"There Will Never Be a More Beautiful You" video--what every girl needs to know!

I heard this song last night in the car and was kinda blown away by how true and applicable the words are for today's girls. I know that as homeschoolers we are blessed to be able to shield our kids from some of the world's deceit, but we don't nor do we want to live in a bubble. So, they will face hurt, inadequacy, and temptation to be "of the world" as well as just in it. The pressures on young girls are so great and so unrealistic. I just love the hope, the truth that this song from Jonny Diaz offers!

20% off sale for homeschool materials today!

Mardel is having a 20% sale on homeschool products today, May 30. They have a large selection to choose from. Be forewarned--grab a cup of coffee because browsing their site may take a while--there's that much.

Did you know?

Staples offers a $3 store credit for every used printer ink cartridge you turn in there, up to 10 cartridges a month. I found this out from another homeschool mom here. Click on "Staples" in the first sentence to see for yourself! Plus, I know that some of their stores will bind your materials for a flat fee of $3 apiece.

Also, if you're looking for a really delicious and really cheap pizza night, check out Papa Murphy's. It's a take and bake deal, and after trying it, our family is hooked. My husband and I agree that they make the freshest-tasting pizza with the very best crust of the national pizza chains. By remembering to keep the coupons they give each time and completing the online survey, I can get a family size (16 in. diameter) pizza and cheesebread for less than $10! Plus, they have these cards they stamp every time you purchase a pizza. When you get 12 stamps, you get a free family size pizza. And certain days are double stamp days, so you can earn your free pizzas even faster. I know this isn't technically homeschool-related, but we all have to eat, and if you're like us, you're on the lookout for good deals all over the budget.

Lowe's offers an opportunity for kids to participate in building clinics at their stores. Click here to find out more about their Build and Grow clinics. These are free for a specified number of kids each session.

Home Depot offers their own free Kids Workshops for kids to come and build. Click here to find out more.

As summer kicks off and gas gets higher again, it's always nice to find great deals and freebies! Hope you find these helpful!

Gearing up for a great year--some curriculum tools I've found...

Okay, our homeschooling style is definitely eclectic. During the time I taught in a private Christian school, and the almost four years I spend in public education, curriculum development was one of my very favorite parts. Actually implementing it with a class of 25 fifth graders was a different story! Anyway, as a homeschooling mom, now, I absolutely love the time spend planning the scope and sequence and actual learning activities of our school. While there are wonderful pre-packaged curriculums out there, and I do pull pieces from some of them, I prefer to put together our own. As the kids wind down and begin to enjoy their summer break, I am, too, but I'm also gearing up for a summer of planning and printing and preparing for August. In my late night searches, here are some resources I've found that I think I'll be able to use as a tool for next year in some form or fashion. I'll be adding more to this list as time allows, so check back again for more!

Elementary lesson plans and resources:

Baltimore Curriculum Project, a plan developed to transform low-performance schools into schools of excellence http://www.cstone.net/~bcp/BCPIntro2.htm

Lesson plans organized by grade and subject, includes printables from the Indiana Department of Education http://www.lessonlocator.org/

A couple of science and social studies curricula, as well as lots of other resources from fellow homeschoolers
http://www.guesthollow.com/

Links to educational materials and games by grade and subject--tons of great stuff here
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/k12links.htm

I found this one for the first time today--looks like a treasure chest to explore! http://freeology.com/

Hadn't looked at this one in a while, but it has some new stuff--worth checking out.
http://www.freakyfreddies.com/teacher.htm

An entire 37 lesson history curriculum all about the nationalities that built America--I'm pretty impressed with all the work going into this one! http://www.prontolessons.com/New.html

If you a have few moments for a WeE bit of concise boldness.....

Recently, I was made aware of the WeE-book collection, new from TOS. Written from an unabashedly Christian perspective, these wee bites of straight talk are just right for the homeschooling parents who already have too much on their plate but still need the encouragement of a biblically-based publication. Topics range from teaching tips and instructional helps, to encouraging devotionals and scripture meditations, to wakeup calls regarding the spiritual wellbeing of our children and families in today's society. And the price of $1.95 or less wasn't a bad move, either! The authors are not afraid to speak up against the tide of secularism in our culture and educational systems, calling readers to consider the opportunities and mission within home education and to dig deeper in our studies to find what is true, what honors God and is in alignment with His Word. For those considering homeschooling, the WeE-books are a collection of glimpses into what is a totally "out of the box" approach to education for many and a valuable resource in knowing how to move forward. While those of us in the trenches already, so to speak, can benefit and be refueled to teach more effectively and proceed with fresh wind in our sails and a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. As I read Creation vs. Evolution: Interpreting the Evidence, one of the WeE-books, I was impressed with the knowledge of the authors, and even more so with their commitment to dig deeper and the courage to speak the truth in a field in which God has been resigned by many to myth. This series is unashamedly Christian in nature, and while some may find that a detractor, I stand up and say Amen! The WeE-books can be purchased and downloaded through the TOS store site at http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/ .

Just finished my Homework!

Wisdom, encouragement, warnings, and common sense about the real world of starting a home business, when home is the main business--how I wish I'd read Homework (from the TOS online store) five years ago as my first ventures into working from home floundered and flopped. These are the stories of real moms who stepped out in faith to make use of their gifts, interests, and the opportunities that came their way to help support their families and ease the financial burden on their husbands. In their own words, they share the struggles of getting started and actually making a profit, without sugarcoating reality and difficult times. There is no fast track to wealth described, but rather the practical lessons each has learned about how to balance and protect and integrate what matters most, the wellbeing of our families, with the opportunity and responsibility that goes into a home business. These moms demonstrate that there is no cookie cutter formula to working from home, as the pages of Homework transport the reader from a countryside bed and breakfast to the home office of a tax accountant, to the life of a minister's wife with a pet care business. I was struck by the candor with which they write of neglected housework and the frustration of over-multi-tasking at times, and I was blessed by the repeated admonishment to keep priorities as they should be at each point of the home business journey. I was inspired by their accounts of working as a family, as children learned important life skills and character traits through helping in the family business. This isn't just a motivational, feel-good compilation of success stories. I found a wealth of practical advice and resources for each phase of setting up a home business, particularly in the last few chapters. That being said, Homework is one resource, and the contributing authors do not claim to have all the answers. In fact, these ladies stress the importance of seeking knowledge and wisdom in their specific business fields each step of the way. And while the practical goal of the home business is to bring additional income into the household budget, the common thread in each of their stories is faith and obedience to a calling that goes way beyond quarterly earnings and profit potential. This is one I'll want to share.