Decorating with Drop Cloths

 See frugal and creative decorating ideas using painter's drop cloth here. Read the comments at the link for more ideas.

We recovered a sofa and used drop cloths for drapes; however, I really like the way they pinch pleated these drop cloth drapes. I draped mine over the rod and created over hanging billows with pins, but I've been thinking about using the ring clips for a contemporary and updated look.

Homeschool Writing Skills e-Curricula and Freebies

Free e-curriculum offered at CurrClick, "Your one-stop shop for electronic lapbooks, affordable curriculum, and homeschooling resources. Unit study, novel study, bargin home study online downloads for home education!"

Also at CurrClick, although not free, it looked interesting. We might try this: Ignite Your Writing: "Multi-level writing curriculum offers 24 lessons covering 6 areas of writing skills needed for any kind of writing. Each lesson has 3 levels: Startup, Intermediate, and Advanced. Choose the level based on the student’s writing ability rather than age or grade." On sale for $10.00. See the preview at the link. I liked what I saw, and it seems to complement what we are covering in Rod & Staff's English(sixth grade).


Free ebook over at Google books for developing writing skills: Lessons in English 1 and    Lessons in English 2 by Fred Newton Scott and Gordon Augustus Southworth.

Homeschool Freebie: Fish Migration

My son was required to write a short essay about fish migration for his Rod & Staff reading lesson today. Here are a few resources that I found for his assignment today. All are free to print, read online, and download.

The Natural History of Animals: Of Migration of Fishes Pages 124-125

The Origin of the Seasons Considered from a Geological Point of View: Migration of Fish in European Waters. pages 274-275.

St. Nicholas Magazine, Nature and Science for Young Folks, The Winner.pages 650-651.

The World Book: Salmon pages 5173-5174

How Salmon Live and Die, short paragraph.

Classics Old and New: Salmon by Rudyard Kipling
pages 53-56.

The New Century Third Reader (easy and quick summary): SalmonPages 47-50.

Story Hour Readings, Book 8 (advanced reading): The Story of Salmon by David Starr Jordon pages 13-21. Fifth grade version, fourth grade version.

Photo and blurb about a flying salmon.

Photo of flying salmon.

Make Your Own Greeting Cards with Recycled Materials

How to Make Greeting Cards with Recycled Materials:

  Read here.

Student Career Exploration

Jimmie has a helpful post for student career exploration. See her helpful guide to the Occuptational Outlook Handbook.

Homeschool Ebook Freebie: All the Year Round: A Nature Reader : Part I : Autumn

All the Year Round: a Nature Reader : Part I : Autumn
Author Frances Lucia Strong
Publisher Ginn & Co., 1896
Length 102 pages

Overview

Free and in public domain, downloadable and readable online. Individual pages can be saved(right click, save).

DIY Modern Sofa Couch

Made from hardwood, MDF, foam, and Knoll fabric. Click here

Remodeling Our 1970's Bathroom

We are tackling this project a little at a time. On my husband's day off this week, he took out the rusty medicine cabinet and sealed up the wall. I took down the wall paper last week, and I plan to paint the walls soon. I have a gift certificate coming for Lowe's which I earned with purchase points, so the paint will be free. We'll replace the light fixture and paint the sink cabinet. Last year we replaced the counter and sink with an all-in-one unit, so that much has already been done. Come January we'll tackle a new tile floor, and a new water saver toilet with more earned gift cards.

The only part which will not be free is some plumbing and a fix to the fiberglass tub. We decided against replacing the tub insert, opting for some minor - moderate repairs by a local refinisher. After this, we have a powder room to update/repair. The original 1972 counter in that powder room is way past its expiration with a sagging area behind the sink(rot).

Older homes are a lot of work. We also need to replace carpets and windows. Energy Saver windows will at least reduce our energy costs. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. This should be the last(almost) of any updates or repairs for a long time. We've got a water heater that is past its prime, but it's still functioning well. When it goes, we'll probably replace it with an Energy Star tankless water heater.

If we didn't have some plumbing and fiberglass repairs, this remodel would be completely free using our earned credit card points. We use our credit card like a debit card, never keeping a balance, always paying it off in full. It takes discipline to charge only that which you need(regular daily living expenses), but after many years, keeping to a budget has become old hat.

Handy Free and Cheap List

From savings guru, Clark Howard from The Clark Howard Show: The Free and Cheap List 

A sampling:

Autodriveaway.com - Transport someone else's car and pay no rental fees

FON.com - Free private worldwide Wi-Fi network

Ecofont.com - Free download that uses up to 20% less ink when printing ( I use this)


OpenOffice.org - Free alternative to Microsoft Office(I use this, very handy)


Zoho.com - Free alternative to Microsoft Office

Free Education - Search the web for courses

TaxACT.com - Prepare and file your federal tax return for free -- regardless of high income

See his show notes here. 

Clark Howard's Greatest Hits

Swagbucks: Search and Earn

I joined Swagbucks about a month ago after I saw it mentioned on a blog. It's a Google powered search engine which credits you points for searches. These points(Swagbucks) can be turned in for merchandise or gift certificates. I use a search engine almost every day, so this was perfect for me.

I really thought it would be a lot more difficult to earn enough points for a gift certificate, but so far it has been very easy. I keep Swagbucks bookmarked to my toolbar, and use the search engine every time I need to search for something, which is almost every day. So far I've earned 28 Swagbucks. I'm shooting for a $5.00 Amazon gift certificate(45 Swagbucks).

Hint: Swagbucks seems to kick in when you do multiple searches. I've noticed that one search has not earned me anything. It may be the quality of my searches, but if you are not earning, try at least two searches. I have been getting credited with one or two Swagbucks with at least  two searches.

They have a search toolbar you can download, but I haven't tried this. I think it would slow down my computer.

If you refer people, you get matching bucks, although I have figured this out yet.

Between this and Mypoints.com, I've managed to earn a little extra for the family simply by searching and reading emails(Mypoints.com).

Homeschool Freebie: Everyday Birds, Elementary Studies

 I thought I'd share this free online children's book about birds:

Everyday Birds: Elementary Studies by Bradford Torrey, Houghton, Mifflin and Co., 1901

We used a section in this book for a short informational about Hummingbirds for Rod & Staff (6) . We needed a little background information before writing a short essay. It's free and in public domain. You can download the entire book, or just save individual pages(left click on image of page) for viewing or printing.

You must view book in HTML(bottom of main page) in order to save and print individual pages. I've linked to the book in HTML, so you shouldn't have to change it.

Latin American Study Helps

Click here. Only $2.70, great for elementary school studies.

Happy Days with Pablo and Juanita, ages 8-11.

History and Geography Freebies: Mexico

We are studying contemporary Latin America this year for social studies using Rod & Staff's Understanding Latin America(sixth grade). The first unit covers Mexico. Here are a few free printables referencing Mexico. These resources are very old, vintage textbooks from public domain; however, they are still relevant for the study of the history, cultural influences, and geography of Mexico. All are in public domain, and are free to print or download.

Our American Neighbors by Fanny E. Coe: Mexico

An Easy Introduction to the Study of Geography: Texas and Mexico

The Fifth Reader: Mexico as First Seen by the Spaniards

The World and Its People: A Bird's-Eye View of Mexico

Old World Background to American History: Spanish Conquests in America

Story Hour Readings: Storming the Temple of Mexico

School Reading by Grades: Sixth Year, How Cortez Entered the City of Mexico.

The Guyot Geographical Reader and Primer: The Warm Countries of the South.

I didn't add this one to our reading because it was a little much for my eleven year old, but I couldn't help chuckling at this portrayal from A Child's History of Spain(1894):

"In these temples, which were called Teocallis, prisoners of war were sacrificed to the Mexican gods, and their flesh eaten by the chiefs and priests. The victim was led to the top of the Teocalli, where he could be seen from afar, was laid on a convex slab of stone, and held there by five priests, while a sixth cut open his breast with a sharp knife of itxli, and tore out his quivering heart. There were hundreds of such Teocallis in the cities of Mexico, and thousands of such victims sacrificed in them every year.

Apart from this savage custom, the Aztecs were a civilized people..." Never mind the dramatic heart pounding description in the previous paragraph, they were okay chaps because they had proper towns and such. lol

Manuel in Mexico

Roy and Ray in Mexico

New Geographies: Countries South of the United States

Map Studies of Mexico

Map 


Heroism of Boyhood: Heroic Devotion of Two Mexican Youth


Viva La Mexico!

Homeschool Freebie: Free Printable Maps

Thanks MJ. Click here.

Free Homeschool Stuff: History Ebook

Historic Boys Their Endeavours, Their Achievements, and Their Times by Elbridge Streeter Brooks, Blackie & Son, 49 & 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C. GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND DUBLIN, 1886. Reading level appears to be mid-elementary - early middle school.
Marcus of Rome -- Brian of Munster -- Olaf of Norway -- William of Normandy -- Baldwin of Jerusalem -- Frederick of Hohenstaufen -- Harry of Monmouth -- Giovanni of Florence -- Ixtlil' of Tezcuco -- Louis of Bourbon -- Charles of Sweden -- Van Rensselaer of Rensselaerswyck.

Free and in public domain at Gutenburg Books. Readable online and downloadable.

Also see Historic Girls.
Zenobia of Palmyra -- Helena of Britain -- Pulcheria of Constantinople -- Clotilda of Burgundy -- Woo of Hwang-Ho -- Edith of Scotland -- Jacqueline of Holland.-Catarina of Venice -- Theresa of Avila -- Elizabeth of Tudor -- Christina of Sweden -- Ma-ta-oka of Pow-ha-tan.

Obscure Coloring Pages: Neuroscience for Kids

Just in case you feel the need to color a neuron(giggle).

More here.

Homeschool Students: Desirable Characteristics and Suggestions

      
      
This article may be published on web sites and
in publications as long as it's reproduced in
its entirety, including the resource box at the end
of the article. Thanks!

College Professor Critiques Homeschoolers
copyright 2009 by Greg Landry, M.S.

I teach sophomore through senior level college
students - most of them are "pre-professional"
students. They are preparing to go to medical
school, dental school, physical therapy school,
etc.

As a generalization, I've noticed certain
characteristics common in my students who were
homeschooled. Some of these are desirable,
some not.

Desirable characteristics:

1. They are independent learners and do a great
job of taking initiative and being responsible
for learning. They don't have to be "spoon fed"
as many students do. This gives them an advantage
at two specific points in their education;
early in college and in graduate education.

2. They handle classroom social situations
(interactions with their peers and professors)
very well. In general, my homeschooled students
are a pleasure to have in class. They greet me
when the enter the class, initiate conversations
when appropriate, and they don't hesitate to
ask good questions. Most of my students do
none of these.

3. They are serious about their education and
that's very obvious in their attitude, preparedness,
and grades.

Areas where homeschooled students can improve:

1. They come to college less prepared in the
sciences than their schooled counterparts -
sometimes far less prepared. This can be
especially troublesome for pre-professional
students who need to maintain a high grade
point average from the very beginning.

2. They come to college without sufficient
test-taking experience, particularly with
timed tests. Many homeschooled students have a
high level of anxiety when it comes to taking
timed tests.

3. Many homeschooled students have problems
meeting deadlines and have to adjust to that in
college. That adjustment time in their freshman
year can be costly in terms of the way it affects
their grades.

My advice to homeschooling parents:

1. If your child is even possibly college
bound and interested in the sciences, make
sure that they have a solid foundation of
science in the high school years.

2. Begin giving timed tests by 7th or 8th grade.
I'm referring to all tests that students take, not
just national, standardized tests.

I think it is a disservice to not give students
timed tests. They tend to focus better and score
higher on timed tests, and, they are far better
prepared for college and graduate education if
they've taken timed tests throughout the high
school years.

In the earlier years the timed tests should allow
ample time to complete the test as long as the
student is working steadily. The objective is for
them to know it's timed yet not to feel a time
pressure. This helps students to be comfortable
taking timed tests and develops confidence in
their test-taking abilities.

3. Give your students real deadlines to meet in
the high school years. If it's difficult for students
to meet these deadlines because they're
coming from mom or dad, have them take
"outside" classes; online, co-op, or community
college.
_______________________________

Greg Landry is a 14 year veteran homeschool dad
and college professor. He also teaches one and
two semester online science classes, and offers
free 45 minute online seminars..
http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com