonderful coop also offers choir, band, photography and many many more classes for newborn through twelfth grade. We have 300 and some students and close to 80 or 90 families (at least those were our numbers last semester). One parent from each family acts as a teacher or a teachers aid. Classes change from semester to semester. In the past I have taught classes on the weather, US Presidents and Missouri.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
EAA Young Eagles Program Free Flight for kids 8 - 17
EAA Young Eagles Program
Get A Flight!
If you are between 8 and 17 years old, the EAA Young Eagles programs wants to offer you the chance of a lifetime. Turn your dreams into reality on a free Young Eagles flight and become one of over 1 Million Young Eagles! To find out where and when check out EAA Chapter 91 Young Eagle Events.
Young Eagle Events at Lee's Summit Airport (Breakfast is available 7:30-11:00 on Lee's Summit dates. $5 for all-you-can-eat pancakes, plus one serving of eggs, bacon or sausage, and juice or coffee.)
Date Location Time
September 19 Lee's Summit Airport 8:30-noon
October 17 Lee's Summit Airport 8:30-noon
What will the flight be like?
The biggest question on your mind might be about the actual flight. So what should you expect?
First of all, your pilot will explain what will happen during the flight. This might include talking about the airplane; reviewing an aeronautical chart (or map); identifying reference points during the flight; completing a careful "walk around" preflight inspection of the airplane and identifying the parts that control the airplane.
Once you are ready to go flying, your pilot will help you buckle your seat belt and describe the interior of the airplane, including the instrument panel. Pretty soon, it will be time to go flying!
Once in the air, you'll see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way. You'll experience the wonderful freedom of flight that many people only dream about. If you are like most Young Eagles, you'll remember this experience for the rest of your life.
Most Young Eagle flights last between 15 and 20 minutes. Once back on the ground, there will be additional time for you to ask questions about the flight. Ask away! Your pilot will be happy to tell you more about flying and their particular airplane. And don't forget, you'll also receive an official Young Eagles certificate, which is signed, by your personal pilot and our Chairman Harrison Ford.
We look forward to adding your name to the ever-growing list of EAA Young Eagles!
For more information, visit the EAA Young Eagles Website. http://www.youngeagles.org/
The program
The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.
Since 1992, more than 1.25 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by nearly 40,000 volunteer pilots.
Participation is easy. Simply contact the EAA Young Eagles office to find the closest volunteer pilot. From there, arrange a convenient time to go flying. We hope you enjoy a Young Eagles introduction to the exciting world of aviation. Make sure you come back to visit this web site after your flight to continue exploring the wonderful world of aviation!
Get A Flight!
If you are between 8 and 17 years old, the EAA Young Eagles programs wants to offer you the chance of a lifetime. Turn your dreams into reality on a free Young Eagles flight and become one of over 1 Million Young Eagles! To find out where and when check out EAA Chapter 91 Young Eagle Events.
Young Eagle Events at Lee's Summit Airport (Breakfast is available 7:30-11:00 on Lee's Summit dates. $5 for all-you-can-eat pancakes, plus one serving of eggs, bacon or sausage, and juice or coffee.)
Date Location Time
September 19 Lee's Summit Airport 8:30-noon
October 17 Lee's Summit Airport 8:30-noon
What will the flight be like?
The biggest question on your mind might be about the actual flight. So what should you expect?
First of all, your pilot will explain what will happen during the flight. This might include talking about the airplane; reviewing an aeronautical chart (or map); identifying reference points during the flight; completing a careful "walk around" preflight inspection of the airplane and identifying the parts that control the airplane.
Once you are ready to go flying, your pilot will help you buckle your seat belt and describe the interior of the airplane, including the instrument panel. Pretty soon, it will be time to go flying!
Once in the air, you'll see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way. You'll experience the wonderful freedom of flight that many people only dream about. If you are like most Young Eagles, you'll remember this experience for the rest of your life.
Most Young Eagle flights last between 15 and 20 minutes. Once back on the ground, there will be additional time for you to ask questions about the flight. Ask away! Your pilot will be happy to tell you more about flying and their particular airplane. And don't forget, you'll also receive an official Young Eagles certificate, which is signed, by your personal pilot and our Chairman Harrison Ford.
We look forward to adding your name to the ever-growing list of EAA Young Eagles!
For more information, visit the EAA Young Eagles Website. http://www.youngeagles.org/
The program
The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.
Since 1992, more than 1.25 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by nearly 40,000 volunteer pilots.
Participation is easy. Simply contact the EAA Young Eagles office to find the closest volunteer pilot. From there, arrange a convenient time to go flying. We hope you enjoy a Young Eagles introduction to the exciting world of aviation. Make sure you come back to visit this web site after your flight to continue exploring the wonderful world of aviation!
Essay Contest
High School Juniors or Home School Juniors: Write a 600 word essay, earn a trip to Washington, DC next summer.
Topic: My carbon Footprint
Use an online calculator to figure your carbon footprint and explain what you learn about yourself, your family or your school.
Only open to juniors.
Deadline is March 3, 2010.
For questions or more info call 816 628-3121 mail@pcec.coop
Sponsored by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative
Topic: My carbon Footprint
Use an online calculator to figure your carbon footprint and explain what you learn about yourself, your family or your school.
Only open to juniors.
Deadline is March 3, 2010.
For questions or more info call 816 628-3121 mail@pcec.coop
Sponsored by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative
Mid-Continent Public Library News
This is from an email from the library...
"We are having our first Homeschool Expo sponsored by Mid-Continent Public Library. This will be held, Nov.11, 9am to noon at our new Genealogy Center in Independence, MO.. We are trying to get the word out. It is free to the public. Our objective is to show patrons that we have 19 branches that offer special programming to homeschoolers in a program we call "Discovery Club." Patrons will be able to visit booths of each of these branches to participate in activities or view their programs. We will have a lot of other activities and quest programmers which you can see on the flier which I have included. There will be door prizes and hopefully people will be able to see that our library is truly trying to service homeschoolers. This is a family event and hope that you might be able to pass this on to those you know might be interested.
I would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions or questions. I appreciate your helping us to get the word out on this.
Nancy Huffman
Children's Services Assistant
Mid-Continent Public Library
816-521-7223"
"We are having our first Homeschool Expo sponsored by Mid-Continent Public Library. This will be held, Nov.11, 9am to noon at our new Genealogy Center in Independence, MO.. We are trying to get the word out. It is free to the public. Our objective is to show patrons that we have 19 branches that offer special programming to homeschoolers in a program we call "Discovery Club." Patrons will be able to visit booths of each of these branches to participate in activities or view their programs. We will have a lot of other activities and quest programmers which you can see on the flier which I have included. There will be door prizes and hopefully people will be able to see that our library is truly trying to service homeschoolers. This is a family event and hope that you might be able to pass this on to those you know might be interested.
I would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions or questions. I appreciate your helping us to get the word out on this.
Nancy Huffman
Children's Services Assistant
Mid-Continent Public Library
816-521-7223"
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Free Magazine, Sorry Pigs, Fences and 4H
If you live in Missouri, you can receive a free subscription of the Missouri Conservation Magazine. But did you know there is also a free magazine for kids? It is the Xplor Magazine and it is also put out by the Missouri Department of Conservation. You can order it online at http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/newmomag/default.aspx
Our pigs are rather put out at us right now. For some reason, all 6 of them got it into their heads that they were dogs, because in the country dogs can roam free. They also learned to climb panels like a ladder (in addition to rooting under them). JD and I had planned on reworking the fence over the weekend, but that is when he injured his neck and back. So, we had a couple of homeschooling brothers from our homeschool coop come and work on it. (I would recommend these two teens to anyone. They worked hard and got it done right.) Then we woke up the pigs (who were sleeping in the barn) and moved them back into the pen. It was rather interesting to watch the pigs as they discovered the electric fence. At first, they all gathered into a huddle and just stared at it. In fact, I don't think the pigs slept all night-I think they just stared in disbelief at the fence. Even though they all watched each other get shocked, one by one they had to go touch it and see (feel) for themselves with their nose. Now they are mad...They are acting like we have never seen before--just laying there looking at the wire.
We had our planning meeting last night for our new 4H group. We were very impressed with the turnout. We had 25 families who were either at the meeting, or called/emailed and said they were interested. Quite a few of those who expressed interest are homeschoolers. Personally I think 4H and scouts are two of the best programs a homeschooler can join. There are many activities that can be combined into homeschooling lessons, or that can spark interest in researching an idea further.
This afteroon the girls picked their classes for our homeschool coop which starts back upon Friday. They are excited and ready to see their friends again.
Japan Festival this Saturday at JCCC
Mark those calendars for Saturday September 19th for the 2009 Greater Kansas City Japan Festival. Go to http://kcjapanfestival.com/index.php?n=Main.HomePage
There are performances, exhibits, food, martial arts anime, lectures, shopping, a cultural village and more.
This will be located at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS
There are performances, exhibits, food, martial arts anime, lectures, shopping, a cultural village and more.
This will be located at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Kids in Kansas and Missouri are invited to enter the 8th annual Jif most creative peanut Butter Sandwich contest.
grand prize=$25000 scholarship fund.
4 runners up=$2500 scholarship funds.
kids age 6-12 can enter until Nov.13,2009
www.Jif.com for all the details
grand prize=$25000 scholarship fund.
4 runners up=$2500 scholarship funds.
kids age 6-12 can enter until Nov.13,2009
www.Jif.com for all the details
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Homeschooling Update
Two weeks ago I switched our 8th grader over to Alpha Omega Lifepac for Language Arts, Science, History/Geography and Math. We are supplementing with Abecca Health, reading comprehension, Bible and Life Skills Math. She loves science and works through it rather quickly (she plans to be a microbiologist) which is why we have added the Health. We are also using the Life Skills Math as the book shows every day applications for why we need to learn various forms of math. It teaches everything from interest rates, loans, credit cards, doubling fabric and recipes, figuring square footage for carpet or paint...
All the girls are on our church Bible Bowl team, so for this year we are not using Bible curriculum, but Bible Bowl instead.
I create the girls vocabulary/dictionary words and spelling words, based on their lessons from the current or previous week. We also do a lot of home-ec such as cooking, baking, sewing, mending, laundry, cleaning, soap making. JD picks up a lot of the vo-tech such as changing/adding oil, changing a tire, tractors, mowers, basic engine repair and farming.
The twins are mainly using Abecca for language, health and science, Saxon for math. We are following Emily in History.
The girls also learn alot of skills, music, foreign language, art and record keeping in our other activities such as 4H, girl scouts, youth group, library classes and homeschool coop. We are heavy users of the library and their discovery classes and two different branches.
Last night Elizabeth came back home from spending a week with her grandparents. Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon Emily left for St Louis for a Bible Bowl meet. In the midst of all this JD hurt a disc in his neck and is pretty much out of commission. We are looking to hire one or two farm hands for a day to rework a fence for our hogs--any takers??
Other activities this week included welcoming 10 new baby chickens. Rebecca made one an origami hat and house. Later tonight we have a wedding and Emily returns back home. It has been an interesting week, getting school ready to travel with Elizabeth, and ensuring Emily had hers all done before she left, in addition to farming, feeding, and regular household chores.
On a sad note, our former school, JCCA (Johnson County Christian Academy) has decided to at least for this year dissolve its JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz) team. I for one would like to thank all of the parents and supporters who worked with the kids throughout the years. Often people don't realize how much time is spent "behind the scenes" when our kids have events. Special thanks to Bonnie and Adam and all the coaches and parents. We are blessed however that this year our church started a Bible Bowl team, (which Emily was already a part of) and the twins will move over to that team beginning next month. Most of their quizzing will be in St Louis, and later next year they will go to Colorado to quiz.
Silver Dollar City Days for Homeschoolers
Silver Dollar City is located near Branson MO and offers clean fun for the entire family.
SILVER DOLLAR CITY HOMESCHOOL WEEKEND
October 3-4, 2009. Use code #78603 to reserve tickets for this big event!
Silver Dollar City $41.92 AD - $31.17 CH, 2 day tickets (This price includes tax)
You asked for special events, we have been able to do just that this year! You don't want to miss out on these wonderful events that will only take place on October 3rd for the homeschoolers.
When you arrive please come to the Horseshoe at the Guest Relations House . When you sign in you will receive goodies for your children, buttons, name tags, information about the day, etc.
One of the big request was for us to bring back the physics class, this has been done and on a bigger scale than before. Please note that the classes have to be pre-registered for due to limits for the classes. We have some classes that are totally free and others that you will have to pay either $5.00 or $10.00 for. The cost is to cover what the vendors are allowing the kids to do make and learn with but they have tried to keep it as low as possible. The classes have a limit so that the vendors can spend more time with each child. Again, all the classes have to be pre-registered for. The classes that you pay for will be registered through Silver Dollar City when you pay for them, a wristband will be worn for these classes so that the vendors know you are registered and have paid for them. The free classes need to be signed up through us, you will find the sign up form online.
If you have season passes you do not have to worry about buying tickets. However, you do need to pre-register for the classes and check in at the Horseshoe on Oct. 3rd.
Silver Dollar City has contacted several local hotels for discounts for the SDC Homeschool Weekend, this is only for the weekend of Oct 3 and 4, 2009. Make sure to keep scrolling down to see all the new information and what is going to take place this year. A lot of new things are being added. Make sure to check the different places out to see what specials they are giving. Some give a free breakfast, others have water parks, etc. So make sure that you check each out and see what they are doing for this big event.
We also want to point out a few things:
1. The $5.00 classes go on sale MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009.
2. Homeschool students will be given wristbands which identifies which class they've paid for and what time slot they'll be attending.
3. The 2-day Homeschool tickets are on sale NOW. Call 800-417-7770 for tickets or to a sk questions. Make sure to use code #78603. You may also buy a meal ticket to save money and not to have to worry about carrying enough cash around for the meal for these.
4. Parents can register their kids for the Culinary & Craft School classes NOW but they have to do it online at www.sdcculinarycraftschool.com5. Also, all the pre-paid classes are non-refundable because they take place in covered areas so we won't have to worry about the weather.
To see the schedule of events that are planned for that day go to www.match-inc.org/2009Schedule.pdf
You must be pre-registered for the free classes. There is a limit on how many can be in each class and will be on a first come basis. So sign up NOW.
To pre-register for the Free Roller Coaster Physics Class go to www.match-inc.org/rollercoaster.htmlTo pre-register for the Free Spelunkin' In Marvel Cave Class go to www.match-inc.org/marvelcave.html
SILVER DOLLAR CITY HOMESCHOOL WEEKEND
October 3-4, 2009. Use code #78603 to reserve tickets for this big event!
Silver Dollar City $41.92 AD - $31.17 CH, 2 day tickets (This price includes tax)
You asked for special events, we have been able to do just that this year! You don't want to miss out on these wonderful events that will only take place on October 3rd for the homeschoolers.
When you arrive please come to the Horseshoe at the Guest Relations House . When you sign in you will receive goodies for your children, buttons, name tags, information about the day, etc.
One of the big request was for us to bring back the physics class, this has been done and on a bigger scale than before. Please note that the classes have to be pre-registered for due to limits for the classes. We have some classes that are totally free and others that you will have to pay either $5.00 or $10.00 for. The cost is to cover what the vendors are allowing the kids to do make and learn with but they have tried to keep it as low as possible. The classes have a limit so that the vendors can spend more time with each child. Again, all the classes have to be pre-registered for. The classes that you pay for will be registered through Silver Dollar City when you pay for them, a wristband will be worn for these classes so that the vendors know you are registered and have paid for them. The free classes need to be signed up through us, you will find the sign up form online.
If you have season passes you do not have to worry about buying tickets. However, you do need to pre-register for the classes and check in at the Horseshoe on Oct. 3rd.
Silver Dollar City has contacted several local hotels for discounts for the SDC Homeschool Weekend, this is only for the weekend of Oct 3 and 4, 2009. Make sure to keep scrolling down to see all the new information and what is going to take place this year. A lot of new things are being added. Make sure to check the different places out to see what specials they are giving. Some give a free breakfast, others have water parks, etc. So make sure that you check each out and see what they are doing for this big event.
We also want to point out a few things:
1. The $5.00 classes go on sale MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009.
2. Homeschool students will be given wristbands which identifies which class they've paid for and what time slot they'll be attending.
3. The 2-day Homeschool tickets are on sale NOW. Call 800-417-7770 for tickets or to a sk questions. Make sure to use code #78603. You may also buy a meal ticket to save money and not to have to worry about carrying enough cash around for the meal for these.
4. Parents can register their kids for the Culinary & Craft School classes NOW but they have to do it online at www.sdcculinarycraftschool.com5. Also, all the pre-paid classes are non-refundable because they take place in covered areas so we won't have to worry about the weather.
To see the schedule of events that are planned for that day go to www.match-inc.org/2009Schedule.pdf
You must be pre-registered for the free classes. There is a limit on how many can be in each class and will be on a first come basis. So sign up NOW.
To pre-register for the Free Roller Coaster Physics Class go to www.match-inc.org/rollercoaster.htmlTo pre-register for the Free Spelunkin' In Marvel Cave Class go to www.match-inc.org/marvelcave.html
Homeschool Classified ad source
http://www.vegsource.com/homeschool/
This site was just pointed out to me by Liz on our homeschool coop loop. I've looked it over and like it!! You can find homeschool discussions, items for sale and you can list your items for sale.
This site was just pointed out to me by Liz on our homeschool coop loop. I've looked it over and like it!! You can find homeschool discussions, items for sale and you can list your items for sale.
CSI for homeschoolers
Hi,
I am e-mailing about a program for homeschoolers that I am doing in Kansas City on October 24 and I am hoping that you can get this information to your members. The program is a crime scene investigation (CSI) program that introduces kids to the science behind CSI and allows them to do hands-on activities and use what they learn to solve a mock crime scene. This is a parent-child program, so parents are welcome to attend. I find that both the kids and parents have a great time working together on this subject and it allows them to take what they have learned home and do more with it.
I am a homeschooler myself which led me to tailor programs to homeschoolers specifically.
The program will be held from 12-5 on October 24 at the Kansas City North Community Center (tentative location). We will cover a range of evidence, including fingerprints, shoe prints/impressions, tire tracks, blood (synthetic), ink and document analysis, and the use of other sciences in forensic science (botany, entomology, geology, chemistry, palynology, dendrochronology).
One common question is the age range for this program. While the typical age range is 8-13, I often have kids outside of this range. With homeschoolers, I am not so concerned with the ages because the kids seem to work so well together regardless of age. The content and questions are age appropriate and are tailored to the ages of the kids who register. I can have multiple levels of activities and questions within the same program.
The cost for the program is $50 for the first child from a family, and $35 for each additional child. Parents are welcome to attend free of charge.
There is a page on my website about this program. The website is: www.crimescenecamps.com and you would need to click on the "Kansas City" tab at the top of the first page.
I do these programs all over the middle part of the country, and homeschoolers seem to really enjoy them.
Thank you,
Thomas Jones
Crime Scene Camps
E-mail: crimescenecamps@yahoo.comCell: 815-501-1460
I am e-mailing about a program for homeschoolers that I am doing in Kansas City on October 24 and I am hoping that you can get this information to your members. The program is a crime scene investigation (CSI) program that introduces kids to the science behind CSI and allows them to do hands-on activities and use what they learn to solve a mock crime scene. This is a parent-child program, so parents are welcome to attend. I find that both the kids and parents have a great time working together on this subject and it allows them to take what they have learned home and do more with it.
I am a homeschooler myself which led me to tailor programs to homeschoolers specifically.
The program will be held from 12-5 on October 24 at the Kansas City North Community Center (tentative location). We will cover a range of evidence, including fingerprints, shoe prints/impressions, tire tracks, blood (synthetic), ink and document analysis, and the use of other sciences in forensic science (botany, entomology, geology, chemistry, palynology, dendrochronology).
One common question is the age range for this program. While the typical age range is 8-13, I often have kids outside of this range. With homeschoolers, I am not so concerned with the ages because the kids seem to work so well together regardless of age. The content and questions are age appropriate and are tailored to the ages of the kids who register. I can have multiple levels of activities and questions within the same program.
The cost for the program is $50 for the first child from a family, and $35 for each additional child. Parents are welcome to attend free of charge.
There is a page on my website about this program. The website is: www.crimescenecamps.com and you would need to click on the "Kansas City" tab at the top of the first page.
I do these programs all over the middle part of the country, and homeschoolers seem to really enjoy them.
Thank you,
Thomas Jones
Crime Scene Camps
E-mail: crimescenecamps@yahoo.comCell: 815-501-1460
Free fo kids 8-18 from Tiger Woods
The Tiger Woods Foundation has a free kit you can order/download:
Developed by Target and the Tiger Woods Foundation, the Action Plan is a FREE program for youth ages eight to 18 that addresses three national priorities:
„ Character development
„ Volunteer service
„ Career exploration
Download and Take Action!
Tiger’s Action Plan is designed to help kids set goals, lead and create positive changes. Whether you are a teacher who will be guiding others or a high school student who wants to complete the program on your own, these materials give you everything you need to begin planning for your future. Be sure to begin by reading the Letter of Introduction from Tiger Woods.
http://www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org/actionplan/index.php
Developed by Target and the Tiger Woods Foundation, the Action Plan is a FREE program for youth ages eight to 18 that addresses three national priorities:
„ Character development
„ Volunteer service
„ Career exploration
Download and Take Action!
Tiger’s Action Plan is designed to help kids set goals, lead and create positive changes. Whether you are a teacher who will be guiding others or a high school student who wants to complete the program on your own, these materials give you everything you need to begin planning for your future. Be sure to begin by reading the Letter of Introduction from Tiger Woods.
http://www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org/actionplan/index.php
Homeschoolers at Fantastic Caverns has improved!!
Dear Home School Educator,
For many years, the Fantastic Caverns Science Research Program has offered special tours and educational materials to area schools. In the past, we have offered special group rates to schools when they had a minimum of 20 participants. This requirement does not meet the needs of most home schools in our region and we would like to change that.
October 1-14, 2009, will be Home School Days at Fantastic Caverns. We will offer our school group rates for the educational cave tour to area home school groups regardless of the number attending. These rates are $6.00 for children age 12 and under (discounted from $13.50) and $15.50 for age 13 and above (discounted from $21.50).
The all riding tour addresses geology, history, cave life, karst and groundwater. The trip through the cave takes about 55 minutes and is available from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. While we do not require a deposit, we do anticipate high demand for the tour. Please call or e-mail with your plans so we will be certain to have enough staff to serve you.
A free study guide, “Living in Cave Country”, and the cave-related magazine Ozark Adventure, is available at http://www.fantasticcaverns.com/educate.htm to assist your teaching efforts.
Our hope is that this time period of special rate availability will allow you to incorporate more learning opportunities into your curriculum. This is a time of year when we have available staff to devote to our educational programs and the cave is a Warm 60°, no matter how cold it is outside!
If you have questions or would like to make reservations, you may contact us at:
(417) 833-2010.
Thank you very much,
Kirk Hansen
Kirk Hansen
Fantastic Caverns
Science Research Program
*********************************************************************************
The girls and I have done this in the past, while doing a unit study on caves, and I highly recommend it!
For many years, the Fantastic Caverns Science Research Program has offered special tours and educational materials to area schools. In the past, we have offered special group rates to schools when they had a minimum of 20 participants. This requirement does not meet the needs of most home schools in our region and we would like to change that.
October 1-14, 2009, will be Home School Days at Fantastic Caverns. We will offer our school group rates for the educational cave tour to area home school groups regardless of the number attending. These rates are $6.00 for children age 12 and under (discounted from $13.50) and $15.50 for age 13 and above (discounted from $21.50).
The all riding tour addresses geology, history, cave life, karst and groundwater. The trip through the cave takes about 55 minutes and is available from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. While we do not require a deposit, we do anticipate high demand for the tour. Please call or e-mail with your plans so we will be certain to have enough staff to serve you.
A free study guide, “Living in Cave Country”, and the cave-related magazine Ozark Adventure, is available at http://www.fantasticcaverns.com/educate.htm to assist your teaching efforts.
Our hope is that this time period of special rate availability will allow you to incorporate more learning opportunities into your curriculum. This is a time of year when we have available staff to devote to our educational programs and the cave is a Warm 60°, no matter how cold it is outside!
If you have questions or would like to make reservations, you may contact us at:
(417) 833-2010.
Thank you very much,
Kirk Hansen
Kirk Hansen
Fantastic Caverns
Science Research Program
*********************************************************************************
The girls and I have done this in the past, while doing a unit study on caves, and I highly recommend it!
Friday, September 4, 2009
New 4H group forming
We have around 40+ kids who are interested in 4H, so we are proceeding with our plans to start a new group. Many of the interested are homeschooled kids, but not all. This new group has 2 main focus points: #1 to not schedule meetings on Sundays and #2 to be community service minded with possible service projects monthly. Right now Becky Black and I are working with the extension office in getting a new group going. Just to clarify, this is not a group splitting or anyone leaving because they are upset, it is simply that there is a need for another group that is not meeting on Sundays.
On Monday, Sept 14 at 6:30 we will have a meeting for any interested parties to come and learn more about 4H and for you to share your thoughts and ideas. I would encourage you to come if you are interested, but if you can not, we can fill you in later. It will be held in Plattsburg at the US Bank. The bank is about 1 block north of the intersection of 116 and C highway. (downtown main drag...well the only downtown drag in Plattsburg) From the intersection you can see the sign. We will have information & project books to pass out at that time. Also, our group will need a club name--so start thinking of ideas to throw out.
If you are interested, and have not already, let me know so that I can start directing future emails to those who are, rather than to everyone.
I did have several questions that were asked numerous times, so I will address those now:
#1. There is no uniform and you do not earn badges as in scouts. You do NOT have to live in Plattsburg or Clinton County. You do not have to be a farm kid. There are over 100 projects and a self determined one (which means you can decide your own project).
#2. Your child has the option to be in or not to be in the county fair or state fair. Kids can earn small premiums for showing at the fair and ribbons. Kids not only do their projects but are also required to keep records as to money spent and money earned while doing their project. They learn finances, record keeping and such as well as their project. 4H tries to teach life skills. 4H stands for head, heart, hands and health.
#3. Attendance to the state fair is NOT a requirement.
#4. Parent involvement is very much encouraged. Ideally the kids run the meeting with parental/leader help. The kids are the officers, not the parents. Kids and parents often serve on committees together. On the flip side, if a parent works during the meetings and is unable to attend, your child can still be in 4H-but another adult will need to be appointed to be over your child.
#5. Fundraising--If our group decides to raise money for a service project we may look for things to do to earn money--such as mowing, raking, cleaning a barn, labor auction, car wash.... Kids are not REQUIRED to sell anything. We may at some time sell for a fundraiser, but if you don't want to that is fine.
#6. What kind of service projects?? Ideas may include: washing police cars, fire dept trucks, kids adopting a nursing home pal, collecting food for the food pantry, cleaning a vacant lot, making a first aid kit to donate to a group..... The kids and parents will decide these projects as a group.
#7. What are Clover Kids? They are kids too young to be in 4H. Providing we have some, we would like to "split them off" during part of the meeting and do something on their level that would correspond with what the older kids are doing. At one time I was a Clover Leader and we did a simple lesson, and often a craft. It keeps them involved without being bored.
#8. Club meetings are held monthly. To show a fair project, you have to have made at least half of the meetings plus one more. There may be an additional meeting for a service project or they may be done during the monthly meeting--depends on what the group decides to do.
#9. Individuals pick their own projects. Some projects are self directed, others have parents volunteer to be the project leaders or project leaders may come from other clubs or in the community.
#10. Dues are $10 per child a year and if a family can not afford that, the extension office has funding to cover it for you.
#11. Volunteers (including parent volunteers) do undergo a background check.
http://extension.missouri.edu/clinton/index.shtml
On Monday, Sept 14 at 6:30 we will have a meeting for any interested parties to come and learn more about 4H and for you to share your thoughts and ideas. I would encourage you to come if you are interested, but if you can not, we can fill you in later. It will be held in Plattsburg at the US Bank. The bank is about 1 block north of the intersection of 116 and C highway. (downtown main drag...well the only downtown drag in Plattsburg) From the intersection you can see the sign. We will have information & project books to pass out at that time. Also, our group will need a club name--so start thinking of ideas to throw out.
If you are interested, and have not already, let me know so that I can start directing future emails to those who are, rather than to everyone.
I did have several questions that were asked numerous times, so I will address those now:
#1. There is no uniform and you do not earn badges as in scouts. You do NOT have to live in Plattsburg or Clinton County. You do not have to be a farm kid. There are over 100 projects and a self determined one (which means you can decide your own project).
#2. Your child has the option to be in or not to be in the county fair or state fair. Kids can earn small premiums for showing at the fair and ribbons. Kids not only do their projects but are also required to keep records as to money spent and money earned while doing their project. They learn finances, record keeping and such as well as their project. 4H tries to teach life skills. 4H stands for head, heart, hands and health.
#3. Attendance to the state fair is NOT a requirement.
#4. Parent involvement is very much encouraged. Ideally the kids run the meeting with parental/leader help. The kids are the officers, not the parents. Kids and parents often serve on committees together. On the flip side, if a parent works during the meetings and is unable to attend, your child can still be in 4H-but another adult will need to be appointed to be over your child.
#5. Fundraising--If our group decides to raise money for a service project we may look for things to do to earn money--such as mowing, raking, cleaning a barn, labor auction, car wash.... Kids are not REQUIRED to sell anything. We may at some time sell for a fundraiser, but if you don't want to that is fine.
#6. What kind of service projects?? Ideas may include: washing police cars, fire dept trucks, kids adopting a nursing home pal, collecting food for the food pantry, cleaning a vacant lot, making a first aid kit to donate to a group..... The kids and parents will decide these projects as a group.
#7. What are Clover Kids? They are kids too young to be in 4H. Providing we have some, we would like to "split them off" during part of the meeting and do something on their level that would correspond with what the older kids are doing. At one time I was a Clover Leader and we did a simple lesson, and often a craft. It keeps them involved without being bored.
#8. Club meetings are held monthly. To show a fair project, you have to have made at least half of the meetings plus one more. There may be an additional meeting for a service project or they may be done during the monthly meeting--depends on what the group decides to do.
#9. Individuals pick their own projects. Some projects are self directed, others have parents volunteer to be the project leaders or project leaders may come from other clubs or in the community.
#10. Dues are $10 per child a year and if a family can not afford that, the extension office has funding to cover it for you.
#11. Volunteers (including parent volunteers) do undergo a background check.
http://extension.missouri.edu/clinton/index.shtml
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
For Homeschoolers in near Olathe KS
Dear Home School Educator,
Zonkers Family Entertainment Center at the Great Mall in Olathe, KS has a very special deal for Home School Families!
On Monday - Wednesdays, from 11am to 3pm, you can enjoy unlimited rides and soft play activity area for only $7.49 (children over 36" tall) or for $4.49 (children under 36" tall). Normal pricing is $11.99 and $5.99, respectively.
Enjoy our 30,000 square foot facility with roller coasters, huge carousel, arcade games for all skill levels, batting cages and SO MUCH MORE!
Have lunch with us at the Tiny Rhino Cafe, and enjoy pizza, burgers, chicken and more!
************************************
NOW OFFERING EDU-TAINMENT CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER!!!!
Zonkers Family Entertainment Center has partnered with Parisole Arts Foundation to teach fun, art-related activities to children!
Monday, September 14th - Hula Hooping Classes! Interactive stretching, movement and hoop play!
3-4pm, max 100 students.
** You can use this class towards your Physical Education Requirements!!
Wednesday, September 16th - Illustration Story Hour! Children will create story and watch the artist bring the story to life!
Cost per child: $9.99
This cost covers all the following:
One hour of activity
2 slices of one-topping pizza
small soft drink
4 arcade tokens
Two Hours of unlimited rides and soft play
All classes are a minimum of 15 children per group.
**If you have an idea for an Edu-Tainment program, tell us!
*** FLYER FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL***
Please also ask about our group tour special rates, birthday parties, face painting special group pricing, day passes, and corporate events!
Andrea Johnson
Director of Sales and Marketing
Zonkers Family Entertainment Center
(913) 689-9860 direct
www.Zonkers.com20070 W. 151st Street
Olathe, KS 66061
Zonkers Family Entertainment Center at the Great Mall in Olathe, KS has a very special deal for Home School Families!
On Monday - Wednesdays, from 11am to 3pm, you can enjoy unlimited rides and soft play activity area for only $7.49 (children over 36" tall) or for $4.49 (children under 36" tall). Normal pricing is $11.99 and $5.99, respectively.
Enjoy our 30,000 square foot facility with roller coasters, huge carousel, arcade games for all skill levels, batting cages and SO MUCH MORE!
Have lunch with us at the Tiny Rhino Cafe, and enjoy pizza, burgers, chicken and more!
************************************
NOW OFFERING EDU-TAINMENT CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER!!!!
Zonkers Family Entertainment Center has partnered with Parisole Arts Foundation to teach fun, art-related activities to children!
Monday, September 14th - Hula Hooping Classes! Interactive stretching, movement and hoop play!
3-4pm, max 100 students.
** You can use this class towards your Physical Education Requirements!!
Wednesday, September 16th - Illustration Story Hour! Children will create story and watch the artist bring the story to life!
Cost per child: $9.99
This cost covers all the following:
One hour of activity
2 slices of one-topping pizza
small soft drink
4 arcade tokens
Two Hours of unlimited rides and soft play
All classes are a minimum of 15 children per group.
**If you have an idea for an Edu-Tainment program, tell us!
*** FLYER FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL***
Please also ask about our group tour special rates, birthday parties, face painting special group pricing, day passes, and corporate events!
Andrea Johnson
Director of Sales and Marketing
Zonkers Family Entertainment Center
(913) 689-9860 direct
www.Zonkers.com20070 W. 151st Street
Olathe, KS 66061
Health Care Reform
The below is a direct quote from Focus on the Family. It is just one of the many reasons I am against socialized medicine. I don't want my tax dollars going for abortions!!
"In less than two weeks, Congress will come back from August recess and health care reform will return to center stage. As we have mentioned in recent weeks, the current government-mandated health care reform plan will be the greatest expansion of abortion rights and abortion funding since Roe v. Wade.
But it is not just the preborn who will be impacted. The elderly, the infirm ... every family facing difficult end-of-life decisions ... may soon come up against a government-mandated health care system that is the single greatest legislative threat to our families that we have seen.
Government-mandated health care gives government officials unprecedented influence over health care decisions that have always been the responsibility of the family. And it will include mandated abortion coverage through the public plan and through private insurance premiums."
We are loosing our rights in this country. Now our president wants control over the Internet. He has raised our national debt dramatically since he took office. He is against homeschooling. One of the first bills he signed was to approve partial birth abortion. There is also a bill that is in the process to tax people who have gardens!! Add all of these together (and there are more) and you have to see these are just baby steps to eventually make us be completely dependent on our government. There are also people in congress working to do away with the term limits, meaning the president could be president for the duration of his life, not for one or two four year terms.
Did you know that Section 163 of the heath care bill states that the government would be allowed real-time access to a person's bank records - including direct access to bank accounts for electronic fund transfers??
Read Through The ENTIRE Obama Care Bill!
Did you know that 1/3 of nurses and 60% of general practitioners say they will refuse the swine flu shot YET the goverment wants to force us to get it?!!
Did you know that Obama says 'We are God's partners in matters of life and death'
This nation, which was founded on the freedom of religion needs to wake up and see what is going on at take action.
"In less than two weeks, Congress will come back from August recess and health care reform will return to center stage. As we have mentioned in recent weeks, the current government-mandated health care reform plan will be the greatest expansion of abortion rights and abortion funding since Roe v. Wade.
But it is not just the preborn who will be impacted. The elderly, the infirm ... every family facing difficult end-of-life decisions ... may soon come up against a government-mandated health care system that is the single greatest legislative threat to our families that we have seen.
Government-mandated health care gives government officials unprecedented influence over health care decisions that have always been the responsibility of the family. And it will include mandated abortion coverage through the public plan and through private insurance premiums."
We are loosing our rights in this country. Now our president wants control over the Internet. He has raised our national debt dramatically since he took office. He is against homeschooling. One of the first bills he signed was to approve partial birth abortion. There is also a bill that is in the process to tax people who have gardens!! Add all of these together (and there are more) and you have to see these are just baby steps to eventually make us be completely dependent on our government. There are also people in congress working to do away with the term limits, meaning the president could be president for the duration of his life, not for one or two four year terms.
Did you know that Section 163 of the heath care bill states that the government would be allowed real-time access to a person's bank records - including direct access to bank accounts for electronic fund transfers??
Read Through The ENTIRE Obama Care Bill!
Did you know that 1/3 of nurses and 60% of general practitioners say they will refuse the swine flu shot YET the goverment wants to force us to get it?!!
Did you know that Obama says 'We are God's partners in matters of life and death'
This nation, which was founded on the freedom of religion needs to wake up and see what is going on at take action.
Monday, August 31, 2009
savings
Combining sales with coupons is really is a good way for single family incomes to save money. Most homeschooling families are single income families or run a business from their homes.
Last week I shopped at CVS and Walgreen. My Walgreen receipt started out at $38. Then off came the Walgreen receipts, then a $5 Walgreen register buck, then my coupons from the Sunday paper. I walked away paying around $10 for 4 deodorants, 3 shampoos, 6 candy bars, 2 boxes of band aides and a Free air wick fresh matic ultra machine.
Then we went to CVS. I got a free welches grape juice and stocked up on rechargeable batteries. I got two brands--for a total of 4 packs of batteries. Name brand ones were on sale for $7.99. I bought 2 because I earned $5 back for spending $15 on energizer products. Then I bought 2 packages of the CVS brand batteries as they were buy one pack, get one pack free. Rechargeable batteries are another way we save money here at our homeschooling farm. We now have (along with what I bought the last time they ran the same sale) rechargeable batteries ranging from 9V to AA, AA, C and D. We now have 2 sets, so one set can be on the charger while the 2nd set is in the camera, flashlights, weather radio and lantern. Before winter I would like to get one more set of batteries for the flashlights. We have our share of ice storms in northern MO. On this trip I also got some free air freshener, and BIC razors for 50 cents.
Anytime I can get a nonperishable item for free or near free by combining coupons with sales I do. As long as it is stored properly, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, razors and such will have a fairly long shelf life. I would rather get it for free now and store it than pay for it at full price later.
I also don't drive to a store and waste fuel just to get one item. I shop at the CVS that is near the library we visit, and the Walgreen that is near our church. I am not brand loyal except for a few items. Even on those few item may still get them to donate.
Now, for this weeks deals go to couponmom.com. I recommend you sign up for a free account. You can select your state for special deals. This site shows you what i on sale and what coupons from your local paper you can use for the very best deal. They also have additional coupons you can print off.
FREE is the best price--Get Super Drugstore and Grocery Savings 8/30 to 9/5
New feature! Print coupons for sale items directly from our individual store deals lists--we'll tell you all the printable and electronic coupons available for each sale item so that you can save the most and stock up on more than one deal! Check out our drugstore and grocery deals lists to see how easy we make it for you to save!
CVS deals this week include FREE Bic products, FREE Cover Girl products with purchase, FREE glucose monitors, bargains on Revlon, Sally Hansen and Dawn dish liquid.
Walgreens deals include FREE Carefree liners, FREE Colgate toothbrush, FREE monitor, FREE Mens razor system, FREE Rembrandt toothpaste and more!
Wal-Mart deals include bargains on Clairol haircolor, Febreze, 409, Hartz cat treats, Pringles and more.
Rite Aid deals include FREE GE light bulbs, FREE Reeses candy, FREE Listerine, bargains on Clairol haircolor, Maybelline mascara, Emerald nuts, Sea Breeze, and more.
Target deals include Edys ice cream 48 oz. for only 50 cents (or free if you have the Target printable too), FREE Schick razors, only $1.54 for Tide Stain Release, and more.
Find hundreds of deals at thousands of grocery stores across the country with our deals lists in our Grocery Deals by State section !
Newspaper Coupon Preview! There will not be any newspaper coupons this weekend since it's Labor Day weekend.
Last week I shopped at CVS and Walgreen. My Walgreen receipt started out at $38. Then off came the Walgreen receipts, then a $5 Walgreen register buck, then my coupons from the Sunday paper. I walked away paying around $10 for 4 deodorants, 3 shampoos, 6 candy bars, 2 boxes of band aides and a Free air wick fresh matic ultra machine.
Then we went to CVS. I got a free welches grape juice and stocked up on rechargeable batteries. I got two brands--for a total of 4 packs of batteries. Name brand ones were on sale for $7.99. I bought 2 because I earned $5 back for spending $15 on energizer products. Then I bought 2 packages of the CVS brand batteries as they were buy one pack, get one pack free. Rechargeable batteries are another way we save money here at our homeschooling farm. We now have (along with what I bought the last time they ran the same sale) rechargeable batteries ranging from 9V to AA, AA, C and D. We now have 2 sets, so one set can be on the charger while the 2nd set is in the camera, flashlights, weather radio and lantern. Before winter I would like to get one more set of batteries for the flashlights. We have our share of ice storms in northern MO. On this trip I also got some free air freshener, and BIC razors for 50 cents.
Anytime I can get a nonperishable item for free or near free by combining coupons with sales I do. As long as it is stored properly, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, razors and such will have a fairly long shelf life. I would rather get it for free now and store it than pay for it at full price later.
I also don't drive to a store and waste fuel just to get one item. I shop at the CVS that is near the library we visit, and the Walgreen that is near our church. I am not brand loyal except for a few items. Even on those few item may still get them to donate.
Now, for this weeks deals go to couponmom.com. I recommend you sign up for a free account. You can select your state for special deals. This site shows you what i on sale and what coupons from your local paper you can use for the very best deal. They also have additional coupons you can print off.
FREE is the best price--Get Super Drugstore and Grocery Savings 8/30 to 9/5
New feature! Print coupons for sale items directly from our individual store deals lists--we'll tell you all the printable and electronic coupons available for each sale item so that you can save the most and stock up on more than one deal! Check out our drugstore and grocery deals lists to see how easy we make it for you to save!
CVS deals this week include FREE Bic products, FREE Cover Girl products with purchase, FREE glucose monitors, bargains on Revlon, Sally Hansen and Dawn dish liquid.
Walgreens deals include FREE Carefree liners, FREE Colgate toothbrush, FREE monitor, FREE Mens razor system, FREE Rembrandt toothpaste and more!
Wal-Mart deals include bargains on Clairol haircolor, Febreze, 409, Hartz cat treats, Pringles and more.
Rite Aid deals include FREE GE light bulbs, FREE Reeses candy, FREE Listerine, bargains on Clairol haircolor, Maybelline mascara, Emerald nuts, Sea Breeze, and more.
Target deals include Edys ice cream 48 oz. for only 50 cents (or free if you have the Target printable too), FREE Schick razors, only $1.54 for Tide Stain Release, and more.
Find hundreds of deals at thousands of grocery stores across the country with our deals lists in our Grocery Deals by State section !
Newspaper Coupon Preview! There will not be any newspaper coupons this weekend since it's Labor Day weekend.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
free PE classes for homeschoolers (St Jo area)
The PE Dept. at Missouri Western is looking for homeschoolers to volunteer
to be in various P.E. classes so their student teachers can practice with
school-aged students.
This FREE opportunity has benefitted many families through the years!
Please register with the professor, Dr. Nannette Wolford, directly and do
not reply to this email.
PED 380 Creative games and exploratory activity with manipulatives
while working on locomotive movements.
Ages: Children in kindergarten-2nd grade
Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 21, 23, 30, October 12, and 14th
Meet: Arena in the Looney Complex
(These M-W classes run from 2:00 to 2:45)
PED 370 This class features games that teach health and fitness concepts
for ages Kindergarten-4th grade
Dates: 9/2, 9/9, 9/11 (These W-F classes start at 10:15 and run to 10:50)
Meet: Arena of the Looney Complex
More Dates: 9/16, 9/18, 9/21, 9/23, 9/25
(These M-W-F classes start at 10:00 and run to 10:50)
Meet: Arena of the Looney Complex
PED 382 Elementary games and activities that involve some sports skills,
fitness testing, parachute, cage ball, scooters, fitness activities,
challenge activities,
jump rope skills, tag games etc.
This class is for children in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Arena in the Looney Complex
Dates: 9/15, 29, Oct. 6, 8, 20, 22, 27, 29, Nov 3, 5, 12
(These T-Th classes run from 10:00 to 10:45)
PED 245 Tennis skills and drills are taught; All equipment provided.
This class is for children in grades 4-12.
Meet: Tennis courts on the North side of the Looney complex.
Dates: 9/28 & 30 (This M-W class starts at 12:00 noon and runs to 12:45)
Badminton - Drills and lead up activities for badminton skills; all
equipment provided.
This class is for children in grades 4-12.
Meet: Old Gym in the Looney Complex
Date: Oct 14
This Wednesday class starts at 12:00 noon and runs to 12:45
Remember to email me at MWSU with your child's name and your phone number
before you come.
Please include the names, ages and reason the child wants to come.
I am looking forward to working with your child/children.
Sincerely,
Nannette Wolford
Email: wolford@missouriwestern.edu
HPER Dept
816-271-4487
to be in various P.E. classes so their student teachers can practice with
school-aged students.
This FREE opportunity has benefitted many families through the years!
Please register with the professor, Dr. Nannette Wolford, directly and do
not reply to this email.
PED 380 Creative games and exploratory activity with manipulatives
while working on locomotive movements.
Ages: Children in kindergarten-2nd grade
Dates: September 2, 9, 16, 21, 23, 30, October 12, and 14th
Meet: Arena in the Looney Complex
(These M-W classes run from 2:00 to 2:45)
PED 370 This class features games that teach health and fitness concepts
for ages Kindergarten-4th grade
Dates: 9/2, 9/9, 9/11 (These W-F classes start at 10:15 and run to 10:50)
Meet: Arena of the Looney Complex
More Dates: 9/16, 9/18, 9/21, 9/23, 9/25
(These M-W-F classes start at 10:00 and run to 10:50)
Meet: Arena of the Looney Complex
PED 382 Elementary games and activities that involve some sports skills,
fitness testing, parachute, cage ball, scooters, fitness activities,
challenge activities,
jump rope skills, tag games etc.
This class is for children in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Arena in the Looney Complex
Dates: 9/15, 29, Oct. 6, 8, 20, 22, 27, 29, Nov 3, 5, 12
(These T-Th classes run from 10:00 to 10:45)
PED 245 Tennis skills and drills are taught; All equipment provided.
This class is for children in grades 4-12.
Meet: Tennis courts on the North side of the Looney complex.
Dates: 9/28 & 30 (This M-W class starts at 12:00 noon and runs to 12:45)
Badminton - Drills and lead up activities for badminton skills; all
equipment provided.
This class is for children in grades 4-12.
Meet: Old Gym in the Looney Complex
Date: Oct 14
This Wednesday class starts at 12:00 noon and runs to 12:45
Remember to email me at MWSU with your child's name and your phone number
before you come.
Please include the names, ages and reason the child wants to come.
I am looking forward to working with your child/children.
Sincerely,
Nannette Wolford
Email: wolford@missouriwestern.edu
HPER Dept
816-271-4487
Pre ACT testing for homeschoolers
This is part of an email I received. Please direct questions to the email address below, not to me. Thanks!
These are taking place in the Kansas City area.
Dates and locations have been set for the pre-ACT test, the PLAN, for October 2009. At this time there are only 2 dates and locations. (I am still looking for a Missouri location south of the river. If I am able to obtain one, I will add another date at that time.)
Mon., October 19 ~ Harmony Vineyard Church, 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO 64116
Thurs., October 29 ~ Brighton Academy, 10100 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212
Brighton is located in the Emmanuel Baptist Church
This is a test designed by the ACT college entrance exam company. It is specifically designed for 10th graders, but all high school students are welcome to take it. The test covers the same areas that the ACT test does: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. Test results can be used to obtain good student discount rates with insurance companies as well as giving students practice for taking the college entrance exams. After the test, you will receive the test questions, along with the answers your student gave on the test, and the correct answers, if any are wrong. This will make it very easy for you and your student to understand what they missed and why.
It is a one day test. You may pick the most convenient date and location. Testing will begin at 9:30 a.m. and be over no later than 1:30 p.m. The cost for the test is $20 for the Missouri location and $27 for the Kansas location. You need to send the registration form and 2 self-addressed stamped business size envelopes, one with a $.44 stamp and the other with a $.61 stamp, along with the check made out to Monette Anderson. Registration deadline is October 5 for the Missouri test and October 15 for the Kansas test. If you have any questions, please contact Monette at whereismonette@gmail.com or feel free to call at 816-781-5531. (Most days calls are being screened due to homeschooling needs.)
Student's name __________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Phone # ________________________ email: __________________________
Parent's names __________________________________________________
Please send all information by October 5 to: Monette Anderson 901 Cambridge Circle Liberty MO 64068
I will email you confirmation of receipt of your registration when I receive it, so please print the email address carefully. Thanks.
These are taking place in the Kansas City area.
Dates and locations have been set for the pre-ACT test, the PLAN, for October 2009. At this time there are only 2 dates and locations. (I am still looking for a Missouri location south of the river. If I am able to obtain one, I will add another date at that time.)
Mon., October 19 ~ Harmony Vineyard Church, 600 NE 46th Street, Kansas City, MO 64116
Thurs., October 29 ~ Brighton Academy, 10100 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212
Brighton is located in the Emmanuel Baptist Church
This is a test designed by the ACT college entrance exam company. It is specifically designed for 10th graders, but all high school students are welcome to take it. The test covers the same areas that the ACT test does: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. Test results can be used to obtain good student discount rates with insurance companies as well as giving students practice for taking the college entrance exams. After the test, you will receive the test questions, along with the answers your student gave on the test, and the correct answers, if any are wrong. This will make it very easy for you and your student to understand what they missed and why.
It is a one day test. You may pick the most convenient date and location. Testing will begin at 9:30 a.m. and be over no later than 1:30 p.m. The cost for the test is $20 for the Missouri location and $27 for the Kansas location. You need to send the registration form and 2 self-addressed stamped business size envelopes, one with a $.44 stamp and the other with a $.61 stamp, along with the check made out to Monette Anderson. Registration deadline is October 5 for the Missouri test and October 15 for the Kansas test. If you have any questions, please contact Monette at whereismonette@gmail.com or feel free to call at 816-781-5531. (Most days calls are being screened due to homeschooling needs.)
Student's name __________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Phone # ________________________ email: __________________________
Parent's names __________________________________________________
Please send all information by October 5 to: Monette Anderson 901 Cambridge Circle Liberty MO 64068
I will email you confirmation of receipt of your registration when I receive it, so please print the email address carefully. Thanks.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Future Vets
Whopper the cat (given her name because she 'whops' the dog) and I had a run in this morning, with a vehicle...I got her back left leg and her tail. So, the girls are playing vet and taping her up with vet tape. The grey cat watching is her brother Smokey.
The girls have worked some at my cousins vet clinic, for a homeschooling 'internship' and are rather good at wrapping animal legs. (Now, if we could just teach the cats not to sit on top of the tires or sleep under the cars.)
She can walk on it but doesn't like to and complains loudly when she does. I think part of it is for the human attention and extra treats.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
We passed!
Today Emily and I took 2 of our required tests for the fire department. We took NIMS 100 and 700. I am happy to report we both passed. Next we get to do our hazmat testing, then our first responders class and test. (I've been told that the hazmat one is much harder, rather a bear of a test. I took one years ago, but I am sure like everything else it has changed.) What we did today had a lot to do with the chains of command during an emergency or event. I think I will give Emily some social studies or civics credit for it.
For those of you who may have missed it in an earlier posts, she is a fire cadet and JD and I are also volunteers with the local fire department. I do give my kids credit for the volunteering they do, as they do learn from it.
For those of you who may have missed it in an earlier posts, she is a fire cadet and JD and I are also volunteers with the local fire department. I do give my kids credit for the volunteering they do, as they do learn from it.
Free Homeschooling 101 classes
These are through the Trails Regional Library system and free to all. Don't worry about registering-just show up!
Thursday, August 27, 10am-noon
Odessa Public Library
107 W. Mason
Odessa, MO 64076
Friday, August 28, 10am-noon
Holden Public Library
207 S. Main
Holden, MO 64040
Here is the schedule of Homeschooling 101 Classes being offered through Mid-Continent Public Library for the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 4. FHE Board members will be teaching all classes. Register through the Mid-Continent branch the class you wish to attend is being held at. You can do so online at www.mcpl.lib.mo.us or by calling the branch.
9/1/2009 2:00 PM Oak Grove
9/1/2009 7:00 PM Kearney
9/3/2009 7:00 PM Riverside
Thursday, August 27, 10am-noon
Odessa Public Library
107 W. Mason
Odessa, MO 64076
Friday, August 28, 10am-noon
Holden Public Library
207 S. Main
Holden, MO 64040
Here is the schedule of Homeschooling 101 Classes being offered through Mid-Continent Public Library for the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 4. FHE Board members will be teaching all classes. Register through the Mid-Continent branch the class you wish to attend is being held at. You can do so online at www.mcpl.lib.mo.us or by calling the branch.
9/1/2009 2:00 PM Oak Grove
9/1/2009 7:00 PM Kearney
9/3/2009 7:00 PM Riverside
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
This weeks specials
I did good last Saturday at Walgreen. They had some toothpaste for $1 for which I had $1 off coupons for, and deodorant on sale for $1.99 that I had $1 coupons for. They also had cereal on sale for less than the grocery store and again I had coupons. I ended up with about 6 bags of items for under $15 and got a Walgreen register reward for $5 off my next visit. So, we are stocked up on toothpaste, deodorant and have a weeks worth of cereal.
Here is the link for this weeks sales and specials. http://www.couponmom.com/ Remember the best way to save is to wait for a sale and combine the sale price with a store coupon and the manufacturer's coupons. (yes, you can use both coupons on the same item) Also, don't be brand loyal-go with the best deal and sometimes the best deal still tends to be the store brand or a generic. Some stores, such as CVS give you extra discounts if you have their free register card.
CVS deals this week include free Carefree liners, free Reese's candy, free 3-day sale composition books and 125+ more deals.
Walgreens deals include bargains on Chinet plates, Goody hair accessories, Crest toothpaste, Kelloggs cereals, Scotch mailing envelopes, Scotch tape and many more deals.
Wal-Mart deals include Disney vitamins, Mead notebooks, Reese's candy, pet food and more.
Target deals include Hilshire Farm lunchmeat, grapes, Glade starter kits, Reeses 8 pack candy bars, Yoplait yogurt and more.
Rite Aid deals include free Colgate toothpaste, deals on Kotex pads and liners, free Mead composition books and notebooks with coupons and rebates, free Tylenol, 20-cent Reeses King Size candy bars, 50-cent Rubbermaid Take Alongs or bottles. Save even more when you Print a coupon for $5 off $25 at Rite Aid, too!
Here is the link for this weeks sales and specials. http://www.couponmom.com/ Remember the best way to save is to wait for a sale and combine the sale price with a store coupon and the manufacturer's coupons. (yes, you can use both coupons on the same item) Also, don't be brand loyal-go with the best deal and sometimes the best deal still tends to be the store brand or a generic. Some stores, such as CVS give you extra discounts if you have their free register card.
CVS deals this week include free Carefree liners, free Reese's candy, free 3-day sale composition books and 125+ more deals.
Walgreens deals include bargains on Chinet plates, Goody hair accessories, Crest toothpaste, Kelloggs cereals, Scotch mailing envelopes, Scotch tape and many more deals.
Wal-Mart deals include Disney vitamins, Mead notebooks, Reese's candy, pet food and more.
Target deals include Hilshire Farm lunchmeat, grapes, Glade starter kits, Reeses 8 pack candy bars, Yoplait yogurt and more.
Rite Aid deals include free Colgate toothpaste, deals on Kotex pads and liners, free Mead composition books and notebooks with coupons and rebates, free Tylenol, 20-cent Reeses King Size candy bars, 50-cent Rubbermaid Take Alongs or bottles. Save even more when you Print a coupon for $5 off $25 at Rite Aid, too!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Summer Education Tips
I should have posted this earlier in the year, at least before summer started. This is a copy of an article I wrote that has appeared on some other sites. I was asked why I didn't put it on my blog....so, here it is. In the orginal article there are fancy graphics and the ideas are numbered. I could not get any of that to transfer over.
The topic I was orginally asked to write for was "Ways to Help Students Not Forget Over the Summer". But, these are things that can be done at home year around.
****************************
Play Math BINGO, I made mine from the plain (inside) cardboard on cereal boxes. I made squares and put numbers in each square. On small pieces of paper I wrote out all the multiplication facts through the 12's. The caller reads the problem, such as "6 x 6", and the kids look at their card. If they have a 36 on their card, they cover it (we use pennies as our covers). You could vary this game according to your child's math level for addition or subtraction.
Keep a critter's notebook. Each week or every few days, add a new animal or insect. You can add coloring sheets, research the animal in books or on line and write a report about it. My kids are older so their book is divided into the various animal kingdoms, and each animal is put behind the proper tab. You can take this with you when you visit the zoo and take animal pictures to add to your pages or to create new pages.
Discuss various businesses and call ahead to arrange for field trips. My kids have visited the bank, post office, grocery store, feed store, vets office, doctors office. By asking for a tour, you get to see the "back rooms", have inventory and business practices explained to the kids on their level. Many businesses, such as banks and the post office also have free literature to give to kids.
Have the kids shop. This uses home-ec, finances, math skills. Give them each a list, money and have them look for coupons and the best deals.
Discuss nutrition and have the kids each plan a menu for a day or week or month (depending on their ages). Then, they can shop and cook or help cook what they picked. Menus must meet the food recommendations.
Build medical models. We have built several skeletons and various organs. Older kids can learn the names of the bones. Get a newspaper end roll from your local paper. Lay out a long piece. Have the kids lay down and you can trace their body. Then they can color it all in. Little ones put on their face and clothes. Older kids draw in their organs and bones. Can be hung on their bedroom doors when finished.
See if your local library has a summer reading program, or a kid's book club. Read out loud together as a family. Also read a book, then see if the library has a movie of that book. You can discuss how it was the same and different. Learn the books of the Bible
Watch "Mr Smith goes to Washington" with Jimmy Stewart in it. It's an old clean movie that describes how the government works. Pick out several presidents and study them.
Find some educational place mats in the housewares area at Walmart. They have for 99 cents ones with the presidents, solar system, map of the world and more. Rotate them out every few days.
Get a free state map from your license bureau. Look up interesting areas in your state and then visit them in person or on line. Do you have a state park nearby? Visit the ranger station. It is free at most parks.
Have kids gather leaves. Take rubbings and then look up and find out what the leaves were from. Learn animal tracks, poisonous snakes and plants, then take what you learned with you and go camping.
Find the oldest cemetery around you and visit it. Read the tombstones. Who was the oldest? Who was the youngest? What is the oldest grave you can find? If you find a lot of people died the same year find out why? What illness or weather pattern killed them?
Work on family genealogy. Take the kids to visit older family members. Have them tell a story and have the kids tape record or video it to save for future generations.
Small kids can learn over the summer the months of the year, to tie their shoes.
Visit your local police and fire departments. Most will show kids the trucks, cars and give them information. Then come home and have kids create a safety drill for your home. Make maps and mark exits, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
Have kids learn to make butter, bake a loaf of bread or some cooking lessons.
Teach kids to sew. Start with a simple project such as a pillow.
Have kids take apart nonworking and unplugged items such as old clocks, radio, TV telephones and see what is inside.
Make a crystal radio.
Get a microscope and study bugs, pond water, hair, leaves, skin cells.
Visit your state capitol. Learn about your state and your state flag.
Contact your local conservation office and get posters of local wildlife, plants, trees, fish.
Study fish types and then go fishing.
Work puzzles. That uses the same brain cells that math problems use.
Watch such TV programs like "how is that made", and the history channel. If you watch Little House, notice and discuss how their life is different from ours today.
The topic I was orginally asked to write for was "Ways to Help Students Not Forget Over the Summer". But, these are things that can be done at home year around.
****************************
Play Math BINGO, I made mine from the plain (inside) cardboard on cereal boxes. I made squares and put numbers in each square. On small pieces of paper I wrote out all the multiplication facts through the 12's. The caller reads the problem, such as "6 x 6", and the kids look at their card. If they have a 36 on their card, they cover it (we use pennies as our covers). You could vary this game according to your child's math level for addition or subtraction.
Keep a critter's notebook. Each week or every few days, add a new animal or insect. You can add coloring sheets, research the animal in books or on line and write a report about it. My kids are older so their book is divided into the various animal kingdoms, and each animal is put behind the proper tab. You can take this with you when you visit the zoo and take animal pictures to add to your pages or to create new pages.
Discuss various businesses and call ahead to arrange for field trips. My kids have visited the bank, post office, grocery store, feed store, vets office, doctors office. By asking for a tour, you get to see the "back rooms", have inventory and business practices explained to the kids on their level. Many businesses, such as banks and the post office also have free literature to give to kids.
Have the kids shop. This uses home-ec, finances, math skills. Give them each a list, money and have them look for coupons and the best deals.
Discuss nutrition and have the kids each plan a menu for a day or week or month (depending on their ages). Then, they can shop and cook or help cook what they picked. Menus must meet the food recommendations.
Build medical models. We have built several skeletons and various organs. Older kids can learn the names of the bones. Get a newspaper end roll from your local paper. Lay out a long piece. Have the kids lay down and you can trace their body. Then they can color it all in. Little ones put on their face and clothes. Older kids draw in their organs and bones. Can be hung on their bedroom doors when finished.
See if your local library has a summer reading program, or a kid's book club. Read out loud together as a family. Also read a book, then see if the library has a movie of that book. You can discuss how it was the same and different. Learn the books of the Bible
Watch "Mr Smith goes to Washington" with Jimmy Stewart in it. It's an old clean movie that describes how the government works. Pick out several presidents and study them.
Find some educational place mats in the housewares area at Walmart. They have for 99 cents ones with the presidents, solar system, map of the world and more. Rotate them out every few days.
Get a free state map from your license bureau. Look up interesting areas in your state and then visit them in person or on line. Do you have a state park nearby? Visit the ranger station. It is free at most parks.
Have kids gather leaves. Take rubbings and then look up and find out what the leaves were from. Learn animal tracks, poisonous snakes and plants, then take what you learned with you and go camping.
Find the oldest cemetery around you and visit it. Read the tombstones. Who was the oldest? Who was the youngest? What is the oldest grave you can find? If you find a lot of people died the same year find out why? What illness or weather pattern killed them?
Work on family genealogy. Take the kids to visit older family members. Have them tell a story and have the kids tape record or video it to save for future generations.
Small kids can learn over the summer the months of the year, to tie their shoes.
Visit your local police and fire departments. Most will show kids the trucks, cars and give them information. Then come home and have kids create a safety drill for your home. Make maps and mark exits, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
Have kids learn to make butter, bake a loaf of bread or some cooking lessons.
Teach kids to sew. Start with a simple project such as a pillow.
Have kids take apart nonworking and unplugged items such as old clocks, radio, TV telephones and see what is inside.
Make a crystal radio.
Get a microscope and study bugs, pond water, hair, leaves, skin cells.
Visit your state capitol. Learn about your state and your state flag.
Contact your local conservation office and get posters of local wildlife, plants, trees, fish.
Study fish types and then go fishing.
Work puzzles. That uses the same brain cells that math problems use.
Watch such TV programs like "how is that made", and the history channel. If you watch Little House, notice and discuss how their life is different from ours today.
Fire Department and higher scores
It is official. Emily is now an official fire cadet for our local fire department. We live in a rural (very rural area). We have one fire department that covers both town (under 3,000 in population) and this part of the ruual county area. All members, except for the chief are volunteers. Our department has a cadet program for youth 8-18. Emily is one of about 3 or 4 cadets. To be a cadet the kids have to have a B grade average or higher and attend the training sessions, which are generally held weekly. Last night she was issued her bunker gear. She will respond to fire calls with JD (who is a full fledged fire fighter/EMT). She will get her own pager also, but they didn't have one available last night.
I, am now a member of the rehab team. The rehab team has a bus that goes to fires. The bus is loaded with snacks and water for the fire fighters, some medical equipment and operates as a rest station. We also monitor the fire fighters vital signs during an event and help back up the local ambulance district. In a few months we will have also completed the first responder training which is a step down from an EMT.
A few posts ago, I shared a letter that discussed test score results with homeschool vs traditional/private/public school students. A question was asked why homeschoolers general score higher.
There are several answers to this question.
First, is the student to teacher ratio. I don't have 26-30 students in my class room. I normally have 3, sometimes a few more if homeschooling friends are visiting. Less students means more time to devote to them.
Secondly (tying in with the first reason) is since we are smaller, we don't move on to the next concept until we understand the first one. In a traditional setting, the teacher moves on, despite the fact one or more of the students don't grasp the concept. She can not afford to slow down as it will put the rest of the class behind. In a homeschool setting, you keep doing it until you get it right.
Third, you can adjust your lesson for the students learning style. Some students are visual learners. Others are hands on. You can have one read about it while another watches a video about it.
Forth-time is saved that can be spent doing further learning. We don't waste time waiting in line to go from class to class or to lunch, taking lunch counts, attendance, bathroom breaks and time to pack and unpack backpacks. As a subteacher, I can tell you that almost 1/4 to 1/3 of a traditional day is spent doing these things. We also have the time then to do other activities, such as Emily participating in the fire cadet program, or the girls observing/intering in my cousins vetinary clinic.
I, am now a member of the rehab team. The rehab team has a bus that goes to fires. The bus is loaded with snacks and water for the fire fighters, some medical equipment and operates as a rest station. We also monitor the fire fighters vital signs during an event and help back up the local ambulance district. In a few months we will have also completed the first responder training which is a step down from an EMT.
A few posts ago, I shared a letter that discussed test score results with homeschool vs traditional/private/public school students. A question was asked why homeschoolers general score higher.
There are several answers to this question.
First, is the student to teacher ratio. I don't have 26-30 students in my class room. I normally have 3, sometimes a few more if homeschooling friends are visiting. Less students means more time to devote to them.
Secondly (tying in with the first reason) is since we are smaller, we don't move on to the next concept until we understand the first one. In a traditional setting, the teacher moves on, despite the fact one or more of the students don't grasp the concept. She can not afford to slow down as it will put the rest of the class behind. In a homeschool setting, you keep doing it until you get it right.
Third, you can adjust your lesson for the students learning style. Some students are visual learners. Others are hands on. You can have one read about it while another watches a video about it.
Forth-time is saved that can be spent doing further learning. We don't waste time waiting in line to go from class to class or to lunch, taking lunch counts, attendance, bathroom breaks and time to pack and unpack backpacks. As a subteacher, I can tell you that almost 1/4 to 1/3 of a traditional day is spent doing these things. We also have the time then to do other activities, such as Emily participating in the fire cadet program, or the girls observing/intering in my cousins vetinary clinic.
Free Kansas City Zoo trips for teachers & 3 family members
The Kansas City zoo has partnered with the Kansas City Environmental Educatior's Network (KCEEN) to host a day at the KC zoo for teachers.
This event is on September 26, 2009 from 9:30-2:00 at the zoo.
You must present a teacher ID upon admission.
Free events include admission for yourself and 3 family members, rides, giveaways and a sneal preview of educational resources and programs to use in the classroom and at the zoo.
For more info, visit www.kansascityzoo.org.
Reervations are needed, email to Education@fotzkc.org by September 23. Include your name, school, grades teaching and number of people attending,broken down by # of adults and children and the ages of the children.
This event is on September 26, 2009 from 9:30-2:00 at the zoo.
You must present a teacher ID upon admission.
Free events include admission for yourself and 3 family members, rides, giveaways and a sneal preview of educational resources and programs to use in the classroom and at the zoo.
For more info, visit www.kansascityzoo.org.
Reervations are needed, email to Education@fotzkc.org by September 23. Include your name, school, grades teaching and number of people attending,broken down by # of adults and children and the ages of the children.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Homeschool Stats from HSLDA
New Nationwide Study Confirms Homeschool Academic Achievement
Ian Slatter
Director of Media Relations
August 10, 2009
Each year, the homeschool movement graduates at least 100,000 students. Due to the fact that both the United States government and homeschool advocates agree that homeschooling has been growing at around 7% per annum for the past decade, it is not surprising that homeschooling is gaining increased attention. Consequently, many people have been asking questions about homeschooling, usually with a focus on either the academic or social abilities of homeschool graduates.
As an organization advocating on behalf of homeschoolers, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) long ago committed itself to demonstrating that homeschooling should be viewed as a mainstream educational alternative.
We strongly believe that homeschooling is a thriving education movement capable of producing millions of academically and socially able students who will have a tremendously positive effect on society.
Despite much resistance from outside the homeschool movement, whether from teachers unions, politicians, school administrators, judges, social service workers, or even family members, over the past few decades homeschoolers have slowly but surely won acceptance as a mainstream education alternative. This has been due in part to the commissioning of research which demonstrates the academic success of the average homeschooler.
The last piece of major research looking at homeschool academic achievement was completed in 1998 by Dr. Lawrence Rudner. Rudner, a professor at the ERIC Clearinghouse, which is part of the University of Maryland, surveyed over 20,000 homeschooled students. His study, titled Home Schooling Works, discovered that homeschoolers (on average) scored about 30 percentile points higher than the national average on standardized achievement tests.
This research and several other studies supporting the claims of homeschoolers have helped the homeschool cause tremendously. Today, you would be hard pressed to find an opponent of homeschooling who says that homeschoolers, on average, are poor academic achievers.
There is one problem, however. Rudner’s research was conducted over a decade ago. Without another look at the level of academic achievement among homeschooled students, critics could begin to say that research on homeschool achievement is outdated and no longer relevant.
Recognizing this problem, HSLDA commissioned Dr. Brian Ray, an internationally recognized scholar and president of the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), to collect data for the 2007–08 academic year for a new study which would build upon 25 years of homeschool academic scholarship conducted by Ray himself, Rudner, and many others.
Drawing from 15 independent testing services, the Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics included 11,739 homeschooled students from all 50 states who took three well-known tests—California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and Stanford Achievement Test for the 2007–08 academic year. The Progress Report is the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed.
The Results
Overall the study showed significant advances in homeschool academic achievement as well as revealing that issues such as student gender, parents’ education level, and family income had little bearing on the results of homeschooled students.
National Average Percentile Scores
Subtest Homeschool Public School
Reading 89 50
Language 84 50
Math 84 50
Science 86 50
Social Studies 84 50
Corea 88 50
Compositeb 86 50
a. Core is a combination of Reading, Language, and Math.
b. Composite is a combination of all subtests that the student took on the test.
There was little difference between the results of homeschooled boys and girls on core scores.
Boys—87th percentile
Girls—88th percentile
Household income had little impact on the results of homeschooled students.
$34,999 or less—85th percentile
$35,000–$49,999—86th percentile
$50,000–$69,999—86th percentile
$70,000 or more—89th percentile
The education level of the parents made a noticeable difference, but the homeschooled children of non-college educated parents still scored in the 83rd percentile, which is well above the national average.
Neither parent has a college degree—83rd percentile
One parent has a college degree—86th percentile
Both parents have a college degree—90th percentile
Whether either parent was a certified teacher did not matter.
Certified (i.e., either parent ever certified)—87th percentile
Not certified (i.e., neither parent ever certified)—88th percentile
Parental spending on home education made little difference.
Spent $600 or more on the student—89th percentile
Spent under $600 on the student—86th percentile
The extent of government regulation on homeschoolers did not affect the results.
Low state regulation—87th percentile
Medium state regulation—88th percentile
High state regulation—87th percentile
HSLDA defines the extent of government regulation this way:
States with low regulation: No state requirement for parents to initiate any contact or State requires parental notification only.
States with moderate regulation: State requires parents to send notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student progress.
State with high regulation: State requires parents to send notification or achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other requirements (e.g. curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents, or home visits by state officials).
The question HSLDA regularly puts before state legislatures is, “If government regulation does not improve the results of homeschoolers why is it necessary?”
In short, the results found in the new study are consistent with 25 years of research, which show that as a group homeschoolers consistently perform above average academically. The Progress Report also shows that, even as the numbers and diversity of homeschoolers have grown tremendously over the past 10 years, homeschoolers have actually increased the already sizeable gap in academic achievement between themselves and their public school counterparts- moving from about 30 percentile points higher in the Rudner study (1998) to 37 percentile points higher in the Progress Report (2009).
As mentioned earlier, the achievement gaps that are well-documented in public school between boys and girls, parents with lower incomes, and parents with lower levels of education are not found among homeschoolers. While it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion, it does appear from all the existing research that homeschooling equalizes every student upwards. Homeschoolers are actually achieving every day what the public schools claim are their goals—to narrow achievement gaps and to educate each child to a high level.
Of course, an education movement which consistently shows that children can be educated to a standard significantly above the average public school student at a fraction of the cost—the average spent by participants in the Progress Report was about $500 per child per year as opposed to the public school average of nearly $10,000 per child per year—will inevitably draw attention from the K-12 public education industry.
Answering the Critics
This particular study is the most comprehensive ever undertaken. It attempts to build upon and improve on the previous research. One criticism of the Rudner study was that it only drew students from one large testing service. Although there was no reason to believe that homeschoolers participating with that service were automatically non-representative of the broader homeschool community, HSLDA decided to answer this criticism by using 15 independent testing services for this new study. There can be no doubt that homeschoolers from all walks of life and backgrounds participated in the Progress Report.
While it is true that not every homeschooler in America was part of this study, it is also true that the Progress Report provides clear evidence of the success of homeschool programs.
The reason is that all social science studies are based on samples. The goal is to make the sample as representative as possible because then more confident conclusions can be drawn about the larger population. Those conclusions are then validated when other studies find the same or similar results.
Critics tend to focus on this narrow point and maintain that they will not be satisfied until every homeschooler is submitted to a test. This is not a reasonable request because not all homeschoolers take standardized achievement tests. In fact, while the majority of homeschool parents do indeed test their children simply to track their progress and also to provide them with the experience of test-taking, it is far from a comprehensive and universal practice among homeschoolers.
The best researchers can do is provide a sample of homeschooling families and compare the results of their children to those of public school students, in order to give the most accurate picture of how homeschoolers in general are faring academically.
The concern that the only families who chose to participate are the most successful homeschoolers can be alleviated by the fact that the overwhelming majority of parents did not know their children's test results before agreeing to participate in the study.
HSLDA believes that this study along with the several that have been done in the past are clear evidence that homeschoolers are succeeding academically.
Final Thought
Homeschooling is making great strides and hundreds of thousands of parents across America are showing every day what can be achieved when parents exercise their right to homeschool and make tremendous sacrifices to provide their children with the best education available.
Ian Slatter
Director of Media Relations
August 10, 2009
Each year, the homeschool movement graduates at least 100,000 students. Due to the fact that both the United States government and homeschool advocates agree that homeschooling has been growing at around 7% per annum for the past decade, it is not surprising that homeschooling is gaining increased attention. Consequently, many people have been asking questions about homeschooling, usually with a focus on either the academic or social abilities of homeschool graduates.
As an organization advocating on behalf of homeschoolers, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) long ago committed itself to demonstrating that homeschooling should be viewed as a mainstream educational alternative.
We strongly believe that homeschooling is a thriving education movement capable of producing millions of academically and socially able students who will have a tremendously positive effect on society.
Despite much resistance from outside the homeschool movement, whether from teachers unions, politicians, school administrators, judges, social service workers, or even family members, over the past few decades homeschoolers have slowly but surely won acceptance as a mainstream education alternative. This has been due in part to the commissioning of research which demonstrates the academic success of the average homeschooler.
The last piece of major research looking at homeschool academic achievement was completed in 1998 by Dr. Lawrence Rudner. Rudner, a professor at the ERIC Clearinghouse, which is part of the University of Maryland, surveyed over 20,000 homeschooled students. His study, titled Home Schooling Works, discovered that homeschoolers (on average) scored about 30 percentile points higher than the national average on standardized achievement tests.
This research and several other studies supporting the claims of homeschoolers have helped the homeschool cause tremendously. Today, you would be hard pressed to find an opponent of homeschooling who says that homeschoolers, on average, are poor academic achievers.
There is one problem, however. Rudner’s research was conducted over a decade ago. Without another look at the level of academic achievement among homeschooled students, critics could begin to say that research on homeschool achievement is outdated and no longer relevant.
Recognizing this problem, HSLDA commissioned Dr. Brian Ray, an internationally recognized scholar and president of the non-profit National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), to collect data for the 2007–08 academic year for a new study which would build upon 25 years of homeschool academic scholarship conducted by Ray himself, Rudner, and many others.
Drawing from 15 independent testing services, the Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics included 11,739 homeschooled students from all 50 states who took three well-known tests—California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and Stanford Achievement Test for the 2007–08 academic year. The Progress Report is the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed.
The Results
Overall the study showed significant advances in homeschool academic achievement as well as revealing that issues such as student gender, parents’ education level, and family income had little bearing on the results of homeschooled students.
National Average Percentile Scores
Subtest Homeschool Public School
Reading 89 50
Language 84 50
Math 84 50
Science 86 50
Social Studies 84 50
Corea 88 50
Compositeb 86 50
a. Core is a combination of Reading, Language, and Math.
b. Composite is a combination of all subtests that the student took on the test.
There was little difference between the results of homeschooled boys and girls on core scores.
Boys—87th percentile
Girls—88th percentile
Household income had little impact on the results of homeschooled students.
$34,999 or less—85th percentile
$35,000–$49,999—86th percentile
$50,000–$69,999—86th percentile
$70,000 or more—89th percentile
The education level of the parents made a noticeable difference, but the homeschooled children of non-college educated parents still scored in the 83rd percentile, which is well above the national average.
Neither parent has a college degree—83rd percentile
One parent has a college degree—86th percentile
Both parents have a college degree—90th percentile
Whether either parent was a certified teacher did not matter.
Certified (i.e., either parent ever certified)—87th percentile
Not certified (i.e., neither parent ever certified)—88th percentile
Parental spending on home education made little difference.
Spent $600 or more on the student—89th percentile
Spent under $600 on the student—86th percentile
The extent of government regulation on homeschoolers did not affect the results.
Low state regulation—87th percentile
Medium state regulation—88th percentile
High state regulation—87th percentile
HSLDA defines the extent of government regulation this way:
States with low regulation: No state requirement for parents to initiate any contact or State requires parental notification only.
States with moderate regulation: State requires parents to send notification, test scores, and/or professional evaluation of student progress.
State with high regulation: State requires parents to send notification or achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation, plus other requirements (e.g. curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents, or home visits by state officials).
The question HSLDA regularly puts before state legislatures is, “If government regulation does not improve the results of homeschoolers why is it necessary?”
In short, the results found in the new study are consistent with 25 years of research, which show that as a group homeschoolers consistently perform above average academically. The Progress Report also shows that, even as the numbers and diversity of homeschoolers have grown tremendously over the past 10 years, homeschoolers have actually increased the already sizeable gap in academic achievement between themselves and their public school counterparts- moving from about 30 percentile points higher in the Rudner study (1998) to 37 percentile points higher in the Progress Report (2009).
As mentioned earlier, the achievement gaps that are well-documented in public school between boys and girls, parents with lower incomes, and parents with lower levels of education are not found among homeschoolers. While it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion, it does appear from all the existing research that homeschooling equalizes every student upwards. Homeschoolers are actually achieving every day what the public schools claim are their goals—to narrow achievement gaps and to educate each child to a high level.
Of course, an education movement which consistently shows that children can be educated to a standard significantly above the average public school student at a fraction of the cost—the average spent by participants in the Progress Report was about $500 per child per year as opposed to the public school average of nearly $10,000 per child per year—will inevitably draw attention from the K-12 public education industry.
Answering the Critics
This particular study is the most comprehensive ever undertaken. It attempts to build upon and improve on the previous research. One criticism of the Rudner study was that it only drew students from one large testing service. Although there was no reason to believe that homeschoolers participating with that service were automatically non-representative of the broader homeschool community, HSLDA decided to answer this criticism by using 15 independent testing services for this new study. There can be no doubt that homeschoolers from all walks of life and backgrounds participated in the Progress Report.
While it is true that not every homeschooler in America was part of this study, it is also true that the Progress Report provides clear evidence of the success of homeschool programs.
The reason is that all social science studies are based on samples. The goal is to make the sample as representative as possible because then more confident conclusions can be drawn about the larger population. Those conclusions are then validated when other studies find the same or similar results.
Critics tend to focus on this narrow point and maintain that they will not be satisfied until every homeschooler is submitted to a test. This is not a reasonable request because not all homeschoolers take standardized achievement tests. In fact, while the majority of homeschool parents do indeed test their children simply to track their progress and also to provide them with the experience of test-taking, it is far from a comprehensive and universal practice among homeschoolers.
The best researchers can do is provide a sample of homeschooling families and compare the results of their children to those of public school students, in order to give the most accurate picture of how homeschoolers in general are faring academically.
The concern that the only families who chose to participate are the most successful homeschoolers can be alleviated by the fact that the overwhelming majority of parents did not know their children's test results before agreeing to participate in the study.
HSLDA believes that this study along with the several that have been done in the past are clear evidence that homeschoolers are succeeding academically.
Final Thought
Homeschooling is making great strides and hundreds of thousands of parents across America are showing every day what can be achieved when parents exercise their right to homeschool and make tremendous sacrifices to provide their children with the best education available.
Free classes for Missouri homeschoolers
The following is a list of FREE homeschooling classes being offered by FHE Board members in upcoming weeks. If you know of a new homeschooling family, please pass this information along so they can get a good understanding of Missouri homeschooling laws, what FHE does for home educators in Missouri and an opportunity to meet other homeschool parents to build support.
Tuesday, August 18, 7-9pm: Trails Regional Library, Warrensburg Branch - Homeschooling 101, Kim Bowlin
Register by calling Kim Bowlin @ 850-3992 or e-mailing akbowlin88@yahoo.com
The Good Shepherd Academy is pleased to sponser free August workshops. Space is limited. Please call 816-295-1481 to register.
Saturday, August 22, 2:30-3:30: Homeschooling Through High School Deana Haines
Monday, August 24, 4:30-5:30pm: Teaching Children With Special Needs Kim Bowlin
Mid-Continent Public Library:
Homeschooling 101
Are you thinking about homeschooling, but don't know how to get started? This session is for you! An experienced home educator examines the benefits of teaching children and teens at home, explains Missouri Law and discusses curriculum options. Information about local support groups and opportunities will be shared. Please come and learn more about this exciting education option. You can do it! Even if you're already homeschooling, this program can be helpful to you, too!
Registration is required. Register online at http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/programs/title.cfm?id=1849 or call the branch where you plan to attend.
September 1, 2009, Tuesday at 2:00 PM Oak Grove
September 1, 2009, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Kearney
September 3, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Riverside
September 10, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Grandview
September 15, 2009, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Antioch
September 17, 2009, Thursday at 2:00 PM Dearborn
September 17, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Parkville
September 22, 2009, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Liberty
September 24, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Buckner
Tuesday, August 18, 7-9pm: Trails Regional Library, Warrensburg Branch - Homeschooling 101, Kim Bowlin
Register by calling Kim Bowlin @ 850-3992 or e-mailing akbowlin88@yahoo.com
The Good Shepherd Academy is pleased to sponser free August workshops. Space is limited. Please call 816-295-1481 to register.
Saturday, August 22, 2:30-3:30: Homeschooling Through High School Deana Haines
Monday, August 24, 4:30-5:30pm: Teaching Children With Special Needs Kim Bowlin
Mid-Continent Public Library:
Homeschooling 101
Are you thinking about homeschooling, but don't know how to get started? This session is for you! An experienced home educator examines the benefits of teaching children and teens at home, explains Missouri Law and discusses curriculum options. Information about local support groups and opportunities will be shared. Please come and learn more about this exciting education option. You can do it! Even if you're already homeschooling, this program can be helpful to you, too!
Registration is required. Register online at http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/programs/title.cfm?id=1849 or call the branch where you plan to attend.
September 1, 2009, Tuesday at 2:00 PM Oak Grove
September 1, 2009, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Kearney
September 3, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Riverside
September 10, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Grandview
September 15, 2009, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Antioch
September 17, 2009, Thursday at 2:00 PM Dearborn
September 17, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Parkville
September 22, 2009, Tuesday at 7:00 PM Liberty
September 24, 2009, Thursday at 7:00 PM Buckner
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Homeschool Choir
A new Homeschool Choir will be starting in September in Grandview, MO.
This group will meet on Fridays from 3:00-4:00.
A parent's meeting and registration will be held at 3:00 on September 11, 2009, at First Baptist Grandview, 1416 Main, Grandview, MO. 64030.
This group will perform at least three times during the school year.
For more information: Deana Haines 942-8897 or dmahaines@yahoo.com
This group will meet on Fridays from 3:00-4:00.
A parent's meeting and registration will be held at 3:00 on September 11, 2009, at First Baptist Grandview, 1416 Main, Grandview, MO. 64030.
This group will perform at least three times during the school year.
For more information: Deana Haines 942-8897 or dmahaines@yahoo.com
School
It is only Tuesday, and we have almost 20 hours of school in for this week. Sunday we got in hours for reading, Bible and math. Yesterday math, reading and social studies/geography and reading. Today, we have done math, computer skills, spelling, PE, social studies/geography, reading and reading comp as well as journals.
We went to the library this morning, and the girls all played computer games for an hour. I count that as computer skills as it is a fun way to learn where the keys are on the keyboard. They also all checked out some books. For PE they rode horses in the arena tonight for about an hour.
Some of our subjects do "double duty". If, for example, we are reading a non-fiction book, we may count that as history instead of reading. All of our reading comprehensions are factual stories. Sometimes we read about science, or history or as in today about the planet Saturn. Our spelling words this week came from today's reading comprehension page.
One of the advantages of homeschooling year around is that we go for shorter periods each day. We also have the flexibility to take a day off or have a short day if something comes up.
Tonight the girls helped fix taco's for supper and Rebecca made brownies for desert. When they help cook that goes toward home-ec time, as well as cleaning and laundry. When I lived in a college dorm I couldn't believe how many girls couldn't cook or wash their own laundry. You won't be able to say that about my girls!!
This afternoon Emily got come eggs from our chickens going in our incubator. Hopefully in 21 days we will have hatched some baby chicks. Our hens have been molting, so our egg production is way down from usual.
We went to the library this morning, and the girls all played computer games for an hour. I count that as computer skills as it is a fun way to learn where the keys are on the keyboard. They also all checked out some books. For PE they rode horses in the arena tonight for about an hour.
Some of our subjects do "double duty". If, for example, we are reading a non-fiction book, we may count that as history instead of reading. All of our reading comprehensions are factual stories. Sometimes we read about science, or history or as in today about the planet Saturn. Our spelling words this week came from today's reading comprehension page.
One of the advantages of homeschooling year around is that we go for shorter periods each day. We also have the flexibility to take a day off or have a short day if something comes up.
Tonight the girls helped fix taco's for supper and Rebecca made brownies for desert. When they help cook that goes toward home-ec time, as well as cleaning and laundry. When I lived in a college dorm I couldn't believe how many girls couldn't cook or wash their own laundry. You won't be able to say that about my girls!!
This afternoon Emily got come eggs from our chickens going in our incubator. Hopefully in 21 days we will have hatched some baby chicks. Our hens have been molting, so our egg production is way down from usual.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Math Bingo
We have played a lot of multiplication bingo this week. We use coins for markers. At the end of the game the kids get to keep their markers--it keeps them motivated to answer and to want to keep playing. I made our game--it was simple to do. On the BINGO cards, I wrote numbers that are in the multiplication tables. Ten I "draw" the math facts. If I read 4 x 5, the kids have to look at their cards and see if they have a 20. If so, they cover their 20 with a marker (penny, dime or nickle). We usually play blackout, which is until the entire is full. I count this time as math review--usually a game with 3-5 players will take 30 minutes or so. If they don't know the answer, I say it the 2nd time I read the math fact.
I covered our cards in clear contact paper to help them to last longer. You could also do the same for addition facts.
Cool time at Cool Crest
Friday we took the gang to Cool Crest in Independence MO. It was an event sponsered by JD's employer. For 4 hours we had unlimited mini golf and go carting. They also fed us pizza and gave each person 30 tokens for the arcade. The kids loved it. It was hot out, so on the way home we stopped for ice cream.
All week we had this debate as to who was going to win in the go cart race. I am happy to announce I beat JD once, and he beat me once. Of course, he won't say I beat him, just that I was ahead of him.....
JD got my new chicken coop moved last night-right before the storm hit. I plan on keeping new chickens in it. We have some eggs now that we are getting ready to put into the incubator, once it reaches the proper temperture.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
For those in the KC area....
This is from an email I received. It is for all kids, regardless of if you are homeschooled or not.
Forwarded:
Heartland Singers is a fun singing opportunity to learn and perform quality music literature. Participants will focus on good choral singing including the elements of diction, harmony singing, tone quality, and musicianship. Cost includes enrollment fee, music, and T-shirt. Directed by experienced music specialists, the Heartland Singers will have a great time preparing concerts and other performance opportunities.
This choir is for kids in grades 4 through 7.
(my daughter was allowed to join last year in grade 3. If you think your child is mature enough for a choir experience, attend the audition and give it a try. They must be able to concentrate and sing for a full hour at each practice)
Interested singers should come to the Choral Room at Antioch Middle School (Room 137 - use east entrance) for a 5-10 minute audition from 5:00 - 7:30 pm on either of the following dates: Tuesday, September 9, Wednesday, September 10, or Thursday, September 11, 2009. All singers will need to audition.
If selected, you may call to enroll at 816-413-5494.
Please also use this number for more information or questions.
There are still openings remaining at this time.
Instructor: Regina Kellogg
North Kansas City Online Course Catalog;
http://w6.nkcsd.k12.mo.us/CourseStatus.awp?~~10AMUS02
Heartland Singers; Begins; 09/21/2009 through 12/07/2009
Mondays from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Meets at Antioch Middle School
12 Sessions
$ 50.00
(last year this was the cost for the full year)
----------------------------------------------------------
My daughter and 5 other homeschoolers were in this choir last year and had a great time!! It was a very positive experience, and she is so eager to do it again this year. Last year we had two concerts at Antioch Middle school, and performed one at Crown Center during the holiday season as well.
We would love to see more of her homeschool friends join us! This community choir is open to both boys and girls!!
If your child is worried or nervous about the audition--don't be. It was very fast and painless. The kids go into the music room privately with a teacher and their parent. They are then asked to sing something simple like Happy birthday or Twinkle Twinkle little star. It is very brief and they just want to see if your child can carry a tune and is not too afraid to sing in public. I think our audition took about 2 minutes total. My tip is to arrive for the audition about 5 to 10 minutes early, and then you wont have to wait in line for your turn, which usually increases nervousness!
Hoping to see other homeschool singers!!
Stephanie K
Forwarded:
Heartland Singers is a fun singing opportunity to learn and perform quality music literature. Participants will focus on good choral singing including the elements of diction, harmony singing, tone quality, and musicianship. Cost includes enrollment fee, music, and T-shirt. Directed by experienced music specialists, the Heartland Singers will have a great time preparing concerts and other performance opportunities.
This choir is for kids in grades 4 through 7.
(my daughter was allowed to join last year in grade 3. If you think your child is mature enough for a choir experience, attend the audition and give it a try. They must be able to concentrate and sing for a full hour at each practice)
Interested singers should come to the Choral Room at Antioch Middle School (Room 137 - use east entrance) for a 5-10 minute audition from 5:00 - 7:30 pm on either of the following dates: Tuesday, September 9, Wednesday, September 10, or Thursday, September 11, 2009. All singers will need to audition.
If selected, you may call to enroll at 816-413-5494.
Please also use this number for more information or questions.
There are still openings remaining at this time.
Instructor: Regina Kellogg
North Kansas City Online Course Catalog;
http://w6.nkcsd.k12.mo.us/CourseStatus.awp?~~10AMUS02
Heartland Singers; Begins; 09/21/2009 through 12/07/2009
Mondays from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Meets at Antioch Middle School
12 Sessions
$ 50.00
(last year this was the cost for the full year)
----------------------------------------------------------
My daughter and 5 other homeschoolers were in this choir last year and had a great time!! It was a very positive experience, and she is so eager to do it again this year. Last year we had two concerts at Antioch Middle school, and performed one at Crown Center during the holiday season as well.
We would love to see more of her homeschool friends join us! This community choir is open to both boys and girls!!
If your child is worried or nervous about the audition--don't be. It was very fast and painless. The kids go into the music room privately with a teacher and their parent. They are then asked to sing something simple like Happy birthday or Twinkle Twinkle little star. It is very brief and they just want to see if your child can carry a tune and is not too afraid to sing in public. I think our audition took about 2 minutes total. My tip is to arrive for the audition about 5 to 10 minutes early, and then you wont have to wait in line for your turn, which usually increases nervousness!
Hoping to see other homeschool singers!!
Stephanie K
Farm visit
This morning we had a daycare come and visit the farm. This was their 2nd year to come visit us. I am not sure if the highlight was the tractor ride or hunting for eggs in the hay or chasing chickens. The kids also got to hold rabbits, pet horses, the cat and the pigs. It is warm out, so the cows didn't come up from their shade tree by the farm to visit, but the kids could still see them from the fence. They ended their visit with swinging on the play set for awhile.
While I was with the daycare kids, MY kids hosted a tornado that came through the house (which was clean when I went out). I followed the tornado trail to the TV...Must have been some storm, as there was clothing & food & dishes everywhere,......So now...I have 6 kids outside pulling weeds.....
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Deals from couponmom.com
"FREE is the best price--Get Super Drugstore and Grocery Savings 8/2 to 8/8
CVS deals are GREAT this week, Weeklong deals include 99-cent Softsoap wash, 74-cent Dawn dish liquid, and FREE Blink Tears drops. This list has a new feature: The CVS Deal Preview! Beginning Saturday afternoon, look for the link on the CVS list that says "Preview Next Week's Deals" to see next weeks sale prices matched with the new week's coupons.
Walgreens deals include stock-up prices on school supplies for pennies each. Get Kelloggs cookies and Cheez It crackers practically FREE by combining Register Rewards, sale prices, and Sunday's coupons from the Kellogg's coupon circular. Print this Keebler cookie coupon (you can print 2) to pay only $3 for 5 packages of Keebler cookies when you combine the $5 Register Rewards savings with the two $1 printable coupons and the $2 sale price. Also get 99-cent Clairol haircolor, 50-cent Crest toothpaste, 75-cent Oral B toothbrush, FREE 2 pack Gum toothbrushes, 25-cent Kraft Jello, $3 Loreal haircolor, and FREE Vitamin shampoo. See our complete Walgreens list for details and more deals!
We're the only game in town with a full list of Wal-Mart deals, over 200 every week. Your store's exact prices may vary slightly, but you'll be able to use our list as a helpful guide. Use this week's newspaper coupons to get great deals on Vaseline lotion, Suave deodorant, Tag body spray, Oust spray, Glade spray and more.
Find the best Target deals when you combine Target coupons with your newspaper coupons, including FREE Mars candy bars when you combine the Target printable store coupon with the newspaper coupon from 8/2RP. Check our list for details.
Rite Aid deals include a $25 prescription transfer coupon in the ad, and too many FREE deals to list, including Renu solution, tape, Garnier hair care products, Gillette Venus razor, Werners candy, Zantac, Crest toothpaste, GE lightbulbs and more--ALL FREE! Plus, print a 10% off coupon for Rite Aid so you'll be making money on your mail-in rebate items!"
Go to couponmom.com for the rest of the info!
CVS deals are GREAT this week, Weeklong deals include 99-cent Softsoap wash, 74-cent Dawn dish liquid, and FREE Blink Tears drops. This list has a new feature: The CVS Deal Preview! Beginning Saturday afternoon, look for the link on the CVS list that says "Preview Next Week's Deals" to see next weeks sale prices matched with the new week's coupons.
Walgreens deals include stock-up prices on school supplies for pennies each. Get Kelloggs cookies and Cheez It crackers practically FREE by combining Register Rewards, sale prices, and Sunday's coupons from the Kellogg's coupon circular. Print this Keebler cookie coupon (you can print 2) to pay only $3 for 5 packages of Keebler cookies when you combine the $5 Register Rewards savings with the two $1 printable coupons and the $2 sale price. Also get 99-cent Clairol haircolor, 50-cent Crest toothpaste, 75-cent Oral B toothbrush, FREE 2 pack Gum toothbrushes, 25-cent Kraft Jello, $3 Loreal haircolor, and FREE Vitamin shampoo. See our complete Walgreens list for details and more deals!
We're the only game in town with a full list of Wal-Mart deals, over 200 every week. Your store's exact prices may vary slightly, but you'll be able to use our list as a helpful guide. Use this week's newspaper coupons to get great deals on Vaseline lotion, Suave deodorant, Tag body spray, Oust spray, Glade spray and more.
Find the best Target deals when you combine Target coupons with your newspaper coupons, including FREE Mars candy bars when you combine the Target printable store coupon with the newspaper coupon from 8/2RP. Check our list for details.
Rite Aid deals include a $25 prescription transfer coupon in the ad, and too many FREE deals to list, including Renu solution, tape, Garnier hair care products, Gillette Venus razor, Werners candy, Zantac, Crest toothpaste, GE lightbulbs and more--ALL FREE! Plus, print a 10% off coupon for Rite Aid so you'll be making money on your mail-in rebate items!"
Go to couponmom.com for the rest of the info!
We survived the zoo
Today JD and I took 8 kids to the Kansas City zoo. It took 2 vehicles to haul everyone. We took 2 strollers and that was a big help. We had the 2 babies in one, and the food in the other. The kids had blast. It was a little on the crowded side, since it was $2 day, but it was a well behaved crowd. The weather was good, but a little on the hot side after lunch. The morning was overcast, with no rain so that helped. We walked and walked and walked. We should all sleep well tonight. The kids took a swim in the pond when we got home to cool off. I know for a few years it seemed the zoo was getting a "tired" look, but it was clean and had several exhibits that were not there the last time I visited, which was in 1998.
We took a lot of animal pictures which we will print off and work into our animal books. Some were animals we already studied, but we came across a lot of new ones as well.
Tonight we are making home made ice cream, butter and having BBQ chicken wings (from JD's grilling) and watermelon. Earlier this week we got a gallon of cream from Shatto Dairy in Osborn. The kids were all excited to make the ice cream and butter, but no one wanted to crank. So, we replaced the old Daisy for the night with the Kitchen Aide mixer for the butter and are using an electric ice cream freezer.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monster cookies and swimming & singing with cows
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups creamy or chunky peanut butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated white sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's plain chocolate candies
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated white sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's plain chocolate candies
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray, or line with parchment paper or a silpat mats.
2. In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter with the sugars and butter. Use an electric mixer to mix until well combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the oats and baking soda. Then stir in the chips and M&M's.
3. Drop the cookies by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. If you'd like your cookies to look pretty (like the photo), dot a few extra M&M's and chocolate chips on each mound of dough before baking.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets until cookies are set. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
2. In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter with the sugars and butter. Use an electric mixer to mix until well combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the oats and baking soda. Then stir in the chips and M&M's.
3. Drop the cookies by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. If you'd like your cookies to look pretty (like the photo), dot a few extra M&M's and chocolate chips on each mound of dough before baking.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets until cookies are set. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Tomorrow is our big trip to the KC Zoo. Admission is $2, train rides are $2 and hotdogs are $2. This afternoon we baked "monster cookies" to take with us. We will buy hotdogs for our lunch, but are taking our own cookies, fruit, chips, pudding/jellos, and bottles of water. Our water bottles we will refill and add drink mix. (By the way, wylers mix for water bottles are only $1 a box at walgreens, as compared to $2.50 at the grocery store. Often they have coupons out so that you can get them for free. There are 8 in the box.) Each of us will have a back pack with our nonperishable foods and the kids are taking their animal notebooks.
When we return from the zoo, we are planning on making homemade ice cream and we will have a "fishing tournament" in the back pond. Last year the tournament turned into the kids against JD and I.
If you missed an older post about our animal notebooks.....part of our homeschooling is animal notebooks. (This counts as part of our science.) Each girl has a binder that we add a animal to weekly. They file the animal in their books under the proper classification (books are broken down by mammal, insects, rodents). We will be taking pictures and gathering facts about animals we don't have, and adding info to animals we do have.
This evening the girls went swimming in the small front pond while JD cooked on the grill. For awhile the cows joined them, and the girls sang to the cows. Needless to say, the cows didn't stick around too long. After supper we had a snack of monster cookies (to make sure they were really good enough to take with us tomorrow...) and shattoo chocolate and strawberry milk. Yum Yum.
Monday, August 3, 2009
"Week of the Cousins"
No, its not a new horror film (not yet anyway)...This is the week that we have the cousins who are all around the same age as our younger 3 girls come and spend a week at our farm. Our week started yesterday.
Yesterday was our annual Shinabarger Espey family reunion in Maryville MO. We had a smaller number than usual, as one was in the hospital, one was with her sister and some went to bike week in Sturgis. But still, there was plenty of good food and visiting. My parents and my brothers family went up several days earlier and camped at Lake Monzingo. The first night that they had the tent up, and huge storm came through and they split up and ended up in the RV with my parents and part in a vehicle for the rest of the night. Typical camping... After the reunion we brought back a suburban full of kids. So, for the week, we have 2 4th graders, 2 5th graders and 2 th graders.
Today we went to the Shatto Milk Dairy in Osborn MO. If you haven't been there, homeschooler or not, I recommend you go visit. If you call ahead, you can arrange a tour. From their store/gift shop they have windows where you can stand and watch them bottle the milk and make cheese. While we were there, they were bottling strawberry milk. (We looked for the pink cows when we left, but didn't see any). We bought some cream and some chocolate milk and strawberry milk. Wednesday we plan on making ice cream and butter with the cream (after we get home from the zoo).
After we visited the dairy, we stopped by the conservation area that is just off of hwy 33. They have several ponds there which are fish and release ponds. The kids had fun exploring the ponds and finding fish in the water. Of course part of the fun was seeing how much noise they could make while stopping on the metal dock.
On the way home we stopped by one of our local cemetaries and visited the grave of Plattsburgs claim to fame--the president for one day, David Rice Atchison.
So far, the most drama this week has been a lost hair brush and lost rubber bands for braces. But, both were found (Yes the bands are on the braces now!!!)
JD has mowed around the swimming pond and around the fishing pond. The girls have gone swimming twice now and Sam helped JD dig some post holes. Later this week they plan to move my new chicken coop and then set up the fence post-(weather providing). Since Sam is the only boy, he and JD are pals this week. Later this evening they plan to go fishing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)