Renting Your College Books

Back when I was in college, I think the worst part about going to college was having to fork out outrageous amounts of money for books. The even more frustrating part was that some of those books WERE NEVER USED. When our book list was given to us (of required books for the semester), I always cringed. The thought always crossed my mind "How much is this going to cost me and am I even going to use it??" You see, I paid my own way through college and worked my tail off for every penny. This was why the college textbook issue was such a big deal to me. Too many times I would sit in class with my brand new book and throughout the semester, the professor would refer to the book several times but we were never required to read it, nor would we be tested on the material found in the book. Then, when the new semester would start, you couldn't get a used book because the publisher would change one word in the book and suddenly, it was no longer usable. So, selling my textbooks after I used them was pretty much out of the question. Now, I did sell some of them but didn't get near what I paid for them new.

So, for all of you "newbies" out there who are starting college, or are in the middle of your education, I wanted to tell you about CampusBookRentals. This website caters to the student...no matter what stage of college you are in!

This is a fantastic option when thinking about buying textbooks...how about renting them? Here are some benefits of renting your books through CampusBookRentals:

-Save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-Free shipping both ways
-Can highlight in the textbooks
-Flexible renting periods

I can take so many things on that list and talk for hours about how great these benefits are. I love the idea that with CampusBookRentals you can actually highlight in the books without worrying about being penalized for "damaging" the book. I also love the fact that you get free shipping both ways so all you are paying for is the rental of the book itself.

Here is a brief video of how this cool site works...

One thing that CampusBookRentals does is donate to Operation Smile with each textbook that is rented. Operation Smile is a children's medical charity that helps children's smiles and improves the quality of their lives. I don't know if you have ever seen a child with a cleft palate but honestly, it is one of the saddest things to see...especially when it effects a child.

When I was working, my boss was someone who had been born with a cleft lip and palate but her parents could afford to get her the medical help and attention she needed. Today, she is a beautiful woman who has minimal scarring and a gorgeous smile. Many children don't have the luxury of being able to be treated and that is where Operation Smile comes in. This is a truly wonderful work that CampusBookRentals donates to and one that I would be honored to be a part of...even if it was just a small part.

So, as you can see...renting books is definitely an affordable and fantastic option. I wish I had known about this company when I was in college years ago. It makes me ill thinking about all the money I wasted spent on my textbooks...most of which have either been thrown away or are now collecting dust. I am definitely going to share this information with my sister, who is a college student now.

Have you ever rented college textbooks? If so, I would love to hear your story and about your experience!!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for CampusBookRentals. All opinions and thoughts are my own .

"What Children Need to Learn to Read" Book Review & Giveaway (US & Canada)

Growing up, I was home-schooled from about first grade until graduation. If you were to ask me today what I thought of being home-schooled, I would tell you that I loved every minute of it (well, there were a few moments I didn't enjoy but overall, it was a wonderful experience).  My mother had her hands full but did an amazing job teaching her six children. All of us made it to graduation and most of us have either graduated college or are on the brink of graduation college. We did well and could not have done it without a mom who truly loved us enough to sacrifice her time to teach us.  So, it is no wonder that I plan on homeschooling my children. My oldest child, Hannah, just turned 4 and she is one smart 4 year old. From the time she was able to sit up, she was so inquisitive and loved books, blocks and anything that kept her mind busy. I have really been looking forward to starting school with her.

"What Children Need to Learn to Read" is a book from Learners Lane that is hot off the presses and it is a fantastic resource for parents with young children. This book was written by Michelle Vallene and she is a mom who, with the help of another mom were searching for better ways to help their children learn how to read. Those of you who have tried to help children read know how children NEED motivation and this book teaches you how to do this. Here is a bit more about Michelle...

Michelle Vallene, the President and founder of Learners Lane and the author of “What Children Need to Learn to Read”, is also a busy parent with three children. She currently teaches reading and math at an elementary school in Redmond, WA. She believes strongly in the impact that education, teachers, and parents have on the future. She continues to develop products and services that make the world a better place, one child at a time.

Because Michelle is a teacher, she is more than qualified to author this book...she knows what she is doing! She is probably just like my mom; a ready resource any time I have a question about teaching! :) 

So, for this review I received the "What Children Need to Learn to Read" book and I was very excited to read through and see what Michelle's tips are. Not only do I have a 4 year old, I also have a 2 year old who hates to be left out of anything. When I am teaching Hannah Pre-K, Jacob is usually right next to me looking for things to do too. Even if I just give him a piece of paper and a pen, he is content to be a little scribbler. Jacob is also not talking clearly and I have heard that reading to children can really improve their speech skills. So, we real LOADS of books. 

That is what this book is all about. It teaches you, as a parent, how to effectively create a solid foundation for your child's reading skills. You know where it all starts? When your child is an infant. Michelle's book focuses on children ages birth through the early grades so it is never too early to start teaching reading skills. It is important to not worry about whether they can understand the words...explain the pictures, use voice inflections, and be expressive. 

Another way Michelle teaches parents how to work with their children is to use hands-on projects. Kids do a ton of learning with their hands and touch is very effective when it comes to learning. In "What Children Need to Learn to Read", there are a whole bunch of ideas on how you can teach your child their letters and numbers. My favorite is the one pictured above...using shaving cream. It lets the child use their hands, and allows you to instruct in a way that will hold their attention.

This book also contains a plethora of helpful information including check lists, age-appropriate tips, techniques and activities to keep your little ones busy throughout the day. I find some days I really need extra activities to keep my children occupied and this book would solve a lot of our boredom problems.

"What Children Need to Learn to Read" comes with a music CD that has rhymes  poems and songs for children to sing along with. Honestly, I didn't care for the CD. The music really got on my nerves as the music accompaniment was mainly tom-tom-type drum music. It just wasn't my style and I found it rather boring.

"What Children Need to Learn to Read" is available for purchase from Amazon for $14.95. You can also order it through Learners Lane.

So, in my opinion...I LOVE this book! "What Children Need to Learn to Read" is very well-written and very easy to understand. No matter how young your child is, they can learn the foundational skills needed to read and write and this book will help you teach them how! I find it very practical and also very fun for the children. I am not naturally a creative person so I NEED this book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a free book for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Learners Lane website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.