Are We There Yet?

One of the ways I stay within our budget is by selling any homeschool books we no longer need and using that money to purchase curriculum for the next year (used if possible). I’ve collected quite a few links for buying & selling online, and I hope some of them have just what you need!

Vegsource Homeschool Talk & Swap

Homeschool Classifieds

The Well-Trained Mind Sale & Swap Board

Curriculum Classifieds on Google+

Homeschool Market on Facebook

A-Z Home’s Cool Homeschool Classifieds Yahoo group

HSLDA’s Curriculum Market

Homeschooler’s Trading Zone

Leigh’s List

Homeschool World

Used Homeschool Curriculum

Curriculum Share

PaperBack Swap (this is my referral link)

Amazon Marketplace

Ebay

Craigslist

Half Price Books (not online, but a great place to look)

Blog it: Do you have a blog? Post a Books for Sale list! You can promote it to your readers, and you will also get sales from people doing searches for specific books.

Do you have a For Sale list? Leave a link and I will share it on Facebook.

Don’t forget that you can also Homeschool for Free,
and I can help you create a curriculum plan using your freebies!

Filed under: curriculum, free stuff, homeschool, saving $ Tagged: buy, curriculum, free, homeschool, sell, used

Gifts to Make for Mom

amyswandering — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:10:03 +0000

Are you looking for inexpensive Mother’s Day gifts to make?
I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites from Pinterest.

See something you would like for yourself?
Do what I do and email the link to Hubby or the kids!

Choose your favorite pic and make a beautiful photo clock.

These cute purses are made with $2 tote bags.

Fill a pretty frame with a free scripture printable.

A recipe box and index cards are all you need to make a daily calendar journal.

Any bird lover would enjoy a bird feeder made from beautiful plates & bowls.

I made these easy birdseed wreaths for Christmas one year.

Turn old family photos into cute marble magnets.

Refurbish an old jewelry box. I see them at thrift stores all the time.

Customize this easy button bracelet to suit your mom’s style.

Stitch up a beautiful felt scissors cover.

Make a pretty outdoor lantern with a vase from the dollar store.

Dress up a pair of flip flops. (There is a $2 off coupon for Target, so only .50! exp. 5/25/13)

Get some clay and round up some little hands for these fingerprint necklaces.

Re-purpose an empty dishwasher pac container into a trashcan for the car.

Find a pretty binder and print out one of these free household planners.

{What are you making for Mother’s Day?}
I can’t tell what I am making, but it is none of the above. Sorry Momma, no hints!
{Which gift would you want to receive?}
My faves are the daily calendar journal and the decorated flip flops.

Follow me on Pinterest or Facebook!

Filed under: happy holidays, printables, saving $, things to make Tagged: crafts, gifts, mother's day, printables

Happy Birthday Crayola!

amyswandering — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:02:10 +0000

To celebrate their 110th birthday, the 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new fun-omenal Crayola Experience, the world’s only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they’re out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you’re invited to join the fun!

How can you join in on the fun? You can FOLLOW the crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013!

Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click “enter now” for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens.

The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child’s creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It’s an experience your kids will never forget – and neither will you!

{Crayola provided me with this information.}

Filed under: great links

Tools for Planning Your New Homeschool Year

amyswandering — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:02:44 +0000

Every April I get the urge to start planning the next homeschool year. My printer starts humming as I hunt for free curriculum links and browse Pinterest boards for ideas.

Use these free planning tools to organize your new year:

Start by printing out a free homeschool planner. There is something for everyone on my huge round-up list!

Map out your weeks on my favorite school year calendar.

Divide your child’s work into quarters with the easiest record system ever.

Make sure you stay on track with color-coded progress lists.

Save some money by keeping a running curriculum list.

Compare prices with this curriculum price comparison sheet.

Use those computer files with this handy idea for organizing your ebooks.

Find time for extras like crafts and nature study with a theme of the day.

Do you want to step away from boxed curriculum? I show you how in my Create Your Own Curriculum series.

Find more ideas on my Homeschool Organization Pinterest Board!

Filed under: homeschool Tagged: free, homeschool, planner, planning, printable

Free Poetry Printables and Resources

amyswandering — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:04:40 +0000

April is National Poetry Month!
I’ve gathered up lots of free resources for you to use with your kids.
I tried to be selective, choosing websites loaded with lessons and printables.
Don’t make a chore out of reading and writing poetry – just have fun with it!!

Interactive Poetry Center Links: #1 #2

Seasonal Poetry & Art Units:
1st grade 2nd grade 3rd grade 4th grade

Instant Poetry Forms

Acrostic Poem Printables (scroll down)

What Rhymes with Squirrel?

Giggle Poetry

Poetry Teachers

Poetry 4 Kids

Kindergarten Poetry Journals

10-week Poetry for Kids Course

Introduction to Poetry Types

30 Days of Poetry