The Healing Touch Book & Bible

120 8th Street SE

Altoona, Iowa 50009

515-967-4213

Re:

Family Day and Altoona Art Festival

August 2nd, 2008   10 A.M.- 3 P.M.

 Dear Homeschool Family,

Come and join us on August 2nd for our annual Family Day open house event.  We will be featuring special books, games and other products for all members of your family, and will have activities for the kids.  Activities include sidewalk art, a balloon artist, making Salvation Bracelets and an Art Contest with age categories and prizes. Enter to win a $100+ gift basket that your whole family will be sure to enjoy!  

We will also be having an Art Festival on August 2nd.  We are excited to have local authors and artists joing us for this new event at our store.  Stroll through the art gallery and talk with artists about their unique styles and mediums.  (Bring your budding young artists to get ideas for their home-school art projects!)  Enjoy refreshments and meet local authors as they sign their books.  We are also hosting a nationally- acclaimed author from St. Cloud, Minnesota.  Lynn MacKenzie founded I Win Ministries (www.iwinministries.org) after her husband of nearly 17 years succumbed to cancer. 

Bring your family in for a day full of fun, savings, and new discoveries!

~Rebecca Anderson, Event Coordinator

Allon Cady, Manager

515-967-4213

lutzrxht@prairieinet.net

Drawing to Win: "Love As a Way of Life" by Dr. Gary Chapman

The first freebie I have for you is a Financial Stewardship Activity Book from Kidswealth.com.  This is an easy and fun way to teach your kids about giving and sharing from a Biblical perspective.  The activities will help your kids learn to make good money choices and understand the joy of giving.

Crazy 4 Math is having their annual contest to encourage kids to keep up their math skills over the summer.  To enter the Crazy 4 Math Contest, children simply have to describe how they use math in an activity they enjoy. Entries must be submitted online by July 30th at www.Crazy4Math.com.  You can vote online for your favorite entry in August. The goal is to generate a free list of learning ideas to inspire families and teachers. There are hundreds of great entries posted from previous years and you can check out. Everyone wins something! This year all participants will receive several MP3s from Googol Power's inspirational music and a certificate.  Finalists and winners will win much more!

Littledozen.com is offering a free E-Book that contains 11 chapters of their new book Tales of the Heartily Homeschooled.  Find out what happens when you throw 20 children, four parents, and several cross country trips between the covers of one book.  This book of essays will make you laugh, think, and thank God for family.

Professorpocket.com is offering a free 5 minute MP3 download of their new release Professor Pocket® Our Hawaiian Hula Adventure if you sign up for their newsletter.  Yesyoucanpublications.com is offering a free art newsletter.  When you subscribe you will get free monthly downloads that include practical projects, reviews, and information to help you teach art at home.

I'll see you next week right here at - Freebie Fridays!

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

Freebie Finder
The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine
www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com


For more freebies - subscribe yourself and get the complete e-newsletter every Friday.  Go to www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.

Nancy

Join thousands of neighbors, friends, and families across the country for NWF’s fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout™—Saturday, June 28, 2008!

Be part of this nation-wide event! Add your campsite today and we’ll help you make the most of your event with packing lists, recipes, wildlife guides, activities, tips and more. Whether in your backyard or favorite campground.

http://www.nwf.org/backyardcampout/

HSF--Help Available for Flood Recovery

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

 In light of the devastation caused by recent flooding in your state, the Home School Foundation would like to remind you our Emergency Fund stands ready to quickly respond to the financial needs of homeschooling families experiencing this sudden crisis.

 Our Emergency Fund can help replace curriculum and other homeschooling items lost because of the floods. The fund also provides relief for some of the immediate needs of affected homeschooling families.

 If you are aware of any homeschooling families in need of relief, please have them contact us at info@homeschoolfoundation.org or (540) 338-8688.

 Sincerely,

 Chuck Hurst, Home School Foundation Director

Did you know there is a website you can go to each day of the week and there is a new freebie e-book offered?  It is only good for one day, so you need to check each day.  After that day you can still purchase the book, but it is no longer free. 

What I have done is make it one of my home pages so it comes up automatically when I load my internet.  If it is something I would want, I can download it.  If not, then I simply x out of that tab. 

http://homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

Today the freebie is "Allergy Detective" on tracking down possible food allergies that may be making your kids sick. 

Check it out.  It's a great resource. 

Nancy

 This was sent to me by NICHE.  It sounds like a great opportunity, too bad my son is only 13. - Nancy

A unique opportunity for homeschoolers age 14 - 18 is taking place in Bloomfield, IA the week of August 12 - 16.  You must respond soon as space is limited.

 A Christian camp, Forest Lake Camp, is hosting the Brigade Air program for youth with interest in aviation and in missions aviation.

 Campers have actual flight time each day weather permitting,  ground school sessions, many DVD videos of stories from the mission aviation field.  Each day they travel to and from the local airport, and back at the camp ground are the usual fun activities like swimming and campfires at night.  They are challenged to get involved with world missions. 

Over 1,300 teens at 74 week-long Brigade Air camps have had this wonderful experience over the past seven years. 

Brigade Air, Inc. networks with over 40 missionary aviation organizations.  Our camps have been operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship, JAARS, LeTourneau University, and Prarie Bible College to name a few.

 Go to our web site, www.brigadeair.org  and listen to the 2-minute video introduction to our ministry by Steve Saint, son of the missionary martyr, Nate Saint. 

You can register your youth right there on the web site by clicking on the "Camper Registration" button.After you do, a follow-up contact will be made by Forest Lake.

 Don't miss out on this new and unique opportunity for your homeschooled youth in Iowa!

 Best Regards,

 Bruce E. Wolff   Executive Director   Brigade Air, Inc.   dba: Mission Aviation Adventure Camps  6968 N. Starshine Dr.   Tucson, AZ 85741   bruce@brigadeair.org     www.brigadeair.org   (520) 408-2359

Have all of you subscribed to the free e-newsletter put out by The Old Schoolhouse?  Here are a few more choice tidbits of free offers.  You need to get your own free subscription going to get all the information.  Go to www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com and sign up for this or other e-newsletters.  Nancy

It's time for another new free E-Book from the Schoolhouse Store! This month we are bringing you a great E-Book From Barker Creek. This E-Book: Happy Handwriting - Theme Tablet will give your children fun, illustrated paper to use when practicing their writing skills.  You can download it for free at (Be sure to copy the entire email address and paste this into your browser or it will not work.)  http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=119&products_id=1769

Next, I have a wonderful treat for little girls ages 5 to 10.  Mary and Laura Magazine is offering two issues of their new online magazine for free.  This magazine is lovely!  Created by a homeschool family who values time together, you won't find anything worldly here!  You will find projects for your daughters to do together, recipes and crafts, all with a Little House on the Prairie theme.  You can learn more about the magazine and find a link to the free downloads HERE.  (http://www.maryandlaura.webs.com/)

Now, I have a something for those of you who are in leadership positions in the homeschool community.  We just learned that a great Bible-based nature publication for homeschoolers, Creation Illustrated, has offered a number of their back issues at NO COST to homeschool support groups.  Simply send an email to ishjl@netscape.net and request the number of back issues you would like to distribute to your support group members (leaders only should ask, please).  They will send them ASAP -- just in time for summertime reading with character-building lessons for students of all ages.  Many readers call Creation Illustrated, "The Christian answer to National Geographic!"  Every issue's a keepsake.  Check it out at www.creationillustrated.com

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

Contact:
Julia McGuire

Three Sisters
515/988-1828

FAX 515/267-0655

http://www.geocities.com/see3sis/

Great Door Prizes Available at Home Learning Resources

West Des Moines, IA May 2, 2008 Three Sisters presents Home Learning Resources in Des Moines on Sat., June 7, 2008 from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Northwest Community Center located at 5110 Franklin Ave. As always, Three Sisters events have free parking and free admission.

Managing Partner Cathy Frueh says that she is impressed with this year’s door prize offerings. “We’ve always had a good door prizes, but this year looks to have the best selection. I wish I could get a prize!” Door prizes for Home Learning Resources in Eastern Iowa averaged $30 in retail value.  

Expected door prizes include:

1 dozen large gift wrap sheets from Barefoot Books
a book or gift certificate from Julia's Attic
make and takes from Mad Science of Central Iowa
2 titles from Usborne Books
a musical instrument from West Music (it was a set of BoomWhackers in eastern Iowa)
$20 in product from Discovery Toys
five $10 gift cards from The Learning Post (Ankeny and Urbandale locations)
books from Borders Books

Sales Partner Julia McGuire adds that vendors continue to show interest in the sales floor. Up-to-the-minute news on vendors can be seen in the sidebar at the Three Sisters blog, listed below.

For information: http://threesis.blogspot.com

Contact: see3sis@yahoo.com

Phone: 515/988-1828

Cathy Frueh                                 Julia McGuire
Managing Partner                      Founding Partner   

        http://threesis.blogspot.com
http://www.geocities.com/see3sis/

 May 31st 2008

 Come get your curriculum for next year from a friendly face. Buy your used curriculum from home schoolers like yourself. May 31st at First Christian Church in Coralville IA 52241 What a great time to shop, while you are wrapping up this year and planning for next year.

Families will have tables of their curriculum and book offerings from 9:00 am through 3:00 pm. So bring the money from the cookie jar and find those treasures at a great price for summer or next homeschool year.

 Sellers: There are two ways to participate in the used curriculum and book sale. 1. rent a table for $10:00 ($5.00 with a friend) and sell your items yourself. 2. Use a card and information in book system and sell on consignment for a %10 commission. Either way, you may either pick up your books at the end of the day, or donate them to a curriculum library of your choice.

 For more information contact: Bette Klein at 354-9465

(bettejklein@yahoo.com) or Theresa Lemire at 338-0641

(oxymom2002@yahoo.com) or see us on the web at http://www.eihsconference.com

Fun and Games!

     This is the last two weeks of the Win a Jan Brett Visit to your

School or Library contest.  You can enter at:

http://janbrett.com/contest_2008/free_school_visit_contest_2008.html

On Screen Computer Games

~ Interactive Coloring Pages

http://www.janbrett.com/coloring_aplet_new/Color.html

~ Hedgie's Alphabet Game

http://www.janbrett.com/games/hedgies_alphabet_game/intro.html

~ Mouse Concentration

http://janbrett.com/piggybacks/mouse_concentration.htm

~ Hedgie Scrambler Game

http://janbrett.com/games/hedgie_and_henny_puzzle.htm

~ Is Hedgie the Most Handsome Animal in the Forest Game?

http://www.janbrett.com/hedgies_the_best.htm

~ Hedgie's Book a Matic

http://janbrett.com/bookamatic/hedgies_book_a_matic.htm

~ Decorate a Jan Brett Gingerbread House

http://www.janbrett.com/trim_a_jan_brett_gingerbread_baby_house.htm

~ Hedgie Loves to Read

http://janbrett.com/hltr/hltr_main.htm

Printable Games

~ Flash Card Sight Words

http://janbrett.com/games/flash_card_dolch_word_list_main.htm

~ Flash Card Colors

http://janbrett.com/games/colors_main.htm

~ Flash Card Shapes

http://janbrett.com/games/geometric_shapes_main.htm

~ Flash Card Phonograpms

http://janbrett.com/phonograms/phonogram_fc_main.htm

~ Addition Flash Cards

http://janbrett.com/games/addition_flash_cards_main.htm

~ Subtraction Flash Cards

http://janbrett.com/games/subtraction_flash_cards_main.htm

~ Multiplication Flash Cards

http://janbrett.com/games/multiplication_flash_cards_main.htm

~ Division Flash Cards

http://janbrett.com/games/division_flash_cards_main.htm

~ Matching Numbers Game

http://janbrett.com/games/matching_numbers_game_main_page.htm

~ Matching Animals Game

http://janbrett.com/games/matching_animals_game_main.htm

~ Gingerbread Baby Board Game

http://janbrett.com/games/gingerbread_baby_board_game.htm

It's a pleasure to be in touch.

Sincerely,

Jan Brett

This message is from Trishia at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Leaders Network. 

Hi all,

Below are two links, one for suport of a federal bill and another for opposing.? Both concern our right to access of natural substances, which the FDA continues to try to limit.? Here's an example.

 Recently the FDA, under the influence of MERCK, began shutting down companies that sell?a natural substance called red rice yeast.? This has been a LONG battle, starting back in the late 90's.? Why would they do this?? Because Merck is profiting from their?chemical version of this natural product.??Some history - red rice yeast is an ALL NATURAL statin type supplement which naturally lowers cholesterol.? When MERCK and other drug companies wanted to make cholesterol lowering drugs they modeled their drugs after this natural and effective?substance, since they couldn't make money off of something that is already natural and available for low cost.??Red rice yeast has been used as a spice and dietary supplement for centuries by the Chinese and for decades in the US, prior to lovastatin's approval as a new drug in 1987. Now they have shut out our access to this natural substance,?removing their competition.? In the balance is our right to choose natural substances over drugs!!!? This is totally wrong and if you are someone who likes choosing the natural option I urge you to respond to the enclosed links.??

 They have been successful in this attempt and I'm concerned that if we just sit back we are going to lose additional access to many other natural products that do the same things as the high priced drugs, but without the side effects.???Here's some additional links:

 http://www.iahf.com/usa/fda.html?(this is an older link that explains the above clearly, as this battle over red rice yeast?has been going on for quite some time) http://supplementquality.com/news/goodbye_cholestin.html

 Please respond to these petitions:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/wtg/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=5148

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/wtg/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22258

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,

Tricia McQ

This is from "The Old Schoolhouse Devotional Newsletter " that I just received.  BTW - There is also a great message on WHY to attend homeschool conventions as well. 

New at homeschool conventions?  or even Not New?  Here are some great tips to  managing your time at a homeschool convention - Nancy

From Our Readers ~ Homeschool Convention Tips

By JulieBeth Lamb

1. Pray a lot about what type of schooling God would have you give your children in the upcoming year. If you are unsure, don't make any major decisions or purchases. There is always more time.
2. Have a teacher/administrator/student family conference about what you all expect and desire in the upcoming year.
3. Prayerfully look at your finances and create a school materials budget, and stick to it. Remember, God will provide what you need. If you can't afford it, God has a different plan.
4. Going with cash only is the best idea. If you are interested in something else, but it is out of your budget, ask the salesperson to give you the convention price if you order within a week (get it in writing). Go home and pray about it. If unsure, don't buy!
5. Get together with other friends or couples to discuss your school plans and discover what materials others have to give away, sell, or loan. Perhaps you will end up planning to do some classes together or start a co-op.
6. Look at LOTS of catalogs, websites, and friends' materials before you go, so you can have some ideas of what you want.
7. Go with a list of things you will be looking for, subject matter to be covered, items to look at and compare, and the price you are willing to pay. Be as specific as possible, when you can.
8. Bargain tables are a great place to pick up inexpensive, quality, wholesome reading material for your children.
9. Know what is available at public and church libraries, so you aren't buying things you can borrow.
10. Don't make any impulse buys. Pick up catalogs and brochures, make lots of notes in them, talk to salespeople, especially those who have homeschooled for many years, get a feel for these programs, and put sticky notes on the catalogs with your thoughts and wish lists.
11. Use the convention to buy from major publishers' catalogs so you can save postage. This is a great way to buy one or two things for which the shipping would often be as much as the materials, such as single units from a multiple-unit studies or individual workbooks. If they don't have the item you want in stock at the convention, they will usually send it to you free of postage. If they don't offer to do that, let them know you will only buy if they do.
12. Talk to other parents as you shop, see what things they seem excited about and ask them about them.
13. Try to buy mostly from vendors who are also homeschool veterans. They will better be able to answer all of your questions. They care most about your homeschool success, and this keeps our homeschooling dollars in the homeschool community.
14. Carefully choose a few seminars to attend. Don't go to every one and try to replicate it all in the upcoming year. You will only get discouraged and so will your students. Try to look at materials by speakers before you hear them speak. This will help you know what to expect. Plus, it will help you determine whether the materials will really enhance and enrich your homeschool and fit into your plans.
15. Find time to fellowship with the other homeschoolers in attendance. This is about the only time you will ever be surrounded by other families with similar values, goals and schooling choices. Make connections while at the conference.
16. Attend as a couple, if you can, so that you are both on the same page and can jointly take ownership of your decisions. It also helps to have someone with whom to sound out and discuss things.
17. Meet with some friends for lunch and discuss what you have seen and learned. Use this time to help make final decisions. Your friends know you and your children and will be an excellent resource. Make the final decision yourself, don't let them talk you into or out of something about which you feel strongly.
18. Bring your teens. Just as it is good for us to be in fellowship with many homeschoolers, it is good for our teens to spend time with other homeschooled teens and see there are many other out there like them. This also gives them a chance to give input about what you will use for school. They can benefit from many of the same classes that we do.
19. Have a good time! Go out to dinner with your spouse afterwards. Attend with a group of friends. Meet later in the week with friends to discuss what you have bought or are thinking about and help each other put it together. Some people even have mom sleepovers to plan their upcoming school year together.
20. Always know that there will be other opportunities to buy or learn whatever you miss at this convention. Relax, it is not a once in a lifetime opportunity.

JulieBeth Lamb thanks God for allowing these words to flow through her and prays they are a blessing to others as God has allowed them to bless her. She and her husband Rex are the leaders of a homeschool group in Oakdale, California. They have been homeschooling their five children since 1993 and have three still to graduate. Contact her at Cowgirl4Ever@clearwire.net

Did you know there is a new monthly e-magazine from TOS available to all subscribers for free?  It's called "The Teacher's Toolbox."  Here is some more information about this from Nancy Carter, Director of Marketing.    I'm afraid there isn't an episode to peek at, but if you are a subscriber already, check it out and pass the word on to your friends what they are missing by not subscribing. 

Nancy

There is a new yahoo group called DVD Homeschool.    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DVD_Homeschool/  Someone has started posting unit studies with links to pertinent YouTube videos.

The DVD Homeschool list was started to share educational movies that  you can get from Netflix or other sources.

Their first unit study about volcanoes has been posted at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/carolinametzgers/513426/

For those homeschooling and those who don't but have budding scientist. 

Something for all to enjoy.  Ruby

Please help me spread the word about Free Summer Science Clubs at Quick Study Labs. Forward this invitation to homeschool leaders, publications, curriculum advisors, and any one else you feel may be interested. Thanks in advance! The number of engineers and science professionals will drop to an alarming low in the next few years due to the baby-boomers retiring. This is our small effort to help.

Free Summer Science Clubs

at

QuickStudyLabs.com

Are you looking for something educational to get your kids involved in this summer? Quick Study Labs is offering Summer Club and Kid's Club as a free service to the public. Honest! The only thing for sale is a multimeter for less than $20 and if you already have one, you don't purchase one single thing.

Although Summer Club and Kid's Club are primarily designed with Christian Homeschool and Church School kids in mind, they are open to all, including those in public school who are out for the summer.

Club activities sponsored by Quick Study Labs are designed to get kids hooked on science as a fun choice of a career and to help kids see the application of science in our every day world.

Each Club Project is HANDS-ON, FUN SCIENCE. The projects are limited to one project every two weeks so as not to spoil summer vacation.

Club Activities Begin May 12

Enrollment Now Open

Register Today!

To register, go to < http://www.quickstudylabs.com> www.quickstudylabs.com and choose "Summer Clubs" from the bottom of the menu.

Joel Phillips

Teaching Technology to Homeschool Youth

Think Quick------Quick Study Labs

< http://www.QuickStudyLabs.com> www.QuickStudyLabs.com

Lynn from Onterio is sharing this great link.  www.homeschoolblogger.com/Ontario  

I wanted to share this link with you all - I just added it to my blog and thought it might be an idea for anyone looking to blog something this next week or so.
It links to all events around the world where you can find out what earth day events are going on in your neighbourhood.
 
http://ww2.earthday.net/~earthday
 
 
Lynn

 Did you know there are lectures available for free online at the iTunes store at iTunes U?  You can download varied lectures from Reformed Theological Seminary faculty.  A couple of lectures the article specifically mentioned was one about “Writing a Spiritual Memoir” and “Seventh Commandment.” 

 Another great resource is a 52 part series of half hour long video lectures of an introductory physics class – “The Mechanical Universe….and Beyond”.  It is available free online at learner.org/resources/series42.html.  Cal Tech produced this course and I have heard many times that this particular course and text makes a wonderful physics class for a high school student who has had some advanced math courses. 

 Hopefully this is the wave of the future and we will start finding many more such resources available for free online. 

 Nancy