| Teaching Teens |
Literature Helps in High SchoolKerry,I wonder if you would give me you in put on the curriculum for a literature and reading? The one I was looking into is Prentice Hall. Would you say this is something to use or do have a suggestion on a better curriculum? I am always a little reluctant about reading contents. I thought you might be able to help. Here's what I wrote her back... Shelly, I tend to make my own list of books to read at the high school level. If you need a literature guide, I recommend Progeny Press. They have guides from a Christian perspective. I tend to have my kids read classics and great books when they are older. Some of them are novels; others are church history/philosophy/theology. Another guide I like is TruthQuest History. She has written guides through historical time periods from a Christian worldview. As you move along in history, you are provided reading lists with suggested age levels. She usually makes cautionary remarks if you should be careful about a certain book. Another one of my favorite tools to use with all levels as you examine literature is Teaching the Classics. It shows you how to analyze the classic books. It can be used with any book, even preschool books. If you need a curriculum that spells it out for you, the 2 I would recommend are Sonlight & Veritas Press. I believe Veritas will have a heavier reading load. Hope this helps a little. Kerry 7:10 AM - Sep. 29, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentIt's Here TodayI'm going to make this short and sweet..."8 Weeks To Profits" launches TODAY, September 4, at 12:00 NOON (Central Time). If you visit the launch page BEFORE 12:00 NOON (Central Time), you will see a countdown clock. But at EXACTLY 12:00 Noon TODAY, REFRESH your browser and you will see the live sales page where you can read all about the course (and purchase it!) What is "8 Weeks To Profits"? It's a step by step video course that will help you create your very own online business. You can see more details on my blog: http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com/blog --------------------------------------------------------- To watch our "8 Weeks To Profits" Launch & Get our Free Webinar,sign up here: http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com/ --------------------------------------------------------- And you will WANT to be at the web site at NOON because of the great Fast Mover Bonuses we have for you. Here they are: FIRST 3 FAST MOVERS! Secrets To Building Sites That Sell - Discover how to overcome all the technical hurdles of developing a website for physical products (Value $447) FIRST 4 FAST MOVERS! Midwest Super Conference - A ticket to one of the best internet marketing conferences of the year. And Kerry and I will be speaking there! Put your Internet business on the fast track and learn from 14 pros! (Value $697) FIRST 11 FAST MOVERS! Free One-on-One Strategy Consultation with Stephen Beck - You receive a total of 60 minutes consultation about your information product or any aspect of your online business. (Value $500) FIRST 34 FAST MOVERS! Private Label Rights Package - 4 Private Label Rights Products in popular niches that you can start selling immediately. Some even come with a website template! (Value $97) FIRST 59 FAST MOVERS! 17 Simple But Deadly Effective Email Marketing Tweaks - Want emails that get your visitors to whip out their wallets and buy your products? Then this is the ebook you need to read! (Value $47) FIRST 73 FAST MOVERS! Google Adwords For Newbies - Google Adwords is one of the most effective ways of getting traffic to your site. And it is also one of the most confusing tools to learn. This ebook takes the mystery out of Google Adwords! (Value $37) FIRST 99 FAST MOVERS! Secrets of Monthly Continuity Webinar - Stephen will host a webinar & share his secrets to successful monthly continuity - how to set it up, where to find content, and much more. (Value $97) Special Bonus - Everyone Who Purchases BEFORE Sunday at MIDNIGHT (Eastern) How To Start Your Own Business...for Families and Teens - Our popular DVD series to give you an overview of starting your own business. (Value $97) ***To recap, visit the launch page at launch time and REFRESH your browser. You will see the sales page and be able to purchase the course at that time. --------------------------------------------------------- To watch our "8 Weeks To Profits" Launch & Get our Free Webinar,sign up here: http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com/ --------------------------------------------------------- Alternatively, you can call our office TODAY, September 4, at 12:00 NOON (Central Time) and we will take your order then. Here are the phone numbers: 979-703-5724 or 979-703-5343. Please only call to make a purchase as there will be lots of people going after the Fast Mover Bonuses! See you tomorrow! Stephen Beck http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com 7:52 AM - Sep. 4, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentFREE Back to School WebinarFREE Back to School WebinarI have some exciting news for you... I got some more phone lines for you to attend a free webinar this Tuesday, September 2. My hubby, Steve, had already filled up our 200 lines, so we had to get some more for you! Let me tell you about it. If you're like me, you're homeschooling your children to give them an advantage. You want them to be more prepared as an adult than kids who attend school. This means you must teach them real life skills in your homeschool. What better time to start than right now - Back to School Time. As you may know, we've been doing just that-integrating real life in our homeschool. Let me tell you our story... Over the past few years Steve & I stumbled over some secrets to write and create ebooks and info products that others want to buy. Not only have we done it themselves, we are teaching our children how they can write their own ebook or create their own info product. (More on this later) Steve & I are NOT internet gurus with some special technical skills. Far from it...my kids try to keep me AWAY from my website so I don't mess it up. We are like the couple next door - your regular, ordinary neighbors. We have some secrets we want to share with you & your kids so you don't make the same mistakes we made trying to figure it out. This Tuesday, September 2 (6pm Pacific time), we will share our secrets about how we (Steve, Kerry, & our kids) create ebooks and sell them over & over again. These are tricks and tips that are so easy, you can even teach your children so they can make money now or as an adult. http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=750575 =========================================== What will you discover on our webinar? =========================================== - How an ordinary person or teenager without extraordinary talent or skills can create an information product that will sell like hotcakes! - How a homeschool mom of three created a $27 ebook and made $11,206 in her first 19 days almost by magic! - The schedule you can follow to teach your children how to research, write, publish and sell their own ebook. - The 6 steps to creating a "Can’t Miss" information product, and how each step plays a specific role for neutralizing the risk of starting an online business! - As many different ideas for an information product as we can squeeze into a 60 minute webinar! - The 4 biggest obstacles that stand between your kids and a completed ebook or info product http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=750575 On this 70-minute Webinar, you'll discover more about ... ... how your kids can create their very own information product ... how to choose a profitable topic ... and how to put ALL of this on AUTO-PILOT so you & your kids can spend time doing what really matters to your family... reaching out to others and enjoying family/friends. It's happening THIS Tuesday, September 2 at 6:00PM (Pacific Standard Time) especially for you. Right now, over 260 people have already claimed their spots...which means you need to act fast before the seats run out! At this rate, it's a sure bet the call will be completely booked -- so make sure you register below while you still have time! Here's the full scoop: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=750575 When you get to that page, just register for the webinar so your seat is reserved. Check your email box for the webinar details. ========================================== Why should YOU watch this webinar? ========================================== Because Stephen & Kerry will be sharing special content that will NOT be on the replay line. They will also have a special deal only available to you if you watch the LIVE webinar! So, I'd suggest carving out time on Tuesday night because this could change your life. ============================================================= Never been to a webinar??? Not sure what to expect??? ============================================================= No problem!!! After you register for the webinar, you'll be taken to a page that tells you how it works and you'll get an email with all the directions. You get to watch your computer screen to see the video and listen on your phone to hear our seminar. It's really that easy! Blessings, Kerry Beck ps. This may not be your "normal" Back to School workshop, but I can guarantee it will energize your school this year. pps. Feel free to have your kids join you on the speaker phone. In fact, have the entire family listen and watch together. Then, you can start creating your info product this weekend and get it online to sell. http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=750575 {SIGNATURE 2} s year. pps. Feel free to have your kids join you on the speaker phone. In fact, have the entire family listen and watch together. Then, you can start creating your info product this weekend and get it online to sell. http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=750575 {SIGNATURE 2} 8:36 AM - Sep. 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentHow Teens Can eBayAre you gearing up for a new school year? We just finished our vacation last week, so I'm trying to get back into a routine. Hey, I posted some pictures of our trip with my middle daughter, Gentry. She graduated from high school this year so we took her on a senior trip to Boston & New York. You can see pics here:http://www.CurriculumConnection.net/blog >>> The real reason I'm writing you is to tell you about a few freebies this week. The past few years I've been asked to speak at summer conferences about helping your kids with practical skills, specifically how to start an eBay business. Tonight a good friend of mine, Jeff Mills, will be interviewing me about my eBay business. There is no fee to listen to his interview. You can read all about how to sign up to listen on Jeff's site right here: http://www.shopgoldmills.com/cmd.php?Clk=2549853 When you get to that website, you'll see info about Jeff's Midwest Conference where I'll be a speaker. (That's why he's interviewing me) Go ahead and sign up in the right-hand box. You'll get all the call info for tonight (Tuesday, August 26). If you live in the mid-west, you'll also be interested to know about his Midwest Conference. Even if you don't live in the mid-west, you'll want to come and learn from some top-notch speakers how to get started online. ==================================================================== Remember there's no cost to listen tonight...Tuesday, August 26 ==================================================================== I look forward to talking to you! Blessings, Kerry Beck ps. The other workshop we are often asked to give at homeschool conferences is "How To Teach Your Kids To Start Their Own Business". Jeff will be asking Steve how he got started with his own business this Thursday, August 28. Sign up now to hear both calls. http://www.shopgoldmills.com/cmd.php?Clk=2549853 pps. If you still homeschool, Steve will be sharing how your students can make their own information product. It's a perfect tie-in with Writing, Business, Research Skills and Math. Well, that goes for eBay too! Talk to you tonight! http://www.shopgoldmills.com/cmd.php?Clk=2549853 9:34 AM - Aug. 26, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentReading Journals Encourage WritingIf you're looking for powerful tools to help your child learn more, and retain more, look no further than a reading journal.Journal writing programs are a great way for children to improve their writing while encouraging their learning through readings. It works for any child, regardless of age. All they need to do is write about what they have read and learned. My teenagers started their reading journals this year. At first, they only wrote about specific events they read about. Over time, they included writings on what characters did and why, and even included writings on lessons learned through the stories. By the end of the year, they used their journal entries to delve deeply into stories, enhancing their understanding. This year, my twelve-year-old son is starting his reading journal. Each day, he writes an entry on what he learned. We've found this helpful with Bible readings and devotionals - a great way to reinforce important lessons! If you have younger children, write their journal entry for them as they narrate it. They can re-write the narrative, using their best handwriting, into their journal on the next day. The journals don't necessarily teach new writing skills, although the practice is certainly helpful. The main benefit is that kids retain their lessons better, and incorporate those lessons into day-to-day life. It may be beneficial to select certain entries and polish them into a final form using Teaching Writing: Structure & Style. To help kids learn to write better, formal assignments are very helpful. Those lessons can be enhanced through the use of journal entries, which increase understanding and retention. These journal entries are a great springboard to new topics, which can lead to new writing assignments and a better understanding of life's lessons. ----------------------------------- © Kerry Beck, 2008 You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below. ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms with journal writing programs. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 11:07 PM - Aug. 6, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentToo Many Boxes...!It's been exactly 3 weeks since the moving truck dumped all of our worldy possessions in our front yard in Texas. Actually, they were kind enough to bring all the boxes inside! Of course, we have been feverishly unpacking and guess what? Somehow we GREW when we were in Idaho! Meaning, we brought home a lot more inventory than Kerry and I expected. Just look at the pictures of the inventory we have yet to find a place for!
Well, we would rather NOT find a place for it in our home...we want to find a place for it in your home! And we are going to make it worth your while! We are placing 2 items on sale for one week only... ------------------------------------------------------------- "The Getting Started Online System" include 3 disks and is PACKED with tons of information and resources to getting your online business up and running quickly. Disk #1 includes: Disk #2 includes: Disk #3 includes: If you ever wanted to "dip your toe in the water" and see if an online business is right for you...now's your chance! We plan to sell all three disks for $97. But we wanted to let our friends have first crack at it for $67. That's right! $67 will open a whole new opportunity and way of thinking for you and your family. Click on the link below now. http://www.FamilyEbiz.com/GettingStarted.htm Here's the deal. The sale will only last until Sunday, August 9th at 12 midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Then I will change the price. Also, I only have a limited quantity of these and I will stop the sale price when I have sold 150 of them. So, the sale ends on Sunday, August 9th or when 150 have been sold...whichever comes first! Attention: 8WeeksToProfits owners and Secrets To Building Sites That Sell owners... ------------------------------------------------------------- That's right. We still have another box of the videos where I teach about 20 teenagers how to start their own business. Here's what I taught those teens: - how to view a business from the biblical perspective. - the 3 types of businesses and why they are important to know BEFORE spending hard earned dollars. - how to count the costs BEFORE they start a business...thus saving them time, money and tons of frustration. - how to come up with profitable and fun business ideas that even young people can do. - how to market a new business so you never have to worry about finding new customers again! - how to calculate crucial financial numbers that will keep your business sound, healthy and making a generous profit - how to price your products and services so you can get the most out of the hard work that you do - how to take a physical business to the Internet and beyond. And best of all, I did this in a fun and entertaining workshop. In fact, you will see lots of interaction on the videos with the teens in the workshop. they even share their ideas and concerns for starting their own businesses! Now, in the LIVE workshop, I handed every student a workbook. But I have re-created that workbook on a CD so the students who watch the video can follow along - just like the ones in the LIVE workshop. So, guess what? I'm not planning on doing any more LIVE teen business workshops. Everything I need to say about the subject is included in this 4 DVD set plus workbook on CD. These video sets sell regularly on my web site for $97. In fact, Andrew Pudewa, the creator of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), buys hundreds of them for his booth at homeschool book fairs around the country. So, I am allowing you to STEAL one of these video sets from me for $67!!! That's right. $67! But you had better move SUPER QUICK!. I don't expect them to last long - in fact, I will be surprised if any of the video sets are around by Sunday. Click on the link below right now! http://www.FamilyEbiz.com/TeenBusinessWorkshop Imagine. Giving your family and your teens the keys to an entrepreneurial future by getting them this video set. Over 8 hours of instruction complete with workbook on CD that you can print out. This can be one of your core subjects this fall! So act now! I will not be selling them for $67 after these videos are gone. Visit the link below to reserve your copy now: Blessings, Stephen Beck PS...Please don't get angry when the price goes up after Sunday...or if all the copies have sold out. I've done my best to give you FAIR warning! 12:55 PM - Aug. 6, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentScrapbooking, Writing & Summer TimeWriting should be an integral part of our lives! Why not include it in your summer activities?As I ponder how we spend the last few weeks of summer, I am reminded of the educational value of scrapbooking. In the past I have written about ideas you can use to teach your children writing and art techniques as you scrapbook. Since we enjoy scrapbooking so much, I plan to have my children make some scrapbook gifts and integrate scrapbooking with writing. For many of the pages they create, they will be writing a paragraph about that page. Of course, I will use Excellence in Writing to work through the writing process by developing a brief outline, writing a rough draft and editing their paragraph for stylistic techniques and possible errors. Writing can take many forms throughout the summer. Your kids may write letters to grandparents, friends at camp or other friends/family. They might keep a journal of what their favorite summer memory. Or, write an article about their vacation. You can even publish the article online at www.ezinearticles.com. Personally, I love to hear what my family and friends are doing. Reading Christmas letters is a special treat in our house. Do you send out a Christmas letter updating your friends and family? Let your children help you write your letter and start this week. For several years, our children are co-authors of our Christmas letter. When they were younger, they simply wrote sentences about events they enjoyed. They have also written paragraphs about one of their favorite memories of the year and one of the lessons God has taught them this past year. You can use Excellence in Writing's unit on creative writing to develop a well-written short essay (3-5 paragraphs). Who knows??? If we start now, maybe our Christmas letter will be ready to mail by Thanksgiving. (Well, don't hold your breath!) One last idea is to have your children write down is their favorite memories about this past summer. I am keeping their answers in their journals. Won't it be fun to look back and see what they thought was important in 2008? Blessings, Kerry Beck ps. You DON'T have to scrapbook to use these ideas. Simply get a cool journhal or journal to keep copies your kids' thoughts & writings...for memory sake. Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms by using predictable books in writing. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 1:02 PM - Aug. 4, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentWriting for a ReasonThe most common complaint I hear from parents has to do with their child's approach to writing. It's quite normal for children to resist writing assignments. I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that way. By providing your child with a clear purpose for their written assignments, you will boost their motivation and encourage them to do their best work. Through the process of writing format through publishing, my kids do better work, and are happier about it, too!I have three children, and each are published authors despite their tender ages. When he was eight, my son wrote a jungle book to teach younger children their ABCs. He painstakingly researched each plant and animal in the jungle for a full year before he was ready to complete his Jungle ABC book. Using a writing style checklist (part of the Excellence in Writing program) helped him to write an effective paragraph for each plant and animal he chose. Of course, he didn't work on his book for eight hours a day, every day for a year. After all, he's just a kid! The amazing thing is that he remained motivated all year long. Because of his efforts, he was able to complete his book at the beginning of June. Here's how we kept our son motivated, saving us from nagging and arguing. First, we assigned him a writing topic that was interesting to him. He's been fascinated by jungle plants and animals for years, and was happy to keep reading and learning more. Second, he was excited at the thought of writing his own book, one that he could sell to earn money for his efforts. Because he had a reason for writing, he remained motivated to complete the project. Of course, most writing assignments aren't done for monetary gain. There are other motivators besides money. For example, you can encourage your child to write letters to friends and relatives; write a story or poem to enter in a contest; write a news article for the family newsletter; relate a funny story on something that happened to them - practically any clear purpose can make writing assignments more enjoyable and effective. After your child has a purpose for writing, they need to get their ideas out of their head and onto paper. Ideas have to be arranged in a logical order, and then the writing process can begin. Teaching Writing: Structure & Style is the best product to teach kids how to write. It teaches your children to write for a variety of purposes like letters, stories, and essays. Use the process of writing format through publishing to add purpose to your child's writing assignments. Remember, writing assignments don't have to be about writing - they can, and should, be about a range of topics, preferably based on topics which you and your child are studying at the time. Writing is a skill, one that can be applied to any number of topics. Help your child to write with purpose by asking them to write on many topics, from dragons to trigonometry, summer vacations to science fairs. It makes all the difference in the world! ----------------------------------- © Kerry Beck, 2008 You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below. ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms with the process of writing format through publishing. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 10:12 AM - Aug. 1, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentUsing Great Topics to Teach WritingDespite all the articles I wrote to teach kids to write, the children often teach me more than I teach them. Thanks to my son, I learned another powerful lesson, one that makes me a better teacher while helping him become a better writer. Here's what happened.Last week, my son's lesson was writing a biographical sketch in five paragraphs. We had recently been studying the Roman Empire, and I hoped that he would write on one of the church's founding fathers - not only would this reinforce those lessons, but he would also have the chance to delve more deeply into books which we hadn't had time to read earlier. Despite my excitement, I could see he was less than eager. He was clearly not interested in the topic which I found so fascinating. Once we talked about baseball, that all changed. He had been reading about the life of Derek Jeter, and wanted to learn more. When I suggested that he write his biography on Jeter, his whole attitude changed - suddenly, he couldn't wait to get started! He already knew of three sources for more information, and couldn't wait to get started. That settled it - Derek Jeter it would be. Over the past week, he has been hard at work researching Mr. Jeter's life and collecting information. Today's assignment was to narrow the facts down to three, keeping his paper from becoming a full book. From this point, he will work on an effective outline and begin to write. He is much happier and more enthusiastic about his assignment, since he is writing about a topic that interests him. This keeps him motivated, and his writing is most effective when he has the freedom to choose a topic. He'll learn more, and retain more, this way. By letting your kids choose their own topics, they take ownership of their project. Give it a try - it makes a huge difference! Your children will learn more and be happier about it; you'll be thrilled with the results. ----------------------------------- © Kerry Beck, 2008 You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below. ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms with a lesson on writing a biographical sketch. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 10:55 PM - Jul. 27, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentWhat's Your Method for Teaching Writing Skills? Part IIIIt's not always easy to teach kids how to write. The methods in this three-part series can simplify the process for both you and your students. As a writing teacher, you will have the greatest success by using predictable books to teach writing. Once you have outlined a simple story as shown in part two, follow these guidelines to complete the exercise.Day 2 Gather your outline, some blank paper, and a pen or pencil. Your child can re-tell the story (out loud!) to refresh his memory - let him use the outline to stay on track. Using the outline, have your child write a new sentence for each line. It is important to stress that the new sentence does not have to be exactly the same as the original. Don't be surprised to find that your child has even made the story better! Once each line is complete, your child will have a full paragraph. Very young children may dictate each sentence as you write. At this point, you should check the paragraph for proper punctuation and spelling. Do not add or subtract words or rewrite the sentences - this is not your writing, it is your child's writing. Older students who are capable of editing their own work for spelling and punctuation should do so on day three. Day 3 This is the final day for this lesson. Have your child copy out his completed paragraph or story, in his own words. Make sure that younger children incorporate spelling and punctuation changes; older children can make these changes on their own. Don't be surprised if you see areas which need improvement - that is perfectly natural, and those concepts can be added in a later lesson. In this writing exercise, your child doesn't have to worry about selecting a topic, since he will be provided with a story or paragraph to start with. Repeat this simple activity several times. Your students will become more skilled in outlining and rewriting paragraphs. Choose paragraphs from several sources, depending on your child's interests and studies. This is a great method to teach writing to your students! ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms by using predictable books in writing. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 10:49 PM - Jul. 22, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentWhat's Your Method for Teaching Writing Skills? Part IIIn part I of this series, I told you about Andrew Pudewa's incredible system to teach students how to write. In his program, Teaching Writing: Structure and Style, he teaches students how to write, not how to choose a topic.I've used this model with great results. Today, I'll show you some free writing lessons online that are based on Mr. Pudewa's system. It's never too late to help your child develop strong writing skills. If your child is just starting school or is struggling to keep up, this is a good place to start teaching them how to write. Mr. Pudewa suggests using predictable books to teach writing, so choose one that doesn't have many twists and turns in the story line. Ready? Let's begin! Day 1 To begin, find a simple, one-page story. Aesop's Fables are a perfect length, though you may choose any story to begin. Sit down with your child and read the story aloud. Once you are finished, create a "structure" or outline; this will help when you and your child write an outline of key words in the story. Your structure should look like this: I. 1. 2. 3. 4. You will notice that there are no letters, only numbers, on this structure. There is an excellent reason for this -- children find a numbered outline easier to follow than one that includes letters. Make sure that you have a number for each sentence in the story. Re-read the first sentence with your child, and then ask the student to choose 3 key words from the sentence. These words will help him (or her, of course) to remember the first sentence. Underline or circle those words, and then write them (in order!) on "I". These keywords will help him recall the story later, when he puts it into his own words. From there, read the second sentence and choose another three key words. Write those words beside 1. If your child only has a word or two, that's fine - just make sure that there are no more than three words. Your child must decide for himself which words to choose. We aren't trying to force your child to remember every little detail, just the highlights so he can re-write the sentences later. Continue in this fashion until the outline is complete, and then put away the original story. Now let your child tell you what each paragraph was about, using the written outline as a guide. It is easier for children to say it out loud, rather than writing it all down. Congratulations! You have completed the first half of this writing lesson! Whatever the age of your children, make sure that they tell you the story again, paragraph by paragraph. It may seem childish, especially for older children, but it is an important part of the thought process. Join us for part 3 of this series, where I share more free writing lessons online. Use this easy outline to help your children learn to write while developing their own voice. ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms with free writing lessons online. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 12:23 AM - Jul. 17, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentWhat’s Your Method for Teaching Writing Skills? Part IWhen we decided to homeschool our children, we did not buy a writing curriculum. As a fifth-grade teacher with six years experience, I knew how to create a writing curriculum. Most of the homeschool writing programs I saw were like the writing curriculum in the public school system. These programs taught students what to write, not how to write.I was firmly convinced that this was the best approach to teaching writing, at least until I discovered the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). Its founder, Andrew Pudewa, has created a fascinating product called Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. His program does not focus on helping students develop ideas to write about. Instead, he focuses on teaching students how to write. This seemed contrary to all my training - my students, like all others, were most concerned about finding a topic to write about. Andrew Pudewa’s approach to writing is completely different. Rather than have students decide on the topic, he tells them what to write about. Using his lesson plans for writing process, students learn a variety of "structures". These structures consist of outlines for various types of writings - essays, letters, and more. Students choose an appropriate outline depending on what kind of writing they are doing and the reasons for writing. Teaching Writing goes beyond structure, teaching students how to develop their writing "style"; thus, the program name Teaching Writing: Structure and Style. Mr. Pudewa teaches students how to develop and vary their writing style. Students use strong action words and effective adjectives to create powerful sentences. Once students learn how to dress up their sentences, they learn various methods to open their sentences. In part two of this series, I will show you a simple activity to do with your children. This activity can be done anytime - during the school year or over summer vacation. If you have a budding writer or an older student who is struggling to learn how to write, you won’t want to miss the second installment of teaching writing skills. ----------------------------------- © Kerry Beck, 2008 You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below. ----------------------------------- Kerry Beck helps teachers and homeschool moms about lesson plans for writing process. She has a free mini-course to show you how to teach writing at Teaching Writing. 9:00 AM - Jul. 12, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentSuper Fast, Super Cheap College Education!Wow! The packers are here and most of our worldly possessions are in boxes! One more day of packing, then celebrating July 4th with friends, then loading the truck on July 5th.I can't believe it...we're really going home to Texas! It's been a long time. So, I will be out of pocket for about a week. But I have something to share with you that couldn't wait ...one of my hubby's students has created a REALLY COOL ebook on getting a college degree for HALF the price (actually, for a lot less than half the price!) and in HALF the time! Her name is Amanda Suryan and she is a homeschooler that got fed up with the secular college scene and decided to take her education into her own hands! Now, she can show how your child (or someone you know) can get a 4 year degree in half the time at a SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS in the comfort of your own home! http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com/DistanceLearning.html And I know this stuff works because my own daughter will get her 4 year Marketing Degree in about 1-1/2 years! (hmmm ...I wonder why she chose marketing!) But here's the deal... Steve is twisting Amanda's arm to raise her prices because she offers so much CONTENT and so many BONUSES ...and because this ebook will save you tons of time, gobs of money and loads of frustration! So, she is taking my advice. Amanda will RAISE her price on July 4th. So, get it BEFORE July 4th! http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com/DistanceLearning.html So, declare your INDEPENDENCE from exorbitant College tuition and take control over your own education...visit the link below and get this AMAZING resource BEFORE the price goes up on July 4th! Blessings, Kerry Beck PS...Don't delay. A college degree in half the time and way less than half the price using this AMAZING resource! Order BEFORE July 4th for SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS! ==> http://www.8WeeksToProfits.com/DistanceLearning.html PSS...even if your children are grown, get this for your grand children, or the children of your friends and neighbors! 8:18 AM - Jul. 1, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentLast Day for Incredible Moving SaleIn case you didn't get my last email, I wanted to remind you that today is the last day for our Incredible Moving Sale.We need to clear out our inventory and reduce the weight we pay United Moving. So we are offering what’s left of our inventory at incredible prices. You won’t see the prices again. This doesn’t mean we won’t be selling these ever again. I’ll be stocking up as soon as we get to Texas, but the prices will go back to normal at that time. Check out the deals below on the next blog post. But if you want a really good deal, take a look at these prices. I put them on both my blogs so you can look at our house pics and see these fantastic deals --->>> Over 50% off some items --->>> $10, $20, $40 gift certificates for other items Some items like A Thomas Jefferson Education have already SOLD OUT! If it says "sold out" on my blog, don't try to order it from our website because there are no more of those items. We will simply refund your money for that item. Don't wait any longer, go get some fantastic deals on homeschooling books. Scroll down to the next post. Blessings, Kerry Beck ps. This is your last chance to get some great prices since we are moving and need to reduce the weight (and final dollar figure) on our moving expense. Help me out by grabbing some cheap books that haven’t been on sale before. 8:25 AM - Jun. 30, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentBored, Nothing to Do - Summer Activities For Kids"Mom, I'm bored. There's nothing to do!" I'm sure you never hear that in your house, right? Have you ever read the book by Peter Spier, Bored, Nothing To Do? It's about two brothers who are bored so their mom sends them outside to do "something". Out in the garage, they build an airplane and fly it...If you haven't read the book, go to your library and grab a copy. Whether you're 6, 16 or 36, you'll enjoy it. I think I'll go read it again! The airplane "project" results from boredom. There are two solutions to your kids' boredom I want to share with you. I think both have positive outcomes for your children this summer and hope you will share these with your friends & family. Last fall I read an article by our local librarian. She made the point that boredom in children produces creativity. Think about it. When your children are bored, they often find something to do on their own. It takes creativity to imagine and invent your own "project". Remember the two brothers in Spier's book. They were bored and definitely used their creativity to build & fly an airplane. With this in mind, you need to provide stimulating resources for your children. Resources can be as simple as the sticks in the backyard or more involved like craft baskets or lego boxes. When they are bored, they can use those resources as they spark their own imagination to overcome boredom. Usually, kids will find something to do because they don't want to be bored. Allowing your children to overcome boredom with their own creative projects allows you to see your children's real passions and interests. Another solution to boredom is pointing out places your children could go to cure their boredom. If your son simply sits on the couch staring at the ceiling, remind him of the boxes of legos in his closet or the race track pieces under his bed. When your daughter lies on her bed with nothing to do, mention the basket of art supplies in the family room. You get the idea. I realize busy moms don't always have time to remember suggestions for your kids to encourage creativity. I have a list of 206 summer fun activities for kids that I share with my subscribers every year. I read it myself and choose a few I'd like to do with my own children. http://www.curriculumconnection.net/blog/2007/06/26/bored-nothing-to-do-this-summer After you get this list, feel free to print it, cut them out and put each one in a jar. Let your kids choose one when they are "bored". By the way, this list was sent to me years ago and I don't know its origin. To get ready for the next school year, Kerry Beck gives her free audio workshop at Home School Material. This summer she also gives you a free report, "How to Get It All Done" at Christian Homeschool Curriculum. 1:55 PM - Jun. 10, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentAre Your Kids Bored This Summer?Are Your Kids Bored This Summer?I just got back from a weekend with Steve and we had so much fun. If you didn't get my last email, I have been in Texas getting our home ready for our move in July. Steve & the kids are still in Idaho, so we met for a business meeting in Bethesda, Maryland last weekend. We stayed for a couple of extra days since we won't be together for the next 3 weeks (wow...that sounds like a long time). I wanted to get some pics online, but decided this email was more important for YOU! I will post some pictures on my blog of our dinner cruise down the Potomac, our tour of US Naval Academy and a really old, bumpy street in lexandria. What's up for this summer? Two things! 1. You may have received an email about our new Math Adventure Package of living books. The link on that page was messed up and I am soooo sorry. I just found out about it yesterday. Here's the right link: http://www.CurriculumConnection.net/mathadventure.htm If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to that link and discover our new math living books! Have fun reading stories and your kids will learn math concepts without even knowing it! 2. Summer is just around the corner. By now, you are probably gearing down from school and getting ready for a fun-filled summer. But will your kids get bored? Read my answer to your kids' boredom and 206 cures: http://curriculumconnection.net/blog/2007/06/26/bored-nothing-to-do-this-summer/ Blessings, Kerry ps. Please share my "Bored, Nothing To Do" with your friends and fellow homeschoolers. I want it to encourage moms who are too busy to create fun summer activities. Here's the link again: http://curriculumconnection.net/blog/2007/06/26/bored-nothing-to-do-this-summer/ 9:12 AM - Jun. 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentFor the Sake of Summer Fun, Let's End Boredom, Here and Now!Ahhh.... I'm so bored. You'll never hear that in your house, right?Tried reading the work of Peter Spier, Bored, Nothing to Do? It talks about two siblings who were so bored to the point their mother takes them outside to quit playing video games and watching TV. While in their garage, they build an full-size airplane and male it fly. Didn't read the book yet? Pick up a copy today. Whether your 7, 17, 47, it doesn't matter, you'll still enjoy it. That also means I'm reading it again. Boredom brought about the airplane project in Spier's book. Boredom is a problem among most young people today. I want to share two solutions to boredom that can offer help you through these summer months. Feel free to share these with other parents.. Last fall, I came across an article by our local librarian. She said that if a child gets bored it produces creativity. Need to ponder on it more? If they are bored, they will definitely look for a thing to do. This is were creativity comes in and it is necessary to be able to let your mind conjure up your own creative projects. The 2 siblings in that book by Spier, Remember? Its because they're so bored, soon creativity sets in to enable them to build and fly their airplane project. From this, you can see the importance of providing an environment that stirs up their senses and imagination. Look for items to stimulate creativity. These may include simple items like play doh or complicated craft kits that build marshmallow guns. I tell you boredom will drive them to do something! If you let them overcome boredom on their own and allow them to come up with creative ideas, this allows you see what . Another solution is to let your kids know where you keep all these cool blocks, kits or art supplies. If all your son does is sit in front of the computer, remind him where your digital camera is. Encourage him to make a list of pictures he wants to take and let him loose. Then, show your daughter where the scrapbooking supplies are. She can make a scrapbook of her brother's pictures. It's just that simple. Since moms are so busy, I want to help you this summer. I have a list which could prove to be successful summer activities for kids. Usually, I share them with my subscribers, but I want to share it with you, too. You can get your copy of 206 summer fun activites right here: http://curriculumconnection.net/blog/2007/06/26/bored-nothing-to-do-this-summer/ Now, you can print it and put it up on the refrigerator door. Send your child to the frig when they are bored. Have them choose a number between 1 and 206. Look up that activity and get started having summer fun. On a final note, this particular list was sent to me a couple of years ago and even I can't figure out who gave it to me. 2:16 PM - May. 27, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentQuick Note...Please do not send any more orders through paypal. We've sold most of the items we sent yesterday. If you want to see if your item is still available, send an email to info@CurriculumConnection.net or call 208-882-2477.You can see which items are available at the time of this writing. Look at these 2 websites: http://curriculumconnection.net/blog/2008/05/20/on-my-way-to-texas/ http://curriculumconnection.net/dsctcurriculum.htm Thanks so much for your support, Kerry Beck ps. For those of you who sent me an email while I was flying yesterday . . . we are moving back to our home in Bryan, Texas. 10:15 AM - May. 21, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentMoving Sale
But I hate packing. Man, do I hate packing! But guess what I found. I found a box of 52 videos. Videos of me Here's what I taught those teens:
And best of all, I did this in a fun and entertaining workshop. Now, in the LIVE workshop, I handed every student a workbook. But So, guess what? I'm not planning on doing any more LIVE teen These video sets sell regularly on my web site for $97. In fact, But Andrew has already bought for this season and I don't want to That's right. $47! But you had better move SUPER QUICK!. I don't http://www.FamilyEbiz.com/52only Imagine. Giving your family and your teens the keys to an This can be one of your core subjects this fall! So act now! I will not be selling them for $47 after these 52 are Blessings, Stephen Beck PS...Please don't get angry when the price goes back up to $97 12:34 PM - May. 19, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentOn my way to TexasI'm on my way to Texas this week so we can fix up our house before we move back. For those of you wondering . . . today we confirmed our moving dates. We leave Idaho on July 3 and arrive in Texas on July 6. We hope our stuff gets there soon after that.Speaking of "stuff", we have some scratch, dent & used items. I haven't had time to get them into our shopping cart, so you'll have to call or email if you want any of these. When you call, we can take your payment info over the phone. If you email, be sure to leave a number where you can be reached. It's first-come, first-served....based on when we receive payment. Call right now 208-882-2477 or email info@CurriculumConnection.net. ========================================= Talk to you later. I'm working on a Summer Fun email so watch your inbox this week or next week. Blessings, ps. Here's what is still left from our discounted sale pps. Here's what's available right now. CINDY RUSHTON VISION FORUM Dr. S.M. Davis CD Set (some never opened) All Glory Laud & Honor cassette sale 1.00 APOLOGIA IEW BEAUTIFUL FEET CANON PRESS Mothers & Teenage Daughters - cds PUBLIC SPEAKING & DEBATE KIT 35.00 HENLE LATIN 7.00 8:52 AM - May. 17, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment
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