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They also pay their members according to how much the site gets used. The admin is a friendly guy. The other members are decent. Every once in a while someone tries to be "spammy" and they're handled. This site's treated me better than Facebook has.

I could try to tell you everything I like about this site but I'm just too dang lazy. Besides, you'll really just have to try it for yourself to see. The things I like might not be your cup of tea. But I'd bet you'll find something there worth joining for. It's all free.

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Ten great back to school articles

It's getting to be that time again, when parents everywhere are looking for the information they should've remembered from last year, but didn't. Being one of my readers offers you an advantage, though. I know people! Some of my best friends just happen to make a part of their living by helping folks find the information they need! How cool is that! So, I'm bringing you ten articles on the topic, and I hope you'll find what you need. (If you don't, please feel free to contact me in the comments, and tell me what you're looking for. No strings. I'll do things to help a reader.)

With each title, you'll see a blurb preview, to help you decide if it's what you're looking for. Happy shopping:

#1. School Supplies & the ADHD Student

Attention deficit disorders (ADD and ADHD) are generally diagnosed using a checklist of symptoms. One of those symptoms is often losing materials necessary for a task - like school supplies or textbooks. While some people may think that hyperactivity is the most obvious sign that a child has ADHD, for our daughter the first sign that all was not well at school was definitely that she constantly lost or forgot things. Read the rest here.

#2 Back to School: Eco-Friendly Pens, Pencils, Markers and Crayons


Back to school is right around the corner and it's time to start thinking about school supplies such as pens, pencils, markers and crayons. This year, look for eco-friendly items for your kids instead of the traditional supplies. Many benefits are associated with buying earth-friendly items but the main one is that you're supporting green living. Read the rest here.

#3 Where to go for homeschooling curriculum and supplies


First of all, congratulations for considering homeschooling! Now comes the difficult part: finding curricula and supplies that work for you and your child/children.

One of the best ways to find out about the array of materials available to you is by attending a homeschool curriculum fair. MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) puts on an annual 3 to 4 day curriculum fair which attracts many national homeschool publishers. Homeschoolers with used curricula at greatly reduced prices are invited to rent a table and sell their no-longer-needed items. Major distributors also have discounts on their products at the fair. But I also found that the fair made my head swim with all the possibilities. How to narrow down your selection? Read the rest here.

#4 Backtoschoolguid.bogspot.com

There's really no need for an introduction for this one. Rather than just one article, it's an entire blog on getting ready for back to school. Enjoy.

#5 Plastic-Free School Supplies

Many families are choosing to live a less plastic life. As more information comes to light on the environmental impact of plastic with its inability to biodegrade and the health risks of leaching chemicals and hormone disruptors into our foods, many are just saying "no" to buying more plastic. Read the rest here.

#6 Back to School Anxiety: Tips to Help Your School-Age Child

If your child tells you just before the start of school that he doesn't want to go to school, there's a good chance he's experiencing back to school anxiety. Before you respond with anger or disappointment, you should take some time to find out what's really troubling your student. Read the rest here.

#7 Letters to the Teacher from Students with Special Needs

Back to school season can be an anxious time for any parent, but especially for those of us whose children have special needs due to learning disabilities, ADHD, autism or other conditions. There is a joy at seeing our kids go off on their own to have new adventures and learn new things, but our experiences have taught us there will be challenging moments. For many of us, we would like nothing more than to take that journey with our children so we can be there to lend a hand when they or their teachers need it. Read the rest here especially if you're a teacher..

#8 First Person: A Back to School Wardrobe for Less Than $50

Back to school time is chock full of hidden costs and added stress. From purchasing school supplies, preparing your children for a new year of learning, and getting adjusted to a new teacher, back to school time can certainly be stressful for both parents and kids alike. Add on the fact that many children outgrow their school clothes over summer holidays and you are faced with having to purchase new school clothes as well. Buying your children clothes for back to school doesn't have to be stressful. In fact, I spent less than $50 on my son's school uniforms, including shoes to match.

Introduction to the School Uniform Read the rest here.

#9 Back to School: Prepare for Kindergarten

It's that time again, back to school season. This means it is time to get back to school backpacks, back to school supplies, and get out and started with back to school shopping. While this may seem like an overwhelming task, with a little organization you shall be able to get everything your child will need for school this year. Read the rest here.

#10 Back-to-School Planning and Preparation Tips from a Teacher

Back-to-school clothes may be the fun part, but here are three things you can do ahead of time that will save lots of agonizing at school later. These apply whether you are starting first grade or finishing college this year. Just by being prepared, you will be ahead. Get the jump on school!

1 - Review your math. Read the rest here.

Remember when I said there'd be 10 articles? I sorta fibbed, but not intentionally. I found one more really handy resource for you home-schoolers out there. You'll find it helpful, so I'm sharing one more:

How to Homeschool: Track Elementary Academic Records, Report Cards

When making the decision to homeschool your children, there will be a variety of things you'll need to be aware of. Some of those things include laws, where to find resources and materials, how to plan a schedule and curriculum, and even record-keeping and grading. Elementary record-keeping is often simpler than during high school (and possibly also in grades 6 - 8). This is due to the necessity of transcripts and course credits in higher grade levels. As a veteran homeschool mom, I've tried many record keeping methods.

Patriot Depot

Can social networks like Redgage help with marketing affiliate programs?

Imagine having a range of products and services available, at the click of a mouse, and thousands of social network contacts who view your content. What would you have? Most folks are optimistic, and assume they'll have a vast fortune set on auto-pilot, from there on out.

While such a scenario would be ideal, were it possible on Facebook or Twitter, it's just not. Few affiliate marketers find raging success on either social networking platform. Why? There are just too many distractions from the goal.

How many different apps might the average reader of this piece get sent daily? How many game invitations, gifts, and “questions?” Now, how many different groups and/or events have come in, this past week alone? Anyone who has ever experienced Facebook knows exactly the experience of getting Facebooked.

Now, imagine having a vast array of those same products and services, and a vast, growing, friendly readership, who make money from their social networking activity? How many more of your shares might you imagine being read, now? Imagine a social networking platform where a marketer gets paid to just find readers to see offer links!

Regardless of who clicks-through, reads, bookmarks, shares, or simply skims, branded-affiliate marketers can use Redgage.com to share their wares, and in return for using the ad-supported template, get paid for placing those links, images, videos, and music tracks to share. It's that simple. Artists and musicians encouraged (pleaded with and cajoled, also) to join. Sign up right now, by clicking here! Membership is 100% free to all!. Nothing to buy, or join, other than our social networking community. We're so glad to have you aboard.

Patriot Depot

How to make our own miracles: Bring my kids and I back together

The purpose and goal of building this blog is to secure my own position as a writer for the general public. I hope to entertain, inform, amuse, or even anger you, the reader. Above all, I strive to be a “good read,” and if you enjoy anything of mine here, I am truly honored.

The purpose of being an established, well-read writer, is to provide for my own living in even the economically depressed area of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and be able to see my kids. I just need to be a part of their lives. They've told me they need me.

So, for each reader who visits this post, please send at least three more people by this link, after you also join me as a follower. I promise never to get too preachy, as long as you promise to read. I'm not offering anything for help, other than to be the best contributor for you,as possible. At the very least, please at least link me from your blog. Tell me who you are in a comment, and I'll link back to you, reciprocating your efforts. Fair?

Yet, were you to only help me by sharing me with just three others, who go on to do the same, in the next half hour, this dream could be attained within the next day. Would you/Could you do just that for a stranger? Would you share a blog posting with a few others, in order to help a man provide? The reading is absolutely free to you. There is nothing to cancel.

The goal here is simple: Were each visitor to this page,to become a follower, and then share us with just three others who do exactly the same, within just the next half-hour, The goal of finding one million readers will be reached in only one day! For some reason, I know it won't happen in one day. I just call it, the “reality factor.” BUT, were each visitor here to merely share us with just three others who do the same, this dream, maybe my only prayer,would occur – thanks to you.

In order to be sure to reach the three others you'd need to make this work, I'd suggest you share it wit “everyone” on social networking like Facebook, three times minimum.

In doing this, you're helping one man earn his way through life. Your readership is how I desire to earn my own keep,and provide for those who count on me. The more successful this turns out to be, the more I'm going to need to hire others as well. Passing this along isn't just helping me to build my own “dream come true,” but that of several others, also.

In this economy, if you can help just one man pioneer a new business-model, and it helps so many others, all while entertaining you, why would you NOT be a part? Please. Thank you! grin