Free Homeschool ID cards

Tired of explaining to curious commenters that you homeschool when they ask why your children aren't at school? You may want to print out one of these free Homeschool ID cards.  The site asks that you become a member, but it is free to join. You can print out a set for free or order plastic laminated versions from the site for a cost of $6.95.  We have opted to print them out and laminate them ourselves. 

I blacked out the birthdate for privacy issues.

Words With Friends - Making Learning Fun

My hubby and I have been addicted to the Words With Friends app on our iphones for awhile now, but recently Tyler and Cody have been begging to play too.  After some careful thought and consideration, I realized it would be an excellent learning activity, so my hubby and I let them each start a game of their own using our iphones.  The game is similar to scrabble and allows them to practice spelling, critical thinking, and addition skills.  They are loving it, and so is mom because I know they are really learning! :)

What apps are you loving for your homeschoolers?

Ten Tips For Making Your Life Easier and Efficient While On the Go

With 6 boys involved in a multidtude of activities (baseball, football, wrestling, skiing, tae kwan do, and acting) as well as juggling my own life on the city council and finishing up my Master's degree (not to mention hubby's work schedule) it seems that somedays we LIVE in our car.  Over the years I have learned a few tricks of the trade for making life work a little easier when you are always on the go.

1. Mobile Office - Keep a small box of office supplies such as pens, paper, envelopes, paper clips, bank deposit slips, stamps, etc.  Having supplies handy has helped me to multi-task while I am waiting on the boys.  I have paid bills, written grocery lists, developed lesson plans, finished my own school assignments, and more while on the go. 

2. Easy Snacking - With 6 growing boys, I have become accustomed to the dreaded sentence, "Mom, I'm hungry!"By stocking up on easy to pack snacks such as bottled water, carrot sticks, apples and peanut butter, etc. I can throw a few in a backpack for those sudden hunger attacks without breaking the bank or our busy schedule.




3. Pack it up the night before - The day of a big event is stressful enough without the added burden of having to remember if we packed the uniforms, or sports equipment. We try to pack the car up the night before to save on last minute morning scrambles.



4. Lots and lots of trash bags - My boys never cease to amaze me with their ability to make a mess. From motion sickness accidents to spilled ice-cream, our van has seen it all! I make sure to bring extra trash bags, wipes, and paper towels for all those just in case messies.



5. Boredom Busters - The invention of the ipod has been a wonder for keeping the boys busy during long car trips or days filled with errands. The boys can listen to music, play games, use some of their learning apps and more. Books, magazines, and portable games are another great option.



6. Combining Activities - Because we live about 30 minutes from town, I try to plan errands around my children's schedules and activities. For example, after Tyler's baseball camp, we ran to Staples for school supplies, PetSmart for crickets for our pet gecko, and the mall to pick up a present for my hubby's birthday on Saturday.



7. Pack extra - For some reason we always need an extra something. When the boys were younger that was usually diapers or wipes, but even with bigger kids it seems we often need a change of clothes after a messy experience with some ice cream, a slider into home base, or just because of an activity change.



8. Enlist technology - Where oh where would I be without my iphone! I not only can make calls with it, but it also keeps my calendar, my to do list, and my shopping list and also functions as a GPS, clock, calculator, and more.



9. Learn to say no - As much as we hate to admit it, moms really aren't super heroes who can do everything. Sometimes you need to focus on only the important things.



10. Don't forget about Mom! - It is so easy to get wrapped up in taking care of everyone else, that you forget about yourself. Bring along one of your favorite beverages (like iced tea or coffee) for a quick pick me up, play some tunes that you love on the radio, and relish in the wonder of those little ones who are keeping you busy!



Seattle's Best coffee is making it a little easier for you to take care of you with this coupon for $1.50 off a 4 pack of canned lattes - perfect for the on the go mom!

It’s low calorie: Just 130 calories per can.

It’s affordable: A premium latte for just $1.49? And a 4-pack is an even better deal, at just $4.99.

It’s everywhere: Available in major grocery, convenience and other retail stores.

About Seattle’s Best Coffee
"As coffee blenders and roasters since 1970, we’ve seen a lot come and go. We went from a tiny shop on the Seattle waterfront to being declared Seattle’s Best Coffee in a local competition. In 2003, we joined the Starbucks family which has allowed us to place more resources into further honing our special way of crafting delicious, impossibly smooth coffee. Every step of the process, from coffee cherry to your cup, is managed to fit our exacting standards and our premium approach to coffee. Now, we’re making it easier to find your perfect coffee with our new Level System.



More info on Seattle’s Best Coffee: http://www.seattlesbest.com/

Seattle’s Best Coffee on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SeattlesBestCoffee

Follow @SeattlesBest on Twitter



I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seattle’s Best Coffee blogging program for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Ten Time Saving Tips For Busy Moms

When people hear that I have 6 boys, the question that I hear the most (well... maybe next to "Do you know what causes that?) is how do you manage?  Then when they hear all of the things I do... a member of the city council, finishing up my Master's Degree, etc. they want to know where do I find the time.  Here are a few of my time saving tips that have really helped me to do it all (or at least  fake it! LOL!)

1. My iphone!  Really, my iphone has come to function as a second brain (and boy do I need one!).  I put everything in there from due dates for assignments, to shopping lists, to doctor appointments, you name it!  Here are some of the uses I have found, and I am sure you can find some more!

• Calendar - This is where I keep track of appointments, meetings, etc.
• Apps - Whether it is for keeping a to-do list, counting calories, or keeping track of grocery prices and coupons, it is safe to say there is an app for that!
• Notes - When all else fails, I write myself a note - things like my kiddos's shoe sizes (which seem to change every other day) to the type of ink I need for my printer have found there way here.
• Camera - I often will snap a pic of a price I want to remember, a project I want to re-create, or an item I want to put on my Christmas list.  The other day I had a pricing issue at Office Depot and I just ran back and snapped a pic of the price and the cashier fixed it for me! 
• Business Apps. Many stores and businesses are jumping on the bandwagon to make life easier with apps that save you time. 

With Starbucks Card Mobile App you can use select smartphone devices to pay for your Starbucks purchases, allowing you to experience the fastest way to pay at nearly 9,000 locations in the U.S., including 6,800 company-operated stores, more than 1,000 Starbucks locations in U.S. Target stores and nearly 1,000 Starbucks locations in Safeway stores. By offering the fastest way to pay in stores, Starbucks is making your morning coffee run even more convenient, giving you more time to get on with your busy day!

Love you Starbucks!

Starbucks for Android™ and the Starbucks Card Mobile App for BlackBerry®, iPhone® or iPod® Touch have five core features:

1. Pay with your phone: Enjoy the fastest, more convenient way to pay at nearly 9,000 Starbucks locations. Just download the app, enter your Starbucks Card number, scan and go.

2. Manage your card account: Access your Starbucks Card balance directly from your phone.

3. Reload your card balance: Use your smartphone to reload your Starbucks Card using any major credit card.

4. Check your My Starbucks Rewards status: Find out how close you are to earning your next free drink.

5. Find nearby Starbucks stores: Save time by finding a Starbucks store near you.

2. Home Sweet Home. - Not just the saying, but everything in our house has a "home" or place where it belongs.  And... as long as my kiddos and hubby (love you guys!) follow the rules and put the things back in their "homes" I save a ton of time searching for things that I need.

3. Multi-task when runnung errands. - I try to arrange all of my errands to get done on one day of the week.  Especially because we live in a rural area and are about 30 minutes from town, I try to schedule appointments for the same day.  While I am out I try to grab groceries, go the post office, etc. 

4. Separate Laundry Baskets By Child.  Each of my kiddos has their own laundry basket and designated laundry day.  It makes life much easier to put away items for one kid in one place at a time.  I also use lingerie bags for socks.  The kids each have a bag and that is where their socks go - makes for easier pairings and less lost socks in the infamous dryer black hole!

5. Quick and Easy Breakfasts.  When we make pancakes or French Toast on the weekend, we will often cook up some extras and freeze them.  The boys can grab some out of the freezer and pop them in the microwave when they want something different instead of cereal or oatmeal. If I want a smoothie in the morning, I will put all the ingredients into the blender in the fridge the night before when I have more time and no morning chaos as my hubby heads off to work.

6. Meal Planning.  We plan meals a week ahead and post the menu on the fridge.  That way if I am out and about (i.e. at one of the many sports practices for my kiddos) my hubby or older boys can start dinner cooking before I get home.

7. Delegate.  All successful managers delegate work, and a household manager (MOM) is no different.  Whenever possible I put my kiddos to work helping out around the house.  It helps them feel good about helping the family and it saves me time.  Then I have extra time for doing fun things with them!

8. Mail Sorting. We have a three draw plastic thingy that I bought at Wal-Mart that sits on a counter by my front door.  When the mail comes, whoever took it out sorts it into the 3 drawers - "Bills" "Mom & Dad" or "Kids".

9. Stockpiling - I try to keep a stockpile of items we use on hand at all times  (i.e. shampoo, dish detergent, etc.)- that way I don't have to make any last minute runs to the store for needed items.

10. Color coding - With 6 boys it is often hard to remember what thing belonged to what child (i.e. cups, hangers, etc.).  We use color coding (each boy has a specific color) to help everyone keep track of their own items.

I hope some of these tips help you save some time, and I would love to hear any of your ideas!


I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Starbucks on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Starbucks


Follow @starbucks on Twitter

Sign Language Practice

If your kiddos are learning sign language, this site offers a fun place for them to practice!  Choose the number of letters in each word and the speed for the sign language and see if you can tell what words are being spelled.

Displaying Your Child's Artwork

I love this idea for displaying your child's artwork (or outstanding school work!) from This and That.

Day at a Glance

If you are looking for a way to keep track of all the things you need to do each day, you may want to print out this Day at a Glance form.

Lesson Planning Pages

If you are having trouble organizing you homeschooling day, you may want to print out these handy lesson planning pages.  You can print them out as you use them, or all at once.  You can either bind them together or place them in a binder to keep them all in one place. You can download a generic form that does not have the dates or subjects on them here, or choose the pre-printed ones below:

2010

Sept. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Oct. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Nov. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Dec. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets

2011

Jan. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Feb. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Mar. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Apr. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
May. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
June 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
July 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets 

 

Learning Fans

Here is a fun way to review skills such as counting by ones, fives, or tens.  Simply write the skill to be learned on rectangles, place one on top of the other and fasten the bottom with a paper fastener. 

Swagbucks - Earn money and giftcards to Buy Books and Supplies

One way that I have learned to stretch a dollar on books and supplies is with Swagbucks.  Swagbucks pays you to do what you already do - search on the internet. Each time you search using swagbucks, you can earn swagbucks that can be cashed in for a variety of gift cards or prizes. To join click on the box above and start earning.


I cash out for about $25 or so a month, which I use to get Amazon gift cards to buy books!
Here are a few tips I have found to help you earn more SwagBucks!




Tip #1

Need to search the web? Do it with Swagbucks.com.



Tip #2

Get a Toolbar, Stay Connected and Win More.



Tip #3

Invite Your Friends & When They Win, You Win!



Tip #4

Want Swag Bucks quickly? Complete A Special Offer!





Tip #5

Do you shop online? Visit our Shop & Earn mall before you buy.



Tip #6

Earn Swag Bucks and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.



Got a new phone in the last few years? Then send us your old cell phone and we'll reward you Swag Bucks. Replace your old dust-collecting cellular with an exclusive swagbucks.com prize! There's no limit to how many phones you can recycle!



Tip #7

Make Swagbucks.com Your Home Page.



Tip #8

Promote on Your Website, Social Profile, Blog or Email Signature.



Tip #9

Keep Up With Our facebook/twitter Account

Discover what the folks behind Swag Bucks are thinking about and working on in real time! Our social media pages feature an informal community setting for you to gain insights and share your opinion. And don't be surprised if you stumble upon the occasional Swag Code



Tip #10

Receive The Newsletter



Tip #11

Interact With The Polls



Our weekly polls page features topics and questions that matter to you! From everything Swag Bucks, to popular culture; news, and entertainment, the Polls page is consistently fresh, and always fun. Plus, if you submit a poll and we happen to use it, we'll award you with up to 10 Swag Bucks.



Tip #12

Read the Blog

When big news breaks about Swag Bucks, it happens first on the Swag Bucks Blog! Find out about all the newest offers, prizes, and Swag Codes, all in one convenient location. Look for posts by The Swag Guy for exclusive Swag Buck opportunities!

Sir Ken Robinson - Nourishing Kids' Creativity

Graphic organizers

Graphic organizers are an effective tool for allowing students to think for themselves, or to organize information. Here are just a few:

Character study
Clock
Cluster/Word Web 1
Cluster/Word Web 2
Cluster/Word Web 3
Cornell Note Taker
Fact-and-Opinion Chart
Five W's Chart
Flow Chart
Four-Column Chart
Garden Gate
Ice-Cream Cone
Idea Wheel
Inverted Triangle
ISP Chart (Information, Sources, Page)
KWL Chart
Ladder
Observation Chart
Persuasion Map
Planning Chart
Problem-Solution Chart
Pros and Cons Scale
Sandwich
Sequence Chart
Spider Map
Step-by-Step Chart
Story Map 1
Story Map 2
T-Chart
Ticktacktoe
Time-Order Chart
Tree Chart
Venn Diagram

Well today is tax day which is pretty important, but when it comes to dollars tomorrow could be even more important! The final day for people to mail in their completed Census form is tomorrow, Friday the 16th. What happens if they do not remember to send it in? It ends up costing the tax-payers more money to complete the Census process.

Here are a few facts:

o For every 1 percent increase in the national participation rate by mail, the Census Bureau saves taxpayers $85 million by not having to send census takers door to door to households that failed to return the census form. If every household mailed back its 2010 Census form, taxpayers could reduce the cost of taking the census and save $1.5 billion.

o It costs the government just 42 cents for a postage paid envelope when a household mails back the form but costs on average about $57 per household to send a census taker.

o April 16th is the last day to return your Census form!

Have you sent your form in?

Home Educating Family Magazine Free Sample

The Home Educating Family (HEF) magazine is a full color quarterly magazine with insightful articles for every member of a homeschooling family. Request a free sample here.

WatchKnow - Learning Videos

Looking for education videos? Look no further than watchknow!

Here’s how they describe themselves –

“What is WatchKnow? Imagine hundreds of thousands of great short videos, and other media, explaining every topic taught to school kids. Imagine them rated and sorted into a giant Directory, making them simple to find. WatchKnow--as in, "You watch, you know"--is a non-profit online community devoted to this goal.”

The site currently provides access to over 11,000 educational videos!

Meet Me at the Corner

Meet Me at the Corner provides a collection of video podcasts featuring children exploring the world and its wonders. During each episode a child host serves as a tour guide leading the viewer to sites of interest to children. Each episode comes with follow-up activities and additional resources.

Apple Unit Study

If you are working on an apple unit study this fall, here are a ton of resources for you to check out:

Unit Study

Apple unit study

includes activities for math, science, language arts, and a file folder game

Apple Math

Apple Addition

Practice addition facts up to 18 with this apple themed worksheet.

Apple Addition and Subtraction

One Apple number 1 tracer page

Practice writing the number one with this apple themed tracer page.

Two Apples tracer page

Practice writing the number two with this tracer page.

Color the Apples AB Pattern

Practice AB patterns with this apple worksheet.

Apple Number Match

Practice number recognition with this fun game.

Language Arts

Apple Word Families

Practice word families with this file folder game.

A is for apple phonics and handwriting

Learn about the letter A with this worksheet that incorporates phonics and handwriting.

Reading

emergent reader Apple feelings

This emergent reader talks about feelings with an apple theme.

Art

apple template colored red

A giant printable red apple for file folder games, center activities or art projects.

apple template coloring page

A giant apple template for a coloring page or other learning activity.

Kids In the Kitchen

Mini Apple Pies

Your kids will love whipping up these yummy treats

Teaching Left and Right

If your child is having a hard time telling the difference between left and right, have them make the shapes above with their hand. The one that looks like an L is supposed to look is their left hand, and the other is their right!

Saving Money on Workbooks

Homeschooling Doesn't have to be expensive if you are inventive! Gradelevel workbooks can be expensive. Why not reuse them? Your child can practice their skills by re-using the pages, and younger siblings can use them later. Tear pages out and put them into sheet protectors and use a dry erease or wet erase marker for writing! I use wet erase markers and wipe them off with either a baby wipe or a spray bottle with water and a paper towel.

Schoolhouse Rock

Many of us grew up with school house rock - and now our kids can too! A rocking fun way to learn about parts of speech, American history, government, science, and multiplication tables too.

A Noun is a person, place or thing.
Verbs
Prepositions
Zero, my Hero
Conjunction Junction
Them Bones
Mother Necessity