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Have Some Mountain Dew Before a Test?

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How do you feel about standardized testing? Chances are you aren’t an incredibly big fan of it. Children tend to strongly dislike taking standardized tests because it is stressful, confusing, frustrating, and very different from how their typical school day goes. Perhaps this is why a school in Florida found a controversial way to motivate students to take their standardized tests. Someone at Creel Elementary School in Florida came up with an unusual way to get students excited about taking the FCAT. The FCAT stands for “Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test”. A grandmother who learned about it contacted the local media. … Continue reading →

The Truth About Your Diet During Pregnancy

One of the assumptions I made about pregnancy prior to becoming pregnant is I’d have a diet-related Get out of Jail Free card.  I knew that there are certain foods it’s best to avoid, but I thought at least I’d have a free pass to eat, well, not quite as much as I wanted, but to feel a bit more guilt-free about evening ice cream binges. That turned out not to be the case at all.  First off, the whole “eating for two” thing isn’t true.  At most, you should eat for one and a quarter.  In addition to that, … Continue reading →

Tailoring Homeschool Lessons

Reading, writing, math, science and history may be the staples of a solid homeschool curriculum; however, if you really want to get your children excited about learning, consider teaching lessons on subjects that really pique their interest.  For example, if your daughter has a passion for fashion, tailor a unit of study that highlights the latest clothing craze. While cool outfits are typically the most popular focus in a lesson about the fashion industry, they are certainly not the only things worthy of studying.  The history of the fashion industry could make for interesting research.  A unit on this aspect … Continue reading →

Touring the City on Less: Food Extravaganza

The summer and fall are great times to tour a fun city. Of course, you want to do it for less. Yesterday I shared the money-saving way to save on transportation around the city. If you missed that post, you can find it here. Today it is all about having a food extravaganza. Part of the fun of visiting a city is all of the great food that you can try. Most cities offer a variety of great food, different fusions and ethnic dishes, traditional and down home fare. It would be a shame to waste this opportunity because of … Continue reading →

Hot Summer Job: Tutoring

The academic year is coming to a rapid end in my next of the woods.  Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, kids are already enjoying summer break. Even though most students will be out of school for the next few months, that doesn’t mean learning will grind to a halt.  In fact, during the summer, many home-based tutoring businesses experience a surge in customers.  If you have a college degree or excel in certain subjects, starting a tutoring business may be an ideal way to earn some extra money.  What’s more, by working out of your home you will … Continue reading →

Toys that Stand the Test of Time

Legos: The longest lasting toy through four kids and many painful random steps goes to Legos. All of my children love Legos and it bridges the age gap. The whole family can sit and build together. My husband’s collection from his childhood is still played with today. Miniature Plastic Character and Animal Toys: You know those tiny plastic toys you wonder why your kids keep around or carry with them. They come in a variety of name brands to dollar store specials but they are loved equally. We have a box filled with princesses, toy cars, safari animals, sea creatures, and … Continue reading →

Getting Kids to Spring Clean

The time of year for spring cleaning is at hand. Break out the mops, dustpans, and garbage bags because it is time to clean and de-clutter. I always feel lighter after cleaning out a challenging closet or a kid’s room. Probably one of the most challenging rooms to de-clutter are the kids’ rooms. My kids find ways to hang onto the craziest things. With three girls in one room and a messy boy in another room, I suspect a lot of garbage bags will be used. This year, I am enlisting the kids to help out. Naturally, it isn’t at … Continue reading →

Surviving Your Kid’s Spring Break

Not your little guy’s break from school, your older one. You know, the one who begged you to let him head down to Cabo with a bunch of friends for spring break, and now you are sitting at home praying that the next call you get isn’t from a Mexican prison. Keeping children safe is the utmost priority for most parents, but you can’t expect your college-age kid to want to spend every school break at home so you can monitor his every move. Sure, viewing Facebook photos of your son at the bottom of a beer bong and your … Continue reading →

Homeschool Seniors: Are you prepping for the test?

The time comes too quickly.  We know it’s coming but like to fool ourselves and pretend we have plenty of time.  Then it happens;  our teen prepares to look at colleges.  College!  The thought is almost too much bare.  We just spent twelve years homeschooling and now it is about to reach a brand new phase. For many homeschoolers, a test is breaking new ground.  Some never had the opportunity to take a standardized test to gain some comfort with taking timed tests for achievement.  Relax, homeschoolers are known for performing high marks on tests regardless of how many fill … Continue reading →

De-Cluttering Our House Has Lead to Saving Money

One of the lovely consequences of doing a huge de-clutter of our home and living with less is that we are actually saving more money! That is right, there is more money at the end of each month, despite rising food and gas prices. How is this possible? Well, analyzing things lately, here are some of the contributing factors and the connections that I can see from our budget since we have been de-cluttering, including some things that will be with us long-term. Bigger Tax Refund All of the donations that we made were itemized and served as charitable deductions, … Continue reading →