Should You Pay Someone What She's Worth?

Before you answer, “YES, of course,” please take a moment. It’s not as simple a question as you might think. Before you answer that first question, reflect on these points.
1. Are you more interested in the price of something than its value?
2. Are you more likely to dash off an email complaining about something quicker than thanking someone for their information or a job well done?
3. On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to post a comment on a blog thanking the author for his free information?
4. On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to tell someone about a great product/service you just found?
5. Are you more likely to complain about the price being too high rather than praise someone for their work?
6. Are you more likely to complain in public and thank in private or the other way around?
Many people who make a living providing a service or information products tell me that they are much more likely to be asked to lower their fee/price than they are to be thanked, even when they provide them for free! Web designers, for example, are quite often approached to provide free services. In fact, many of the people asking don’t even ask nicely!
“Can’t you just redesign a few pages for me? After all, it’s not like it’s costing you any money. Just some time!”
What they don’t seem to “get” is that it has already cost the web designer dearly to come by this specific expertise and obtain all the software she now possess in order to make that happen! I always wonder how that customer would feel if the roles were reversed and that web designer had asked her customer’s husband (the accountant) to just do her taxes for free. After all, it’s not like it’s costing him any money. It’s just taking his time away from paying customers who could put food on the table for their family.
Does she even understand the position she is putting this web designer in by asking for freebies in this way? It communicates a lack of respect for her as an expert, a lack of respect for her time and a lack of respect for her right to make a living and provide for her family. It also puts the web designer in an uncomfortable position. If she says yes, she is bound to do the work for no compensation. If she says no, she risks communicating that she is selfish.
What would happen if this web designer were to give a great deal of her time away for free? Who do you think would lose? If you answered only the web designer, herself, you would be wrong! Her clients would suffer also, because she would probably have to take on a job to make ends meet. She would no longer have time for her paying clients who would have to find someone else to do their websites. Her non paying “customers” would lose too! Do you think she would have time to do web design for free if she wasn’t bringing in an income for her family and wasn’t able to pay the upkeep on the software and websites she maintains?
I hear ya out there! Sometimes, especially in this economy, you simply can’t afford the very fair price of someone’s services…and hey, sometimes they OFFER to give them away. It’s their choice if they want to offer this for free. I’m just taking advantage of it. Right you are! However, how often did you personally email the host of a free event to express your gratitude for all his hard work during the year to put this event together? When’s the last time you sent a short email thanking the author of an eBook you were able to download for free for the years of research he put into it? How often have you helped them get the word out about their product or service? How often did you cry SPAM if they so much as mentioned that they make a living by offering these products or services?
We teach our kids to say thank you, but in my experience, most adults say it far less than their children do. Most adults don’t understand the power of thank you either. It’s a lesson I often include in my communication studies.
That web designer understands how tough things are in this economy. That’s probably why she offers her services at a discounted rate when she could make so much more under different circumstances. She knows how difficult it is to put food on the table. She is self employed! That’s probably why she offers some of her services for free.
A little compliment goes a long way and can create an environment where the even MORE is given back. It’s precisely because so few show thankfulness that it will be noticed. A heartfelt thank you will cause her to want to give back even more. That’s the power of “Thank You”. A small thank you can brighten her day or make her forget a bad encounter. A little appreciation for her work can give her the strength to continue on in the face of difficulty.
“He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
And how much time does it take to dash off a short email with a line of thanks? Less than a minute of your time can make all the difference to someone else. Now imagine what a blessing you could be if you took two minutes and made it public? What blessing could you bring to her if you took three and a half minutes and passed along her website and told your friends or Yahoo group how much she impressed you?
At the very least, and even in this economy, you can certainly afford to pay someone what she’s worth. Pay her a compliment! Pass along her information. After all, it’s not like it’s costing you any money…just some of your time.

This article was written by JoJo Tabares, who graciously allowed me to reproduce it. Here is the link to her original article. I have often been asked why editing costs so much (it doesn't!), and I have been very frustrated by writing for free for so many different venues that I run out of time to market my writing to paying clients.

JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication, but it is her humorous approach to communication skills which has made her a highly sought-after Christian speaker and writer. Her articles appear in homeschool publications, such as Homeschool Enrichment Magazine and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, which also endorses her Say What You Mean curricula. You can also find JoJo on web sites such as Crosswalk.com and Dr.Laura.com. For more information on communication FUNdamentals and Christian-based communication skills for the whole family, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com.

Busy Mom's Bible (review)

Are you a mom? Are you busy? Oh wait, if the answer to the first question is yes, the answer to the second question is yes, too! If taking care of your spiritual life often falls to the bottom of your endless to do list, Zondervan has the answer: the brand-new Busy Mom’s Bible. It combines the complete NIV text with 52 (1 a week) 1-minute Thought-Starters for a quick dose of spiritual refreshment. If you find yourself with 5 minutes, move on to the Reflect & Pray section. There’s even a Study section for those rare days when you actually have 10 minutes.

Bonuses include a concordance, additional topics for 5-Minute Reflect & Pray moments and 5-minute reading plans about Jesus and Women of the Bible. Plus, it comes in a variety of adorable, trendy covers. The 10-minute Studies are my favorite feature. They talk about real-life issues that today’s moms face: your marriage, raising kids, relationships, your identity in Christ, your emotions, and more. Need just a special word to take with you for the day? Covered. If you feel you only have a few minutes a day to nourish your spirit, Busy Mom’s Bible is for you.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Why I Want to Attend She Speaks

Proverbs 31 Ministries has long been a favorite of mine. And I’m not just saying that because I want to win their contest! Seriously, these ladies embody the ideals they espouse. They’re real women; they don’t sugarcoat their daily lives and struggles. The stories they tell on their daily radio show sound just like what goes on in my life. When they write an encouraging blog post and I comment, they often comment back—personally. Their books inspire me.

So, how did they get from housewives to writers, speakers, and leaders? The She Speaks Conference holds the key. Rather than try to paraphrase the benefits of attending She Speaks, I’m going to borrow Lysa TerKeurst’s motivational endorsement (not that I needed to be persuaded myself).

For Speakers:

Whether you are ready to take the main stage and start speaking at conferences and retreats or whether you want to learn how to more effectively teach a ladies’ Bible Study, this track is for you. After attending this conference you will be equipped to:

* Know how to develop a great message from start to finish.

* Understand what keeps an audience engaged and how to make your message memorable.

* Deliver your message in such a way that not only inspires your audience but also motivates them to make life changes.

* Increase your number of booked speaking engagements by using proven marketing strategies.

For Writers:

You have had a passion for writing and have even had people encourage you to write a book, but have never known how to get started on the pathway to publication. You will have the chance to attend sessions taught by some of the top Christian publishers: Zondervan, Harvest House, Cook, and several others. You will also be able to make appointments to pitch your book proposal.

Or maybe you are a blogger and want to learn how to more effectively connect with your readers, increase the impact of your blog, and hear from someone who successfully got a book contract by maximizing her blog platform.

Whatever the case may be, if you are a writer in the making, after attending this conference you will:

* Discover your unique writing voice and the mechanics of effective writing.

* Understand what publishers are looking for and how to write proposals that get their attention.

* Better understand how to build your writing portfolio by getting published in magazines.

* Know how to write a book that will impact your reader from start to finish.

For Women’s Ministry Leaders:

You know firsthand the unique opportunities and challenges that present themselves when you lead a ministry in your church for women. You give and serve all year long—now is your chance to get filled back up with encouragement and training. You’ll have the opportunity to attend a Pre-Conference Intensive session as well as the women’s ministry leadership track where you’ll learn how to:

* Build a dream team of ministry partners.

* Cast your vision for ministry in a way others will catch it.

* Distinguish God's direction for your ministry with confidence.

* Celebrate milestones of your ministry's effectiveness and keep your team inspired.

I will only add that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to attend She Speaks this year! I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman, and I want to inspire other women to be Proverbs 31 women as well. My faithful blog readers will remember that among the goals I posted for myself this year were improving my writing skills, publishing more magazine articles, exploring the possibilities of writing a book, and speaking in more venues. The best way to achieve my goals is to attend the She Speaks Conference sponsored by Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Sounds easy enough, right? Just visit the She Speaks Web site and sign up. Oh, and pay the registration fee. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very reasonable fee for everything offered. Unless you’re a freelance writer who writes for free and a freelance editor who keeps reading, “We don’t need any editors right now, but we’ll keep your resume on file.”

Solution: Lysa TerKeurst is sponsoring a She Speaks Scholarship Contest here. Woohoo! The three winners will receive a fully paid scholarship to the 2010 She Speaks Conference. Did I mention that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to win this contest? Just checking! The best part is that I don’t have any travel costs (I live in a Charlotte suburb). So, if I win this contest, I can get the training I need to take my writing and my speaking to the next level.

Even though I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to win, I’m also aspiring to be a Proverbs 31 woman, so here is the link to Lysa’s blog so that you can enter the contest, too. If you don’t win, visit the She Speaks Web site to register for the conference.

Big Universe Winner!

Thank you all for your comments about your budding authors! I enjoyed reading them all.

Drum roll please . . . The winner of the complimentary 6-month membership to Big Universe is . . . Lisa! I will forward your contact info. to Big Universe, and they will send you the link and all that good stuff.

GIVEAWAY! Big Universe Membership

Wish your kids had more books to read? Wish your books could be interactive? Want a creative outlet for your little writers to share their own stories? Look no further than Big Universe, a unique Web site designed to read, create, and share children’s books online.

Use your membership (several levels, including Lite—free—a 3-day trial) to read over 1,300 books complete with bright illustrations in many popular children’s genres and take quizzes to ensure complete comprehension. You can read others’ recommendations and highlight your favorites for others to enjoy. Big Universe makes it easy to find books by age, genre, reading level, subject, or language.

One of the features that makes Big Universe stand out from other sites with online books is its create feature. Children can write their own stories and use the included clip art to illustrate them. Clear tutorials make using these components a breeze. What’s more, your children can publish and share their books safely with other members. Check out the more than 10,000 books written by Big Universe members!

GIVEAWAY: Leave me a comment here with a 1-sentence summary of your child’s most creative story to enter a drawing for a FREE 6-month membership to Big Universe. Be sure to leave contact information as well.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Classical Education Curricula

I’ve been quite a few questions regarding what material I use for classical homeschooling and how it actually works. So, I thought I’d list out what we have used and how we made it work. I realize that theories sound good (or intimidating, as the case may be), but how they work in real life tends to be a bit different!

Before I get into what we use and how we use it, I just want to let you all know that I did not receive a classical education myself. In fact, the ultra-strict high school I attended did not have a single “secular” book on the booklist—ever (although I’ve heard that that has changed in recent years). Yes, I read a few classics, but they were on my own. I do have a college degree and I did read a few classics while in college, but it was a far cry from the extensive lists described by most classical educationists. Furthermore, I waltzed through 2 years of high school Spanish and can barely say “Hola” now. I took Greek for 2 semesters in college, but again, I can just recognize the alphabet now. No Latin. My parents probably think I’ve never had a logical thought in my brain, and I didn’t know what rhetoric was until I started homeschooling. All this to say that if I can provide my children with a classical education, you can, too! And, lest any of you think that I have it all together and that my children are receiving a textbook classical education, I don’t and they’re not.

Okay, here’s my elementary list: For preschool, kindergarten, and 1^st grade I did not do anything classical. We used a phonics program I picked up at a yard sale and different math workbooks with manipulatives (my faves: Cuisenaire rods and linking cubes with their respective workbooks). We also did Five in a Row with the Bible supplement, which I highly recommend. For 2^nd through 6^th grades, we used the Veritas Press Bible and history cards, VP literature guides, Shurley Grammar (love, love, love!), Saxon Math (through 4^th grade) then Math-U-See, A Reason for Handwriting, Building Spelling Skills (from Christian Liberty Press—these 2 resources are cheap!), Apologia Elementary Science (most years), and 1 year of Considering God’s Creation (from Eagle’s Wings).

Using Veritas Press history and Bible for 5 consecutive years gave us a solid foundation in both subjects, as well as the continuity espoused by classical educators. See my list of links below for other classical curricula that will produce similar results.

Did you notice that I didn’t list the biggie, Latin? Here’s my true confession: we have used 4 different Latin curricula! Just fyi, I would NOT advise doing it that way. We started off in 3^rd grade, which is the age recommended by many educators, using Latina Christiana by Memoria Press. After several years (or maybe for my 2^nd child, I can’t remember), we switched to the Latin Primer series by Canon Press. I think we liked it better as it was a little easier to understand and work through. Last year, I was sent First Form Latin, also by Memoria Press, to review. We’re using it this year and I really like it. Their plan is to add several more years to the curriculum to make it usable throughout the elementary years. First Form Latin had the best teacher’s manual, but all of these curricula were designed for moms without previous Latin experience. They live up to their promises as long as you spend time every week reviewing the concepts and vocabulary along with your children. For middle school, my oldest daughter and I worked through Learn to Read Latin, a college level textbook from Yale University Press. I would only recommend that if you are willing to put in many hours yourself working through it.

How did we make Latin work? Teacher’s manuals and listening CDs! What ages/grade levels did we do it? We started in 3^rd grade and my eldest finished at the end of 9^th grade. She has moved onto French for her modern language high school credit (I also gave her Latin credits, but that’s another subject). My youngest has begged to be allowed to take Spanish next year (when she will be in 7^th grade). I’ve decided to let her, but she’ll be taking Spanish all through high school as well to make sure she has enough credits on her transcript. I’m undecided about having her work through a Latin roots course as well to boost her vocabulary. Personally, I would recommend only learning 1 language at a time, but if you feel strongly that you’d like to try 2, go for it and see how it works.

For middle school logic and rhetoric, check out curricula written by and recommended by Veritas Press, Memoria Press, and Logos Press. Yep, we’re making those work, too. Again, we’ve used DVD lessons and teacher’s manuals. Plus, I’ve had to be a student myself, which isn’t such a bad thing (except when I trying to understand molecular chemistry at 1 a.m. because that’s the only time I have to read it!).

We moved onto Veritas Press’s Omnibus curriculum in middle school (for my oldest, it will be high school for my youngest, although they now have 6 years’ worth of curricula). It’s 1 textbook that integrates history, theology, and literature using the great books of western civilization. It’s intense, but well worth the time. You’ll learn how to have Socratic dialogues with your children and figure out what they really think on a wide range of topics. We like Sonlight, too, although they are not strictly classical.

How do we make memory recitations not boring? Good question! Veritas Press Bible and History and Shurley English all have CDs with memory songs and/or chants. Some of the Latin curricula do as well. When my kids were younger, they enjoyed listening to the CDs in their rooms and dancing around and singing/chanting along. Sadly, I’ve yet to discover how to get a 6^th grader to enjoy them! You could play the CDs while your kids color fun pictures; have them make up their own choreography; have a contest to see who can make up the most creative chant, or whatever. They could even recite Latin forms or grammar jingles while doing jump rope (instead of Miss Mary Mack). You could give small prizes to your children when they memorize certain things as an incentive. The thing is that drill is very important to memorization. Young children love to chant stuff over and over again, that’s what makes drills at this age generally successful.

For adding in all the “extras” that make up a well-rounded education, such as classical music and opera appreciation, fine art appreciation, elocution, nature stories, character-building stories, and more, I highly recommend The Tutor, by Codex Publishing. (Disclaimer, I am part owner of this company.) All of the resources, including the fine art prints and music CDs, are incorporated in each volume.

The best all-inclusive book for helping you to figure out how to educate your children classically is The Well-Trained Mind, by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer. Classical education is less about the actual curricula used and more about the methods employed. Below is a partial list of classical education Web sites to peruse. An Internet search will produce many more results, and I’m sure I’ve missed some other sites that I’ve found helpful over the years. These should get you started, though.

Veritas Press

The Well-Trained Mind (including the Story of the World series)

Memoria Press

Trivium Pursuit

Canon Press

Codex Publishing

Logos Press

Q4U: Do you use a classical curriculum that I didn’t list? Do you have another favorite classical education Web site that I missed? Please share! I know I've missed some good stuff. Also, feel free to ask more questions. After all, that makes it easy for me to think of blog topics and I love helping others.

Turtles!

What do you think of when you think of spring? Warmer, longer days? Flowers blooming? Easter? Green grass? Eggs hatching? I think of all of those things (plus allergies!), but I thought I’d highlight turtles in this newsletter.



Turtles are officially reptiles, characterized by a shell that protects it. They lay eggs on land, but many species live near water. Here are some links so you can learn more about turtles.

General information: Wikipedia

Gulf of Maine Aquarium, All About Turtles

Turtle Care

All Turtles: Your Turtle Web Community

Sea Turtle Info from SeaWorld

The Great Turtle Race from National Geographic

Turtle Puddle, Answers to Kids’ Questions (Warning: This site has a link to information about evolution.)

Pictures of Turtles

More Pictures from National Geographic

Supplement your study of turtles with a nature walk. See who can be the first to spot a turtle, its nest, or eggs. Have your children draw pictures of the turtles you see on your walk. Enjoy your nature studies!