Free Math and Science Online Conference Talk

Bringing Joy to Your Homeschool Math and Science Lessons

This is a remake of the original webinar with the same name. Since we experienced some audio and visual challenges with the first one we wanted to improve your experience by trying it all over again. It worked! Enjoy!

Literature isn't just for reading! You can teach math, science, language arts, and more using living books. This is the third in a series of three talks on the topic of teaching through real books.

Have you ever said out loud, "I hate math!" Or, "Math was my worst subject!" Was science always a tough subject for you? Do you struggle wondering how you can bring the fullness of the subject to your children? If so, you've come to the right place.

In this talk Maureen Wittmann shows you how to let go of your math and science phobia and keep from passing it onto your children. Math can be fun and interesting. Really. You just need to look at it in a new light. Science can go beyond the kitchen experiments and come alive in a child's imagination. Really.

Maureen brings lots of books with her for show and tell. You'll leave this online seminar loaded with book titles, fresh ideas, and practical tips. You won't want to miss it!

Maureen is the author of For the Love of Literature: Teaching Core Subjects Through Literature published by Ecce Homo Press, available from your favorite bookseller or maureenwittmann.com.

To sign up for other live webinars from Homeschool Connections, please visit https://homeschoolconnections.webex.com.

To view recordings of past webinars, please visit http://tinyurl.com/pasthomeschoolwebinars.

Thank you to our sponsors who make it possible to bring these webinars to you for free:
Living Math
Ecce Homo Press

The Pen Eating Sofa

If you're getting short on pens and pencils don't go out to the store to buy new ones. Just do what I do -- put your hand in between the cushions of your sofa and you'll be sure to find anywhere from 5 to 10 pens and pencils. You'll save a ton of money doing this.

Recession Proof Jobs

A good article from Readers Digest:
9 Recession-Proof Careers

"Think of basic human needs, the things we can't do without," says Shatkin. They provide what he calls "little islands" of employment in this economy. For example, he says, we will always need sewage and water treatment. Challenger says the food industry is a core area: "People have to eat, and the global population is increasing."

In a down economy, people don't buy new cars—they repair their old ones. People turn to their clergy for comfort. Funeral directors will always have jobs. And since pets are very much a part of the family, veterinarians and veterinary technicians will continue to be in demand.

Also check out the links to other job-search related articles:

• View the slideshow of 9 Recession-Proof Careers
• How to Find a New Job
• What to Do When You Lose Your Job
• Career Experts Offer Advice to 6 People Out of Work
• Read what may be the world's worst cover letter and resume.

Job Hunting in a Recession

Years ago, during the recession in the 80's, I worked as a recruiter. This article from the Wall Street Journal is an excellent piece on recession proofing your job search:
The Interview That'll Bag a Job

At an interview, you want to stand out for the right reasons. To do so, you'll need to leave your baggage and anxiety at the door. For starters, wait until 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time to announce yourself. Arriving any sooner "shows that you're not respectful of the time the hiring manager put aside for you," says Ms. Loubaton, adding that a candidate who arrived an hour early made workers uncomfortable. "Companies really don't want someone camped out in their lobby."

Recipe: Mixed Green Salad with Pecans, Goat Cheese, and Dried Cherries

This is an awesome salad. It's so beautiful and delicious that it's one you'll want to make whenever you go visiting. I first tasted it when my friend Lynette brought it for a gathering at my home. Now I'll be making it to take to my friend Linda's house for Easter.

Ingredients
1 pound mixed greens (I like to add some baby spinach too)
1 small to medium red onion, sliced thinly
4 - 6 oz. crumbled feta cheese (I buy a block of it and crumble myself - cheaper & only a few seconds of extra work)
1/2 cup dried cherries (craisens work okay and are cheaper)
1 cup sugar coated pecans
1 green pear (optional)
Light raspberry vinaigrette

Directions
Make your sugar coated pecans and raspberry vinaigrette ahead of time.

Place mixed greens in a very large bowl. Add the feta (goat cheese), dried cherries, red onions, and pecans. Toss with 1/4 cup of the dressing or to taste.

Optional
Core and thinly slice your green pear and place on top of the salad for a pretty finishing touch.

Recipe: Light Raspberry Vinaigrette

Some raspberry vinaigrettes taste too strong for me. I suppose because they are so heavy on the raspberry or because they include Dijon mustard. Now, personally, I love Dijon but I'm not sure it belongs in this recipe. Here is a lighter version. It is sweet, but in my opinion it has just the right amount of raspberry flavor:

Ingredients
1/2 cup raspberry vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon Tabasco (optional)
6 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoon dried parsley (or 6 T. freshly chopped)
1 cup olive oil

Directions
Mix well. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Note: Try it in this recipe and you'll impress all your friends.

Recipe: Sugar Coated Pecans for Salad

I have an awesome recipe for salad that includes candied pecans. Store bought cost way too much money. Instead, purchase pecans when on sale (I found bulk pecans for half price this week via Easter sales) and make your own. Then store in an airtight container. Once you've made these, you'll never want to put plain ole' nuts into salad again.

This is the recipe I use for salad pecans:
Ingredients
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups pecan halves
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 300°F

In medium sized bowl, combine egg white, water, and vanilla, Beat until foamy. Stir in pecans with wooden spoons until they're well coated with the egg white mixture. Set aside.

In another bowl, combine sugar and salt. Pour over the moist pecans and stir to coat evenly. (I do all this in my Kitchenaid mixer bowl.)

In preheated oven, gently melt butter in jelly roll pan. Carefully remove pan from oven and stir nuts into melted butter. Spread nuts evenly and bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, making sure they don't burn.

Remove from oven and spoon to wax paper to cool.

I put the jelly roll pan immediately into the sink with hot water for easy cleaning.

Once cooled, break up the pecans.

Variation
If you're making the sugar coated pecans just for nibbling, you may want to add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to the sugar mixture.

Free Online Homeschooling Resources

From the Homeschool Buyers Co-op and ClickSchooling:

This week we have more free curriculum discoveries and ClickSchooling reviews by Diane Flynn Keith

• Free Math Activity Book for K-5
• Free Sunflower Seeds for Bee Science Project
• Free Writing Study Guide & More
• One Hen - Microfinance for Kids
• Virtual Field Trip to Gummi Bear Factory
• Fun Things to Make with Paper

Please let us know if YOU find any great educational websites!