2009-Sep-16 - FREE Freebies!

Ever notice how much marketing is going on around us?  Folks are always reaching or TRYING to reach into my pockets to get my hard earned bucks, and sometimes they are veiled advertisements.  BEWARE! Veiled ads come in emails, newsletters and social networking sites just to name a few...Just make sure you need and can afford the costs associated with the FREE~I totally LOVE many free resources on the web~there are loads of offerings out there that require no cash, no sign ups, no hassles. . .You will find these primarily on my list of FREEBIES~Just know that there are some freebies that are indeed free and others with a hitch~but sometimes too, I have found the "deal" to make me spend my money when I have shopped everything...do that, by the way, to get the very very best price on a resource for your homeschool.  Often there are deals to be had~keep looking until you find what you need at a price you will pay~and FREE is GREAT right?? OK..so I want to introduce you to some fine folks who do sell products, but also have some wonderful TOTALLY FREE resources for you everyday~

Homeschool Radio Shows
(Once a week FREE dramatic radio theater download.)

Homeschool Freebie of the Day
(A FREE download resource each day M-F.)

What a blessing this homeschooling family is to share so much for FREE!

blessings,
SisterTipster

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2009-Sep-14 - You Will Never Be Sorry

You will never be sorry doing what is right. Never ever ever ever! Ethical questions abound today as the lines between right and wrong have been erased to a point of confusion for many.  I was eating lunch with my husband the other day in celebration of our 19th wedding anniversary and heard an older couple talking nearby.  It was clear that they did not see eye to eye on something they were discussing, but were calm and respectful although disagreeing. 

"So what qualities do you think makes good leadership," the older woman said.

Thoughtfully, the man and with deliberateness, "honesty, values, traditions, doing the right things. . ."

"Well, you know everybody was "raised differently" so what's right to some isn't going to be right for everyone," she answered him.

"That may be true, but people just know, society knows right from wrong," he said.

"But how? And to whom?" the lady retorted.

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2009-Sep-13 - Choices Make Huge Differences!

It's really not a secret that we all have choices that we exercise each day in our lives.  I remember dreaming of being all grown up as a girl who couldn't wait to become 16, then 18, then it was 20 and on it went,,, but today I am calling a halt to the birthdays as I have since doubled all three PLUS of those numbers and realize that the dreaming and wishing for this age or that age really won't bring about what it was I was hoping for~the goals I had set or the things I want to achieve.

Looking back, I see life as a series of choices like a dance in rhythm of time and tempo.  Life throws all sorts of things our way,  but not in an arbitrary way, as my faith has taught me that God has as a master choreographer designed my dance...I can either perform the dance His way or I can do it my own.  Sometimes my own dance will seem to be working well with the music and rhythm, but then later I see that His design was best, or that I can change this step or that to fit the score much better as my Heavenly Father desires and has designed.  I find that if I chose His steps, that I am in step and doing well or as He deems my life to become or in process of becoming. . .

My mother shared with me about a man who we once both worked for who in this recent year has died of tragic circumstances.  I had left the employment with him at the time well over 15 years ago because he had issued a veiled threat to me as the result of his realizing that I knew information that was damaging to him, that he was a drug addict.  We all know that drugs in many work environments are not tolerated, and it was his thinking that if I knew something on him, I might harm him, when the real danger was he to himself.  Today, he is gone as a result of this problem that he had attempted to guard so well from others. . .I won't judge him.  He was truly a wonderfully funny man to work with, but when he threatened me, that was the end of any  working relationship I may have had, and I resigned as well as shared with our employer what I knew. . .seemed silly I suppose to them at the time that I would make such an assertion to his activities when each day he arrived in suit and so well put together. . .but today, if their association of employment has lasted all these years, they now fully know what I knew but was powerless to change or help. 

Drug addiction is an issue that isn't just a low class problem.  It permeates and invades the lives of all classes, both genders and all races. It's huge in our country. . .but we really aren't dealing with the core issue of it in our society.  Prominent people die everyday, celebrities, music legends, politicians and everyday people, somebody's son or daughter who has gotten themselves into a pattern that they find unbreakable. . .but choice, while its power may be weaker as further into the spiral one may go, choice is strong in the beginning of the dance into drug use.  Choosing to "try it", choosing to have more and then more until it becomes an insatiable desire that leads to loss of dignity and too frequently life as well as relationship, economic viability as the person becomes less able to function and poverty as the desire for the next hit of drug takes over the desires of the body to exploit the emotions and thoughts of the mind.  Choice~in the beginning can say NO! Choice does have the ability to make the decision to walk away from the negative influences early on...but later when the addiction has taken hold, and choice becomes less strong it's more unlikely as the spiral continues that recovery will take hold and bolster choice so that the afflicted will remain drug free.  Drug FREE!

I am heart broken for those with such a condition as diminished choice in their lives, but do believe that with God's help, He alone has power in making choices that will arise to reclaim the person from the clutches of his own choices. . .to relieve his burden and aid him to deny his person the very thing that those initial choices and continued ones have put within his being.  God can help and will~another choice to call upon the Lord of all Creation~God who is Maker of Heaven and Earth. 

We must encourage those who are struggling with their choices of drug addiction to chose God to help them in their cry for substance become their cry for the Creator.  We must pray diligently and ask God to show us a way to help so that these and others will not be taken from us too soon, in ways that do not glorify God. . .Choices make a huge difference!

Let's chose to pray and help, not judge or enable, but appropriately intervene before the throne of God on behalf of those struggling...we have choices, and they make a huge difference!

blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Aug-24 - Somebody WHO Thinks THEY Can Comment About Homeschooling????

Ha!

If you aren't in the process, practice or have any experience, HOW are you going to give an adequate opinion?

YOU WON'T!

There is a "joker," sorry, but this is under my skin...who has written a book offering some suggestions to bridge what he describes a gap for supporters (US) and opponents (them) over what is best for OUR children~the results are in and it's quite telling: WE KNEW IT~homeschooling works!! HSLDA published a recent study conducted that shows how homescholers are matching up to their non-homeschooled peers! I'd match up any homeschooled kid to anybody elses' any day on any subject, ANYTIME!

What do you say?

blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Aug-21 - FREE PDF on Novel Writing~U Can't BEAT FREE!

Looking for a creative writing resource for your child? 

I'd say the ages needs to start about 3-4th grades.

Little Blue School is offering her PDF download of a 25 page book on novel writing for FREE! This is awesome~it's step by step and good! I've blogged about it HERE !
blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Aug-8 - Dream Come True! Guitar Lessons on DVD!

I have wanted to take guitar lessons for a long time.  I actually met my husband through lessons over 19 years ago and NEVER picked up the guitar since~but I have been blessed with dvd Worship Guitar lessons from Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class HERE to review.   I have been given Volume I which has seven really neat worship songs and some basic cords and finger action.  NOW here's the kicker~MY FINGERS are killing me! But my dear hubby suggests that frequent 2-3 times a day for about 5-10 minutes of toughening by playing the strings practicing the chords will do the trick! ALL those years ago, I didn't learn because I was NEWLY engaged, and refused to cut my nails off~But after almost 19 years of marriage, hey, the rings are there to stay, and no body is paying "quite as much" attention as they once did WHEN he first put them on my finger! With nails cut, and finger toughening, I am learning the first two chords.  Then i am trusting the Lord to  be able to play He's Got the Whole World In His Hands.  I am excited! I teach a children's choir and hope to accompany them one day!

SwagBucks is a cool way to earn prizes for Free~
check out the sidebar to sign up!

New things are in store~will keep you posted!
blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Aug-6 - The 2009-210 Plan

It's definitely the time of year we're planning another year of homeschooling! I am so excited to be teaching middle and high school this year!

We are going to be working so hard to get our highschool transcripts in order and complete our course work~my kids have made some tough decisions too about what they want to study.  I felt that they are old enough to join in the decisions of some of it~it's their education and futures!  Personal responsibility is built upon them having a say in the process~so here's the line up:

World History:  Our spine will be Mystery of History I 4,000BC-AD29 

Literature:  Ancient history text which will include the Bible and other texts translated form.

Science: Friendly Chemistry

Math:  ALEKS~Algebra I; Teaching Textbooks: PreAlgebra

Language Arts:  My Access Writing  writing-web based

Vocab:  Root and Fruits by Jill J. Dixon

Foreign Language:  Japanese/Spanish

Music:  Band/Orchestra

Drama: Club
 
PE: YMCA and other activities

This is by no means all, but we are well on our way to planning our FANTASTIC year! Girl Thing One is working on a monologue for the Drama group~yep, she's trying out for a new part this fall! AND Boy Thing One wants to do backstage props~

What are you up to? Are you doing lesson planning, using a planner or just a spread sheet? I like planners, but often have gone for an easy spreadsheet approach.  My daughter is suggesting a to-do list approach that can be emailed to each child daily~yeah, now I like this! TALK about accountability!

Let's all have a great year!
blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Jul-25 - SAVE on Curriculum~NOW!

Like many of you, I'm planning next year.

Are you LIKE ME looking for frugal solutions to your curriculum needs? The Homeschool Minute discussed curriculum pricing this last time, and I want to say that checking prices is your BEST bet!

DEALS abound ONLY IF you know your prices~ck all the sources: ALL including the "switch with your buddy" resource by loaning and lending to homeschooling friends and family! 

I am looking at the HOMESCHOOL BUYERS CO-OP (NOW Learn about Tell Me MORE HERE! at 40% Discount for ANY PROGRAM~UP to 3 years of High school credit!~HUGE!!) for foreign language: Spanish(for my son). 

Aualog: Tell Me More is AwEsOmE~read my review on my daughter's Japanese studies HERE! Girl Thing One LOVES Anime (Japanese cartoons) and has for years~this led to a DESIRE to learn the language so she can translate for herself the films not already in English.

She's STILL working and LOVING IT!
AND we are MID SUMMER~

HOW COOL IS THIS?? 

LOOKING FOR FOREIGN Language or OTHER curriculum?  The co-op has loads of great deals on curriculum choices~it's a power buy so if you join up we all save! When you ck out the homepage HERE you can see all that's offered.  It's amazing!

I am also looking into My Access: Home Writing internet based instruction(50%) as well as Tell Me More Spanish(40%).  Both have DEEP discounts through Homeschool Buyers Co-op (WHICH IS FREE!)

OK, so if SAVING Lincoln$ and getting good curriculum is what you need~
sign up  HERE! Signing up with this co-op is FREE! JOIN to get the discounts in a HUGE POWER BUY!

blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Jul-25 - Marriage Defenders~STAND for TRADITIONAL Marriage

This is the bedrock of the family as God is the head~
marriage defenders
Check out this website to read the arguments for traditional marriage and SUPPORT IT! This site is brand new so keep checking back and look for this group on facebook too! Support marriage~God's plan for the family and society~our nation! You can read a university study on marriage~ www.princetonprinciples.org/
blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Jul-9 - Huge Sale~1/2 OFF Friendly Chemistry

THIS IS RED HOT!

I received an email from Dr. Hajda of Friendly Chemistry offering a GREAT DEAL on teaching chemistry a painless/easy way~

BIG SUMMER SALE!  In an effort to get a great chemistry curriculum in the hands of more families, Hideaway Ventures, the creators of Friendly Chemistry, is hosting a BIG summer sale on their curriculum! 

SAVE OVER 1/2!
From NOW until September 1, 2009, the retail cost per student text will be $30.00 and the teacher's edition will be $40.00 (shipping included).  This is less than half the regular price.  If you've been contemplating using Friendly Chemistry, now would be the time to make your choice!  Go to www.friendlychemistry.com to learn more about this unique chemistry curriculum.

My children are continuing to learn chemistry this summer with Friendly Chemistry~it's GREAT!  If you want to venture into this area with your children, this is an AWESOME way to go~
Read MY TOS Crew Review:   HERE !

Read the TOS Crew Reviews of Friendly Chemistry!

GOT a $$ saving tip?
Enter CONTE$T HERE to win $25 Gift Card!

Don't forget that Chemistry can be Friendly, and You can enter a contest to win $25 gift card~ WHOOHOO!!
Blessings
SisterTipster

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2009-Jul-4 - Let Freedom Ring~

Happy 4th of July!

Everyone is concerned with this economy, and I am addressing

Financial freedom tips and continuing to share GREAT quality home school products~many low cost or free~ at my newest blog adventure~

SisterTipster's Thriving With No Green$

The name means I am thriving on little money, which is just what I have done for several years now, beginning way before most felt the economic crunch of this recent year.  Join me for inside tips on how to live and love on less.  Along the way I will share more good quality products homeschooling and others for good economic decisions and living.

UP there is a post with a link to Home School Enrichment HSE Magazine~

It's a free digital download ~YOU will love it! This magazine has loads of information to encourage and support homeschooling whether you are just getting started or have been schooling for a long time.  This is a fully interactive and easy to navigate digital format~

LOVE it! LOVE it! Love it!

blessings,
SisterTipster

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2009-Jun-30 - AND the Winner Is. . . . . . . . . .

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped GET THE WORD OUT in the contest for the $25 Gift card~

WE HAVE A WINNER~
Tina~
Come on down. . .YOU ARE A WINNER~

She gets to choose between a Wal-Mart or Christianbook.com gift card~her choice!

blessings
SisterTipster

Go see THE VICTORIAN HOME for sale~Tell someone about it~thanks!

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2009-Jun-29 - FREEbie Sites for Educational materials!

MORE freebie sites are cropping up all the time~I'm beginning to think FREE IS the way to go for so much of our kid's educations.  I know there is the Freely Educate site  HERE has educational things free~but for your little ones to teach them phonics, go to Progressive Phonics and check out their neat system.

Coming up is WHY I am SisterTipster and all about my mission in blogging. . .

SisterTipster

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2009-Jun-27 - FREE Online Reading and Math Tutoring~State Standards and Testing (FREE)

Two things to share for your homeschool.  I LOVE free~don't you??

First, there is the Yahoo Group, "Free Homeschool Tools_No Chat" that offers members for usually just postage what is requested and offered.  It's a national network of sharing what you have and getting what you need just like a freecycle group just for homeschoolers~HOW cool is this?

Go HERE to sign up!

Reading and Math are two subjects every homeschooling family is working with~oh yeah! So when MindSprinting.com was introduced to me in the yahoo group, I went to see for myself just what this freebie site would offer.  Wowsy WoW WOW~free testing and then a customized program to strengthen weaknesses or enrich areas!!!!!!
I could'nt be more excited!  I personally took the tests and went through the upper level material before I plan to introduce it to my kiddos.  This way I am certain that the content, which appears secular but without evolutionary bias, is as far as I can see very very good.  The site recommends printing the materials and doing them by hand.  This is good for me because I like the handwriting practice that worksheets entail.  We use the computer for other things so much that a series of worksheets isn't harmful to our homeschooling.  Generally we don't use them all that much, and I know for some kids, it's pure torture. I would take this into consideration and use the program by not making it harder and creating more resistance than is necessary for my child with modifications like allowing your child to read aloud and you mark the multiple choice questions or just discuss the story.  The readings are pretty short, but this depends upon age group. I tried out the middle and high school materials. 

MindSprinting.com even offers math according to grade level and age appropriateness.  Now before I bring down on myself all the good people who will say that children are not learners in a vacuum of ages and grades, while I will agree, it is only to a point.  Unfortunately, while we are not of this world as Christians and homeschoolers, we must be able to thrive in it.  Do I want my children to learn material just because the public schools say it's appropriate or in their curriculum for a certain year? No, but I do want them prepared to face their peers and state testing if and when we are called upon to do so.  With this said, I believe there is some solid evidence to keep children being educated with grades, structure and testing.  If you hold a similar idea, or if you are in need of free curriculum for your children in math and reading, go check out MindSprinting.com as a uniuqe and FREE solution.

I hope that you find these Free resources useful in your homeschool!

blessings,
SisterTipster

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2009-Jun-26 - Creation Science Museum and Ken Ham~SBC-WOW!

We just got home from an incredible trip to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum.  This was an awesome experience for our family.  There is so much to share about our experiences.  If I had the say what was the best thing would be getting to chat for just a few minutes with Ken Ham, Founder of AIG and the museum.  He was doing a book signing of his latest book, which I got BTW~yay!  

There are awesome exhibits to make faith in creation such a solid fact of reason coupled with faith.  Faith is what is necessary to believe anything about origins of this world, and a solid viewpoint of Biblical respect and trust are at the core of a creationist viewpoint.  Man reasons with only finite understanding because we cannot SEE all the evidence God has placed before us, but God has told in His Word that He is Creator and God.  It is man's place to trust or reject based on God's will.  AWESOME!  While there are loads and loads of fossils in the museum and dino exhibits with an animated dino to boot, the museum is lacking in what we think are the actual science rationals for a young earth and creationist viewpoint.  Science does back up creation by God, but while it was briefly mentioned in some of the displays, more elaborate and educational methods for educating us on this would have made the case for creation stronger in the museum aside from the faith argument.  Brought into play also is the sociological argument of social decay when God is not at the helm of society.  Again this is purely a religious interplay and not earth science as we had hoped we would see.  We know that in his books, Ken Ham reasons science to support creation.  We just wish that there had been more of this argument in the museum. 

My favorite display would have to have been the historical time-line showing creation to Rome.  Ancient history is so crucial for a real understanding of our world today, and it was great to see this so well displayed. 

In looking for the AIG website so I could post a link to it, I found the National Center for Science Education~Defending Evolution in Public Schools which is an interesting yet disturbing read defending evolution being taught in public schools.  It is a "review" of the museum along with disparaging remarks about Ken Ham, creationism and even attacks homeschoolers.  Ha! Well, while I do agree with the writer that there was little actual science(I am sure our definitions of science WiLL DIFFER), as we had hoped to see, there was a whole lot of Christianity which I whole heartedly WAS THRILLED to see! When man does not value the Word of God and Its viewpoint, faithlessness results and a scoffers attitude.  This is exactly what you have here in this review.  So go read it for yourself.  Be aware there is some off color unnecessary remarks made by the writer, but it gives good indication of where this person stands.

There are several critiques of the museum which is called "anti-museum" Ha! that are unfounded.  There are hands on exhibits for children in the forms of puzzles and video interactives.  The petting zoo must not have been operational at the time of the visit because it is not mentioned, and there were loads of people, so many that it was difficult to navigate to see all the displays.  There were many many people, young and old, of varying ethnic backgrounds there yesterday as well, and we even met homeschoolers from the local region as well as the United Kingdom.  Of course I could not give any real statistical numbers other than that we met two other homeschooling families who must somehow in that writer's mind represent the stereotypes he discussed. 

I whole heartedly support and will continue to support creation education for not just my own children but children everywhere as part of a Biblical worldview so that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is known to all.  Scoffers and those rebellious against the Creator~God have been since the Garden of Eden in the earth.  GO SEE and support AIG for its Christian stand on origins!!!

  Go to Northern KY or Southern Cincinatti to see this wonderful display of Christian apologetics for a faith affirming experience.

I think our kids enjoyed the petting zoo and rope bridge in the gardens the most.  It was a sweltering day as temps are unseasonably hot these days in our area, but it didn't stop the fun! The animals are sweet, and I've never seen a zonkey~have you?  He is adorable! 

You can look for my review of the latest Ken Ham book which I will be reading and telling you all about it!

While at the Southern Baptist Convention, we met a missionary from Alaska.  She was a neat gal who works there and was discussing fossils with the Creation Museum reps at the convention. 

The Convention was my first to see loads of Christians gathered in one place.  I truly have never been in such crowds before.  There were wonderful speeches, calls to servant-hood and obedience to our Lord.  It was wonderful to see so many who love God in one place. 

WE ARE HOME~and it's going to be busy just putting life "back in order" after our trip.  If I'm successful, in just a few hours, I plan to beat the heat and head to the pool. . .

Don't forget to go ck out Answers in Genesis!

Blessings
SisterTipster

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