Technology: Embrace it as a learning tool!

This week's Blog Cruise question is one similar to one recently asked by a member of my local homeschool support group.

Do you use technology (iPods, Computers, Videos, Digi. Cams,etc.) in your homeschool? 

I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in the potential negative of something that it prevents them from seeing the many benefits. I've seen the use of technology in the home fall into this category.  And while overuse of technology, as well as the information being passed along, can bring about concerns, I wouldn't say going technology-free is the better path.  Technology is a tool.  Tools are something that have the capability of hurting you if you don't know how to use them properly.  However, using tools certainly can make ones job easier.

I certainly use technology as a tool in my homeschool, with the computer being the most used tool by far. Young children need to be trained how to use technology properly, but I really don't know what I'd do without it at this point.  Below are the various ways technology has helped my children become better learners.

1. Educational software

I have a picture of my daughter playing on the computer at about 18 months with a Jumpstart program.  I'm sure some will be appalled at that, but she loved this game and learned a lot from it.  It was just like any other toy in her toybox and it taught her that a computer isn't a forbidden item but something available for her use when appropriate. We've always had a variety of educational software games available to the kids to use within limits.

2.  Online Classes

At about 3rd or 4th grade, both of my kids started with an online class experience.  For our family, it is a very convenient way to have the kids experience another teacher without the limits of what is available locally or a creating a disruption of the day's schedule.  For my daughter, online classes have been wonderful and she usually takes 2-3 a year.  For my son, they have been a good experience in small doses, but not something that he's ready to utilize for heavy coursework quite yet.  Most don't realize how interactive online classes can be, but it really is no different than sitting in a classroom. Since online meetings and webinars are growing trends in the business world, giving your kids this experience is multi-purpose.

3. Email

Probably many don't think of email as a learning tool.  However, not only does email give kids the means to connect with other kids, near and far, it also forces them to learn how to type, write, and spell!  I also sometimes use it as a way for me to communicate to them their schedule or give them an assignment.  That way, there is no question about whether or not they were asked to do such-and-such and/or given directions.  (smiles)

4.  Audio podcasts, lectures, and stories

My kids didn't have ipods until last Christmas and I haven't yet utilized them for audio podcasts, but this is on my to do list.  There are all kinds of  resources available for free using an ipod or just your computer, if you don't own an ipod or MP3 player.  One great resource is  Learn Out Loud.  You can sign up for their newsletter that highlights a free resource every Friday. There is also a section of free resources just for kids.  Other audio resources that I happen to have bookmarked include LibriVox, Internet Interactive (I've linked to the Old Time Radio files), Open Culture, Lecture Fox (free university lectures), and  Free Books (Accelerated Schools),

5. Video resources

One of my favorite video podcasts for kids is the CNN Student News. This is a great way for kids to keep up on current events.  There are many sites that have categorized video segments by topic for a quick tutorial in a certain area. HippoCampus is one such site. Other sites include: Free-Ed.net, http://education.jimmyr.com/, Annenberg Media, Internet4Classrooms , The Futures Channel, and Academic Earth.  You can even have your kids watch Liberty Kids, a PBS show about American history, completely free the Jaroo website.

6. Video cameras and movie making

My oldest has done several video presentations for classes, camps and special projects, which I've shared here in the past.  My youngest will be taking a class this fall which will focus more on the technical side of movie-making. I think such projects are a great opportunity for hands-on learners to grasp a subject and also a wonderful way for your student to show off their work to others.  Let's face it, Grandma and Grandpa would probably rather watch a cool video clip than read a 10-page research paper.  There is quite a bit involved with movie making, though at the same time the technology part isn't too difficult.  Students need to not only learn the material for the video, but have to plan, decide on graphics, work on presentation skills, etc.  Video making is also a fun group project.

7. Educational DVDs and lessons

Some of our curriculum has lessons presented on DVD and I have even purchased full courses on DVD.  Sometimes I watch the lessons with the kids and sometimes my students are independent enough on the subject to be able to watch without further explanation.  Either way, I'm thankful to have options like this for our home.

There are plenty of great resources out there; I've only shared a few. In fact, I found a new resource in the process of writing this blog post, Free Technology for Teachers, which is directed more toward traditional classroom teachers but still has plenty of useful information on teaching with technology. And while the abundance of technology resources can be overwhelming, in addition to requiring caution to not overuse and/or screen properly, there is no reason a homeschool should throw out all the good with the bad.  Instead, use technology wisely and embracing it as a learning tool in your homeschool.

My marriage is doomed!

I broke my Butter Bell yesterday. This. Is. Not. Good.

Some of you may be thinking, "What the heck is a Butter Bell?"  I get asked that question a lot when people see the contraption on my kitchen counter.  My answer is always the same:

"It's a marriage saver!"

Ok, I understand how truly odd that sounds, but it's true.  Every marriage has one of those constant arguing points.  Usually it isn't anything that really matters ("I can't believe you left your socks on the floor...AGAIN!").  However, insignificant as it is, it keeps resurfacing to cause strife. Early in our marriage we used to argue over butter.  Yes, butter.

We used to be margarine people.  That is, until I read that margarine closely resembles plastic.  The stuff really isn't healthy for you.  So, I confidently switched to butter for the good of our family!  Except there was one minor problem with my good intentions. I could never remember to set the butter out to soften in time for dinner.  My husband, the bread man that he is, was never happy throwing chunks of better across his dinner rolls.  And the arguing would begin. 

"Why can't you remember to set the butter out?  How hard is that?  Start buying spread!"

"But I'm just trying to keep our family healthy!"

"My bread is ripped!"

"Deal with it, ok? It's just bread!  How selfish!"

"No, YOU deal with remembering to put the butter out!  It's such a little thing you can do for me!"

Of course, it never stayed with just butter.  Each of us would bring up whatever grievances were lying just below the surface and soon were arguing about other things. It really wasn't good dinner conversation.

After months of this, I found my solution.  The Butter Bell!  The Butter Bell allows you to keep your butter on the kitchen counter at room temperature without it spoiling.  You put cold water in the bottom piece and the butter in the top portion.  The water seals the top and prevents air exposure, keeping it fresh.  All you need to do is change the water out every few days, which I actually can remember to do!  Instantly, our dinnertime arguments vanished!

Of course, now my Butter Bell is broken.  It has saved me years of turmoil and counseling bills.  I think I might just have a special service for it and bury it in the backyard next to our deceased gecko.  

Now, my marriage is doomed!  At least, it is for the next 7-10 days while the replacement is in transit.

*Amazon affiliate link

There's a critter in my walls...

...and I really don't want to share my space with it.

What's irritating is that it is the wall by my computer desk and I can hear it scurrying around while working. We had the same problem around this time last year and had someone come in and put poison around the house and in the attic, where he found a small colony of bats, too.  I can't tell you how much the thought of bats in my house creeps me out.  When I was in college, I  had one come out of my closet and land on my arm while I was talking on the phone.  Nope. I don't like bats. At least, not when they make surprise appearances on my arm.

I'm pretty sure my wall critter is a  mouse, because that is what the pest control guy told us last time and it is in the same location.

But the thing makes enough noise to be a raccoon, and I wonder how it can just be a small little critter with all that ruckus. I guess mice are kind of like kids in that respect.

A quality education doesn't have to be expensive!

This week's Blog Cruise topic is about the financial cost of homeschooling.

How do you afford to homeschool? What are some ways to save money on hsing supplies?

People really get hung up on numbers sometimes, don't they?  In fact, just this past week I was asked about how much homeschooling costs. The nice thing about homeschooling is that it is possible to homeschool on even the smallest of budgets if necessary.


Before I give some money-saving tips, let me give you some points to ponder about the cost of education.

• A more expensive resource doesn't necessarily mean a better quality resource. I've seen some high-priced resources out there that simply don't deliver.

• Homeschooling saves in unexpected areas, therefore balancing out some of the necessary expenses. For example, kids don't have to wear costly name-brand clothes to fit in and expensive convenience food items or the purchase of a school lunch that lacks nutrition is not necessary.

• Compared to private schools, even a generous budget for homeschooling is much cheaper. Your dollars, directed specifically to your child, will go much farther.

Now, on to specifics on how I personally cut costs in our homeschool while still delivering a quality education.


1. If possible, buy curriculum used.

There are some great swap boards out there. Vegsource and  Homeschool Classifieds are two that I frequent.  Yahoogroups has swap lists as well, some specific to certain programs, such as the IEW Items for Sale list.

Buying used takes some planning, especially for items in high demand, so there is a time investment. I feel the savings are definitely worth it.  For example, let's say I spend an hour of my time scouring lists looking for a particular item. If I save $25 as a result of my efforts, it would be like "working" for a pay of $25.  As a single-income family, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up an odd job here or there with the pay of $25/hour, would you?

2. Sell your curriculum when you are done with it.

I've known some to not want to be bothered with listing items and either let them sit on their shelves or just give them away.  The latter is a wonderful gesture to a homeschool family in need and I don't want to discourage anyone from doing so.  However, if  you are having trouble paying for next year's materials, take the time to sell your used items.  You'll not only bless another family by saving them money, you'll have some cash to make new curriculum purchases.


3. Buy items you know for sure you'll use in the future when you see them at a good priced used or on sale.

You need to be careful with this one, as you don't want to get stuck with items that you end up not using.  However, I keep an eye open for higher levels of programs that I am currently successfully using and know I'll be using into the future.  Sometimes some real bargains can be found and it's worth the savings to have the item sitting on my shelf for awhile.  I also tend to pick up items that I perhaps want to try and are priced such that I know I can turn around and resell at the same price I purchased it for if it doesn't work out. This way I get to try the product without actually losing money on a bad purchase.


4. Barter or borrow materials.

Bartering used to be a common way to obtain what you needed.  I have a friend that offers my daughter writing and literature lessons in exchange for phonics and spelling work with one of her kids. This would work with curriculum too.  For example, you could teach someone's child how to knit in exchange for a program or text the other family is done using. Or, perhaps a friend has some desired curriculum on their shelf waiting for younger sibling to reach that level who might be willing to loan it to you for a year.

5. Seek out inexpensive or free opportunities. Be creative!

I've been able to find many inexpensive opportunities in our area that are higher quality than more expensive programs. 4-H has been a wonderful find.  It only costs $10/student to join a club and there are so many opportunities outside of individual clubs.  Last year, our family received $40 in scholarships to attend already reasonable priced programs, simply by applying. Also, 4-H isn't all about cows and pigs. Check out your local area 4-H to see what they have available.  Starting your own club is very easy and might be consideration if you can't find something of interest.

Don't pass up community programs.  Look at what is being offered with an open mind. My daughter joined a creative writing group in our community recently.  It was intended more for adults, but they were very welcoming to her. It is completely free and she always receives positive feedback on her writing.  Also, I'm not shy about approaching someone offering a class or program in the community about teaching or speaking to a group of homeschoolers.  They are often very willing and will do so at an affordable price.

6. Teach your kids to be frugally minded.

I've been blessed with kids that aren't caught up on having certain items.  For example, my daughter likes to shop at Salvation Army for cheap and unique finds, which saves on the clothing budget.  Both my son and daughter do odd jobs for neighbors and save money for items that they really want.  Teaching good stewardship is a lesson in itself, but the practice will also save dollars in the long-run.


7. Utilize the library and parks!

You might as well take advantage of the resources your tax dollars support!

I feel a bit silly mentioning the library, because it seems so obvious. If your local library doesn't have an item that you need, ask about interloaning it.  Also request your librarian purchase items.  If it is in the budget, they are often happy to try to acquire items for their patrons.

We have several Metroparks in our area that are more than willing to provide low-cost educational programming for homeschoolers.  One such park is even offering a biology class based on a homeschooling curriculum in their lab classroom.  Just because there isn't an already established class doesn't mean they aren't will.  Ask and you may be surprised!

8. Don't feel like you have to do everything to provide a good education. Choose wisely!

In the past, I tended to overbuy and over schedule.  All of those materials and opportunities cost money! I've learned that while there are amazing resources out there, we can only use so many.  My kids don't learn if the materials on the shelves aren't actually used. And if we are running around every day going from activity to activity, the kids will be too scattered to actually get the most out of every activity. Over the years I've needed to learn to say no to activities or materials, as wonderful as they sound.

Homeschooling does not need to cost a fortune to be successful. All it take is a bit of creativity and determination, not a difficult task for a community that already is willing to look outside of the (public school) box.

I've been triple awarded!

Wow, talk about this being a busy and blessed week.  It has been one of those whirlwind weeks where it seems like I just can't get what is on my agenda done.  Yet, just when I need a little pick-me-up, I receive three awards from some wonderful ladies! Thanks, so much gals!

Both Sheri @ Homeschooling on a Wing and a Prayer and April @ Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet awarded me the Sunshine Award.

And then today, Michelle @ A Life Better Than I Deserve gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award.

Both of these awards have the following requirements:

1) Add a link and note of thanks to the person giving the award.
2) Pass the award on to the bloggers whose blogs you love (15 tops)
3) Share 7 things about yourself

I don't think I could possibly come up with 21 interesting tidbits about me, so in an effort to save you all from boredom, I'm combining the requirements and only giving you 7 things for all three awards!

7 Random Things About Little 'Ole Me

1. I used to be a Purchasing Manager and once spent over a $1,000,000 in one day!  Granted, it would have been more fun if it were my own money and it didn't involve large quantities of steel and electrical panels, but hey, it was fun nonetheless.

2. Do I dare admit I refused to date my husband when we first met?  He kinda grew on me! In October, we will have been married for 16 years!

3. May (except the closest of friends) think I am ultra organized.  I am so not! I often feel scattered.  I guess I put on a good front!

4. Ever since I turned 40, I can't type!  I've either been leaving out critical words (e.g. "not") and end up typing the exact opposite of what I mean, or have very strange word substitutions. Fortunately, most of my friends seem to be able to decipher my now cryptic emails.

5. I am definitely not a morning person, no matter how hard I try to be.  I can get so much more done in the wee hours of the night.

6.  I'm really, really claustrophobic. I once got stuck in a friend's bathroom (the sliding door became jammed) and had to be rescued very quickly by another friend yielding a butter knife before I completely freaked out. A pull ribbon was later installed on that door and it is still there today, even though that was about 9 years ago.  What great friends I have!

7. Two years ago, I completely didn't get blogging and had no idea why anyone would want to share their thoughts with the world.  Around the same time, I also hesitantly applied to be on the TOS Crew and almost didn't accept the invitation.  It's just a little ironic that I'm blogging about 7 random facts of myself because of awards given to me by some great ladies met through the TOS Crew, no?

Now, for the fun part, passing the awards along to some great bloggers!

I award the Sunshine Award to the following, in no particular order:

1. Kris @ Homeschooling Momma3
2. Melissa @ Day In Day Out
3. Tonya @ Live the Adventure
4. Alecat @ Serenades & Solace
5. Holly @ A Mommy's Blessings
6. Tracy @ Our Life with 3 Guys and a Doll
7. Tonia @ The Sunny Patch

I award the Beautiful Blogger Award to the following, in no particular order:

1. Denise @ Light, Liberty and Learning
2. Lisa @ The Berry Patch
3. Heather @ Faith, Family, and Fun
4. Becky @ There is Hope
5. Wendy @ Homeschooling Blessings
6. Merit @ Creative Learning
7. Lori @ Loving Learning at Home

The Schoolhouse Expo is coming October 4-8!

It's back to homeschool time and registration is open for the online Schoolhouse Expo, October 4-8. It's five days of top homeschool speakers, fellowship, and fun door prizes.

Save $5 per ticket! Register between August 16 and midnight August 22, and you'll pay only $19.99. Plus you'll receive over $200 in free E-Books.

You'll be inspired by speakers including: Zan Tyler, Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright,Carol Barnier, Diana Waring, Todd Wilson, Davis Carman, Kim Kautzer, Lee Binz, and many more!

A special teen track is planned--the entire family will definitely want to listen to these special sessions. We've also planned a special focus on a topic that touches every homeschool--writing. Plus, an array of other topics that will inform and inspire you throughout your homeschooling years.

Don't forget, MP3 copies of each session comes with your LIVE event ticket.

Two special preconference shows on August 24 and September 21 with Dr.
Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright, and Kim Kautzer!

Register starting 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16.

The theme this fall is "Celebrate Homeschooling!" We're going to celebrate the unique blessings of homeschooling, the beginning of another school year, our families, and the freedom to tailor our children's education to best meet their needs.

If you cannot make the Live event, then the October Expo To Go is just your ticket! You'll reserve MP3s from all of the workshops. This week only, pay just $14.95!

You can visit either of these links to get more information.
http://www.SchoolhouseExpo.com
or
http://bit.ly/aWHFiL

*Disclosure:  In exchange for sharing this information, I will be receiving tickets to Expo to Go at no cost.

Samson's Big Move (4H2O Eco Challenge 2010)

A few weeks ago my daughter the 4-H2O Eco Challenge 2010 camp.  The camp was made possible through 4-H, Toyota, Indian Springs Metropark, and Heavner Canoe Rental.  The participants, grades 7-10, learned not only about the ecosystem, but technology was also integrated into the learning experience. One of the projects for the week was for the students to split into groups and create a video about some of what they learned over the course of the week.  I really appreciated the combination of learning about nature and technology and thought I'd share the end result of my daughter's group, just for fun!

And just a plug for 4-H... if you aren't involved in this organization, you should definitely consider it. 4-H is about much more than cows, pigs, and chickens!