Following Blogs

Someone recently asked me how exactly you "follow" a blog.

That's a good question.  Aside from bookmarking it and returning to it when you remember to, you can "subscribe" to a blog so you receive updates when new content is published.

There are 2 main ways to subscribe and follow a blog:

• Follow by email.  To do this you just need to put your email address in the little box that says follow by email, and follow the prompts.  Then you'll simply get an email each time new content is added.
• Follow by RSS feed.  To do this you'll need to use a blog reader.  If you have a Google account you already have a blog reader.  You can find it here:  Link    http://www.google.com/reader/view/  or type Google Reader into your search engine to find the current link.  There are many other Blog Readers out there, but I'm a google user and it's the one I use.

Using Google Reader:

When you return to the Google Reader link after subscribing to a blog, you'll see:

• A list of the titles of the blogs you subscribe to and the number of posts they have published that you have not yet read.  
• To the left you can sort and filter your blog reading, 
• On the right there is a window showing the most recently read blog posts as well as some tips for using the Reader.

To read the blogs you're subscribed to, simply visit your Google Reader page and get caught up!

I personally like the "feel" of reading the blogs on their actual site.  It's easy to get there just by clicking on the blog post title!

If you're reading this in a feed because you're already a subscriber...impressive that you've read this far!  wow!!

Related Posts:

Assignment Deadlines - Using Google Calendar         
Using Google for Writing Assignments                 
Using Google Docs in Your Home School

Using Google for Writing Assignments

My last post mentioned creating GoogleDocs to share with your home school students.

Why not do it in reverse?  This is a great tool for teenagers, especially.  But it can be useful and fun for some younger students.

Last year my then-7th grader used GoogleDocs to create drafts of his writing assignments. And he would "share" them with me.  This meant that I was able to oversee his progress on the work and make comments for his consideration at the appropriate times.

There is a very cool 'comments' feature in  GoogleDocs, you can find it (right now) at the top right near the word 'share.'  I say "right now" because Google has a funny habit of doing re-designs that move buttons around... ( if you liked hide-and-seek as a kid, just pretend that's what they're doing and don't get too frustrated!)

By clicking on the "comments" button you are able to comment on the document.  Any shared user  can make comments, and since I've got editing privileges I am also able to highlight the text.  (Heck I could even make changes in the paper, or change to another font color and suggest specific changes where they are needed.)

By using this method, we can avoid printing multiple drafts for marking and just print one clean draft when the writing assignment is complete!

Related posts:


Assignment Deadlines - Using Google Calendar                     
Using Google Docs in Your Home School

Using Google Docs in Your Home School

Google is trying hard to be everything for everyone online.  And they're coming really close! Some of their beta projects are very intriguing...but I digress.

If you have a gmail account you have access to a plethora of other google applications including blogging, website design, a calendar, and documents, and many other things!

Once you've signed into your google (or Gmail) account you can find google docs here: Link
docs.google.com/

Setting up a Google document:

To set up a document click the word "Create" found on the left hand side of your screen.

This will prompt you to choose the type of document you would like to open.

Choices include: document (text,) spreadsheet, presentation, form, and others.

Make your selection.  For this demonstration I'll choose "document."

You have now created your new document:

From here you can click on the words "Untitled Document" and give it a name.  And then create your content in the same manner that  you would with any word processing tool. 

There are 2 beautiful things about using Google for documents.  

• The documents are stored in Google's harddrive. (Don't worry you can save them to your harddrive as well.  Oh, and you might choose discretion when it comes to sensitive documents since they are possibly less secure than on a home drive.)
• You can share the documents with other users.  This means that I can create documents and share them with my kids without printing them off!  I just have to click "share" in the top right corner, type in their email address, and voila!  I can even choose the level of sharing they have: read-only, or able to edit.

How cool is that?

Story of the World - Online Resources

We are studying Modern History this year and using Story of the World Volume 4 as our home education curriculum history spine.

This is my 8th grader's second time through the material.  He is a visual/tactile learner.  As a visual/tactile  learner he does well with computer related learning.  Looking and clicking help feed these 2 learning styles.

To assist his efficient use of computer time I created a catalog of online resources to accompany his assigned weekly readings.

Originally, I had set the catalog up using GoogleDocs so I could share the links with him easily.  But, then it occurred to me that it was just as easy (sort of) to "pop" them on a website and make them available to other people who might be studying the same materials and who are also looking for online supplementary material.

The fruit of my endeavour can be found here:
StoryOfTheWorldBlog.

Related Posts:

The Story of the World

Books for Excellence in Literature: English 1

Here's a quick collection of all the books for English1, if you're looking to purchase any or them!
Amazon has free shipping on all orders over $25!  Mmmm....don't you just love the smell of new books?

Related posts:

Excellence in Literature Review

Easing into Writing

Vocabulary from Classical Roots

Growing with Grammar

Chemistry Molecule Building Model Sets - Comparison of 6 Sets

I just love a quest!    And this one involves science... even better!   My quest: selecting a chemistry molecule model building kit for our home school. Here are 5 options to consider:

Molecular Models 178 Piece Giant Size Organic and Inorganic Molecular Model Set  $240

This set is the big kahuna of molecular model sets.

When they say giant, they mean it.  It's large enough to use as a demonstration from the front of a classroom.  And it comes with enough parts to build "thousands of giant skeletal structures of organic and inorganic molecules."  

It contains 50 atoms.

I can see it now, my family room littered with giant molecules!

The kit also comes with  a Molecular Models User's Guide-an illustrated guide to concepts and model building.  

The Orbit Molecular system Foundation Set by 3B Scientific, $11

Jumping from biggest to smallest among the contenders, we meet the 3B Scientific foundation set.

This compact set would make a lovely stocking stuffer. It's capable of building the organic molecules, and would be a good introduction to the concept of molecular structure.

It contains 65 atoms.

The price on this kit is reflective of it's size and packaging.

Molecular Models 116 Piece Advanced VSEPR Theory Molecular Model Kit, $29

This kit is by the same company as the first kit on the list, but it's student size.

One unique feature of this kit is that it uses VSEPR which indicate regions of electron density.  For more technical information about this you can consult this website.

It contains 71 atoms.

The VSEPR is a nice feature for a chemistry enthusiast, but might be overwhelming for a student more concerned with learning the rudimentary concepts of bonding and molecular structure.

3B Scientific 50 Piece Organic Chemistry Molecular Model Student Set, $30

This set features enough parts for a student to make all of the simple organic molecules, with "sufficient links to make single, double or triple bonds" 

It has a nice case for sorting the parts, and the size of the kit is good for working at a table or desk.

It contains 50 atoms.

From the large images available on the website, it also appears to be a study plastic construction.

An instruction leaflet and link remover tool are included.

American Educational  520 Piece Deluxe Plastic Molecular Model Set, $52

This final kit is a mixture of several of the ones above.  

It has a whopping 520 pieces, 370 of which are atoms!  It can be used for both organic and inorganic models, and it's capable of single and double bonds.

The storage case is cardboard.

 Prentice Hall Molecular Model Set:

This kit contains 72 atoms, but seems to be an adequate starter kit.  The reviews site sturdy construction and quality.

Overwhelmingly Amazon users are pleased with this kit.

And it's on sale right now from $77 for $54!:












All of these products are available with Amazon's free super saver shipping  on orders over $25!

Which kit is right for your needs?

Related posts:

Adventures with Atoms and Molecules - Chemistry for Everyone!
Elements with Style! 
Chemistry Fun!

Gearing Up for Fall - Student Assignments: Weekly/Daily

Once I have each subject organized into a series of goals, I can start to pencil in the details of my monthly teacher planner.

I do this in 4 week blocks.   So right now, I'm only concerned with the first 4 weeks of planning.  See my earlier post, on how I'm using "blocks" to help me keep my sanity!

On a blank monthly calendar, I'll put the  week's goals for each subject in the left column  (Sunday) and then break it down into 5 days of assignment work, metering out the work so it is roughly equalized.   I gauge the number of hours available for academics and try to estimate a reasonable amount of work to be completed.  I'll  do this while referencing my subject areas weekly goal list,

I'll use this monthly calendar planner as my reference to give each child their daily/weekly assignment.

When goals are accomplished I'll check them off, and if they take more time than I've allotted, I'll use my trusty eraser and make adjustments as I go.

On Monday morning, each child will receive their own copy of their week's assignment, with every day filled in with the requirements for each subject.   Their copy will have more details than mine so they know exactly what is expected of them.  What to read, what to do, what to write and pass in for marking.

Both of my children enjoy independence, so I let them choose what order to work on their material for the most part.  (With the exception of the weekly conferences I hold with them, which are scheduled on Monday morning for both, and on Wed morning for the eldest and Thursday morning for the younger.)

I always write the subjects down in the order I recommend they tackle them, but if they want to switch it up, that's fine with me.  My goal is to raise engaged learners, and if they don't feel that the timing is right to engage with a particular subject and want to work on something else, I think that's just fine.

Donna Young has a great wealth of forms and charts to use.  I'm sure you can find something to suit every need there!

Related posts:

• 
  
• Gearing Up for Fall - Organizing the kids
• Gearing up for Fall - Our Weekly Scedule
• Gearing Up for Fall - Pacing The Subjects

Gearing Up for Fall - Organizing the kids

When I was a kid, I loved shopping for school supplies.  I still do!  My kids are happy to let me do it for them, so I will -- happily.  Although a part of me wishes that they took as much glee in fresh stationery supplies as I do.

Some basic materials we need for Fall are:

• paper
• notebooks
• pencils
• pens
• markers and 
• binders:  3 per child - 1 Weekly Binder, 1 Storage Binder and 1 Assessment Binder.  Plus 1 for me.

That's about it really.  We've got rulers, scissors, tape, colored pencils, white boards, sheet protectors and craft supplies in our stash already so that should cover it.

Throughout the year we'll need some bristol board or special items for projects but we'll get those as we need them.

The children's 3 binders will be used as follows:
The Weekly Binder will be a 1.5 inch sturdy, flat-lying binder that they can keep all their paperwork in for current assignments.  Math, Writing, Spelling, History, Science ... anything that uses handouts or writing paper.
The Storage Binder will be a 3 inch binder that is for overflow.  At the end of unit or semester, completed work will be transferred into the storage binder.
The Assessment Binder will be a 1 inch "portfolio" of their year's work.  Divided into subjects as the other 2 are, but only containing the assessment materials: tests, projects, reports, and samples of work selected at the end of unit or semester when the storage transfer occurs.  This binder is invaluable at the end of the year when it comes time to write report cards, and file government paperwork.  Everything is in one place, and accessible for me when it comes time to summarize the year's work.

My binder will contain my plans for each subject, notes on the children's struggles and successes, grade charts and other tools to keep my teacher skills finely tuned.

Related posts:

• Gearing Up for Fall - Student Assignments: Weekly/...
• Gearing up for Fall - Our Weekly Scedule
• Gearing Up for Fall - Pacing The Subjects