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A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

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Extra Resources For Time Off

March 16, 2020 By Annette1 6 Comments

March Break is on deck and I don’t know about where you are, but school has been cancelled for two weeks after to act as a buffer zone.  With COVID-19 running around, the government wants precautions taken to ensure any transmission is kept to minimums.   To that end, I know that parents are looking for ways to keep their children busy during this extended break.  I hope to be helpful by listing some extra resources that companies are offering to help during this time. 

extra resources

Amazing Educational Resources has put together database to help keep these companies organized. 

My favourite resources from this list are

  • Curriki which has lessons for k-12, some of which looks fascinating. 
  • DeltaMath which I haven’t fully explored but intrigues me. 
  • Computer Science Academy is one that I sent to my son to explore.  He’s quite interested in learning computer sciences so I’m hoping this will be something he’ll work on. 
  • CK-12.  We’ve used some of their textbooks before, it’s nice to see they have a website as well.  
  • ChemMatters.  We’ll make good use of this site in another year or two.

Other Resources Available

From Twinkl: To support your community, Twinkl is offering teachers access to all of our teaching resources at www.twinkl.ca with a completely free one-month all-access membership.  We’re also extending this to every parent in your community so that students can have access to high-quality learning materials during school closures.   Setting this up is easy to do. Go to www.twinkl.ca/offer and enter the following offer code: CANTWINKLHELPS (This code will only work for new memberships. Existing members should contact twinklcares@twinkl.com)

Over the past year I’ve put together a number of posts with free links in a number of subject areas.

  • Foreign Languages
  • Math
  • Learn to code
  • Financial Literacy.
  • Physical Education. 
  • Geography.
  • How to HomeSchool without boxed curriculum.
  • Devotionals for Teens.
  • Want to Learn art?
  • Want to learn Keyboarding?
  • Elementary Science.
  • Engineering for HighSchool. 
  •  

Links from other Bloggers

Captivating Compass put together a lovely list. 

Raising Royalty listed online apps and games. 

Teach Me I’m Yours has 218 kindergarten resources. 

Witty Hoots has a number of free resources. 

The biggest thing though, with this extra time off from school.  It’s Great to have extra resources to offer your children to keep them busy.  The best thing though, give them you and your time. Read together, watch movies, give your house a thorough spring clean, do whatever you need to. Just make memories, spend time together, and enjoy the break from the rush of life. 

SchoolhouseTeachers

SchoolhouseTeachers.com is having a sale.  It’s an amazing start. A full curriculum for k-12, interactive elements, variety in courses.  My affiliate link will take you to a site that will satiate the most curious of your children.  Let them explore, let them learn!

alphabet

Others in this Series

  • Add in your life. 
  • Edmund Burke, philosopher. 
  • Clarity in Writing.
  • Deep Runs the Well. 
  • Ease of Consistent Schedules. 
  • Fantastic Ways to learn History. 
  • Going Through Browswer Tabs. 
  • Hiding the Unknown.
  • Invested in Health.
  • William James, philosopher.
  • Key books for Middle School. 
  • Looking for Picture Books. 
  • Making Facebook Easier. 
  • New Direction.
  • Online Homeschool Conference.
  • Studies in Philippians. 
  • Quine. 
  • Reading Aloud with Teens. 
  • Science Equipment fails.
  • Turkey Vegetable Soup.
  • Understanding Deuteronomy. 
  • Evening Basket Time.
  • When Field Trips are out of Reach.
  • Extra Resources for Time Off.
  •  

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: affiliate, Homeschooling, Resources

Civilization’s Quotations: Life’s Ideal

February 12, 2020 By Annette1 2 Comments

ASCOT media FTC

It is my privilege to share a treat with you today.  I got to review Civilization’s Quotations: Life Ideal.  A really cool book filled with quotes some were funny, others sad, and yet others that were profound.  Saves me time you know, to have a book at hand rather than having to search on-line for a vaguely remembered quote. Imagine this.. I now have 8000 quotes available for me, all organized and ready to for me to read, enjoy and use!

Civilization's Quotations by richard krieger

What I am Reviewing

Richard Alan Krieger put together Civilization’s Quotations: Life’s Ideal.  This is a softcover book, which contains 8000 quotes within 344 pages.  I am reviewing this on behalf of Ascot Media.

This is not an exhaustive compendium of the world’s most original quotations, but more so a collection of observations and maxim’s that caught the authors eye.   These quotes are provided in a “poetic quotation” style. You’ll find it a fun book to go through and it also serves well as a resource when searching for just the right words to use. 

quote by Gandhi

The Details on Civilization’s Quotations

The book opens with an extensive table of contents that outlines each main category with the subcategories listed under.  Some of the main categories are: 

  • Gratitude – thankfulness, praise, pleasing, value, worth
  • Work – labor, employment, occupation, business, trade, proft etc
  • Family – ancestors, home, marriage, parents, mother, father, children
  • Time – the past, the present, now, the moment, today, the future etc.
  • The world – the universe, unity, mystery
civilizations quotations table of contents

You’ll find the font is a bit small … I was happy to have my bifocals.  My 14 year old had no problems though.  

Most quotes run 1-2 lines each, occasionally longer quotes would pop up. 

Civilizations Quotations was filled with quotes were from various time periods from the far past to more recent. Not only that they were from all over the world, different genders, and various people groups. 

Civilization's Quotations sample quotes

The quotes range from funny to serious.  I have a love of old proverbs and I thoroughly enjoy reading good quotes on a wide variety of topics. Most of them are one or two lines long, but I did notice a few that were three-four lines.  Those longer ones were in the minority. 

japanese proverb - luck is like having a rice dumpling fly into your mouth

My Recommendations

One thing I wish the book had was an index of authors. I would love to be able to find all the Japanese proverbs easily, or to find other quotes by Gandhi, Lincoln, or Atwood. 

Overall, I love books like this. I know, I’m out of the normal stream, but seriously… reading quips, lines, proverbs and so forth.. it’s good you know?  

I have a firm appreciation for the variety chosen.  Not all serious, not all just fun, it was an excellent mix. Quotes were taken from all over the world.

The variety in Proverbs makes me think of making a fun workbook of learning old proverbs and what they mean. Kinda like one I did on idioms a few years back. A great tool for teaching international students English.

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, Books for Adults, Books for Young Adults, Highschool, Resources

Teach Financial Literacy

June 29, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Teaching financial literacy and investing is important to our children.  It’s the best way to teach them to avoid debt, and to provide for their future.  The question is, just how does one do this?

Teaching Financial Literacy, clipboard with words on it.

I admittedly haven’t embarked on a financial training program with my son yet, but I want to start giving him our grocery money for a month and say “you’re in charge of the groceries this month spend it wisely”.   Teaching him to mind the sales (not that I do but it’s a good idea right?)  It’s not like we don’t have food in the freezer (though sometimes it gets a bit light) and we’ll survive if he makes a big goof, but how else does a lad learn to handle doing the groceries if he can’t practice doing it?  I suppose he could learn the hard way like I did!  

Pretty soon he’ll get an allotment for clothes (or once he’s old enough to have a job, he can buy his own clothes).  I’m fortunate in that he does already have money and he (at this point) seems a naturally frugal child. 

Image holding money (teaching financial literacy)
Photo by Niels Steeman on Unsplash

He has money?

My son has been earning his own money for the past…. probably four years now?   I raise rabbits and I used to raise guinea pigs and mice.   My lad asked once if he could help or if he could earn money too.  We started with he could pick a rabbit, and as long as he helped me with the work of caring for them.  He made her a pet but helped me make the decision of who to breed her to and when, and he could keep the profits from her.  My son finally decided that he REALLY liked the mice so four years ago I said “if you do all the work, you can keep the money from them”.  Now he has some regular clients, though about half of what he raises goes to his snake now, but that saves him money too.  

Gradual Growth

He does occasionally need help…and as he’s matured he’s been given more responsibility.  For instance, I might not let an 8 year unescorted to sell some mice to a new guy, but I’ll let an 11 year do so as I watch from a distance, whereas my almost 13 year old can manage on his own.  This coming year he’ll be writing his own ads for selling his mice on kijiji.  He’ll be shocked by this, but it will be good for him.  He’ll have to monitor more when the mice are old enough to find new homes, I’ll teach him more how to take a good picture of them, showcasing the beauty of the mice he has.  I’ve taught there’s a cost to doing business as occasionally I’ll say “You owe me $20 for feed eh?” I’ll get that startled look and then gets me money from his latest sale.  He’s already learned how to check the prices of the competition and how to make prices lower so we get the guys who only want 10 mice instead of having to order a 100.  It’s a good way to figure out how to be an entrepreneur right?

This year he also helped with my annual yard sale (and NO, I’m NOT doing one next year).  Most years I gave him a table and whatever he personally sold of plants, homemade goods, or his leftover toys he got to keep.  This year I said “10% of the profits lad, as long as you help from start to finish, except when you have other obligations”.   He worked hard and was pleased with the end results.  ALL of this he squirrels away.  

In the process he’s learning also how to save 10% for missions, and 10% for a rainy day.  Everything he makes gets divided up.  80% that he squirrels away, and the rest goes into jars I maintain for him.  Just helps him if I keep it separate for him.  He’s been starting to talk about putting some in the bank which is great!  It’s a gradual growth, but I’m hoping it will put him in a better place for when he’s older.   

Money in wallet doing balance sheet
Photo by Artem Bali on Unsplash

Wake up call:

I remember working with a girl, she was barely into her 20’s but her parents had gotten her on the saving track when she was little, and with careful banking and saving everything she earned, she had enough for a down-payment on a house as soon as she was past her probation period at work.  I was stunned that someone could do that!  This I want for my lad.   Wouldn’t you want that for your children?    To have their college tuition on paid up and being able to afford to buy a home once they pass their probationary period at a new job?  To own a home instead of being caught up in the whole throwing your money away on rent/debt trap.

The WHY:

Most adults don’t really understand financial matters, and therefore don’t teach their children how to watch their dollars well.   I learned long ago, paying cash for everything was the very best method for me to watch my money.  Put money in a private account that I can’t touch so it accrues over time. But no debt and VERY VERY little credit card action.   Hubby is slowly learning the same.  I want better for my son.   I want him to understand where money comes from and how you need to safe guard what comes in so you are prepared for potential hits in the future.

It is hard to learn that one MUST always spend less then what you earn if you want to get ahead financially in life.  In a day of easy credit and the use of debit cards, it is difficult to keep on top of spending if you don’t learn how to do so.

Teaching financial literacy, picture of coins
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

What should students learn?

  1. How to make a budget and stick to it.  
  2. How to prioritize spending
  3. Understanding Credit and interest rates
  4. Paying yourself first
  5. Understanding the effect of taxes on tax-home pay

The earlier students learn these skills, the better. It leaves them better able to cope with today’s changing society.

Resources:

I have found some financial literacy and investment training sites you may find useful

Practical Money skills (a Canadian based site) Practical Money Skills is a free financial literacy program to help Canadians understand the fundamentals of money management. Created by Visa, the program offers money management resources including calculators, games, and lesson plans tailored for use by Canadian families and educators.

Ontario Teacher’s Federation has a site with some useful links on it. 

I am still awaiting more information on the “Making it Count” pilot program on Financial Literacy from BC.   OH LOOK!   I found the course on-line!!!   GO HERE. 

Games about Financial literacy for students in middle school and up.  Along with a list of 30 different games to help learn financial literacy.

Play games like Life, Pay Day, Monopoly etc.

You can make or buy visual cues to help students save money.

Investopedia: Learn about different aspects of investing. Knowledge is a good thing. 

Make it fun, make it real, make learning about money a practical skill for your students to learn as early as possible. Get them started well in life.

What steps are you taking to ensure financial literacy in your children?

Others in my you want to learn series

Coding.
Foreign Language.
Physical Education.
Math.

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: Money, Resources

Canada Day Resources

June 25, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Fireworks for Canada, post with resources to help you celebrate

Canada Day is right around the corner, coming up this Sunday.  It’ll be a nice day to celebrate I hope (it’s supposed to be hot).  A time for parades, cool drinks, hot dogs around a fire with family and friends, and then gathering with the community to watch fireworks.  It’s always a grand night. 

How does one celebrate Canada?  

Well, first off you need to dress the part.
Moose, geese, maple leaves, flags and more.
The colours red and white are found galore.
As one and all show their heart.

(want to make your own?)

Then

Find a parade, a band or two.
Floats, and horses, a bikes a plenty
Honking, shouting, beeps and roars
Follow the flag to the community centre.

(Nation’s capital, Canada Place, or join our family.)

Followed By:

See cars, and bouncy castles, 
Popcorn and cupcakes,
Music and dance
Face-painting, and crafts.

Canada Day Bracelet, Noisemaker, Coasters, headband, and handprint flags.

cupcakes decorated for Canada Day
Now watch

Sparklers, and coloured lights
Games of chase, dogs bark
Balls, bikes, Smoke starts to rise
Then boom and spark, Flash and sizzle.
POP!

Fireworks in a Jar, Fork Fireworks, Shaving Cream Fireworks, and wet Chalk fireworks. 

fireworks for Canada Day

Other Canada day posts are from Canada Day Celebrations and Celebrate Canada’s Birthday.  Now head on over to the crew (open on Thursday) and see what others have to say about this holiday (and others that happen around the same time). 

National Holiday Resource Round Up 2018 {Homeschool Link UP}

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: Art, holidays, Resources

International Women’s Day

March 8, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

International Women's Day.. books about women

When I woke up this morning I saw posts on the media and on facebook about International Women’s Day.  This got me to wondering what this day was all about.

Did you know the first national women’s day was celebrated in the United States in 1909, the first international day was 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.  It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975, and in 1977 March 8 was declared the day to celebrate. 

This celebration grew out of the work women did in the work force and wanting to be recognized for their efforts.  Today it has become a day to celebrate the work that women do and how they contribute to society.   

I have to admit, I approach this day with a bit of mixed bag right?   Women’s rights sometimes are too much of a thing, particularly when they impinge on another person’s rights.  At the same time, I want women to have the ability to get the education and the jobs that they really want to have.  Should women be able to be police officers?  YES.. if they can meet the physical demands of the job.  The requirements of the job should not be lessened to meet them.  Same for firefighters, doctors, lawyers, teachers, dentists, labourers etc.   If you want to do the job, you NEED to be able to meet the time proven demands of the job.  If you do meet them, you should receive the same reimbursement that anyone else who meets the demands does.   This to me is fair.  Anything else is not.   BUT onwards and upwards eh?  🙂

Books to read:

These are books that I have read and reviewed.  Each review is linked.

Marie Curie for Kids:  This was a great book which is actually a unit study on Marie Curie.  Digging into her life and her work.  Just fascinating.

Seized by the Sun: Woman pilot Gertrude Tompkins and her flying in the war and eventual disappearance.

Bold Women of Medicine.  The stories of women in medicine from around the globe throughout history.  A wonderful book to read through.

The Art of Beatrix PotterThe Art of Beatrix Potter: This is just a phenomenal book.  Hardcover, beautiful, biographical, with tons of pictures.

Betty Before X: The story of the wife of Malcolm X, when she was a child.

The girl who drew butterflies: Marie asked questions and drew her answers throughout her life.  Fantastic book and I learned much about life in the past and her quest to LEARN.

The Kid From Diamond Street: Women in baseball.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Edith Houghton, just a young girl playing good baseball.

Ellie Engineer, not a factual book, but girls being engineers.  A good thing that!

Florence Nightingale.  Who doesn’t know this nurse from days gone by?   It was so nice to learn more about her story.

Forward March, Girl.  The bravery of a negro student in the face of strong opposition.

The Forbidden Schoolhouse.  The Bravery of Prudence Crandall, in a culture where educating black people was forbidden.  The hatred and strong emotions she needed to face.

Maya Lin.  A sculpture, artist, builder.  Interesting person this.

Shark Lady: Eugenia Clark, shark lady.  She had a fascination and followed it through.

Women Who Dared.  Women from around the world who defied the odds.

Madeleine. A biography on Madeleine L’engle.

Resources if you want to further your study.

International Women’s Day educator’s kit.  Art, conversation, more   Middle to highschool.

Rights of Women in the United States.   Pdf.  Middle to highschool.

Lessons on Women’s Suffrage.  various levels.

Women’s history lessons.   Various levels.

History Month Lesson Plans.  various levels.

Learn about black women in Canadian history.   middle school and up

Some of Canada’s great women. middle school and up

Anyways, have fun learning about women in History.  Ask questions.  Think.   Together, change that we want can happen.  It already for the most part has.  Let us be an encouragement to each other, regardless of how we live out our lives as women.   Because you know.. we rock!  🙂

 

Photo background credit to  Eye for Ebony on Unsplash

Filed Under: Homeschooling Tagged With: Canada, history, Resources

Review: The Big Earth Book

November 25, 2017 By Annette1 2 Comments

You know what?  I love Lonely Planet Kids books.  I find them to be well made and very interesting.  The Big Earth Book is no different. You are invited to discover how earth, air, fire and water shaped the world that we live … take a tour to discover the past, the present and the future of our world. 

 

The Big Earth Book starts off by introducing us to the fab four. Earth, Air, Fire and Water.   The entire book is divided into those four sections.
Here are some of the topics for each.

Earth:
Structure of the Earth, Geothermal, Digging for Treasure, The World Today

Air: 
Layers of air, Into Space, El Nino, Playing with the wind.

Fire:
Before Fire, Wildfire, Oil Rush, Beacons of Light.

Water: 
Origins of Water, Water and Farming, Canals, The Future of Water.

Colourful illustrations draw the eye in, helping you to want to learn the facts that Mark Brake wants to impart to us. Most of the pages are full of illustrations by Brendan Kearney. Occasionally full colour photos are added.  Aren’t they well done?   You can just see how the ocean currents and the air movements work together can’t you?

This isn’t just a book about four elements, we get history, geography, science and so much more.  The bright colours, the easy reading text, the well placed photos, all add up to a book chock full of good information for your upper elementary to middle school students.

The text is written at an easy to understand level without talking down to the student.  The purpose is to educate with good vocabulary to help the student think, but with enough good material so as to be informed.

I just love how the whole package fits together.   I learned so much leafing through the pages.  For instance, did you know that “trade winds” got their name because at the time “trade” meant “path” in the English language and these winds follow a path as they move about, sailors used them to trace a path across the Atlantic ocean…Neat eh?!

My Thoughts:
Lonely Planets Kids is not a christian organization, and as such follows the old earth frame of reference, this does not need to detract from the great information contained within it’s pages.  It’s bright, colourful pages provide numerous talking points, and help show what the text is referring to.  It’s well worth a look at whether you are secular or Christian.   I think it would be a great resource to add to any library or to leave sitting around for a curious minded child to pick up and leaf through.

The Big Earth Book
Mark Brake
Dr. Mike Goldsmith (consultant)
Lonely Planet Kids
256 pages
Ages 8-12
Hardcover, earth, geography, history, science, resource

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books. 

 Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: The Big Earth Book.
Amazon.com: The Big Earth Book.

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: Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: Book Review, Elementary, Geography, history, homeschool, Middle School, Resources, Review, Science

Canada Book: Women Who Dared

November 14, 2017 By Annette1 2 Comments

I have to admit, I’m cheating a bit, I’m putting this book (a review) in on my Canada Book day.  Why?  Because at least one Canadian is included!!!!   Women Who Dared.  Admittedly, most come from the States, but I’m betting the author comes from there as well… so it’s a natural thing to focus on your own land don’t you know?  🙂  A smattering of other countries are included as well such as France, Japan, Mexico etc.

Anyway, this is a NEAT book about women who dared… daredevils, adventurers, rebels…women who dared to be different…and that’s a  most excellent thing, don’t you think?  To look at a job and say “I can do that” and not let traditional gender roles stop you on your path.


What kind of women are in this book?
Aviators, swimmers, trick riders, cosmonauts, rescuers, detectives, marines, martial artists, miners, climbers and so much more.   Women can do amazing things!  

The book is divided into three categories: Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels.   A handy index is included in the book to help quickly find a person you are interested in learning more about.  Each biography includes where they are from, lifespan, a glimpse into their lives.

Each person is given a two page spread, one side showing an illustration of the woman, and other giving a brief biography.  

One person who interested me was “Keiko Fukuda”.  She was a woman interested in Judo, she comes from Japan and started learning Judo when there was a separation in the sport.  Men could achieve 10 levels, women allowed only five.  She didn’t let that stop her.  She learned her sport well, so well in fact that in time she was allowed to achieve the highest level for both men and women in her sport…the red belt, the 10th dan.  She is the ONLY woman to have done so.   Imagine the grit it would have taken for her to stick it through!   Good to be inspired eh?

My Thoughts:
This would be an interesting one per week study do with any child, but particularly any girl who isn’t sure what to do with her life.  This book would be sure to give her all sorts of inspiration as she looks down her life path.  Just might shake out some new ideas for her eh?

Women who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, & Rebels
Author: Linda Skeers
Illustrator: Livi Gosling
Ages: 8 and up.
Non-fiction, women, softcover, resource
128 pages.

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books. 

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: Women Who Dared.
Amazon.com: Women Who Dared.

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: Book Review, Canada Books, Resources, Review

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