By now you have all probably heard that on Thursday two pop stars lost their lives. Farrah Fawcett lost her three year battle with cancer Thursday morning and Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon of an apparent heart attack.
One of my readers asked if I would be posting about Michael Jackson and, at the time, I didn't think I would be. Communication FUNdamentals is mostly about humor and communication skills. Other than a few media stories in recent years, I haven't really followed Mr. Jackson's life so I wasn't going to comment. However, shortly after his death, there appeared to be some conflicting communication about the cause of his death coming from the transcripts of the 911 tape. It appeared that more was revealed by what was not said and not done.
I heard the 911 tape and was suprised at what it revealed. I have no medical training at all so, at first, I felt I may not be able to properly discern anything from the tapes. But a medical expert on the Sean Hannity Show expressed the same concerns and added one more piece of medical information that further shocked me.
The first thing that struck me about the tape was how polite the caller was taking the time to call the 911 operator "sir" often as if it was his nature. You could tell he was nervous and not sure what to say because he repeated himself and the 911 operator several times. Another thing that struck me odd was that this very polite unidentified man didn't identify Mr. Jackson, but just called him "a gentleman here." Since he did know his age when asked (without having to ask the doctor for that information), it seemed to me that he was told not to identify him by name due to his fame.
The most distressing thing to me was when the 911 operator was told that there was already a doctor on the scene! I was wondering why on earth that doctor wasn't on the phone with 911 instead of this poor man. I thought it would certainly speed treatment along to have the 911 operator briefed by a medical doctor who was with the patient at the time. In fact, we find in the next few lines of the transcript/audio that the doctor was the ONLY one with Mr. Jackson when it happened. The medical expert on the show said that, if it were his patient, he personally would be on the phone with 911 instead of giving that job to someone else.
The caller said that Mr. Jackson was on the bed and that the doctor had already tried CPR and was "trying to pump him." This sounds to me as if the doctor was currently performing CPR on the bed. The medical expert on the show pointed out something that I had forgotten from my one and only CPR training. You're supposed to do CPR on the FLOOR!
Apparently the initial report on the cause of death didn't show any heart disease that would be consistent with a heart attack so they are deferring the cause of death until more tests can be done. The communication from the 911 tape suggests negligence on the part of the attending personal physician. Some reports say that Mr. Jackson had allegedly been receiving regular injections of very strong pain killers which might have caused a heart attack. How very sad.
Farrah Fawcett was only 62 and had been fighting cancer for three years. Michael Jackson was only 50 years old. My prayers go out to their families and to this doctor as well.
“Tis better to be thought a fool, than open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” -Abraham Lincoln
Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” a time to speak and a time to…NOT! Our society values information and we assign value to the person who shares it. In his quest for acceptance and to rise to that level of value, man attempts to share what he knows, even if he isn’t sure he knows it.
It isn’t a crime to be ignorant. All intelligent and knowlegeable men are ignorant of SOMETHING. Great is the man who shares his knowledge with others, but far greater still is the man who possesses the ability to keep silent when he knows not.
Every parent knows the value of the sound of silence. lol Sometimes the most intelligent thing to say is…nothing.
All New! 3 of our 5 hard copy books are available again as eBooks!
They’re BAAACK!
Three of our hard copy studies are back and even better with more (embedded) resources and fun! Re released versions are even easier to use and have more tips and resources to help young communicators have fun as they learn to master the art of effective communication from a Christian perspective.
What good is a speech communication study they don’t think is fun?
“Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”
We do the same thing when we speak and our listeners interpret what we say and how we say it in order to formulate opinions about us and our credibility. Being understood is only HALF the battle. Making a good impression or being able to persuade or being taken seriously is the other! That’s why it’s vital that we learn to become effective communicators.
But what good is a powerful message if it isn’t presented in a way that’s fun for kids to learn and easy for parents to teach?
That’s why Art of Eloquence uses humor and creative activities to teach!
Check out Art of Eloquence’s full line of creative and fun speech communication studies for all ages!
A Little Rain Won't Hurt You..But A Lot Can Kill Ya!
A Little Rain Won’t Hurt You…But A Lot Can Kill Ya!
By JoJo Tabares, Art of Eloquence.com
I was thinking about my topic for my Homeschool Blogger Weekly Column this week.What on earth does rain have to do with communication skills?As it turns out, the Lord showed me that it has quite a lesson for communicators!If you think I’ve finally gone off my nut, you might be right, but before you call the little men in white coats to take me away ha ha hoo hoo hee hee… check this out!
As I thought about how gentle rain sounds when it is lightly falling on my house, a line from a movie came to me. It’s not the most Christian movie and you may not want your children to watch it, but I have to give proper credit to the source.In the movie Jumanji, one player rolls the dice and lands on a square that starts a rain inside the house.The player turns to Robin Williams’ character and says, “A little rain won’t hurt us.” But Robin Williams’ character returns, “Yeah, but a lot can kill ya!”
Think back to how that gentle rain sounds when it turns into a rainstorm.The sound goes from a gentle pitter patter to a strong thunderous angry sound.I’ve been through thunderstorms that sound like a herd of elephants were about to break through my house!This once gentle rain can now destroy, but not necessarily because of the amount of water.The sheer force of pouring rain can erode mountains and large boulders.A gentle rain may be soothing to listen to but a thunderous storm is scary and can damage your roof.
Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”Our gentle nature with people when we speak to them can soften a heart and turn away wrath.On the other hand, just like a storm, the power of the spoken word can destroy a spirit and break a heart.
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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, but it is her humorous approach to communication skills which has made her a highly sought-after Christian speaker and writer. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com
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For the last two years I have been “Boldly Serving Up God’s Word with a Side Order of Grace and Humor” over at Grace Talk Soup. It’s been such fun and the feedback on the show has been truly amazing! I have had the opportunity to interview the most inspiring guests! Let me engage in a little name-dropping:
Cindy Rushton, of Talk A Latte and UHSE shares her testimony on air for the first time!
Cathi-Lyn Dyck, shares her story of the side effects of her abortion and what the Drs don’t tell you!
Bill Phillips, Street Evangelist in the news who was threatened with arrest as he shared the Gospel!
This week marks Grace Talk Soup’s two year anniversary and I have BOLD NEWS to share! In her third year, Grace Talk Soup will be serving up more communication tips and instruction and even more HUMOR because Grace Talk Soup will be serving up a bold new CO HOST!
Want to know who it is? You’ll have to tune into the show today to find out! How?
To join us live via your phone: (724) 444-7444 Call ID: 19736
Grace Talk Soup is recorded live each Thursday at 8am PST/11am EST. If you miss the show, you do miss the live interaction and the ability to voice your opinons and ask your questions BUT you can listen in any time you like to the recordings by visiting the talkcast, scrolling down to “Past Episodes” and clicking on the orange “listen” button next to the show that interests you.
Want some hints about my FUN new co host? OK…
She’s a long-time dear friend that I have spoken of on Communication FUNdamentals a few times before. In fact, I have blogged about her quite RECENTLY. (WINK WINK)
For those who may know her, she shares my passion for words, has an incredible sense of humor and a vast knowledge of history. She’s actually been on the show before. Can you guess? If you have an idea, post it here!
If you want to hear her say a quick hello and hear more about the exciting changes we are planning for our listeners, tune in to Grace Talk Soup and hear what was On the Menu last Thursday morning!
Where'd JoJo Go?
Just a reminder that I've moved my daily blog to my website, Art of Eloquence.com. If you want to continue to get my daily tips and articles and freebies, you will need to visit my new blog. You can subscribe to the RSS feed so each post will come to your email automatically each day.
Should you be teaching communication skills to your preschooler?
“Teaching communication skills at the preschool level is a BRILLIANT idea!”
Gena Suarez, publisher of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and mother of five, just posted that on my Facebook page. It is a brilliant idea but, to be honest, it wasn’t really MY brilliant idea. It was my customers’ idea. It came from all the feedback I received asking for a way they could allow their young children a chance to learn social communication skills before the shyness and intimidation of the elementary years set in.
Say What You Mean for Preschoolers gently teaches young children the basic communication skills through play! It’s a 2-5 yr program that teaches to various learning styles and interests. In fact, I used it with my gifted son til he was about 7yrs old! Boys mature later than girls do in their communication skills and gifted children often have special communication struggles.
I know you all will probably fall off your chairs when you read this but brace yourselves!
This Technologically Challenged, HTML Illiterate, Techno Ding Dong just created a Word Press blog and successfully navigated her way through the theme changing process and got it linked from Art of Eloquence!
I'm still going to keep my blog here at HomeschoolBlogger.com but I'm going to be posting less frequently. While I will be posting daily on my new blog, I'll be posting about once a week or so here.
Please stop by and leave a comment. It's a new blog and...HE'S LONELY!
From JoJo’sPurple Crayon Learning Speech Communication Skills
can ALSO be fun with Art of Eloquence!
Art of Eloquence will not be replacing our hard copy studies after our current inventory runs out. We have a limited supply left of each title and we are offering 35% off each of them until they are gone.
Just order as usual and use voucher code 502093535 at checkout and it will automatically take off 35% from your order!
We are currently working to replace them as eBooks, but it will take us some time. There may be a lag time where some studies will not be available in either format.
I don't know how soon we will be able to have them ready as eBooks. Order now before they are all gone!
I thought you all might appreciate knowing why certain things will no longer be available and what things might be a wee bit different in the coming months. After some soul searching and some discussion with my husband, this is the result. So far the feedback I am receiving is pretty positive. I have received many words of encouragement and several have indicated an agreement with my decision to honor my dh and his wishes as well as to put my family first. Thank you all for your kind and gracious words.
JoJo
P.S. To subscribe to my newsletter, please visit this page.
February 10, 2009
What's New at Art of Eloquence?
JoJo's Weekly Column
Important News
This week has been an exciting week and a week of changes here at Art of Eloquence. You may notice that the newsletter has had a facelift of sorts! We pray this will make it easier for you to find the information you wish to read more about.
The Say What You Mean Convention was a huge hit. The feedback is that everyone had such fun! We had 9 contests, 18 live events, 29 hours of instruction, 40+ audios still available, gave away over 400 ePackets of extra gifts to our registrants, and had over 1500 participants! There are a few links to the right where you will find all of the audios and convention info. If you have any feedback on the SWMConvention, please email us at jojo@artofeloquence.com
Art of Eloquence will bediscontinuing a few things this month. Over the last few years, I had built up quite a ministry which included a weekly podcast, a daily blog, 4 weekly newsletters, several Yahoo groups, weekly Foot in Mouth Man episodes, 3 annual online events, one HUGE annual online convention to name a few. At the request of my husband, I will be downsizing and simplifying many of these responsibilities in order to spend more time with my family. I will continue to host the annual Say What You Mean Convention and my weekly podcast, however others will be done at longer intervals or will be eliminated.
To that end, this newsletter will be the only one we put out. I will be incorporating elements of each of our 4 newsletters back into one weekly newsletter that will come out each Tuesday morning. The newsletter will include a weekly column or article and links to various things I feel you would find enlightening: news items affecting the freedom of speech for Christians, a Friday Funny from my blog, etc. You can see this week's links on the right under AoE This Week.
Foot in Mouth Man will go from weekly to monthly episodes and only the newest episodes and a hand full of past episodes will be available on his page on the Art of Eloquence website. We have created a brand new eBook that is the greatest of FIMM in our new FIMMology 101: The Study of the Humorous Sins of Our Mouths. You can read more about it by following the link on the right side under New Products. See also our newest Online Classes!
Lastly, Art of Eloquence will not continue selling hard copy titles after our current inventory runs out. We will eventually be turning each of the following hard copy studies into an eBook version. We are having a 35% off sale in order to clear our shelves.
Art of Eloquence Hard Copy Sale!
35% OFF SALE!
Art of Eloquence will not be replacing our hard copy studies after our current inventory runs out. We have a limited supply left of each title (one title has only two!) and we are offering 35% off each of them until they are gone. Just order as usual and use voucher code 502093535 at checkout and it will automatically take off 35% from your order!
We are currently working to replace them as eBooks, but it will take us some time. There may be a lag time where some studies will not be available in either format.
Check out our Online Catalog for more creative communication fun!
I pray you enjoy the new look and the expanded content of the new What's New at Art of Eloquence eNewsletter. I think there's something for everyone!
This is a new segment for my blog and I ask you to help me out by adding your comments and posting them on your blog as well. I have been doing a "Question of the Week" on my homeschool Yahoo group for a few years now. It's been a fun way to discuss issues and share ideas as well as get to know each other better.
How it Works:
Each Monday I'll ask a thought provoking question about life. Pose the same question to your blog readers on your own blog along with your answer to the question. Then come back here and post a comment with a link to your blog post so we can all read everyone's answers! Should be a lot of fun!
This week's question:
The Lord has given each of us different talents and experiences. He uses them to His Glory. What's your mission?
JoJo's Answer:
I have had a fascination with way people communicate since I was a young child in public school. I moved around a great deal, but everywhere I went, there were two kinds of kids in the class: the popular kids who always came off smelling like a rose and the unpopular kids who never quite seemed to do anything that would smell nearly as sweet. A rose by any other name? Hmmmm...
It wasn't the idea that was good in those days, it was the person who suggested it. It wasn't the clothes worn, it was the person who wore them. But more than that, it was the way in which that person carried himself.
Why was it that the popular kid would wear torn jeans and be thought cool when the "geek" was teased about being poor? It was his attitude, his communication of who he is. That started a lifelong study of communication skills in human behavior. What did I discover?
* Communication plays a large part in just about everything we do.
* The more effective you are in communicating, the more successful you are in life.
* Communication skills are mentioned HUNDREDS of times in the Bible.
* Communication skills are the most important part of The Great Commission.
* Communication skills cannot be mastered by taking one speech course.
* Each communication skill requires different techniques to master: speech is not all of communication.
* Social communication touches all areas of life, not just making friends.
* Communication skills are a core subject even more important than math, science and history.
* Employers are looking for those with good communication skills because it is something they can't fit in the two week training.
* Lack of effective communication is the reason cited most often as the cause for the break up of marriage!
* You may be able to get through your entire life without having to make a speech, but you will not get through 24 hours without communicating something to SOMEBODY!
Even today, this is a fairly new concept that most people don't fully understand. It is my mission to share these facts with the Christian community so that they may be more effective in the missions God has for THEM!
What's your mission?
Post your answers on your blog and come back here and put your link in so we can read it! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers here.
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon Learning Speech Communication Skills
can ALSO be fun with Art of Eloquence!
The other day I was out with my mom. We were listening to a CD my dad had made of all his favorite songs and I was waxing nostalgic remembering all the times he had played these when I was a kid. I like them too and they bring back so many good memories of childhood.
One song stuck in my head, "Who Will Answer?", sung by Ed Ames and released by RCA Victor in 1968 when I was 6 years old. It's a hauntingly beautiful song sung by a man with an incredible voice. When I was a kid, I don't remember listening to the words of this song, but the melody was intriguing and the voice so blessed of God that I couldn't help but feel something special though, at the time, I was an Agnostic.
I decided to see if YouTube or GodTube had it and, as I was listening, the words spoke to me. I looked up the lyrics and read them over as Ed Ames sang them in the background and something jumped out at me that I want to share with you today.
Who answers when we cry out in pain over the sins and injustices of this fallen world? Although the Hallelujahs are echoing in the background, it doesn't appear the Lord is the one he is suggesting. I don't really know for certain if he is warning us that the things of the world that we look to are not the answer or if he believes there is NO answer. He shares with us who others have turned to, but those listed are merely institutions or symbols or just men. Take a look at this verse:
Is our hope in walnut shells
Worn 'round the neck with temple bells,
Or deep within some cloistered walls
Where hooded figures pray in halls?
Or crumbled books on dusty shelves,
Or in our stars, or in ourselves,
Who will answer?
It suggests that people put their faith and trust in institutions which have no power to answer us when we cry out in our agony. And he would be correct. We cannot put our faith in the things of this world, in its institutions or in its leaders. There is only one who promises to be with us through our pain and struggles. There is only one who promises a hope and has given us a way to the peace we seek so desperately here on earth. He is the Lord.
What this song asks is even deeper than this. Who Will Answer, I think, asks the question, "Why is there such suffering in the world?" It's one of the most common questions unbelievers ask and it's one that never seems to be answered satisfactorily even for Christians who are struggling with their faith when something catastrophic happens. Often well-meaning sisters or brothers say the wrong thing and those suffering a loss will pull further away from the Lord instead of holding on tight knowing the Lord will get them through it. How should WE answer? Well, that depends on the one who is asking.
God didn't make cookie-cutter people. Each sees the world differently based on his experiences. Each is a unique individual. You can't have, at the ready, a one-size-fits-all answer. It takes more communication skill which the Lord talks about numerous times in His Word. I talk about this very question in Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith.
I have the "video" here for you to listen to. The visual is only one still picture of an Ed Ames album cover so it's not much to look at, but the song is what I want to share with you. The words are listed below.
I know who will answer when I cry out in pain. I know who will be with me through everything I must endure as I live my life in this fallen world. I know who will answer. Do you?
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!
From the canyons of the mind,
We wander on and stumble blindly
Through the often-tangled maze
Of starless nights and sunless days,
While asking for some kind of clue
Or road to lead us to the truth,
But who will answer?
Side by side two people stand,
Together vowing, hand-in-hand
That love's imbedded in their hearts,
But soon an empty feeling starts
To overwhelm their hollow lives,
And when they seek the hows and whys,
Who will answer?
On a strange and distant hill,
A young man's lying very still.
His arms will never hold his child,
Because a bullet running wild
Has struck him down. And now we cry,
"Dear God, Oh, why, oh, why?"
But who will answer?
High upon a lonely ledge,
a figure teeters near the edge,
And jeering crowds collect below
To egg him on with, "Go, man, go!"
But who will ask what led him
To his private day of doom,
And who will answer?
(Chorus)
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name,
If the mind is baffled
When the rules don't fit the game,
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!
In the rooms of dark and shades,
The scent of sandalwood pervades.
The colored thoughts in muddled heads
Reclining in the rumpled beds
Of unmade dreams that can't come true,
And when we ask what we should do,
Who... Who will answer?
'Neath the spreading mushroom tree,
The world revolves in apathy
As overhead, a row of specks
Roars on, drowned out by discotheques,
And if a secret button's pressed
Because one man has been outguessed,
Who will answer?
Is our hope in walnut shells
Worn 'round the neck with temple bells,
Or deep within some cloistered walls
Where hooded figures pray in halls?
Or crumbled books on dusty shelves,
Or in our stars, or in ourselves,
Who will answer?
(Repeat Chorus Below)
If the soul is darkened
By a fear it cannot name,
If the mind is baffled
When the rules don't fit the game,
Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer?
SWMC Winners/Indep. Day Contest and Special extended!
Wow! What a fabulous three days! Thank you all for the incredible feedback we have been receiving. It warms my heart to know that the mission the Lord gave to me five years ago has blessed so many!
In an effort to make the SWMC bigger and better each year, we would love YOUR feedback on this year's event! Please feel free to post a comment on the Talkcast site under the talk bubbles where it says "Write a full comment?" or you can email me jojo@artofeloquence.com and share what you liked and what you might want to see next year, including any themes or guest speakers! Thank you for helping us make the convention better each year!
Don't forget that all of the audios will remain up and ready for your listening pleasure for the entire year. Please come back often and take advantage of the wisdom of each of our keynote and guest speakers. The freebies are still available for a while so, if you haven't downloaded them, please be so blessed as to download them.
Independence Day Contest Extended til Midnight on 2/8/09
So many of you attended each event at the convention that we felt you might appreciate having a few more days after the convention to write your essay or create your video in order to enter the What I Want to Be When I Grow Up Contest. We have extended this onen contest til the end of this weekend to give each of you more time. Here are the rules again:
What I Want to Be When I Grow Up Contest:
This day is devoted to those of you who will be graduating in a year or a few so what we would like you to do is to tell us what you would like to be when you grow up! You may submit your thoughts via email as an essay or as a video that you record and upload to YouTube or GodTube. Email your essay or link to your video to jojo@artofeloquence.com with SWMC What I Want to Be When I Grow Up Contest in the subject line. Your essay or video must include your name, that this is a submission for the Say What You Mean Convention 2009 and what you want to be when you grow up and why. You may even share what you are doing to prepare yourself for it before you graduate. The most creative essay or video will be awarded the prize package!
Art of Eloquence Special Offer expires at Midnight on 2/8/09
Now that you know how vital communication skills are for the Christian and how often the Lord spoke of them in His Word, it's time to take steps to learn more about the skills that studies show is responsible for better relationships, success in school, success in business and career and the Lord tells us is vital for the work He calls The Great Commission.
With any Art of Eloquence order of $50 or more, we will be giving away a copy of Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith! This includes our brand new, adorably funny FIMMology 101: The Study of the Humorous Sins of Our Mouths, pre registering for our brand new online classes which are like no other online classes you have ever seen! You can check them out here.
Both the contest and special ends this Sunday at midnight so don't put it off!
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6th 1911-June 5th 2004) was the 40th President of the United States. No matter what anyone thought of his politics, they couldn't help but love The Great Communicator who spoke with disarming humor and a positive outlook. Those who spoke with him always remarked at how he had the knack of making them feel as if they were the only person in the world who mattered at that moment!
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Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6th 1911-June 5th 2004) was the 40th President of the United States. No matter what anyone thought of his politics, they couldn't help but love The Great Communicator who spoke with disarming humor and a positive outlook. Those who spoke with him always remarked at how he had the knack of making them feel as if they were the only person in the world who mattered at that moment!
Art of Eloquence uses humor to teach a generation of Christians to speak up as eloquently for their beliefs and accomplish the work the Lord has for them! During the Say What You Mean Convention 2008, we strive to help Christian families teach their children to speak as eloquently.
Ronald Reagan was a man of faith who felt strongly about a America's ties to her Creator. He had a way of using humor and God's Word to speak gently and respectfully of his vision and his beliefs. I thought you might enjoy reading a little of The Great Communicator's whit and wisdom of faith and politics:
“Our Nation’s motto – ‘In God We Trust’ - was not chosen lightly. It reflects a basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this nation owes homage.”
“We can’t have it both ways. We can’t expect God to protect us in a crisis and just leave Him over there on the shelf in our day-to-day living. I wonder if sometimes He isn’t waiting for us to wake up, He isn’t maybe running out of patience.”
"America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.”
"Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement."
"I have wondered many times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."
"The Taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal Government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination."
8am PST: Keynote Speaker, Karen"Spunky"Braun, "Learning to Let Go"
10am PST: JoJo Tabares, "Defending the Faith Seminar"
12pm PST: Kim Kautzer, "College Prep: Is Writing on Track?" 3pm PST: "Finish the Liberty Quotes" Contest
5pm PST: Joan R. Ward, "Dream Capture"
7pm PST: Prayer Chat especially over our homeschool graduates.
Karen Braun is engaged in the full-time art of managing her home and home schooling the Braun children. She is known in the home schooling community as "Spunky" from her popular blog, Spunky Homeschool. Karen has been a guest speaker on behalf of home schooling issues on local and national radio programs, spoken at local and regional home school support groups, and defended Christian family values on Detroit television news program.
She served at the original blogging editor for HomeschoolBlogger.com and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine where she is still a contributing writer. Karen holds a BS in computer science from the University of Michigan.
Homeschooler: Are you familiar with the tests your student should take to apply to college? Do you know what questions to expect when your child takes them? Are you aware of the SAT prep books that are worthwhile- and those that aren't? Have you thought about what courses your high schooler should be taking? Do you know how to prepare his or her transcript? Do you have a list of college prep resources? Are you aware of what a homeschooler needs to do in order to apply to college?
If you answered no to any of these questions, don't worry. The Homeschooler's Guide to Preparing for College was written for you!
The college preparation process can be long and frustrating without guidance, and the stakes are high if you are uninformed. Knowing exactly how to present your child as a homeschooled applicant is paramount to his or her success in the applicant pool. Don't wait until your child's Senior year to begin!
The Homeschooler's Guide to Preparing for College is unlike every other college prep book in one vital capacity: it was written by a homeschooler, for homeschoolers. Other books do not offer the insights and advice that you as a homeschooler need. This title contains up-to-date information about all aspects of the college prep process, drawn from the research and personal experiences of a homeschooled teen who has gone through the process recently. You won't find this information anywhere else!
This day is devoted to those of you who will be graduating in a year or a few so what we would like you to do is to tell us what you would like to be when you grow up! You may submit your thoughts via email as an essay or as a video that you record and upload to YouTube or GodTube. Email your essay or link to your video to jojo@artofeloquence.com with SWMC What I Want to Be When I Grow Up Contest in the subject line. Your essay or video must include your name, that this is a submission for the Say What You Mean Convention 2009 and what you want to be when you grow up and why. You may even share what you are doing to prepare yourself for it before you graduate. The most creative essay or video will be awarded the prize package!
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6th 1911-June 5th 2004) was the 40th President of the United States. No matter what anyone thought of his politics, they couldn't help but love The Great Communicator who spoke with disarming humor and a positive outlook. Those who spoke with him always remarked at how he had the knack of making them feel as if they were the only person in the world who mattered at that moment!
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Sponsors:
Amy Puetz
Art of Eloquence
At Home with Christian Fiction
Bright Minds BRAIN-athon Emporium
Brimwood Press Christian Keyboarding Everyday Education Gery DiMarco Independent Vitamark Affiliate Greek 'n' Stuff HSLDA
Jeannie Fulbright
Knowledge House
LifeVerse TM Jewelry
Little Light Press
Lynda Coats
Make Money Teens
Math on the Level
Motherboard Books
Neways
Positive Image Network
Scholar Square
Supermom's Health
Teach Magazine
Teen Biz Talk
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Values-Driven Family
WriteShop
8am PST: JoJo Tabares, "21 Days to More Godly Communication" -Sampling from upcoming book
10am PST: Keynote Speaker, Lorrie Flem, "Finding Joy in the MOMent"
12pm PST: Kim Kautzer, "How to Grade Writing with Confidence."
3pm PST: "Match the Ad Slogan" Contest
5pm PST: Joan R. Ward, "Let's Play"
7pm PST: Mom's Night Out: Fellowship, support, encouragement, organization, course correction, ideas, teaching tips, ...
Lorrie Flem Lorrie Flem has been honored to be the happy rib of Randy for 23 years. They make their home in Maple Valley, Washington until they reach the mansion Jesus is preparing for them. They are the exceedingly proud parents of eight children, ages 22 to 6. She considers it a privilege to be a stay-at-home homeschooling mom to their always precious and often precocious children.
Lorrie has always been prone to talk and as a result she has authored a number of books, is the publisher of TEACH Magazine.com - We put the "HOME" in Homemaking and Homeschooling," and a monthly ezine, TEACH Talk. She speaks internationally at conferences and retreats. Lorrie is known for her humorous and gentle words of encouragement to other keepers of the home.
~God didn't make Cookie-Cutter People so a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work on everyone.
~If approach people the wrong way, not only will they not accept the Lord but they will build a wall between themselves and God which includes anyone who would speak to them again about the Lord, the Bible, Salvation or Jesus!
What benefits of the Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith e-Study?
~Strengthen your own faith because you find the resources to answer these common questions of science and etc.
~Help prevent falling away from the faith by influences of the secular world and anti Christian professors and co workers and neighbors
~Teach you not just what to answer but how to articulate it to the different people who typically ask these questions
~Train you to share in grace and with respect for more effective mission work right here in our own country where faith is decaying
~Research links to fabulous online resources conveniently embedded within the text for easy research
Since this is the 4th Annual Say What You Mean Convention, on Moms' Day, we will be uploading four funny pictures of Foot in Mouth Man somewhere on the Art of Eloquence website. Your job is to find all of them and email fimm@artofeloquence.com (put SWMC Fun with FIMM Contest in the subject line) to tell us where you found them all. None of them will look like the normal picture of FIMM you will see on his page on the Art of Eloquence site. From all the emails with the correct answers, we will draw a name and pick someone to win all the following fabulous prizes!
Joan Rudder-Ward, MBA, CPP, is an educator, speaker, social marketer, visual artist, and resource specialist. She opened her first business venture - the Image Maker Photography - in 1985. She is the CEO of Wise Woman Enterprises and the founder of The Positive Image Network, a non-profit organization with the mission to provide resources and information that will support parents, caregivers, teachers, mentors, etc., in nurturing the personal development of girls and young women.
A professional photographer, she also has her own line of inspirational photographic art at Inspired Eye Images
Amy Puetz
Art of Eloquence
At Home with Christian Fiction
Bright Minds BRAIN-athon Emporium
Brimwood Press Christian Keyboarding Everyday Education Gery DiMarco Independent Vitamark Affiliate Greek 'n' Stuff HSLDA
Jeannie Fulbright
Knowledge House
LifeVerse TM Jewelry
Little Light Press
Lynda Coats
Make Money Teens
Math on the Level
Motherboard Books
Neways
Positive Image Network
Scholar Square
Supermom's Health
Teach Magazine
Teen Biz Talk
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Values-Driven Family
WriteShop
8am PST: KICKOFF Chat:Come Share your PURSEonality!
10am PST: JoJo Tabares, "Listening Seminar and Name That Sound Contest"
12pm PST: Kim Kautzer, "Growing Your Child's Writing Vocabulary"
3pm PST: "Finish the Famous Sayings" Contest
5pm PST: Joan R. Ward, "The Keeper of Memories"
7pm PST: Homeschool Chat: Fellowship, share ideas and answer the tough questions like socialization
Jeannie Fulbright is a homeschooling mother of four with a love for God's
Word, educating her children, science, and encouraging women. Jeannie earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in Austin and has participated in the Master's program at Liberty Baptist University's Seminary.
Jeannie is married to Jeff, her devoted attorney and husband who has done more than his share of laundry, dishes and math flash cards.
Though Jeannie's primary and most consuming occupation is homeschooling her four children, from high school down to second grade, and helping guide them into the purpose and life God has designed for each of them, Jeannie also writes elementary science courses for Apologia that are in-depth, glorify God, and make science easy and fun for the whole family.
Jeannie also encourages homeschoolers through the many articles on her website and her
blog, as well as through her email newsletter, Jeannie's Journal.In addition to being available to answer questions, Jeannie also carves out time each year to write for various magazines and publications, and to speak honestly and frankly, both locally and nationally, about the issues common to homeschooling women, from the nuts and bolts of homeschooling to the deeply spiritual concerns we face.
Author of WriteShop: An Incremental Writing Program
Kim Kautzer, veteran homeschooler and author, loves to help parents feel more confident about teaching writing.
She believes that when you combine blank paper, reluctant child, and insecure parent, you create a recipe that's doomed to fail. With a heart to inspire and equip apprehensive parents, Kim encourages homeschoolers that teaching writing is much more objective than they think, and that with the right tools at their fingertips they can lead and motivate their struggling writers. WriteShop, her unique and successful writing program, has been honored as one of Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.
Kim and her husband Jim began homeschooling in 1988. All three of their children are homeschool graduates. The Kautzers enjoy a passel of grandkids and their sometimes-empty nest in Southern California.
This is a new segment for my blog and I ask you to help me out by adding your comments and posting them on your blog as well. I have been doing a "Question of the Week" on my homeschool Yahoo group for a few years now. It's been a fun way to discuss issues and share ideas as well as get to know each other better.
How it Works:
Each Monday I'll ask a thought provoking question about life. Pose the same question to your blog readers on your own blog along with your answer to the question. Then come back here and post a comment with a link to your blog post so we can all read everyone's answers! Should be a lot of fun!
This week's question:
What is your PURSEonality? What does your purse (or wallet if you are of the male persuasion) communicate about you?
JoJo's Answer:
Everything we say and do (and everything we don't say and don't do) communicates something about us to those around us, from the clothes we wear to the books we choose to read and...the purse we like to carry. I found this a fascinating topic as I was listening to the discussion on the radio one morning several months ago. I will pose this very question at the KICKOFF to the Say What You Mean Convention on Wednesday so please come join the discussion here at 8am PST/11am EST as well!
I don't like a small purse. I like one that can hold a fair amount of things-not too big because I am only 5' tall and I don't need to fit inside! LOL I like a purse that you can just dump things into-not too many pockets or I'll forget where I put my cell phone. By the time i answer it, I'll have either missed the call or find others wondering why I would be talking into my son's Gameboy! I like a purse that has a closure. I can't have my cell phone MIA at a crucial stop sign moment because my purse fell over and it jumped, unnoticed, into the side pocket of the passenger front door! Yup! That happened once and it took me about 20 minutes of searching the car to find it!
I think that says that my life is fairly hectic and I like to keep things all in one place to make it easier for my aging mind to keep it straight where everything is I might need at any point. However, I don't like this so organized that in the confusion of a stressful moment, it would require too much additional brain power to discover its whereabouts in anything longer than 20 seconds. (Which, coincidentally, is my threshold for patience when I gotta get stuff done! LOL)
What does your purse say about YOU?
Post your answers on your blog and come back here and put your link in so we can read it! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers here.
And don't forget to mark your calendar to share your answers at the Say What You Mean Convention's KICKOFF on Wednesday!
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon Learning Speech Communication Skills
can ALSO be fun with Art of Eloquence!
There's a new eBook in town and it's so much fun it's almost a sin! This is not like any communication study you have EVER seen before!
FIMMology 101: The FIMMportant, FIMMtastic and FUNbelievable Study of the Humorous Sins of Our Mouths!
FIMMology (fim-ol'-o-gy) noun: 1. the study of Foot in Mouth Disease; 2. the study of the art of the humorous sins of the mouth.
Thirty nine pages and over 30 lessons packed with hilariously, creative Foot in Mouth Man episodes teaching various communication skills! This is NOT your traditional communication study!
Available immediately as a download
Over 30 fun-filled, creative lessons
Adorably illustrated
Links to even more FIMM Fun
PERFECT for shy communicators!
FUN lessons you can share with children of various ages
Can be used as a homeschool study by teaching one lesson per week and using discussion to explore its implications!
Perfect for adults who need a giggle break!
Makes a great gift too!
Foot in Mouth Man or FIMM, as he is known, began on my blog in 2006. The idea was to create a loveable yet bumbling character that sailed through his life oblivious to the trouble he caused by his complete lack of effective communication skills. His misadventures serve to educate through humor. FIMM stumbles and bumbles his way through life sticking his foot in his mouth so often he has Athlete’s Tongue! FIMM’s misadventures allow young and old alike the opportunity for insight.
FIMMology 101 is an eBook, containing the best of Foot in Mouth Man: the most memorable, creative and fun of his weekly misadventures all in one place. It is my prayer that you and your family find “himm” entertaining and fun, but that you also take to heart the communication lessons inside of each episode as you hone your skills for the things the Lord has for you to share!
Be the first one on your block to get a copy and laugh all the way to better communication skills! To read more about this unique eBook, click here!
From JoJo'sPurple Crayon Teaching communication skills the FUN way!
My husband got it on Netflix because it sounded like an interesting concept. A madman with the world's second highest IQ plants a bomb 10 blocks from the White House and enlists the President and 7 of the world's geniuses to solve the world's problems in one night or he'll detonate it. What we saw was completely unexpected.
As the credits were rolling, it caught my attention that the movie was created by NICE + DAY Pictures and that it was rated PG. My husband and I were shocked as we would have thought a movie with that kind of theme would certainly contain foul language and inappropriate images for our son. It did have some war images, but was not taken to extremes as many movies with a theme like this tend to do.
It started off like any other good movie with intrigue and a cast of characters with complex personalities. And it continued as many of the major players expressed more liberal and Atheistic views. However, as the movie progressed, the seminary student, who had been mostly quiet until that moment, began to speak uninterrupted about the Lord in answering the questions posed to the group.
Later in the movie, the scientist, who is working on cancer research answers the challenge to prove there is a God. Now she doesn't really prove it, but then I don't believe you actually can prove it. There is no absolute proof of the Lord, but there are thousands of circumstantial and supporting evidences for His existence and her character gives the most eloquent and passionate answer.
What happened next shocked me. The evil madman interrupts Stephen Baldwin's character to ask him if he could prove there was NO God!
We sat there dumbfounded and mesmerized as this played out, allowing not only the liberal ideas and simplistic answers to be voiced, but even scripture and Biblical truths to be spoken uninterrupted and even encouraged.
I had never heard of this movie until that moment, but I was sure it was produced by a Christian company. As the credits rolled, we heard a beautiful theme song which repeated the word "blessings" and I think toward the end of the song it mentions "blessings from heaven" or something. I would love to get the song, but I cannot find much information about Daniel Bijan, the composer.
It was refreshing to see the Bible treated with at least as much weight as Atheistic views. While I don't think they answer all the questions exceptionally well, if you take the movie as a whole, it has some good answers you can share with unbelievers.
I was raised by two Atheists of Jewish heritage, married a non practicing Catholic and became a non denominational Christian due, in part, to some Amway meetings and a Jehovah's Witness who came to my door. My purple crayon writes with humor and almost always a little out of the lines.
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This blog is my creative and fun way of sharing my thoughts on communication skills relating mostly to homeschooling and sharing and defending the faith. It also reveals a bit about how the Lord took this shy Agnostic girl and allowed her to find her voice and her purpose, a zany voice to the Christian community with insight as to what unbelievers need to hear about Christ Jesus.
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I'll share news items, quotes, family friendly humor, tips, trivia, and my newest feature: Question of the Week. I invite you to come share your thoughts!
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For more creative fun with JoJo you can visit www.ArtofEloquence.com
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"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." -Proverbs 25:11
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