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Mama's Toolbox
It's time for a new contest! While trying to think of what I could award for a prize, I decided I would like to support another homeschooler in her business venture, so the winner of my contest will win one life science adventure of your choice from Michelle's Treasure Box Press.
With the beginning of homeschool convention season, and a time we all begin thinking about new tools for the upcoming year, I thought it would be fun to list our favorites.
Here are some of the "tools" in our classroom that I find to be absolutely essential in our homeschooling adventure.
- The absolute *BEST* instruction book in the world. The absolute *BEST* history book in the world. The reference book of all reference books. The best-selling book of all times - The Bible!
I am a KJV-only person, as I have found that other translations leave out some very important details. This is the one we have for the younger children: The KJV Kids' Study Bible
Use: Daily - My laptop
(aka My brain). My Toshiba (don't get a Toshiba, don't get a Toshiba, don't get a Toshiba) proved to be very unreliable. After breaking down and having to be repaired several times in the two years I owned it, it finally died for good last December.
I spent the next three months enslaved to our desktop computer. I felt SO tied down. I finally got a new laptop last month (I love tax returns). *Phew* I'm free again! LOL
This time I got an HP
Why I find the laptop to be so essential in schooling, is that I can take it anywhere. If we do our studies outside or at the park, my laptop goes along, allowing us to all have access to our record-keeping software, encyclopedia, and reference materials.
Use: Daily - While I'm on the subject of the computer, I will mention some software that I find indispensible. While I have lots of good educational software, there are a few software programs for "Mama" that I wouldn't want to be without:
- *Corel Paint Shop Pro X
(10) - I am a big fan of digital photography, so I love Paint Shop Pro. There are free tutorials available everywhere online, telling you step-by-step how to make graphics and add really cool effects to your own photos. (And you can try it out for *free* here).
(Thank you, Dawn, for recommending it to me, eons ago).
Use: Daily
- *Microsoft Publisher
- Although I tend to flee from microsoft products, there really is no adequate alternative for Publisher. Cindy Rushton introduced me to Publisher a couple of years ago for making books. We have had a blast with it! Both for bookmaking, and for publishing our family newsletter.
Use: Monthly
- *Open Office - A *FREE* program that is nearly identical to the tools in Microsoft Office! It contains a word processor tool (like Word), a spreadsheet tool (like Excel), and more! (It will also open word files and excel files.)
Use: Daily
- *Thunderbird for e-mail. Much safer than Outlook! And great SPAM controls. FREE
Use: Daily
- *Firefox web browser. Sooo much better than Internet Explorer. So much faster. Pop-up controls. Tabbed browsing. Best browser available in my opinion -- and absolutely FREE.
Use: Daily
- *Homeschool Tracker Software - Can't say enough about Homeschool Tracker. I love it! You can get a free version that works just great, or you can upgrade to the "plus" version for just $35. With Homeschool Tracker, you can easily keep track of attendance, assignments, field trips, reading logs, and more. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Use: Daily
- *Corel Paint Shop Pro X
- Copier
. Nothing fancy. Just a plain black and white copier. It makes things so much easier! We use it often, and it would be a real pain having to traipse back and forth to Staples or the library every time we wanted to make a copy of something.
Use: Daily - Laser Printer - I bought a plain black and white laser printer years ago, second-hand. It served me well and I loved it. The printing quality of a laser printing is so superior to that of an ink jet. The ink will not smudge and smear, even when wet, as the image is "burned" on.
Well, just recently, my hubby spoiled me by bringing home a COLOR laser printer. I have had so much fun playing with it, decorating our notebooks with fun colorful pages. I would call the black and white laser printer a necessity, but the color laser printer is a very fun toy! I have the Konica Minolta Magicolor 2430DL Color Laser Printer 20ppm/5ppm
Use: Daily - Digital Camera - for capturing all of those fabulous homeschool outings, projects, and nature studies forever. There are digital cameras out there to suit everyone's needs. I bought a very inexpensive camera for my oldest daughter. The prints aren't the best quality, but it does what she needs it to do, and I won't be devastated if something happens to it.
I wanted something for myself that was under $500, tiny (so I could easily carry it with me everywhere), and at least 5 megapixels. I settled on the Canon Powershot SD550 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom. I love it! I have a friend who has a much larger camera, but the optical zoom on it is a 10x. He took some pictures of some birds way up in the trees in Williamsburg, and it appeared as if he was standing right next to them. I would LOVE to have a zoom like that, but prefer the smaller size of my camera.
Since there is such a huge variety of cameras out there, do your research carefully before buying one, especially if you are buying it for one of your students. A great resource is a website called Steve's DigiCams. He gives reviews on all types of cameras.
Use: Daily - Nature Studies Essentials: The National Audubon Field Guides
Not a day goes by that we don't use one of the Audubon field guides. We have a whole stack of them. Every time the children see a bug, or a bird, or a tree that they can't identify, they go racing for the field guides. I think if anything were to happen to our field guides, there would be wails of despair coming from our home.
Use: Daily - Our Notebooks:
Use: Daily
If Cindy Rushton is the Binder Queen, I am the Binder Princess. I organize everything. With the binder/organizational mentality, comes certain common must-haves. - *Page protector sheets - bought in bulk at Sam's Club
- *Three-hole punch
- *Binders with the clear covers
- *Dividers
Posted by Janne on May. 7, 2006 in Drawings, Contests, and Sweepstakes
May. 7, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by drewsfamilytx
Cool about the laser printer, Janne-- and a color one at that! Are the toner cartridges very expensive-- do they last very long?
Now, I do have to disagree with you on the laptop-- I LOVE my Toshiba! But we've only had it for a year and I got it on sale for half price ($400). HP on the other hand, I can't stand-- mainly because they bought out Compaq which has had a terrible track record in our house.
I am a KJV only person myself-- seems to be a rarity these days. I didn't know there were KJV study Bibles for kids out there-- thanks for the link, I will definitely check it out!
Hope you have a great Sunday, my friend!
Love,
Marsha
May. 7, 2006 - I am thinking.....
Posted by ByHisGraceInColorado
It may take awhile to really think about what my favorite/best tools are. But since we are REALLY cleaning out the clutter, it would be a good time to decide just what do we really need :)
Your blog is beautiful Janne! You have been so busy and creative!
blessings,
Nancy
May. 8, 2006 - My entry :)
Posted by MrsStevens95
Janne, thanks for the prod to think about what is important in our homes and therefore in our educations. Here is the link to my blog.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MrsStevens95/131081/
~ Rachel
May. 8, 2006 - Hi Janne
Posted by ByHisGraceInColorado
Well, I posted a little teaser about my "tools" entry. I loved your idea so much, and it inspired me to write something about it for my Thursday entry on the HSB front porch. If you want me to email it to you before then, just for fun, I will!
Also, we need to talk about home church sometime! I have posted a bit about it now and then. There are a couple other ladies here that I know have church at home and it can be a real blessing. It's different of course than a congregational experience, but it is working nicely for us right now.
Blessings!
Nancy
May. 8, 2006 - Here are
Posted by KayinPA
some of my favorites! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KayinPA/131260/
May. 8, 2006 - I'm in
Posted by Amber
but when do I have til? BTW, you stole my idea, I was thinking to do the same thing (for the prize)!
God Bless,
Amber
May. 9, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by eyecorn
Janne: Cool contest and great prize! LOL!!
I have to say your list is my list. Where would I be without the Bible, computer, MS Publisher, camera. Now, I need to get one of those fancy Corel programs!
One of my best tools is Google...does that count?
DD's "art" box...it contains: tape (lots of it..this is her preferred method of "gluing", scissors, craft sticks and other little wooden cutout pieces, yarn, straws, feathers, sequins, scrunched up, torn tissue paper, glue, pencils, paint, paint brushes. With this box she can make presents, write "letters", make her own book...If we're going anywhere that takes over 2 hours to get there, this box comes with us.
Curriculum-wise, for DS I couldn't live without VideoText Algebra...after 8 years, we have settled on a math program! For DD, the Explode the Code series...it has helped her tremendously.
May. 9, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Quiver0f10
Hmm. I don't know what my most valuable tool would be. I am going to say my computer because I use it to research all my curriculum choices before buying. I live in the North far from any book stores or conventions, so its imposible to see things before purchasing. By researching online ( Mostly via http://www.welltrainedmind.com/activeboards.php ) I have saved alot of time and money.
Also, we have found a lot of neat web sites, games, coloring pages etc online. My older children have taken online classes, too. I can't imagine homeschooling without the internet !
PS. We are a KJV only family, too.:-)
May. 9, 2006 - okay janne
Posted by Juliestew
i don't know if i can be nearly as creative as you but i'll give it a try. since you personally stopped by and all. love to you.
www.homeschoolblogger.com/juliestew
May. 9, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by HappyApple
Nice blog! I found your blog through ByHisGraceinColorado.
I'll probably post my tools on my blog here.. within the day.
Di
May. 10, 2006 - My tools for homeschooling
Posted by ktneis
My greatest tool is prayer. God is the one getting my kids through life and giving me other tools to help him. My new Macintosh laptop is a blessed tool for finding all you great homeschoolers. For some fun stuff I use BIG sentance strips for sentance copying, Number lines, games to learn with, and I scrapbook their school year. One of our favorite tools is our 40 acres of nature. The best emotional tool I have is my husbands undying love and support with all this.
May. 11, 2006 - Contest Entry
Posted by ceanders
Here is my entry:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ceanders
Please take a look. I am the father of KarenW
God Bless you all!
Andy Anderson
May. 11, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by trinaleah
What a great and interesting blog. I hope you don't mind if I stop by now and again. I love to read about large families and how they do things.
May. 12, 2006 - ::
Posted by JeninNB
-computer, and the internet. I research curriculum/ "borrow" information to make up my own!
-KJV all the way here too.
-a really big bookcase. If it's packed away in boxes I forget I have it and don't use it.
-binders/ paper/ pens etc. I like to jot stuff down rather than type.
-maps and globe
May. 12, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KarenW
Great contest! I'll see if I can participate when we get back to Alabama near the end of May.
May. 17, 2006 - neat contest!
Posted by hippiechyck
i'll have to agree with your number one tool! ;-)
okay, i'll think on this and post....
May. 19, 2006 - Contest!
Posted by barbieheart
Here is my link
This is fun--reading other's comments!
May. 19, 2006 - Hello!
Posted by Aligirl
I saw that you stopped by my blog, and that you had a homebirth with one of your babies! That is great! Well, here is my entry for your contest. I am going to add you to my friends list so I can come by again!
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Aligirl/137878/
God Bless,
Ali
Jul. 13, 2006 - Wall Street Journal request
Posted by Christopher Lawton
Hi,
My name is Christopher Lawton. I am a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in San Francisco. Sorry to post a comment on your blog, but I couldnt find an email for you. I am working on a story about the growing consumer interest in notebook computers, and I was reading your recent post about buying your new HP laptop. We are looking to speak to a couple consumers who have bought notebook computers lately. I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about your purchase, what you bought, how and why for the story. It shouldn’t take too much of your time. If you are interested, please feel free to email me at Christopher.Lawton@wsj.com, or you can reach me in my office at 415 765 8200.
Thanks,
Christopher Lawton