Welcome and thanks for dropping by! Take a look around
and grab the RSS feed to stay updated. See you around!
I’m so glad you dropped by. This blog is about everything related to homeschooling in Arkansas. I am a mom of 4 and I’ve been homeschooling for 15 years. Two of my children have graduated high school. One is attending NWACC and the other is a grown woman with a child of her own. 2012 has brought me the biggest challenge yet as I face homeschooling my two youngest boys (6th grade and a high school junior) while I battle breast cancer.
—Lynda
Did you buy a pair of Sketchers Toners, Tone-Ups, Shape-Ups, or Resistance Runner shoes? If so, you may be entitled to a refund. The FTC says that Sketchers’ health claims are unfounded. To settle the suit, Sketchers has agreed to refund money for consumers who have purchased the sneakers since August 1, 2008.
I attempted to call Sketchers’ information hot-line and access their refund website at 11:56 a.m. Central Time today. The phone, (866) 325-4186, goes immediately to voicemail stating that they are experiencing higher than normal call volume and you can call back later or leave a message. I did not leave a message. The website gives you the same information. When I attempted to access the website to process a refund, I get a message that they are experiencing higher than normal traffic and I should try again later.
Sketchers claims that their Toners, Tone-Ups, Shape-Ups and Resistant Runner sneakers will help you lose weight and burn more calories than traditional exercise shoes. They also claim that the “Rocker Bottom” style footwear will help tone, firm and strengthen leg and back muscles. The FTC sued Sketchers stating that there is no evidence that supports these claims.
The Sketchers’ rocker style shoe is based on a very successful, high-end MBT shoe style. MBT patented their design and Sketchers are similar but not the same design. In addition, MBT does not make the health claims that Sketchers has.
If you are due a refund, I would suggest waiting until the news of this has passed before contacting Sketchers. The average refund is expected to be $20.
This Mother’s Day I am thankful to be alive. In November 2011, I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. It is a good thing we caught it early. My battle with breast cancer has taught me many things–mostly that I am blessed with a wonderful family and caring friends. My diagnosis changed everything–homeschool now revolves around my treatment program.
Every 10 days I travel two hours each way for cancer treatment. Sometimes it is labs and a visit with my plastic surgeon. Other times it is for chemo and visits with my oncologist. Very little homeschool gets done on those days. Chemo days are overnights and I am exhausted by the time I get home.
My body hates chemo and all the drugs I have to take to battle its side effects. One drug leaves me with horrific bone pain for a little over a week. Walking and hiking–two activities we love–are put on hold, as just walking across my living room can be a challenge. The same drug leaves me in a drug induced fog for several days–preventing me from driving and doing anything that requires cognitive thought. Although these are my personal challenges to face–it has a direct impact on my family life and that includes homeschool.
Prior to cancer, homeschool was almost a daily routine. This has changed dramatically. My husband and kids have had to take over most of the housekeeping and cooking. One of my kids is a high school junior. He can do a lot on his own, but there are days that he needs help with the material. My other homeschooled son is in the 6th grade. He needs more attention than his older sibling. Homeschool now revolves around how well I am coping with my cancer treatment and trips to the cancer center.
We used to take summers off. My kids are very active in 4H and summertime means camps, conferences and trips. May is when the shooting sports competitions start. There are three weekends that my boys will be competing at the state or national level. Both of them have shooting sports as one of their 4H projects. This year, we will be homeschooling in between travel and camps. It is the only way I will be able to keep both boys on track.
My breast cancer diagnosis has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. Learning to be flexible is the first lesson I had to learn in order to keep homeschooling under control. I have thrown hard fast schedules out the window and instead are taking homeschool on a day by day basis.
–Lynda
This is the first of my A to Z blogging challenge posts. Homeschoolers need to get out and get moving. Most of us do park days and some of us do PE classes, but what about everyday activity for the kids? I know I get bogged down with school work, house work, and with chemo–I just feel lousy sometimes. Here are some fun ways to get daily physical activity into your homeschool.
Wii or Kinect
I love the Wii. You can set up your own profile in Wii Sports and all of the other fitness programs that use the Wii board. Spend an hour with your kids and Wii Sports and everyone can benefit. This makes a great rainy day activity and it is a good way to put an end to cabin fever.
Don’t have a Wii? An Xbox Kinect will work just as well. They have a lot of fitness games, and you are not limited to a board.
Garden
Get the kids outside and weed the garden, mow the lawn and sweep the walks. Maybe not the most fun of all activities, but they burn calories and the work needs to be done.
Mess kit hockey
Okay, this one requires a large family room, an old mess kit or other aluminum dish, a broom and at least six people. A smooth floor with no carpet works best. I don’t recommend this for high-end wood floors.
Choose teams. Teams line up on facing each other. A goal is marked on either end of the room. Use the mess kit as the puck and brooms as the hockey sticks. Hit the puck into the opposing goal. It is a lot of fun, but it will trash the mess kit or aluminum dish.
Crystal Bridges
For homeschoolers in Northwest Arkansas, park at the Compton Gardens parking lot. Wednesday evening is the best time to go–about 45 minutes before sunset. Start down the Crystal Bridges Trail and head toward Skyspace. Take in the Skyspace experience and talk then continue down the art trail to the museum. You can circle back to the parking lot, or you can take one of the other trails. The grounds are beautiful. Look for boulders with numbers on them and see if you can find them all. This is a unique way to get everyone outdoors and moving.
Hope this gives you a few good ideas.
–Lynda
Filed Under : Events,Free or Almost free resources,Freebies,Great Field Trips,Homeschool Parent Education,Homeschooling 101 by Lynda
Mar.12,2012
The next Homeschool Help workshop will be CURRICULUM CHOICES on Monday, March 26, from 7:00-9:00 pm at the Circle of Life Hospice Building in Springdale/Tontitown.
At this workshop Shelley will describe the different types of curriculum, how to choose and buy, and different
schooling philosophies and methods that shape the variety of curriculum that authors produce.
Some other topics that will be covered are Unit Studies, Living Books, Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, and Classical Education.
There will NOT be any curriculum there to browse.
This is a FREE workshop, but donations are accepted to help cover the cost of handouts.
Invite a friend!
There will be no childcare provided. Nursing infants and babes in arms
are welcome.
Directions:
From I540, take the Holiday Inn exit in Springdale (exit 72) and go west toward Tontitown.
Near Tontitown, turn right at the Jones Rd. stoplight. There is a Harps
on the right at that intersection.
Circle of Life is the first building on the right after Harps, 901 Jones Rd.
It says “Circle of Life” on the building, but at the entrance there is a
sign that says “Willard and Pat Walker Family Center”.
Hope to see you there!
Shelley and Marni
Shelley Kinder
shelkinder@aol.com
479-789-5813
Marni Hendrix
marni@behandy.net
479-444-6405
Hope you find this helpful
–Lynda
Mythbusters Live: March 15 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time (1:00 pm Central Time) on the Discovery Network Website.
MythBusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage will share their experiences as well as those of co-hosts Kari Byron, Tori Belleci and Grant Imahara, as they make experimentation come alive through this dynamic presentation about science behind the exhibit. The interactive exhibit, created by Discovery Communications and Exhibits Development Group (EDG), in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, helps inspire learning beyond the walls of the classroom.
Scientists, engineers, and mathematicians drive innovation that will fuel our future. This live event will spark the natural curiosity of budding scientists by showing students just how fun science can be and how it’s helped Adam and Jamie follow their passion to ultimately find success.
Here is the link to register and ask questions.
Hope you enjoy this.
–Lynda
Upcoming Football Meeting
Next Monday, March 5th, at 6:00 pm at Fayetteville Nazarene Church Jimmy Hall and the football coaches will be holding a meeting for parents and players interested in football. Please post this information to any homeschool groups of which you are a part. It takes many players and coaches to form a solid football program, so let’s get the word out. Hornet Football will be an aggressive, disciplined program. If you know men who might help coach and boys who might play (age 14 and up) let them know about this meeting.
Fayetteville Nazarene Church
2857 N. Old Missouri Rd
Fayetteville, AR
Jan.7,2012The Arkansas Home School Testing Department is mailing out registration packets to homeschool families starting on January 9, 2012. If you registered as a homeschool prior to December 15, 2011, your packet is in the January 9th mailing. If you started homeschooling after December 15th, your packet will be mailed as soon as the testing office receives your information.
Who has to test?
Any child in grades 3 through 9 is required to take an annual standardized test. If you are a registered homeschooler in Arkansas, you will receive a testing packet in the mail. Packets are mailed to families with children withing the mandatory testing grades. Once you get the packet, you can register for testing.
What are my testing options?
You have the choice of taking the test at a state sponsored location. This option is free, but once you register for a specific location it cannot be changed. If you miss the test, the testing office will contact you. If you skip out on the testing, you can be facing truancy charges.
Another option is to test with a certified homeschool group. This option is also free and the consequences for not testing are the same.
The third option is to test privately. You pay to obtain the test and you are responsible for administering it properly. There are several companies that offer testing. To use this option, a copy of your paid invoice must be submitted to the testing office. This option gives you the most flexibility and if you kids is sick on the scheduled date, you can put off the test for a day or two without any negative consequences.
Kids with special needs
You can request that your child be excused from testing. Proof of a disability or other issues must be submitted to the testing office. You will need a physicians report or other official report to back up your request.
Public School Online
If you are using an online charter school such as ARVA or Lincoln ACE, the school will provide the required testing. Students in these programs do not have the option of testing with homeschoolers and they do not have the option to test privately. Testing packets will not be mailed to parents if their children are enrolled in one of the online charter schools.
For more information, contact the Arkansas Testing Department.
Filed Under : Homeschooling 101 by Lynda Nov.28,2011It’s that time of year again. Why not give the gift of reading to the kids in your life. Scholastic is holding a warehouse sale at the John Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, Arkansas.
The times are as follows:
Tuesday, December 13: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Wednesday, December 14: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday, December 15: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Check out the flyer on how to register and avoid long lines. I suggest bringing some form of proof that you are a homeschool teacher. The sale is also for volunteers and coordinators for Scholastic book sales. This is a great way to get quality books on the cheap.
Hope you find this helpful
–Lynda
Nov.12,2011I intended to write daily throughout the month of November and December to bring you money saving tips for the holidays on a daily basis. Instead, health issues got in the way and I had an open surgical biopsy done earlier this week. That threw a monkey wrench into my good intentions. Anyway, I am back for now and have an awesome money saving tip. Restaurant gift certificates. You can get them on the cheap and they make awesome gifts for co-workers, co-op members, church members or anyone on your gift list. Keep some for yourself. Taking a night off after weeks of holiday planning and cooking is good for your sanity and your soul.
Restaurant.com is offering $25 gift certificates to most restaurants for just $2. The promotion runs from now until November 15th. If you happen to have a Upromise account, make sure you log-in to your account and shop through the Upromise link. In addition to getting the gift certificate for $2, you will receive 15 percent of your order towards college savings. It’s a great deal. At $2 each, you can order the gift certificates for almost anyone. They are good for 12 months from purchase and you can search for restaurants by zipcode. Normally, the $25 gift certificates are $10. With this promotion you are saving 80 percent!
To get your discount, use the code HAM at checkout.
Hope this was useful
–Lynda
Tags : curriculum review
Copyright 2010 Homeschooling in Arkansas | Powered by WordPress | Designed by www.promiseringsdesigns.com
Original Articles. Constant-Content.
