Writing for Cash

Writing for Cash

I sold an article just the other day. How silly is it that I was surprised? I completely was not thinking of the articles I had written, before my DH's accident, when out of the blue, I get an email congratulating me on my new sale. Very cool.

I write for a site called Constant Content. They are like a clearing house of content for website owners, newsletter editors and magazine editors to browse through and buy articles for their publications. They also allow the buyers to request jobs, which is a big help when you are trying to figure out what will sell, you know?

Anyway, I made $40 and now I want to write more. Nothing like cash to make us want to get off our dazed booties eh?  I can't think of one thing to write about. not one blessed thing! AARRGHHH!

I'm gonna go eat some pot roast, take a shower and daydream... that'll do it!
Hahaha!

8:30 PM - Aug. 27, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

I found a GOLD MINE!

I found a GOLD MINE!
There is actually a place on the internet where you can download E-Books for FREE! (And they are actually GOOD!)


 

Ok, I know you don't believe me... that's ok.... It is true...
Go to WOWIO.COM and see for yourself!

When you get back, clothes your mouth and breathe... then get ready to download! Now, you register for free, but to save it for everyone, you can only download 5 items per day. That's ok, you WILL go back everyday to see what is new!

The main thing that caught my eye is what is pictured, here... the Hands on History units from Nomad Press. Imagine a history book with hands on activities for you and your critters to make and do all tied into the theme of the time period!

Yes, it is THAT cool!

Here is a sample of what they have:


Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself

From armored tanks and gliders to "plastic glass" and drawing machines, this interactive book explores the incredible mind of Leonardo da Vinci through hands-on building projects and activities. Most of Leonardo's inventions were never made in his lifetime and remained sketches in his famous notebooks; kids examine some of these original sketches and learn about the models he made of his inventions.

From there they delve into detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for each project, which are interspersed with historical facts, biographical anecdotes, and trivia. Most of the building can be done using simple household supplies: construction paper, tape, markers, glue, cardboard tubes, aluminum foil, and cardboard boxes. Background about the Renaissance as a period of remarkable achievement in art and science appears throughout the book.

Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself

Great Colonial America Projects looks at everyday life in early America. More than 30 hands-on building projects and activities ranging from dyeing and weaving to toymaking and weather forecasting help bring the American colonies to life for kids 9 and older.

Highly recommend a High Speed internet connection, as some of these books are in the 40  megabyte size range....

Have fun and go!
Thank me later!

WOWIO.COM

8:37 PM - Aug. 26, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Ocean Habitat Science Lapbook

Why Oceans? Mostly because http://www.learningpage.com has sooooooooo much free things on their site, that it just lent itself to being the Jumping-off place in the studies. We will have to figure out something else for the other basic biomes (Habitats) such as Forrest, Deserts and so on. If you know of a great site with these items covered, please leave a note!
 

Z-man is cutting out a jellyfish (From: LearningPage.com)

All the kids intently cutting out the sea animals to put with their Mural of the ocean. (From: LearningPage.com)

These are the animals they colored and then cut out. (From: LearningPage.com)

This is a stack of "Fact Files" about the animals in the ocean. (From: LearningPage.com)

 What are we doing?  LearningPage.com's Ocean Unit has a mural of 15 or more sheets. You put them together on the will and you have a great background for your wall!

We decided to color the pictures in crayon. But we left the sky and ocean water (Backgrounds) white. Then, we grabbed some watercolors and slathered the pictures with blue watercolor paint. This emphasized to the kids that everything in the ocean is covered in water and that the water appears to change the color of things underwater. This began a discussion of light refraction, but we were done before we got too far and they are only 7 so.... (From: LearningPage.com)

Yes! It is yours truly working with the children!. DH took this photo.

S-Baby being ever so delicate with her painting.
(From: LearningPage.com)

Me again, being handed another masterpiece and putting them down to dry. (From: LearningPage.com)

A nice over-head shot from Dad. (From: LearningPage.com)

And this is the papers drying out on the tables. It really only took about 20 minutes for the to dry, and then we were able to hang them on the wall! (From: LearningPage.com)

Once we got it all taped up on the wall, we were able to tape our little ocean animals to the mural. (From: LearningPage.com)

Everyone gets in on the act, and this has really helped up to be closer, since all three children get to participate. (From: LearningPage.com)

I ran over to ABCTEACH.com to grab some word-wall words. I printed these out in color and taped them to the top and bottom of the mural to make a type of boarder. Looks like it worked realtively well, eh? (From: ABCTEACH.com)

I also grabbed some Surfing Bookmarks from ABCteach as well. These are just great, because the twins and the baby are reading so much now, that they need the bookmarks. Having them match the them of this unit study is just perfect! (From: ABCTEACH.com) I got the library card holder from a teacher supply store, not online. The ocean stickers I got from a dollar store, not online.

 

Ok, more later.......

8:21 PM - Aug. 26, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Solar System Lapbook

The SOLAR SYSTEM!

   While we spend time investigating the Oceans and other water habitats, I wanted to share with you something I just remembered....

    We built a basic introduction to the Solar System lapbook, last year for first grade. This was our first lapbook and sold me on the concept!

    When this was finished, my boys could tell you all of the planets, in order, which ones were mostly rock, which ones were mostly gas, what lies between the two sets of four, and that Pluto may or may not be a planet, but if it is then there are five outer planets.

    They know that the sun is simply the closest star and that is is a ball of burning gas, as all stars are. They learned about the Apollo moon trips and the date and Name of the first moon landing and Neil Armstrong's name.

    I was so amazed a their retention (Even now they remember it all) that it totally sold me on this "Hands On" form of teaching science and social studies.

    Anyway just thought I would share with you.

Here is the link to the Flickr pictures...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitchenkam

P.S. We DO plan to study the planets and such, in more depth, this year.... not sure when or with what,,,,,

P.S.S. Most of everything we used for the Solar System Lapbook was from Google image searches....

8:13 PM - Aug. 26, 2007 - comments {1} - post comment

How to LapBook

I have been asked by several people to show them photos of how to make lapbooks. The folders themselves. They are like me, they need a visual. I am VERY visual, so I understand. Here is my attempt to help spread the knowledge of lapbooking....

To be clear: Lapbooking is simply "Scrapbooking what you learn".
Now "HOW" you go about doing that is just as varied as scrapbooking and is only limited by your imagination!

Here is how "WE" do it . . . .

First, buy some file folders.
I got a pack of 100 at Walmart for about $5.
And having 100, means you have enough to cannibalize for extensions. (More on that, later...)
Here is what my box looks like:


Some people buy colored folders, or printed folders, to add tot he drama of whatever their lapbook theme is about. Your imagination is your only limit!

Now, open the box and grab one of those file folders.
Note that it has two sides and a fold down the center of it:

Lay the folder flat on a table. like so....

Now hold one side of file folder with left hand, and one side with right hand. FOLD the two sides in towards the middle so that they MEET at the ORIGINAL middle FOLD CREASE.
Like so... (I had to hold the camera with one hand, sorry.....)

Then UNfold the folder.
It should look like this.....


Then you can paint it, glue things to it, staple things to it, fold it in other creative ways, add an extension on to it and more!

An extension, simply means either another folder stapled or glued to the original (Side to side) or perhaps it could also mean to cut one file folder in half and tape or staple that flat part to the top or bottom of the original lapbook to create a FLAP.

This next photo shows a flap (Extension) opened.
It is attached at the top and folds down allowing for more surface area to which you can add more stuff....


Here is one that we just recently worked on, to give you an idea of what a basic lapbook can look like . . .
You should see three "Creation" lapbooks.


We got the items to make the lapbook, mostly from a paid for "Set" that we got from the HomeschoolEStore.com . You can find the direct item, by clicking HERE.

We also use things we find on Google or other free sites.
Remember to try GOOGLE Images for images.

We also make some of our own stuff, by using templates....
Here are some links to get you started:

Pre-made sets that you can buy:
School Express (Buy Kits)
HomeschoolEStore.com (Buy Kits)


Free Stuff:

* FREE Lapbooking Kits!
* FREE Lapbooking resources
* FREE How to make mini-books (Those cute display books found in lapbooks)
* FREE Scrapbooking / Lapbooking images (Great for backgrounds and minibooks!)
* FREE Paper Toys (3-D Buildings and such for pop ups books)

* A GREAT "HOW TO" Webpage!
* Another great "How-To" web page!
* A You-Tube Video of how one family lapbooks

* Mini-Offices (Lapbooks with a collection of a students cheat sheets for reference)
Here is a photo of it.....

Have F-U-N!

8:22 PM - Aug. 25, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment

Human Body LapBook

Now, once the kids were through playing with there floppy people and skeletons (The "Outside" and "Inside" of their little people bodies)... we were able to finally glue them inside....

So, we are not done yet, but I just wanted to get you up to date with what we are working on. . . . . .

8:23 PM - Aug. 24, 2007 - comments {1} - post comment

Hooked on Phonics Posters!

Hooked on Phonics

Well, the EXPENSIVE set that I bought off eBay a number of years ago, never worked for the twins. I nearly sold it, then realized that I had not tried it on the baby, so I held on to it, till she was old enough.

Suddenly, she's old enough!
Hahahahaha!

She wanted to "Do School, too" so I tried it on her and she has EXCELLED! Apparently it works for her! YEA! She has the full Hooked on Phonics program and is working through level one, right now. She also has the progress CD of games that came with it. She loves it! (Thank God!)

A few weeks ago, we were crawling through Boarders Books store when I found a Hooked on Phonics workbook. She was DE-LIGHT-ED! In the back of the FIVE subject book, are corresponding FIVE "Progress Posters and FIVE sheets of Star Stickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We found Pre-k, which was for fun and Kindergarten which is for "Real Work". Although she is only four, we consider her a kindergartener because she can read and write and she can perform the basic mathematic algorithm of "Five Plus two is Seven".


So, with two books, that makes TEN progress posters!
Here is she in front of her posters in the ONLY spare wall space of our tiny apartment: The Hall wall . . . .

I have some photos of the actual books that the posters came from. Let me charge my camera's batteries and i will get those up for you real quick...

8:24 PM - Aug. 23, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Creation LapBook

We finally finished our Creation LapBooks and I wanted to get them up for you to see. I will also post links so that you can choose to get your supplies where we got ours. We hope this helps you to discover new and fun ways to learn right along with your children!

Creation LapBooks!


(We are a family of 5 living in a small 2 bedroom apartment, due to an auto accident that left DH temp in a wheelchair... so what you see is the living room turned into a classroom and in the background, the dining room is used as a living room....)

S-Baby works on a Creation Maze. (Found HERE)



Z-Man works on his Creation Crossword
(Found HERE)




C-Man and Z-Man work on their Creation Match Page.
(Found Here)



A completed Creation LapBook!
(The coloring page for the cover Found HERE)




Opened LapBook with extension
(I created the extension by cannibalizing another folder and cutting it to size. This helps to created more space. I simply stapled it to the top of the existing LapBook)
The basic files for this LapBook can be found in THIS LapBook eBook. Click HERE

This is my FAV-O-RITE Children's Bible!
It is the The Golden Children's Bible. It is a NEW bible, but it is a RE-PRINT of the classic one that we grew up with. You may have seen a sampler in your pediatricians waiting room. This bible is absolutely the BEST for reading to your child, the basic pertinent facts to INTRODUCE bible stories! The words are NOT babyish and the illustrations are GRAND!
(You can get yours HERE!!)

The illustrations are just fabulous!

Check out the 10 Commandments page!
Gorgeous!

8:25 PM - Aug. 22, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Dough Day Photo Fun!

Here is a few photos from this past Thursday of the kids working on a few things....

We will call it "Dough Day"

First, out came the play-dough, or a cheap dollar store facsimile thereof.....

Zack's Blue Broken Heart . . . Awe!

Connors' injured Purple Heart (With a little blood {RED} Still in it)

A sword is a COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE play-dough cutting utensil! Apparently this is an unwritten rule in the book of kid-dom!

------------------------------------

Then the dough of currency, in this house; ie: Education:

In a deal with Mom and Dad, the twins get their Playstation 2 back, when they complete an "X" number of short book reports. Now, before you think I am an evil mother, these are simply short papers with the Title, Author Name, Two character Names and two sentences of the book. That's it!

And I could have taken the whole Playstation away, to be honest. Plus they get to pick the books that they read, so they have some control. This is not a form of punishment, it is instead a program of encouragement with a reward at the end.

For every one they write, they get a reward sticker. 5 stickers gets them one thing (Usually computer) 10 gets them something else and 20 gets them Chuck E Cheese...... We tape them on the wall like a "Book Worm" wrapping around the room!

This sticker page and stickers were sold separately at a teacher supply store in town. Sorry, no link available.

If you would like to check out the FREE collection of Book reports available from Kindergarten to 6th grade, Click HERE!

The second grade level is where we are. Click HERE!

---------------------------------------

Finally, the Edible Dough!

While the twins worked on that project, Sasha helped mom make some fresh bread. She loves helping!

Although she also likes to look "Cool", don't let her fool you.... she begged to help stir the dough.... but she has to look "Cool" in case her "Peep" see any of this.... sigh . . .

She gets into beating the crap out of the bread. (AKA: Kneading)

Brother realised that sister was having all the fun and he just HAD to get in on it. "Not sure what the bread did so wrong for you to beat on it, but I am in on it!" Hahaha!

The bread is resting and rising, while the twins finish their reports.

Yea, we are such freaks that my kids even like SALAD! AAAAHHHH the horror!

8:27 PM - Aug. 19, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

7 Days of Creation LapBook Photos...

7 Days of Creation LapBook Photos...

Ok well when we took a break for lunch, we decided to rest a while and do other things. It is a Saturday after all! Anyway, I took a moment to upload these photos to show you what we are talking about..... (Photos below.....)

See, it took me forever to find a "7 Days of Creation" Lapbook set. I mean FOREVER! Apparently there are not many to choose from and the one I did finally found was not labeled as a lapbook, but as "Games". AARRGHHH!!!

Here is the book....
Creation Games

It's pretty cool so far. I think the instructions are easy to understand and the activities are varied for different age groups...

For example, they give you THREE folders worth of activities! Did I mention THREE folders worth? But I mean you do not have to do ALL three, of course. It is just that this gives you the opportunity to mix and match what works for your child or for various ages of kids. I LIKE THAT! It does have "Games" inside of it, and that to me, is a BONUS! They are simple, move your peg, answer the quiz question type of "On-Topic" games, but so what! They fit the theme and can actually be kept and placed into the lapbooks themselves, for later play! Again, a bonus, to me...

Ok, here are the photos... mind the mess....

When we do lapbooks, the room gets messed up!

We have done through day two, so far....

First day

First day opened

God Said it cover

God said it, inside

Close up of work done so far...

Creation on the second day cotton clouds

If I had been Adam book

One page inside Adam book

Showing off her sashae (Mage up name for lizard)

C-Baby consults Z-Baby on his Adam book placement

Thanks for reading. If you are into lapbooks, did you find something for creation and other bible themes that worked for you? Post a comment and tell us about it! Thanks!

8:31 PM - Aug. 15, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Human Body LapBook / Unit Study Aides....

I had been looking for some time, for a good solid collection of "Kid Friendly" Anatomy or Human Body diagrams or posters or cards or SOMETHING! But I never found anything, until yesterday.

Here is a photo of some of what I found on our wall...


Me and the critters are working on a Human Body LapBook and we needed some visuals. Something that is fun, bright and happy, yet informative and not too babyish.... It seemed like a tall order, but I found this book...

Science Picture Cards, The Human Body Not free, but worth it!
There are like 24 "Cards"  that are really diagrams of the human body and the systems of the body as well as the five senses and so on. On the "Back" of each is like a trading card information block with info directly related to that part of the body. I found that full sheet printouts were unnecessary and chose to print them on HALF a sheet of paper at a time, this not only saves paper, but actually saves color ink, too!

HAVE FUN!

8:35 PM - Aug. 12, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

BEST TOY EVER !

We finally have visual proof of the best toy ever invented!

Often spoken about in many a blog and argued about in discussion groups, the best toy ever has been caught live on video! Sit back and enjoy a whole 2 minutes of reality! Can you see the Best Toy, ever?
(High-speed connection recommended)

8:28 PM - Aug. 12, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Our First Day!

WHOOO HOOOO!     We finally managed to get everything into the tiny 2 bedroom apartment that we were grateful to receive access to, after J's accident that left him in a wheelchair. Everything was piled upon something else and getting access to just one thing was always a huge undertaking. Remember the old puzzle where you have to move a bunch of parts around to get one part to shoot over to the left.... UGH! I got RID of a LOT of those PARTS! BWAAA HAAA HAAA!     This is a stitched together panorama of the main living area. It may look reasonably large, but honestly, It is not. I am in one corner, which is the only thing not pictured. Again, it is a panorama, so imagine you wrap this into a near circle..... CLICK to see FULL Sized Photo!      We chose to turn the dinning room into a living room complete with a sofa, coffee table (Also used as the dining table), Television, Bookshelf, shoe caddy and room rug. The official living room area has been re-designed as a classroom/sewing/computer/play area... Goodness knows, I can't live without this area. As you can see, the sewing area is a complete jumbled mess, right now. I swear there REALLY is a sewing machine on that table . . . Somewhere! Hahaha!       The false wall, in the middle of this image, was made using two 72" high bookshelves side by side. They have behind them two smaller 36" bookshelves side by side. This helps to section of the two different rooms and adds much needed wall space. My DH had the grand idea to hang the world map on the back of the larger bookshelves to once again, add useable wall space. It works! Although, at this point, it may just end up and wallpaper over the back of that bookshelf, as I keep stacking things higher and higher on the smaller shelves! haha!

8:26 PM - Jul. 23, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

What we are Using:

Thanksgiving
LapBook!

Click Here!

All About Plants

Click HERE!

Scrapbook Lettering:50 Fun to draw alphabets from the nation's most creative scrapbook lettering artists.

Homeschooling 101: The Essential Handbook

The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers: 50 Great Templates to Help Kids Get More Out of Reading, Writing, Social Studies and More

Learn at Home: Reading, Language Skills, Spelling, Math, Science & Social Studies (Learn at Home)