| In This Issue |
Full Speed Ahead - It's All in the Planning
PJs All Day Update
Amazing Web Freebies
Mnemonics - Remember Pi
New Stuff!
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See Times Tales in Action!
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Want to see Times Tales in action? Just CLICK HERE to see the amazing results. Even a Kindergartener can do it. Really! |
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Full Speed Ahead!
Whew! We're back on track and moving at full speed, it seems. We started up schooling last week as well as play practices, volleyball, piano lessons and Cub Scouts. I don't know about you, but it's been a bit of an adjustment around here.
Since I think most of us are in the same boat, I thought we'd focus a bit on planning and scheduling this newsletter. If you have some favorite tips and tricks do send them in and I'll share them in our next issue.
Planning can be as simple as my Summer Checklist or as detailed as Managers of Their Homes. Personally, I enjoy sitting down with my kids at the start of each school year and making a general goal list with each one. Goals can include anything from academics to learning to bake bread or ties shoes, to reading through the Bible. Knowing what they want to accomplish helps me to help them and putting it in writing keeps us all on track.
In addition, I use a Busy Body Notebook to track my several different "to do" lists (work, home, school, church, etc) and we use a large wall calendar where I write everyone's practices, meetings and appointments. Each person is assigned a different color.
If you're looking for help with planning forms, look no more! Donnayoung.org is the tops for free planner and organization resources. You'll find lesson planners, a wide variety of calendars, household planners, grocery lists and much more.
~Dena
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Visited PJ's All Day, lately?
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Have you stopped by the blog this month? Here's a bit of what we shared.
Ever wonder how to tell how done a steak is? Read this post and you'll know!
Curious about our Clean 'N' Flips? Check out this video and see them in action!
You can check out my very slow progress on our mudroom makeover here.
Here is a fun savings game for kids.
Oh! And this college professor's assessment of homeschoolers is very interesting. Definitely some points to ponder, both good and bad.
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Web Freebies!
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I've come across some great freebies this week and just had to share them with you.
First is a full length ebook put out by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. The New School Year: Planning Your Course and Letting the Lord Determine Your Steps is a wonderful resource and completely FREE!
Next, is a really nice Christian History Timeline echart. We just started Mystery of History 2 this week, and this chart coincides perfectly with the beginning of our study. It made a neat and colorful addition to the kids' notebooks. If you're interested, be sure and print it out right away because this download is only good through this Sunday.
If you're looking for help with Menu Planning, Econbusters.com offers a truly helpful ebook when you sign up for their weekly frugality newsletter. This site is full of helpful ideas and lots of fun to visit, as well!
 And, to help you plan your day, check out SimpleMom's Daily Docket. I LOVE this little planner. She even offers a pocket size version. You'll aslo find several other planning pages at the link above, so take a peek.
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Inexpensive Math Manipulatives
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Boy, isn't it fun to look at all those great manipulatives to go
with your new math program? Nice until you look at the price, that is.
Talk about sticker shock!
With a little creativity,
you can save yourself nearly all of the $50 to $65 required to buy that
new manipulative set. Following are some of our common substitutions:
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We use the small, square Legos in place of linking cubes.
- Hundreds
charts can be printed for free off the Internet. Just do a search for
"printable hundreds chart" and laminate with contact paper.
- Why buy play money? Use the bills from your Monopoly set and real change.
- A
simple Geoboard can be made from a square piece of wood and 25
finishing nails. Draw a grid of five evenly spaced vertical and
horizontal rows and place nails on the intersections. This is a great
homeschool project in its own right!
- Color
tiles can also be replaced with square Legos. Another alternative is to
laminate sheets of construction paper and cut into squares with a paper
cutter.
- Mini
clocks can easily be made with a circle, two hands, and a brass
fastener in the center. Laminate with clear contact paper. Better yet,
use a "real" clock.
- Counting bears can be replaced with many things. We've used poker chips, checkers, Legos (again!), beans, whatever is handy.
- For
stringing beads, purchase macrame-type beads from your local craft
store and string on a shoelace or use pasta strung on yarn. Use a
computer or just color your own patterns for your children to copy.
Buy your own Rubbermaid tote
to keep them in and you've purchased a $60 set for about $20. Better
yet, make frequent stops to your Dollar Store. Though it can't be
counted on, just yesterday I picked up a package of Linking Shapes and
Stringing Bears for $1 each. Did we need them? No, but for that price,
they're fun to have. And don't forget yard sales! Dominos and poker
chips can regularly be had for a mere 25 cents. Happy Learning!
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Mnemonic of the Month - Pi
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Have trouble remembering the digits of pi? I can help with the first six digits, though you're on your own for the remaining 58. :-)
Pi is approximately equal to 3.14159 (with another 58 digits to follow).
To remember this, create a phrase where each word contains the number of letters contained in each digit in Pi. For example:
May I have a large milkshake?
May = 3
I - 1
have - 4
a = 1
large = 5
milkshake = 9
If you really want to remember the rest, just make a longer phrase.
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New Stuff!
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We are pleased to announce a new addition to our store offerings. Please take a moment to check out The Young Man's Handybook and Marmee's Kitchen Primer. My son loves the Handybook and immediately asked to make the biscuits. Who doesn't love a man that can cook?! (Just ask Jennie, her husband is a chef!) The Handybook is chock full of all that "guy stuff" that every young man needs to know, from simple home repairs to bookkeeping 101. And Marmee's Kitchen Primer will not only teach your daughter to cook, but how to make every day special. And if you have a friend who hasn't yet taken advantage of our free Times Tales sample download and free Memory Trigger E-book, be sure and send them HERE! We wish you the best in your homeschooling journey!
Sincerely,
Dena, Jennie & Marillee
Trigger Memory Systems
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