August
3, 2004
Hello
Oklahoma Homeschool Readers (Oklahoma Edition):
I
hope you all had a wonderful summer and are ready to get back
to school! Only a few days until many of you will be starting
your new year. I've actually heard from a few of you that
you've started already because the kids got bored. That's
not a bad idea. When I was still homeschooling, I schooled
year around (Grades 1-8th). We took off several times during
the year instead of one big break in the summer. We still
got our 180 days in and the kids didn't forget as much during
the summer.
I'm
very close to getting my first Oklahoma History book completed.
It's called The Moundbuilder Adventure and is part one in
a series of historical fiction read-alouds that I am writing
to help you teach Oklahoma History. I'll let you know when
it's off the presses.
After
I complete book one, I'll write one or two more unit studies
and then go back to finish book two. I just wish I had more
time!
If you haven't had a chance to check out The Checklist, please
take a moment to look it over. I've included 61 sample pages
on my website to give you a good look at this updated product.
The Checklist is an invaluable tool for those of you who don't
like wasting time and money in your homeschool. It's a planner,
recordkeeper, and a K-12 Scope & Sequence. Another favorite
feature for those of you who do unit studies or multilevel
teaching is that the new Checklist has been written to directly
correspond with the unit studies available for FREE on the
Oklahoma Homeschool website. Anyone who purchases The Checklist
will be able to download updates to The Checklist as new unit
studies are written. http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/checklist.html
What's
in This Newsletter:
Oklahoma
Activities:
1.
Tulsa Community College is offering a variety
of classes to homeschooled students. Check it out at: http://www.tulsacc.edu/page.asp?durki=1889
2.
Statewide. Stage Art Productions is a christian-based
dance, tumbling, fitness, cheer and pom studio offering classes
for home-school students at our studios or through our satellite
program. Our classes consist of upbeat, modern, non-secular
music only. For more information contact Kristy at 918.322.5244
or visit our website at http://www.stageartproductions.com/.
3.
Hardesty Library (8316 E. 93rd St.) in Tulsa
is hosting a Greek Games for ages 9-12 on Friday, August 13th,
from 10-10:45 am. Using a question and answer format, students
will learn about the Olympics and Greek mythology. Phone 250-7307.
4.
Tulsa Area: ACT Workshop by Chad Cargill on Tuesday,
Sept. 28 at 5:30PM. Do you need help preparing for the ACT
or need a few extra points on your ACT to win certain scholarships?
Or maybe you are a few points away from qualifying to get
into college. Then this workshop is for you! This
workshop is a practical hands-on instruction session developed
by Chad Cargill. Chad recently graduated from Oklahoma
State with a degree in Industrial Engineering. While
in high school, Chad took the ACT 18 times and raised his
score from a 19 to a 32. This workshop is packed full
of relevant, practical information on how to increase your
ACT score as he did. It shows you that the ACT is beatable
and that each test will ask you the same questions just worded
differently. The workshop covers what will be on the
test and how to master the techniques. The workshop
is not a practice test. It covers general ideas about the
ACT as a whole and the individual sections of English (including
what the test-makers are looking for and the relevant English
rules needed for the test), Math (including exactly what formulas
and rules you will need to answer virtually every question),
Reading (including three strategies on how to best take the
reading compre-hension section), and Science (including common
question types and strategies to understand and beat the science
reasoning section). Don’t miss this opportunity.
It’s cheaper than other workshops, and it’s the
most practical workshop that’s most importantly not
just a practice test.
COST: $35 per student pre-paid
or $50 at the door
Chad has held three workshop at CTC. Students and parents
were very pleased with his presentations! For more information
check out Chad’s website at www.cargillconsulting.com
or call CTC at 918-664-9527.
(Please reserve your seat with CTC. Save $15 by pre-paying
before 4:00 PM on Tuesday, Sept. 28).
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Safety
Lessons:
Most
schools require at least one or two lessons in safety each
year. Here are some resources:
1.
Tornadoes: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/tornado/about/create.htm
and
http://www.fema.gov/kids/games/colorbk/racine_county.htm
Earthquake
& Tornado Drills: http://www.fema.gov/kids/v_lib.htm
Weather
Chart (Printable) : http://www.tipztime.com/minicharts/weatherchart.html
Printable
lesson plan with activities (pdf document): http://www.co.oakland.mi.us/health/assets/Documents/PPHS/tornadofam.pdf
This download file offers a safety awareness kit on tornadoes
that can be shared in the classroom, and also sent home with
preschoolers to share with their families. It covers the basics
of how tornadoes form, how to seek shelter, and how to put
together a disaster preparedness kit.
2.
Safety Lesson - Fires
http://www.kinderhive.net/Fire.html
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/firesafety/games.htm
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Filters
for Movie Watching:
Here
are two resources for families who like to watch movies but
don't want the objectionable content. Check these out:
Clear
Play: http://www.clearplay.com/
(filter)
Clean
Films: http://www.cleanfilms.com/
(rent edited films)
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Preschool/Kindergarten
Guidelines and Assessments
If
you are teaching a 4 - 6 year old this year, be sure to check
out the guidelines and assessments on the Oklahoma Homeschool
website: http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/PreS&K.html.
You'll also find a blank report card form and diploma for
this age.
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Handwriting
Does
your child have trouble with handwriting? Be sure to read
"Teaching Handwriting" on the Oklahoma Homeschool
website: http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/teachHwriting.html.
Also includes free, printable handwriting practice pages.
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Recordkeeping
Start
the year off right by keeping good records. Find out how to
prepare transcripts, keep a portfolio, and maintain a log
book. http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/recordkeeping.html
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Field
Trip Guide
Start
your year out right by planning your field trips. Read "Nine
Steps to a Successful Field Trip" and use the free Field
Trip Planning Guide to help you. http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/NineStepsFT.html
Have
a great new school year!
Cindy
Downes
OKLAHOMA HOMESCHOOL
Website: http:www.oklahomahomeschool.com
Email: cindy@oklahomahomeschool.com
Have
you seen The Checklist? It's a record keeper, a planning guide,
and a K-12 Scope and Sequence created for Christian Home Educators:
http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/checklist.html
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