Don't Kill the Clam, Cut College Costs, Lapbooking Resources
By Heather Idoni
Added Friday, November 02, 2007
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 8 No 85 November 2, 2007
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2007 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- Don't Kill the Clam!
Helpful Tips
-- Cutting College Costs
Winning Website
-- AIG Kid's Answers
Reader Question
-- Lapbooking Resources?
Additional Notes
-- Searchable Archive
-- Our Email Group
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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Don't Kill the Clam
---
"British marine biologists have found what may be the oldest
living animal -- that is, until they killed it.
The team from Bangor University in Wales was dredging the waters
north of Iceland as part of routine research when the unfortunate
specimen, belonging to the clam species Arctica islandica, was
hauled up from waters 250 feet deep.
Only after researchers cut through its shell, which made it more
of an ex-clam, and counted its growth rings, did they realize how
old it had been -- between 405 and 410 years old.
Another clam of the same species had been verified at 220 years
old, and a third may have lived 374 years. But this most recent
clam was the oldest yet.
'It's death is an unfortunate aspect of this work, but we hope
to derive lots of information from it,' postdoctoral scientist
Al Wanamaker told London's Guardian newspaper. 'For our work,
it's a bonus, but it wasn't good for this particular animal.'
---
Wow. Reading this news story got me thinking about how easy it
is to "kill the clam" in regard to our children's creativity,
imagination, and love of learning. Have YOU ever experienced
this in your homeschooling career? I'd love to hear from you!
Let's be transparent for a bit. Perhaps those with more years
and experience would like to share how they killed the clam (or
*nearly* killed the clam and caught themselves in time!) -- or
perhaps you have 'resurrected' a dead clam at some point. If you
need a little more insight into what I'm even talking about, the
links below might help! -- Heather
---
Here is a link that has testimonials from public school teachers
in California about how the "No Child Left Behind" directives
have impacted their teaching. It is very sobering!
http://www.cta.org/issues/esea/Compelling+NCLB+Stories.htm
And if you are video-capable, here is a humorous but thought-
provoking speaker I enjoyed listening to this week:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
---
Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: heather@familyclassroom.net
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Helpful Tip
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Cutting College Costs
"The November 2007 Good Housekeeping magazine has an excellent
article on cutting college costs. It gives suggestions on how
to cut costs, then addresses parent's concerns and questions
on the options given. Also gives tips on savings and overlooked
sources for scholarships.
You can also find the article on their website at:
www.GoodHousekeeping.com
Article title is 'Send Your Kid to College - Without Going Broke'."
-- Jannell in SD
---
Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Winning Website
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Kid's Answers - www.answersingenesis.org/kids
New from Answers in Genesis, this wonderful site features inter-
esting articles, printable and interactive activities, all focused
around giving children scientifically accurate information about
animals and all of creation from a Biblical perspective. Be sure
to click on the video tab to view several installments of 'The
Dangerous Journey', a wonderful retelling of the classic Pilgrim's
Progress, AND short informational videos where kids can learn
the truth about dinosaurs.
-- Cindy, www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I'm started to become interested in lapbooking, but have no idea
how to get started. Are there free resources available or do you
always have to purchase a kit of sorts? My boys are almost 5 and
6 1/2 so I'm looking for something low-key and not too intensive
-- just something fun and to help make things more interesting
for them. Thanks!" -- Diane
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Our Readers' Responses
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"Handsofachild.com has a free lapbook each quarter. You can also
get a membership and receive one each month plus access to their
membership page with lots of downloads. We have done several and
have enjoyed them. If you do a web search, many of the lapbook
companies offer free samples of their products you can download."
-- Cindy
---
"There are several companies which do lapbooks, but the one from
which I have purchased in the past has free samples at their
website, http://liveandlearnpress.com/. They also have a Yahoo
group, LiveAndLearnPress, that has lots of useful info and good
questions/answers for new lapbookers.
This particular company is one of several that does the lapbooks,
and you should maybe look at www.Homeschoolestore.com to search
for others, but Live N Learn is a great place to start. This
company is run by two ladies who live in my community who home-
school their children -- so they know what they are doing!" -- Anne
---
"We haven't done a lapbook yet but here is a site that I have
looked through. It has a yahoo group and everyone is real nice
and helpful. They have several freebies too.
http://www.liveandlearnpress.com/
Remember you are the teacher and can decide how much to do. I
like to include the child in the decision process." -- Beth
---
"When my boys were that age, I had them make a lapbook of some-
thing they were very interested in. For instance, the youngest
did rabbits and the oldest did frogs -- especially because he
wanted to buy some frogs since we acquired a tank from a neighbor.
I used a manilla folder folded in thirds; we went to the library
and got books on the subject. I already had a few websites ready
for them to look at and we made copies of clipart and coloring
pages, etc., with little pockets and little books here and there
throughout the folder." -- Kathy
Note: Kathy sent this email to the HomeschoolingBOYS.com group.
She included a long list of links you can find in her email here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschoolingboys/message/33039
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