Cindy Downes - Homeschool Blogger

Dreams and Designs Review

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:32:00 -0500

There’s something for everyone in this delightful, 58-page e-book by Donna Campos: creativity with display boards, desk makeovers, file folder timelines, creative ways to use index cards, and a variety of different household organizers.

Donna is a creative guru! She’ll tell you how to use a simple display board to create customized calendars for learning, keeping track of chores, or assigning schoolwork.

She’ll show you how to use a display board to create a puppet theatre, in which your children can act out historical events or their own stories.

And you won’t want to miss her desk makeover. I call it the Extreme Makeover for Homeschoolers! Donna has provides detailed instructions on how to maximize convenience and space in your home using a narrow computer desk, caster wheels, and a variety of hooks, brackets and dowel rods. Amazing!

And timelines . . . forget purchasing timelines. Donna presents a unique answer to the creation and storage of timelines using . . . well you’ll just have to read the book! Trust me, you won’t want to miss this one either!

Every homeschooler will benefit from this e-book whether you’re looking for ways to create more space, save money, or just plain have some fun. To get more information or purchase this e-book, go to the TOS Web site.

Mentoring Again!

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:49:00 -0500

I have the privilege of mentoring a young lady during her 9th grade year. Her name is Chaney. We are going to meet every Wednesday during the school year and work on school projects. Her mom is allowing me to work with her on grammar, composition, history and literature. How much fun is that!

I wrote about our first day on my personal blog - Cindy Downes. I'll continue to add to this blog as our year goes by. Chaney has started a blog here on HSB. She is MercyMoon. Stop by and make her your friend!

Science Kits by Mail

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:53:00 -0500

I just discovered a science resource called The Young Scientist Club. It was designed by a team of students at Harvard University to increase a child's interest in science.

Each month (or bi-monthly depending on the subscription you choose), your child receives a science kit and instructions. The kits cover all sorts of topics from batteries to bacteria to bones and muscles. You can see a complete list here. Not only do the kits introduce your child to science, but they also reinforce thinking and writing skills.

I definitely recommend this as a good investment in your child's science education!

Wow - I can't believe it's been so long!

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:28:00 -0500

It's been a long time since I posted on here. My life has been SO BUSY! I'm off school this summer and enjoying the time to catch up on projects I've neglected since 2007! I also joined Toastmasters and some writing groups. That has been fun. I also had to do some DEEP cleaning as I haven't had time to do much of that while school was in session. My hubbie and I went on vacation last week - first since I started school. We went to Dallas and bought lots of books! You can never have too many books. I found a new bookstore in Dallas called Legacy Books. It's the largest independent bookstore in the U.S. Because it's independent, it offers a lot of different books than you'll find in Borders, B&N, and BooksAMillion. I highly recommend it.

I'm so looking for summer!

Thu, 28 May 2009 21:39:00 -0500

Finally, done with college for the year. I have two classes left in the Fall and then I graduate in December. Hallelujah! I hope to spend some time on here blogging again this summer. I miss it!

Out for Two Weeks

Mon, 11 May 2009 05:03:00 -0500

I'll be out of circulation again for two weeks. I am taking a 2-week intercession class in services marketing at OSU. It's a 3-credit course crammed into two weeks. Never done this before - wish me luck! Have a great May. I'll be back later this month!

A list of FREEBIES

Mon, 4 May 2009 20:34:00 -0500

I put together this list of FREEBIES on the Internet to help you save money on curriculum, especially during this recession. I hope it is helpful.

Review of SpellQuizzer

Sun, 3 May 2009 19:10:00 -0500

I just learned about SpellQuizzer today, a spelling software program for Windows only. What intrigued me about the program is that you can type in and record your own spelling words. Your child hears the word and has to type the correct spelling back into the computer.

I think this would be great with a resource like Spelling Power. Use the software to teach and test the spelling lists while you work on something else with another child. These two items would be the only curriculum you would need for spelling for 1-12th grade!

Check it out, yourself at: SpellQuizzer.com.

I am so excited - I get a whole week to blog!

Sat, 2 May 2009 21:56:00 -0500

I got out of school early since I don't have to take any finals! So, I have a whole week to catch up on my homeschool blogs! I have really missed you all! I missed the curriculum fair in Oklahoma City today because I had to take my cat to the vet at the last minute. He has some kind of eye infection. I have a couple of products I need to add under Reviews, so I hope to get to that this week also. After my week off, I have two weeks of all-day classes; then I have June and July off. Yipee! After that, only two more classes and I will be DONE!

Lincoln VS. Darwin

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:24:00 -0600

I just finished reading TOS's Wee-Book, Lincoln vs. Darwin and found it very interesting! This is the perfect resource to use as a discussion starter or as an introduction to a unit on Lincoln, Darwin, or evolution. It's short so it doesn't take a lot of time. It includes discussion questions to get you started. And it's full of very interesting facts about Lincoln and Darwin. Best of all, right now it's FREE!

Lincoln vs. Darwin is just one of several Wee-Books now available on their Web site. What a novel idea!