Searching for creative, affordable ways to spread the word about your Christian school? Hunting for ways to advertise, yet stay inside your ever-limited budget? Good news! There are many social media networks available to get the message out, and Twitter and Facebook aren't the only two. Try YouTube! This video sharing website allows users to upload and share videos. There's no need to be a professional videographer to share your video, either! In fact, most YouTube videos are recorded by average people with typical videos cameras and with little to no editing to video clips. Famous for emailed videos, most people think of YouTube as a place to view funny, real-life blooper clips, but this free website offers you an easy, simple way to spread word about your Christian school! In this first in a two-part series, you'll discover the reasons why YouTube is a great place to advertise, followed by ideas and tips on how to upload your own YouTube video....

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"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9).

Every year the daffodils were the first to push their green leaves through winter's cold earth in our flower bed. My daughter and I both looked forward to their annual spring arrival after the long winter. Not only were we blessed as the army of bright yellow blossoms began to form, but we anticipated the joy of sharing their beauty with others. Short on finances, giving away our daffodils was one simple, but welcomed way that our family could bring hope and love to family and friends. Our motivation to keep them fertilized and free of weeds came from the promise of future smiles that we would see from those who would receive a bountiful bouquet.

Using what we have to be a blessing to others is a reoccurring theme found in the Bible. As Christian school educators accustomed to tight budgets, we often find ourselves with a need to be more resourceful. Through making the most of what we have, we are encouraging children in our care to bless others with the resources at hand. My favorite Bible stories to illustrate this lesson came from the widow who fed Elijah bread with the last of her flour and oil (1 Kings 17:12), the poor widow who had only two small coins to give to the church treasury (Luke 21:1-4), and the young boy who gave his two small fish and five loaves of bread to Jesus to feed over five thousand people (John 6:9). Each is a clear example that God can use anything to bless others if we simply give it to Him....

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Part of the beauty of a digital curriculum is its ability to liberate learners and teachers from the traditional "sage on the stage" style of education. Switched-On^® works well because it is flexible, allowing teachers to tweak features for various students. One way to accomplish this is through projects.

You probably have noticed that most units contain at least one project. These are labeled Activity, Experiment, Essay, or Project. Even though complete instructions are given, you are the evaluator who gives projects a grade, so students can complete whatever you require....

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At Bethel Christian Academy, students and educators are sold on Switched-On Online®, and for good reason: performance.

Originally created to help at-risk youth, students struggling in public school, and those who could otherwise not afford an education from a private Christian school, Bethel Christian Academy was established in 2007. Located in a large suburb on the outskirts of Hartford, Connecticut, it effectively educates students, providing not only relevant content and fostering the use of 21st century skills, but by fostering a Christian worldview....

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In the past few weeks, you undoubtedly were exposed to the controversy over textbook revision in the great state of Texas. During the second week of March, the State Board of Education met to review proposed changes to the state social studies curriculum standards. By the end of the week, an 11-4 vote endorsed the recommended changes. The complete document was then posted in a state register for public review and comment for a month. The board will once again meet in May to discuss, debate, and decide on the proposed changes. Educators from across the country are awaiting the verdict from this monumental decision to weigh its effect on their states.

Though the final decision lies in hands of the board members, the process itself starts with the input from educators. Hundreds of teachers create the first set of standards and present them to the board. The board, comprised of publicly elected officials, then appoints six "expert reviewers" to evaluate the documents. After thorough scrutiny, the reviewers present their changes to the board. The board votes on a draft copy to be presented to the public and then makes the conclusive vote....

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In 2003, Calvary Way Ministries took a good look around. The congregation had children with special learning needs that were slipping through the cracks in public school and not given the attention they needed. At the same time, they had plenty of educational expertise right in their own congregation! So they took the leap and started Calvary Way Academy. That first year, they expected an enrollment of about 12 students. Actual enrollment that year was close to 50! There was a great need for such a school in Kilgore, Texas as an alternative to public school. Now, the school serves the whole community, not just the church that started it....

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