Practical Homeschooling Magazine has announced its 2012 reader awards, and again Computer Science Pure and Simple came in first in the computer science category. The awards were announced in the September/October edition of the magazine. Computer Science Pure and Simple has come in first place in this category since the computer science category was created in 2010. Award winners are chosen by readers only.

Computer Science Pure and Simple is MotherboardBooks.com’s popular curriculum for middle and high schoolers introducing them to website and game programming and Excel and Word usage. Computer Science Pure and Simple and its sister curriculum, Logo Adventures for younger kids, both use a fun software tool, MicroWorlds, that provides instant and colorful feedback for programming projects.

Check out a big giveaway of homeschooling products today, including one of mine: How Flat Is Your Homeschool World?

Like my MotherboardBooks.com Facebook page to get more entry points! https://www.facebook.com/MotherboardBooks

Find out all about it: http://www.bowofbronze.com/amysblog/2012/07/choosing-a-homeschool-method-that-is-right-for-you/

Author Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., asks whether parents want to develop bright minds in their children. The answer: yes, of course we do! But how?

The crucial age for developing the prefrontal cortex, where the “bright mind” resides, is in the teen years, turns out. We’ve heard lately that the brain totally rewires itself during this critical time span, and doesn’t finish until the early to mid-twenties.

And the crucial activities for developing the bright  mind involve, you guessed it, critical thinking.  Problem is, teenagers may have to be pushed to do this. “They don’t have a strong desire to think things through … They can meet their needs and survive the ups and downs of teen years without working hard on cognitive skills they don’t even know exist.”

Of course, one great source of critical thinking and logic is computer programming skills, such as you will find in MotherboardBooks.com’s Logo programming lessons found in Computer Science Pure and Simple and Logo Adventures. Check it out!

Source: http://www.buildingpersonalstrength.com/2012/04/will-your-child-to-develop-brilliant.html

Victoria at the Denschool blog was delighted when her homeschooled kids found Logo Adventures:

“After the first three lessons my oldest two (ages 11 and 9) decided they were ready to complete each lesson on their own without me ‘hovering’ over them.  I think it is fantastic because I can rarely get them to do anything on their own… actually, they don’t do anything else on their own… I could get used to this (smile).

“Logo Adventures was designed to be used as weekly lessons. However, my children enjoy this so much that they are already on Lesson 8 … we have only had this program for 2 weeks!   They are learning so much more than I could have imagined (hello Geometry!) The best part is: they are ASKING to do this, ON THEIR OWN!”

Victoria’s got a giveaway going for a brand-new copy of Logo Adventures today. http://blog.denschool.com/logo-adventures-review-giveaway/

Andy Griffiths, sheriff of the fictional historic town of Mayberry, could have used some of the tech gizmos we take for granted. Which ones?

MP3 players. Speed loaders. … and eight more ideas. Do you have some thoughts to add?

http://www.internetservice.net/2012/10-ways-technology-could-have-improved-mayberry/

Just for homeschoolers, a new ebook: 83 Ways to Celebrate Valentines by Kerry Beck. Celebrate Valentine’s Day by receiving this gift for you! This ebook includes history of Valentines Day, homeschool activities, crafts, special family activities, and much more.

You can get this and also something from me. I am partnering with Kerry at “How To Homeschool My Child” to bring you a special gift from me on Friday, February 3. But I can’t tell you what it is yet!

Go to http://www.HowToHomeschoolMychild.com now to sign up on the home page for 14 February Freebies.The Freebies start on Feb 1 with this free ebook- 83 Things to Do to Celebrate Valentines, and my gift to you on Feb 3.

Kerry at “How To Homeschool My Child” will also send a special gift from all of her homeschooling partners on each day of the first 14 days of February, but only to her subscribers. So don’t miss out on  some wonderful offers to keep on homeschooling the best way possible this year!

Phyllis Wheeler, the Computer Lady from MotherboardBooks.com

ps.  Sign-up now so you don’t miss a thing!
http://www.HowToHomeschoolMychild.com

When she was just 11 years old, Jasmine Lawrence got upset when she put relaxer on her hair and almost all of it broke off.  So she concocted some natural hair oil and tested it. By the time she was 13, she was selling her stuff to her delighted friends. When she was 15, Oprah interviewed her. And her business took off. The experience was good for her; now she’s in college, with a good solid company supporting her.

How can we homeschoolers encourage our kids to consider entrepreneurship?

Starting small and early would be a good idea.  Perhaps your child would be interested in making baked goods, chocolate, or jewelry to sell at craft fairs, yard sales, or kids’ soccer practices. Or creating computer images for peers, such as avatars. Starting small is how Jasmine did it.

ttp://dreamerent.com/2009/11/interview-with-young-entrepreneur-jasmine-lawrence/