This month we have had several calls from parents who were not sure of at what level their child should work. At e-Tutor we assign students at three levels, based on the student's age, Primary, Intermediate, Middle School/Junior High and High School. We find that this works better than placing students by grade level. The cross-aging of lessons better meets the differing learning methods of our students.

Traditionally we have had many students who have taken a summer vacation from their studies at e-Tutor. But this summer seems different. While a few are opting for a break, more of our students are forging ahead. In addition, we have had many new subscribers who are finding us. A pleasant discovery has been that many teachers and counselors are recommending e-Tutor for their students.

We met many homeschoolers this month at conferences in Indianapolis and Salt Lake City. Their dedication and thoughtfulness for what they are doing was inspirational. These are not people out for a weekend stroll or for light entertainment. Most had notes of the materials they wanted to look for and were prepared to stock up on educational products for their children. What a difference from other conferences we have been to, where the attendees come by for ideas but little else.

As many times as I have climbed in the car to make my annual drive out West, I have never been bored with the journey. Each time I think I am seeing the same thing, I find it has changed. The light, the shadows, the wildlife and plants are always different. There is so much to to see, so much beauty, so much of interest that it is impossible to see everything in one trip. So, I will continue to rev up the car to take the drive at least once a year. It slows me down and gives me time to recall all that we have to be thankful for.

Summer is here! Take time to enjoy the warmth of the sun this month.
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Have you checked out Knowledge HQ lately? You will find lots of activities and ideas for the summer months. This website highlights the talents and ideas of our staff. Take advantage of the new material that is put up every other month for students, parents and teachers.

A few of the New Lessons at e-Tutor:

DNA- Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Clouds: Formation & Types
Ancient Egypt
Current Electricity
(Middle School/Jr. High)

The Letter F
Baby Animals
Animal Food
Animal Homes
The Alphabet Stands in Order
(Primary)

Aquatic Biomes
(High School)

New lessons are added on a regular basis.

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A book holds a house of gold.

Chinese Proverb

A New Literary Experience

Through eBooks

There is a new literary experience coming your way. Actually, it's been around for a few years. eBooks are electronic books that come in several formats. eBooks can be read with special software, an eBook Reader or through your computer. Some formats require you to purchase software or a devise before viewing the eBook.

Everyone can enjoy the new literary experience! They are not only wonderful for the computer generations, but also for those who haven't used computers that much. Since several books can be stored on a single devise, it is easier to carry reading material on trips, around campus, to the beach or pool and even have a great reading selection in bed (without piles of books on the nightstand).

In the near future, students will have an entire semester worth of textbooks on one reading devise. Needless to say, this is going to reduce a number of trips to the chiropractor. In addition, if large print books are required, most eBook fonts can be changed to whatever is available on your computer. EBook has eliminated heavy, awkward books that may be difficult for a senior or physically impaired person to handle.

eBooks are easy to use. They are downloaded off the Internet onto your computer or eBook reader. You shop as if you were at the library or bookstore. An eBook is normally less expensive than standard print books and there are several free titles available as well.

eBook authors and publishers are primarily the same people that have been in the publishing industry for years. A new children's author Georgia Hedrick, who has written many lessons for e-Tutor, has two published eBooks, Cloud Woman-The Story of Snow and Share Me A Shadow.

The most important thing to remember is that eBooks aren't meant to replace standard paper publishing. They are just a new way to look at an old favorite.

Adapted from an article by Sherri A. Del Soldato, JetKor Publishing, Reno, Nevada.

Read more about Georgia Hedrick and a review of her books at: http://www.ebookmall.com/authors/georgiahedrick/

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is at all comprehensible.

Albert Einstein

Fine Arts for a Fine Education

Summer is a wonderful time to catch up on some of the fine arts activities that are so often skipped during the school year. After all most of the greatest human achievements in the history of the world are in the arts. Think of the Mona Lisa, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the Taj Mahal, Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake.

A civilization is often defined by its arts. Think of the Egyptians and you think of the pyramids. The French boast their left bank artists; the Germans, many fine composers; the Russian, superb corps de ballet. We communicate with one another through the arts; the arts hold a society together.

How does a new generation tap into the vast treasure of artistic expression in the world and it its own society. Certainly, a home environment that strives to enrich the lives of its children helps. Trips to museums, concerts and plays are a good start. Playing different kinds of music, encouraging children to read classics or to notice nuances of architecture also help.

But there is little question that a formal education in the fine arts is necessary as well. In elementary school, students sing songs (music); create watercolors (art); dabble in play acting (drama); and write compositions (literature). By high school, their understanding of those subjects can become more sophisticated as they study the theory and history of art and music.

Another benefit of studying the arts is that they can serve as a doorway to understanding other disciplines. Experimenting with shapes and forms on paper helps a student better understand geometry as well as space, dimension and balance. There is a relationship between reading music...a symbolic, numerical system of notation...and math. Art also teaches students to be more astute observers, a skill that will help them them study science.

Even if your child never becomes a great artist or musician, it is important for him to find a way to express what is in his heart. The arts will give him that opportunity. For children and adolescents, who particularly strive to find their identity and their relationship to the rest of the world, the arts are an important vehicle of self-discovery.

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We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.

Madame Curie

What A Language!

A flock of ships is called a fleet.
A fleet of sheep is called a flock.
A flock of girls is called a bevy.

A bevy of wolves is called a pack.
A pack of thieves is called a gang.
A gang of angels is called a host.

A host of porpoise is called a shoal.
A shoal of fish is called a school.
A school of buffalo is called a herd.

A herd of seals is called a pod.
A pod of whales is called a gam.
A gam of lions is called a pride.

A pride of children is called a troop.
A troop of partridge is called a covey.
A covey of beauties is called a galaxy.

A galaxy of ruffians is called a horde.
A horde of rubbish is called a heap.
A heap of oxen is called a drove.

A drove of blackbirds is called a mob.
A mob of worshippers is called a congregation.
A congregation of theatergoers is called an audience.

An audience of peacocks is called a muster.
A muster of doves is called a flight.
A flight of larks is called an exaltation.

And if there are starlings it's a murmuration.
A murmuration of bees is called a swarm.
A swarm of foxes is called a skulk.

A skulk of pigs is called a stye.
A stye of dogs is called a kennel.
A kennel of cats is a nuisance.

Boston Sun

Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either.

Golda Meir

Welcome Our New Affiliates

Without Limit http://www.withoutlimit.org
An online educational service targeted at middle school to high school age students promoting academic excellence.

Panda's Playhouse http://www.pandasplayhouse.com
An educational and fun site for toddlers, preschoolers and kids to grade 3. Nursery rhymes, book suggestions, teaching tips and virtual cards are part of the site.

Page 4

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

Helen Keller

Smiling....Did You Know....?

There are 18 different kinds of smiles? The most revealing is the smile of enjoyment.
It takes 13 muscles to smile and 50 muscles to frown? So avoid facial wrinkles....smile
Your face is your billboard to your philosophy of life?
Laughter boosts the immune system by decreasing the level of cortisone, an immune suppressor in the body?
Hearty laughter speeds up the heart rate, raises blood pressure, accelerates breathing, and increases oxygen consumption?
Charles Darwin claimed that emotions can be intensified through facial expressions? So smile!
Laughing for 15 seconds adds two days to the life span?
Laughing 100 times a day is equal to a 10-minute session of rowing? So, why sweat when you laugh?

Laughter Works Newsletter, Vol. 2, Spring 1990

Page 5

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Thomas Edison

Great Summer Links!

Kaboom, Anatomy of a Firework: The upcoming Fourth of July weekend in the US gives Americans an excuse to engage in an explosive frenzy - of the friendly fireworks kind. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kaboom/

Summer Reading: Classic Bookshelf presents texts that you can customize by font size and color to suit your tastes. The site offers readers access to a large collection of public domain e-texts. http://www.classicbookshelf.com/library/

Bug Bios: Shameless promotion of insect appreciation. This site aims to help you really see
insects for the miniature marvels they represent and to understand how intertwined our cultures have become with these alien creatures. http://www.insects.org/

Geometry at Play: QuasiTiler creates an HTML generated image that looks a lot like Granny's quilts at first glance, but once you play with the variables, lovely stained glass kaleidoscope patterns with deceptively complex forms emerge. Penrose tilings are well known because of their interesting and sometimes intriguing properties. http://www.geom.umn.edu/apps/quasitiler/start.html

Jamestown: Anyone who's visited the historic site can vouch that Jamestown, Va. is a pretty amazing place. The Jamestown Rediscovery archeological project is making some of that wonder accessible via the Internet.
http://www.apva.org/

So You Think It Is Safe To Eat: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has built a thorough and user-friendly Web site that covers all aspects of food safety. Links are provided to all relevant government publications and the best non-government publications.
http://www.foodsafety.gov/

Enjoy this beautiful Month!

From the Staff at Strategic Studies Corporation