Cindy Downes

Aug. 1, 2008 - Developing Future Authors

Do you have a potential author in your homeschool? Do you find that your children can fill in all the English textbook pages but still can’t write an acceptable report? Whether your child is a budding author or just needs to learn practical writing skills, here are some ideas that will help make a difference in your writing program.

A good place to start is your local bookstore (or library). Pick up books that are written for professional writers. What better way to learn to write than to study what the masters are using! (You will need to be careful to watch the content.) Two of my favorite resources for writers are Elements of Style by Strunk and White and 100 Ways To Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost. Each of these resources will not only help you to teach your children how to be a great writer, but writing mechanics and grammar, as well.

If you'd like to read the rest of this article, check out my August 2008 newsletter. You'll also find some book reviews and two free forms to help you homeschool. Enjoy!

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Jul. 4, 2008 - 1776 Special!

Did you get your email about the 1776 special? For one day only - July 4th - you pay $17.76 and you get a one-year subscription to the print magazine, 5 issues of the digital magazine, an e-book of the Star-Spangled State Book, The Citizens Rules e-book, and an e-book of The Independence Day Lapbook!

New Subscribers Here
Renewals Here

I got mine already! What a deal!

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Jun. 26, 2008 - The Schoolhouse Planner

I just looked over the Schoolhouse Planner from the sample pages and all I can say is, WOW! Why wasn't this around when I was homeschooling! (I keep saying that, don't I!)

This looks like the ideal resource for keeping track of your school, your home, and your personal life - all wrapped up in one! Good Job, TOS!

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Jun. 5, 2008 - Want to Save Money!

If you have high school or college-age kids, or you are going back to college yourself, you need to look into the option of CLEP testing. Your high school students can earn college credit, your college student can test out of classes, and you can SAVE BIG MONEY! To find out more, check my Empty Nest Mom Goes to College blog.

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May. 28, 2008 - Learning About the Microscope

Here are some resources to help your kids learn about the microscope:

INTERNET RESOURCES FOR MICROSCOPE LAB

Simple Microscope. Here is historical information about the microscope plus information on how to make one!

Virtual Microscope. Look at "specimens" under the microscope and then try to identify them.

Interactive Microscope. Look at onion root mitosis and moon rock!

Great Scopes. Lots of microscope activity ideas from GreatScopes. Also includes excellent information on how to buy a microscope. This company is operated by homeschoolers.

MicroScape. A virtual microscope lab. Awesome! You are shown a microscopic view of something then the Quicktime movie zooms out so you can see what it is.

Label the parts of a microscope worksheet.

For more, check out my April Newsletter.

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May. 21, 2008 - A Great Homeschool Quote

"By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn." — Latin Proverb

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May. 21, 2008 - May Newsletter

I just finished my May newsletter. I hope you enjoy it!

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May. 13, 2008 - Microscope Work?

If you're teaching your children about how to use a microscope, you might be interested in the resources I listed in my April Newsletter. There's a list of reading books that will help, a list of things you can do with a microscope, and a lot of FREE Internet resources available that will teach the history of microscopes, how to make a microscope, and even a virtual microscope lab! ENJOY!

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May. 2, 2008 - Opportunity for Home School Student!

I am passing this letter on that I received in hopes someone out there has homeschoolers who are interested in this:

Dear Cindy,

My parents homeschooled me because they thought it would present me with more opportunities than traditional schooling. Today I am working with Oklahoma Christian University to help other students around the country to find opportunities for development.

This August, 48 students will be gathering here in Oklahoma City to participate in a week long leadership debate that will be televised nationally on Fox News! Applications are open for the next two weeks (until May 16, 2008) and I want to make sure that students from the homeschool community are well represented. We are interested in having the best students and I know that if we don’t have some homeschooled students we won’t attain that goal.

Students selected for the program will be:

1.       Great communicators
2.       Critical thinkers
3.       Aspiring leaders

If Oklahoma Homeschool has a student like this who wants an opportunity to meet other students from around the nation, who wants to hone their communication skills, who wants to be a better leader, and who wants to learn from some of the best minds in debate, public policy, and leadership in the nation, then please recommend them for the program. We have been working hard to find scholarships for every position so the students selected for the program will only have to pay $75 each, which includes all costs for the program including airfares to Oklahoma City.

If you would like more information I can email you an application packet. Alternatively, you can visit our website and download the information there. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions--my information is below. I look forward to seeing your students at iDebate!

Sincerely,
Marshall B. Sayre

--------------------------------------
Director’s Assistant, iDebate
Oklahoma Christian University

Phone: (405) 425-1065
Email:     marshall.sayre@oc.edu
Web:      www.oc.edu/academy

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Apr. 3, 2008 - Ready for Life

I just finished watching my taped version of OETA's Ready for Life segment on home schooling. They interviewed Paula Neal (and her children), Brian Ray, and myself on our views of home schooling. Paula and Brian did a excellent job! Paula's family is representative of many who home school, so I was glad to see her family featured in the program. So many times, they look for a family that does not truly represent what homeschooling is all about.

The staff at OETA with whom I interacted were all very pleasant and seemed to sincerely want to hear both sides. Overall, I think they did a good job of presenting our side, while allowing the other side to present theirs.

As can be expected in 30 minutes, the program doesn't answer everyone's questions. Those who disagree with home schooling will probably continue to disagree. However, I believe the program will cause those who are looking for alternatives to look more closely at home schooling as an option.

For more: read what SunnyOne has to say.

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Mar. 29, 2008 - OETA to Air Homeschool Documentary

I was interviewed in January for a program that will air on OETA -PBS in April. Here is the information. I hope I did a good job - I haven't seen it yet! Here are the details:

It is called "Stateline", subtitled, "Ready for Life."

It will air on OETA/PBS (Oklahoma Channel 11) 4 times in April.

April 1st at 9:00pm

April 15th at 9:00pm

April 27th at 11:30am

April 29th at 10pm

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Mar. 23, 2008 - Bird Identification

Bird Identification. Spring is coming so it's a great time to go bird watching. Check out this online bird identification resource.

Just this month, I've discovered a hawk and a Blue Heron in my backyard. To see some pictures, check out my photos on my Oklahoma Travel Blog.

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Mar. 23, 2008 - Facebook Group for Homeschooled Kids

If your kids are looking for a Facebook group of homeschoolers, here's one to check out "I am Homeschooled." It has some funny videos on it, too. You must log in to view/join this group.

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Mar. 8, 2008 - Please sign homeschool petition!

Please Sign this Petition to Support Homeschool Freedom in California.

A California Court of Appeal recently decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher.

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Mar. 4, 2008 - Homeschool Newsletter

I just posted my new March homeschool newsletter up on my Web site. It includes two free unit studies: one on Presidents/Elections (which I completely updated this year) and one on Archaeology and the Bible. I hope you enjoy!

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