Readers Share How to Organize Website Finds
By Heather Idoni
Added Monday, October 01, 2007
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 8 No 76 October 1, 2007
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2007 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- Raising the Roof Fund
Helpful Tips
-- Download Free Art Prints
Resource Review
-- Becoming Whole - Healthy Resource
Reader Question
-- Organizing Website 'Finds'
Additional Notes
-- Searchable Archive
-- Our Email Group
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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'Raising the Roof' Fund
Thank you to everyone who has given so far to the fund to raise
money for the supplies for a new roof for a very special home-
schooling family in Michigan. I didn't mention before, but if
you really need to know who it is before you donate, that is fine.
Just email me. I'm sure most of you will recognize the family
right away and agree with me that they are not only very deserving
of our help, but a family you will be so happy to be able to have
this rare opportunity to bless!
If you are still able to donate even $3 or $4, please send it to
this special PayPal address I have set-up below -- or mail or call
me at the bookstore! We still need to raise about 90% of what is
needed. All the labor is being provided free of charge. If you
are a Christian who practices tithing, perhaps you could consider
reducing the tithe that normally goes to your local church by a
small amount? Every little bit helps! I know some are on tight
budgets, but PLEASE don't think $3 is too little to share. It is
not too small at all and it *will* add up. Please -- while you are
thinking of it -- take the time to help make this miracle happen.
Here is the email address for the PayPal account:
raise-the-roof@familyclassroom.net
Donations can also be mailed to:
Beloved Books
8572 Silver Lake Rd.
Linden, MI 48451
(Make check payable to Beloved Books, and specify ROOF FUND please.)
Alternatively, you can call me at the store and use a credit card.
I'm here Tuesday thru Friday, 11 to 3 EST. Call (810)735-0977...
or you can use the toll-free number - 1-877-223-4415.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. -- Heather
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Helpful Tip
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Art Prints
"Ambleside Online recently started a group where you can download
artist prints for free! They usually sell the prints for $16 for
each term, I believe. You will need to have a printer that will
allow you to print good quality images. I just printed out DaVinci's
art and they look great!"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AOArtPrints/
-- Julie, HSGifted Group
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Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Resource Review
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Becoming Whole - Christy Wade
For more information or to order: www.victoriouslivingph.com
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Fact or fiction, truth or myth – when it comes to diet and health it
is sometimes difficult to separate the chaff from the wheat. In her
book, 'Becoming Whole: Eating Your Way to Bountiful Health', author
and homeschool mom, Christy Wade, cuts through the many traditions
and presuppositions that, she believes, keep us from enjoying the
abundant life that Christ has for us. With wisdom gained from research,
Bible study and her own life experience, Christy challenges and encour-
ages us to consider God’s original design for building a healthy body
– primarily through eating raw, whole foods and limiting meat intake.
Topics covered include the link between disease and diet, harmful foods,
diet myths, how our bodies use nutrients, eating your way to bountiful
health, recipes, and more. I was especially encouraged and enlightened
as I read the chapter titled, 'Pleasing Your Palate with Scripture's
Simple Menu'.
Written in a workbook format, each chapter concludes with study ques-
tions designed to help the reader review the material presented and
evaluate their own eating/health habits in light of the information
covered in the book. 'Becoming Whole' is packed with Bible verses for
the reader's consideration and edification.
Bookstores are full of books about diet and health – so what is differ-
ent about this one? Although I have read many books that espouse a
similar approach to diet, I really enjoyed the encouraging 'voice' that
Christy has given to this topic. The chapters are short and easy to
understand. The study questions made me stop and really consider what
I had read, and the many, many scripture references reminded me that
the information presented was backed not only by man's research and
knowledge, but by God's Word. I appreciated the very practical tips
and recipes, too! From a homeschool standpoint, I have found the built-
in discussion questions and clearly presented material to be a great
supplement to our health studies this year.
Whether you are looking for help fighting the battle of the bulge, or
simply would like to introduce a healthier way of eating to your family,
'Becoming Whole' offers convincing evidence backed by practical sugges-
tions to guide your family on the path of bountiful health.
-- Cindy Prechtel - http://www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I would love to know how moms are keeping track of all the wonderful
and very helpful websites we receive from this newsletter. I some-
times turn them into a 'Favorite', but I am losing control of all of
this information. Most of it I know I would use in the future but
the recall method has become a mountain for me." -- Susan in Minnesota
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Our Readers' Responses
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"I sort my favorites into folders. For example, I have a homeschool
folder and inside it I have other folders: art, history (with folders
inside for American and World history), foreign language (with folders
inside for French, Spanish, Latin) and so on and so forth. It takes
more time and thought to create it this way, and occasional maintenance,
but it is well worth it when I can find my bookmarks easily!" -- Cheryl
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"When I come across a website address I want to keep, I send myself an
e-mail. The subject line is the type of website it is -- helpful tips,
math, recipes, organization, etc. The message is simply the link. When
the e-mail arrives in my inbox, I move it to a folder called 'Websites'.
Then when I want to access information, or just spend time browsing, I
go to the websites folder, find the topic and click on the link. (I
always try the link before I delete the original article telling about
the website, because I am very capable of typos when I'm typing web
addresses.)" -- Mary Beth
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"I have also struggled with saving links and pages have accumulated way
too much. I discovered that if I hadn't used the site or link within
6 months, then I wasn't going to use it and I could always use a search
engine to find it again. So, I periodically go through my links in my
bookmarks and decide if I need them any longer. I also make use of my
folders in my mail account to categorize things. I have a science
folder, homeschool general folder, craft project folder, etc. Since
information is always changing and being created, we also need to keep
our resource files current and not cluttered with stuff we 'think' we
may use someday." -- Julie in IL
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"Susan has the right idea of storing them in 'favorites', but she could
try putting them into folders under subjects, too. I have also found it
helpful sometimes to rename the favorite while storing it; sometimes I
will put my child's name and subject on it." -- A.
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"I, too, use my favorites and have set up many many file folders so that
I can find whatever it may be again. I set up a folder for every subject
I can think of (it may not apply just yet but I save everything I find
for later). Then I set up folders within folders. Let me write out how
that looks:
All Subject Games
Bible
Crafts
E-books
Fine Arts
Geography
--Maps
History
--France
--Civil War
--Westward Expansion
Language Arts
--Authors
--Reading
--Phonics
--Poetry
--Writing
Magazines
Math
Music
Notebooking
Nutrition
Preschool
Reference
Science
--Geology
--Machines
--Nature
----Animals
----Bugs
----Plants
----Rocks
And so on and so on." -- Cassie
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"I have a folder set up for teaching websites. Within that, I have sub-
folders for the major curriculum areas (art/Bible/math, etc.)
Then, where needed (such as science), I even have subtopics such as
birds.
I will also copy one website into more than one folder if it fits, as it
is a lot easier to save it twice than to have to search everything
looking for answers." -- El in Canada
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"I also add them to my favorites but I make sure that the title is some-
thing that reminds me what it's for. If it just lists a random website
name, I might not remember what content is on the site but I can change
it to say something like Science, Handwriting or Math -- and that will
help me find just what I am looking for. I'm also a bit picky in
choosing which ones to save. If it is something I might not use for
several years, I don't save it. I know that I can do a search later on
to find what I need and that there may be even better sites in a few
years, so I just save what I might need now." -- Jill in Florida
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"I'm still very much a paper person, so I have notebooks set up to hold
my info. For websites, I use a three ring binder with tabbed dividers.
The dividers are labeled with categories. For example, Yahoo Groups
(that I'm involved in), Homeschool Websites, Recipes, Decorating, Scrap-
booking, etc. Then as I 'discover' new sites that I like, I either write
them down in my notebook or copy and paste several onto one page, print
them out, and cut and paste into my notebook. I always look up a website
first before I put it into my notebook because there are many that sound
good but don't meet my needs when I've looked them over." -- Noreen
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"I was having the same problem. I have started sorting the sites into
various categories. I label them with HS (for home school) then follow
with the subject area. For example, HS-Math, HS-History. That way they
are all listed together in my Favorites list. I still have a general
category for those sites that don't fit neatly into one subject area."
-- Janet
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"Hey Susan! I had the same issue as you. It's truly overwhelming. In
favorites, I created a sub-folder for homeschooling info. Then I created
sub-folders inside there for each subject. As I find a new website, here
or elsewhere, I review it to see if I think it will come in handy. Also,
I periodically go through the folder to see if any sites aren't avail-
able anymore." -- Kelly in FL
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"I keep track of websites by writing them on an index card and keeping
them in a small index card box right next to my computer. I list all of
the websites I use on individual cards and also include information I
might need, such as my account number, password, login ID, etc. I do all
of my banking online, so this system became a necessity for me. I keep
another file box next to the kitchen phone as a system for phone num-
bers, since it is easier to add and delete information by changing out
cards than it is to scribble out or erase in an address book." -- Deb
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Answer our NEW Question
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"I have a 9 year old dd whose gross and fine motor skills need help!
I don't know whether to take her for an evaluation with an occupa-
tional therapist or if there are exercises I could do with her at
home during the day to strengthen her hands and arms. She is not
good at cutting paper. She eats like a 3 year old. It's a night-
mare to watch her eat soup. She can eat with a fork and spoon...
but she still wants to hold the spoon like a baby does. She knocks
her drink over a lot. As homeschoolers, we don't have access to a
therapist -- unless maybe insurance would pay. The other kids notice
that something isn't quite right and they shun her. It breaks my
heart and I want to help her 'catch up' with her peers but I don't
know how. Do any other moms have any advice for me?" -- Laura
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Do you have some encouragement or practical advice to share with Laura?
Please send your email to: HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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Ask YOUR Question
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Do you have a question you would like our readers to answer?
Send it to HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
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tags: homeschooling, home education, home school, homeschool, whole foods, organizing bookmarks, healthy eating, homeschool support, christian parenting
