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!
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Saturday, September 12, 2009
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.
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
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.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Good News from DeVry University
Earn up to 24 credit hours at DeVry University!
A Student’s Guide for Passport2College
DeVry University Kansas City’s Passport2College program offers qualified high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to take college-level courses at DeVry University’s Kansas City campus at NO TUITION COST. Courses successfully completed may count toward your high school graduation, as well as earn college credit. Session are 8 weeks long, and you may enroll in sessions beginning January, March, April, July, September, and November.
How to qualify:
Be a junior or senior
Be at least 16 years of age when attending your first class.
Interview with your DeVry University Education Advisor.
Submit a cover letter indicating your interest in the program. Include your name, home address, telephone number, and email address, the courses interested in taking.
A letter of recommendation from your counselor including the remaining courses required for graduation.
Complete an Application with your Education Advisor.
Design an academic plan of study (eligibility for individual courses will be determined by prior educational performance and/or standardized testing).
How to apply:
Mail your cover letter
Mail letter of recommendation by counselor
Mail official high school transcripts
Fees:
Your tuition, application fee, activity fee, parking sticker, and proficiency exam fees are paid by DeVry University.
You will be responsible for books, to be paid in FULL at the time of purchase. (Cost of books typically ranges from $90-140 per course)
** Academic and admission policies related to the dual enrollment program at DeVry University are subject to change. As such, you may be requested to provide further documentation of your prior education in addition to the information listed.
Send To:
Janett Meyer
Assistant Director of Admissions
New Student Program
DeVry University
11224 Holmes Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
jmeyer2@devry.edu
www.devry.edu (check out our website to view our catalog)
Questions: call 816-941-0430 ext. 5342 or e-mail jmeyer2@devry.edu
Fax: 816-941-9341
*Exclusions:
Career Services, Student Insurance Policy, Housing, Part-time employment, and Financial Aid assistance will not be available.
Student will be responsible for your own transportation
DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA).
A Student’s Guide for Passport2College
DeVry University Kansas City’s Passport2College program offers qualified high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to take college-level courses at DeVry University’s Kansas City campus at NO TUITION COST. Courses successfully completed may count toward your high school graduation, as well as earn college credit. Session are 8 weeks long, and you may enroll in sessions beginning January, March, April, July, September, and November.
How to qualify:
Be a junior or senior
Be at least 16 years of age when attending your first class.
Interview with your DeVry University Education Advisor.
Submit a cover letter indicating your interest in the program. Include your name, home address, telephone number, and email address, the courses interested in taking.
A letter of recommendation from your counselor including the remaining courses required for graduation.
Complete an Application with your Education Advisor.
Design an academic plan of study (eligibility for individual courses will be determined by prior educational performance and/or standardized testing).
How to apply:
Mail your cover letter
Mail letter of recommendation by counselor
Mail official high school transcripts
Fees:
Your tuition, application fee, activity fee, parking sticker, and proficiency exam fees are paid by DeVry University.
You will be responsible for books, to be paid in FULL at the time of purchase. (Cost of books typically ranges from $90-140 per course)
** Academic and admission policies related to the dual enrollment program at DeVry University are subject to change. As such, you may be requested to provide further documentation of your prior education in addition to the information listed.
Send To:
Janett Meyer
Assistant Director of Admissions
New Student Program
DeVry University
11224 Holmes Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
jmeyer2@devry.edu
www.devry.edu (check out our website to view our catalog)
Questions: call 816-941-0430 ext. 5342 or e-mail jmeyer2@devry.edu
Fax: 816-941-9341
*Exclusions:
Career Services, Student Insurance Policy, Housing, Part-time employment, and Financial Aid assistance will not be available.
Student will be responsible for your own transportation
DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA).
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Oh no
Our beagle got a baby robin. So, now we have another critter to take care of. The cats ignored the bird, but not the dog....
Each girl does an animal notebook in a 3 ring binder and each week we add 1 or 2 more animals to it. I guess our next one will be a page on robins. Our books are divied into the animal classifications and they put the pages in their proper place. We count this as part of our science. All of our animal info comes out of books or we print offline. It is a simple and free but fun project. They have close to 120 animals now. We will take our books with us the next time we go to the zoo. We have been working on these books since we started homeschooling in 2007.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
USED BOOK AND CURRICULUM SALE
Just a reminder. The Used Curriculum Fair is only a few short weeks away. There are still some spots/tables available, but they are going fast. Please get your reservations in as soon as possible!
Families for Home Education
Region 3
USED BOOK AND CURRICULUM SALE
Friday, May 29, 2009
9:30-12:00 noon
Roger t. sermon center
independence, mo
The official Families for Home Education Region 3 Used Book and Curriculum Sale will be held at the Roger T. Sermon Center located on the southeast corner of Noland Road and Truman Road in Independence. Admittance is free. The cost to sell used curriculum will be $10 per space. Tables will be available on a first come, first served basis. This sale is for used books and curriculum materials only, no retail sales allowed. Send a completed form and a business sized Self Addressed Stamped (44 cents postage, please) Envelope with your check made payable to FHE Reg. 3 to:
FHE Reg. 3
17078 Hook Road
Higginsville, MO 64037-9133
If you have any questions, please contact me at mrsunz@ctcis.net or call one of the numbers listed below.
See you May 29!
Susan Mehl
mrsunz@ctcis.net
660-584-8539
1 877 MY MO FHE (1-877-696-6343) Mailbox 3
***The business sized SASE is REQUIRED to receive your confirmation letter!!! It will be mailed approximately one week before the sale. Postage will be 44 cents by then.***
Families for Home Education
Region 3
USED BOOK AND CURRICULUM SALE
Friday, May 29, 2009
9:30-12:00 noon
Roger t. sermon center
independence, mo
The official Families for Home Education Region 3 Used Book and Curriculum Sale will be held at the Roger T. Sermon Center located on the southeast corner of Noland Road and Truman Road in Independence. Admittance is free. The cost to sell used curriculum will be $10 per space. Tables will be available on a first come, first served basis. This sale is for used books and curriculum materials only, no retail sales allowed. Send a completed form and a business sized Self Addressed Stamped (44 cents postage, please) Envelope with your check made payable to FHE Reg. 3 to:
FHE Reg. 3
17078 Hook Road
Higginsville, MO 64037-9133
If you have any questions, please contact me at mrsunz@ctcis.net or call one of the numbers listed below.
See you May 29!
Susan Mehl
mrsunz@ctcis.net
660-584-8539
1 877 MY MO FHE (1-877-696-6343) Mailbox 3
***The business sized SASE is REQUIRED to receive your confirmation letter!!! It will be mailed approximately one week before the sale. Postage will be 44 cents by then.***
Thursday, April 9, 2009
money saving tips for your printer
Most homeschooling families have their own printer and use it on a daily basis. We generally use a lot of information off of the Internet, and there are many free lessons online. But the cost of printing does add up.
Here are a few of my tips to help keep those printing costs down.
Walgreen's will refill black cartridges for $10. However, several times a year they will run a coupon to refill them for only $5. The coupon can be found online at their website in their circular, or go into the store and get one of their circulars free.
If you have an Office Depot nearby, check them out. Ours will give me a $3 credit for each empty ink cartridge I bring in.
Office depot often has paper sales or paper by the case sales. Now, combine that case sale with several empty ink cartridges and you will save even further. Once I got a case of paper for only $7 this way.
Print on both the front and back of your paper. You will maybe have to reset your printer options to do this.
For everyday school work and notes, don't print in high quality. It uses more ink. Instead print in the lowest quality setting your printer offers. To change that you will have to go into your print options.
On some printers, you can turning your printer off will recap your cartridge, and prevent the ink from drying out. (It will also save electric).
Store unused ink cartridges in the refrigerator. They will last longer.
If your ink acts like it is quitting, clean off the head with some rubbing alcohol. Often you can get several more sheets printed that way.
Don't change ink as soon as you get the low ink message. Mine will keep printing another week or two before it actually runs dry.
When you buy a new printer, don't go only for the printer price. You also need to compare what the cost of the cartridges are as well.
Don't be afraid to try generic cartridges. Save your receipt. If they don't work, take them back where you bought them.
Check prices. For my printer, it is $2 cheaper at Radio Shack than it is at Walmart for a cartridge. But, if I have an empty one or two to take in , my best deal is at Office Depot.
To stretch your cartridge the longest, refill it a few times before you take it in for credit. Mine seem to be OK refilled twice, but I loose quality after the third refill-I think the print heads wear out.
Most homeschooling families are single income families, or run on 1 and 1/2 incomes. Simple tricks like this can add up to major savings when combined with other savings at year end.
Here are a few of my tips to help keep those printing costs down.
Walgreen's will refill black cartridges for $10. However, several times a year they will run a coupon to refill them for only $5. The coupon can be found online at their website in their circular, or go into the store and get one of their circulars free.
If you have an Office Depot nearby, check them out. Ours will give me a $3 credit for each empty ink cartridge I bring in.
Office depot often has paper sales or paper by the case sales. Now, combine that case sale with several empty ink cartridges and you will save even further. Once I got a case of paper for only $7 this way.
Print on both the front and back of your paper. You will maybe have to reset your printer options to do this.
For everyday school work and notes, don't print in high quality. It uses more ink. Instead print in the lowest quality setting your printer offers. To change that you will have to go into your print options.
On some printers, you can turning your printer off will recap your cartridge, and prevent the ink from drying out. (It will also save electric).
Store unused ink cartridges in the refrigerator. They will last longer.
If your ink acts like it is quitting, clean off the head with some rubbing alcohol. Often you can get several more sheets printed that way.
Don't change ink as soon as you get the low ink message. Mine will keep printing another week or two before it actually runs dry.
When you buy a new printer, don't go only for the printer price. You also need to compare what the cost of the cartridges are as well.
Don't be afraid to try generic cartridges. Save your receipt. If they don't work, take them back where you bought them.
Check prices. For my printer, it is $2 cheaper at Radio Shack than it is at Walmart for a cartridge. But, if I have an empty one or two to take in , my best deal is at Office Depot.
To stretch your cartridge the longest, refill it a few times before you take it in for credit. Mine seem to be OK refilled twice, but I loose quality after the third refill-I think the print heads wear out.
Most homeschooling families are single income families, or run on 1 and 1/2 incomes. Simple tricks like this can add up to major savings when combined with other savings at year end.
Monday, April 6, 2009
What do homeschoolers do all day? What do they study?
I have had a lot of people ask me what my kids do all day since they don't go to school. Sometimes I think that people don't realize that we do school at home--hence the term homeschool....
We really don't have a typical day. Sometimes we start a subject that should only be 30-60 minutes and if the kids are interested, we will stay on it much longer. Or, we may get sidetracked and end up on a different subject. But, we are still learning, so that is ok.
Daily we read 60 for minutes, do math, JBQ, spelling, home-ec and reading comprehension. 2-3 times a week we also do history/social studies/geography, typing, science.
Some of our subjects overlap. It may not be our day to do history, but we may be spending our 60 minutes reading a book on Thomas Jefferson-so, we did get our history in-just not from "THE history book". I use factual reading comprehension books. Each day our reading comprehension is on a different subject. So far this year some of the subjects have included the history of clocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, the beginning of the US railroad and more. So, there again our subjects overlap. For our family size, recipes are usually doubled (or tripled)--so there again the girls get a math lesson in doubling fractions while cooking.
We also watch several programs on the history channel, the military channel and the learning channel. In addition our library has a good supply of educational videos.
Numerous trips out are educational--even routine errands such as going to the bank or grocery store.
In many ways, I think homeschooling offers more opportunities than traditional schooling. If we don't understand a subject, we can repeat the lesson until we do, instead of worrying about holding the entire class back. If the lesson is too simple, we can skip it and go onto the next one. We also have more time during the day to do other things such as volunteer work at a crisis center and for the local fire station, being fire cadets (public schooled cadets miss the school day fires).
We have a smaller class size, so we get done with our lessons sooner and have more play time--time for a kid to be a kid.
Home-ec doesn't have to wait until jr or senior high--we do it on all grade levels in our home. All the girls can sew with a sewing machine, knit, read and cut out a pattern, cook a full meal (even bake a turkey or bake from scratch!), do laundry, fold a cotton diaper (how many 10 or 12 year olds do you know that can do that one??). Also, the 12 year old can drive (not on the road, but on the farm) and the 10 year olds are learning!
If I am working (I nanny part time) they have the option to go with me if JD is working. They have learned a lot about childcare this way--not to mention being a big help to me!
On a more personal note, it snowed AGAIN today. None has stayed however. Tonight we have a hard freeze warning out. My trees and flowers are budding, I home I don't loose any....
We really don't have a typical day. Sometimes we start a subject that should only be 30-60 minutes and if the kids are interested, we will stay on it much longer. Or, we may get sidetracked and end up on a different subject. But, we are still learning, so that is ok.
Daily we read 60 for minutes, do math, JBQ, spelling, home-ec and reading comprehension. 2-3 times a week we also do history/social studies/geography, typing, science.
Some of our subjects overlap. It may not be our day to do history, but we may be spending our 60 minutes reading a book on Thomas Jefferson-so, we did get our history in-just not from "THE history book". I use factual reading comprehension books. Each day our reading comprehension is on a different subject. So far this year some of the subjects have included the history of clocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, the beginning of the US railroad and more. So, there again our subjects overlap. For our family size, recipes are usually doubled (or tripled)--so there again the girls get a math lesson in doubling fractions while cooking.
We also watch several programs on the history channel, the military channel and the learning channel. In addition our library has a good supply of educational videos.
Numerous trips out are educational--even routine errands such as going to the bank or grocery store.
In many ways, I think homeschooling offers more opportunities than traditional schooling. If we don't understand a subject, we can repeat the lesson until we do, instead of worrying about holding the entire class back. If the lesson is too simple, we can skip it and go onto the next one. We also have more time during the day to do other things such as volunteer work at a crisis center and for the local fire station, being fire cadets (public schooled cadets miss the school day fires).
We have a smaller class size, so we get done with our lessons sooner and have more play time--time for a kid to be a kid.
Home-ec doesn't have to wait until jr or senior high--we do it on all grade levels in our home. All the girls can sew with a sewing machine, knit, read and cut out a pattern, cook a full meal (even bake a turkey or bake from scratch!), do laundry, fold a cotton diaper (how many 10 or 12 year olds do you know that can do that one??). Also, the 12 year old can drive (not on the road, but on the farm) and the 10 year olds are learning!
If I am working (I nanny part time) they have the option to go with me if JD is working. They have learned a lot about childcare this way--not to mention being a big help to me!
On a more personal note, it snowed AGAIN today. None has stayed however. Tonight we have a hard freeze warning out. My trees and flowers are budding, I home I don't loose any....
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Storm damage
According to our rain gauge we received .75 of an inch yesterday. According to our wind sock in the front and the wind gauge in the back, we had 50 mph winds coming from the south. That would explain why the farm looks like it does right now. The north fence line is covered in trash. We have several large branches down, meaning the Lord has blessed us with more firewood. The birch tree has a broken branch, yet in a nearby tree a birds nest with baby birds is fine. Before the storm even started, the wind also picked up my garden work table, made of heavy plywood and smashed it against the swingset, bending it, and then on top of a wood bench, and smashed that. After the official storm start (according to the TV weather) is when we got the trees knocked down. We were under a tornado watch for awhile, but it never went into a warning. I knew it was going to be windy, as the chickens all went in early. They don't care for the wind at all.
Yesterday before the weather hit, we went into town and bought a storm door and some horse raddish to plant. We eat a lot of horse raddish and it is easy to grow. In fact, if you don't watch it, it will take over, like garlic does. What I am thinking of doing, is cutting a metal barrel in half, length-wise and burying it, then filling it with dirt. I will put the garlic in one and the horse raddish in the other. That will prevent them from taking over the farm. I am going to get some other herbs going this year also. I had a small herb garden before I moved here, and I miss it.
The girls worked some more on their geology unit today, and we watched a video about the geology of Missouri. Later we will do some more work on the US Presidents and of course our math, spelling and reading. A lot of our homeschooling is done in "split shifts".
We also check the history channel schedule daily. This morning we watched a program about Lincoln and Booth with fit right in as the girls just finished reading about Lincoln a couple weeks ago.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Inapproperiate Ad
Somehow an ad has found its way to this site that should have never been here (or anywhere else in my opinion). It slipped through the filters. I have gone to the ad-sense site to remove it, but have been advised it could take several hours for it to take effect. Please be aware I see it, and have taken action. I am very sorry it appeared, and trust me, I am not in favor of what it is advertising.
471 miles later...we are back!
We are back from Springfield. We had a very good trip, no trouble and a lot of fun. We left Friday morning and returned very late Saturday night. This was our annual trip for JBQ districts. JBQ is Junior Bible Quiz.
We stopped at my parents in Warrensburg on our way to Springfield. Mom fed us all brunch, which is a nice way of saying we raided her fridge. My brother and his family live next door, so the kids ran over there for awhile too. My brother had just bought a new craftsman tiller so I checked that out as well. They are putting in a garden with my parents.
Our next stop was at Fantastic Caverns on the north side of Springfield. We have been learning about caves in our homeschooling and this fit right in with our lessons. The girls loved the tour. They also have a nice (free) walking trail. We did not opt to go on the walking trail as we had to be to the hotel in 2 hours. The cave tour is all a riding tour, with no walking required. I highly recommend a visit here if you are in the area. It is very interesting and a comfortable 61 degrees.
We then went on into town and quickly checked into our hotel, changed into our team shirts, ate and went to quiz. We quizzed 5 rounds Friday, and the remaining rounds on Saturday morning. Our team placed 6th (? I think) place. Several of our quizzers also received individual awards for their individual scores. Emily and I served as judges.
Our hotel was a really nice one, with a small kitchen in it. The kitchen was ideal with a roomful of kids. Since we knew we would have one, we had taken down a cooler full of food.
As usual, on the way back we stopped at Osceola Cheese. They make the best chocolate cheese. Sounds icky, but it actually tastes like a chocolate cheese cake. It is real good. I also got some smoked chedder and smoked swiss and the girls got some stick candy.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Great weekend
Friday was our first day of homeschool coop for the semester. We had a real good time, and a good turn out, even though several families were gone to another event. All the kids were glad to see each other after the winter break.
Friday night was our "Love Banquet" at church. The church youth group cooked and served the meal. They did a very good job. We had salad, cake, veggies and cream cheese stuffed baked chicken. The youth group also provided the entertainment.
Saturday JD, Rebecca and I, along with our friend Randy went to St Joseph to Lowes to pick up a barn. I bought a wooden barn off of craigslist from the shed company that supplies the sheds/barns to Lowes. It was a demo shed, all put together left over from last year. The shed was orginally $1200 and I got it for $300. It is a nice shed, built on metal runners.
Saturday night, we went to the Lathrop Antique Club meeting (we are members). As usual, the meetings start off with a carry in dinner. Following the meeting we had a white elephant auction.
Today (Sunday) we had church this morning. Emily and I were in the 2 yr-4 yr nursery. That is always fun. Then this evening, the church had the skating rink in Liberty rented for 2 hours. We had a lot of fun skating (and for me watching).
Friday, January 23, 2009
I'm ready for Spring
I am tired of the cold weather and mother natures tricks. Once again we had weather in the 60's, followed by a day like today--cold and very windy. All day today I have had trouble feeling warm, even though I have several layers on. I just hope I am not coming down with something, I don't have time to get sick!
Today the girls and I slept in. Tonight we will stay up most of the night watching videos so we can sleep tomorrow. Saturday night we have an all night Girl Scout Owl Prowl. Owl Prowl is a non sleeping event, so we are gearing up so we can stay awake and enjoy it. The hardest part will be staying awake for church after Owl Prowl, and driving back home! I have children's church on Sunday, so I am sure the kids will keep me awake. But, I do plan on sneaking a mountain dew in...
Yesterday the I took the girls to the library in Liberty for a homeschooling class. It was an art class about Paul Klee. Emily has been helping with the class as Miss Susie's assistant.
This afternoon we worked on math, and health. Tonight we have some science and history videos to watch, and we will probably also watch a movie or two, and maybe cut more squares for the girls quilts.
Yesterday JD went and bought 20 foot of iron pipe to mount the windsock on for our weather station. We had planned on working on that this afternoon, but the weather was just to cold and windy. He says if I can have a windsock, he should be able to have a helicopter....... Maybe I can find him a toy one somewhere. Several years ago there was an auction on eBay of a John Deere helicopter. It sold for around $90,000. It was right before we got married, and he was convinced that I should get that for his wedding present. Needless to say, I was not convinced, so he didn't get it. He has never let me forget that. Anyway, JD has been studying up on windsocks. You can tell the speed as well as the direction of the wind by the angle the windsock is at. I knew it told the direction, but I was not aware there are charts on the wind speeds as well.
This semester I am teaching a class on American Presidents. I worked on my lesson plans today. There are a lot of interesting little facts that most people don't know about the presidents. Also a lot of untruths and myths. For example, George Washingtons false teeth were not wood, they were ivory and had real teeth wired into them--teeth from donkies, humans and horses. He did not chop down his fathers cherry tree--his father had no cherry trees. Did you know he was a redhead in his younger days? He helped design the White House, but never lived in it. He was the first president to be elected unanimously and was inaugurated in both Philadephia and New York. Do you know why some records say he was born on Feb 11 and others say Feb 22? And, both dates are technically correct??
Today the girls and I slept in. Tonight we will stay up most of the night watching videos so we can sleep tomorrow. Saturday night we have an all night Girl Scout Owl Prowl. Owl Prowl is a non sleeping event, so we are gearing up so we can stay awake and enjoy it. The hardest part will be staying awake for church after Owl Prowl, and driving back home! I have children's church on Sunday, so I am sure the kids will keep me awake. But, I do plan on sneaking a mountain dew in...
Yesterday the I took the girls to the library in Liberty for a homeschooling class. It was an art class about Paul Klee. Emily has been helping with the class as Miss Susie's assistant.
This afternoon we worked on math, and health. Tonight we have some science and history videos to watch, and we will probably also watch a movie or two, and maybe cut more squares for the girls quilts.
Yesterday JD went and bought 20 foot of iron pipe to mount the windsock on for our weather station. We had planned on working on that this afternoon, but the weather was just to cold and windy. He says if I can have a windsock, he should be able to have a helicopter....... Maybe I can find him a toy one somewhere. Several years ago there was an auction on eBay of a John Deere helicopter. It sold for around $90,000. It was right before we got married, and he was convinced that I should get that for his wedding present. Needless to say, I was not convinced, so he didn't get it. He has never let me forget that. Anyway, JD has been studying up on windsocks. You can tell the speed as well as the direction of the wind by the angle the windsock is at. I knew it told the direction, but I was not aware there are charts on the wind speeds as well.
This semester I am teaching a class on American Presidents. I worked on my lesson plans today. There are a lot of interesting little facts that most people don't know about the presidents. Also a lot of untruths and myths. For example, George Washingtons false teeth were not wood, they were ivory and had real teeth wired into them--teeth from donkies, humans and horses. He did not chop down his fathers cherry tree--his father had no cherry trees. Did you know he was a redhead in his younger days? He helped design the White House, but never lived in it. He was the first president to be elected unanimously and was inaugurated in both Philadephia and New York. Do you know why some records say he was born on Feb 11 and others say Feb 22? And, both dates are technically correct??
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Reorganized Basement Pantry
I finally got the pantry straightened out. After our last trip to Alidi, it was sort of a mess. The girls put everything away, and some of the shelves were too high for them to put cases up on. It took the twins and I about 2 hours to get it neat and rearranged. Emily will be glad that we got it done while she is gone on her winter retreat at church camp.
I had someone ask me why most homeschooling families have large stock up pantries, or as my husband calls it, the emporium... I don't think it is a matter of being a homeschool family, but rather I think it is being more common for single income families to have a stock up pantry. And, most homeschooling families are running their household on a single income. Therefore, we tend to be a little more frugal.
I don't stock up on everything. I don't on TP, paper towels or paper items, because I have lost those items before due to a broken water pipe, and they are bulky to store. Items in plastic or cans are easier. I also don't stock up on short shelf life items.
Most of my stock up non food items come from sales at CVS, Walgreen or Dollar General. CVS and Walgreen will let you use both their sale flyer coupon and the manufactures coupon on the same item. By doing this you can often get the item for free. Yes, I have a years supply of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap, dish soap, deodorant, razors, shaving cream.....but a good part of it I got free or very close to it. For example, this week CVS had V05 shampoo on sale for 77 cents. I had 4 coupons for V05 for 75 cents off. So, I got 4 bottles and paid 2 cents each, so 8 cents for 4 large bottles of shampoo. If I just waited to get it when we needed it, I would be paying full price possibly, my current coupon would be expired and they may not come out with another sale and coupon combo when I needed it.
I also am not brand loyal on many items. This allows me to take advantage on any shampoo that is on sale and combine it with coupons, instead of having to wait for a certain brand to come on sale. Each week you can count on at least one brand being on sale.
Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can get some more work done in the basement and make the pantry a little larger. Right now it is just along one wall and I am wanting to make it in an L shape to also go along a short wall. Then along the opposite wall I would like to set up our sewing area. That wall is long enough that I could set up an area where each of my girls and I could sew and leave our machines up all the time. But, for now, that is a future project.
Today it got up to almost 50 degrees, and the sun was out all day. All our snow and ice is gone. I am ready for spring, but I am sure we will get hit with more cold weather shortly.
Our windsock arrived in the mail yesterday, so as soon as the ground thaws enough to drive in the conduit, we will get that added to our weather station. It is bright orange, aviation style. JD says we are likely to have airplanes landing in the yard.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
JD's new tractors....
Rebecca and I saw these at the grocery store. Since JD collects anything John Deere, including a barn of tractors....it seemed fitting. The girls are hoping he will open the box soon and share with them.
The girls had most of their school work done by 2 pm today, which is rare, but nice. Most days we don't start till around 11, but today they started around 9. We went to the library for awhile this afternoon as the girls were wanting some computer time. All they offer in our area is dialup, so the library is a nice treat with its DSL.
Tomorrow we are planning to go to the farm in the morning and get a trailerfull, possibly two, of hay. Then in the afternoon, JD will be taking one of his EMT tests for the National Registery. While he is doing that, we will go pick up our Girl Scout cookies that the girls sold last November. We possibly may get some work down on the church library again as well--if anyone else is working there.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Molting Chickens
Our chickens are molting. In December, which is rather strange. Usually they do this in the heat of the summer. So, for now, no eggs. Right now we have 3 hens with heavy feather loss, which is not good for this time of the year when it is cold.... Naked chickens running around in the snow....
Today we watched more of our science videos. Topics were matter and energy, animal facts & the food chain. We also did our reading comprehension and history, and worked again on our animal notebooks. We did not get English or Math done, but as the girls keep pointing out to me, they are supposed to be on Christmas and New Years break....
I have written some for a site called Thriftyfun.com, and received news that the founder and editor, Susan passed away on December 21. She will be missed by her many readers. She always sent me such nice emails after I would submit an article or tip.
Our farm has a new resident. Unfortunately it is an unwanted one. We seem to have acquired a rather fat grey mouse in the last 2 days. She has set up residency in the house and spends a lot of time running from under JD's desk to under the love seat in the office. She has been trying to make a nest under the love seat, but I think she is rather upset with me, as I have now vacummed it up twice. Why is it they are cute when they are in a cage and not so cute when they are in your house? J.D. is allergic to cats in the house. My meowing at the mouse seems to have no effect, so tomorrow I will put out a trap or some Blue Death.
Our new water bill came in the mail today. This is now the 3rd one in the $30 range since I got my new washer. (Bosch front loader). It only uses 8 gallons per load, as compared to the old Kenmore top loader at 66 gallons for a full load. Our water bills used to be in the $75 and up range. Considering we also watered stock a few days when the ponds were frozen, I am happy with this water bill. To add to my delight, there is a notice on the bill that 94.6% of the coop customers will notice lower bills due to a lower rate change.
Today we watched more of our science videos. Topics were matter and energy, animal facts & the food chain. We also did our reading comprehension and history, and worked again on our animal notebooks. We did not get English or Math done, but as the girls keep pointing out to me, they are supposed to be on Christmas and New Years break....
I have written some for a site called Thriftyfun.com, and received news that the founder and editor, Susan passed away on December 21. She will be missed by her many readers. She always sent me such nice emails after I would submit an article or tip.
Our farm has a new resident. Unfortunately it is an unwanted one. We seem to have acquired a rather fat grey mouse in the last 2 days. She has set up residency in the house and spends a lot of time running from under JD's desk to under the love seat in the office. She has been trying to make a nest under the love seat, but I think she is rather upset with me, as I have now vacummed it up twice. Why is it they are cute when they are in a cage and not so cute when they are in your house? J.D. is allergic to cats in the house. My meowing at the mouse seems to have no effect, so tomorrow I will put out a trap or some Blue Death.
Our new water bill came in the mail today. This is now the 3rd one in the $30 range since I got my new washer. (Bosch front loader). It only uses 8 gallons per load, as compared to the old Kenmore top loader at 66 gallons for a full load. Our water bills used to be in the $75 and up range. Considering we also watered stock a few days when the ponds were frozen, I am happy with this water bill. To add to my delight, there is a notice on the bill that 94.6% of the coop customers will notice lower bills due to a lower rate change.
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