All posts by NerdMom

education, Homeschoooling, politics

Real Per-Student Spending

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One of the things that always really sticks in my craw is how much money that the public schools spend on each student with so little to show. If only I  had $10 grand to spend on each one of my kids!  But I remember talking to someone years ago on how I didn’t think the per student cost was all inclusive. You know counting things like building costs, janitor bonuses,  etc. All the money truly going out of each state for anything relating to the schools and then averaged by the number of students. Because I always thought the published per-student cost didn’t include everything. It is nice to see confirmation that I am right! The Cato Institute has a great video that really walks you through it.

child rearing, life, Wordless Wednesday

Complicated Women

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This is one of NerdPie’s favorite new book series and her very girlie bow. This is how my girls and I roll. Fire and ice, concrete and lace;).

But it does seem to illustrate why I feel like such a contradiction sometimes, like today. I was watching Fame while geeking out on a nano semiconductor. This seems to explain why I have never really fit it. I tried for so long to hide my dweeby nerdy side for so long because it was becoming. Once I started accepting my separate sides is when I found my husband and a little peace. But I still struggle when I am around large groups of women sometimes because I just don’t seem normal.

Then I feel nervous for my girls. I don’t want them to feel as conflicted as I often have. I want them to take joy in all God has created them to be. I want them to feel secure in both their girlie and nerdy sides! I guess the best way that they will do that is by seeing me accept myself. It is a lot of pressure knowing you have to deal with your junk so your kids won’t have to;).

coolness, science, tech

Nano Superconductors

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Tiniest superconductor: the four-molecule-long nanowire (Image: S.-W. Hla)

Saw-Wai Hla‘s group at Ohio University has developed a wire that is 1 molecule wide. How cool is that? It is zero resistance so it doesn’t lose any heat.

They took that wire and developed a superconductor using wires that are 4 molecules long. The wires were made with an organic molecule and salt on top of a sheet of silver.  From looking at the group’s site it looks like the organic molecule is chlorophyll.  This is so cool!!!

The idea of taking something so organic and creating a semiconductor out of it just so freeing as far as the limitless technology development that could come. Forget a cell phone, build it into your jacket. And making it organic like this would really bring down the production cost. Because really, how hard is it to get chlorophyll;)?

Now obviously this isn’t market ready. It looks like they aren’t sure why it conducts at 4 molecules of length but not 3. So there is a while until this happens in the mass market but heck, I am only 34;).

This is cooler than the Jetson’s robot maid, well maybe;).

(HT: New Scientist)

Frugal Homeschooler, Holidays

Frugal Homeschooler: Discover a Peep’s World

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So as we venture into this week it is time to have a little fun with our schooling. Now I admit up front that this has nothing to do with the real reasons for Easter so please use it in the spirit given. So first let us take a factory tour to find out how Peeps are born(Click on Factory Tour). We can also do a little Peep math (k-2, 3-5, 6-8). Then on to English class with Peep Haiku. You can visit Fern’s Poetry Club to learn the Haiku basics. The onto the wonderful world of Peep Science. Some of these experiments are appropriate to duplicate at home. Even if you don’t, they are very enlightening and actually very sound. Then using either homemade or store bought Peeps, do a little crafting. You can even go read about Peep “behavior” in conducting research (ok, totally spoof but totally fun). So after all the Peep education, how do you do on the Peep Quiz? Happy Easter

Technorati Tags: Peeps

Crafting

And We Have a Bow!

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My Masterpiece Head On

So the NerdPie has a really pretty blue dress to wear for Easter (when she is getting baptized).  So I happened to find the perfect blue ribbon for $1 that matches the dress perfectly. I have been looking at it for a while trying to get up the guts to cut it up and make a bow out of it. So I finally did! Once I was done I realized that I had forgotten to take pictures along the way but it was pretty easy.  I made 1 bow with the 2 basic loops but instead of tying it I wrapped wire around it. Then I made another bow.  Then I set them catty corner. I took another piece of ribbon and tied a knot around  both bows! I used fray check to stop the ends from fraying. The bow was so just perfect so I just had to slip one of those cheap alligator clips from Sally’s Beauty Supply in the back. I didn’t even need glue!

It is the little things that make you feel like you accomplished something;).

Frugal Homeschooler, Holidays

Frugal Homeschooler: Easter

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Since it is Easter week I decided to put together a collection of free resources available online! There a bunch of fun things out there so let us jump in!

Crafts:
Enchanted Learning has some really cute projects. I think we might do the Hand print Lilly and the Eggshell Tulips. Crayola also has a ton of Easter crafts for all ages.
History and Traditions:
There are a couple of sites that have some interesting history and traditions pieces. Topmarks has both the Easter story and a piece on different customs. DTLK also has an interesting piece on customs and traditions that include recipes for Russian Easter Bread and hot cross buns.
Math:
Articlesbase has some cute math ideas based on Easter.
Generic:
ABC Teach has a pretty comprehensive site as far as types of activities. It has all kinds of pdfs. Some for math, books, handwriting, dot to dot and more. They aren’t very deep but still educational.
Fun:
Kaboose has lots of mazes from simple all the way to hard. So you can print them out for all levels. The KidzPage has all kinds of fun online games. They have online crosswords, puzzles, and coloring pages. The puzzles are really easy drag and drops while the coloring pages really work on mouse control.
Have fun, have a great Easter and remember that education doesn’t have to expensive!

giveaway, music

Human Nature Giveaway

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I recently got a chance to listen to Human Nature’s Reach Out. They are a group from Australia that is coming now in a show presented by Smokey Robinson in Las Vegas. Reach Out is a fun album that is all Motown remakes. They have Smokey Robinson and Mary Wilson (of the Supremes) guesting on the CD. If you like Motown classics this is a great CD for you. It has all the charm of the originals but with a great sound quality. Human Nature have a great voice quality and who wouldn’t love these songs? If you are going to be in Las Vegas you have to check out their show!

Win it!
How would you like to win your own copy of Human Nature’s Reach Out? Well, I have 1 to giveaway!

To enter:

* Just leave a comment telling me your favorite Motown Hit!
* A random winner will be selected and notified on April 6th.
* The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.

To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.

* Subscribe to my feed (if you already do, that counts).
* Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here.
* Subscribe to my Twitter and then Tweet about this!
* You can tweet everyday for an additional entry, just make sure to leave a comment for each time!

If you want to see more giveaways pop over to Making Money Keeping Money to see more giveaways on Contesting Monday

(I was not paid for my opinion. I was given a copy of the CD to review but the opinions are my own.)

Food

How I Made 5 Trays of Enchiladas in 2 Hours

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I do bulk cooking but not in the once of month method. I don’t make 30 days worth of food in 2 days. Instead I take an ingredient and then make a lot with it. This time it was chicken breasts. I assembled 5 trays in less than 2 hours.

Now to be honest I didn’t cook the meat in that time. I had dump a bunch of boneless skinless chicken breasts into the crockpot and turned it on low to cook over night. Then (while I was at a baby shower) my husband gave my 6 year old a big bowl, the meat and 2 forks. She went to town and shredded it all. Then he put it into gallon bags for me.
So today I assembled all my ingredients. Enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, corn, spinach, shredded cheese, and tortillas. I thawed the spinach under hot water and squeezed all the water out. In the big metal bowl I mixed up the spinach, corn, meat, cheese, some tomato sauce and enchilada sauce. The tomato sauce keeps it from being to spicy for the kids. Then I rolled! You know the process… put sauce in the bottom of your baking pan, then dip the tortillas in sauce, then put some filling in and roll! The key is to have everything lined up and ready to go. I use up the enchilada sauce then I just grab the next can sitting on the counter.
So for those of you who think they don’t have time for bulk cooking just remember that in about 2 hours I fully assembled these, made my kids pb & j sandwiches, tended to them during lunch, washed up and changed the baby, and did all my clean up! If I can do it so can you!

(I included this post in Cooking for a Crowd at Raising Olives)