Learn how to homeschool for free!
There will come a day (hopefully) when I will actually need this magazine, but until then I can read it and dream!
Whether you are already a homesteader or a wanna-be homesteader, check out the free online edition of the June/July issue of From Scratch Magazine!
Your local library is very likely to have a program for summer reading. Some are huge events, some are smaller, but I’ve found that my kids enjoy either kind. They mostly enjoy seeing friends & making new ones.
Barnes & Noble gives your child the opportunity to earn a FREE book (from a selected list) after reading 8 books.
Scholastic Summer Challenge begins May 1st every year. Kids read, log their hours, and spin a wheel for prizes.
Book Adventure is Sylvan Learning Center’s FREE reading incentive program. Your child reads a book, then takes a simple comprehension quiz to earn points. There are hundreds of books to choose from in all reading levels, and they are usually books that can be found at your local library. Once they have earned enough points they can trade them in for some really cool prizes!
B&N has monthly book clubs for kids. Typically, you will find a book club for school-aged kids and a Storytime for the preschoolers. Click the link to see if there is one near you. They also have a free Kid’s Club reward program with free cupcakes on birthdays and other fun stuff.
Chuck E. Cheese has a year-round certificate available. Parents print out the form here and turn it in after reading is completed to a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant for free tokens. There are other incentives on their website as well, but only one reward per day, per child.
Pizza Hut Book-It is not just for Public School Kids. Homeschool families can register and get in on the free pizza action, too. Check it out and register your K-6th students today.
If you are a part of a Home School organization, you can register the group for Braum’s Book Buddies. A reading incentive for grades 1-5 during the school year. You must register as a group (unless something has changed in the last year or so). Kids can read books and earn ice cream treats.
Local Bank Incentives
There aren’t links for it, but sometimes a local bank will offer a $5 or $10 deposit for reading challenges. It wouldn’t hurt to call your bank or credit union and ask!
(in CT, MA, NJ, NY, OH, and RI only)
Bookworm Wednesdays entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating Showcase Cinemas, Multiplex Cinemas or Cinema de Lux box office. Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six receive free admission and do not need to submit a book report.
Click on Clubs & Contests on the left side of the screen. Then click on the red Join Now! button at the bottom of the screen. A PDF file will open that will include the HEB summer reading program reading log.
Print out the reading log and record 10 books that are read over the summer. Follow directions on the form and you will get the fun prizes they have for your kids.
Last, but not least, the Six Flags Read to Succeed program is popular for those who live within 100 miles of a Six Flags Amusement Park. Students in grade K-6 can earn one ticket for free admission into a Six Flags park. Each family registers and follows the guidelines. You will get your tickets via email in May. The tickets are usually valid from mid-June to early in August.
Happy Reading!
I remember learning about the bacterial class called Actinomycota.
I remember that Actinomycota is a rod, that Leprosy and Tuberculosis are caused by Actinomycota bacteria, and that types of Actinomycota bacteria are used to make Tetracycline and Erythromycin. I also remember that it’s a soil dweller and a decomposer.
Why in the world would I remember this? And why would it be the only thing that I remember from my High School Biology class?
Because my friend and I made that one little section of our notes into a song right before the test so that we could remember it.
It was to the tune of “Hakuna Matata”. 🙂
What, you want it stuck in your head too?
Okay, here it is:
Actinomycota… what a wonderful rod.
Actinomycota… causes TB and Leprosy.
It makes Tetracycline and Erythromycin.
It’s a soil dweller… and a decomposer.
Actinomycota.
Completely useless for an accounting major turned full-time homeschooler and part-time blogger, right?
No way!
While I’m really not very interested in actinomycota, the lesson that I learned that day has stayed with me for the past 18 years.
It’s not only easier to memorize information through songs, but that information is very likely to stay with you for life!
There’s a made-for-tv-movie that I watched way back when I was in Jr. High called Earth Angel. In the movie, the high school “nerd” helps the prom queen study for her history exam. She’s having trouble memorizing the information and he asks her if she can remember lyrics of songs that are on the radio. Of course she can! So he makes up a song to help her remember the information for the test…
{sung to That’ll be the Day}
Battle of D-Day, the Second World War.
Battle of D-Day, nineteen forty-four.
Battle of D-Day, I’ll say it once more,
When Eisenhower led the troops to Normandy’s Shore.
Not only did it help her with her test ;), but I still remember it too!
While I don’t think I could be classified as a “classical homeschooler” (I see so many amazing things in all of the homeschool philosophies and I try to have a mix in our school life) I do LOVE the focus of classical education on learning through song.
You don’t need any expensive CDs to do it either. Just figure out the facts that you for-sure want your kids to know and make up songs to those one at a time. The song lines don’t even have to rhyme!
For example, here’s a short one that I made up while we were studying the Declaration of Independence last year.
It’s kind of a Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star remix…
The De…claration of Independence
Was sign…ed by the Continental Congress
On… July 4th, 1776.
The De…claration of Independence
Was sign…ed by the Continental Congress
on… July 4th, 1776.
The De…claration of Independence
Started a war called the American Revolution
Al…so called the War of Independence
Or… the Revolutionary War.
The loy…alists remained loyal to King George The Third
The pa…triots wanted to be free.
See? It’s not complicated, it’s an easy tune that everyone already knows, and it doesn’t even rhyme at all.
But the kids still remember it!
What’s on your list to memorize this year? Do you have any songs you’ve made up (or song ideas!) that you would like to share? 🙂
Image Attribution: GrahamColm at en.wikipedia
WOW!!
This week only (through May 4th), this bundle of 97 (yes, NINETY-SEVEN) ebooks is available to purchase for just $29.97. If you were to buy each of these ebooks separately it would cost $640.
There are several ebooks that I post good deals on and don’t end up buying myself, but there’s just no way that I can pass up buying this deal myself (I just bought it before putting up this post). I love being able to just use paypal to buy it too!
Yes, it’s not free, and most of what you’ll find here on How To Homeschool For Free is going to be completely free. BUT, to have all of these resources and ebooks on hand to teach my children all kinds of awesome homemaking skills for just $29.97? How can I pass that up?
There are not only great books on parenting, marriage, organizing, budgeting, cooking, healthy living, working from home, and beauty (plus more), there are lots of great education & homeschooling ebooks too!!
Several of my favorite authors and bloggers are included in this sale and I’m really looking forward to reading through as many of them as I can.
If all of the ebooks weren’t enough, there are also $140 in bonus products from various companies that you get when you buy! I’ve listed out all of the books that are included (by topic) below, as well as all of the bonuses that you’ll get too.
31 Days to Clean
Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System that Works
Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks
Simple Living: 30 Days to Less Stuff and More Life
NOT a DIY Diva
One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler
28 Days to Hope for your Home
Organizing Life as Mom
Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed Homemaker
10 Steps to Organized Paper
Handmade Walls
From Debtor to Better
Tell Your Time
The Homemakers Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule
Your Grocery Budget Toolbox
Finding Financial Freedom
Become a Frugalista in 30 Days
Crock On
Wholesome Mixes
20-Minute Meals
Restocking the Pantry
Money Saving Mom’s Guide to Freezer Cooking
Simply Summer
Do the Funky Kitchen
Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen
Real Food, Real Easy
Seasonal Menu Plans on a Budget
Just Making Ice Cream
First Bites
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert
Stress-Free Baby Shower
Unbound Birth
My Pregnancy Journey
My Buttered Life Baby Edition
The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year
Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide
100-pound Loser
Honoring the Rhythm of Rest
42 Days to Fit
Healthy Homemaking
Personal ePlanner
Nature’s Superb Superfoods: Lose Weight & Revitalize Your Body
From Frump to Pump
The Cottage Mama’s DIY Guide
Simple Scrubs to Make and Give
The No-Brainer Wardrobe
Embracing Beauty
Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose
Your Blogging Business: Tax Tips and Tricks
The Bootstrap VA
How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home
How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too
Simple Blogging
Princess Training
The Armor of God
My Bedtime Learning Book
Think Outside the Classroom
Raising Rock Stars–Kindergarten Bundle
The ABC’s For Godly Boys Curriculum
The ABC’s For Godly Girls Curriculum
K4 Curriculum
Write Through the Bible: Philippians 2, print
Write Through the Bible: Philippians 2, cursive
Balcony Girls–books 1 & 2 (a mentoring curriculum for teen girls)
Easy Peasy Chores: An Easy-to-Use Chore System That Brings JOY Back Into Family Chores
The Dig for Kids: Luke (volumes 1 and 2)
Music: An Essential Ingredient for Life
Festive Traditions
Holiday Mixes: Gifts in a Jar
Flourishing Spring
Family Camping Handbook
Truth in the Tinsel
Plan a Fabulous Party
iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide
Pursuit of the Proverbs 31 Woman
The Best of Visionary Womanhood
God’s Word in my Heart: A Scripture Memory Learning Guide with Verses {all 4 versions}
Kept
Love like Him
Rekindling Romance
Good Wife’s Guide
31 Days to Build a Better Spouse
31 Days to Great Sex for Married Couples
Entangled: Recognize Your Emotional Affair
The Heart of Simplicity
True Christian Motherhood
Hula Hoop Girl
When Motherhood Feels Too Hard
Mindset for Moms
From Cube to Farm
4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions
That Works for Me!
Learning in Love: The Preschool Years
Homeschooling from the Heart: Ages 5-8
Grocery University
Vibrant Living Strategies for Moms
You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen
WHEW! I think I have my reading material for the next 5 years or so!
*Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links. My personal policy is to never promote something with an affilate link that I wouldn’t also promote without an affiliate link. Using affiliate links helps to keep How To Homeschool For Free… FREE! 🙂
How would you like to win a full homeschool character training kit from We Use Virtues?
Check out the bottom of this post to enter!
Here’s a little bit about We Choose Virtues:
Heather McMillan started We Choose Virtues out of her love for children and her desire to see them reach their personal potential. As preschool teacher and a children’s pastor, it concerned her how often she came across children whose lack of self control, honesty and perseverance was almost debilitating. How could they succeed in life without the skills that come from good character?
Many grade school teachers she knew admitted that it sometimes takes from September to winter break for their students to follow even the simplest classroom instructions. This crisis in personal character seemed to be obstructing the learning process for their entire classrooms.
As her passion continued to grow, she realized that she wanted to teach children how to change. Not just a momentary change of actions, but a more lasting change in their attitudes as well. Her observation is that children needed to be inspired by simple, positive and consistent instructions, and parents and teachers needed an effective language with which to communicate these instructions.
It was out of this necessity that Heather created the original list of virtues and their unforgettable catchphrases. She used them at home with our four children, taught them in her own Preschool classroom, introduced them to fellow teachers, parents, and professional counselors. They were enthusiastically received and the results were outstanding.
If you’re interested in winning the full homeschool kit, just fill out the information below to enter the giveaway!
There are also a couple of freebies on the We Choose Virtues site that you might guys might be interested it!
Here’s how to get them:
1. Head over to the We Choose Virtues site.
2. Click on “SHOP HOME” and then on “For Homescholers”
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where all of the products are listed and you’ll see two freebies: a printable sheet with memory verses, bible heroes and truths & a printable for a family character assessment.
Announcing…
The Avoiding Sibling Rivalry Facebook Party!
We will be having a Facebook party on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7pm CST (that’s 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, and 8 pm EST) over on the Blessed Beyond a Doubt Facebook page!
Questions surrounding this topic are some of the most frequently asked questions during the parenting years. Whether you need encouragement, advice, or would love to share your parenting testimony, we know you will have fun and get lots of great input from others who have walked down the same road!
I have teamed up with 4 other awesome bloggers and the people over at We Choose Virtues to offer you guys some fabulous door prizes during the party AND a chance to win big in the giveaway (that part will be announced during the party!)
I also encourage you to follow the other Avoiding Sibling Rivalry Facebook Party cohosts:
To RSVP for the Facebook party, just enter your information in the form below:
If you’ve never participated in a Facebook party before, check out Jill’s post on How To Participate In A Facebook Party!
I can’t wait to to party with you and glean the some tips on Avoiding Sibling Rivalry!
This promotion is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with Facebook.
WOW! Head over to Educents before April 2nd (can you believe April is just right around the corner?!) and sign up for their newsletter and you will get a FREE $10 credit in your account to use when they officially launch the site!
Educents is a new deal of the day site focused on great deals and discounts for educators!! I am SO thrilled about this new website and I can’t wait to share with all of you the great deals that I’m sure I will find there.
There are lots of great resources out there and the five senses is a perfect first unit study for preschool or kindergarten.
You can easily find the five senses unit study page anytime from the navigation bar above when you hover your mouse over the word “Unit Studies”.
Click here to see the unit study!
I have a couple of fabulous homeschooling mentors that have helped me out over the years whenever I have had questions about homeschooling or need advice on different potential curriculum options.
One of those fabulous mentors is my friend Joy Miller over at Five J’s! If you’ve never checked out her website, I promise it will be worth your time. 🙂
Joy just put up a blog post with a TON of different strategies to save money on homeschool curriculum and it’s definitely a must-read!
Just click the button below to read it:
WOW! Right now in the Amazon Kindle Store you can get Shepherding A Child’s Heart for just $1.99!!
This book was one of the first ones we read as new parents and I thought there were so many great pieces of wisdom in it.
You do not need an Amazon Kindle in order to read these free Kindle books. You can download it to your Smartphone, PC, Mac, iPod, or iPad or read it directly from your browser in the Kindle Cloud Reader as well!
NOTE: Amazon prices changes (sometimes drastically) throughout the day so I can make no guarantees that the price above will be the same price when you click over to Amazon.
(Thanks, Blessed Beyond A Doubt!)
