Friday, March 20, 2009

Introducing Live, Affordable, Classes

Dear CurrClick Customers,
We are so excited to announce the launch of CurrClick Live, our offering of online, live classes with a real teacher. In fact, we're so excited, that we're letting you know early, before all of our classes are available, just to give you a heads up. In the very near future, we will be offering dozens of classes in the areas of science, Spanish, history, art, photography, drama, speech and much more. Not only that, but our publishers will be offering free seminars in the evenings and early mornings. Isn't technology amazing?
Unlike online schools and curriculum packages, CurrClick Live gives you the freedom to pick a class or two, avoiding any big tuition payments or lengthy committments. So, if math or music is something you struggle with as a homeschool parent, you can affordably supplement with our CurrClick Live offerings.
Classes will be taught by way of our easy-to-use virtual classrooms and are compatible with Mac and PC operating systems. Students will be able to gather together in a classroom like setting, answer questions, and interact with their teacher. In addition, CurrClick Live will be offering one-on-one tutoring, seminars, independent studies, plus small and large classes.
All of our teachers have been carefully selected and have submitted to a background check. In addition, our online classrooms are secure and safe, so you can feel good about the online environment in which you are placing your children.
As classes are added and new teachers brought in, we'll be keeping you updated, but we encourage you to check the site often to see what new classes are being offered. You can search from our homepage under "Subjects" and the "CurrClick Live Classes" or just look at our homepage, where we'll be featuring new classes as soon as we get them.
CurrClick is committed to making homeschooing affordable and accessible to families everywhere. Online schools can be costly, with huge upfront payments. We feel strongly that offering students the ability to pick and choose from individual classes is another extension of our commitment to affordability and accessibility.
We hope you do to!
Best Wishes,
Staley and Leah

http://www.currclick.com/

Lemons For Literacy

As the old saying goes, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"
Over 40 million Americans struggle with literacy problems. People who struggle with reading can be seen as having been given lemons in life. With the support of effective reading instruction, these people can turn their lemons into lemonade.
We want to celebrate and support the resiliency of people who overcome their struggles with reading. Thousands of inspiring people have turned their struggles with reading into strengths.

Lemons for Literacy has two goals:
To Help cure illiteracy by providing free literacy materials to people in need.
To provide free education for everyone.

Lemons for Literacy is a vocabulary building game that visitors to the Reading Horizons Web site will be able to play. Players must identify a series of vocabulary words. The words begin at a low grade level and get progressively more difficult as the game is played. For each correct answer, a hand will squeeze lemon juice into a glass. Five lemons squeezed make one glass of lemonade, and five glasses amount to a pitcher full of lemonade. For every pitcher of lemonade that is filled, Reading Horizons will donate money to purchase literacy materials for a needy site.

For more information, go to http://www.readinghorizonsathome.com/lemonsforliteracy/

G. A. Henty Books

My name is Zachary Miller, and I was homeschooled almost all my life. One of my favorite things to do in my free time was to read all the books by G. A. Henty. The only thing is, I never actually read ALL the books, because my family could not afford to buy them all.

Henty books are one of the most popular book series with homeschoolers, and are one of the best ways to learn history, but should families really have to pay over $1200 just to read them all? Well, I don’t think so, and that’s why I started the company G. A. Henty Online. What we do is provide a way for families to be able to enjoy some of the greatest historical fiction novels of all time, without breaking the bank. In fact, we are the only company in the world that can provide you with some of the rarest stories Henty ever wrote.

You can find out more about what we offer at: www.gahentyonline.com, but that’s not really why I’m writing you. What I wanted to do was tell you about our affiliate program, which is a way for you to offer this site to the members of your homeschool group, while raising some funds for your group at the same time.

You can find out more at: www.gahentyonline.com/affiliate. Basically, the way it works is that when you sign up as an affiliate, you get a special link that you can send the members of your group, which takes them to our site. If they choose to become a member, you or your group will make 50% of that sale, which works out to about $23.50.

This is a great way to raise some funds for your group, while at the same time, offering the members of your group a way to enjoy the Henty books at an amazing price.

Please, check out our site, and read the details about our affiliate program. If you have any questions, send me an email or give me a call at 815-568-6799.

Help Secure our Right to Homeschool

Parental rights are under attack. If you’ve been reading our emails for very long, you’ve seen it too: parents face an ongoing challenge to their ability to direct the upbringing of their children.

HSLDA has done much to secure educational freedoms for homeschoolers. But our work is not done. Therefore, we are asking you to recommend HSLDA to your homeschooling friends.

Right now we are making it easy for them to experience the benefits of HSLDA membership—for free! If they join between now and April 30, approved applicants will be granted a free membership good through July 31, 2009.

They do not need to send payment and there’s no commitment. But this is an opportunity for them to see how committed we area to securing their right to homeschool and to do so successfully.

This offer for a free membership is short. The opportunity to sign up extends only through April 30! So please don’t delay in forwarding this offer to them. Of course, we will give them an opportunity to renew for continued benefits after this trial membership period is over.

We remain willing and able to protect the legal right to homeschool. We also know that homeschooling can be challenging. That’s why we’re able to help with both legal and practical homeschooling needs.

Home School Legal Defense Association • P.O. Box 3000 • Purcellville, Virginia 20134-9000
Phone: (540) 338-5600 • Fax: (540) 338-2733 • Email: info@hslda.org
Web: http://www.hslda.org

Monday, March 16, 2009

Anthony's Amazing Journey

A unique children's book just in time for Easter.

Anthony's Amazing Journey

Anthony's Amazing Journey is the story of the Triumphal Entry as seen through the eyes
of the donkey foal. During the journey, Anthony learns about bravery, trust, and friendship.
Overcoming obstacles like shyness and being small in size, Anthony learns how important
it is to have a friend in Jesus.


About the Author

Bert Ballou has seven nieces and nephews and four great-nieces and nephews.
He noticed a disturbing trend recently of secularism dominating not only department
stores at the holiday seasons, but a shift in general away from Christian beliefs.
Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny garner more attention than Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving scarcely exists in the world of retail; Fat Tuesday takes excess to the
extreme while the end of Lent gets celebrated with an egg hunt and possibly "brunch".

This book is a sublte way of fighting back. God gave him a fresh angle on a familiar
story. This book is aimed at children on their level, but catches the adults that read to
them. No one should be afraid of Jesus, and hopefully this book starts a dialouge on
that very subject. The story doesn't end with the last page, its what happens after
getting to Jerusalem that we all hang our salvation on. Pun intended.

Order your copy today: http://www.anthonysamazingjourney.com/

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Write Great Essays

Are your homeschooling parents and students struggling with essay writing?

The solution is available online. The Write Great Essays Workbook gives parents and students easy-to-follow lessons, complete with all the explanations, examples, and exercises they need to learn how to write great essays.

This proven workbook is ideal for students of all levels, from beginners to those who have struggled for years without achieving an “A”. Working through the Write Great Essays Workbook will benefit your students immediately and throughout their studies.

For more information, workbook sample and personal copy, see www.WriteGreatEssays.com or contact teacher@writegreatessays.com

Read what others have to say about the Write Great Essays Workbook:

“My marks went up a whole letter grade this semester after I worked through the Write Great Essays Workbook. I’m so relieved and proud.” Grace, Sacramento, CA

“There is something for every student in this workbook: from planning to writing to editing. Thanks for making it so easy to follow.” Mrs. Weston, Homeschooling Parent, Madison, WI

“I am so impressed with the improvements in my daughter's essay writing. She received top marks in her high school requirements this year. The lessons and steps in this Write Great Essays Workbook helped her master essay writing! Thank you very much." Mrs. Lee, San Francisco, CA

For 25 years, educator Liz Kind has specialized in essay writing, teaching students of all ages how to excel. Now, she has compiled these proven step-by-step lessons into student workbooks complete with easy-to-follow instructions and practical exercises to help students master essay writing.

www.WriteGreatEssays.com

Give your students the tools they need to excel at essay writing.

CLEPtomania

Some homeschooling parents find formulating a plan for homeschooling through high school a challenge. Should our focus be on achieving a high school diploma? What about facing the college recruiters?

These concerns drive some parents to plan hours of unnecessary course work that would hopefully lead to a diploma. Others choose educational paths that attempt to satisfy nagging doubts about future college entrance. CLEP solved BOTH these concerns for our family by allowing us to chart an independent course that will ultimately show college recruiters that our student is ready for the next step.

What is CLEP?
CLEP is the "College-Level Examination Program" and is also known by terms such as "testing out" or "credit by examination." Simply put, you use independent study to prepare for a specific college course and then go to a local college to take the computerized multiple choice exam. If you pass, you are issued the credits, as if you had taken the class at the college.

CLEP exams can be used to:

-accumulate dual credit, showing credits that will count toward high school requirements AND, at the same time, count towards a college degree

-shorten the years of study required to attain a college degree, since you are starting in the teen years

-save you money in earning a college degree, as CLEP exams are MUCH cheaper than registering for a college class on campus

-show ANY "brick and mortar" college that your child is capable of performing at a college level, and you'll have the credits to PROVE it!

-avoid "basic skills" classes when entering college by CLEPing college math and freshman english

-give your child the chance to delve into the subject being studied while moving at a comfortable pace for optimum learning

-sharpen your child's independent study skills, which are a MUST in the college environment

-continue to share your "world view" with your child when studying controversial topics contained in many social science classes

-tackle tough subjects ONCE and get the credit the FIRST time around. Why do high school biology and then retake it again for college credit?


SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WHERE DO I START?
A normal college course includes classroom instruction, followed by testing and then the granting of credits earned. Through our FREE lesson plans you will be able to use your child's independent study skills, replacing the instructional phase of the college class process with the appropriate books and videos we've selected as study tools. Your child will prepare for the exam and the college board will issue them credits for passing the test. These credits can be "banked" with the college board and then transferred to the college of your choice in the future.

DO ALL COLLEGES ACCEPT CLEP CREDITS?
CLEP credits are accepted by more than 2,900 schools. The exams are 90 minute, multiple choice format. There are other widely accepted credit-by-examination programs as well, such as DANTES. It's important to check with the colleges on your "wish list" to see how many credits they allow to be "transferred in" from any one testing source. The colleges we have listed are VERY "credit by examination" friendly, some even allowing you to "test out" of your ENTIRE four year degree! Remember too that colleges that have enrollment requirements, such as SAT scores and basic skills tests, often waive them when college credits have already been accumulated by the student.

For more information please visit:
http://ClepPrep.tripod.com

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Pizza Hut BOOK IT Program Open to Homeschoolers

Homeschoolers in grades k-6 for the '09-'10 school year may register for the Pizza Hut Book It! reading incentive program. Set individual reading goals for the months of Oct-May and receive a free Personal Pan Pizza for each month the goal is met.
For more information:
http://www.bookitpr ogram.com/ enrollment/ homeschool. asp

Science Kits Available for Homeschoolers

This is a great way for home education programs to provide state of the art science classes for students.
Science Take-Out is proud to introduce 2 new kits and a new Variety Pack:

pH Testing - Students create their own pH color scales and test the pH of several common liquids.
Pollution Investigation - Students investigate the cause of runoff water pollution and learn about the environmental health effects of pollutants.
Science Take-Out Variety Pack - Get 11 different Science Take-Out kits and save $12!

Here is what students are saying about Science Take-Out kits!


You have everything you need right in front of you and it gave you step by step things to do.
It made me feel like a real scientist, and it also made me think I had a job to do.
I like it because we had all the materials.
It was easy to understand by the step-by-step process.
I like how it's hands on and I like hands on activities.
The lab had everything you need in the bag.
It's a very good learning experiment. I think it helps me learn.
It makes me feel like a scientist. The directions were easy to follow.
We get experience in labs and keeping organized.
It's fun to act like a scientist.
It was very helpful because you didn't have to worry about not having enough of something.
It is easy for me to find everything.
It makes me feel smart.
I like the lab because it came with all the materials with labels. I wasn't confused on what stuff was.
It is fun. You get to do all the work and be smart.
I liked not having to hear orders barked at me.

Science Take-Out at NSTA:

Our collaborators from the University of Rochester's Life Sciences Learning Center will be presenting two workshops at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) convention in New Orleans:

Science Take-Out: Kidney Function (Friday, March 20, 11:00-12:00 noon, JW Marriot New Orleans) - Experience two Science Take-Out kits, Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Function. Take home a sample kit and information on other Science Take-Out kits.
Molecular Evolution of Cholera (Saturday, March 21, 9:30-10:30 AM, JW Marriot New Orleans) - Experience a brand new Science Take-Out kit being created in collaboration with the University of Rochester. This real-life medical mystery explores the emergence of a new epidemic-causing strain of Vibrio cholerae.


Visit Science Take-Out online at www.sciencetakeout.com to see our entire selection of kits.

For more information about Science Take-Out kits, contact us any time at contact@sciencetakeout.com or call us at (585)764-5400

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Home schoolers swarm to defend education

As seen on www.onenewsnow.com:

A home school defense attorney is warning New Hampshire home schoolers about a piece of legislation being debated in The Granite State.

Mike Donnelly of the Home School Legal Defense Association is warning New Hampshire homeschoolers of HB 367. If passed, the bill would require home schoolers to double the amount of reporting currently required and would allow a school superintendant or principal to determine if the home school program should continue or be terminated.

The legislation has angered many home schoolers who showed up in record numbers when the bill was being debated in Concord. "There were about a thousand home schoolers there. It was a record-breaking crowd, never been that many home schoolers," Donnelly notes. "In fact some of the people at the state house said that they've never seen such a large crowd inside ever."

Donnelly says he and about 100 home schoolers were able to give testimony. "Well if it passed, this would become one of the most restrictive [home school] laws in the country," he adds.

He states New Hampshire's situation is in stark contrast to the trend in other parts of the country where states are reducing the regulations placed on home schoolers. Donnelly says that the legislation will come up for a vote in early- to mid-March.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=431394

Guides for Homeschool Leaders

Homeschool Leader: Homeschoolers Guide (a small company for homeschoolers run by homeschoolers) publishes 3 FREE guides for homeschoolers: a field trip guide, a college guide, and a curriculum guide. The guides are distributed free to homeschool group leaders. You can visit our website at www.homeschoolersguides.com to get more information about us and our guides. We send hard copies of the guide to Support Group Leaders for their groups. All of our guides are downloadable for free on our website. Your members can download their own copy of any or all of the guides. The 2009 Guides will be coming out shortly. We have just recently begun distribution of our guides in your area.

If you would like to receive free copies of these guides for your group, please email a mailing address to homeschoolersguides@yahoo.com and we will get them out to you. The Field Trip and Pocket Homeschool Fair (curriculum guide) come out twice a year and the College Guide comes out annually..