I will be leaving for Texas early tomorrow morning.  I am an Equine Experiential Learning Therapist and work with Family Camps that minister to families with Reactive Attachment Disorder children.  I will be the Equine Director and working with just under 40 children and their families. 

Any prayers would be appreciated.  We have a hard much of kids to work with, but God is bigger and oh so good. 

I will be offline until at least 24 March 08. 

All His best,

Marie 

Another great website provided by HBN Newfoundland Jacqueline.  Thanks Jacqueline.

This contest is ending soon, but for  the motvated homeschooler this will not be an issue.  :) 

http://www.sylvandellpubilishing.com/HomeschoolingComp.htm.

Radio Canada is the French radio station that airs all over Canada.  I was interviewed at our homeschooling convention SHBE.  I am a native French woman married to an English speaking Canadian.  We homeschool in English, but have a strong French component.  This is true of many Canadians homeschoolers.  The French make up 25% of the Canadian population. 

The interview was fairly short, but the reporter was very interested in the approach of learning within a family atmosphere.  She was also interested in the French (and Spanish) program that I have developed for homeschoolers.  You can see my programs at www.TheEasyFrench.com and www.TheEasySpanish.com.  

This is a great article.  The reporter interviewed Saskatchewan Home Based Educators (SHBE) president Doug Schmuland:

http://www.hslda.org/docs/link.asp?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecanada%2Ecom%2Freginaleaderpost%2Fnews%2Fstory%2Ehtml%3Fid%3D021c0c32%2Dc9c2%2D45d0%2Daffc%2D127e53d5e789. 

We had a tour of a vet clinic today.  We got to see a surgery.  They discussed X-rays, blood under a microscope, caring for animals, how to become a vet and showed up some preserved organs.  Well, at one point the tech pulled out some aborted kittens.  Not the best in front of my six year old, but overall a very good tour.

This makes a very informative homeschooling trip.  I would discuss what might not be appropriate for your group, like aborted kittens and the discussion of dogs greetings in detail. 

I would love to hear about other interesting tours for homeschoolers.

Shalom,
Marie 

I LOVE HORSES BECAUSE…

   CONTEST   

WIN: A FOAL (YES, A REAL LIVE ONE)

ENTRANCE FEE: $50 

FINISH THE STATEMENT “I LOVE HORSES BECAUSE…” USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING MEDIUMS:

1. A WRITTEN ESSAY or

2. A PAINTING  or

3. A SCULPTURE  or

4. A VIDEO  or

5. ANY MEDIUM TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE OF HORSES

CONTEST CLOSES: 15 SEPTEMBER 2008

EARLY BIRD REGISTRAION DEADLINE: APRIL 30, 2008 (see entry form)

WINNER ANNOUNCED 30 SEPTEMBER 2008

       PROCEEDS GO TOWARD EQUINE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THERAPY AT SHALOM RANCH

CONTACT: MARIE SHERWOOD 306-728-2900  Marie@ShalomRanch.org

ENTER ONLINE:  WWW.SHALOMRANCH.ORG

     Last year’s filly “Rojalita” went to live with

     Michelle Whiten in Georgia.

Entry Form    

What you need to do to win the foal:

1.                    Review the contest Rules at www.ShalomRanch.org/RULES.pdf

2.                   Fill in Entry Form and return with cheque or money order asap

3.                   Send in your project by 15 September 2008 (see address below.)  You can send your registration form in before your project in order to benefit from the Early Bird Registration. 

Name: _______________________________________________________

Age: Please circle one: 8-12         13-17            18-29               29+

Address: ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Telephone number: ____________________________________________

Please make $50 cheques and money orders payable to: Shalom Ranch, send to: c/o Marie Sherwood; Shalom Ranch; Box 1446; Yorkton, SK; S3N 3G3

Contest closes: 15 September 2008                 Winner announced: 30 September 2008

Early Bird Registration Discount - $45 Fee:

Fee: $45 If you get your entry form and payment in before 30 April 2008 then you can pay $45, instead of $50 for your entry fee. 

Are you under 18?

If you are under 18 years of age, please get one of your parents to fill in the following.  Thank you.

Parent (printed): _______________________________________________________

I am fully aware that my child is entering this contest and if they win the foal, we are prepared to care for and pay all expenses for the foal once it is weaned and handed over.

Parent’s Signature: ________________________________________________________

Note: Foal will be a Bashkir Curly and can be registered.  Valued at: $1250- $1500.  Shalom Ranch is not responsible for health of foal after it has been accepted.  Foal will be halter broke and healthy.  Foals go to approved homes only.  Transportation will be provided to most major cities in Canada or the United States.  Transporters: Earnie & Sandi Tarr, Keyhole Ranch; www.keyholeranch.com or call 306- 538-4545.  See contest Rules for details.

Did you know there was any such thing?  I didn't, but I learned about it, and the cool website, from Denise at Let's Play Math.

Apparently World Math Day takes place on the first Wednesday in March - this year that is March 5.  WorldMathDay.com invites people from around the world to join them in a "celebration of numbers".  Individual students and/or classes of students can register, free of charge, at the World Math Day site to participate in a "quest to set a world record in answering mental arithmetic questions" on March 5, 2008.  You can register now and practice at the site until the big day.  Registration is fast and easy.

If you register as a school you can create accounts for each of your children/student ages 5-18.  You get a sheet of sign-in cards to print and cut and distribute to your students.  After World Math Day the site will forward the teacher a snapshot of how your students performed, as well as a full report of the event.  Teachers can also access their accounts for student results at any time and can print out certificates for the students after the event.

The first thing students get to do is to create an avatar for themselves.  Once that is done they can start to play.  The computer searches the globe, and shows it on a world map, to find real life people for them to play against in mental arithmetic games.  They get 60 seconds to answer as many questions as possible.  The program has a ranking system that tracks how the student performs and matches them against students with similiar abilities.  As you play you can gain points - the more you play the more points you get.  Students can use these points to add special details to their avatars.

Besides opportunities for practicing basic math facts there is also the chance to learn about time zones and different places around the world as you take notice of where the people are that you are playing against at different times.

I hope you take the time to check it out.  I think it's going to be fun.  Let me know what you think.

Saskatchewan is a great place to homeschool.  We have a lot of freedom in being able to teach how and what we would like.  We receive $500 per child per year and only have to fill our intention to homeschool (educational plan) and an end of the year report. 

We are a friendly lot and love to do things together.  Today I took my eight year old daughter to an art class at the local art gallery.  The Godfrey Dean Art Gallery is open to doing many programs with homeschoolers. 

We also run swimming lessons, when you can convince us to leave our houses at -50 degrees.  We call that "stupid cold."  This is the only time our household is allowed to use the word "stupid."  We feel it is appropriate. 

We have an annual homeschooling conference.  This year it will be held in Regina.  Until now it was held in Saskatoon. 

More later; this was just an introduction.  Please check out the photos of Saskatchewan that I posted.  If you have any more that you would like to see added, please email me. 

This is a volunteer position but you will receive free copies of The Old Schoolhouse each quarter - one for yourself and one copy to share with friends, family, and families who are thinking of homeschooling, or to place at local libraries and/or at homeschool group meetings.  If you are selected to become the coordinator for your state, you will be responsible for posting updates and special state information on this state blog - Information such as:  events, homeschool conventionsn, state laws, special meetings or speakers coming to the area.  The events do not have to be all inclusive, just a good overview of things that are of interest to homeschoolers.  You may also post field trip ideas/reviews and places of interest in your state. You can also blog about your personal experience with homeschooling from time to time. Writing prompts are sent out each week to help people who don't have much to post on their blog that week.

You are also allowed to gift 3 one-year TOS subscriptions each year to area libraries, area support group leaders or new homeschoolers - those people who you think could benefit from TOS! Basically, you become a contact person for people in your state and we help you get the word out about LOTS of info related to homeschooling through our magazine.

If this is something that might interest you, please email me at kprice@thehomeschoolmagazine.com.

I appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon!