Making Sense of College with College Common Sense

College Common Sense is a program designed to help families understand the process for finding and obtaining financial aid for college.  Denise Ames, a financial aid counselor at a university in Texas, developed this easy to use program that is applicable to parents of students of any age (elementary, middle school, high school).  College Common Sense:  Going to College and Paying for It is available in both a DVD/workbook format, which costs $50 + $5 shipping/handling, or a one-year online access to the video and workbook materials, which costs $25.  We have been using Going to College and Paying for it Online Video and Workbook.

We have already graduated three of our six children and sent them on to higher education.  We have navigated the maze of forms and requirements many, many times; and, I must say, I wish that College Commom Sense had been around when we were working through the financial aid process with them.  Our younger three children, currently a senior, junior, and seventh grader, are at the prime ages to take advantage of Denise's program.  We are a little late with our senior.  Truth be told, we should have been working on financial aid for him over the past couple of years. That's water under the bridge now. 

We began the online version of College Common Sense program by viewing the six
20-30 minute videos and reading through the accompanying .pdf worksheets.  I printed a copy for each of the kids to keep in their own 'college prep' folder.  Unfortunately, we found the videos a little redundant and a little boring.  The kids would have much rather have just read through the workbook documents and discussed them as we searched various related items online.  I think the videos are good for those who need auditory reinforcement of concepts.  I signed up for a free newsletter as well as Denise's free weekly lesson plans.  These two e-mail helps contained many more tips and helps for wading through the sea of financial aid and college admissions.  There were suggestions for how to use the program with children in high school, middle school, and elementary school.

Some of the information covered includes:
1.  Steps to go to college
2.  What is financial aid?
3.  What is a FAFSA? Do I need one?
4.  How does financial aid work?
5.  Taking a college visit
6.  Where can I find free money for college? How do I apply for it?
7.  How do I fit into the whole picture of college and financial aid?

My 12th grader was most interested in accelerating the steps to go to college.  Even though life circumstances have put us behind in the process, he is making great progress.  He has been examining multiple potential colleges through their websites, has taken his ACT again and increased his score, has spoken with some college representatives, and has taken advantage of a 'no application fee week' at a few schools and submitted his application.  Currently, he is working on searching through scholarships using many of the suggestions in College Common Sense.  We have had many financial changes in our family over the past year; so, we have not yet filled out a FAFSA.  We will be working on it at the end of the month.  We have never been eligible for any grants before, only loans, so I am a little anxious to see if we now can qualify for grants.
     Our 10th grader is working through the process with a little different angle.  He wants to dual enroll next year so he can complete his undergraduate studies a little earlier.  We have found through experience that there are many financial advantages to dual enrollment.  He is searching through potential schools to attend after graduation from high school and searching through private scholarships for which he may qualify.  He is keeping his information in a notebook and we are looking over his findings frequently.  One thing about searching for scholarships, sometimes it can be a real rabbit trail experience.  By this I mean that your searches will lead you down many different paths.  Denise's suggestion to keep a notebook and to explore one scholarship a month helps make this a more focused process. 
     Our 7th grader hasn't sensed the urgency to work on the college process just yet; so, with her, we are following some of the suggestions in the newsletter / lesson plans and discussing and exploring where God may lead her in a career path in the future.  Right now, she is interested in nursing.  A few weeks ago, she was interested in being a teacher. Before that, she wanted to be a cashier at the Dollar Store.  I am so glad that interests change quickly at this age!
     I teach an ACT Prep / College Prep class at a local co-op.  We have just completed our intensive ACT preparation.  This week, we are beginning our college admissions and financial aid studies.  College Common Sense is going to be the backbone of our discussions.  The layout of the information is presented in a format that is easy to follow and I believe the students will find it very informative and helpful.For more information on the College Common Sense:  Going to College and Paying for It program, visit the College Common Sense website.

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Pizza Soup

Have you ever wanted the taste of pizza with the ease of a crock pot recipe? This is just the ticket! So easy to put together, this soup gives all of the tastes of a pizza with 'the works.' I love recipes that can just be dumped together. I also love coming home to dinner being ready. This soup is great served as is or with a green salad and garlic toast on the side. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine! One of my favorite perks of this recipe is that I can keep all of the ingredients on hand, either in the pantry or freezer, so I can make it at a moments notice. Have fun!

Pizza Soup

6-8 cups of your favorite pizza veggies, roughly chopped (I use onion, bell pepper, and sometimes mushrooms.  I buy them already chopped / sliced, the onion and bell pepper I get in the frozen section and the mushrooms I get jarred.  Broccoli would be a nice addition if you like it!)

6 cups canned / jarred spaghetti sauce - whatever your favorite kind is

8 oz. sliced pepperoni

12 oz. Italian sausage (links, uncooked)

8 oz. Canadian Bacon (or ham, cubed)

Water - amount will vary

1 pound dry pasta (rotini, shells, penne, whatever you like)

Mozarella cheese and parmesan cheese to top with when serving.

Instructions:
Dump veggies, spaghetti sauce, and meats into crock pot.  Add water until liquid level is about an inch from the top.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Remove sausage links and slice - then return to soup.  Cook and drain pasta according to package directions and stir into soup just before serving. Ladle into bowls and top with cheeses.

Trying Something New

Have you heard of the concept of the 'flipped' classroom?  I have been reading and studying about this for quite a while; and, let me tell you, I am hooked! This concept basically means allowing students to absorb concepts somewhat at thier own pace via audio, video, and / or text and using class time to answer questions and explore hands on activities when applicable.  I teach several days a week in a co-op type setting.  I am seeing great results with this in my chemistry class.  I am going to start implementing it in other classes as well.  How do you get started and how could this be used in a homeschool setting?
1.  When planning assignments / lessons, use sites such as Khan Academy and locate pertinent video instruction for concepts covered in the lessons for the week.  Many curricula include dvd or online video instruction for lessons, too.  Assign audio, video, and text material for your student(s) to cover during the week prior to homework assignments.
2. Then, when time comes for class to meet, or for your child to do their assignments, you serve as a facilitator for the assignments. You have (preferably) viewed, listened to, and read the background info for their assignments and are there to answer questions.
3.  Can't find a media source for a concept you need to cover?  If you have a webcam, you can video yourself working out problems as you narrate.  Save the videos to your computer, to a disc, or to a stick and give those to your kids to view.  Sometimes examples in a textbook are great, but they are made even greater when someone works them out step-by-step.  The beauty of the videos is that they can be watched over and over.
I absolutely love this idea!  I think it is going to be revolutionizing my classrooms as well as my homeschooling.  I really think it is getting back to the way education needs to be.  Kids are able to dig in and learn material and use the teacher as a sounding board for questions.  Also, more classroom time can be devoted to the application of these concepts instead of the explanation of them.  Try it out!
Let me know what you think!

Easy Lasagna

Lasagna is a staple at our house.  I love to make it, but I don't always have time to work with the noodles and the layers.  A quick version I make (quite frequently) is 'Ravioli Lasagna.'  I can keep the ingredients on hand and put this together quickly in the morning. I either let it cook in my crock pot on low all day or pop it in the oven after lunch to slow cook for dinner. Either way, it is simple to assemble and yummy!

We have a large family, so my recipe is for 8 people.  I use a large roasting pan instead of a 13x9 casserole if I am making this in the oven.  If I am doing it in the crock pot, I use my 6-quart crock and fill it almost to the top.  ***Hint:  If you use a crock pot, make sure to use a crock pot liner for easy clean up!***

I serve this with a green salad and some garlic bread.  I usually make the sauce meatless.  If you like, you can add cooked ground meat to the sauce.

Ravioli Lasagna

4 bags (1 lb.) frozen cheese ravioli
4 sixteen ounce cans of spaghetti sauce
8 cups shredded mozarella cheese
2 cups shredded parmesan

1.  Generously spray your baking dish or crock pot (liner) with cooking spray.

2.  Layer frozen cheese ravioli, sauce, cheeses until you run out of ravioli and sauce - ending with sauce. Save some of the cheeses to top the lasagna at the end.

3.  Cover with foil if baking and cook at 300 degrees for 3-4 hours.  If using the crock pot, just put on the lid and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

4.  Just before serving, remove foil (or lid) and top with additional cheese.  Allow cheese to melt.  Serve with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

A Great Resource!

For those of you with kids in Middle School - High School grades, finding fun supplemental science activities can be challenging.  I have found a website with a huge assortment of activities, powerpoint presentations, notes, quizzes, and more.   It is designed for these older students and is an absolutely wonderful resource.  Check it out and let me know what you think!

Here is the link:  http://www.sciencewithskinner.com/Bytopic.htm

I hope you find this resource as helpful as I have!

Quick, easy, and nutritious!

We love soup at our house!  I love to make soups that are loaded with vegetables and not necessarily loaded with meat.  One of our favorites is Lentil and Vegetable Soup with Dumplings. Best of all - it is a crock pot recipe!!! Yeah!!!!

2 cups each chopped onion, chopped celery, chopped bell pepper, chopped carrot
1 clove garlic - minced
1 lb dried lentils that have been rinsed
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
3  ten count cans of biscuits
Salt and pepper to taste

Place vegetables, garlic, lentils, broth, and bay leaves in crock pot.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6 hours.  Add water if necessary to make a thin soup about an hour before cook time is over.  Cut biscuit dough into fourths and add to hot soup.  Continue cooking until these dumplings are done.  This takes about 30 minutes with the crock pot on high.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve with pepper sauce if more heat is desired.  **Remember to remove the bay leaves before serving!**

Quick and Easy Copycat Cracker Barrel Biscuits

I love to bake, and, bread is my biggest temptation when baking.  To me, there is nothing like the smell of fresh bread or biscuits baking.  I am a little spoiled, though. I do not like canned biscuits.  There is a texture and a smell to them that just does not appeal to me.  I love, love, love homemade biscuits.  Cracker Barrel restaurant has some of the best biscuits around.  I have tried for years to mimic them to no avail, until now.  This is the easiest, fastest, and most delicious biscuit recipe I have ever used.  Try it out yourself. It takes a little practice, but it is well worth it!

Recipe:
Baking mix - like Bisquick (generic is fine, homemade is fine) - you will need at least 2 cups.

Soured milk (milk that has been soured with vinegar - ratio is 1 T vinegar per cup of milk)

Butter - at least one stick, melted

This is a 'feel' recipe.  Dump your baking mix into your mixing bowl.  For my family of eight, I use about 8 cups of baking mix.  Make a well in the center of the baking mix.  Slowly work in soured milk until you have a nice soft dough.  The exact measurement will vary based on how dry your baking mix is. The key to good biscuit dough is to not overwork it. You want to mix it until it just starts to come together.  Then, knead it gently just a couple of times to get a workable ball of dough.  Dump onto a floured surface, pat out about 1/2 inch thick and cut into biscuits.  You can mash the scraps together gently, re-pat out the dough and cut more biscuits a few times.

Place the biscuits on a baking pan lined with parchment paper, sides touching.  Brush with melted butter.  Bake at 400 degrees until golden brown.  Brush with melted butter again when they come out of the oven. Serve hot.  Delish!!!!