Homeschooling

Dear folks,
In keeping with my goal of keeping you informed about good deals for homeschoolers, I wanted to tell you about two great tools today.

Terri Johnson is the force behind Knowledge Quest, providing maps for history study and lots of other stuff. Teri’s a great writer and very good at making big subjects easy to understand. She’s also a homeschooling mom with a large family. She has plenty of expertise to pass along, and the ability to do it.

Not too long ago, she created an email course for novice homeschoolers, Homeschooling ABCs. I signed up for this 26-week course to check it out. I found it to be very well done, clearly written, full of essential information for novices. The weekly emails included plenty of freebie links with useful items as well. I highly recommend it!

Find out plenty more at this link:http://www.motherboardbooks.com/tjabc.php

The first course was so well received that she decided to create a course many were asking for: advice on how to homeschool in high school. She’s calling it Upper Level Homeschool. It’s mailed weekly for 13 weeks and covers record keeping, teaching study skills, preparing for college, and a lot more. Plenty of people are finding out what a good deal it is.

Check it out at: http://www.motherboardbooks.com/tjulh.php

I hope this information is a blessing to you.

Phyllis Wheeler
MotherboardBooks.com

The Wall Street Journal raised this question in an article June 5:  Does the Internet make you smarter or dumber?

Arguing smarter was Clay Shirky, who points out that those who think the newest thing will make you stupid have been saying that since Gutenberg’s printing press went to work.  What’s happening now is that some of the time we used to spend watching TV is being spent in more creative ways on the Internet, he suggests.

Arguing dumber was Nicholas Carr. Carr argues that the constant distractions and interruptions are turning us into shallow thinkers.  Research shows that people reading text studded with links comprehend less than those reading traditional text.  People watching multimedia presentations remember less than those taking information in using more focus and time. Those juggling many tasks are less creative and productive than those who do one thing at a time. And so on.

How much can you divide your attention and still get positive results? That’s an interesting question that probably is different for each individual. I can tell you that for me, I need to not divide my attention much at all, or I get nothing done.  Even when I think I am accomplishing something, it’s certainly easy to cruise around the Internet looking up stuff and not remember what I “learned” later.

How can we as homeschooling parents guide and guard our kids on this?  I think it’s pretty clear we need to get them to work on one school project at a time, for starters. We can patrol their work areas to make sure they aren’t wasting time while supposedly doing a research project. We can demand creative output, and we can be wary of letting them goof around.  Good Internet habits will include working on one project at a time!

Just wanted to let you know that The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Schoolhouse Expo, the first annual TOS online convention, starts TOMORROW! Bad news: live participation is sold out. BUT you can buy a “to go” ticket and listen to the recordings. If you buy a “to go” ticket before midnight tonight, you will get a goodie bag full of $175 worth of downloadables. If you’re late–no goodie bag!

AND for those who are able, be sure to tune in bright and early Friday morning to hear my talk. It will be at 8 a.m. central time, and will be recorded and available after that. I’ll discuss the Logo computer language, Internet safety, and other hot issues for homeschoolers. See you there!

Here’s a link for more info:

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=433&products_id=15614

Today I have news on three great values for you!

First, the one and only Ultimate Homeschool Expo is in the middle of its Expo week right now! You haven’t missed anything though, because it’s all available on a membership site for download, just $39.95. If you want to check it out, go to http://www.motherboardbooks.com/uhse.html Be sure you check out my talk as well as all the others!

Second, Debra Reed at NotebookingPages.com is having a big sale this week.  She’s got lots of printables that will get you and your family started on notebooking–a system of exploring and journaling that works with all kinds of homeschools. Your student creates a scrapbook/notebook on each subject explored, something to get out and admire later on–reinforcing the learning!  I’ve had a look at her “Make Learning a Journey” CD, and found it to be packed with all kinds of templates for a huge variety of subjects.  Her once-a-year sale is HALF OFF EVERYTHING, PLUS for those who purchase at least $40 worth, a gift package of ebooks from other publishers (like me) worth more than $60. Here’s the link for that one:  http://www.motherboardbooks.com/nbp.html

Last but not least, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has just published its FREE digital supplement, Homeschool 101. It features moi as well as many other helpful homeschool publishers. Take a look!  http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Digital-Supplement/Homeschool101.html

Phyllis Wheeler
The Computer Lady
MotherboardBooks.com

That Ultimate Homeschool Expo, Cindy Rushton’s great and original online homeschooling convention, is starting NEXT MONDAY! It’s time to take a good look at a great freebie from Cindy just for you, NOW. It’s part of the library of freebies that are available to those going to the Expo. Cindy’s letting you, my friends, have this goodie right now.

You see one of the neat things about the Ultimate Homeschool Expo is that everything is ONLINE as more than a convention–it is the ULTIMATE homeschool resource library.

With every online event that Cindy plans, she builds a private, exclusive Membership Site that includes everything from the UHSE in one place–it has audios (from all of the sessions and from the bonus gifts that her speakers give to us), ebooks, complete unit study guides, articles, printable notebooking pages, cookbooks, on and on. I can’t believe all of the things that we receive for only $39.95. It is truly ULTIMATE!

Anyway, back to the reason that I am sharing with you…

Cindy just sent me permission to give you a sampler of one of her free gifts that is included on the Membership Site. I am so excited to give it to you! It is a audio and ebook set that she actually sells on her website, but she is giving away on the Membership Site. Here is the scoop:

A Quick Start for Notebooking Mini-Set!

Need ideas for encouraging your young writers and QUICK? Ready for a FUN way to encourage your most reluctant writer to write AND like it? This fun-filled, hands-on workshop is one that you simply CANNOT miss! Cindy Rushton, who has become known through the years as THE BINDER QUEEN, uses Notebooking for EVERYTHING. She will show you how to begin whether your child is a toddler or the most skeptical high schoolers.

This workshop is sure to light a fire that will equip YOU to help your children deepen their studies and document learning all along the way! TOPICS FOR THIS WORKSHOP INCLUDE: Hey! Do I Have A Chance At This??; Why On Earth Notebook???; Down to the Nitty Gritty…WHAT Do I Need and HOW Do I Do It?; Step-by-Step Through Notebooking; Scrapbooking! YES! You CAN Have Fun Homeschooling; Hey? What is Legal? What All Goes Into A Notebook???; Developing FUN Studies That Teach and Inspire!!; Copywork…Answers to ALL of Your Questions; Taking the Writer From Reluctant to Researching; Ideas, Ideas, Ideas, There’s Gotta Be One for You; PLUS Much, Much More.

PLUS! Cindy doesn’t stop with the workshop, she also includes the Q/A Session after the workshop AND her handouts/samples of student notebooks.

Let’s Try Notebooking Audio Mp3:
(Cindy’s Workshop)
http://www.cindysdesktop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/TALNotebookingPartOne.mp3

(Questions and Answers)
http://www.cindysdesktop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/TALNotebookingPartTwo.mp3

Handouts:
http://www.cindyrushton.com/Ebooks/LetsTryNotebooking!.pdf

Samples of Student Notebooks:
http://www.cindyrushton.com/Ebooks/SamplesofStudentNotebooks.pdf

Isn’t that FUN?

You know the saying that a picture captures a thousand words,well…what about a a gift like this? And, just think…this is only ONE of the awesome gifts included on the Membership Site. There are hundreds more!

Take my word for it, you will WANT a ticket to this event and access to all of the wonderful resources. Grab your ticket here:

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

Blessings!
Phyllis Wheeler
The Computer Lady

Notebooking can take your homeschool in new directions.  Instead of spending a lot of time on workbooks, your child can explore his world and take notes.  His journal, combined with scrapbook, is what we are calling notebooking. Notes and other information (say, pawprints) taken down on attractive pages, protected with plastic covers, give your explorer a treasure he can return to again and again. And learn more, again and again!

Do you want to learn more about notebooking pages? Fellow homeschool publisher Debra at NotebookingPages.com has got plenty of good ideas. Here’s how she explains what notebooking is:

“I would say there are two primary essentials needed in creating a notebook. There is a visual component and a written component. These two components work together to convey what the child has learned from his lessons. Instead of filling in worksheets or answering a list of discussion questions to test what your child has learned, you are giving him the opportunity to “show” and “tell” in a variety of ways what he has learned.”

This spirit of exploration is of course, similar to that in my Logo computer language curriculum that uses exploration and thinking challenges to teach reasoning and logic, in a fun way.  How is it similar? The child is the explorer. It’s the best way to learn!

Our winner is Laurie R. of Danube, Minnesota. She is delighted to receive this ticket. A mother of 10, six of whom she currently homeschools (the youngest are 3 and 1), she could use a lot of encouragement and ideas from  a homeschool conference.  But she has environmental allergies and can’t got to regular homeschool conferences.

“I now have a heart for encouraging women in their marriages, homemaking and homeschooling,” says Laurie.  Maybe she’ll get some inspiration at the UHSE for just how to do that! Join me in congratulating Laurie R.!  And for the rest of us, be sure to buy a ticket for the UHSE before its online opening on May 3. Here’s a convenient link for you:  http://www.motherboardbooks.com/uhse.html

Using that link will help me out, too, and I hope that’s OK with you!

I do have a winner. I cranked up my MicroWorlds Logo programming software for kids to generate a random number, and it fell to … oops, can’t tell you yet! She has to claim her prize. I’ll let you know when she does that. If you’re the winner, you’ll have a message from me in your Facebook inbox now.

Just reminding you about my drawing for a free ticket to the Ultimate Home School Expo which starts May 3.  You must enter before midnight tonight, Central time. Here’s how to enter.
* If you aren’t a fan already, become a fan of my Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/MotherboardBookscom/77866531491#

* Write on the page “wall.” Tell me which of the UHSE sessions you are most interested in. To see a list of them, find out more at this link: http://www.motherboardbooks.com/uhse.html

Cindy Rushton

I am sure you have heard of the Ultimate Homeschool Expo, an online convention run by Cindy Rushton that starts in two weeks on May 3. If you haven’t, you have been missing out!

I am honored to be a speaker again this year– I hope you’ll take advantage of all the wisdom from a great variety of speakers, plus a huge assortment of freebies and discounts for you. The topics vary widely, from parenting to schooling to taking care of mom. (My talk focuses on Internet safety.)

I know we’re all struggling to make ends meet, so I’m delighted to be able to offer you the chance to win a free ticket. (Normally they’re $39.95, which isn’t too bad.) My contest closes Wednesday at midnight, that’s two days from now! If you’d like to enter, here’s what you need to do:

*  If you aren’t a fan already, become a fan of my Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/MotherboardBookscom/77866531491#

*  Write on the page “wall.”  Tell me which of the UHSE sessions you are most interested in. To see a list of them, find out more at this link: http://www.motherboardbooks.com/uhse.html

I’ll announce the winner on Thursday morning on my blog and the Facebook page. If you’re not the winner, you’ll want to buy a ticket, just $39.95. Compare that to the costs of going to a real-world convention! And this convention gives you talks you can listen to any time, for years to come! If you want to buy with a friend, it’s just $59.95, a $20 savings. The value of the freebies and discounts will far outweigh the cost of this ticket, I can assure you! You can buy a ticket here: http://www.motherboardbooks.com/uhse.html

So, I’ll catch up with you again on Thursday morning, to tell you the winner.