Archives

Memorial Day Resources

May21

82593-thumb100Memorial Day is almost here and I found some great resources to help you teach about this national holiday.  Here is a FREE notebooking project for your students. You can print out a decorated page and allow your child to write his own narration, copywork, or report on this symbolic holiday. In the blank spaces provided, he can add a map, illustration, or other graphic to accompany his written work. Click Here

Are you interested in learning about this holiday? Would you like to take a virtual tour of WWII sites and memorials? Founders Academy is offering a live class on Friday, May 24 from 1:00-2:00 CDT. The cost is $9.00 and this looks extremely informative and interesting. Click Here for details.

23657Would you like mini books for the holiday? There are 12 mini books that can be added to the notebook listed above or made into a lapbook. The cost is $5.00. Click Here for more details.

Happy Memorial Day!

~Lisa

Summer Drama Camps

May20
English: The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park ...

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Do you have a budding thespian? Many local theater groups and other facilities  have summer camps and opportunities. What a fun way to incorporate fine arts into your school year.

Children’s Theater of Mason: http://www.childrenstheatreofmason.com/

Covedale Center for the Performing Arts: http://www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/ccpa/Classes.aspx

Fairfield Summer Theater: http://www.fairfieldsummertheatre.com/stars/

Another one in Fairfield link http://www.fairfield-city.org/classes/index.cfm

Aronoff Center: http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/index.jsp?eventDetail=1&event_id=1282

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has a camp–click on the “Learn” tab here: http://www.cincyplay.com

Pleasant Valley Ministries, Camden, OH Grade 4-6

Miami Valley Christian Academy in Newtown has a great summer drama camp.  They will be performing Aladin, Jr. this year.   The are extremely friendly to home schoolers and would love to have you join them.  The cost is $150.00 and camp is July 8- 12.

 

High School Transcripts

May6

Are you concerned about creating a transcript? It’s not as difficult as it seems since there is this wonderful piece of technology called the internet. 🙂 You may begin preparing a transcript for your scholar as early as junior high since the state of Ohio says you can count some classes toward high school.

Prepare a transcript. Keep track of courses and grades. I know that sounds like a no-brainer, and it is, but it bears me making a point. Do you want to keep semester grades or year-long grades? I chose to keep year-long grades.

Here are some programs that you can purchase if you want help with this process.

EduTrack This is not only for high school, but can be used throughout your child’s academic career. It has report cards, transcripts, assignment sheets, teacher’s journals, lesson plans, and other categories. Several of the moms who I review their family’s work have used this program and have been pleased with it.

Another service is called College Ticket. It is:

  • a program that helps you map out the high school years.
  • a documentation service that will generate a transcript that will make admissions officials want your child at their college.
  • a tool to help you find out how to get your child into a great college with scholarship money.
  • a way to, along with your transcript, generate a portfolio with a reading list, activities resume, life experiences, course descriptions, and more.

If you’d like to make your own transcript check out this website to see examples and get direction on how to do it. Donna Young’s website is a valuable resource that not only helps with transcripts, but also how to figure GPA’s. donnayoung.org

Ninth Grade:Preparing for College

Apr29

imagesTwo weeks ago I mentioned preparing for college in the freshman year of high school. Besides planning the academic year there are two more areas you can prepare your student by first,  beginning a reading list and second, planning volunteer opportunities. Universities like to see books students have read that provide background for composition, literature, and history. Admissions counselors are interested in what type of volunteering your scholar has done throughout their high school years and homeschooling provides a great opportunity to do that.

Begin a reading list. Many colleges have a list of books they recommend for high school students to read. Check several colleges that your student is interested in attending or look at various websites. Be discriminating and read summaries of the books. If you are unfamiliar with high school level books or where to begin here are a few websites to help you:

The Great Books This site has several categories to choose from: Ancients, Medieval, Reformation, and Modernity, all from a Christian worldview. There are over 70 free discussion guides and schedules to go along with the recommended books.

Literature recommendations for high school There are more books on this list than your student has time to read. 🙂

pinkmonkey is a website that I have used frequently when teaching junior and senior high school students. Not only does it provide a summary of each chapter, but also has quizzes and essay questions.

Decide on volunteer opportunities. Colleges are looking to see that a student is able to handle more than just schoolwork. Now is the time to investigate areas your student is considering majoring in college. Do you have a budding teacher? How about volunteering as a Sunday School teacher for the younger students or helping with child care during church? Are they interested in a medical field? Contact a hospital about being a hospital volunteer (candy striper). Do you have a student curious in being a vet tech? There are animal shelters that need volunteers to walk dogs and play with cats.

Remember, enjoy the journey! If you have any questions, please ask and I will be glad to help.  I have successfully graduated two young men. One is a college grad and has a degree in the field in which he majored. My other son chose to go in missions for almost three years and successfully helped with the majority of the work in opening a coffee shop.

NEXT WEEK: TRANSCRIPTS

Homeschool Conferences/Conventions 2013

Apr16

Nothing invigorates me more about homeschooling that being around a bunch of other homeschool moms. I have found a few conferences that perhaps you would like to attend this year that can give you a boost. I posted this blog earlier, but have updated it for 2013. You will find the conventions and conferences according to the dates in which they will be held.

MACHE Homeschool Conference, St.Paul, Minnesota, April 19-20, 2013

Eastern (Tulsa) Oklahoma Homeschool Convention, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 30-May 1, 2013

Ultimate Homeschool Expo another online option with several events throughout the year. The Ultimate Transformation Expo, May 13-17, 2013.

Tampa Bay Homeschool Conference, Tampa, Florida, May 23-26, 2013

Can’t get away, but would like to attend a home school conference? What about an online option? Schoolhouse Expo , May 28, 2013 will be about homeschooling through high school.

Indiana Home School Convention  May 31-June 1, 2013

Arizona Home Education Convention & Curriculum Fair, Phoenix, Arizona, June 14-15, 2013

CHEO Convention There are some great speakers lined up for this summer. June 20-22, 2013 This will be its 29th year! Akron, Ohio

So, you decided you are going to go. Great, but before you go there are some things you can do in order to make your convention experience worthwhile and enjoyable.

Some Conventions Tips:

Be sure and pre-register so you can save on the admission price.

Do your research before you go! Read what speakers are going to be at the conference, when they are speaking, and what topic are they addressing.  Read reviews of curriculum to find out what you’d like to look at when you attend. Create a list of must-have curriculum and books and a list of would-be-nice-to-have books. Write these items in a notebook and give each one a few lines so you can write comparison prices. Don’t forget art and writing supplies! Estimate how much you can afford to spend.

Don’t become overwhelmed. The curriculum hall at the conventions are monstrously  HUGE! Avoid the urge to buy the first thing you see. Use the notebook of the list you complied of items you are wanting to purchase before you went to the convention. Compare the prices of  vendors of the curriculum. Be sure to note the name of the booth and their location in the vendor hall. For instance: Bravewriter Aisle A next to Rainbow Resource, near the end on the right. I need a landmark, maybe you don’t.

Stick to your estimated budget! I know it is tempting to buy, buy, buy! Only purchase those items you know you will use. If you go home and find that you really needed that skid of construction paper order it online! It would have been difficult to fit it in your vehicle any way.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You are going to be doing a lot of standing and sitting so wear what looks nice and provides maximum comfort.

Pack bottles of water and  healthy snacks. Food and drinks can be expensive and food lines can be long. You want to keep up your energy and brain power for the vendor hall and lectures!

Take a rolling cart, suitcase, or a backpack that you can unload if it gets heavy. The car is probably parked a distance that you are only going to make one or two trips maximum to the car, so be sure and take something that you know can handle the load of a lot of books and supplies. It is also going to be crowded so keep that in mind as you think about maneuverability of you and your burden carrier. 🙂

Consider asking your husband to attend. Dale accompanied me a few times and I appreciated his input about curriculum choices and viewpoint of the speakers we heard. If he can’t go, ask a homeschool friend to accompany you. Make it a fun time to be out and get rejuvenated.

Purchase the CD’s Couldn’t make it to hear all the amazing speakers? Why not buy the CD’s and ask a few friends to share the cost with you? This way you can listen to them whenever you like. If you think they would benefit more homeschool families, perhaps you can ask your local support group to purchase them for your lending library.

NOTE: These have already occurred, but I thought that you could keep them in mind for the future as they are well established conventions. Next year I will remember to update this in January instead of April. Sorry about that!

Great Home School Convention (Southeast), Greenville, South Carolina, March 14-16, 2013

Great Home School Convention  (Midwest) This is right here in Cincinnati, Ohio where I live. 🙂 April 4-6, 2013