Making Your Master's Degree in Teaching Affordable

Are you a recent college graduate with a degree in one of the STEM fields (meaning a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) who would love to earn his or her master's degree in teaching? Maybe you earned your undergrad degree some time ago and are now looking for a career change... perhaps as a teacher? Going back to school is expensive and often times keeps great prospects from pursuing their dreams.

If this sounds like you, are you aware that opportunities exist for earning your master's degree through a $30,000 stipend? In exchange for working in a high-needs classroom in the midwest? Seventeen universities offer such an opportunity through the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship.

Just as students in well-to-do regions of the United States need great teachers in order to become successful, so to do students in high poverty stricken areas. The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for persons hoping to become certified teachers to obtain their professional training in such areas as Indiana, Ohio, or Michigan. Imagine the difference you could make in the lives of these children... and the impact working with them will have on you and your future career as a certified teacher.

In addition to grants for teachers you may also find other financial assistance programs and scholarships at the schools participating in the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program.    



Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Online Colleges... Moms Who Make it Work

I personally know a handful of moms in school this fall semester, some of whom are taking Online Courses. Those moms earning their degrees from home are not only saving on tuition, they're saving a fortune on gasoline and time away from their families. As a mom myself, I can definitately appreciate how difficult adding school to the daily mix of responsibilites must be. I really don't know how they do it. There's the life balance factor, the sanity factor, and the financial factor to consider.

That said, I've been thinking of doing the same. lol I'm not sure if my future educational goals will be met through or the local community college or online. I currently have a bachelor's degree in psychology, so

online degree programs in counseling are worth considering... although I don't exactly know if counceling is my calling. I think it takes a very special person to council others. I'm not sure that person is me! lol I have thought about going into nursing though.

The National Center For Education Statistics College Navigator http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
offers free tools for locating the best school for you.... or your high school student. Gotta love that! I love online directories and this particular site makes finding the right school for your field of interest a snap.


Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

My Son is a New Boy Scout!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boy Scouts of America for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My 10 year old son is finally a member of Boy Scouts. We promised him we'd sign up last year, but we never did. Our schedules were such that we couldn't make the scouting thing happen, but this year is wide open.

Actually, my husband has found himself without a job. Not the best situation to be in, but he has a whole lotta time for the kids now!  That's a real blessing. Ideally he'll find a job within the next couple months, but while he continues to hunt for that missing income we're in a great position to play. Fortunately for us, he's a saver, so if the job thing doesn't happen right away, we should be ok! God willing!

So... what does it mean to join Boy Scouts of America? It's a new journey for us, but tonight our son and his best friend were diving into their handbook planning which badges they'd go for first. His friend was a member last year too and is beyond thrilled to have "J" on board with him! He brought his shirt and patches over with him this evening to show me where to properly stitch them in place. Good thing my sewing machine is working!

Be A Scout and benefit in the following areas:

• Shake things up a bit! Life can't be all work. Our kids are in school all day, then come home to chores and homework assignments. It's hard for a child to realize the benefit of their labors! lol Scouting offers a healthy social outlet, with real learning experiences outside of a stuffy classroom and they'll earn badges along the way. If you're here because you're a homeschooler, this should appeal to you! Your son will find camping and fishing opportunities, but also the chance to learn about current technologies and healthy living. There are more badges than you can count... all requiring research and hard work on the part of your scout. What does that mean for you? A hard working student, actively involved in his community, gaining new skills and wisdom, socially connected... and finding his efforts rewarded through merit badges, pins, and acknowledgment of his family and troop.
• There are 31 STEM badges... in case you thought scouting was just about camping, you couldn't be more mistaken. If you have a little scientist on your hands, he'll love learning about robotics as well as other areas of technology. Science, math, engineering and technology are a big part of scouting these days!
• If you're a mom who things only dads can be a part of scouting, think again! A female friend of mine is actually her son's scout leader! There's room for moms and/or dads. So, if you're a single mom or married to a man who works long hours, don't discount scouts!
• Scouting encourages wholesome family values and provides an excellent opportunity to build family and community togetherness.

I'll keep my readers posted on our scouting experiences! Be sure to share yours too! I'd love to hear reader comments.

A Long Way from Homeschooling?

I'm beginning to reconsider our plans to bring the kids home again next year. It seemed like the right answer... especially for our son, who has Asperger's Syndrome and an incredible amount of anxiety.  I just don't know what to do with him next year.

He's currently in 5th grade which means he'll be starting middle school next August. The structure and peer modeling he's found in a brick and mortar school has been immensely beneficial to his development. Additionally, I find myself having the same struggles at homework time, that we found when we were homeschooling. By and large, he refuses to work with mom and dad. He'll do things for the teachers he won't do for us. His last semester at conventional school he came home with straight A's too... so I  guess you could say he's thriving in that environment.

So what's the dilemma? I'm now working in a middle school as a Life Skills Para and I'm seeing the type of environment my son could be exposed to in 11 months time. I'm not sure he could handle it. The middle school I find myself in is in fact the same school he'd be attending next year. At dismissal today the hallways were packed. My guy doesn't do well with crowds or with crowded spaces. Maybe this is something that can be worked around? I don't know, but I find myself arguing with myself about what to do with him.

Then there's my daughter. I've always intended on bringing her back before middle school, which for her will start in 3 years. Perhaps that could be my answer? Leave the kids in the brick and mortar school until 2014? By that time my son will be in 8th grade and my daughter in 6th. He'd be just a year away from high school... and hopefully more developmentally and emotionally mature.

I don't have the answer as I sit at my computer tonight. If you've been in a similar spot and have any advice, please chime in. I'd love to hear another mom's perspective on things.  
Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Contract Free Cell Phone Plans

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you know there's a cell phone carrier that requires no contracts, initiation or cancelation fees and allows you to call internationally for the same rate as within the USA? Wowsa!

What's more Real TracFone customers enjoy other benefits such as phones for as little as $9.99 and 800 minutes for as little as $119. For that price, they also enjoy double minutes for life. Alternatively, they can purchase 50 minutes for $9.99 or 200 minutes for $30... again, without a contract.

So many features come with a TracFone. You'll be able to shop for phones from the major players, such as Motorolla, Nokia, and Samsung, just to name a few. TracFone even has "Smart" phones, if that's your cup of tea.

You'll find pay as you go cards from thousands of retailers across the United States, or you can upload your minutes online. How easy is that? What's more, you won't have to worry about your kids running up your phone bill. And yes... they can even text their friends on a TracFone contract free plan! We all know that's the first question they're going to ask after all.

I appreciate the idea of a plan without a contract, especially as a mom to two children who will soon need a cell. Yes... I said "need". I think it's just the day we live in and it's such a small price to pay (thanks to TracFone) to have that added piece of mind that they can contact me if they need to. At this very moment they're at a Bible study and would have to borrow a phone if they needed me. In this case I know everyone they're with and have no worries, but as they get older, I"d like them to be able to reach me without the potential need to ask a stranger for help. Know what I'm saying? I think you do!

<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CjgA7x34iVo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Teaching Strategies and Tools from Mentoring Minds

Looking for tools towards developing successful strategies for teaching can be challenging. Mentoring Minds offers a variety of teaching aids developed to assist students and teachers in achieving top performance in the classroom.

You'll find products geared towards assisting strategic development in the areas of math, writing, reading, spelling, critical thinking, classroom management, and science. Each product sold on the Mentoring Minds website offers with it's description, a section on all available corresponding research for that product. You'll know the proven benefits of each product before you buy. If you're wishing to check out the research section of this site, simply visit: http://www.mentoringminds.com/research.

If you're looking for teaching strategies for your homeschool, and only wish to purchase 1 product...  or if you're a large school wishing to purchase 20 of said tool, you may do so on the Mentoring Minds website. Bulk discounts are available.

From the Mentoring Minds store (http://www.mentoringminds.com/store) I'd probably most likely purchase the Math Card Sets. I also like the idea of the Critical Thinking Wheel. I'm going to read more about that tool tonight.



Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Higher Education Consultants for Chinese Students Traveling Abroad

I found a website that helps Chinese students find and apply to foreign universities. They also assist colleges who are looking to recruit students from China. They're what you'd call higher education consultants.

My husband and I both attended the University of Kansas. One thing we especially loved was the diversity we found on campus. We both met people from all over the world, China included, within the student body.

As a child I'd always dreamed of traveling the world, but it never happened. I feel blessed to have been exposed to a wide variety of people from around the globe... an experience that started in college, but continues to current day. In fact, on our very street we have at least 4 nations represented, with first and second generation families (to the US) living among us.

Traveling abroad for school must be a scary venture. I don't know that I could have left my family behind to visit another nation on the other side of the globe! Maybe if I'd had an education consultant I'd have considered studying abroad.

Do you have a student who dreams of traveling aboard? What are your thoughts on this? Believe it or not our 10 year old son received a letter yesterday inviting him into a program for 5th and 6th graders interested in studying in Australia. This isn't exactly in our comfort zone! lol He's too young in my opinion and if any of my kids are going to be traveling to Australia, I'm going with them! Are you kidding me? lol I'd love to visit Australia!

When my kids are in college (and not 10), I'm sure I'll be on board with the idea of sending them overseas. I'd love to see them travel while in school... if that's something they wish to do. Just so you know... I might still find a way to tag along though! lol Maybe I could play the role of educational advisor and they'd find having mom along helpful in some way. Well... it could happen. Right? lol

 



Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Giveaways from Across the Blogosphere... September Edition

Greetings! Here's my latest list of giveaways from across the web that I feel are worthwhile. I look for blog giveaways offering products and services of interest to families of children of all ages. Here's what I found for the month of September:  

• Having Fun Saving has up for grabs an Educational Insights Micro-Pro 48 piece microscope set and GeoSafari Dino Digs. This giveaway ends on Saturday, September 3, 2011... so time is short.
• Laughing Lindsay is offering a Sharpie giveaway with a retail value of $100. The prize package consists of a variety of pens, makers and highlighters. Giveaway ends September 7, 2011.
• Math Concentration is conducting a contest good for a $200 Visa gift card to the individual submitting a math video who can collect the most votes for their submission. Giveaway ends September 10th, 2011 at 12:00AM. This giveaway is only open to middle school and high school students, and to teachers.
• Math Concentration also has a monthly drawing for a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card. This month's winner will be drawn on September 13, 2011.
• Sassy Mamma in LA is giving one random winner their choice of a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card or $100 cash via PayPal. Giveaway ends September 7th.
• Sippy Cup Mom has teamed up with a number of bloggers to offer a Kindle and an $80 Amazon.com Gift Card. This giveaway started today end ends on September 16th. 
• My Baking Addiction is giving away a NOOK Color! Giveaway ends on September 13th. We have a NOOK Color and might I just add it's absolutely fabulous!

Ok... 'nuff for now! Hope this list of exciting giveaways brings you some luck! I'm planning 2 giveaways of my own this month, so be sure to keep following The Homeschooling Blog!

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!