Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Census Takers Needed

The 2010 Census – A Great Way to Earn Extra Money
The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. The pay is good, the hours are flexible, and the work is close to home.

Census taker jobs are excellent for home school parents, retirees, college students, persons who want to work part-time, persons who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community.
Go to http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php to apply.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Creative Writing Course

CREATIVE WRITING

As beautiful as a garden in bloom
is the ability to write well!!

Do you have a budding writer or story teller?

Would you like to see your student's writing ability grow and blossom?

This course gently takes students by the hand and guides them through the creative writing process.

Through a step-by-step approach, students learn to write complete stories with descriptions of characters and scenery as well as dialog.

A professional TEACH-A-SCRIPT is also available with this course.

Go to www.thefathersbooks.com for details

Empowered Parent/Camp Consequence

My name is Gene Dickinson. I recently retired from the public education system after more than 30 years of service. I worked as a teacher, coach and administrator with 15 of those years in a charter school, inner city schools and alternative schools. I have seen first-hand how the arrogance of our youth is directly proportional to the lack of knowing negative consequences.



I know the diverse problems in the classroom that divert time and energy from genuine instruction. I have seen how juvenile crime, truancy, curfew violators, and the lack of parent accountability cost our state vast amounts of money every day. I have joined an organization that can help parents and schools. This organization is Empowered Parent/ Camp Consequence®. We have been serving families in the Jacksonville area for eight years with a faith-based approach.



I would like for you to take a few minutes to look at this short video. It shows some of the many parent successes and what the Department of Juvenile Justice, Sheriff’s Office and our State Attorney have to say about this program. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcOgGcK80rQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PwK0J7Nvoo



Now, please go to our web site; http://www.ihelpparents.com.



We have not asked the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Sheriff, or the State Attorney to endorse our program. They simply tell parents about a program called Empowered Parent/Camp Consequence® and suggest parents take a look at it. Then it is left up to the parent. These informed professionals don't attempt to convince or sell anyone this program. We ask that the parent be informed of our web site address, www.ihelpparents.com and leave it alone.



I will email you in a few days to see what you think of the program. Feel free to contact us via the web site information. Some schools and agencies are adding our link to their home web site; please feel free to do so.



Sincerely,



Gene Dickinson

Director of Development

Empowered Parent Program
Camp Consequence®

Learn a Language; Speak a Culture

The ALDEA Language Training program through Blue Mountain Travel Company® provides independent study classes in which the tutor determines the curriculum, provides a wealth of experience, and serves as an outside resource through email while the students guide themselves through study and evaluation process. Each class meets with the tutor in a live or recorded session via the Internet for 90 minutes each session.

Gather Place internet conferencing technology has made it possible for each student to take live or recorded on-line courses from their home or office. The interactive class sessions use audio, text chat, video, slide show presentations, and a whiteboard to enhance the students' educational experience. Such classes offer an adult learner the chance to learn a language interactively from their own desktop and the home educated student a wonderful opportunity for peripheral language coaching.

Features
A reasonably priced program
Connect using dial-up, DSL, or broadband Software
Online tests and exams
Track your own progress online

Helpful instructor feedback
Receive a certificate of completion (with letter grade for homeschoolers)
Easy pay through PayPal or by calling ALDEA

Parent/Guardian evaluation with online grading website



BELOW IS A LIST OF CLASSES AND A BRIEF HOW-WOULD-THIS-HELP-ME DESCRIPTION.



Available Live-Feed Classes: These programs have specific dates and times of meeting. Please peruse the schedule link for the calendar.


Adult Conversational Spanish -- This class is good for folks who realize through their job or what-not that they'd better brush up if they want to communicate!



Spanish Level 3 -- This is a good class for homeschoolers, military families, or missionary families who would like to access further resources in upper level Spanish language training. Focus: grammar, conversation, upper-level reading, integrated vocabulary



Spanish Level 4 (Literature & Translation) -- Must have Spanish 3 or the equivalent and must pass the placement test to enroll (only one test per student allowed). Focus: literature and translation (instructor assisted evaluations)





World Religions -- Good for people who want to take into account his or her worldview and religious frame of reference in studying the worlds most prominent religions.




Available Recorded Classes: These programs can begin at any point during the calendar year and are available 24/7. The student may access them at their leisure. The last two are excellent classes for homeschoolers, military families, or missionary families who would like a resource to follow by independent study. These will be available on 30SEP2008.



Travel Spanish for the 11th Hour -- This is a six week class designed to assist those who may be traveling to a Spanish-speaking country and would like to have a quick immersion course so they can, at the very least, find the bathrooms.



Spanish Level 2 -- Recorded class following the curriculum above. Spanish 1 equivalent & placement test required. Focus: grammar, conversation, introduction to reading


Spanish Level 3 -- Recorded class following the curriculum above. Spanish 2 equivalent & placement test required. Focus: grammar, conversation, upper-level reading, integrated vocabulary


http://www.bluemountaintravelcompany.com/ALDEA%20Online/online_academy_html/index.htm

Monday, February 16, 2009

Considering Homeschooling Ministry

Considering Homeschooling Ministry™ is a national outreach helping Christian families discover the blessings of a biblical home education. Visit their web site at www.consideringhomeschooling.org

Two curriculum programs they recommend"

CLASS HOMESCHOOLS: Christian k-12 home education since 1967.

Tailored Curriculum: Don't settle for a one-size-fits-all curriculum

CLASS evaluates

results of achievement testing
transcripts and cumulative records
previous grade level courses and scores
parent comments and requests
CLASS then assigns

all necessary subjects appropriate to the student's level
lower or higher grade level
materials if more appropriate for the child materials to correct gaps in the student's educational experience
alternate courses, if requested by you
CLASS selects a best fit curriculum

When it comes to education, one size does not fit all. The uniqueness of each child must be considered when assembling a curriculum. Beginning at second grade, CLASS relies in part on achievement testing to ensure that appropriate materials are assigned to each student. For high school, CLASS also evaluates transcripts and cumulative records. When available, CLASS reviews previous grade level courses and scores. With CLASS you won't get a one-size-fits-all curriculum-you get the curriculum that best fits your child.

For more information on CLASS, go to http://www.homeschools.org/indexTailored.html


Abeka Academy: Excellence in Education from a Christian Perspective

500,000 enrollments since 1985

DVD: Supervise Your Child's Instruction at Home!...with either Program 1 or Program 2


You can supervise and be involved in your child's learning process at home. A manual with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions makes this possible. All textbooks, workbooks, tests, keys and DVDs needed for the course are provided. Students provide their own Authorized King James Version Bible for Bible classes. Pensacola Christian Academy master teachers provide daily instruction on DVD. DVD courses are designed for a 170-day school year. Courses are planned for school-aged children with minimal home supervision. The typical kindergarten day is 3 hours on DVD. Elementary students can expect to spend 3 hours a day on DVD plus independent work time. High school class time is based on 50 minutes of class time plus homework for each course. Students may enroll at any time during the year.

Traditional: Parents can teach without formal training or experience!

The A Beka Academy Traditional Parent-Directed program has courses available for five-year-old kindergarten and grades one through six. This parent-directed program provides you with all the necessary A Beka Book student and teacher materials needed to complete an entire grade. In the 2007-2008 school year, over 40,000 students were enrolled in A Beka Academy.

For more information, go to http://www.abekaacademy.org/

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Homeschool Freebies!

Check out www.HomeschoolFreebieoftheDay.com . If you join their FREE mailing list, you get a link to download a free resource everyday!!! Great e-books and audio books and audio book units. AND IT'S ALL FREE!

Public Schools

Thursday, February 5, 2009

How is your current reading curriculum working?

Is it giving your child the essential reading foundation necessary for reading success?
Research and scientifically proven, the Discover Intensive Phonics program proves that this foundation is necessary. This program is a systematic, explicit, Orton-Gillingham based approach to reading. Discover Intensive Phonics instruction helps automatic readers excel, struggling readers improve, and/or gives young readers a proven foundation that covers all of the necessary beginning reading skills. Reading Horizons offers free online training and numerous resources to ensure successful instruction and make it easy to teach. All materials are non-consumable. These materials include but not limited to, games, activities, and progress assessments. The computer software teaches the entire program, offering hands-on, independent learning.
It is never too late to start down the right road to reading!

Contact Shantell for details

shantell@readinghorizons.com

Florida Private School for Homeschoolers

Hello from Grace Alone Academy! We are a registered Florida Private School for Homeschoolers. Our school offers record keeping services that comply with Florida Home Education Statutes as well as offering many other optional services.

We offer a monthly newsletter, online reporting, high school diplomas, DOE accepted transcripts, FLVS affiliation, a yearbook geared to homeschool families, camping adventures, online classes, field trips, an end of year celebration and much more.


Grace Alone Academy is excited to offer online record keeping to our home educating families. The ability to provide online record keeping is one of the features that sets Grace Alone Academy apart from other organizations. Through an affiliation with our online homeschool reporting, our families will enjoy:

· Simple, secure online record keeping system

· Offsite electronic storage and backup of important student records

· Record grades, track attendance, portfolio entries, lesson plans, standardized test score and immunization records

· Access and update your records from any location, via the internet, at any time

· Flexibility in record keeping or reporting requirements

· Generate student transcripts immediately

· Opportunity for you to train your student(s) in online computing

· Records protected by username and password authentication

· And much more...

Why should you choose a private umbrella for your homeschool? Many Christian homeschoolers enjoy the private school option because it allows them to legally exercise religious freedom for their homeschool, rather than being subject to secular government influences. The added benefit of administrative services frees the parent up to spend more time teaching and less time on records and other time consuming tasks.

Is Grace Alone Academy Accredited? No. After much research and prayer, we have no plans to seek accreditation. Through prior experience, we have found that a diploma from an accredited school does not make a difference in college entry or military entrance. If your student plans to continue post secondary education or the military, it is best to take the SAT or ACT as this is the final indicator of a student’s success rather than rely on accreditation. You are teaching your child, not the school; therefore, a student is assessed based on their knowledge and not by whether the private school has paid for accreditation.


Please contact us or visit www.gracealoneacademy.org for additional information.

In HIS Service,

Tonya Reed

Florida Counselor and School Director

fbiuthldr@fairpoint.net

(850)902-2421

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Learn To Type with Mavis Beacon

The best-selling typing training program is now better than ever! Our customers asked for a fresh update to Mavis Beacon and we've delivered with a comprehensive refresh of our award-winning program! Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing® Deluxe 20 delivers all the proven training excellence of past versions with a fresh, updated design and user experience that we think you'll love.

Buy it now for just $17.99 and start enjoying the benefits of better typing as soon as possible. Just a little bit of time with Mavis Beacon will have you typing better, emailing faster and working smarter! Don't wait long! This offer expires at midnight on February 18, 2009. Plus, take advantage of our limited-time $5.50 flat-rate shipping special.*

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Resources From A Former Homeschooler...

It's been 20 years since I homeschooled my children, so I'm out of the loop. I have, though, saved some of the materials I prepared for them and have made available online, free of charge, for anyone interested, the only proviso being that, as copyrighted material, they cannot be published under a different name or title without my permission. Below are their URL's.

l http://www.geocities.com/cfnavarro26/games.html (Oral Word Games for Pre-Readers -- Verbal Analogies; Rhyming Riddles; Antonyms; Synonyms; Similarities; Sets and Subsets; Parts and Wholes

http://www.geocities.com/cfnavarro26/affixes.html (English Prefixes and Suffixes—intermediate or advanced level)

http://www.geocities.com/cfnavarro26/analogiesfull.pdf (Verbal Analogies--intermediate level)

http://www.geocities.com/cfnavarro26/novelita.html (Animal Stories in Spanish--elementary level)

http://www.geocities.com/cfnavarro26/biblefull.pdf (Old Testament Families and Characters Workbook--advanced level)

Happy Homeschooling!


C. Navarro

HENA 2009 Conference

Our first look at our HENA 2009 Conference schedule is now up on our website!

http://www.hena.us/conferenceSchedule.html



There are still a few things that are not yet scheduled and of course, there are bound to be a few changes between now and the conference, but I'm pretty confident that we've got most of it as it will stay, although as we get closer, more details will be added to the schedule, so keep checking back!



If you are homeschooling or just curious about homeschooling DON'T MISS THIS EVENT! We are open to all and support families that homeschool and children are welcome! Please feel free to forward this notice!



Browse the exhibit hall and listen to these speakers while your kids have fun in funshops or play areas:

Grace Llewellyn, Author of the Teenage Liberation Handbook, Director, Not Back to School Camp

Pam Sorooshian, Math Professor and board member of National Home Education Network

Sandra Dodd, Unschooling Advocate, along with her grown kids, Holly, Marty and Kirby.

Holly Craw, Director, Covenant Homeschool Resource Center

Caryn Gardner, Classical Homeschooling

Diane Jessen, Teaching by Connections

Scott Hermanson, ASU English Professor

Rachel Mendelson, Parent of two grown unschoolers in college and a six year old still at home unschooling

Joanne Townsend, Single Parent Homeschooler

Rebecca Atlee, now unschooling her kids after she was raised unschooled

PLUS more!



KIDS ACTIVITIES --- TALENT SHOW --- KIDS THEATER PRODUCTION --- FUN!



If you haven't registered yet, don't wait! Our early bird pricing is over, but we now have lower prices until February 15 only!! Kids are still the same low price they always are, but adult and family regular prices have been reduced as it makes our job so much easier if we can get your Name Tags created and ready well before the conference.



Register now at: http://hena.us/conferenceRegistration.html



As always, volunteers are free, so if you want to volunteer, please contact us and let us know! We still have a few openings.



We look forward to seeing you at the HENA 2009 conference on March 7, 2009 at ASU Memorial Union in Tempe!



Cindy Fox

HENA 2009 Conference Coordinator

www.hena.us/conference.html

602-692-8923