Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Free magazine for sports-crazy kids!

Just wanted to share this code to obtain a free trial issue of a favorite magazine here at our house - Sports Spectrum magazine. It's a Christian sports magazine that I highly recommend to those of you with kids that are interested in sports as well as the athletes that play them. Here's the website:


www.sportsspectrum.com


 


and here's the code for the free trial issue - FMT6


 


Go to the website, and click on "Subscribe" on the top bar. Then, when the screen comes up asking for ordering info - name, address, etc, fill it out and DON'T FORGET to enter the code at the bottom of this screen before hitting "Submit" -- that should do it!


 


I hope this helps!


 


Blessings,
Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Enjoying the Harvest - Part 2

Amanda Bennett


 


Before we go on, let me take a moment to share the definition of "harvest" with you, taken from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: harvest -- to gather in (a crop). A farmer plans for his crop all through the winter, then prepares (cultivates) the soil in early spring, and finally plants the seeds of a new crop. Throughout the summer, he works on maintaining and protecting his crop, from drought, insects, and weeds. And then at the end of the summer, he finally begins his harvest, gathering in this precious crop that he has worked so hard to grow. Can you see the similarities to our efforts as parents? We plan, plant, grow, nurture, and somewhere along the way, the "harvest" concept kind of gets lost in the search for both shoes, the car keys, the "right" curriculum, and on and on.


Just like raising a stand of fruit trees (or maple trees, pecan trees, etc.), so goes the way of raising a child, in a way:



  • A season to prune and maintain the plants themselves (the physical needs as well as the emotional needs).
  • A season to fertilize to invigorate the plant's production of fruit (talking, reading, sharing, putting information and caring into their lives).
  • A season to tend the fruits as they develop (keeping an eye on their interests, activities, etc.).
  • A season of harvest, when the fruit is enjoyed and preserved, keeping an eye towards the future for the next season of growth (protecting them from harm during tough times and planning the next season of growth).

And then, of course, the cycle begins anew, as the cycle of life thankfully continues.

Given some time for reflection, you can "see" back through this past year and remember some prime "harvest moments", both educational as well as emotional and spiritual. There are also some moments or events that strengthened and united your family, as well.


 


To be continued next week!


 


Blessings,


Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 


Enjoy the upcoming season of harvest - the Thanksgiving Unit Study is now downloadable - follow this link!


 


 

Monday, August 28, 2006

Thanksgiving is now downloadable!

Breaking news...


 


The new edition of the Thanksgiving Unit Study is now downloadable - hurray! Thanks for your patience, and please know that the new edition of the Christmas Unit Study will also be downloadable soon. Here's the link - enjoy!


 


Thanksgiving Unit Study


 


I am getting SO EXCITED about the approach of autumn - just wait until you see the next Unit Study Newsletter! If you aren't signed up to receive the free newsletter, follow this link to see what we have in store for Autumn:


 


Unit Study Newsletter


 


Blessings,


Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Scrapbooking Unit Study - Now Downloadable!

BIG NEWS!  The Scrapbooking Unit Study is now downloadable -- check it out:


 


Scrapbooking Unit Study


 


Learn to scrapbook your unit studies as well as your family adventures, while learning about the history of scrapbooking and famous scrapbooking fans like Mark Twain and Lucy M Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables author)...


 


You know those boxes of pictures and tubs of mementos, along with the loosely stuffed baby books and photo envelopes with the negatives sliding all over in the back of the closet? These bits and pieces of the past are part of your family legacy, and you can use this four-week unit study to assemble some wonderful scrapbooks that will help tell your stories for generations yet to come. From your mother's cheerleading picture to the tassel from your own high school graduation, all of these have a story to tell. Join me in my move to prepare a lasting library of the history of our family!


What a perfect topic for a unit study for the whole family. We'll all be learning while we gather and organize.  I have learned so much while writing this book -- did you know that Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain were avid scrapbookers? Did you know that girls would include hair weavings in their scrapbooks of the 1800s? I was amazed to find out that Mark Twain probably made more money from a scrapbooking invention than he did from royalties on his books! It is a fun project study, and I can't wait to share it!


One of the most valuable uses for scrapbooking, other than preserving family memories, is to enhance your unit studies. Using scrapbooking, your students can create wonderful memory albums of all that they learned from each unit study. They can include photos of their efforts, experiments and field trips, along with mementoes they collected along the way.  Scrapbook your unit studies!


Scrapbooking Unit Study


 


Blessings,


Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Enjoying the Harvest - Part 1

Enjoying the Harvest -- Part 1
Amanda Bennett


Harvest....the end of the growing season....soon to be marked by bright orange pumpkins piled high at roadside stands, the spicy tart smell of apple butter cooking at local orchards, and the excitement of local fall harvest festivals. At the festivals, you can see the county's largest sunflowers, the prettiest canned tomatoes you've ever seen, and the artwork so painstakingly created by children of all ages. It is a season of reflection, gathering in, enjoying the fruits of your labor. I'm writing this today to share some of the lessons I've learned over the past few years of homeschooling -- the importance of enjoying each moment of harvest in our lives, whether it is the accomplishment of a child finally learning to tie their own shoes, the excitement of reading their first book all by themselves, the time "they" point out how pretty the trees look, and many other times where the end product slowly but surely peeks out in the midst of daily life.


 


As many of you know, I've had some tough years following two car accidents. Through it all, we've homeschooled and I'm not sure who has learned more...the parents or the children! Before these accidents, we were driven by a goal of homeschooling them through high school, keeping our eye on the "finished product" goal, instead of the daily accomplishments or "moments of harvest." It is these moments of harvest that I wanted to make you aware of -- that they should be recognized, savored, and remembered. Our "harvest" is not seasonal like a farmer's crop -- our harvest is lifelong, as we love, nurture and encourage our family each and every day. And yes, there are days when this is a TALL order, and it is those days that we can recall the good "harvest moments", days when goals were reached, or thanks was given, or smiles and laughter rippled around the dinner table.


 


But before we go on, let me take a moment to share the definition of "harvest" with you, taken from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: harvest -- to gather in (a crop). A farmer plans for his crop all through the winter, then prepares (cultivates) the soil in early spring, and finally plants the seeds of a new crop. Throughout the summer, he works on maintaining and protecting his crop, from drought, insects, and weeds. And then at the end of the summer, he finally begins his harvest, gathering in this precious crop that he has worked so hard to grow. Can you see the similarities to our efforts as parents? We plan, plant, grow, nurture, and somewhere along the way, the "harvest" concept kind of gets lost in the search for both shoes, the car keys, the "right" curriculum, and on and on.


 


To be continued next week...


 


Blessings,


Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 


Don't forget - Thanksgving is coming!


 

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Unit Study Sale

To help you get ready for this fall, this month's special will run from


now through the end of August. To learn more about the special:


 


Patriotic Package:


 


American Government Unit Study (this is an election year)


AND


Patriotic Holidays Unit Study  (don't forget that Veterans' Day is


coming up soon)


 


The combination package is only $19.90,


a savings of $10 over individual prices!


 


Here's the link to learn more:


Patriotic Unit Study Package 


 


Hope this helps,


Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 


Friday, August 18, 2006

Thanksgiving and Christmas Unit Studies

It's that time of year again, when many homeschoolers are planning ahead for the holidays. These are some of the most memorable times for many families, and unit studies can help make the learning a wonderful adventure for the whole family.


 


Next week, both the Thanksgiving and Christmas Unit Studies will be offered in downloadable format - ready to use from the moment that you download them. They require no additional books or planning or preparation - the daily lessons are all there, ready to go!


 


If you want to learn more about these studies, visit the links:


 


Thanksgiving Unit Study


 


Christmas Unit Study


 


Remember, check next week -- they should be ready for download, and no shipping charges!


 


Blessings,


Amanda B.


www.unitstudy.com


 

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Planning for Fall?

For those of you that have written about what unit study to do when
this fall with the holidays, thanks for writing!

Since it is an election year, here's a suggestion:

American Government - begin the last week in September
Patriotic Holidays (1 week Veterans Day Unit Study) - last full week
in October
Thanksgiving - begin the last week in October (October 30th)
Christmas - begin right after Thanksgiving

I hope that helps! Remember, these studies are tools for your use,
not the other way around. Use them as they fit your family - they
are designed to be flexible around your family's schedule and
learning needs. These days ARE the special times that your children
will remember, so make the most of them and make some memories.

As I am working on collecting and scrapbooking our homeschooling
memories, I am enjoying the journey. It does make me think, what if
we had not homeschooled -- look at what we would have missed!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Kids, Money and Business - Part 3

Kids, Money and Business
Part 3
By Amanda Bennett


We are firmly committed to helping each child discover and utilize their unique God-given gifts and talents, and what a blessing this has been! One of our children developed a deep appreciation of the outdoors and plants. While he was still a child, he began reading and learning about plants, wildlife, and life in the country. When we moved to the farm, he finally got to pursue his dream – planting trees for a business of his own. When I walk into his room these days, he is surrounded by all kinds of college-level books on woody ornamental trees, plant propagation, business basics, and botany books. As a senior in high school, his whole life is before him, and he has already moved light-years ahead in preparation for his future. His business is now on the Internet (www.sheltering-trees.com), and he has been immersed in learning about business law, practices, and financial management. He enjoys reading books by Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad), the Uncle Eric series of books by Richard Maybury, and other books on personal financial management.


Where do you begin with your own family? First, I would recommend that you locate some of the Uncle Eric books, which are written for grades 7 – 12. These books share so much basic knowledge about money, business and economics in a very un-intimidating manner. I’m not sure who has learned more from these books at our house – the parents or the children!


            A list of our favorite books on business and finances for the whole family can be found at:
    Books to Teach Kids About Money


Next, take some time to read the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. We found the audio book version of this, also – and listen to it while running errands. Then everyone gets to chime in with their thoughts or ideas. I’ve learned so much from this personally, and I know that the young people around here can stand on their own two feet with most financial decisions that they might face. They have learned about the value of money, the importance of using it wisely, the concept of interest and time-value of money, and so much more.  


Whether collecting baseball cards or books, the ideas of business and the wise use of money go hand in hand. The learning adventure, once again, becomes a fun-filled family adventure. With the advent of eBay, the market place for collections and collectibles has made the world of business available to families around the world. EBay offers a free online tutorial in how to use the EBay marketplace. Take the tutorial as a family, and then begin to visit garage sales and library sales, or whatever it is that interests your family or children. This can provide an educational experience as well as a profitable one for the clan. Start with small items, so that the lessons learned are basic, and to make sure that mistakes made in the beginning are small ones.


What do YOU think about money?


How comfortable are you with your knowledge of business, finance, and economics?


Consider forming a family finance education plan for the next few years, taking the children up through high school. Here are a few helpful links:


Teaching Kids About Money
http://www.cccsatl.org/teaching-kids-money.asp


Teaching Kids Economics – Free Federal Reserve Bank Materials Online
http://www.frbsf.org/education/curriculum/


Rich Dad Poor Dad
http://www.richdad.com


Cash Flow 101 and Cash Flow for Kids (click on “Games” on the left hand side)
https://secure.richdad.com/Category.asp



Well, now we’re off and running for a whole new school year – enjoy!


Blessings,


Amanda Bennett


www.unitstudy.com

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Kids, Money and Business - Part 2

By Amanda Bennett


 


We started talking about some of our financial choices and decisions as a family, so that the children could listen to our reasoning and how we arrived at our conclusions. The children learn from us all of the time, whether we are discussing the science of gravity or the concept of earning interest or investing wisely – we are their models, in both our actions, words, and thought processes. From the simple ideas of saving money for something that they would like to purchase and the importance of comparison shopping, to the complexities of the time-value of money and understanding how to make money work for you, we have a tremendous opportunity as homeschooling families, to provide our children with a sound financial education.


 


To get them started on the road to financial wisdom and hands-on learning, consider some of the following steps for each child when they are old enough to handle the responsibility:


Checking account - joint, in both the child’s name and one parent’s name


Savings account – joint, in both the child’s name and one parent’s name


Give them a gift of a share of stock to help them begin to learn to read the financial page, interpret the columns of data, and have some fun in the process, watching their stock change in value. Our favorite stock to give them has been a share of Wrigley Company stock (Wrigley Gum manufacturers!) Not only has it been a good investment financially, it is a company with familiar products. As an added dividend, the company sends each shareholder a gift box of Wrigley product(s) at Christmas time each year!


 US Savings Bonds – which can be purchased at your local bank. They can begin to see how money has a time-value, watching the date of maturity on the bonds, and developing an understanding of saving for the long term.


 


These steps also provide the opportunity to teach your child how to develop goals – saving for next month’s museum visit versus saving for a college education or capital to start their own business. After helping them develop some short term and long term goals, you can sit down and help them devise a plan to meet these goals. Between allowance, earning money by helping others, or perhaps a part-time job, they can begin to realize their goals and appreciate the value of work and accomplishment. There is a helpful website that calculates how to reach certain goals at:


            Reach Your Goals by Saving!


 


We have an older game, called “Stock Market” that we play together as a family. There are many types of games like this available now, teaching the idea of money, finance, risk and wise decisions, all in a game format that the whole family can play together. The two newest on the market are based on Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad, and they are called Cash Flow for Kids and Cash Flow 101. They provide an excellent way to learn the very important basics of sound money management and learn key principles of business. His books and games also encourage education for entrepreneurship, which I also strongly encourage!


 


When I began writing unit studies for publication, the children were very interested in the publishing process and how the business worked. As they grew older, they would occasionally accompany me to speaking engagements. There, they would help with setting up the tables, selling books, and learning to have fun while working.


 


Growing up in a homeschooling household also gave our children the opportunity to see just what treasures books can be! They joined in on shopping for special books at garage sales and library sales, and what an education they received from these outings. One of our children developed her own used book business, offering the books for sale on her self-made web page! She experienced success at this business, and learned how to create web pages as part of the process. She then went on to build her own small business developing web pages, and still has this income resource when she finds free time while attending veterinary college.


 


Blessings,


Amanda Bennett


www.unitstudy.com

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Kids, Money and Business - Part 1

By Amanda Bennett


 


What child has not wanted to have a lemonade stand to earn money, or asked you what he/she could do around the house to earn some money? Chances are, you know a child that fits this description, and have to smile just recalling these episodes. While we have had more than our share of fun money-making ventures when the children were small, we are working now to prepare them for a successful life as adults, with academic preparation as well as providing a sound and practical financial education.


 


While we learn about so many things in our early years, there are a few things that I wish I had learned about when I was younger. Things like the importance of saving money (the power of compound interest), how to get the most out of each dollar, what does it mean to earn or pay interest on money, what is debt and what does out family think about it? All of these questions, and they aren’t typically addressed in many families across the country. The children are exposed to a limited degree in high school economics, and perhaps they begin to figure out taxes when they earn their first paycheck as an hourly employee (WHY are they withholding all of these taxes, Mom?!)


 


When I look back on how little we knew when my husband and I got married and bought our first house, life insurance, a car, etc – I am determined that our children will have more knowledge than we did as they make such important decisions. We had no idea of what was involved in buying or selling things of value, of what it meant to have a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage, of the importance of making our money work for us for the future. We were clueless when it came to making business decisions, understanding contracts, the importance of finance, and so much more. We had never been taught these things in school, or by our parents. I guess that everyone figured that we would learn on an “as-needed” basis – yikes! We were determined that our children were not going to have to face these same decisions without an idea of how to make good financial and business decisions.


 


When we began homeschooling, we focused first on their academic lessons. As time went by and we became more comfortable with a lifestyle of learning 24/7, we worked to incorporate some financial lessons into their learning. In addition to the family game nights of Monopoly and the Farmers’ Game, they learned about portioning their earnings or allowance into categories such as church, savings, and spending.


 


We started talking about some of our financial choices and decisions as a family, so that the children could listen to our reasoning and how we arrived at our conclusions. The children learn from us all of the time, whether we are discussing the science of gravity or the concept of earning interest or investing wisely – we are their models, in both our actions, words, and thought processes. From the simple ideas of saving money for something that they would like to purchase and the importance of comparison shopping, to the complexities of the time-value of money and understanding how to make money work for you, we have a tremendous opportunity as homeschooling families, to provide our children with a sound financial education.


To be continued next week!


 


Blessings,


Amanda Bennett


www.unitstudy.com