Articles

Today we have a guest post from Suzanne Hartmann, homeschooling mom of three and now a published Christian suspense author.  How does she do it? That’s what I asked her. (See below for her free Kindle giveaway, ending tomorrow!)

Homeschooling and writing a book are both time-consuming activities. Yet that’s what God has called me to do. I’ve questioned Him over and over, but He leads me to the same conclusion every time. Why would He ask me to add a second all-consuming project to my already busy schedule? I still don’t know the answer; I just know I need to obey.

The next question becomes, “How do I do it all, Lord?” The simple answer is that I don’t. I’ve had to learn to relax my standards and let go of some of the tasks that I think are important. Although I still make lists (I love lists!), I seek God’s guidance each morning, and pray, “Lord, what is it that You know I need to get done today? Direct my thoughts to those activities and chores.” I’m far from perfect at sensing God’s guidance, but I have found that when I actively listen for Him, things seem to get done. I’m not sure how, but they do.

I thought my plate was already heaping with homeschooling, writing, blogging, networking (it is necessary for authors to have an on-line presence), then a publishing house offered me a contract on my first book, PERIL: A Fast Track Thriller. Now I had to add a third time-consuming activity to my schedule: marketing. I tried to do it all, but it only led to frustrations and tears.

I finally went to the Lord again. This time I didn’t ask how I could do it all, I confessed that I couldn’t do it all. God reminded me that His timing is perfect. My children are older now. They don’t need my constant involvement or supervision. There’s no way I could have accomplished writing and homeschooling, much less networking and marketing when my children needed me almost every single moment during schooltime.

Once I finally realized I couldn’t do it all myself, God directed my attention to Matthew West’s song, Strong Enough. I now think of it as my theme song, especially when it comes to marketing. The first few lines really say it all.

God calls each of us to do things that are beyond our abilities. My call is to write Christian fiction, but there are as many calls as there are people. What is God calling you to do? He promises that He will equip those whom he calls, and I have seen that time and again throughout my writing journey. The fact that I am now published is a testament to His faithfulness, not my ability. Whatever the call on your life, say yes to God. It may seem insurmountable to you, but only in your own strength. When we lean on Him, we can truly claim the promise in Phil. 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

Thank you for hosting me today, Phyllis. I hope my story has been an inspiration for your readers. I would also like to invite your readers to join me in celebrating the release of  my debut novel, PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1, by entering in my Kindle give-away. Entries will be accepted until 12/16. To enter, click here: WIN A KINDLE (http://fasttrackthrillers.blogspot.com/2007/01/kindle-give-away_01.html)

I’ve been wanting to offer a product that shows newbies how to make a blog website. Here’s why: regular blog entries bring your website to the attention of the search engines. That’s a very good thing. The higher your Google ranking, the more readers you’ll have, because your site will be easier to find. I’ve converted nearly all my websites to blogs!

I have struggled to write something like this myself, but the topic has been too huge for me. So I’ve kept my eye out for products offered by others who have more experience than I do in this.  I thought I found one two years ago, and asked the author for some modifications, but they never happened. She was too busy.

Finally the perfect thing crossed my inbox this week. It’s a set of videos from Steve Beck, homeschooling dad of three grown children. Steve is a businessman who went to seminary before turning to Internet marketing to support his family and his ministry. I have known Steve and Kerry Beck for six years now, during which they’ve succeeded at teaching Internet marketing to many people, and have managed a tidy income for themselves too.

These videos of his have an amazingly low price at the moment. I bought them and watched them. They are detailed and make good sense out of a complex topic.  He’s got a free intro video for you to watch, and you can get pointers just from that alone.

https://familyebiz.infusionsoft.com/go/mmfb/phyllisw/e1

If you’ve ever struggled to get something going online, this video may be your answer.

I hope this information is a blessing to you.

Phyllis Wheeler
Computer Lady from MotherboardBooks.com

https://familyebiz.infusionsoft.com/go/mmfb/phyllisw/e1

The Computer Lady from MotherboardBooks.com (that’s me) dispensed wisdom this month to the many thousand subscribers of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s online newsletter, Teacher’s Toolbox.

It’s a newsletter available only to subscribers of the magazine, so I can’t share the whole newsletter with you. But I CAN share my article. Here it is.

FIVE WAYS TO IMPLEMENT COMPUTERS IN YOUR HOMESCHOOL

Coursework: There are plenty of computer-based curriculums and online courses that may provide just the education your child needs in a particular subject. You can experiment to find out whether a particular child takes to it or not.

Research safety: The Internet is a marvelous tool, supplying answers to all kinds of questions. But how do you protect your children? I recommend:

• Put the computer in the same room where you are.
• Use a login password that only the adults know.
• Let younger kids use your email account.
• Use a good filter. Which one? My family is happy with Covenant Eyes, but there are plenty of others.

Fun collaboration: A little-known fact about the Internet is that students can use it to work together on projects, and they like doing this. Public schools have found that when kids collaborate in researching and writing a common online document, kids get interested in learning.

For instance, your kids could write a report about current events or snails or whatever and create an illustrated report with friends who live somewhere else. I’ve written an ebook about this, How Flat Is Your Homeschool World? It will tell you what the tools are. Best thing: the tools are free.

Learn by doing: Computers can help you address another lesser-known need in your homeschool. I’m sure you know that young children love to learn by doing. Kids love to act and explore, not just memorize. This is the teaching of educator Charlotte Mason, and many homeschooling families have picked up on it.

But can kids explore on the computer in a way that sharpens their minds? Yes! Through Logo, a computer language created just for kids as young as 8 at MIT.

Seymour Papert, Logo’s creator, said it’s one thing for a child to play a computer game. But “it’s another thing altogether for a child to build his or her own game. In building his own game, the child hypothesizes, explores, experiments, evaluates, and draws conclusions. In short, he learns.”

And for older kids: Reasoning challenges in programming can sharpen the brain for middle and high schoolers. And if there are creative elements, computer training becomes part of a great education for any student, not just the technically inclined. And my curriculums from MotherboardBooks.com have plenty of exercises to get creative juices flowing!

Phyllis Wheeler of MotherboardBooks.com wrote the award-winning computer enrichment curriculum, Computer Science Pure and Simple, beloved by thousands of homeschoolers. A writer and an engineer, she believes in creative exercises alongside logic challenges, exercising both halves of our brains.

Thriving in the 21st Century: Preparing our Children for the New Economic Reality, by Barbara Frank
Published 2011 by Cardamom Publishers, 393 pages

Rating: ***** 5 stars

This book arrived at a very opportune moment for us. The day it came in the mail, I was trying to figure out how to advise our triplet boys who are graduating from high school in a few weeks. We’re down to the wire in making college decisions. Where to go? What to study? Wait a year? and so on.

This book provides plenty of good info for those in that boat, and for those anticipating it as well. Barbara Frank is a veteran homeschool mom and publisher who has gathered plenty of statistics and gone over them with a clear, inquiring mind.

The question: how do we prepare our kids for an economy of the present and future that’s nothing like the one in place just five years ago? How do we even guess what the trends are?

Turns out the Bureau of Labor Statistics has spent plenty of time making some guesses and generating numbers based on those guesses. Are they good guesses? Mrs. Frank thinks so in some cases and not in others. For example, the BLS thinks there will be a need for more college professors in the future. But that’s based on a continuation of current trends where more and more kids have sought four-year degrees. Can that continue in a world where few of those degrees lead to a job? asks Mrs. Frank.

If you wonder what your kids ought to be studying, take a look at this book. It will give you some great ideas for guiding them, and for preparing them while still at home.

Among other things, she suggests that your kids be prepared to become entrepreneurs, because at some point in their lives, they may find themselves in business for themselves, like it or not.

So what are the probable growth areas in jobs in the U.S. in the coming years? Health care, elder care, computers, and more.

How can you prepare your children for these careers? Homeschoolers have plenty of options, which Mrs. Frank discusses in detail. (One of them involves using Motherboard Books’ Pure and Simple curriculum for computer literacy.)

Is college the best option? What’s the return on investment for a college education in various fields?

Read to find out! I’m so glad it arrived the day it did. In short, I think this book is something all parents need to read.

By Barbara Frank

One of the best things about summer is that it reminds us that educating our children is not just up to us.

You’ll see this when you watch your children at the beach. I get to do this a lot because we’re blessed to have a beach a few blocks from our house. We can spend a lot of time there during the two warm months that comprise summer in northeast Wisconsin.

At the beach, my son takes his shovel and bucket and creates mountains, castles, roads, levees….he just lets his imagination loose and he has a ball. I don’t have to participate at all. In fact, now that he’s older, he prefers that I butt out! He has his own ideas.

When I watch him problem-solve after the tide takes down part of a wall of his castle, or when stray toddlers march through his masterpiece, leaving destruction in their wake, I’m reminded yet again that he’s capable of learning all on his own. He not only fixes the problem, but makes the project even better in the process.

Now, this particular son is 16 and developmentally delayed, but I saw the same thing in my older children when they were young, and I’m sure you see it in yours. God enables everyone to learn. While we homeschooling parents work hard to make a good learning environment for our children, it’s not up to us to make things happen. God has already taken care of that part.

This knowledge can be very freeing, if you’re a conscientious mom who wants to make sure her children learn what they need to know. This summer, give your children a bucket and a magnifying glass and take them to a pond so they can inspect the pond water for living creatures. Hand them a package of colored chalk and let them loose on the driveway or sidewalk. Don’t get involved in what they’re doing. Just watch, and you’ll see what I mean.

Copyright 2010 Barbara Frank/ Cardamom Publishers

Barbara Frank homeschooled three children to adulthood and continues to homeschool her youngest son. She’s the author of the new book “Women of the Old Testament: 14 In-Depth Bible Studies for Teens” as well as “Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers,” “The Imperfect Homeschooler’s Guide to Homeschooling,” and “Homeschooling Your Teenagers.” You’ll find her on the Web at www.cardamompublishers.com and http://barbarafrankonline.com .

The Ultimate Homeschool Expo and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Expo are both over now. Whew! I talked to a number of people, and shared my passion for computer literacy in homeschools.

A hot topic: one of the main roadblocks for computer literacy in homeschools is the Internet safety issue, as I am sure you are aware. Families are wary of computers because they know they must protect their kids from the dark side of the Internet. Yet they need to prepare their kids for the workplace. What to do?

I recommend that families get an Internet filter, and also that they not rely on it. Be sure to put the computer where you can watch it. Also be sure you have a login password that only the adults know, and limit time on the computer.

Some people wanted to know what I recommend in the way of Internet filters. I know of at least three decent ones: NetNanny, SafeEyes, and Covenant Eyes. I believe them to be pretty similar. A filter blocks sites that the software finds may contain objectionable material. For sites that are blocked by mistake, a filter guardian (you, the parent) can make an exception. Levels can be set: strict, not-so strict, and so on.

But what about your kids as they grow up? More than 70% of men from 18 to 34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month, according to a study. Plenty of women do it too. And of course, it’s addictive.

Covenant Eyes also offers software that allows adults to stay accountable. This lifts Covenant Eyes above the competition in my opinion. As your children grow up, they can transition to the accountability software, keeping the filter if they choose to.

Here’s how the accountability software works: the individual installs it on his computer and chooses an accountability partner, normally a close friend or a mentor. This software keeps track of where the individual went on the Internet and emails a regular report to the accountability partner, with any problem sites flagged.The partner will hold the individual accountable.

This will empower your family member to take charge of the situation. Perhaps you know marriages that have been destroyed by this addiction. I do. The stakes are high.

The Covenant Eyes website has plenty of articles on this subject, which is a subject we all need to look at without fooling ourselves. It’s a scourge for our nation.

I urge you to take action and protect your children, now and in the future. In fact, I’ve asked the Covenant Eyes people for a discount for you, my friends. Here it is: you can get the first month free if you use the discount code “MBB” at checkout. This applies to either the filter or the accountability software, or both. For more information, go to the Covenant Eyes website at http://www.covenanteyes.com/?promocode=MBB

I hope this is a blessing for you.–Phyllis Wheeler

Photo credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24258698@N04/ / CC BY 2.0

By Cindy Rushton

Record-keeping!  Does your hair stand up when you think of record-keeping? Do you begin to grind your teeth?  Did you feel like skipping this article just because it seems impossible for “EASY” and “Record-keeping” to ever go together??

Relax.  I know that there is not a “one size fits all.” I know that in spite of how hard we may search, there is not a perfect system for every mom!  That is OK! My prayer is that if you are in need of some ideas to make a couple areas a little easier or if you have no idea of where to begin, that you will find a few ideas as you come home with us to see how simple record-keeping CAN be.  Ready for some quick tips??? Here we go…

–> Find what is mandatory. Every state and school district has differing requirements. Find other homeschool families in your area and see how each of them manages their homeschool records. Find the easiest way possible to meet the requirements. Make it as DOABLE as possible!

–> Choose what works for YOU. Every mom has her favorite method that works JUST for them whether a planner with reproducible pages… a ready to use planner… a simple spiral notebook… binders… a filing cabinet… computer… etc, etc, etc!  Before you consider anything else, look at who you are.  What makes you feel more comfortable? What helps you to feel more accomplishment?  Whether formal or informal… detailed or not even written down… YOUR way is the best way!  Decide what works best for you!

–> Document daily! Don’t let it build up. Jot it down throughout the day. When my children were little, I kept one journal for everything. I kept it out on my desk so I could just jot down what we were doing as we did it. It was amazing how much easier that was than even waiting till the end of the day. As they got older, I transferred this process to them. I had always made it easy. So, transferring it to them did not overwhelm them. I began this process by letting them keep up with their reading log. The rest was easy after that. They now keep their records just like I used to. At the end of the month and again at the end of the semester I go through making sure that everything is on target and also look to see how well they are keeping up with my overall schedule. Without good records, this would be impossible.

–> Keep all of their work in Notebooks. We keep ALL of our written work in a binder of some sort.  Then, we take it further… we keep ANYTHING that can be pressed in binders.  Anything left?? Yes! Then, we take pictures and keep THEM in the binders! (Hehe!)  ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that can be studied can also be kept in Notebooks in some way.  We keep anything that would expand a study and build a great collection of information on topics we study… great quotes, definitions about a subject being studied, diagrams, character sketches, pictures, coloring sheets, art prints, poems, Bible verses, narrations, Bible word studies, on and on!  Our main reason for Notebooking in this way is that if our children are going to spend their time DOING something, it ought to be worthwhile enough for us to KEEP IT.  This teaches them to value their work, do a great job on all they do, and that ALL areas of life are truly educational.

–> Scrapbook events, activities, fun studies, and projects! Scrapbooks/Yearbooks for what are REALLY doing throughout our school year is not only fun, but it helps to preserve the memories of ALL that we are doing in our family.  There are just some things that our children are learning that are impossible to document without scrapbooking! Get out of the old “school” box and really document your family’s education. You won’t be sorry!

–> Use planning sheets designed JUST for homeschooling. Don’t let commercial record-keepers keep you from homeschooling with a lifestyle of learning! Look for printable pages that are designed just for the homeschool mom. You can find great options everywhere!

–> Buy resources that are designed just for you. We have an entire line of resources that we now have available through our bookstore. Check out our Make Your Own Brain-in-a-Binder Printables. It is designed specifically for the homeschool mom who wants pages designed for every area that must be balanced in the busy homeschool family. Also, check out other great resources by homeschool writers and even pages that are included in many homeschool books (we always try to include pages that we use in our books).  Now, you may be like me. You may prefer to make your own planning pages. That is perfectly fine! You can tailor your pages to fit exactly with your family needs. Just be sure to use what works for you!

–> At the end of the school year, file all records together. This may seem to be a mute point, however this will save your brain! At the end of our school year, I gather everything together and add them into one big binder. I date the binder and store it away for my children’s permanent file. Be sure to pull all of your records together into a set and safe place. When you get discouraged along the way, just look back and see how far you have come—it will be a HUGE blessing!

Ok…So, Are You Ready?

So, what about you?  Still scared about Record-keeping?  Why not think through YOUR OWN way?  Try your spin.  Use what is easy, simple, and will give you more time with your little ones while helping to keep things in place for you.  Most of all, find a way that can capture all of these precious memories of these days for you so you will have them to look back upon tomorrow!  Have fun! EVEN with Record-keeping!

*******************************

Need MORE Help?

Check out our Ultimate Homeschool Expo! This online homeschool convention has a ton of information. Once you buy a ticket, you can access the workshops indefinitely. Get MORE help with record-keeping–ticket buyers can immediately download three Bonus Gifts that will help you today:

Let’s Get Ready for the New School Year
Easy Record-Keeping
Get Organized

Yep! Complimentary!  Get your set here:

http://www.motherboardbooks.com/uhse.html

Christian homeschoolers might like to take a look at a devotional written by an old friend, Stephen Leonard.  This posting talks about the “dark matter” that astronomers and physicists are looking for out there in the universe, which together with “dark energy” provides the mass and energy that can keep the universe expanding at the rate we in fact observe. “Dark matter” is called “dark” because we can’t see it or find it.

Steve has found it, though. “…The Scriptures tell us plainly that in Christ all things consist, have their being, are organized, and are held together.”

Want to read more?

http://parentspurpose.com/devotional/christ-and-dark-energy/

by Phyllis Wheeler

Is homeschooling something YOU could do?

Perhaps you are not happy with your other options, and you are starting to toy with this idea. But you can’t imagine yourself doing it. After all, doesn’t it take a superwoman to juggle lessons and all the other things Moms have to do?

Take it from a homeschooling veteran, you can do it IF you love your kids. That’s the only qualification. As you move through the homeschooling journey, you will develop the skills you need, as you need them. That’s how jugglers start–juggling just one thing. Then they add another, and after a while another. And here’s another secret: homeschooling can actually be easier than the standard soccer mom routine. Soccer moms are everywhere but home, juggling same-age activities that are different for each kid (unless you have twins). In contrast, when you homeschool, you focus on what you can all do together.

Here’s one option for larger families. Homeschoolers look for activities that their kids can share, working with the fact that their ages are different. You can all study one topic, peeling off different layers of it for kids of different ages. You can all study this topic and various aspects of it for a month or so, and then move on to another. This structure is called a unit study. You don’t have to invent them, either–plenty of moms who have invented one have published it.

Other options include using workbooks and curriculum so that each child has something to work on that is appropriate for his age, such as at K12.com . These all come with an answer key–you don’t need to be a college graduate to make sure your kid is getting the right answer. In fact, many homeschoolers do almost no direct teaching–their kids learn from the book or workbook. (This is a great study skill for college!) There are also correspondence schools that do all the teaching for you, if your child needs that. An example of that is LaurelSprings.com.

For Christians, there is plenty of available curriculum. Alpha Omega Publications produces a broad range of workbooks, and they include activities you can do together. Sonlight produces a curriculum that focuses on historical fiction. If you buy one module, you can use much of it for several children who are less than about four years apart in age. There are also curriculums that focus on high academic achievement, such as Covenant Home Curriculum. I used both Sonlight and Covenant Home and was pleased with them. I used plenty of curriculum from A Beka to fill gaps as well.

Here’s an example of a unit study for Ancient Egypt. You head to the library and check out lots of books for the different ages of your kids, all about Egypt. You figure out math problems related to building pyramids–all about triangles, for instance, or calculating the barley harvest in 2000 BC. For art you can observe and copy Egyptian paintings, using high-quality markers and background grids to help you transfer the image (the Egyptians used grids too). You can study hieroglyphics and what sounds they stand for. You can read about Egypt together. For the older kids you can have them read a mystery about Ancient Egypt called Mara, Daughter of the Nile, and discuss whether you think the people in the book behave like modern Americans or like ancient Egyptians. If you are Christian or Jewish, you can work in Joseph and his story. You can give writing assignments on Egypt appropriate to the age of your kids, and go over lists of spelling words for them using the effective method outlined in a multi-age spelling book called Spelling Power.

If this sounds like more than you want to create on your own, just look around for a published unit study on it. Go to a search engine and type in “unit study Egypt homeschool,” and you will see quite a few options for you.

Structuring your day is a question for you to ponder. Many homeschoolers get all their less-fun schoolwork done in the morning, leaving the afternoon for projects, goofing off, housework, or whatever. If you want to include your child in an organized activity, you can join regularly schooled children in their sports teams in the late afternoon. But there are daytime activities too. You can also ask around–some of these activities providers are creating daytime classes (in gymastics, for example) for homeschoolers. You do have to be careful to avoid burnout here, though. If you the parent are teaching in the morning, grading in the early afternoon (or near bedtime), and operating weekly field trips in the afternoon, you have to watch how much soccer-mom running around you do. You can’t do it all.

But you do want your children to be “socialized.” Here’s a question homeschoolers get all the time: “Aren’t you worried about socialization for your child?” Here’s the answer: you have the ability to choose whom your child socializes with, unlike parents of schooled children. You do have to go out of your way to set it up. And you can count socialization with adults–that’s the best kind, after all. Adults are generally well-mannered and kind. Unsupervised schoolkids often are not. Homeschooled kids are usually quite comfortable talking to adults! Don’t you want your kids to be like that?

A homeschool co-op is one of the best solutions to the need for socialization. If you meet once a week with other homeschoolers for class or field trips, your child gets well-supervised social interaction, and can learn and grow socially in a way that a schooled child cannot. Bullying is simply not a problem for homeschoolers! So how do you find a co-op? You have to ask other homeschoolers. If your area has a homeschooling convention, by all means go to it, and go to workshops if they have any. You need to network with other homeschoolers until you find or can create a co-op.

Lastly, how will you find support? Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart, and it’s not for the unsupported parent, either. You will need to find someone to share your challenges with. Many homeschooling parents support each other online. There are plenty of discussion forums attached to homeschooling Web sites. There are plenty of e-mail groups for homeschoolers also. Again, ask around until you find the right one for you.

Here’s the answer to the homeschooling question: You can do it!

About the author
Phyllis Wheeler writes books for homeschoolers aged 8 and up, including fun computer science curriculums. Check out http://www.motherboardbooks.com for plenty of homeschooling ideas.

The Quest for Zest
by Phyllis Wheeler

We all want to shape a homeschool where the kids love what they are learning.

Pursuing that idea, many of us like to build our homeschools around a theory. Here are some popular ones:

• Unschooling: As your day unfolds naturally, recognize teaching opportunities and take advantage of them.
• Charlotte Mason: learning by doing. Seek out exploratory activities that flesh out the concept you are working on.
• The time-tested classical method.

In a nutshell, this is the classical method: when the kids are in elementary school, you stuff them with facts. When they are in middle school, teach them logic. When they are in high school, teach them to identify and challenge assumptions. It’s a formula that’s worked for a very long time–since about 500 BC.

But young children need more than memory work. Over the years, educators have addressed this need. Englishwoman Charlotte Mason (1842-1923), for example, suggested teaching young children by allowing them to learn by doing.

Somewhat later and in that same vein, Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist (1896-1980), carefully observed young children learning. His experiments showed the critical role of action and exploring for kids who are learning. Kids can handle simple child-centered logic when as young as 7, said Piaget. They also need to explore in order to learn.

A disciple of Piaget’s, Seymour Papert of MIT, took both of those assertions in the 1960′s and helped create Logo, a computer language for children—for even those as young as the 7-11 age group.

The computer provides a marvelous tool for learning by exploring, said Papert. “It’s one thing for a child to play a computer game; it’s another thing altogether for a child to build his or her own game. In building his own game, the child hypothesizes, explores, experiments, evaluates, and draws conclusions. In short, he learns.” (Interview by Dan Schwartz at http://www.papert.org/articles/GhostInTheMachine.html )

The Logo logic can be very simple–drawing a box or a triangle using a set of commands to a turtle on the screen. It’s so easy that any child over the age of 7 who is able to type a few letters can do it.

But Logo logic also can be more complex at a middle school level, and very complex at a high school level. It is a robust computer language with modern capabilities.

So how does Logo fit in with classical education? In the middle school years, the logic stage. Those middle schoolers can be working on reasoning, and they can also be working on the logic used by a computer as it steps through a program. There are many similarities, ideal for those developing brains!

In fact, it’s my experience that kids of a variety of ages love working with Logo. You give them an achievable goal, and they work like busy bees, experimenting with this and that until it works. The computer lab we used at our homeschool co-op was abuzz with happy noises as they worked on bossing their turtles around to create their versions of the projects I laid out for them.

The kids love the creative aspect, tailoring each project with their preferences. My son at age 11 was told to use turtle commands to draw a group of houses and to create an animated character walking through it. He created an army camp with a jeep driving through, its headlights flashing, all in olive drab camouflage.

What will your child come up with?

Middle-school and high-school kids can learn computer programming and create Web sites using Phyllis Wheeler’s self-study books. Get a free Internet scavenger hunt download at www.MotherboardBooks.com.