Shhhhhh CurrClick has a secret...
CurrClick, one of the largest providers of e-book and other online curricula for all levels and disciplines of undergraduate study, is having a Winter Whisper sale. The deal is that they have a "secret" page of FREE and half-price curricula that you can't find just by going to their normal website (like the links above), but only by having access to the special sale links. However, they encourage those who have access to the links to share them with their networks....it's kind of a "word of social networks" kind of sale.
The good news is that for those of you who didn't win the Hands of A Child give-away I had on my blog at the end of the year, you can get a free HOAC lapbook unit on Snakes by going to this page. There is another free lapbook unit on Amphibians from A Journey Through Learning, so you can combine them into a nice herpetology lesson. But my favorite on the Freebie page is a comprehensive set of forms that you can use for homeschooling record keeping....attendance, book lists, lesson plans, even high school transcript forms! Once again, click here to get to the special Freebies page.
There are also HUNDREDS of other curricular packages that are discounted to half price or so on this special sale page. For example, one that I just purchased was by A Journey Through Learning called "An Overview of the 19th Century (A Unit Study with Correlating Copy Work and Games)." Geared for upper elementary through middle school, it is the spine of American history in the 1800's. While I think it needs some supplementing for the middle school level, it has some great visuals and timelines and such that help the students link together the various aspects of this busy time in American history. This is exactly the kind of curriculum that I wouldn't necessarily buy at the full price of $17.00, but since we are studying 19th century history this year, it is worth the sale price of $8.50 to me not to have to go find all these timeline images and such on my own. But you have to go through the sale page to get it for this price (which I why I can't give you a link to go directly to this particular package).
Anyway, there is lots of good curricula at a really good price, so go check it out. But the sale is only running until January 19, 2011, so you only have about one week to download the freebies or buy the others at a discount. And feel free to forward this information to your friends, colleagues, or other networks. I know we can all use some bargains at this time of the year!
Showing posts with label lapbooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lapbooks. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Cycle of Giving and Receiving
I'm not really one for New Year's Resolutions; I tend to make more short-term resolutions or intention statements all along the year. However, I do have one for this year: Take More Baths! However, this isn't really a statement about my personal hygiene....
I'm thrilled to say that in the four months that I've been doing this blog, I've had 3,153 page views, including visitors from dozens of countries from every continent in the world except Antarctica. I don't know who all my readers are, but I'm assuming that most of you all are parents and/or teachers. And parents and teachers are some of the biggest givers in the world. That's not to say that they don't get a lot out of parenting and teaching; I'm sure those activities are up there in the top five list of the most important and significant and rewarding aspects of their lives. But both teaching and parenting involve putting your heart, body, and soul into serving others so that their children and/or students can have full, enriching lives.
The thing about big givers is that they often need to be reminded to allow others to give to them as well. It's not that it is OK for givers to receive sometimes--actually, it is a necessity that they do. If they don't, if they never recharge their own batteries or refill their own stores of energy and spiritual nourishment, they can't keep on giving. And if they never allow those around them, particularly their children and students, to give to them, they are depriving those other people of the opportunity to learn to become givers as well.
For me, this lesson came this week from taking a bath. Usually, I never take baths, even though I enjoy them. Why not? Why, they take too much time, of course. Why spend 20 or 30 minutes in the bathtub when I can get the job done in 5 minutes by showering?
But this year, the people around me were sending me a message. One friend gave me a special candle for taking a bath. Another gave me a lovely bottle of wine, and yet another some rich dark chocolate. Best of all, however, were some friends who worked with my son to give me a handmade gift--which turned out to be some peppermint bath salts and an organic oatmeal facial mask.
So I was rushing around earlier this week, trying to get ready for our trip up to Washington DC, when I realized I needed to wash my hair that night instead of taking time in the morning for a shower. But I was also cleaning up, and happened to pick up the jar of bath salts from my son. I realized that a nice bath would help relax me and my body before having to drive for many hours tomorrow on roads that would be packed with both other cars and with snow (on the sides). Could I actually spend the time on a bath with so many pre-trip chores to get done? When I first mentioned that I was thinking about taking a bath, my son looked surprised, and then said "Thank you." I realized that he didn't really think I would ever use his bath salts, and that it made him feel good for me to actually take advantage of his gift.
My husband offered to wash the dishes and clean up from dinner, and my son said he would pack his own clothes. So I thought, Why not? I gathered all my gifts, ran a bath, poured in the bath salts, mixed up the oatmeal facial and applied it to my skin, and slid into the warm water. I lit my candle, sipped a little wine, ate a little chocolate, and enjoyed both my muscles relaxing in the warm water and my soul reveling in a few minutes of peace after the exhilaration of the holiday season.
When I emerged from the bathroom maybe 45 minutes later, I was clean and rested and much better prepared to face the stress of a day of driving in heavy highway traffic. And my skin! I couldn't believe it! I've always had really dry skin, but my face felt smooth and moisturized like it hasn't felt in a very long time. (And it turned out that it stayed moisturized all through my trip to DC.)
So I realized that it was crazy of me to think that I could spend the time to have a bath at least every week or so. It's something that is cheap, relatively quick, and good for both my body and my soul. And if I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of anyone else either.
So for all you other givers out there--I hope you find something that allows others to give to you (even if it is just leaving you alone for a short while) and make that part of your routine this year. For me, that was the "other thing" I mentioned in yesterday's post--I spent a portion of my New Year's Eve in the bathtub, so I expect to be doing a lot of bathing in the coming year.
And speaking of giving... it is time to give away the curriculum package from Hands of a Child.
I used a Random Number Generator application from Random.org to pick the winner, and it came up with entrant #10. And the lucky person #10 was Amy! Congratulations, Amy--let us know what you end up getting.
I'm sorry that I don't have something for everyone who entered, but I enjoyed this, so maybe I'll do some other contests this year. And you might want to sign up for the HOAC newsletter, because when they do get to their 400th curriculum package (which is supposed to be soon), they will be doing some great giveaways, including a free Super Membership (2 free ebooks each month PLUS 15% off every purchase--a $65 value), a free Custom Unit (you tell them the subject and the grade level, and they will produce a curriculum on exactly the topic you want--a $75 value), and a free LIFETIME Super Membership (a $275 value). Somebody is going to win....so maybe it will be you!
I'm thrilled to say that in the four months that I've been doing this blog, I've had 3,153 page views, including visitors from dozens of countries from every continent in the world except Antarctica. I don't know who all my readers are, but I'm assuming that most of you all are parents and/or teachers. And parents and teachers are some of the biggest givers in the world. That's not to say that they don't get a lot out of parenting and teaching; I'm sure those activities are up there in the top five list of the most important and significant and rewarding aspects of their lives. But both teaching and parenting involve putting your heart, body, and soul into serving others so that their children and/or students can have full, enriching lives.
The thing about big givers is that they often need to be reminded to allow others to give to them as well. It's not that it is OK for givers to receive sometimes--actually, it is a necessity that they do. If they don't, if they never recharge their own batteries or refill their own stores of energy and spiritual nourishment, they can't keep on giving. And if they never allow those around them, particularly their children and students, to give to them, they are depriving those other people of the opportunity to learn to become givers as well.
For me, this lesson came this week from taking a bath. Usually, I never take baths, even though I enjoy them. Why not? Why, they take too much time, of course. Why spend 20 or 30 minutes in the bathtub when I can get the job done in 5 minutes by showering?
But this year, the people around me were sending me a message. One friend gave me a special candle for taking a bath. Another gave me a lovely bottle of wine, and yet another some rich dark chocolate. Best of all, however, were some friends who worked with my son to give me a handmade gift--which turned out to be some peppermint bath salts and an organic oatmeal facial mask.
So I was rushing around earlier this week, trying to get ready for our trip up to Washington DC, when I realized I needed to wash my hair that night instead of taking time in the morning for a shower. But I was also cleaning up, and happened to pick up the jar of bath salts from my son. I realized that a nice bath would help relax me and my body before having to drive for many hours tomorrow on roads that would be packed with both other cars and with snow (on the sides). Could I actually spend the time on a bath with so many pre-trip chores to get done? When I first mentioned that I was thinking about taking a bath, my son looked surprised, and then said "Thank you." I realized that he didn't really think I would ever use his bath salts, and that it made him feel good for me to actually take advantage of his gift.
My husband offered to wash the dishes and clean up from dinner, and my son said he would pack his own clothes. So I thought, Why not? I gathered all my gifts, ran a bath, poured in the bath salts, mixed up the oatmeal facial and applied it to my skin, and slid into the warm water. I lit my candle, sipped a little wine, ate a little chocolate, and enjoyed both my muscles relaxing in the warm water and my soul reveling in a few minutes of peace after the exhilaration of the holiday season.
When I emerged from the bathroom maybe 45 minutes later, I was clean and rested and much better prepared to face the stress of a day of driving in heavy highway traffic. And my skin! I couldn't believe it! I've always had really dry skin, but my face felt smooth and moisturized like it hasn't felt in a very long time. (And it turned out that it stayed moisturized all through my trip to DC.)
So I realized that it was crazy of me to think that I could spend the time to have a bath at least every week or so. It's something that is cheap, relatively quick, and good for both my body and my soul. And if I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of anyone else either.
So for all you other givers out there--I hope you find something that allows others to give to you (even if it is just leaving you alone for a short while) and make that part of your routine this year. For me, that was the "other thing" I mentioned in yesterday's post--I spent a portion of my New Year's Eve in the bathtub, so I expect to be doing a lot of bathing in the coming year.
And speaking of giving... it is time to give away the curriculum package from Hands of a Child.
I used a Random Number Generator application from Random.org to pick the winner, and it came up with entrant #10. And the lucky person #10 was Amy! Congratulations, Amy--let us know what you end up getting.
I'm sorry that I don't have something for everyone who entered, but I enjoyed this, so maybe I'll do some other contests this year. And you might want to sign up for the HOAC newsletter, because when they do get to their 400th curriculum package (which is supposed to be soon), they will be doing some great giveaways, including a free Super Membership (2 free ebooks each month PLUS 15% off every purchase--a $65 value), a free Custom Unit (you tell them the subject and the grade level, and they will produce a curriculum on exactly the topic you want--a $75 value), and a free LIFETIME Super Membership (a $275 value). Somebody is going to win....so maybe it will be you!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Lapbook Curriculum Give-Away: Only Four More Days to Enter
I'm heading up to Washington DC today to see my father and other members of the Cross family, so I don't have time for a long post. But I did want to remind people that the last day to enter the drawing for a FREE lapbook curriculum package from In the Hands of a Child is Friday, December 31. To enter, read my earlier blog post announcing the give-away. To see the MANY different subjects that HOAC has prepared lapbook or notebook curricular packages on, visit their website.
Finally, if you aren't familiar with lapbooks, Squidoo has a wonderfully visual resource on lapbooking. A homeschooling mom who goes by the name of Jamin also has a good list of links about lapbooks. (Actually, if you are homeschooling, she has a lot of good links on a bunch of topics, including an America Girl Club, a Boys Reading Club, and Mad Science, so I recommend you check her blog out.)
Finally, if you aren't familiar with lapbooks, Squidoo has a wonderfully visual resource on lapbooking. A homeschooling mom who goes by the name of Jamin also has a good list of links about lapbooks. (Actually, if you are homeschooling, she has a lot of good links on a bunch of topics, including an America Girl Club, a Boys Reading Club, and Mad Science, so I recommend you check her blog out.)
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas 2010 Blog: Win a Free Curriculum Package!
While, of course, I always try to emphasize the spiritual qualities of Hanukkah and Christmas, I have to admit that I like the presents as well. And now I have the opportunity to pass on a present to one lucky reader to this blog, thanks to a blogging giveaway program being offered by In the Hands of a Child, a renowned lapbook curriculum developer. HOAC will give a free bundle pack* (which includes a printed project pack, kit pack, and answer key if available, and is valued at $40) to a randomly-selected person who enters their HOAC wish list below.
In the Hands of a Child is a partnership between a few homeschooling families who have turned unit studies they developed for their own children or homeschooling communities into complete lapbook curriculum packages. If you are not familiar with lapbooks, they are a hands-on way to record information on any topic. Students complete "mini-books" on various aspects of that topic and paste them all into a framework made by pasting two or more file folders together. It usually depicts information in a visual way, with space for students to write relevant information, in small chunks on papers that fold or flap or open up or are enclosed in a small envelope, etc. This makes it a great tool for visual and/or kinesthetic learners, as well as for students who get overwhelmed by a large topic and prefer working on manageable bits within the larger subject matter.
I have used a number of their packages, and can attest to their high quality. To be honest, we usually don't do the entire lapbook, but I often use some of their mini-books for a hands-on activity to accompany a topic we are studying. So while they are designed to be stand-alone studies, they can also be useful for supplemental materials to accompany another curriculum you might be using. And, particularly for older students, they also offer much of their curriculum in a notebooking (that is, doing a lot of guided writing on designated notebook pages for specific items within the topic) format as well as for creating a lapbook. Finally, their prices are reasonable, their customer service is good, and they are generous to the educational community. They are often giving things away (like this promotion), and always have at least one unit on their site available for free download (right now it is "Study Any Great Painter") at: http://dev.handsofachild.com/index.phpoption=com_jdownloads&Itemid=3&task=viewcategory&catid=3 Finally, their materials cover the gamut of disciplines and age ranges. While they have hundreds of units at the elementary level, they have 250 items that are suitable for middle schoolers, 128 for early high school, and 80 for upper high school.
So for a chance to win a free printed lapbook/notebook package* (NOT just a downloadable ebook, which is what I usually get), what you have to do is to visit the website of In the Hands of a Child and/or to download their 2010 catalog at http://dev.handsofa
Then chose five HOAC units for your wishlist and enter them using the link below by December 31, 2010. I will randomly select one name and forward it to HOAC, who will mail that person their bundle pack* the first week of January.
HOAC is having this giveway in honor of the fast-approaching release of their 400th curriculum package in early 2011. There will be even more prizes during that event, so you might want to get on their email list to catch all the buzz at that time.
Enter your wishlist and contact information below by December 31, 2010, and good luck to all contestants!
*Fine print--Due to the high postage costs, if my randomly-selected winner lives outside the United States, HOAC will instead give them a free download of one of their ebook packages (which is still a good deal, because that is what I usually buy). But I love my many international readers, so please enter as well, and I'm sure you will enjoy the ebook if you win.
Also, entering your contact information is only for the purpose of contacting the winner. I will not be giving the other email addresses to HOAC, nor will I be using them. So entering the contest will not get you on any email list or anything else that will be generating even more spam for you to deal with.
In the Hands of a Child is a partnership between a few homeschooling families who have turned unit studies they developed for their own children or homeschooling communities into complete lapbook curriculum packages. If you are not familiar with lapbooks, they are a hands-on way to record information on any topic. Students complete "mini-books" on various aspects of that topic and paste them all into a framework made by pasting two or more file folders together. It usually depicts information in a visual way, with space for students to write relevant information, in small chunks on papers that fold or flap or open up or are enclosed in a small envelope, etc. This makes it a great tool for visual and/or kinesthetic learners, as well as for students who get overwhelmed by a large topic and prefer working on manageable bits within the larger subject matter.
I have used a number of their packages, and can attest to their high quality. To be honest, we usually don't do the entire lapbook, but I often use some of their mini-books for a hands-on activity to accompany a topic we are studying. So while they are designed to be stand-alone studies, they can also be useful for supplemental materials to accompany another curriculum you might be using. And, particularly for older students, they also offer much of their curriculum in a notebooking (that is, doing a lot of guided writing on designated notebook pages for specific items within the topic) format as well as for creating a lapbook. Finally, their prices are reasonable, their customer service is good, and they are generous to the educational community. They are often giving things away (like this promotion), and always have at least one unit on their site available for free download (right now it is "Study Any Great Painter") at: http://dev.handsofachild.com/index.phpoption=com_jdownloads&Itemid=3&task=viewcategory&catid=3 Finally, their materials cover the gamut of disciplines and age ranges. While they have hundreds of units at the elementary level, they have 250 items that are suitable for middle schoolers, 128 for early high school, and 80 for upper high school.
So for a chance to win a free printed lapbook/notebook package* (NOT just a downloadable ebook, which is what I usually get), what you have to do is to visit the website of In the Hands of a Child and/or to download their 2010 catalog at http://dev.handsofa
Then chose five HOAC units for your wishlist and enter them using the link below by December 31, 2010. I will randomly select one name and forward it to HOAC, who will mail that person their bundle pack* the first week of January.
HOAC is having this giveway in honor of the fast-approaching release of their 400th curriculum package in early 2011. There will be even more prizes during that event, so you might want to get on their email list to catch all the buzz at that time.
Enter your wishlist and contact information below by December 31, 2010, and good luck to all contestants!
*Fine print--Due to the high postage costs, if my randomly-selected winner lives outside the United States, HOAC will instead give them a free download of one of their ebook packages (which is still a good deal, because that is what I usually buy). But I love my many international readers, so please enter as well, and I'm sure you will enjoy the ebook if you win.
Also, entering your contact information is only for the purpose of contacting the winner. I will not be giving the other email addresses to HOAC, nor will I be using them. So entering the contest will not get you on any email list or anything else that will be generating even more spam for you to deal with.
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