Making The Most of Your September Budget

School is in full swing and we are taking a quick look at how to pinch our pennies...

Big appliances:   If your stove, washing machine or other large appliances have quit, now is the perfect time to buy!  

Cars:   Dealerships are starting to move last year's inventory off the lot and start moving in the new.    Go in on a weekday morning and look.   Don't be in a hurry to make a decision.   If you have a car you want, see how long it sits on the lot.   Make an offer after you make observations.


Holiday airfare:   If you will be going to Grandma's house for the holidays now is the time to book those flights!


Laptops:  Back to school laptop deals are still in abundance!

Grills and Lawn Mowers:   You are so glad that the season for cutting grass is over, but stores are looking at all that inventory and are desperate to move it out!


Labor Day:  Keep your eye open for the special deals that will be happening during Labor Day weekend!


Shrubs, Bushes, and Other Landscaping Plants: If you've got a warm area to keep plants, or you live in an area where growing happens all year, now's the time to jump in, Kiplinger says, and help your local greenhouses clear out the stuff that people didn't get ambitious enough to plant this summer.

Reading Bear

Reading Bear

Learn to Read for Free!

I am a BIG fan of phonics.  It sets a solid foundation for a love of reading.   As a substitute teacher and tutor, most students who struggled with reading had not been taught a basic grasp of phonics.   My own husband went to a elementary school which did not teach phonics.    It has affected his ability to spell his entire life.

Reading Bear, a project of WatchKnowLearn.org, is the first free program online to teach beginning readers vocabulary and concepts while systematically introducing all the main phonetic patterns of written English, all using innovative rich media.   Currently there are 14 presentations, but they furiously working to increase the number to about 50.  

By the end, well over 1,200 items of vocabulary will be given the Reading Bear treatment.  

How does it work? In each presentation—playable either as a video or as an interactive slide show—one or a few related “phonics rules” are presented.   Presentations are available in seven different versions. In the fullest version, we sound out a word slowly and quickly, then blend it slowly, and finally (after an optional prompt) blend it quickly. As sounds are pronounced, the corresponding letters are highlighted. Then we display a picture illustrating the word, show a sentence (with the individual sounds again highlighted, karaoke style), and finally show a video illustrating the sentence. Presentations typically give this treatment to around 25 words, though some have more and some have less. The result is a thorough yet painless introduction to phonics principles, while at the same time teaching vocabulary.


Watch this video for even more explanation

3rd Annual Bricks and Spokes

When else can you ride across the Old Mississippi River Bridge? Only at the 3rd Annual Bricks and Spokes Bicycle Ride on Saturday, October 6th! The bicycle ride will begin in beautiful Downtown Vicksburg and will travel the red brick road down to the Old Mississippi River Bridge. Enjoy riding the streets of Mississippi and Louisiana all at the same event! There will be a 1o mile ride, 30 mile ride, and 50 mile ride. With those distances there is sure to be something for every cyclists! The route will be fully supported so be sure to stop, refuel, and enjoy the scenery as you travel along the unique Bricks and Spokes route. All types of bicycles are accepted and riders of all ages are invited! Come be part of history in Historic Downtown Vicksburg and follow the brick roads across the Mighty Mississippi River!

General Information
Whether you are just starting out or an expert rider, Bricks and Spokes is a great ride for you! The 3rd Annual Bricks and Spokes will feature a 10 mile, 30 mile, and 50 mile ride. All rides will begin in beautiful Downtown Vicksburg and will travel south to the Old Mississippi River Bridge. Bricks and Spokes is the only ride that allows you to cycle across the Mighty Mississippi River!

When
Saturday, October 6th 8:00 a.m.

Where
3rd Annual Bricks and Spokes begins and ends in Downtown Vicksburg

Mileage
10, 30, and 50 mile routes

Route Details
The route will go down Washington Street and travel to the Old Mississippi River Bridge and take you onto country roads. Enjoy the beautiful scenery as the route includes flat areas of Louisiana and the great rolling hills of Vicksburg and Warren County. The ride will be fully supported.

Guidelines
All types of bikes are welcomed as well as all ages of riders. Please me sure children under the age of 14 are accompanied by and adult. All riders must wear helmets.

Registration Options

Online at www.racesonline.com
By mail: Vicksburg Main Street Program
1010 Levee Street, Suite D
Vicksburg, MS 39180

WatchKnowLearn

WatchKnowLearn

Free Education Videos.  Organized.

The Vision behind WatchKnowLearn is simple:

Free educational videos delivered over the Internet. Viewed any time, from anywhere.
We believe that everyone should have the same opportunity to learn. The best way to make this possible, we believe, is to organize into one, super directory the hundreds of thousands of good videos currently available on the Internet. To make this a reality, we invite teachers, instructors and educators to suggest videos for inclusion into our directory, and then to review, approve, and assign those videos into appropriate categories using a wiki framework and philosophy. The videos are the highest quality found on the World Wide Web, cover all major educational topics from elementary to secondary schools (or age range 1 – 18), and are Kid Safe!

WatchKnowLearn Now

WatchKnowLearn has indexed over 33,000+ educational videos, placing them into a directory of over 3,000 categories. The videos are available without any registration or fees to teachers in the classroom and to students at home 24/7. Users can dive into our innovative directory or search for videos by subject and age level. Video titles, descriptions, age level information, and ratings are all edited for usefulness. Our Web site invites broad participation in a new kind of wiki system, guided by teachers. We have had a tremendously positive response from educators to the website. If we continue to work together, we can create an incredible, free, educational resource for students across the world.

I LOVE the fact I can create my own classroom!   I love that it is created into subjects and grades which makes it easy to search.


I did a few searches based on some of the subjects my boys and nieces/nephews would be interested in and found these videos:

New "Llama Llama" Book and Book Signing

 
Llama Llama Time to Share
Anna Dewdney
Amazon $10.97

Order yours today!

Book Signing:
September 24
Lemuria Bookstore
4:00 p.m.








Book Description:

Llama has a sharing drama!

Build a tower. Make a moat.
Nelly's dolly sails a boat.
What can Llama Llama add?
Maybe sharing's not so bad.

Llama Llama has new neighbors! Nelly Gnu and her mama stop by for a play date, but Llama's not so sure it's time to share all his toys. Maybe just his blocks? It could be fun to make a castle with Nelly . . . But wait--Nelly has Llama's little Fuzzy Llama! The fun turns to tears when Fuzzy Llama is ripped in two, "all because of Nelly Gnu!" Mama comes to the rescue and fixes Fuzzy, but she makes it clear: "I'll put Fuzzy on the stairs, until you're sure that you can share."

Fun to read aloud and helpful to children and parents alike, Llama Llama Time to Share is for any child who needs a little encouragement in sharing.

A. Pintura: Art Detective

A. Pintura: Art Detective

As A. Pintura, a 1940's-style detective with a degree in art history, you must identify the artist of a mystery painting.  

Battle of Iuka Civil War Reenactment

Battle of Iuka Civil War Reenactment

DATE: 8/31/2012 - 9/2/2012 |  
TIME: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

CITY: Iuka, MS  

LOCATION: North Pearl Street/ Chicken Run Road

CONTACT: Tishomingo County Tourism Council  

PHONE: 1.800.386.4373

"The fight began and was waged with a severity I have never seen surpassed." 

                                    Major General Sterling Price, CSA, September 19, 1862.

The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, on the highest point in Mississippi known as "America’s Bloodiest High Point". The battle reenactment begins at 2 PM Sunday, September 2, 2012. Bus tours are welcome. Other events are planned during the week prior to the reenactment such as illuminations, historic home tours, Civil War camps and demonstrations, relic shows, period music, dances, etc. 

Read the Battle History here.

For more information, contact Tishomingo County Tourism Council, toll free 800-FUN-HERE (386-4373), www.tishomingofunhere.org; info@tishomingo.org.

Friday, August 31, 2012
9am	Camp site opens to Re-Enactors
9am - 1pm	School Demonstrations (across from Mineral Springs Park)
4pm - 5pm	Greetings from General Henry Little at Twin Magnolias
5pm - 6pm	Public Speaking by Governor John M. Stone at the Old Courthouse Museum
6pm - 7pm	Military Escort of General Henry Little’s body down Quitman Street in Iuka
Dusk	Grand Illumination of Iuka Historic Downtown  with greetings from Governor John M. Stone
Saturday, September 1, 2012
9am - 5 pm 10am	Camp opens to public  Tactical at Battlefield Site
9am	Opening Ceremonies - Iuka Mineral Springs Park
9am until....	Self Guided Historic Walking Tour
9am to noon	Living history demonstrations every fifteen minutes at the following locations: Twin Magnolia, Old Courthouse Museum, Iuka United Methodist Church, and Dunrobin. Pick up schedule at Old Courthouse Museum.
9am until noon	Camelia Home - Women demonstrate everyday life of the 1860s (202 Meigg Street)
Noon	The Gathering of the Descendants – Old Courthouse Museum, Confederate Marker Dedication. Click here to register.
2pm	Mass Grave Memorial Roll Call at Shady Grove Cemetery
7pm	Grand Ball at Dr. Kitchens’ Farm at Mill Creek
Sunday, September 2, 2012
9 am	Camp opens to public
10am - 11am	Non-denominational Church Services, Mail Call
2pm	Re-enactment of the Battle of Iuka

Thou Shalt Not Commit Logical Fallacies

 Your Logical Fallacy Is...

A logical fallacy is usually what has happened when someone is wrong about something. It's a flaw in reasoning. They're like tricks or illusions of thought, and they're often very sneakily used by politicians and the media to fool people.

Don't be fooled! This website and poster have been designed to help you identify and call out dodgy logic wherever it may raise its ugly, incoherent head.

Back to School Night for Educators

Children's Literature Listed by Book Title

Children's Literature Listed by Book Title

What a great website!    I looked up two separate books which I knew that the boys would be reading this year.  

George Orwell's 1984

and

The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleishman

I was able to find powerpoint presentations, literature guides, games, complimentary websites, author information and enrichment information.

You can look up books by title and author names on this site!

SATVocab.com

 SATVocab.com
The Free and Smart Way to Learn!

Satvocab.com provides an innovative approach to learning vocabulary words for people of all ages. The idea is to establish a link between the word and definition through easy to remember stories. By creating a visual link, even the hardest to remember words can be memorized for life. Additionally, the site contains a comprehensive database of useful standardized test words with definitions and other test preparation resources.

Besides brushing up on vocabulary words, you can learn preparation tips and techniques for the following standardized exams:

• PSAT Preparation and Tips
• SAT Preparation and Tips
• TOEFL Preparation and Tips
• ACT Preparation and Tips
• GRE Preparation and Tips
• GMAT Preparation and Tip

Read books from our recommended booklist to further excel in your studies. We currently have recommendations for:

• College Admission Guides
• GMAT Books
• GRE Books
• SAT/PSAT Books
• ACT Books
• TOEFL Books
• Vocabulary Books

 Other Highlights...

• An Effective Approach to Learn and Memorize Vocabulary Words for Life
• Especially Useful for ESL Students to Improve TOEFL, PSAT, SAT, GRE, and GMAT Test Scores
• Over 300 Often Tested Smart Vocab Words and one of the most comprehensive database of common test words with definitions. Database of words will be constantly updated.
• Subscribe to our RSS "Word of the day" feed and learn a useful word each day
• Interact with other test-takers about strategies and techniques
• Feel free to send your questions or comments by using the feedback form.

The Irregular Verb Wheel Game

The MacMillan Dictionary has a fun game that students can play to practice identifying the various forms of a verb. The Irregular Verb Wheel Game is played by spinning the wheel then identifying the past, present, and future tenses of the word that the wheel stopped on. Players earn points for correctly identifying each form of the verb in the time allotted.

Mississippi Craft Show

 

August 2012
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th
Trade Mart, Jackson

Mississippi's artists will be selling & demonstrating an exciting variety of hand crafted products. Pottery, glass, jewelry, furniture, home accessories, photography, & more. Proceeds benefit Madison Ark Rescue Kennel. Madison Ark will be in attendance with dogs and cats available for adoption. Help Mississippi’s four‐legged friends find a forever home and find some wonderful hand made gifts.

It’s raining cats and dogs! Help us build a new ARK!  Proceeds to help build a new Madison Ark no‐kill animal shelter for the Jackson Area.  The only local craft show that is 100% Mississippi,  100% handcrafted and ZERO % Flea market! For more info visit: 

Website: www.mscraftshow.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MadisonArk
Facebook: facebook.com/mscraftshow
Twitter: twitter.com/MSCraftShow

Sat, 25th, 9am ‐ 7pm & Sun, 26th, 11am ‐ 4pm.
Tickets $5 at the door. Children under 12 Free.