Cindy Downes

May. 28, 2009 - I'm so looking for summer!

Finally, done with college for the year. I have two classes left in the Fall and then I graduate in December. Hallelujah! I hope to spend some time on here blogging again this summer. I miss it!

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May. 11, 2009 - Out for Two Weeks

I'll be out of circulation again for two weeks. I am taking a 2-week intercession class in services marketing at OSU. It's a 3-credit course crammed into two weeks. Never done this before - wish me luck! Have a great May. I'll be back later this month!

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May. 4, 2009 - A list of FREEBIES

I put together this list of FREEBIES on the Internet to help you save money on curriculum, especially during this recession. I hope it is helpful.

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May. 3, 2009 - Review of SpellQuizzer

I just learned about SpellQuizzer today, a spelling software program for Windows only. What intrigued me about the program is that you can type in and record your own spelling words. Your child hears the word and has to type the correct spelling back into the computer.

I think this would be great with a resource like Spelling Power. Use the software to teach and test the spelling lists while you work on something else with another child. These two items would be the only curriculum you would need for spelling for 1-12th grade!

Check it out, yourself at: SpellQuizzer.com.

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May. 2, 2009 - I am so excited - I get a whole week to blog!

I got out of school early since I don't have to take any finals! So, I have a whole week to catch up on my homeschool blogs! I have really missed you all! I missed the curriculum fair in Oklahoma City today because I had to take my cat to the vet at the last minute. He has some kind of eye infection. I have a couple of products I need to add under Reviews, so I hope to get to that this week also. After my week off, I have two weeks of all-day classes; then I have June and July off. Yipee! After that, only two more classes and I will be DONE!

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Feb. 12, 2009 - Lincoln VS. Darwin

I just finished reading TOS's Wee-Book, Lincoln vs. Darwin and found it very interesting! This is the perfect resource to use as a discussion starter or as an introduction to a unit on Lincoln, Darwin, or evolution. It's short so it doesn't take a lot of time. It includes discussion questions to get you started. And it's full of very interesting facts about Lincoln and Darwin. Best of all, right now it's FREE!

Lincoln vs. Darwin is just one of several Wee-Books now available on their Web site. What a novel idea!

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Jan. 28, 2009 - Why a Private College Might be a Better Choice

For those of you who are getting ready to send your children off to college, here is some information you might want to consider. I am currently attending a public college here in Oklahoma and currently taking a Mass Communication Law class. This week's lesson is on student rights at college campuses. Here is a quote:

"The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals enunciated what are now the well-established rules concerning censorship of the college press:

The fact that a state university provides funding, faculty or departmental advice, or campus facilities does not authorize university officials to censor the content of a student publication.

Individual four-letter words are insufficient reason to censor;

The state university cannot be considered the same as a private publisher with absolute arbitrary power to control content;

The university is an arm of the state, cannot make private publisher decisions about content;

The university cannot be held liable for the content of student publications."

This ruling was made in the case where students had published two short stories with "bad" language and subject matter. I can't repeat the incidence here, but trust me, it's not what you'd want to hear!

This kind of reasoning also regulates the teaching at the state university. I have heard more than a few discussions that are, to say the least, interesting, but fully protected in the courts as Free Speech.

My main reason for writing this is for those of you who are thinking of sending your children to a public college before they graduate. This is a warning of to you. Your children are not protected from "bad" language and other forms of expression in a public college as they are in a public high school where there is still some restraint on Free Speech because of the age of the children.

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Jan. 27, 2009 - Ice Storm - again!

Here in Oklahoma we're in the middle of an ice storm again! So, no college last night or tonight. I should be studing, but instead, I find myself blogging! I miss everyone!

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Jan. 27, 2009 - Guess who I just saw on Facebook!

Yes, you guessed it. Our leader, Gena Suarez! If you are a facebook fan, be sure to stop by and say hi. While you're there, stop by my page, too!

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Jan. 18, 2009 - NEW! Photography Unit Study

Since my husband is a photographer and several homeschooled students I know are now entering the field of photography, I thought it would be a great idea to do a unit on Photography. This unit was written for teens in 7th-12th grade. I hope you enjoy!

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Jan. 18, 2009 - Martin Luther King Day

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King day. Why not take the day and learn more about Martin Luther King? To help you, I've included some resources on my blog: How Do I Teach . . . ? Enjoy!

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Jan. 16, 2009 - New Poll!

I've started a new poll on my blog, How do I Teach . . . ? . I'm trying to see what history topics homeschool parents teach the most. The poll ends February 15th.

The results of the previous poll will be posted in my next OKHS Newsletter.

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Jan. 12, 2009 - School Days are BACK!

I start back to college today - 2 more semesters to go. I probably won't be on here much but I'll try to stop by and comment now and then. Have a great year! cindy downes

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Jan. 4, 2009 - January 2009

I just posted my January 2009 newsletter. Enjoy and have a Happy New Year!

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Dec. 24, 2008 - Review of Dinosaur Activity Book by Earl & Bonita Snellenberger

The Wonders of God's World Dinosaur Activity Book by Earl & Bonita Snellenberger is the perfect resource for teaching your elementary-age children about dinosaurs. If it is used during family reading times, it would interest almost everyone in the family.

The book is a Bible-based textbook and activity book all-on-one. I found the text extremely interesting and discovered many things I didn't know about dinosaurs and fossils. The text explains what a dinosaur is, how fossils were formed, and how paleontologists reconstruct dinosaurs from fossil fragments. It explains how scientist can misinterpret fossil evidence and provides examples of specific instances where mistakes were made. It also discusses dinosaurs in history, both actual and mythical.

Activities in the book include mazes, puzzles, dot-to-dots, crossword puzzles, tangrams, and coloring pages. Some activities involve making a finger puppet or putting together paper models. Children who like to cut, color and paste and make their own booklets will love these activities.

My only objection to the book is that the author does not allow teachers and parents to make copies of the worksheet pages for their students and/or children. You would have to purchase a separate workbook for each child. This will only discourage honest teachers and parents on a budget from purchasing the book for classroom use. If you fit this case, I recommend writing to the publisher and asking permission. Perhaps they will give it!

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