Ways to afford books for Vanguard

Hi everyone,

These are some ideas someone posted in another group about how to help families buy or get the books they need.  I just thought I would post it here, in case it could help you.  Use it if it does :)...

Ideas to Afford Books for Vanguard

1. Start by praying that Heavenly Father will open a way and guide you how to get the books
2. Library – Check early and put them on hold 
3. Buy used books online (Amazon or other used sites have them starting around $4 including shipping). On Amazon check the fine print under the regular price.
4. E-books are often cheaper than paper books
5. Take your book list to the DI or other thrift stores. If you see extra copies pick them up and offer the deal to others 
6. Sell pizza cards or another fund raiser that allows you to use the funds for education. Ashley Baird sells them from Papa Murphy’s. You can buy them for $1 and sell them for whatever price you want, like $7 or $10. 
7. Sign up for an Amazon credit card (and then you can cancel it later) – they give you an instant $50 of books free
8. When there’s a choice of buying or using a free online book, choose the free one
9. Have your teen get a part-time job to help earn money for books (paper route, bagging groceries)
10. Put the word out using email or Facebook to family and friends to see if they have certain books that you can borrow
11. Ask another family in Vanguard if you can share books – maybe switch books mid-week
12. Sign up for Harmony Education or MyTechHigh or another “charter school” that helps with homeschool costs. Harmony gives $300-400 reimbursement per student plus other reimbursement for curricula, and a lending library. 
13. See if your husband can pick up a few extra hours at work
14. 
     Marni Hall from the Kaysville Vanguard group offered another great website where she loves to find used books at great deals! 
    http://www.abebooks.com/
15. One more...
    paperbackswap.com
    
    
    Book trading.   I've been using this site for years and get a lot of my books this way.  There are several of this year's books available for the taking.
    
    
    Here is the info about it...
    
    
     If you're a reader, you know how books can accumulate after you have read them. They pile up and gather dust, and you know you won't read them again. You can try to sell them to used-book stores, but you wont get very much for them, even if they are in perfect condition. PaperBackSwap is a better way!
    
    All you have to do is create an account for FREE, list your books that you are ready to share, and send them out to other members when they are requested. Yes, you pay the postage to send your books out (between 2 and 3 dollars for an average-sized book), BUT you get a Book Credit for sending each book (each Book Credit is good for one book - you can order from any member in the club), AND when you request books for yourself, the senders pay the postage to send those books to you.
    
    It costs nothing to participate, except for postage - there are no membership fees. You even get 2 startup Book Credits free if you are the first account at your household - you can use those credits to order 2 books for yourself, right away!
    
    Give your books a better life - no more languishing on dusty bookshelves! Find new readers for them and get new books for yourself. Send a book, get a book. It's easy and it's free!
    
    Jen is a good friend to let you in on this! If you do sign up, please use the following link:
    
    http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=clowardjen%40hotmail.com
    
    If you use the link above to join and you become an active member, Jen will get a free Book Credit for referring you to the club!
    
    For more information about PaperBackSwap, you can visit our Help Center by clicking the link below:
    
    http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_index.php
    
    Best Regards,
    The PaperBackSwap Team
    www.PaperBackSwap.com
    
    
    
     

Timelines

"We talked about timelines for history, but I just saw this and thought it was a nice way to timeline a person's life.

http://notebookingfairy.com/2011/08/timeline-notebooking-pages/

Marni"

American Heritage Main timeline references 

From Becky Edwards:

Another homeschool mom has done all the work for you of creating the major milestones in history.  You could print them in smaller sizes if you want too. 

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/46422734/His%20Story%20Timeline%20Family%20School.pdf

Here is some explanation if you'd like:

http://blog.latterdaylearning.org/world-art-history-timelines/`

Character T-Charts

Thanks, Cami!

"Yesterday, at the study group you asked me if I had information on character T charts. Well, this morning as I was browsing the information from Family School (put out by American Heritage School) that I will be using with my youngers this school year I found this great concise direction.

Character Charts
Character charts are useful tools in examining characters in history, literature, and poetry. Elder Richard G. Scott instructed, “Faith will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need. Such character is not developed in moments of great challenge or temptation. That is when it is used. Character is woven patiently from threads of principle, doctrine, and obedience” (“The Transforming Power of Faith and Character.” Ensign. November 2011). One purpose for creating character charts is to reason or evaluate the development of characters. Another purpose for this method is the development of character in the reader as the noble character of others is examined. A third purpose is to develop the reader’s ability to reason, particularly from cause to effect.

Instructions: Elementary Grades
1. The child folds the sheet of notebook paper down the middle.
2. Then a line is drawn along the title line of the paper. On the title line or the top of a “T,” the child writes “External.” The child reasons from the source the external characteristics of the character, or what the character looks like externally.
3. The same is done for the right side of the fold in the paper or stem of a “T,” as the child writes “Internal.” The internal character qualities are reasoned and listed.
4. Both lists should contain exact language from the text, including page number. This is an opportunity to teach precision and the use of quotation marks.

Instructions: Upper Grades
The goal in the upper grades is to intensify the reasoning from the text and the discerning of internal character.
1. It is not necessary to fold the paper or draw a “T”. The Chart can simply consist of two columns.
2. Rather than “External” over the left column, the title “Internal Characteristics” is used. The child reasons the characteristics. Some children have a tendency to list actions rather than characteristics. The instruction to use an intransitive linking verb rather than an action verb typically solves this problem.
3. The right-hand column is titled “Evidence.” Exact language from the text and proper citations are required.

I hope that helps getting a vision (like I said this was from American Heritage School, so their vision of character T charts.)"

Monthly Principles - Expanding

Within the main principles, there are a lot of ways to take them in a specific direction.  Maybe this list will be helpful in connecting some of those harder-to-connect lenses.  PLEASE add your own ideas!!!  This was a pretty quick list, so I'm sure I'm missing some important ones.

LIFE/HAPPINESS

service

agency

gratitude

personal peace

hope

standards

divine nature

example

cheerfulness

commitment

LIBERTY

sacrifice

education

preserving others' liberty

agency

honoring others' agency

obedience to law

idealism

WORK/PROPERTY

endurance

sacrifice

creativity
excellence
stewardship

education

teaching

beauty

God's work

duty

first things first

GOD/CREATOR

natural law

characteristics/attributes

sure foundation

Child of God

miracles

charity

truth (source of)

personal revelation

self-worth

faith/believe

divine potential

honoring God and others

LEADERSHIP

service-oriented

servant

guide

influence

ministering

responsibility

example

character

conducting

honesty

conscience

good shepherd
stewardship

charity

delegation

introspection

SOCIETY

unity

obedience to law

home/family (influence on society)

government

proper role of government

security vs. freedom

trust

welfare/self-reliance

councils

accountability

justice/mercy

neighbor

honoring others' agency
self-government

CITIZENSHIP

obedience to law

doing the right thing

we are all enlisted

dare to stand alone

courage

responsibility

neighbor

conscience

duty

first things first

Youth Leadership - presidency and junior mentors

This is how responsibilities are split in our youth presidency.  Others will obviously vary.  (Definitely share how in the comments!)

Each member of the Youth presidency shares the following responsibilities:

• Lead the youth of Vanguard
• Know and have a vision of the purpose of Vanguard
• Be engaged in participating both at Vanguard classes and outside activities
• Become friends with each of the youth in the group and encourage their involvement in the class
• Be actively engaged in their studies to set a good example for the other students
• Be willing to be in front of the group and to be an example of what a leader is
• Conduct Vanguard and attend meetings where things are discussed regarding the running of Vanguard
• Seek to learn how to lead a group, deal with problems as they arise during class time (involving adult mentors as necessary), and talk with mentors about how to help specific youth feel more involved.

PRESIDENT

• Conduct Vanguard and youth leadership meetings.  Make assignments and follow up.
• Meet with the adult mentors after Vanguard each week to give their input in the "start-stop" meeting (sometimes we're better at this than others - we discuss what we need to "Start" doing, what we need to "Stop" doing, and what we need to "Continue" doing.  A great evaluation tool!)
• Attend parent mentor meetings
• Work with the Advisor/Head Mentor

VICE-PRESIDENT

• Support and advise the president
• Plan service events (temple, service projects)
• Work with the adult Service Project Committee Head
• Do spotlights twice a month

SECRETARY (sometimes we've had two that share responsibilities, especially when they were all young)

• Call and remind members of different activities and assignments (calling tree)
• Make weekly agendas for Vanguard
• Help track student records
• Work with the adult Secretary

HISTORIAN (sometimes we've had two that share responsibilities, especially when they were all young) Record events and classes through notes, pictures, and video.   Present the recording of events (slideshow?) to the families at the end of the year Work with the Co-Advisor TREASURER Plan and organize fundraising activities for the group. Represent the needs of the youth by getting and relating their input and ideas. Assist adult Secretary in managing funds Work with the adult Secretary GAME CHIEF Plan social events (game nights, family nights).  Work with adult mentors when needed in planning games used at Vanguard. Work to represent the needs of the youth in social events by getting and relating their input Work with the adult Activities Committee Head JUNIOR MENTORS They really fall into an entirely different category, and responsibilities will be based on the lens mentor, the comfort zone of the youth involved, and the overall needs of the group.  Youth mentors are magical in class!  The youth really listen to one another, and want to help that mentor be more successful by responding more. The learning is at a higher level for the youth mentor because of the extra preparation involved. Some ideas on how junior mentors can be used: - Create a special presentation (powerpoint, prezi, whiteboard, etc.) on what they studied (this is more a "practice" level of junior mentoring, but is a great way to encourage the youth that you'd like to help to a junior mentor level) - Create a game to help review things you'd studied, either within a lens or all of Vanguard - Lead a discussion in class - Help to come up with ideas, plan, and be part of activities that will enrich topics to be discussed in class (their ideas are excellent and usually really big - try not to discourage them if you're going to ask for their help!) - Help plan the topics that will be studied in a lens If you have a youth interested in helping, definitely ask them for ideas on how they want  to help.  They may have something entirely new in mind.