Cindy Downes

Aug. 17, 2008 - US and World History Scope and Sequence

I forgot to tell you all I created a 12 year US and World History scope and sequence. I hope it will be helpful to some of you. You can download it for printing on my web site at: August Newsletter.

You'll also find my new form: State and Local Officials worksheet. Feel free to print it out and use it in your home school.

Have a great day!

CIndy

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Aug. 17, 2008 - School Starts for Me!

Well, I'm back to college again this week. It looks like this semester is going to be extremely busy! I am taking three classes and one internship, as well as keeping up with my retired husband, church, friends, children and my writing. Ugh! I'm tired already!

I'm excited about my internship - it's with Oklahoma Magazine. This will be a great learning experience for me and goes right along with my classes in advertising, public relations, and reporting.

Best wishes for all of you to have a wonderful school year!

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Aug. 1, 2008 - My New Web site

I just launched my new Web site - CindyDownes.com. This one is the "hub." I hope to use it to not only promote my products, but also to help others write. I'm in the process of adding more information, so there are a few pages that are blank for now. Check it out and let me know what you think of it.

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Aug. 1, 2008 - Developing Future Authors

Do you have a potential author in your homeschool? Do you find that your children can fill in all the English textbook pages but still can’t write an acceptable report? Whether your child is a budding author or just needs to learn practical writing skills, here are some ideas that will help make a difference in your writing program.

A good place to start is your local bookstore (or library). Pick up books that are written for professional writers. What better way to learn to write than to study what the masters are using! (You will need to be careful to watch the content.) Two of my favorite resources for writers are Elements of Style by Strunk and White and 100 Ways To Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost. Each of these resources will not only help you to teach your children how to be a great writer, but writing mechanics and grammar, as well.

If you'd like to read the rest of this article, check out my August 2008 newsletter. You'll also find some book reviews and two free forms to help you homeschool. Enjoy!

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Jul. 6, 2008 - Some Interesting Statistics!

I am reading the book, Talent is Never Enough by John Maxwell, and came across some statistics that will interest those of you who are homeschooling teenagers. On page 2, Maxwell states:

More than 50 percent of all CEO's of Fortune 500 companies had C or C- averages in college.
Sixty-five percent of all U.S. senators came from the bottom half of their school class.
Seventy-five percent of U.S. presidents were in the Lower-Half Club in school.
More than 50 percent of millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college!

So, next time you think your average child is never going to amount to anything, remember these statistics! And read this book!

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Jul. 4, 2008 - 1776 Special!

Did you get your email about the 1776 special? For one day only - July 4th - you pay $17.76 and you get a one-year subscription to the print magazine, 5 issues of the digital magazine, an e-book of the Star-Spangled State Book, The Citizens Rules e-book, and an e-book of The Independence Day Lapbook!

New Subscribers Here
Renewals Here

I got mine already! What a deal!

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Jun. 26, 2008 - The Schoolhouse Planner

I just looked over the Schoolhouse Planner from the sample pages and all I can say is, WOW! Why wasn't this around when I was homeschooling! (I keep saying that, don't I!)

This looks like the ideal resource for keeping track of your school, your home, and your personal life - all wrapped up in one! Good Job, TOS!

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Jun. 26, 2008 - History Detectives

June 30th begins a new season of History Detectives on PBS/OETA. This season will include WWII Diary, Annie Oakley Coin, and more. Watch the episode and use the teacher's guide to use this as a fun learning experience!

Be sure to check out the Detective kit and games too!

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Jun. 18, 2008 - Review: Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Jeanne Fulbright.

You are so blessed to have curriculum like this available to you! As I read through Exploring Creation with Astronomy, I got so excited about teaching it that I forgot my kids were grown! (No, I don’t want to teach someone else’s!) This is the curriculum I dreamed about when my children were young. It’s interesting, fun, easy-to-use, and best of all, teaches so much more than traditional textbooks!

I like it because:

It is Christian-based and accurate scientifically. For instance, in the unit on Mars, I read that giant meteors hit Mars, which sent pieces of Mars flying into space. Some of these pieces actually landed on earth. I knew this, but this I didn’t know: In the same way that giant meteors sent pieces of Mars to earth, there is a possibility that these meteors sent pieces of earth to Mars. So if they do find life on Mars, there is an explanation!

It is interesting to read. This could be used as family reading so all can enjoy or as independent reading for upper elementary grades. The writing is not full of jargon that makes many science textbooks so dull and hard to understand. Jeanne writes so that anyone can understand it. She even makes you laugh now and then!

It is fun! After you read the lesson, there are oral questions to answer, writing assignments, and hands-on projects such as making a rocket or a compass. The projects are easy to do; the supplies needed truly are “household products,” and there is a complete listing of supplies needed in the front that you can print out as a shopping list.

The only complaint I have is that it is out of date. It was published in 2004. With science, you need constant updates. However, she has remedied this by including a Course Web site where you can get updated information, corrections to the text, links to other interesting Web sites that will enhance learning, a printable notebook template for the kids to complete (love this!), and even more activities to do! Maybe out of date isn’t too bad!

The Exploring Creation with. . . series currently includes Exploring Creation with Botany, Exploring Creation with Zoology (Volume 1 covers Flying Creatures, Volume 2 covers Swimming Creatures, and Volume 3 covers Land Animals - all following the seven days of creation.)

Exploring Creation with Botany follows the same framework as the others, but some of the unique features are a focus on Latin words, an introduction to careers in botany, and an introduction to taxonomy. There is also a printable notebook template available and many fun activities!

Exploring Creation with Zoology again follows the same format as above. There is also a printable notebook template and a set of printable flash cards available for Volume 1, which is the volume I have for review. Volume 1 introduces the field of zoology and Binomial Nomenclature. This course thoroughly covers birds and insects. Some of the fun activities include a Nature Scavenger Hunt, making your own field guide, building a bird feeder, mapping bird migration, making an ant farm, and raising butterflies.

For those of you who like the work done for you, I can’t think of a better way to teach science in the elementary grades than by using this series of books. HIGHLY recommended.

For more curriculum reviews, see my Web site.

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Jun. 5, 2008 - Want to Save Money!

If you have high school or college-age kids, or you are going back to college yourself, you need to look into the option of CLEP testing. Your high school students can earn college credit, your college student can test out of classes, and you can SAVE BIG MONEY! To find out more, check my Empty Nest Mom Goes to College blog.

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May. 28, 2008 - Learning About the Microscope

Here are some resources to help your kids learn about the microscope:

INTERNET RESOURCES FOR MICROSCOPE LAB

Simple Microscope. Here is historical information about the microscope plus information on how to make one!

Virtual Microscope. Look at "specimens" under the microscope and then try to identify them.

Interactive Microscope. Look at onion root mitosis and moon rock!

Great Scopes. Lots of microscope activity ideas from GreatScopes. Also includes excellent information on how to buy a microscope. This company is operated by homeschoolers.

MicroScape. A virtual microscope lab. Awesome! You are shown a microscopic view of something then the Quicktime movie zooms out so you can see what it is.

Label the parts of a microscope worksheet.

For more, check out my April Newsletter.

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May. 28, 2008 - Subway Issue

Thanks to a comment from "Sweetie" on my now-deleted, negative blog entry about this topic, I have decided that this is not an issue that I, as a follower of Jesus, want to focus on. Criticism of Subway will not show the love of God to those who do not understand our stand on Christianity nor on homeschooling. It will only bring more resentment.

As a homeschooler, I have chosen to not avail myself of many things and this contest is one consequence. So be it.

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