Do you really get those cheap prices on graphing calculators that work?

 There are 13 kiddos in the Co-op Chemistry class.  We lend out graphing calculators.  I prefer to lend TI 83 calcs; however, I haven’t found used TI 83 versions for my target price of $15 recently.  I like to buy them in lots.  Recently, there haven’t been any reasonable listings.  So, I’ve bought four or five TI 84 calcs.  I lent out two more calcs this week.  So I bid on two more.  I’m trying to have five or six on hand for labs.  Yes, these same kiddos should have their calcs with them for class.  In my experience, they don’t—especially when you really need them.  (Many Vernier sensors work with the Easy Data software loaded on TI 84s, especially the temperature sensor.)  I want to remain transparent.  Below are the two most recent invoices for graphing calcs I bought through Good Will.  Yes, I’ve tried used calcs on Amazon and eBay; those two experiments failed.  One calc had gritty keys.  I’m sticking with Good Will.  My target price for a TI 84 is $35 used.  Below are the two I just bought. (One was $35.87; I rounded up online as a small donation.  No, I don’t usually round up.  I will if it’s only a small amount.)  I was outbid on several other calcs because I estimate the total cost with shipping and handling and won’t go over more than a dollar or so.  Yes, one calc is a bargain.  The description says it will power on.   Every time, the calcs are a gamble.  So far, Good Will has delivered!

It’s probably cheaper at Walmart.

 I was kicking myself for forgetting to get some goods during the Amazon Prime sale.  For example, I look for deals on electric kettles.  I give graduating seniors an electric kettle and a case of ramen as a gift.  It’s my go-to.  Yes, the teens think it’s hysterical.  Then, I checked online.  It’s cheaper at Walmart.

Walmart’s prices match or beat many items, such as glue sticks, Sharpies, especially during Prime Days.  So before you click buy, be sure to compare prices!

Are you documenting for your portfolio?

 Yes, another question!  Are you documenting activities for your portfolio?  Online schools often require regular submissions.  Even families who do not subscribe to a formal program create transcripts.  Many states require annual portfolios to be submitted to the local school district.  Are you keeping tract of your classes?  What about electives?  Field trips?  Sports?  Music?  Arts?  Volunteer work?  Creative projects?  

Take photos! Get your family involved. Have your kiddos get in the habit of completing their work, making corrections, dating the assignment, taking and photo, and uploading it to Google Drive in a folder.  Voilá!  You have a work sample.  Remind the child to create work samples for each subject.  Do the same thing with quizzes and tests.

I use Google Classroom to keep track of grades.  I did this by subject when I home-schooled, too.  I got in the habit of creating slide decks for each subject and added photos.  Many districts prefer digital portfolios.  Keep a dedicated (and labeled) folder in Google Drive, sorted by subject, which has the slide decks and photos.  I prefer to add any photo immediately to the slide decks, as a record.  Just saving photos in a folder on your phone will save you time.  Ask yourself what is the best means to stay on top of your portfolio.  Make this another family project!  Explain to your kiddo she hasn’t completed an assignment unless she has also created and uploaded a sample.  

Art in Literature: Illuminated Letters

 Brit Lit is reading The Canterbury Tales, specifically the Longman edition.

These are easy to read stories.  Happily, like many versions of The Canterbury Tales, they are illustrated.  Since we are examining early British history, we’re going to create Illuminated Letters, using these instructions.  You might like this CD stained-glass project, too.  Why am I adding things such as résumés and illuminated letters?  Because it’s my Co-op class.  Art is another neglected subject when families home-school—like timelines.  So I like to add some art.  It’s fun!  In any case we’re illustrating our work with beautiful letters.  

Prime Day and Walmart Savings: Graphing Calcculators

 Prime Day means savings.  Both Amazon and Walmart have deep discounts on graphing calculators.  While I buy used graphing calculators from Good Will, you might be hesitant.  I’ve had remarkable luck.  As long as the calculator powers on, it works.  Some of the older TI 83 models I bought used are starting to die.  However, I paid about $15 for each in used lots.  My target price for used TI 84 calcs is $35.  Yes, I do breathe a sigh of relief every time I get a used calculator and it works.  Below are some deals at Amazon and Walmart, for those of you less intrepid.

Are you doing any labs?

 Full disclosure, I’m a science teacher.  Yes, I teach literature classes and French.  Yes, I have home-schooled kiddos.  Sure, I review portfolios.  My main role is a science teacher for the local Co-op.  Surprise!  I like loads of labs.  My classes do at least 30, with a goal of 50.  Is your household doing any labs?  At all?  No, you don’t need to invest in expensive kits or microscopes to do labs.  For example, take one cup of ice and do this Heat Curve lab.  Calibrate the thermometer before you start the lab.  Graph the data.  Bonus points if you graph it with a graphing calculator after doing a graph on paper.  Even more points if you repeat the lab three times and average the data.  Go ahead and enter the data in a spreadsheet and graph it.  All this from boiling a cup of ice!

How do you infuse more labs?  Set aside regular time.  Can you plan one hour Friday afternoon?  Make the first month especially fun, such as Candy experiments.  Fun helps build habits.  Do the labs in your science textbook.  Apologia’s science experiments are written for home-schoolers.  Start with the experiments which look easy.  No, they don’t have to align perfectly with the science lessons.  That can come later.  Right now, I just want you to do any lab.  Why?  The more fun labs your kiddos do, the more labs they’ll want to do.  Keep things light.  Build your confidence.  Now, get started!  Forego an hour at the park for lab this week.  This is going to be the best year yet!

Write a resume!

 The Brit Lit class is reading Beowulf.  The class is writing a resumé for Beowulf.  High school students should learn how to write a resumé.  Use a template, such as this one.  Google Docs has templates.

Here are some tips for a good resumé with clear instructions.  One of the main tips is to keep it to one page.  Period.  Wait until you have ten years of experience before adding a page.  Look at this blog post, which has tips for home-schoolers.  Yes, all of those activities and volunteer experiences are important: Work Camp, Altar Server, Parish Carnivals, Thrift Store, Religious Education.  Does your teen golf, run, play soccer?  Does she play an instrument?  Include all of it!  Did your teen help build new cops for your flocks?  Is he or she competitive in 4-H?  By all means work on the resumé together.  This is one practical, writing, exercise which could help land your kiddo a job.