“Moooooooooom! Can I have that?! But I neeeeeed one! Everyone else has one!”

That’s a pretty familiar sound, isn’t it? It’s not just my kids is it? It can be hard to know when to say yes and when to say no. We want to teach our children how to manage money, but sometimes it’s hard to keep track of allowances, making sure the kids are spending their money wisely, and learning how to save.

There is help! I’ve found this great virtual banking program called FamZoo. It’s a family-friendly and most importantly, kid-friendly. I like to use it to manage my children’s allowances. My favorite feature is that I can customize the allowance “type” to each child. I can set up my 14-year old’s account to split his allowance into spendable money, money that needs to go into savings, and charitable donations. At the same time, my 2-year old can have her own account where I would track birthday checks, quarters she finds under the couch, etc.

The money is all virtual. You keep track of what is in your kids’ allowance fund (and they can too – each family member gets their own log-in). There are mobile features so that you can check account balances and/or make adjustments while you’re away from home.

FamZoo.com is a great way teach your children how to manage their money and to give them a hands-on lesson to see where their allowance goes. If you’re still not convinced, go have a look around – they have a one-month free trial – just use coupon code HOLIDAY2010 when you register (expires 12/31/10)!

You can also give  a FamZoo gift subscription and help other parents teach their kids good money habits.

Watch the video below for more information and then head over to FamZoo.com to sign up today!

This post was written by Crystal P., a LessonPathways.com Team Member and teacher.  You can read more of her education-related articles at Crystal’s Thoughts.

*This post was sponsored by FamZoo.com, an affiliate partner of LessonPathways.com.  All proceeds from this post and other affiliate commissions go directly towards the cost of maintaining LessonPathways.com and keeping it free for everyone.  While FamZoo.com has sponsored this post, the opinions and review belong to the author.

This product review is courtesy of Sonita L. of the GA Peach Homeschool Blog.  You can read the original post, as well as her adventures in homeschooling, here.

This is a great book. I got it for $0.99 at book closeouts, but it is now $1.99.

Each set of pages (with the book open) answers one question about the flag or our country’s history. It’s very colorful with lots of photos, different flags, and famous paintings. It’s nice, large print. Easy to read. Easy to understand.

It talks about flags (meaning), parts of flags, history of flags, the colonies being ruled by Great Britain, The Revolutionary War, pas colonial flags, the first stars and stripes, Washington crossing the Delaware, John Paul Jones, Fort McHenry and the Star Spangled Banner, Civil War, different Confederate Flags, The Lincoln assassination, our current flag design, Flag Day, the Pledge of Allegiance, rules for flying the flag and where the flag is flown (like on the moon).

Now it just barely touches on each topic, but it’s a great little introduction and mini history lesson for primary grades. My son (age 6) asked lots of questions and got really into it. He loved that it had so many pictures on each page.

We printed out some flags to color from here. They have several of the past flags mentioned in the book. My son’s favorite was the Confederate Stars and Bars Flag.

LessonPathways Says ….

Thanks for the review Sonita!  This sounds like a great (and inexpensive!) compliment to many of our Pathways including The Declaration of Independence, Betsy Ross, National Symbols, The Pledge of Allegiance & National Songs, and The United States.

Have you recently tried a new product and would like to tell the community what you thought of it?  We’d love to featured your product review on our site.  Simply send us a note at Blog@LessonPathways.com.

Wow!  The response to this giveaway was amazing!  Over 150 entries!  We loved reading your great ideas on how to incorporate art & fun into learning.

We’d like to say “thank you” to Gummy Lump, the sponsor of yesterday’s giveaway.

Gummy Lump offers toys that make  sweet memories…they are dedicated to retailing only the highest quality and most unique toys, building blocks, and puzzles available. Their goal is to bring you the best selection of creative & educational toys for children Ages 0-6.

Visit the Gummy Lump website to see all of their high-quality, award winning toys!

And the Winner Is ….

HappyMomC who said “I try and be more creative by telling a story or playing memory games!”

Congratulations HappyMomC!  Drop us a line at Blog@LessonPathways.com to claim your prize!

How did we pick the winners?

We recorded all of the entries in a document and assigned each one a number.  Using random.org, we generated a number to determine the winner.

Today’s exciting giveaway is sponsored by Gummy Lump, a site known for its high-quality, unique, award-winning toys. The don’t-miss prize is a memory-making Melissa & Doug easel. Generously sized, it features a chalkboard and dry erase board that are perfect for projects large and small–what better way to inspire your little artist? Enter our giveaway to win one for your child or for your preschool classroom! Is your child too old for this? Not teaching little tikes? Enter anyway! This easel will make the perfect gift for another special child on your list!

This Melissa & Doug easel folds up easily for convenient storage, adjusts to three positions to accommodate growing children, and features a colorful paint tray with cup holders. It also has an easy-loading paper roll holder and an extra-large tray for holding erasers, chalk, and clips. The paper-cutting edge at the top of the easel means clean paper cuts for your artist’s work! Four large clips are included.

PAPER ROLL NOT INCLUDED.

Size: 25″ x 25″ x 45″

For Ages: 3 years and up

Want to buy a Melissa & Doug easel now? Gummy Lump is offering a great price!

ON SALE NOW $55.99 Regularly Priced at $69.99.

Contest Details:

There are two fun ways to win this amazing easel:
• Tell us how you incorporate fun with learning in the comment section below this post.
• Tweet this on Twitter: I hope I win this fabulous prize from @GummyLump & @LessonPathways http://bit.ly/bw5i4z

You will receive one entry for each original Tweet or comment (no limit, as long as each Tweet and comment is unique).

Entry will be open from 8:00 a.m. EST through midnight EST today, and the winner will be announced tomorrow. Good luck!

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s giveaway. It was great to hear which science Pathway is your favorite!

We’d also like to send a big “thank you” to Azulio for sponsoring the giveaway.  If you are looking for DVDs, books or audio, visit their website.  I know you will be impressed with their prices!

And the Winner Is …..

Gabby! She said, “Our favorite so far has been Year 1 Getting to know Gravity! So much fun! “

Congratulations Gabby! Drop us a line at Blog@LessonPathways.com to claim your prize!

How did we pick the winners?

We recorded all of the entries in a document and assigned each one a number.  Using random.org, we generated a number to determine the winner.

Because of Azulio’s generous sponsorship, we have another giveaway for you today.

Please read our previous post about Azulio’s fanastically low prices and browse their site.   You’re sure to find the right product to fit your budget.

The prize is Bill Nye The Science Guy DVD “Stuff Happens”

Let s face it, we all have stuff. Whether it s necessary or needless, our random accumulations have environmental and personal consequences. America s favorite Science Guy, Bill Nye, takes a closer look at the ramifications of the products peppering our everyday lives, from the foods we eat to the clothes we wear and even our choice in toothpaste. Nye goes into our bathrooms, attics, basements, garages and backyards to snoop in our stuff and show us the far-reaching effects our actions have on the rest of the planet. With easy-to-follow science, lighthearted demonstrations and expert interviews, Nye helps viewers get a grip on big topics and presents simple solutions to make our everyday lives greener. Find out how your bed harms polar bears and if your backyard grill is affecting gorillas. Yes, all of our stuff is examined – and every piece lives a secret double life.

If science wasn’t fun enough, Bill Nye takes it to a whole new level!

Contest Details:

There are two methods of entry for this contest:

• Take a look at our Science Pathways and leave a comment here on the blog, letting us know your favorite
• Tweet this on Twitter: Enter to win a Bill Nye DVD from @Azulio & @LessonPathways! http://bit.ly/dBspnc

You will be entered once for each method of entry (limit one blog comment and one Tweet per person)

Entry will be open from 8:00am EST today through midnight EST today and the winner will be announced tomorrow morning!

Good Luck!

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s giveaway. We love the Facebook posts!

We’d also like to send a big “thank you” to Azulio for sponsoring the giveaway.  If you are looking for DVDs, books or audio, visit their website.  I know you will be impressed with their prices!

And the Winner Is …..

Angela K., who said, “My kids would love this dvd! They love this kinda stuff!”

Congratulations Angela! Drop us a line at Blog@LessonPathways.com to claim your prize!

How did we pick the winners?

We recorded all of the entries in a document and assigned each one a number.  Using random.org, we generated a number to determine the winner.

Thanks, again, to the generous sponsorship of Azulio, we’re please to announce another giveaway!

If you’re new to Azulio, read our previous blog post about them. I guarantee you will be impressed with their prices!

This contest is for a DVD of The History Channel’s Empires of Industry – Andrew Carnegie

Description: Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel chronicles the rise of the iron and steel industries in the United States and the personal ascent of immigrant Andrew Carnegie, whose steel company would one day make him the richest man in America. The American iron, and later steel, industries were the backbone of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, supplying the material that would enable the growth of railroads, skyscrapers, war machines and a host of other industries. It is the story of the rise of big industry in the United States, in all its glory, and all its shame. While the steel industry would make men such as Andrew Carnegie wealthy beyond imagination, it would also cripple, maim, and kill those who toiled to keep the furnaces blasting and the steel rolling.

Don’t you just LOVE History Channel productions?  They are so much better than the old films I watched in school!

Contest Details:

While the details of this contest are posted here on the blog, the contest will take place on Facebook!

First, go browse around Azulio.com and discover their phenomenal pricing.

There are two methods of entry:

• Post a message on the Azulio Facebook Wall
• Post a message on the LessonPathways Facebook wall

You will be entered once for each method of entry (one comment per wall, per person, please)

The contest runs from 8:00am EST to midnight EST today.  The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Good luck!

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s giveaway. You had a lot of great tips to share!  If you’re looking for advice on homeschooling multiple children, be sure to read the comments on yesterday’s post-there’s a wealth of knowledge!

We’d also like to send a big “thank you” to Azulio for sponsoring the giveaway.  If you are looking for DVDs, books or audio, visit their website.  I know you will be impressed with their prices!

And the Winner Is …..

Jaime Brown!!!!  She shared this tip for homeschooling multiple children: “I have one in high school and one in the 4th grade, so we get creative around our house. I let the older one help out with some of the lessons, and the younger one loves the attention. I have them both do busy work while the other is having “one on one” time, and so far this has worked great.”

Congratulations Jaime!  Drop us a line at Blog@LessonPathways.com to claim your prize!

How did we pick the winners?

We recorded all of the entries in a document and assigned each one a number.  Using random.org, we generated a number to determine the winner.

Yes, that’s right – we’ve had so much fun with our birthday, we’ve decided to extend the celebration!

We are so happy that Azulio has sponsored this giveaway.

If you haven’t heard of Azulio, we’re happy to introduce you!

Azulio.com is an online retailer offering a wide variety of high-quality merchandise at discount prices. We specialize in media and fitness products, however we are constantly adding new types of inventory.  Our mission is to provide online shoppers with the best value on a wide variety of products along with unparalleled customer service.

When they say “discount” – they mean it! Their prices are really unbelievable and they offer free shipping on orders over $50.  (Go check them out – you could wipe out your entire extended Christmas list on a $50 budget there!)

Today’s prize is a DVD of the History Channel’s In Search of History – the Lost City of the Incas

Description: The spectacular Incan city of Machu Picchu, high in the Andes Mountains, was long thought to be legendary. Then in 1911, the intrepid explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon its remains. But while the walls and chambers have been extensively studied in the years since, the purpose of this ancient site remains unclear. Go to the top of the world to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic place. See incredible footage of the earliest expeditions to Machu Picchu, and meet the men and women who have dedicated their lives to unearthing its secrets. Wander through the incredible ruins and feel the eerie presence of the past and the timeless secrets that are locked somewhere within. Was it a pleasure palace, an observatory, a fortress or something else entirely? The answers await just below the clouds in LOST CITY OF THE INCAS.

This prize has a suggested retail value of $24.95 and sells on Amazon for $16.99.  Azulio’s price is an amazingly low $4.99!!!!!  (I told you they meant “discount”!)

LessonPathways is so flexible, it can really be used for a variety of ages, not just K-5.  I could definitely see this DVD as great compliment for older students to many of our Pathways including The Incas, North & South America 600 – 1450 AD, Native People of the South and The Spanish Conquerors.

Homeschooling multiple children can be very time consuming!  I’ve used a unit-study approach for many years because not only have I found it a good fit for my family, but it’s much more efficient to teach the same subject to both of my children at the same time.

How about you?  We’d love to hear your tips for homeschooling multiple grade levels.

Contest Details:

There are two methods of entry for this contest:

• Tell us your best tip for homeschooling multiple grade levels in the comments section below.
• Tweet this on Twitter: Enter to win this History Channel DVD courtesy of @Azulio and @LessonPathways today! http://bit.ly/a8ij0p

You will be entered once for each method of entry (limit one blog comment and one Tweet per person)

Entry will be open from 9:00am EST today through midnight EST today and the winner will be announced tomorrow!

Good Luck!