Cindy Downes

Apr. 24, 2008 - End of Semester 3!

I have one week left of school and then I'm taking off for the summer- sort of! (I'm going to try to CLEP out of some classes this summer.)

I'm just about finished up a class in Comparable Criminal Justice Systems and another in Public Relations. In May, I'm going to get back to writing some home school units and other ideas I have. I've missed you all!

See you in May!
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Mar. 19, 2008 - Resurrection Eggs

I'm sure this has been posted before, but since it's so close to Easter, I wanted to make sure everyone has seen this idea. It's such a great way to celebrate Easter:

Resurrection Eggs.

HAVE  A WONDERFUL EASTER!
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Mar. 4, 2008 - Homeschoolers on the School Board!

Here's how one, veteran  home school mom is trying to help children - she has decided to run for school board in her local school district! I hope she wins! Read the article.
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Feb. 14, 2008 - Some humor for your day.

I was browsing on a teacher forum and came upon this post. I found it quite humorous that a teacher was complaining about having to sit for hours in a teacher training class where he already knew the topic. He even commented about  it being a "blanket training approach."  Sounds like school to me!
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Feb. 13, 2008 - A Testimony About Reading

I heard about this in the news today and it confirmed what I am seeing in college. You can graduate from high school and college and not know how to read! Here is the testimony of one man who went through the entire system without learning to read. He cheated, stole tests, and paid others to do his work.  And wonders of all - he graduated and became a school teacher!

His story does have a good ending. Read his entire testimony here. It's fascinating!
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Feb. 6, 2008 - I can't believe it . . .

I just discovered that there is a service (I'm sure there's more than one.) that will write custom term papers for college students. For anywhere from $10/page to $27/page (for faster delivery), you can hire someone to write it for you! I was researching home businesses and found this as one of the alternatives! Check it out for yourself: http://www.classictermpapers.com/

This sure doesn't improve my outlook on today's college graduates! I certainly don't want any part of that type of home business either. I am still in shock!
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Jan. 8, 2008 - Tracking devices in backpacks?

My husband sent me this link telling about a school in Rhode Island which is putting electronic  tracking devices in the kids' backpacks in order to "improve communication with parents and keeps better track of students." Can you believe it?
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Dec. 20, 2007 - My grades are in!

I just finished up my second semester back in school and guess what? I got all A's! Even in statistics and logic! 

Now that I've finished up the semester, I have some time to catch up on blogs, my website, my newsletter, and life in general.

We had no electricity last week so I spent one day bleaching out my refrigerator to get rid of germs from spoiled food. Next, I decorated my house for Christmas and did some shopping. Today, I worked on my newsletter which will come out the end of the month.

Next semester I am only going to take two classes instead of four. My husband's orders! It will take me a year longer to finish my degree but I have neglected a lot during this last semester, including housework! I feel like I'm homeschooling again!
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Oct. 26, 2007 - The Golden Compass movie

If you are a Christian, you might want to read this article from snopes.com before you take your kids to the movie, The Golden Compass.
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Oct. 13, 2007 - The US One Dollar Bill

I received this in an anonymous email and don't know where the original came from; however, I am reproducing it here as I think this is a good lesson for our children (and ourselves).  CIndy

THE UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL

Take out a one dollar bill, and look at it. The one dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design.

This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it.  It is actually material. We've all washed it without it falling apart. A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. It is overprinted with symbols and then it is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal.
 

On the top you will see the scales for a balanced budget.
 
In the center you have a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut.
 
Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury.
 
That's all pretty easy to figure out,
but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know.

If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles.
 
Both circles, together, comprise the
 
Great Seal of the United States.
 
The First Continental Congress
Requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal.
 It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get  it approved.

If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
   
  Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning.
We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization.
 
The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not
 Even close to being finished.  Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity.
 
It was Franklin's belief that one man
Couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.

"IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this currency.
  
The Latin above the pyramid,  ANNUIT COEPTIS, means,
 
" God has favored our undertaking."

The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means,
 
"a new order has begun." 
 
At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.
 
(MDCCLXXVI)

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully,
   
  You will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States.
 
It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery,
 And is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments.
 
Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States,
 
And it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons:
First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.
 
Secondly, he wears no material crown.  We had just broken from the King of England.
 
Also, notice the shield is unsupported.  This country can now stand on its own.
 
At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor.
 
  We were coming together as one nation.
 
 In the Eagle's beak you will read, "E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning,
 " one nation from many people".

Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen
 Original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.  Again, we were coming together as one.

 Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons.
 
He holds an olive branch and arrows.
 
This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace.
 
The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number.
 
This is almost a worldwide belief.
 
You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.
 
But think about this:
 
13 original colonies,
 
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
 
13 stripes on our flag,
 
13 steps on the Pyramid,
 
13 letters in the Latin above,
 
13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum",
 
13 stars above the Eagle,
 
13 bars on that shield,
 
13 leaves on the olive branch,
 
13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows.
 
And, for minorities: the 13th Amendment.

I always ask people, "Why don't you know this?"  Your children don't know
this, and their history teachers don't know this.
 
Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade.
 
Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care.
 
Too many veterans never came home at all.

Share this page with everyone, so they can learn what is on the back of the
UNITED STATES ONE DOLLAR BILL, and what it stands for... Otherwise, they
will probably never know...

(ANONYMOUS AUTHOR)
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Oct. 7, 2007 - Work at Home Ideas

I remember when I was homeschooling that I was always looking for ways that I could work at home to earn some extra money. Most of the work at home offers are nothing but scams. However, The Clark Howard Show has listed some legitimate ones on their website. If you are looking for a work-at-home job, check out this list. I'm not sure if any of them will fit your need, but I wanted to pass it on.
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Sep. 3, 2007 - Nice Matters Awards

Jimmie has awarded me a Nice Matters Award. Thanks, Jimmie!

 

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people;
Good blog friends and those
who inspire good feelings and inspiration.
Also for those that have a postive influence on the blogging world."


My choices for Nice Bloggers are:

1.  Sherian Harber, my pastor's wife and creator of WOSJ Blog, who works hard by day teaching at a public school and spends the rest of her time supporting her husband and doing all those things "expected" of a pastor's wife.

2. Marsha, creator of drewsfamilytx Blog, who shares all her wonderful recipes!

3. Julie Nott, hardworking Marketing Manager for the Old Schoolhouse magazine.

4. and Amy Verlennich, creator of DandelionSeeds, who has the gift of encouragment.
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Aug. 6, 2007 - Parent's Guide to Internet Safety from FBI

The FBI has just published an onine Parent' s Guide to Internet Safety which has some worthwhile information.
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Feb. 10, 2007 - CPR Information

Here's a super website on CPR with a printable pocket guide that you can carry with you. This could be a life saver! Check it out at: Learn CPR. You can do it!
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Dec. 24, 2006 - Merry Christmas!

I want to take the time out of this busy holiday season to wish everyone here at HomeschoolBlogger a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for stopping by my blog and visiting with me.

I've been very busy working on a new book, "Oklahoma Scrapbook - A Field Trip Guide and Memory Book" that I hope to have completed soon. This year is the 100th anniversary of the state of Oklahoma - our Centennial year. So, for those of you living in Oklahoma, this is THE YEAR to teach Oklahoma history and travel throughout our wonderful state. I think you'll find the Oklahoma Scrapbook a super resource for just that. Keep watching this blog for more information.

In the meantime, I hope your school year is the best ever! Cindy Downes
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A veteran homeschool mom's journal about life in the "empty nest" and encouragement for moms who are currently homeschooling.

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