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A Net in Time

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Blog How To's

Figuring Out Social Media

May 14, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

This isn’t going to be one of those posts where I have all the answers cause trust me… I don’t!   I feel like I muddle my way through this area like a horse with blinders on.   You might ask then, why do a post on social media?

Well.. because I’m trying to sort it out and talking it through here means I have to do some research and just maybe one of two (I hope) things will happen.

  1. I’ll learn something that will be of value to me AND to my readers.
  2. Someone might find my post who knows what piece I am missing and will chime in. 

NOW.. wouldn’t both of those outcomes be wonderful!?!?!

needing help figuring out social media, a post saying what I know and what I don't

What do I know?

I know that having a social media presence is important.
I know that a social media presence can drive business to your site. It can open new doors to people you hadn’t considered talking with before. It’s often a two way street.
I know that sometimes when people look at their social media that they are surprised as to where their business is coming from. They might think twitter and discover it’s pinterest.
I know that trying to master all forms of social media all at once is not recommended.

What don’t I know?

I know that some forms of social media get a bad rap but I don’t know why.
I don’t know if it is wise to have two different social media sized images in one post. BUT I don’t know how to work around the different size requirements for different types of social media. I wonder why they have to make them different. I don’t know how important it is to follow those different size recommendations.
I wonder how people make it work when their blog theme likes a certain type of post image, but social media calls for a different size.
I am not sure what it means when a social media guru says “optimize all your social media to work together”. Does that mean have your blog post go out on all of them at the same time OR does it mean to make sure they all have your blog address, button, style etc to all be the same across the board?
What does it mean to curate a blog post?  Does it mean to “sell” a blog post?

What have I learned?

It’s important to understand your audience.  This is one of the reasons why people will often fragment their blogging.  Doing one thing on a certain blog and doing another thing on a separate blog and so forth.  I used to do that until I became convinced that I needed to join my blogging together.  Might not be best for social media, but makes it easier for me as I blog and makes me feel less fractured and more accountable.    But really, if you understand your audience it means you can write posts that appeal to them, and your readers can then more easily refer other readers to you. 

Watching your trends can be helpful.  I know from listening to people and reading blog posts that some bloggers use one social media platform the most for the bulk of the year, but at certain times they have learned to focus on another platform.  They learned to do this by watching the numbers of what was retweeted, or how people found their way to their site and such like. 

Not to rush in.  The encouragement is to take your time doing the background knowledge stuff before you leap into your social media posts.  To do one type at a time until you learn the ropes of it well, and then move on to the next. 

To make use of a social media helper.. like Buffer, Tailwind, Social Bee… just helps you to keep putting your posts and comments to increase your outreach without making you crazy in the end.  Trying to do it all, all the time will make you feel frazzled.  🙂  Therefore the encouragement is to get help where you can find it. 

Content for social media includes more than blog posts.  I’m really learning a lot about this through Social Bee where they encourage me to add quotes, guest posts, interesting content I find, as well as blog posts.   There is one field I am not sure what it is for called “Curated content” and I am really not sure what that is all about.   Other content you might use are good images, videos, company news, infographics and interviews.

Conclusion

I know I have lots to learn yet, perhaps you might be a person who knows the answers!  🙂  If so, leave me a comment, help me learn more eh?

Filed Under: Blogging Helps Tagged With: Blog How To's

Write a Disclaimer

February 12, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Write a disclaimer? I have to admit… when I tend to think of having a disclaimer on my blog I tend to think of the legal stuff we need to do for reviews.   Something like what I have on the top of every post.   Or the amazon one I have at the bottom of my website or the one I use with reviews. (see below).  I wonder about the need to have anything more in-depth than that.But as I work to put my website together better, I am learning about having a broader disclaimer on my site (and no, I haven’t done this yet). … but it is DEFINITELY on my to-do list.  What type of disclaimer?   One that states that I am not a professional, this is my opinion only at the time of writing, my thoughts and opinions belong to me, and individual blog posts might not even truly represent what my blog is all about.

Why would I want to do this?

Because this is a sue-happy world we live in!   I blog because it’s fun and if it makes me money down the road WOOT WOOT!  (that is a goal)   I don’t want someone thinking that just because I have a different opinion than they do, and they have an adverse reaction to it, or I recommend a book for a middle schooler with MY values in mind, and find their values are different and they get all mad at me.  or someone makes one of my recipes without thinking it all through and gets sick… and then wants to sue me… well, that’s not something I want to worry on eh?

What have I learned so far?

The type of disclaimer you put up depends on what you do.  For instance, I put recipes on my blog (on Saturdays) so in that post I should put something like “use at your own risk” cause I don’t know what people’s allergies or food tolerances are like. Seems a bit silly in some ways, but when teenagers eat tide pods…. you gotta watch out for the no-brainers right?  Not meaning that in a bad way but sometimes people don’t think decisions through until after the fact.. I’ve done it myself!   This means you want to include as much as you can to make it clear to folks that this is your blog and you can do with it as you will, and since it is your blog, you can do with it as you like.  You have the right to change it, delete comments, change your mind, give your opinion on different matters or materials and such like.   You just want to easily spell it out to people as you write a disclaimer.

What to include:

1. Your right to monitor and delete comments.

2. Your right to publish letters that people write to you, unless they specify that you cannot.  Or you should at least tell them what you DO with the letters you receive (toss them, save them, use them for a book or a blog post, etc)

3. All materials are use at your own risk.  You are giving your thoughts and opinions, sharing something you know about, but they are making the choice to come and use learn from you.  It’s their risk if they take it.  Your site is for educational as well as entertainment purposes, and not a professional service. 

4. All materials on the blog are yours and others can’t publish or reprint it without your expressly written consent.

5. Explain that if someone buys something from one of your sponsors and has a problem with it.. take it up with the sponsor not you.  All you are doing of providing a service, with your own opinions, not acting as the sponsor with ownership of their product. 

6. Errors and omissions happen!   Be clear with your readers that this can happen and not to hold you responsible for it.   For instance, I’ve learned a lot about disclaimers but I don’t know everything that’s for sure, ergo if this post spurs on your interest to learn more or create your own disclaimer… do more research!  🙂

Wording

Make an easy to read disclaimer.  Spell out everything you need to.  Be serious or have some fun with in as long as you make your point well.   Cover yourself… don’t get in trouble with others over not having a disclaimer.  Better to save a headache then to create one eh?

If you do a search on-line you can find all sorts of disclaimers.  Read what other bloggers do, learn from them, see what to add.  Don’t make it too long (at least what’s on your blog feed), you can always refer people to your full disclaimer. You want it to be easily read and understood. Stay safe with your blog eh?

How to write a disclaimer for your blog

Other Blogging How-to Posts:

Blog Images and Copyright. 

Filed Under: Blogging Helps, Homeschooling Tagged With: Blog How To's

Blog Images and Copyright

February 5, 2018 By Annette1 6 Comments

HEY!   Know what I just finished reading?  Being careful about the images you put up on your blog!  I KNOW.. it’s important stuff eh?  Because of all the things that you do with your blog you want to be careful that you don’t mess up your family finances because you didn’t exercise due care about the images you put up on your blog. Blog images and copyright is an important topic for bloggers to be aware of. 

My usual approach on this blog, in regards to blog images and copyright, is to use images that I or my family have taken ourselves.  I am not the worlds best photographer, but for background images where I want the text to be most important, it works eh?  Taking images of books and what not is easy enough eh?   But what do I do when I want a GOOD image for something?  

Do you think I should just go to google and grab an image?   THINK AGAIN!!!  Can you tell from looking at an image if it is copyrighted or not?   Do you think simple attrition is okay?  THINK AGAIN.  I know.. it’s a tough one eh?  I am not a lawyer, and I don’t understand all the ins and outs of photo usage, and frankly some of it doesn’t make sense to me, but what it comes down to is this… people don’t like other people using their images without permission.  Get permission OR use what is yours to use and don’t take it if you aren’t sure. 

What to do?

The easiest and best thing to do is to use your own images.   It’s to your own advantage right?   Line up some books, grab an image at a bookstore, or take a picture of some wildlife or nature scenery, use your children as a source and if you’re worried on how those images can be used on line, be judicious in how to you take pictures (like from behind or the side, or block out their face).   It’s so easy now-a-days with cellphones and tablets so easily at hand.   

If you can’t take your own though, or you needed something specific, what do you do?  

Where to find Blog Images

Well, you can look for public domain pictures.  Wiki has a list that you can find here. 

You can find photos under the Creative Commons rules.   Read the fine print.. can you use it for private or commercial use?  DO your research.  It’s important. 

You can buy a subscription to a site like PhotoSpin, StoryBlocks, ShutterStock and others.  Buy a subscription or an individual photo and work with it in your blog.  You are paying for fine quality photos. 

Utilize free image sites like Pixaby, Unsplash,  Startup Stock, StockSnap, Burst, Free Range, SplitShire, Gratisography, and more. You can find 21 different places listed here. 

Here’s a list of about 80 libraries you might want to make use of. 

Just be careful eh?   Be alert to what you are using it and WHERE you are using it.  Consider if you break copyright with places like Pinterest, twitter, facebook and such like. THEY won’t be held liable.. YOU will be. 

On ANY site that you go to, do your due diligence,  Read what they allow and don’t allow.  Decide if it’s in your budget to pay for images, and if it isn’t, make it work.  Be aware of the copyright issues.   Here’s another link you might want to check out. 

So mind your back, but have fun with your blogs, with your livelihood.  Don’t be helter-skelter in your approach to using images.  Get them from places you trust, or your own abilities.  Make your blog pretty, but be honest and be safe for all involved. 🙂 

 

original image from Kaboompics. 

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: Blog How To's

Tabs Open in My Browser

November 27, 2017 By Annette1 2 Comments

So, you know how it’s so easy to have all kinds of tabs open in your browser?  Well, I’ve got a few to share with you today.


Mirasee.   I’ve been reading from this blog off and on, trying to learn new things.   it’s good to look beyond your comfort zone with your life and blog sometimes.  This one pushes me to think a bit more. 

A google search on the isthmus of panama.   I know you may be thinking what???   My lad and i were reading a book and the lad didn’t know what this was.   In case you didn’t know: 

Robotics Workshop.  I was looking at this kit for the lad for Christmas but he wants something else very specific.    He also did a robotics class through HOPE so this isn’t quite what he needs right now.

Create and Sell Digital Products.  Walks a person through the different formats. 

Learning about the tailorbird and how they build a nest.  We were fascinated!

50 books your child should read before 12 years old.  Not sure I agree these are all must reads, but  many of them are good reads. 🙂

Learning what a Pilum is. One of our history books mentioned this weapon, which caused us to look through our weapons books after doing a bit of on-line research.

One day I was wondering how to make my own non-toxic cleaner.  I honestly can’t remember why because I use a damp cloth and rag and consider it good if I don’t see dust.   AND I do have a high tolerance for dust unless my mother is coming for a visit. 🙂  Anyways, if you are curious, I found something here that looked simple enough to be doable.

You know how we have the bermuda triangle?   Did you also know there is a DRAGON Triangle?   I know…shocking!  (at least I was shocked).  We learned about it in the wonderful series “The Unwanteds”.   We still need to finish that series yet… Image from here.

Troutwife’s Pizza quiche which I would like to try sometime. 

Story Spiel by my friend Lori.  I need to figure this method out a bit and see if I can implement it with the lad.  

A girl in my homeschool group CONSTANTLY listens to music, it’s part of her special needs to block out extraneous noise.   She highly recommended I listen to Kim Collingsworth, and she was write…GOOD music.  Here’s a piece you might like. 

My hubby actually sent me on this quest.  How to build a stone oven. I think it would be rather neat to put one together, though it would take some learning on how to do.   But imagine…fresh baked bread you made outside?  Be rather neat I think.

Free Civic Air Patrol Curriculum.  Looked intriguing at the time, haven’t really looked into it a whole lot yet. 

We’ve had two miscarriages in this family, so occasionally I read articles like this one.  Some of thoughtful and others well…better left unsaid.  This one I thought was well written.   10 ways to honor your baby after miscarriage or infant loss. 

Anyways, this list is getting a touch long, so I’ll write more in another post!  🙂

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Blog How To's, Geography, homeschool, Science, YouTube

How to Write a Book Review

October 2, 2017 By Annette1 10 Comments

Anyone who reads my  blog knows I enjoy sharing books with my readers.  I find it a hoot to find neat books or curriculum to share with you.   But how does one write a review?   

I know that over time I have figured out how I tend to like do a review.  But what makes the meat of a review?  What makes a good book review?  What makes a book review different from a book report?


Writing a book review is not just about summarizing.  Honestly.. anyone can summarize a book.  For instance: Harry Potter’s series could be simply summarized as “Bullied kid makes good, Bad wizard beaten.”.    Doesn’t really tell you anything about the series but it was summarized.  🙂

A book review is also not a book report but can contain some elements of a book report (as you often do tell something about the book) but unlike a book report in a book review you do NOT give away the ending or tell all you know about the plot of characters. 

A review delves into the book, giving some summary, but mostly is critiquing and offering your opinion about it, along with some quotes. 

There are two main types of book reviews: Descriptive and Critical Reviews. Descriptive reviews are predominately what I do on this blog, giving essential information about a book, but describing the basic story, telling you what I think about it, elements that are contained within and whether I think it completes it’s purpose. If I know the author’s thinking in creating that book I’ll let you know that as well.  For some books I’ll pull quotes out that caught my attention. 

Critical reviews describe and evaluate the book, based on literary and historical standards. It will compare a book with another, work with the author’s intent (if stated) and tends to used with more academic books. The text will be used as part of the evaluation. 

Doing a book review, gives you the opportunity to analyze a book, to speak to it’s strong points, as well as point out the weaker aspects.   It allows you to apply a personal touch, such as “I really appreciated the way the author did…..” 

How you write your review can depend on your audience. Knowing what your audience is, can help you present a book more effectively.  For instance, if your audience is a bunch of moms looking for a good book to read with their littles, you would write your review differently than to a more academic crowd. 

Remember: a book review asks you to analyze a book.  You are thinking about what you are reading, if it meets its audience, it’s strengths and weaknesses, and if it does what the author intended.  

You will need to let your audience know some basic facts about the book, like the author, size, publisher and what not.  Doing this pins down exactly what book you are reviewing, include the edition number if there is one.  If there are special features like maps, resource section, etc.

Things you might wish to include in your book review would be:
– did the book meet your expectations?  Explain.
– did a quote grab your attention – include it, add your thoughts if relevant
– what audience is this book intended for?
– did you learn anything new?  any important lessons?  Any cautions to add?
– graphics from the book (or based on it)
– who would like this book?
– talking about the author, awards etc.

When you review a book, make sure you review the book in front of you, not the book you wished the author had written.

If it’s an awesome book, say so… but by the same token, if it’s an average, say so , or if it’s an awful book say so…but do so kindly, the author did their best and their efforts should be honoured.

Do you have any other thoughts about what should be added to a book review?  Add them in the comments below. THANKS!
 

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Blog How To's, Book Review, How to's, Review

How Reviewing Curriculum Works in Real Life

September 11, 2017 By Annette1 10 Comments

A bit back my sister-in-law asked me how doing reviews works with schooling the lad.   Doesn’t it mean interrupted schooling?   How do I keep him moving forward when I have to stop one program and start another.  How do I make it work?  What if he doesn’t like it?  How do you plan anything out if you don’t know what you’ll be reviewing?

I thought it would be good to answer some of those questions.

http://www.anetintime.ca/2017/09/how-reviewing-curriculum-works-in-real.html


How Do I Make it work?
Well first off, I don’t plan my year around review items, but I do play my review items around my year.   For instance this past year, my lad was using Kumon math pre-algebra, but they don’t have the next level so I was wondering what to do for this coming year.  So I signed up for the Unlock Math review, thinking that if my lad liked it then I know what math I can use for him when it runs out.  Low and behold the lad liked Unlock math and surprisingly it took the place of his beloved Kumon!    We back tracked a bit to make sure we knew how the program worked and then just continued on from where Kumon had left off for him.   We’ll be looking for a new program when Unlock finishes and just keep moving forward.

What if he doesn’t like it?
The review will have it’s expectations, normally to use it three days a week.   If he hates it, as in can’t find anything that works for him, I’ll cut that back to one-two lessons a week and I will take a day and work ahead so I know how future lessons work out.    The program will get a proper work out (usually takes three weeks for that hatred to settle in) and has me working it through the final three weeks (as most curricula we get six weeks to play with it).   The older my lad gets the more selective I am about what I take on as I know what simply doesn’t work for him.

If it’s only a moderate not sure if I like it… then we’ll work with it, revamping what we need to do (usually involves more conversation or rabbit trails of videos to supplement).

What other moms say:
Kym:  Well, I do give her input when there are products we are eligible for.
Doesn’t mean we get what she really wants, or don’t get something she
really doesn’t want. And it doesn’t mean she actually likes the things
we do get as much (or not) as she expected.  She agrees to be a good
sport and use what we need to review for the entire review period. But
then if she really doesn’t like it and it’s not a good fit, we do not
continue.

Meg:  It depends on “why” he doesn’t like it.  Sometimes, it’s not a good fit,
no matter what.  Those we do for 6 weeks and move on.  Sometimes kid
doesn’t like it because it’s too hard — we put it aside for later, when
kiddo is more mature/advanced/ready for it. 

If he doesn’t like
it “just because”, I try to find out why.  Is it not interesting to
him? I have one that would do every history in the universe, but the
universe will end if he has to do a foreign language. Sometimes, kid
just isn’t feeling it, and then I decide if we keep it because it fills a
need or we can try something different.  There have been some where
I’ve just flat out asked, “Do you have an issue with the program, or the
subject?” especially with my high schoolers.  Because while I’m OK with
trying a different approach, “Math” isn’t a negotiable.

Lisa:  Then we do the MINIMUM of the requirements, and then ADAPT it if we can
to make it work. If it’s an online program, I just set the timer for
work, or find out how many things he has to do to finish a lesson or
unit.

Kirsten:  If he doesnt like it, I explore ways to make to product work for him and
adapt it to his preferred learning style. First he has to use it as
suggested for most all of the review period, though.
I also spend a lot of time writing down his impressions of the product so he knows how valuable his contribution is.
I
also let him edit my review. Catches any typos allows him to add points
important to him that I missed. Great for learning to write and also
helps him to learn that just cause he did not like something doesn’t mean
that it won’t end up being great for a different kid who learns in a
different way. In a way I use this process to wear off some of those
teenage absolutisms that he holds. As a rule I don’t like equivocating
but it never hurts to be able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

How do you keep him moving forward if you use new

curriculum all the time?
I find that I don’t use new curriculum all the time, based on how I do reviews we are rarely doing two reviews for similar materials at the same time.  So we might do a math program for a while, then we’ll get a history program, or a science one.  Sometimes it will be something just for me.  🙂   New curricula is not to be feared though… there are some really great programs out there that if I hadn’t reviewed them we would have missed out on something fantastic.

What other mom’s say:
Jennifer:  I add review products as supplements to the curriculums we have already
chosen.  Our core curriculum – language arts, math, science, and social
studies – does not change.  Sometimes we get awesome products to review
that add to those subjects.  Sometimes we review extra subjects like
art. 

Carol:  We frequently look over a new curriculum and step into the lesson that
matches where we were in our previous one: i.e. choosing to begin in
lesson 15  in the new math book because that is where they cover
fractions, or moving to chapter 5 in science because we’ve just covered
everything in chapters 1-4. 

Kym:   Again, I consider where we are and what we need to do when I fill in
those VIF forms. Because there’s not much point in devoting six weeks of
valuable high school time on chemistry if she is working on marine
biology this year. We fit review products/new curriculum into what we’re
already doing, sometimes combining what we’ve got with the new thing,
sometimes taking a break from the old to try the new.

Katie:  For things like math, grammar, and writing, I find the chapter or unit
where it would make the most logical sense for her to begin. Sometimes
that means she skips the first half of a book because we have already
covered the concepts. For subjects like history and science we jump
around a lot. She may study ancient history for a few weeks and then
American history. We look at time-lines frequently so that she can
understand when things happened. For science I just keep track of what
she has learned.

When she was in middle school I would look at
state standards and write down anything that she had not learned at that
point. Then I would make sure to cover those concepts throughout the
year. Now that she is in high school it is a little different. I keep
track of the courses she has worked on. Like right now she has a quarter
of Biology finished and a semester of Chemistry finished. We stopped
Biology to review Marine Biology. Now we have to decide if we are going
to finish Biology and come back to Marine Biology or if we will stick
with Marine Biology and finish her regular Biology course later. In the
end she will finish them all, so as long as she is learning it is fine
with me. 

 
How do you plan if you don’t know what you’ll be reviewing?
Quite frankly, I don’t plan everything out and I don’t do my schedule for the year.  I also play around with what my lad is into.  For instance this year for language arts I was set to have him work with the pirate’s guide, and the lad expressed interest in a book from Raincoast called Writing Radar which is a book where the author talks about how to write a book, from where to find the inspiration to the need for good grammar.  He’s interested, he’s learning, it’s GOOD.

What other moms say:
Christy: Plan schplan. Just kidding! We avoid reviews that will derail us in areas like math. If it’s just a
supplement, I might consider it. Otherwise, we avoid them. We accept
products that will enhance our studies, not interrupt them. That said,
sometimes a subject takes over. For example, when my son reviewed
Compuscholar, he fell in love with computer programming. He is working
as hard as he can to get through it before the subscription expires, so a
few other things get put on the back burner or slowed down a little so
he can get through it.      Also,
however, we remain flexible in general. Of course, in our lifestyles,
flexible is the name of the game. We school year-round so that whatever
interrupts our lives–family, opportunities, hikes, travel, new friends,
once-in-a-lifetime experiences, video release, new CD production,
concerts, reviews–doesn’t freak out the government and the in-laws
because we get “behind” in math.   The kids are aged 2-20. So far so amazing!

Christy S:  I plan as if we won’t be reviewing anything. I’m a planner. I have to
know. So it is all planned out and we supplement with crew stuff or add
it in if we feel it is worth the time. Again, I’ve become very selective
in high school. My daughter also has some issues where she can’t use
online programs, so we avoid those. And math. It is such an anxiety
trigger that I don’t review math anymore. We go with what works and
that’s it. I do keep a list of possible electives and subjects I might
need curriculum for, and keep that in mind when completing VIFs.
Sometimes we switch electives for a review. Just change which semester
or year she takes a particular elective.

—–

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Blog How To's, homeschool, Review

Keeping it all straight when doing reviews

September 4, 2017 By Annette1 10 Comments

The question was recently raised on one of the review boards that I am part of, how do you remember to do a review, not forget anything important and such like?   I thought I’d post what do in hopes that it might encourage (or help) others.


First thing I do for Homeschool Review Crew reviews is to check the board to see if my name is on it.   Then I put on google calendar when the review is due.

By putting them in the calendar right away I know that I won’t be over committing myself for what are generally big reviews.

I then start a draft post on my blog.

This allows me to fit my other material around my reviews so I don’t have a series of just reviews posting on my blog.  I can space things out a bit.

I also put things like my disclaimer, and other required items in immediately.  That way I know I have the right links and images.

Then it’s just a matter of time, using the material and talking about it with other homeschoolers until the review is due.   Adding comments and thoughts along the way.

I also utilize an app called simple note for quickly jotting down thoughts and ideas while out and about with the lad.   Simple note is very easy to use and is good ONLY for taking notes, I can’t do images.  Images are all stored in their own file.  I periodically remove all images and save them on a thumb drive, I don’t need all these images cluttering my hard drive.

As I write the review I try to keep the expectations in my mind, to this end I frequently check the thread where all the vendor and product information is held.

If I keep on target, when the review is due, all I need to do is add additional photos, double check that all my links are working properly and do my final link up. 

I do have to admit that I don’t follow this system perfectly, some reviews are tougher to do than others, some reviews are so easy I almost forget to do them, and sometimes life gets busier than expected so I don’t pre-write as I should.  But as long as I follow the first two steps I have three days in which to get the review done and linked up!  🙂

How do you keep it all straight when working on reviews?

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