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FREE National Parks Entrance Days for 2020

January 1, 2020 By Paula 1 Comment

It’s time to experience the national parks!

Discover America’s Story

National parks are America’s best idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. The fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. On four days in 2020, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. The free days will apply at the 118 of the 417 national parks that charge for admission. The others are free all the time. The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours. The National Park Service is reducing the number of fee-free days from 10 in 2017 to four for the last several years in an effort to address an $11 billion maintenance backlog.

Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates in 2020:

January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
April 18: First day of National Park Week
September 26: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

The annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current members of the military, families of fourth-grade students, and disabled citizens. Learn more about the variety of passes offered by the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass series. Did you know? All the money from entrance fees remains in the National Park Service, and at least 80 percent stays in the park where it was collected.

Free Entrance Days – Participating Parks (By State)

Parks listed below waive their entrance fees on nationally designated fee-free dates. Please check with each park for operating hours and event schedules.

Alaska
Denali National Park & Preserve

Arizona
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Grand Canyon National Park
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Petrified Forest National Park
Pipe Spring National Monument
Saguaro National Park
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Tonto National Monument
Tumacácori National Historical Park
Tuzigoot National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Wupatki National Monument

Arkansas
Fort Smith National Historic Site
Pea Ridge National Military Park

California
Cabrillo National Monument
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Muir Woods National Monument
Pinnacles National Park
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Yosemite National Park

Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Colorado National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Mesa Verde National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park

Florida
Canaveral National Seashore
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Dry Tortugas National Park
Everglades National Park
Gulf Islands National Seashore

Georgia
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Fort Pulaski National Monument

Hawai’i
Haleakalā National Park
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park

Idaho
Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
Yellowstone National Park

Maine
Acadia National Park

Maryland
Antietam National Battlefield
Assateague Island National Seashore
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Fort Washington Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Massachusetts
Adams National Historical Park
Cape Cod National Seashore

Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Minnesota
Pipestone National Monument

Mississippi
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Vicksburg National Military Park

Missouri
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Montana
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Glacier National Park
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Yellowstone National Park

Nebraska
Scotts Bluff National Monument

Nevada
Death Valley National Park
Lake Mead National Recreation Area

New Hampshire
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

New Jersey
Thomas Edison National Historical Park

New Mexico
Aztec Ruins National Monument
Bandelier National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
White Sands National Monument

New York
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

North Carolina
Wright Brothers National Memorial

North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ohio
James A. Garfield National Historic Site
Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial

Oklahoma
Fort Smith National Historic Site

Oregon
Crater Lake National Park
Lewis & Clark National Historical Park

Pennsylvania
Steamtown National Historic Site

Puerto Rico
San Juan National Historic Site

South Carolina
Fort Sumter National Monument

South Dakota
Badlands National Park
Jewel Cave National Monument

Tennessee
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Texas
Big Bend National Park
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Padre Island National Seashore

Utah
Arches National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Golden Spike National Historic Site
Natural Bridges National Monument
Zion National Park

Virgin Islands
Christiansted National Historic Site

Virginia
Assateague Island National Seashore
Colonial National Historical Park
George Washington Memorial Parkway’s Great Falls Park
Prince William Forest Park
Shenandoah National Park

Washington
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Olympic National Park

West Virginia
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Wyoming
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Devils Tower National Monument
Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone National Park

Before you go be sure to check out our, “Items You Need To Bring When Visiting America’s National Parks“ post!

Get FREE TACOS tomorrow for National Taco Day!

October 3, 2018 By Paula Leave a Comment

October 4th is National Taco Day!

National Taco Day is here and we’ve got a big list of freebies and deals that is sure to add more crunch and make it a more fun. Got a National Taco Day deal for 2018 that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

Whether you like them crunchy or soft, spicy or mild, tacos are a culinary fixture in Mexico and around the world. With just a few more hours until it’s National Taco Day, it’s time to put on our sombreros and head south of the border. National and regional taco chains will be marking this taco lovers’ fiesta, also known as Taco Thursday this year, with free tacos or specials.

Most deals are available at participating locations and while supplies last. Terms can vary by location and change without notice. Some require an app or coupon. To be on the safe side, check with your closest location to confirm it’s participating.

Baja Fresh: Sign up for Club Baja to get a free taco with any purchase coupon!
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q: Get bean and cheese tacos for 65 cents each Thursday.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos: The New Jersey chain has $1 tacos Thursday, limit five per person.
California Tortilla: Buy one taco, get one free Thursday. The Blackened Fish, California Sunset, Korean BBQ and Crunchy BBQ Ranch street tacos are included in this deal and there’s a limit of five free tacos per person.
Chronic Tacos: Use the code word that will be revealed on Twitter today (which according to this tweet looks like it will be “Taco Life.”) to get a free taco when you say the code word from 11 AM to 2 PM on 10/4.
Chuy’s: Buy any taco entree for $1. Go dressed as a taco and receive a free meal on Thursday!
Cocina 214: They have a deal for $5 off each taco entree. Yay.s.Get FREE TACOS tomorrow for National Taco Day!Get FREE TACOS tomorrow for National Taco Day! #Free #Taco #NationalTacoDay #TacoLife #TacoTuesday #Food #TacoThursday
Del Taco: Del Taco has a BOGO (buy one get one free) for the Shredded Beef Soft Taco via their homepage. You can also get 2 tacos for joining their club.
El Fenix: Get $1 beef or chicken soft or crunchy tacos Thursday. Limit three per guest.
El Pollo Loco: Print this coupon to get a free Chicken Taco Al Carbon with any purchase of food or beverage.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: Get $1 tacos all day long. You can also get free chips and queso when if you make a $2 donation to a charity.
Fuzzy’s Tacos: They have a deal for $1 tacos all day on National Taco Day!
Green Leaf’s: Join their email list to get a Baja Street Taco coupon!
Jimboy’s Tacos: Participating Jimboy’s Tacos locations in California and Nevada will be offering a BOGO deal for ground beef tacos.
Moe’s Southwest Grill: They have a buy 2, get one free tacos for loyalty members on National Taco Day through 10/7 using the mobile app. (link at bottom of the page)
On the Border: For only $8.99 you can enjoy a bottomless supply of ground beef or chicken tinga tacos.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Join their rewards Beach Club and get a free taco!
Sons of Thunder: Get two Baja fish tacos for the price of one from 11 AM to 9 PM.
‏Taco Bell: You can buy a Taco Day Gift Set which has a Crunchy Taco, a Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco, a Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco, and a Fiery Doritos Locos taco for only $5! And, you can get four classic tacos for $5 (plus tax) on Thursday.
Taco Bueno: Score a free Taco Bueno Texas Street Tacos with any adult entree purchase.
Taco Cabana: Become an official TC Fanatics rewards club member and go to any Taco Cabana location and to get your free Fajita Taco to celebrate.
Taco Johns: Taco John’s is celebrating taco week with a free crispy beef taco every day until October 5th, just load up the mobile app.
Tijuana Flats: Get two tacos, chips and a drink for $5.99 or get a burrito or bowl, chips and a drink for $5.99

In honor of National Taco Day, we thought it might be fun to share some tasty taco trivia.

The world’s most expensive taco costs $25,000!
The Guinness World Record for the largest flour taco was achieved on March 8, 2003, in Mexico and weighed in at 750 kg or 1,654 lbs.
The Word Taco Means “Light Lunch” Roughly translated, the word taco means “light lunch.” However, there are other translations too, such as “plug” or “wad.”
Joey Chestnut is the reigning champion of the Chacho’s World Taco Eating Contest. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest star ate 94.5 Chacho’s tacos in a mere eight minutes on August 19, 2017.
Americans Eat a TON of Tacos. According to NationalTacoDay.com, Americans are eating billions of tacos every year, 4.5 billion to be more specific.
There is a Right Time of Day to Eat Tacos. According to Mexican tradition, seafood tacos are meant to be eaten at lunch, while antojitos are to be eaten at dinner time.

Where to get FREE COFFEE for National Coffee Day!

September 29, 2018 By Paula Leave a Comment

It’s National Coffee Day!

It isn’t just coffee chains that have specials for you today. Be sure to check out truck stops, convenience stores, doughnut stores, and more.

Krispy Kreme has a tastiest deal. It’s rewards members receive a free cup of coffee and a glazed doughnut. No purchase necessary.

No matter how you take your java — hot, iced, sweetened, or black — chances are you’ll be able to find an awesome coffee deal to suit your tastes on National Coffee Day. Got the scoop on a National Coffee Day deal for 2018 that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

These freebies don’t require a purchase but are available at participating locations, often while supplies last. Terms can vary by location and change without notice.

Barnes & Noble: All Barnes & Noble Cafes will offer a free cup of tall hot or iced coffee all day Saturday.

Byrne Dairy & Deli: Stop by the gas and convenience store chain from 10am-midnight on Saturday 9/29 and enjoy a free coffee! Hot or iced coffee- any size, any flavor.

CC’s Coffee House: Get a free tall brewed coffee at participating locations Saturday.

Cinnabon: Get a free 12-ounce coffee at participating locations Saturday. No purchase necessary.

Circle K: Get a free medium coffee and Belvita breakfast biscuit Saturday when you download the convenience store app.

Cumberland Farms: Text FREECOFFEE to 64827 to receive a coupon for a free iced or hot coffee, any size, to redeem on Saturday at participating locations.

FORTO: For a limited time with the Ibotta smartphone app, get a free 2-ounce single coffee shot at Walmart after rebate. This offer is for Ibotta users who have not redeemed the FORTO rebate before, however, those users might be able to earn 50 cents back for each shot purchased, up to five.

Holiday Stationstores: Get a free cup of coffee Saturday by texting COFFEE to 44022. The chain also is running a Free Coffee Tuesday promotion through Oct. 9. No coupon needed.

Krispy Kreme: Get a free coffee, any size, at participating locations Saturday. Krispy Kreme Rewards members also get a free doughnut. Participating shops are listed at www.krispykreme.com/coffeeglaze.

Kolache Factory: Join the company’s email club at www.kolachefactory.com and get a free 12-ounce cup of coffee Saturday with an email coupon. No purchase necessary and limit one coffee per person.

Kuju: Head to kujucoffee.com, tell them who you’d like to send a cup to and Kuju will package up your message with one of their Pocket PourOvers and send the cheers along in the mail.

Pilot Flying J: National Coffee Day is a two-day event at the travel centers. With a coupon in the myPilot app, get a free cup of Pilot coffee on Friday or Saturday.

PJ’s Coffee: In addition to National Coffee Day, the chain is celebrating its 40th anniversary Saturday by giving away free 12-ounce cups of Ruby Roast light roast hot coffee.

QuickChek: First-time users of the chain’s mobile app get a free hot or iced coffee on Saturday.

Scooter’s Coffee: Get a free brewed coffee, any size Saturday. No coupon is needed.

Sheetz: Get a free cold brew coffee Saturday when you order through the Sheetz app.

Stewart’s Shops: From noon to close Saturday, get a free hot, iced or cold brew coffee. All sizes and flavors are included.

TA and Petro Stopping Centers: Grab a free coffee, cappuccino, or hot tea! That’s right. You can get one, up to 24oz., coffee, cappuccino, or hot tea just for coming in-store! While supplies last, of course.

Taco Cabana: Get a free coffee with any purchase Saturday at participating locations when you tell the cashier code 225. One free cup per guest, per visit.

Wawa: Members of Wawa Rewards can get a free cup of coffee Saturday with a special one-day offer loaded to their accounts. Also, for a limited time, get any size coffee for $1, except at Florida locations.

Atlas Coffee Club: You can get your first bag (12 0z) of Premium Single Origin Coffee for FREE with any new subscription. Use the code: AtlasCoffeeDay18 by the end of the day!

Bruegger’s Bagels: Stop by a participating location and treat yourself to a free medium coffee with any purchase through September 29.

Community Coffee: Customers shopping online will save 30% on all purchases when they use the coupon code “COFFEEDAY2018”.

Duck Donuts is offering their customers a free small hot coffee with any purchase.

Dunkin’ Donuts: Stop by a participating location and buy a hot coffee for yourself. In return, you’ll receive a free hot coffee to share with someone special.

Einstein Bros. Bagels has teamed up with Caribou Coffee to offer customers any size of the coffee of the day for free when they buy any food item.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees: They are offering $1 Small coffee all day long.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: Take 15 percent off Green Mountain Coffee Roasters K-cup pods and bagged coffee with the code FAIRTRADE18 at keurig.com.

Illy: Stock up on Illy coffee online and save! Buy four cans and receive a fifth one for free via the coupon code “5FOR4”.

Intelligentsia: Customers who purchase a 16-oz. reusable cold coffee cup will receive a free cold coffee or cold tea on Saturday. Boston coffeebar locations also have a 20-oz. cup that is eligible for this offer. Neither one of these have been officially confirmed, but a number of outlets are reporting this promotion.

McDonald’s: Download the McDonald’s app now and be ready to score cheap coffee this weekend! Through Sunday, you can buy a medium or large McCafe drink and get a second one for 1 cent.

Mountanos Family Coffe & Tea Company: Take 15 percent off all Mountanos Family Coffee & Tea Company Fair Trade Certified Organic coffee with the code FTSEPT, now through Sunday, September 30 at mfct.com.

One Village Coffee: Take 25 percent off the Artist Blend coffee with code FAIR18 at onevillagecoffee.com.

Peet’s Coffee: Enjoy 25 percent off one pound of beans and a free drip coffee or tea at participating Peet’s coffeebars, as well as 25 percent off all regular, non-subscription, one pound bean purchases made peets.com using the promo code COFFEEDAY18.

7-Eleven: Get a FREE coffee with the purchase of a breakfast sandwich ($2 or more) at participating stores nationwide.

Sprinkles Cupcakes: When you purchase one regular cupcake, you’ll get a free can of High Brew Coffee (cold brew with twice the caffeine of a regular cup).

Taylor Lane Organic Coffee: All purchases at taylorlane.com are 15 percent off with the code JUSTONE.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is offering a free regular (16-ounce) brewed coffee (hot or iced) with the purchase of a food or bakery item at participating locations.

VitaCup: This one you can redeem in your pajamas: Get 30% off the entire site.

Wandering Bear Coffee: Take 20 percent off your entire order at wanderingbearcoffee.com with the code FAIRTRADEBEAR

Love’s Travel Stops: Swing by your local Love’s on September 28 and 29 to pick up a 24-oz. coffee or hot beverage for just $1. Even better, all proceeds go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Starbucks, the coffee giant isn’t offering any specials. As in past years, the company will mark the day by giving back.

“This National Coffee Day, we’re focused on providing continued assistance to help Puerto Rico recover following the devastation of Hurricane Maria one year ago, where the coffee industry was decimated,” Starbucks said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Check social media for specials at local coffee shops and smaller chains who may also offer free cups or discounts Saturday.

Want more coffee? Here are some #NationalCoffeeDay Giveaways for you to enter.

BE SURE TO ENTER THE COFFEE LOVER PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY THAT I HAVE GOING ON RIGHT HERE ON OUR BLOG FROM 9 AM 9/29 UNTIL MIDNIGHT 10/15!! THREE LUCKY READERS ARE GOING TO WIN A WHOLE LATTE COFFEE!!

RT to enter to win this MATLAB mug! Winner randomly selected on 10/1 ️☕️ #NationalCoffeeDay pic.twitter.com/sogfvokpVn

— MATLAB (@MATLAB) September 29, 2018

Homeschool Education Resources, Questions, and Answers

February 3, 2018 By Paula 3 Comments

Homeschool Resources, Questions, and Answers - When it comes to education... There's no school like home!

I believe that a great education is one of the best gifts that you can give a child. My children attended public school for many years but when the need arose I began homeschooling them. As many of you know, it is not always easy to find affordable materials to teach with. I started a Yahoo group when I taught my children at home. I started it as a way to sell my used books and find other parents who wanted to sell their’s so that teaching so many at home would be something that I could afford to do on our limited budget. Although my children are now grown and I now have many grandchildren, I have kept this group going. It just seemed too important to just delete. To supplement the materials found in their books I also was always in search of supplemental materials. I found some great ones! So, this week I want to share three of the sites that I liked to go to when looking for homeschool materials. These sights have been serving the homeschool community for many years.

HomeSchool Talk and Swap

Vegsource HomeSchool Talk and Swap

I know it doesn’t sound like a place for homeschool but they have some of the best Discussion and Swap Boards on the internet.

This is a great place to get free ready to use worksheets and answer keys for teaching, reinforcement, and review. Worksheets that are truly unique! Many of these free worksheets can serve as the basis for lesson plans.

There is so much here it’s hard to list it all so I took a screenshot to give you an idea of what is available for homeschoolers on this site.

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschooling

Homeschool Information
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What does it mean to homeschool?
A. Homeschooling means different things to different people. For some families, homeschooling means duplicating school at home, complete with textbooks, report cards, and regularly scheduled field trips. For others, homeschooling is simply the way they live their lives – children and adults living and learning together with a seamlessness that would challenge an observer to determine which was ‘home’ and which was ‘school.’ If you think of a kind of homeschooling continuum, with ‘school at home’ at one end, and ‘learning and living completely integrated’ on the other – you would find homeschoolers scattered along that line with every possible variation of what homeschooling could mean.
Q. What are some of the benefits of homeschooling?
A. A wise man once said, “We can teach our children to have courage, faith, and endurance; they can teach us to laugh, to sing, and to love.” For many, the deepest and most abiding benefit of homeschooling is the claiming (or reclaiming) of their family. Homeschooling families spend incredible amounts of time together living, learning and playing. They have the opportunity to develop a depth of understanding and a commitment to the family that is difficult to attain when family members spend their days going in separate directions. Many families like the flexibility homeschooling provides both parents and children. Children can learn about things they are interested in and at a time in their lives when they are ready to learn. No preconceived schedule forces them ahead or holds them back. Vacations and outings can be planned for times when the family is ready – and often when the crowds are smaller or the costs are lower. Children can learn about the ‘real world’ by being a part of it – no artificial settings to ‘provide exposure.’ Children can receive a superior education attuned specifically to their own needs, learning styles, personalities, and interests – at far less cost than that of a private or public school.
Q. Is homeschooling legal?
A. Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. However, laws and regulations vary from state to state, and interpretations can vary from school district to school district. We recommend that you read the laws for your state yourself, in addition to asking homeschooling organizations for information. The reference librarian at your local library will be able to help you find this information. It is not usually a good idea to ask your local school district or state department of education for information before informing yourself about the laws. In many areas, local officials and even state officials will not truly understand the laws relating to home education, and may, therefore, ask for far more information than the law requires.
Q. Is homeschooling expensive?
A. Homeschooling can be as expensive or as inexpensive as you make it. It depends on many factors, including what kinds of materials and resources you choose to use, how many children you will be homeschooling, and whether or not you will be giving up paid employment in order to homeschool your children. Parents can easily spend a small fortune on all the wonderful learning materials and books available. On the other hand, a superior education can also be accomplished using free resources found through the public library, interlibrary loan, and learning opportunities found in your community, such as museums and trips to interesting places. If you have only one child and decide to use real-life experiences, the public library, garage sales, and thrift stores for your resources, you may be talking about a couple hundred dollars or less for an entire year. If you decide to purchase a curriculum for five children you could be looking at several thousand dollars over that same year.
Q. How do I know which materials and resources to use?
A. This is, perhaps, the most difficult question to answer – be prepared for your answer to change over time and be aware that you may make choices that won’t work out. Before you think about what you need, think about what learning means to you. School curriculum and methodology have evolved to reflect an environment where 25 or 30 children learn at the behest of one adult. Curriculum developed by experts for this usage has been designed for ease of teaching, but not necessarily for sparking the interest of an individual child. As a homeschooling family, you can accept as many or as few of these materials as you like. Some families like the ease and security of having a prepackaged curriculum, while others choose to make their own decisions about what is important to learn and what is useful and helpful in their daily lives. Discuss this with your children. What do they want to do? How do they learn best? Look at sample copies of materials before you choose. As homeschoolers, you will be in charge of your learning – take advantage of all the adventure has to offer!
Q. Where can I get materials and resources?
A. Materials and resources come in all sizes and shapes – and many don’t look ‘schoolish’ at all. Many families find their most treasured learning resources at garage sales and thrift shops. Think of building and needlework materials, cooking tools, books, magazines, motors, gears, etc… Other families frequent the bookstores and educational supply stores in their communities. Some find videos from the video rental store valuable. Most think the public library is the best possible resource. Send for the catalogs that look interesting to you. They are filled with resources which you may find helpful. If you are interested in finding out more about prepackaged curriculum or correspondence schools write for their brochures and informative flyers. Homeschooling conferences and learning fairs are another place for looking at materials and getting ideas. Check with your local or state support groups for information about these.
Q. What if my child wants to learn something I can’t teach?
A. Children have the most amazing ability to want to learn the one thing about which we know absolutely nothing! It’s a universal attribute. Homeschooling families are blessed in having the ‘world as their classroom.’ There are classes (correspondence, video, support groups, community centers, colleges, etc…) taught by experts, but many children are very capable of teaching themselves – just as adults do when they have something new they want to learn. The most powerful learning experiences for a child is to have a parent learning right alongside the child. Parents, thankfully, do not have to be the expert in every area. Learn with your child, or search your community for resources that will help your child learn. And when searching for ‘teachers,’ don’t overlook friends, acquaintances, and businesspeople in your community – most people are delighted to have a young person around who is sincerely interested in what they do and know.
Q. How will my child learn to get along in the world?
A. This is the question homeschoolers often grimace about and call the “S” question (socialization). The real concern, it seems, is whether homeschooled children will be able to function out in the world if they don’t have the experiences schooled children have. Think for a moment about what schools really do. They classify and segregate children by age and ability, reinforce class, gender, and racial prejudice, and strip from children the right to any real interaction or private life. Socialization, in this respect, becomes submitting one’s will to that of the group (or person in charge). This is not the basis for healthy relationships. Home educated children, because they spend so much of their time out in the real world, generally are able to communicate well with both adults and children and to have friends of all ages. They choose to spend time with others because they enjoy their company or have a similar interest – just like adults.
Q. Can I work at a job and still homeschool?
A. Homeschooling families have often been portrayed as “Dad going to work, Mom staying at home with the kids.” The reality, for many families, is much different: single parents homeschool, working parents homeschool, dads at home homeschool, parents with ongoing illnesses homeschool. Some families homeschool some of their children but not others. Grandparents homeschool grandchildren. It may take a little creative juggling, but many of the perceived barriers can be gotten around with some thoughtful problem-solving.
Q. How do I know if my children are learning?
A. Children are always learning – they just can’t help it! Just like when they were babies and toddlers, you can discover what they are learning by spending time with them and observing the growth in their understanding of the world. Observation as an assessment (titled ‘authentic assessment’ and a big educational buzzword these days) acknowledges growth in understanding and skill level. Unlike standardized testing, it doesn’t give a ‘snapshot’ that attempts to quantify learning at one point in time. It is fluid and flexible and has no preconceived notions about what a child ‘should’ be able to do. You can look at the whole person and concentrate on what your child knows, instead of what your child does not know.
Q. Should I test my child?
A. Testing, like many other educational concerns, should be a personal decision. Some questions to consider before making this decision include: which tests will be used and why, how might the testing process affect the learner, how will the test results be used, and are there less intrusive alternatives that can be utilized instead? Testing, in the home environment where parents are always very aware of how well their children are doing, is unnecessary and intrusive. Testing is under fire from many teachers and educators, and many educational establishments are attempting to eliminate standardized testing in their schools. Very careful consideration should be taken before any testing is done to children for any reason.
Q. What about higher education?
A. Hundreds of colleges, universities and vocational institutes all over the nation are accepting homeschooled students. Most are thrilled with these intelligent, responsible, capable young people and many are actively recruiting them. Most of these institutions value ability and attitude over formal transcripts, diplomas or GEDs. Most libraries and bookstores carry a wide assortment of books, directories, and guides that will help older homeschoolers get information and prepare for this next step. On the other hand, many homeschoolers ultimately choose an apprenticeship over formal schooling as a faster and more satisfying entry into their adult lives. Cafi Cohen’s book “And What About College?” (Holt Associates, 1998) and Grace Llewellyn’s “Teenage Liberation Guidebook” can be great helps to families working through these decisions. It should be noted that college is not necessarily the only or even the best route for every young person. Going to college without a clear idea of what you expect to gain can be a very expensive form of self-discovery. And for many teens who already know where they are headed, apprenticeship opportunities and other forms of ‘on-the-job’ training can be a faster and more satisfying entry into their adult lives. And remember, the decision to forgo college is never irrevocable. Most institutions highly value older students, since they are usually enthusiastic and focused on learning.
Q. How do I find out about homeschooling in my state?
A. If you’re thinking about homeschooling, contacting your state or local homeschooling support group is the best place to start. Often local public libraries can assist in locating them. The support groups usually have copies of the state law, information about getting started, lists of activities and resources and many offer a newsletter as well. They can offer opportunities for getting together with other families, activities for children and adults, advice and help with resource materials and even cooperative classes for children. Some have a purely social focus – others have an academic or religious focus as well. Every support group has a different ‘flavor,’ – be sure that, if you choose to join one, the one you choose is compatible with your own needs and beliefs. And remember that many families get along just fine without belonging to a support group at all.

Gift Hulk – USE INVITE CODE: PA148770 For 250 coins when signing up

January 12, 2018 By Paula 4 Comments

Use Invite Code: PA148770 for 250 bonus coins when you sign up.

This is a great program. Choose from Amazon, Walmart, Paypal, Facebook Credits, Home Depot, Lowes, Club Pogo, Game Stop, ITunes, and many more cards. Get rewarded with real-world prizes at GiftHulk for your daily online activities – entering sweepstakes, searching, answering surveys and more! Over $1,500,000 in prizes already given out to GiftHulk users! Sign up for Free!

How Does Gifthulk Work?

GiftHulk.com was created in 2011 and it’s basically a get paid to do stuff online website or also known as a rewards site. Joining GiftHulk is totally free. It’s open to anyone from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, and Ireland.

What Are Hulk Coins?

Like many reward based websites, GiftHulk.com has its own virtual currency. If you’re familiar with other reward-based sites then this concept should be familiar to you. But if not, here’s a quick explanation. GiftHulk provides their members Hulk Coins. Hulk Coins can be redeemed for real things like gift cards, Paypal cash, bitcoin, etc. They have a wide range of options available in their store. So most people will find something that can work for them.

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How Can You Earn Hulk Coins?

You can earn Hulk Coins doing the following activities:

Trying various product or service offers from popular brands.
For sharing your opinions on various topics, products, and services.
By watching various types of online videos on GiftHulk TV!
Use GiftHulk Search as your Web search engine instead of Google. Then you will earn a fixed amount of Hulk Coins for searching once an hour, every day!
Earn Hulk Coins by doing short and easy online tasks such as writing an article or doing some online research.
You can invite your friends or strangers to join GiftHulk with your invite code or invite link. You can earn up to 600 Hulk Coins when they join! 100 Hulk Coins are guaranteed on each sign-up!
GiftHulk provides various additional fun ways to earn GiftHulk Coins such as sweepstakes, games or by providing GiftHulk codes on their Facebook, Twitter or email newsletters.