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Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day Comments
Memorial Day Comments @ CommentsLive.com

Friday, May 23, 2008

Game Time

Getting ready for the long weekend but wanted to tell you quickly about 3 games we've played that I would recommend

1) Tri-Virsity - This can even be played by one player, up to 8 players


2) Guillotine - I do not have time to do this game justice

3) Flinch - we have literally played this game daily

Thursday, May 22, 2008

In the News: Public Schools

via msnbc where the entire article/story can be found:

Many schools unlikely to meet education goals
By the 2013-14 school year, students must pass tests in math, reading

updated 9:11 p.m. PT, Mon., May. 19, 2008

WASHINGTON - Pink slips for principals and teachers. School-funded tutoring for poor kids. Schools are increasingly looking at those kind of consequences for failing to raise math and reading scores.

The federal No Child Left Behind law says that by the 2013-14 school year all students must pass state tests in these subjects.

About half of the states have steady annual goals for increasing the percentage of students passing, or working at their proper grade level. But the other half set the bar very low early on, and starting about now expect big annual achievement gains, according to a report being released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Center on Education Policy.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Discussion Group of the Day

Thought I would share some of the groups that I've found helpful in our homeschooling journey




alt="Click here to join socalteenhomeschoolers">
Click to join socalteenhomeschoolers

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Via CHN E-group: Expo Rooms

Calling all procrastinators, it's time to get your hotel reservation,
and the news is good! It appears that the Marriott has opened up
some hotel rooms for the Expo! I know that months ago, they weren't
taking reservations for Thursday, and I think Sunday may have filled
up too, and now the online form is accepting Thursday through
Sunday. I'm thinking this won't be available long, since we're
already over our contracted room nights! Sometimes hotels do this,
as a courtesy. If you want a room at the Marriott for the Expo, get
it soon because there are disappointed attendees every year who have
to stay elsewhere.

If you're debating about commuting or staying at the hotel, just ask
what others have done. What I hear over and over is that it's so
much more relaxing to stay at the hotel and not have to leave. Plus,
with early morning sessions on into the evening, you're less apt to miss out.

The accommodations website
is: http://californiahomeschool.net/events/expo/accommodations.htm
The rooms are $88/night, which is a great discount, PLUS hotel guests
will not be charged $12/day for parking like all other guests
will. Be sure to register through our website so that they'll know
you're a CHN guest!

Contests: NASA Space Settlement Contest

The webpage with complete rules and guidelines is at this link.

NASA Space Settlement Contest.


This annual contest, co-sponsored by NASA Ames and the National Space Society (NSS) is for 6-12th graders (11-18 years old) from anywhere in the world. Individuals, small teams of two to six, and large teams of seven or more (often whole classrooms with teacher leadership) may enter. Grades 6-9 and 10-12 are judged separately, except for the grand prize. Students develop space settlement designs and related materials. These are sent to NASA Ames for judgement. Submissions must be received by March 31, 2009. Check out the results of the 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 contests.

Teachers (Please Read) are encouraged to use this contest as part of their curriculum. See the space settlement teacher's page and visit the Ames Educator Resource Center for more information.

For additional information visit the Space Settlement page

Contest prizes and certificates:

  • All participants will receive a certificate. All submissions must be received by March 31, 2009.
  • The best submission wins the grand prize, consisting of the space colony submission being placed on the NASA Ames World Wide Web site.
  • NASA Ames will nominate one contestant to receive the National Space Society (NSS) Student Space Settlement Design of the Year award. The successful contestant must attend the NSS 27th Annual International Space Development Conference in Washington D.C., May 29 - June 1, 2008, to receive the award and give an acceptance speech. This is a tremendous opportunity to meet many of the most important people in space development. Conference registration will be waived, but travel expenses must be paid by the contestant.
  • Divisional winners will be invited to tour NASA Ames Research Center in June 2009. Please be aware that we are unable to help obtain visas or arrange travel in any way. This is the sole responsibility of the contestant. In addition we are unable to provide funding for travel or lodging at this time.
  • All tourists over the age of 17 will need to be US citizens. Tour availability is very limited. Please be advised that all tour policies and security regulations are subject to change.
  • Contest categories are individual 6-9 grade, small group 6-9 grade, large group 6-9 grade, individual 10-12 grade, small group 10-12 grade, and large group 10-12 grade. An additional category based on artistic and literary merit is also included in the contest.
  • There will be a special Life Support category this year. Entries with strength in life support and/or describe biology laboratories and experiments that take advantage of variable psuedo-gravity levels and the radiation environment inside space colonies will be considered for this category.
  • Contestants give NASA the right to publish their submissions without restriction as a condition for entering the contest.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Public School Files

via FOXNEWS:

Texas Substitute Teacher Arrested After Coming to Class Drunk

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

RICHARDSON, Texas — A substitute middle school teacher suspected of being drunk in class was too intoxicated to complete a sobriety test and was arrested, authorities said.

Thomas Brownlee, 56, was in a classroom Tuesday with students and another staff member for about 20 minutes, Richardson school district spokesman Tim Clark said. Another teacher suspected Brownlee was drunk and told a campus police officer.

A Dallas police report states that Brownlee "had slurred speech, breath smelling of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot eyes."

The officer stopped issuing a sobriety test out of concern for Brownlee's safety, according to the report.

Brownlee was charged with public intoxication, police said.

A telephone listing for Brownlee was disconnected.

Clark said students were never alone with Brownlee, and that the district had used him as a substitute teacher before without incident.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Game Time! - Part II

I guess this is a day of family time and playing games we've had a bit. Today we finally cracked open our Mummy Rummy game. It is a card game and it was fun. It took a bit of getting use to but we enjoyed it and will play it again. It is a Gamewright game and marketed for ages 8 to Adult, for 2 to 5 players. We just played with 3.

Game Time!

We finally played a game that we've had for a while. It is a dice game called Greed. It was actually fun and very easy to learn. It is a good way to practice addition skills and the game isn't overly long.

The age range on the box says 7 to adult. Well I'm back to enjoying my Mother's Day. I hope you all are too and making time to really reach out to the mothers in your life.

Happy Mother's Day!

Myspace Graphics
Myspace Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Friday, May 2, 2008

Current happenings in our home

Recently (today) we started reading "What Do You Really Want?" by Beverly K. Bachel. Here is a quote that I really liked from the book.

A goal is something you want, of course! But there's more to it than that. A goal is also something you're willing to work for - whether it takes you days, weeks, months, or years to achieve.

I just thought it was a great reminder. Hope everyone enjoys there weekend! - OldSchoolLearning

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Another Goodie in my Inbox - May 3rd Festival

There is a very cool High School and College Film and Video Festival
this weekend, Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Los
Angeles Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Avenue, Sylmar, CA 91342.

The 5th Annual Carless Drive-In

For more information go to:
LAMission.edu/multimedia/carless

The festival is free. Plenty of easy parking.

A great chance to see some work by up-and-coming video and animation
artists. You'll be able to say that you saw their early work and
"knew they were going to be famous."