Home Schooling Materials

Throughout the school year, parents and caregivers everywhere are thinking about and making plans for their children’s education—and there is a lot to think about. Specifically, “what kind of school should my child attend?” With so many options available, from the traditional brick-and-mortar public schools to charter schools to religious schools, students have more educational choices than ever. One option is the increasingly popular and innovative virtual school.

Virtual schools started appearing in the late 1990s and are currently available in several states across the country – including California. According to A National Primer on K-12 Online Learning from the North American Council for Online Learning (April 2007), at the end of 2006, 25 states offered state-led online learning programs, and 18 states were home to 147 virtual charter schools serving over 65,000 students.

Yet, despite the steady growth in interest and enrollment, many people don’t understand how virtual schools work or the numerous benefits they provide – to both students and our education system.

Virtual learning enables school districts to deliver a flexible educational option via the Internet and allows educators to address the specific gifts or challenges of the individual student. Virtual students have notable educational support as they learn from home with parents or caregivers while working with teachers over the Web. Virtual schools typically provide a print-rich curriculum that combines textbooks and hands-on materials along with technology tools.

But what does all that really mean? The benefits of virtual education come in many forms. For the student, “wearing your pajamas to class” may be one of them, but it’s far from the defining characteristic. Above all, students are offered high-quality, highly accountable, individualized learning. Teachers, parents and students work together to plan the educational path that is right for the student. Does the student require additional work in Algebra? Are they interested in learning Chinese? Do they want to focus on one subject for several days? These are the types of questions and options virtual learning affords. With virtual learning, the actual school work and education are the main focus, while the time and place it gets done is secondary.

As a result, virtual schools attract all types of students, resulting in a diverse and unique student body. A typical virtual class may include students who are far ahead of their peers in a traditional setting, as well as those who are behind or require additional assistance in certain areas. Or, students who need a rigorous, yet flexible learning schedule to accommodate a sports or acting career. It also brings together students from different towns. Yet these students are learning together, from each other, and sharing on many levels.

While many parents worry about the social implications of having their children enrolled in a virtual school, many of the schools take this into account and make it easy for the kids to interact with their peers. Some virtual schools provide planned field trips where students can interact with one another in person, and online bulletin boards where kids can talk about the latest Harry Potter movie or meet a new friend with similar interests from another state.

The dedication to your child’s education is also paramount to succeeding in a virtual learning environment. Parents or caregivers directly contribute to and participate in the student’s day-to-day education process while lessons can be delivered when and where it works best for both. For example, Carissa Lim is currently enrolled in a virtual school program and is taught by her mother, Nancy Lim. Carissa is also a gymnast who spends a great deal of time practicing and competing in her sport – a traditional school schedule and environment was challenging and did not support her lifestyle The virtual learning model offers families like the Lims an alternative to public school education with a flexible schedule while still providing an enriched and challenging curriculum.

“My daughter needs an outlet for her athletic passion and personality and she just wasn’t happy in a traditional public school,” said Nancy Lim, a virtual school parent. “Virtual learning allows us to advance in subjects she is interested in and allows her to pursue gymnastics at the same time – I couldn’t ask for a better arrangement.”

Parents of students in virtual schools consistently give high remarks on their children’s education. For families who find that traditional schools are not providing the individualized attention they want, virtual schools continue to provide a highly effective and successful alternative.

The other night I was watching The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch and he had on some fascinating guests- teenage millionaires. Their stories were truly inspiring. What struck me most was that I noticed some common themes that were easy to understand that everyone can use to achieve more success with ebooks or any business. And, if an 8 year old can implement so can you!

But, before I relay their stories I want to point out that all of them were boys and I think that really says something about the way boys and girls are socialized in this country. for more detials:-www.create-own-ebook.com.I think it’s important to figure out why boys are getting it and girls aren’t and start finding a way to include the girls too!

But here are the 5 lessons:

Number 1. They were highly motivated. They had some deep desire that drove them to pursue making money. In one case the boy’s family was very poor and the mother was very ill. He had very few resources or role models but it didn’t stop him from becoming a millionaire! He just knew that he had to help his mother.

In another case, the boy started his first business at the ripe old age of 8! And by high school he was making $50,000 a year. What motivated him was the realization that by creating an income for himself he would be independent even though he was just a kid. His conviction crystallized when he decided that he wanted to come home from the boarding school that he had been sent to. for visit detials:-www.create-own-ebook.com.When he told his dad that he had had enough and wanted to come home, his dad said “if you pay me back the tuition you can come home”. (The tuition was $25,000) so his son paid him the tuition and went home! He understood the freedom that making money would give him.

In a third case, the boy, Tony Hawk, was a passionate skateboarder who turned his passion into a multi-million dollar business with endorsement deals and even a theme park ride! He saw opportunity where others didn’t and he hung in there even during the leaner years. But ultimately, his vision and his passion carried him to millions.

Number 2. They started small but they took action. All of the boys started small and grew their fortunes. But, they didn’t get any money from their parents. They were resourceful and found ways to turn their dreams into reality on their own. How many times have you heard people say “if I only had the money I would do X”? They didn’t have ANY money and they did it anyway!

In one case, the boy seized on the popularity of Beanie Babies and got his sister to sell him hers for $100. He then turned around and sold them for $1000 on eBay! Then he became a distributor for the company by contacting them and ASKING for what he wanted-more Beanie Babies to sell. That took chutzpah! He was under-aged and normally a company would never give a child a distributorship but because his parents had helped him get a business credit card-and because they didn’t ask him his age, he was given the distributorship!

The boy who came from a poor family who’s mother was ill -get this- PAINTED ROCKS and sold them! I can’t even fathom to this day who would want to buy them, but that’s how he started!

And in the third case, skate-boarding legend, Tony Hawks was just doing what he loved and over time it morphed from a hobby to a multi-million dollar business.

Number 3. They had a “can do” attitude. It didn’t occur to them that they couldn’t accomplish what they set out to do! They just did it and expected it to work out. That doesn’t mean it was always easy or that they didn’t come up against real challenges, but they were able to stick to it and overcome adversity.

Number 4. They looked for opportunities to make money. What you focus on expands. So if you want more money think about ways that you can create more cash flow. When you ask the universe “how can I make more money?” on a regular basis, answers will come to you. It just takes learning to look at things in a new way. I know this from experience.

Number 5. They thought outside the box. They not only looked for opportunities but they saw them in places that other people didn’t see and seized them.

So to recap, if you want to be a millionaire, you have to think like one so find a big enough why, start small but take action, have a “can do” attitude, look for opportunities to make money, and think outside the box.

In the modern age of two- income households, it is sometimes difficult to keep up with all the demands being made on your time. One of the most important things as a parent that you should find time for is involvement in your child’s school Studies have shown that children whose parents are involved do better academically that those whose parents are not. This involvement is easy to do and does not require a large amount of time.

One of the easiest ways to stay involved with your child’s school is to attend all parent and teacher conferences. This enables you to establish open communication with the instructor and enables her to make you aware of any difficulties that your child may be having. Most of these conferences last about fifteen minutes and are scheduled either during the day or in the evening to accommodate the different work schedules that the parent may have. If you are unable to attend the regularly scheduled conferences, most schools will accommodate you and will schedule your meeting with the teacher on another day or at another time.

If a face-to-face meeting not possible, you can also have a meeting over the telephone or via e-mail. Many teachers today include the school phone numbers in the papers that they send home during the first few weeks of school. While some may ask that you a call them at the school during regular school hours, many instructors include their personal e-mail addresses and home telephone numbers and encourage you to call at any time. It is as important to the teacher as it is to you to keep open and constant communication, especially if a child has academic or behavioral problems.

Attending school activities is also an important way to stay involved with your child’s school. Most of these are held in the evenings or on weekends and can include such things as a concert or a family fun night. By accompanying your child to these activities or attending a concert in which your child is performing is a good way to demonstrate to him that you are supportive of him and his school.

For parents who work the afternoon or evening shift, it may not be possible to attend these functions. Another option for you would be to volunteer in your child’s classroom for a day. With the larger size of your child’s classes, most teachers welcome any extra help they can get during regular school hours to complete small tasks in the classroom, such as preparing materials for an art project or copying handouts that they may need later in the day. Many teachers will send home a calendar at the beginning of each month so that you can mark the days and the times that you are available to volunteer. You may not need to volunteer all day. Just a few hours will be much appreciated. Younger children especially will be thrilled that you are spending time with them in their classroom.

Communication between you and your child’s teacher whether it is physically or over the telephone is an important step to ensuring your child’s academic success. Stay involved and it will pay off in the end.

It is that time of year again — you know, the time of year when you are running around buying school supplies, looking for discount school supply stores, trying to get it all together… While many parents look forward to this time of year for obvious reasons, they also know the trouble they will have to go to in order to be properly prepared. Getting back on track with school supplies and schedules is a job in and of itself.

During the summer, kids get used to staying up later and getting up when it suits them. When the school season rolls around, it can be difficult to get used to getting up in the morning. It is wise to get a start on going to bed and getting up early. If you start a week or two ahead of time, the transition will be much easier. Start by getting your children out of bed a couple of hours earlier one day. The first day, they will be sleep deprived, but it will be easier for them to get to bed earlier that night. Every day or two set their alarms earlier until they are getting up at the regular time for getting ready for school.

Discount School Supplies

In order to find the best deals on school supplies, you will need to start early. Get a list of needed classroom supplies from teachers if you can. This way, you won’t waste valuable time and money buying unnecessary supplies or end up scrambling to get needed items after school has already begun. You can find discount school supplies in dollar stores and at school supply store sales. Look online for great deals, too. Classroom supplies may include specific books for reading or specific types of binders and folders. Many of these things can be found at online school supply stores for less money than you might think. Backpacks, lunch boxes and planners are easily found online for discount prices. Take advantage of low-cost shipping and you have an edge over time as well as expenses.

Discount school supplies are not the only deals you can find early. Your children will need clothes and shoes as well. Unless your children have stopped growing, it is likely you will have to purchase a whole new wardrobe for them. Being prepared means budgeting for school clothes as much as for classroom supplies. For the best deals on clothing, check warehouse outlets and consignment shops. Shopping online can allow you to comparison shop without the hassle of driving from store to store.

Don’t wait until the bell has rung before asking the important questions about bus scheduling and extra-curricular activities. If you call and make an appointment to meet with teachers or office people before school starts, you may even be able to get all the paperwork out of the way. We all feel overwhelmed when our children bring home medical permissions and information slips, contact questionnaires and various other papers for us to sign. Those who have more than one child can find themselves sitting at the table all evening, wading through the paperwork. If you get this done early, you won’t have to think about it on their first day of school. That clears more time for you to spend listening to them recount their experience on the first day of school.

School supplies can include necessary organization for the home, too. A great idea is to put up a wall calendar that contains all appointments and activities as well as project due dates. Carefully marking these dates makes it easier when it comes to making appointments. This way, you aren’t rushing through the house, phone in hand, trying to find the paper that tells what time the class play (basketball practice, choir…) starts in order to make an appointment for early enough in the day to make it to the school on time.

Being prepared with school supplies and scheduling will go a long way towards making the transition from vacation to school smooth and easy.

College life can be tense and a bit stressful at times. Students who excel in college are self-disciplined and know how to manage their time. The constant managing of time and priorities does not suddenly stop when your vacation starts, it’s an ongoing process.

Here are 10 ways that you can maximize your time when you are off from school:

1. Review what you have learned

Although your classes may all be completed for the quarter (or the semester), it’s not a bad idea to review what you’ve just learned over the course of many weeks. Reread your notes, papers, tests and skim through the books you’ve just read. Finalize the imprinting of fresh information in your mind so that you can retain what you’ve learned over the long term.

2. Read ahead

If you already know what courses you will be taking in the upcoming quarter, start reading ahead. If you are going to have some time to kill, might as well get a jump start on your upcoming classes. Contact your professors and collect copies of syllabi. Purchase your materials and begin reviewing them before your class begins.

3. Go back to your roots and reconnect with family and friends

Go home. Say hi to the family and reconnect with old friends. College isn’t about severing all of your previous ties. Keep up your network and pay the people you love a visit.

4. Stick around and explore the town

Forget about going home. Stick around and explore your college town. Find new places to buy groceries and new bars to frequent. Take a mini-road trip to some nearby destination that you’ve always wanted to see. Take your time off of school as an opportunity to experience your surroundings.

5. Travel

Drive cross-country or travel abroad. See the world, or a tiny piece of it. Take your new outlook on life and expose yourself to different peoples and places. Visit a destination or place of interest that you have just studied. Travel with a partner, in a group, or go venturing off on your own.

6. Get an internship

Find an internship in the field that you are studying. Supplement your classroom work with real life on-the-job training. This way when you graduate, you will already have solid academic and professional experience.

7. Lay the groundwork for future employment.

Explore your career interests. Market yourself and your abilities. Try to find an organization that you want to target for employment once you’ve graduated. Find out what the minimum professional and educational requirements are for the specific job that you are interested in. Take measures to fulfill those requirements before you graduate.

8. Explore the course catalog and schedule of classes

Get lost in the pages of your course catalog. Map out different schedule scenarios. Find out if that class you really want to take is offered in alternate academic years, and then plan your schedule accordingly. Pick a focus in your major and consider all the courses that you’d like to take. You’ll be surprised how quickly your time in school will fly by, so you need to construct a solid schedule.

9. Apply for scholarships

Find some more money. Buy a book or do Internet research. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Each application may seem like a bit of a hassle, but the results could seriously alleviate any financial burdens you may have accrued.

10. Just relax and take a break

Don’t do a damn thing! You’ve spent months cramming, pulling off all-nighters, and wowing you professors with your polished intellectual abilities. You’ve earned a break, so enjoy it, and come back to school refreshed and ready for anything.

If you utilize your vacations properly, you will be a better student. Just remember not to stress out too much. Whether you are in school or not, you are in control of your life, so make the most of it.

In today’s Internet savvy society, sophisticated school websites are increasingly becoming the norm. To stand out from the masses, a school website should have compelling content and visual appeal, be engaging and informative, and reflect the spirit and activities at the school. Creating an interactive online presence that appeals to parents, students, faculty, and the community encourages involvement, strengthens community and fosters loyalty. With the help of a school administration software program that includes a website content management feature, your school can achieve a secure, customized and user-friendly website. Below are a few tips to make your website compelling and effective:

1. Format: Make sure your website font sizes and colors are easy to read. The style should be consistent throughout the entire website and look similar to standard school documents for consistency and brand recognition.

2. Homework Board: Allow teachers to post homework assignments and class updates online. This offers parents a glimpse into their students’ coursework, while offering students access to assignments from missed classes.

3. School Supply List: Post a list of items that students should have access to, whether in their backpacks, lockers, or at home. Leave the list posted all year long as a reference and update it as needed.

4. Student Project Showcase: Show off your talented students by displaying impressive work such as a video report or a touching poem. This shows parents and the community the caliber of students at your school and offers students an added incentive of public recognition.

5. Parent Resources: Equip parents with the latest education and parenting-related materials, from a class syllabus and student/parent handbook to recommended reading to a community directory. By communicating directly to parents and families, you will set the benchmark for bringing education from the classroom into the home.

6. Master Calendar: Include a master calendar with school events that include sports games, back to school night, guest speakers, report card release dates, and more. Don’t forget to update the calendar regularly to drive parents and students back to your website for the latest news and information.

7. Contact Information: Access to a list of teacher, administration and faculty email addresses is essential for open parent communication and relationship-building. The more engaged parents are, the more connected students will likely feel to their school and community.

8. Alumni Section: Whether you are an elementary, middle or high school, you should include an alumni section to show the success of graduates who gained a valuable education from your school. This section can also serve as a forum for alumni to connect and show their support for school activities and fundraisers.

9. Pictures: Nothing makes a website more personal than photographs, videos and podcasts of students and teachers who are enjoying their experiences at school. Parents and students alike will be eager to check back to your website frequently to view photos and recordings of classmates and teachers.

10. Online Registration: Drive participation and support of school activities by offering parents, students and community members convenient online access to register for school plays, dances, events and other programs. With school registration software, this feature can easily be added to your site with secure registration and payment processing.

11. Online Store: Offer parents and students an opportunity to shop online for everything from school t-shirts and supplies to event tickets and recommended books for sale.

12. Fundraising Tools: Provide an online donation option for parents, community members and alumni to donate to school fundraisers while they’re on your site reviewing information, registering for an event or shopping at your online school store.

What’s important to remember when creating your school’s website is to explore school software systems that allow you to incorporate creative, interactive tools that drive parents and students to your site frequently, improve operational efficiencies, and foster community involvement and student, parent and teacher interaction.

If you are looking for somewhere nice and warm to play golf in the winter, Arizona could be the place for you. Arizona golf schools provide excellent facilities for you to combine a short break from home and work with some much needed winter tuition. Not only do you get some relaxation to allow you recover from the holiday period, but you also keep your golf game in trim, all ready for the start of the new season.

You Get More Than Desert Courses in Arizona

It has been said that Arizona is fine if you like desert courses, though I am not sure what that term defines. Sure, Arizona is desert country, and the courses are surrounded by desert, but not all are target golf courses with small islands of greenery surrounded by sand. The TPC at Scottsdale is a beautiful course with lovely fairways, and nothing like what comes into mind when you think of a ‘desert course’.

In any case what’s wrong with a desert course? We no longer live in the era of flat featureless courses, and each one in Arizona has its own character. There are golf schools aplenty, and in the summer you can get some fantastic deals. It’s hot in summer and you don’t have to search hard to get some great prices for golf tuition. The best known ones are all here, and you can enjoy short mini-courses if you need only a day or two away during the winter.

Summer Prices are Best in Arizona

Arizona is very popular in the winter, and the golf schools in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and all the smaller resorts are extremely busy. The best deals are in the summer when most people travel away from desert country, though winter is when your own golf schools are probably closed. It’s a dilemma, and all you can do is decide how much you are prepared to spend and find out what you can get for your money. Book well in advance, that’s the secret and you can sometimes get a better if deal if you book a year or so in advance.

If you are traveling with your family you should check out the resort packages available. In summer or winter should be able to get your vacation cheaper if your golf tuition is tied in with accommodation for you and your family. Discounts are often available for families, and if you can get together a group of like-minded buddies, group discounts can also be negotiated.

Arizona is home to some excellent golf schools, and is an ideal base for some of the most beautiful scenery and most famous tourist attractions in the world. If you are looking for a great vacation where you can also improve your golf, arizona golf schools can provide you with what you want.

It is very important that you complete your high school education and get your diploma. The importance of having a high school diploma is immense. It enhances your chances of getting better paid jobs. There are various methods of completing your high school education; you can either attend traditional high school, or enroll for an online high school diploma course. Either way you will have your high school diploma or a GED in hand.

There are a number of jobs available to you once you complete your high school education. Apart from a high school diploma, the main requirements for these jobs are work experience and on-the-job training. According to the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics, the following 10 fields offer the fastest growth in job opportunities, which will continue to grow through to the year 2014.

. Home Health Attendant- Home health attendants provide services and assistance to the elderly and those suffering from disabilities like blindness or paralysis, which force them to live at home. Employment opportunities for home health attendants are expected to increase by 56% by the year 2014. The average wage of a home health attendant was more than $10 per hour in the year 2004.

. Medical Assistant- The duties that medical assistants carry out are administrative in nature in the offices of physicians. If individual states permit it, the can also perform some types of clinical duties. The job opportunities in this field are projected to increase by 52% between 2004 and 2014. The average hourly wage was $12 in the year 2004.

. Dental Assistant- The duties of dental assistants include laboratory work, patient care, and administrative care. It is expected that the growth prospects of employment opportunities for dental assistants will increase by 43% by 2014, with the average wage being $13.62 per hour currently.

. Personal and Home Care Attendants- These attendants basically provide routine care and housekeeping services to the ailing and elderly who are confined to their homes. They got an average wage of $8.12 in the year 2004, and their employment rate is expected to grow by 41% by the year 2014.

. Assistant to Physical Therapists- The assistants to physical therapists help in keeping the treatment area clean and prepare for each patients therapy session. They also assist in transporting patients to or from the areas where they get their treatment. Employment in this field is expected to increase by 34% by the year 2014, and the average hourly wage in the year 2004 was $10.28.

. Hazardous Material Remover- This is a dangerous job and hence pays the most, and therefore is at the top of the list as far as wages are concerned. The average hourly wage in the year 2004 was $16.02. The employment opportunities for this job are expected to increase by 31% by the year 2014.

. Social Service Assistant- A social service worker is a broad term that includes jobs like human service workers, social work assistants, mental heath assistants, community support workers, gerontology helpers, counselors in life skills, and so on. A social service assistant earned $11.89 per hour in the year 2004, and the employment opportunities are expected to increase by 30% by the year 2014.

. Residential Advisor- They coordinate the activities of students living in fraternity houses or campuses. Their average wage in the year 2004 was $10.47 per hour, and their employment opportunities are expected to increase by 29% by the year 2014

. Pharmacy Technician- They assist pharmacists by counting tablets, labeling medicine bottles, and carry out other routine duties. Their wages per hour in the year 2004 was $11.37, and there is an expected growth of employment by 29% by 2014.

. Ambulance Driver and Attendant- They are not to be confused with Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). These are the people who drive the ambulances and help in transporting patients to the hospital. They were paid an average wage of $9.31 per hour in the year 2004, and their employment is projected to increase by 29% by the year 2014.

The rise in these jobs is picking up at a fast pace, and they are in great demand. It is essential to complete your basic high school education or GED to be eligible for these jobs.

Landmark Status is a wonderfully funny book. Alan Rolnick uses Miami as the backdrop, and real estate as the weapon, to take the reader on a madcap journey that I can guarantee you will enjoy. When I put the put the book down and wrote the review, I just knew I wanted to talk to this guy. Anyone that can create the outlandish characters and amazingly funny scenes that I encountered in Landmark Status, has to be a pretty interesting person to chat with. Alan agreed to an interview.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Newburgh, New York, a little city on the Hudson River. It was a beautiful place, old, proud and mostly unaware it had been rendered obsolete, cut loose from history’s moorings and set adrift by changing times. As a kid, I played in an abandoned brewery, took bus trips to Yankee Stadium and collected autographs from Hector Lopez and Moose Skowron (we never could get close enough to Mickey and Yogi). One time, a big kid sat on my hand for the entire bus ride, leaving corduroy-striped welts that lasted a week, but it really wasn’t his fault I couldn’t throw strikes.

In my teens, Beatlemania struck. My brother Paul and I decided to be rock stars, saving for guitars with car wash money, playing battles of the bands on the firemen’s picnic circuit. Paul was an outstanding guitarist and singer, destined to become an award-winning producer in New York. I wasn’t, but joined him there after graduating from Johns Hopkins with a major in Frisbee. Together, we made brilliant recordings that few heard, earned fifty bucks opening for Buffy St. Marie at Philharmonic Hall, and fortuitously took the equipment home instead of leaving it for next weekend’s gig at the Mercer Arts Center (which collapsed later that night).

Taking up journalism to put myself through my career, I became the guy at the New York Times who used computers to rank college and pro football teams. In 1983, the human pollsters awarded the Miami Hurricanes the National Championship, but my computer preferred Auburn. I’d been to Miami, fallen in love with the place, and decided it was time to go to law school (as my family had urged since I was six, usually with comments like, “he talks so much, he’s gonna be a lawyer”). The idea of living where balmy breezes caress you on the way out the door in December was particularly appealing.

Atoning for my computer’s mistake, I learned torts in locked classrooms and pulled all-nighters on the Law Review, winning induction into the Society of Wig and Robe (which, fortunately, required wearing neither). After twenty years of schooling, they put me on the day shift, working at one of Miami’s top legal sweatshops, representing robber barons in complex cases in federal court. Years later, I switched sides and began representing Davids against Goliaths in class actions.

Eventually, I decided it was time to throw a rope around the places I’d met and the people I’d been, and set out to write the kind of story I liked to read.

What is it with attorneys, are you all closet authors? In the past year I have read at least a dozen books by people in the profession, oh and they have all been very good. I have come to the conclusion that every lawyer must have a book in them.

Jeez, are there that many? Seriously, though, lawyers have to write to eat, and they’re trained to turn “fact patterns” into stories. Many of those stories are stranger than fiction, and they do make you yearn to come up with your own. Storytelling is crucial in litigation, where winning requires framing compelling themes, keeping witnesses in character, and distilling every legal argument to the pithiest possible paragraph. One classmate used to say he aimed for hearing the imagined words, “so, f___ you,” after every sentence of written argument. The unifying experience of all law students is fatigue, so I’m not surprised he’s forgotten he said it.

Where did the idea for Landmark Status come from?

Miami’s a frontier town, where outsiders easily become insiders, bellying up to the bar, tipping back a mojito and quickly learning there’s no secret handshake. I’d never been in such a place, and my legal training had dropped me off in its inner sanctum. There, I worked and tangled with kaleidoscopically colorful movers and shakers who were busy with Miami’s principal business, buying and selling the same dirt over and over again. I also got involved in litigating some of Miami’s more infamous Ponzi schemes. Having become a fan of Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry, I wanted to do my part to honor this unique, subtropical nuthouse. It just had to involve a mad scramble for a piece of property, set against a backdrop of investment fraud. And it had to have a lawyer in the middle, doing real lawyering, citing real cases.

How long did it take you to bring this project to fruition?

Five years. It just seems longer.

I was very impressed with Landmark Status, I love the dark humor. Are you happy with the way it turned out?

First of all, thank you for the kind words. It’s always hard to know if the material is working! And yes, I’m very happy with the way the book turned out. Dark humor seems to grow wild here, a place so bright and beautiful it takes your breath away, even when random catastrophe is poised to strike, well, randomly. Miami is a city built by people on the run, from the cold, from persecution or personal dead ends, for whom making it to (and in) this magic city tends to foster a sort of self-absorbed sunstroke. It’s a narcissistic sense of safety and triumph you can feel merely by turning your face to the sun, until reality’s sudden impact shatters your daydream. This happens a lot in Landmark Status, starting with the wrecking ball in the first scene.

As the characters careen around Miami, where most folks are from somewhere else and ethnic politics dominates, they also collide with more serious questions about the American Creed and what’s happened to it in our fractious times. Everyone’s immigrant story gets told, but Delia, and to a lesser extent, Benjy and Raj, are the only ones thinking about what it all means. I really didn’t set out to explore Miami’s own origin story, how it came to be, who built it, and who came here when or why. But, as it unfolded, the story became a little more like “Hawaii” and a little less like “Hawaii Five-O” (tire-squealing car chase through Opa-locka notwithstanding). Looking back, I think giving the historical perspective makes it a richer story. It also means I don’t have to do it again.

Most authors style their characters after real people, so how much Benjy comes from Alan?

Benjy’s a lot more mellow than I am, for one thing. I’d like to think we share the almost unspoken inner sense of right and wrong that propels him, even though he makes light of it. I’m proud of him for that, because swimming against the tide he’s in isn’t easy. He also tends to withhold judgment a lot longer than I would, and suffers fools much more gladly than I do. He hates to lose, though, and will do what’s necessary to win, and we’re very alike in that respect. I enjoy his easygoing tolerance of the shenanigans of the connivers all around him. I have no idea where he got that. And that trust fund thing? Completely made up. All donations will be gratefully accepted.

Are we going to see more Benjy adventures in your next book?

Benjy will definitely be back. Once I figure out how to do this whole web publishing thing, clues to his whereabouts will be provided at my website (Alan Rolnick).

I remarked in my review that Landmark Status would transition nicely onto the silver screen, what are your thoughts?

It’s great to hear you suggest that. From the beginning, I’ve thought Landmark Status would make a smashing film (with apologies to the Spanish Inquisition sketch). I see pictures when I set a scene, and I’m looking forward to rendering them in pixels as well as words. Of course, destroying all those cars costs money, so we won’t be doing this one on a shoestring. Somewhere on my desk, there’s a legal pad devoted to casting choices and music cues. If it were a few years ago, I’d be chasing Dustin Hoffman to play Benjy, but I hope he’ll be interested in playing Benjy’s father Bernard, the legendary zoning lawyer and dealmaker.

I understand that you are currently working on a film project, can you tell us a little about that?

I’m Executive Producer of the film “Canvas,” which is in theaters now and will be out on DVD early next year. Produced by Sharon Lane (a force of nature, to whom I’m privileged to be married), it stars Joe Pantoliano, Marcia Gay Harden and Devon Gearhart. The film has won a number of festival awards, as well as praise for its realistic portrayal of a family struggling to cope with mental illness. Sharon fought for years to overcome studio apathy toward this indie film and first-time Director Joe Greco. We ultimately raised the money and shot it ourselves in South Florida during the legendary hurricane season of 2005, which almost blew us all out to sea. Sharon has another drama in development that also plays to her expertise in managing and working with young actors. I’m onboard for business and legal affairs, and just might Exec Produce this one, too. I’m angling for a comedy after that.

You obviously are a multi faceted person, lawyer, movie maker, and now author. What do you do with all your ’spare’ time?

I honestly don’t have much spare time. I’m usually fighting to carve some out to keep up with our overbooked son, Max, who’s busy with school, piano lessons, soccer and baseball.

Alan, I want to thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me, and once again congratulations on creating a wonderful book, I hope that I see it on the NYT best seller list in the very near future.

Thanks, Simon. It was a pleasure.

The two most important aspects for any business are generating new customers and getting repeat customers to come back and do business with you again and again. Home-based businesses are at a disadvantage when trying to get the word out to the public about their goods and services. Fortune 500 companies have the advantage of big dollar budgets to smear television and the internet with their ads. You have to use your limited resources. There are ways that you can make a huge impact, generate new business and make your presence felt on the internet. Article Submission

Article submission sites are all over the internet. Ezine publishers use them to find content to publish in their newsletters. Content based websites also scrape content from article submission sites to beef up their inventory of content. This avenue has the potential of reaching thousands of potential customers per day. You can start by writing two or three articles per week to either give tips or information about the industry your home business operates in. For example, if you are a party event consultant, write a short article about new trends in wedding parties. Beware. Article submission sites will reject articles that are too self-promotional.

Viral e-books

E-books can be used in two ways. They can be sold for profit, or they can be given away. Giving them away works best, because it has a better chance of being downloaded. The visitor to your site doesn’t feel obligated and likes the idea of getting something for free. Best of all, if they like the content, they will pass it on to their family and friends. The more your e-books are passed around the more viral it becomes. Everyone who receives it will know your name and your website address. In deciding on an e-book, you want to write something related to your field. For example, if you are a financial consultant, then you want to create a book that offers a few tips and financial advice. It paints you as an expert. People are more likely to see you as credible, which will in turn generate business for you.

Blogs

Blogs are a great way to get customers to come back again and again. It’s also a good way to build up a lot of content on your site that will excite new site visitors. New site visitors will be thrilled at the amount of information that you have available related to your service. This translates into credibility. Credibility translates into more likely to do business with you.

Social Networking

Social networking sites are exploding all over the internet. People of all ages are using social networking sites to communicate with one another. Because of their popularity more and more business-to-business social networking sites are springing up. These sites are great for just what they are created for ‘ networking. Use social networking sites to connect with others in your industry or introduce yourself to others in different industries. The business you can get through social networking sites may be even more reliable than other sites. Some of these are pre-qualified leads (people who were already looking for your services). Alliances that you make through social networking sites can refer business to you and you can refer business to them.

Email Ads

Everybody has email these days. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who does not have an email address. That means millions of people can be reached through email ads. Email ads can work to advertise to new business or remind previous customers that you appreciate your business and welcome the opportunity to do business with them in the future. You can either buy an email list or build up a list by capturing the emails of every visitor to your website.

Newsletters

Newsletters are another great way to either generate new business or keep previous customers interested in your goods and services. There are several ways you can publish newsletters online. Create downloadable versions with PDF software, html versions distributed through email, or use a sub domain on your website just for your newsletter. Most newsletters that are successful are generated to the email list the business has either purchased or built up from previous site visitors and customers.

Fliers

Fliers are old school, but they still work. Everybody has the ability to create fliers with desktop publishing software available on every computer. These days you can also create virtual fliers that can be passed around through emails. Fliers are simple to create and have one focus. Advertise your business. Paper fliers can be posted at libraries, events you attend, networking parties, at church, at school, or anywhere you visit on a regular basis.

Business Cards

No, business cards are not antiquated. Many a new relationships have begun with the exchanging of business cards. Ten years ago, you would have told someone about your home business and they would have asked, “Oh, do you have a business card?” Today, they ask, “Oh, what’s your website?” You give them your website address and they then ask, “Well, give me one of your business cards. Is your website address on that?” If you tell them you don’t have a business card, then your home business loses credibility. And you suffer the negative perception people often have of home businesses. Be professional. Get some business cards.

Pay-per-click Ads

Pay-per-click ads are the internet’s version of interactive television commercials. Your services are advertised on other people’s websites. If someone is interested in getting more information, they click your ad and they are directed to your website. Pay-per-click ads can be expensive if your website doesn’t close the sale. Luckily, search engines like Google and Yahoo! allow you to cap the amount of money you want to spend on advertising each month. Budgeting features put your home business on the same level as Fortune 500 companies using the same tactics.

Classified Ads

Everybody uses classified ads. No longer as classified ads just read in the Sunday paper, they are also searched online. People looking for new pets, furniture, new cards, tax accountants, event planners and all sorts of other services, use classified ads. Most classified ad sites are FREE. Some have paid placement to get your ad to the top of the list. These fees are usually minimal. Even your local newspaper offers their classified ads section online now. Many of them don’t charge to place your ad online. They will even cut the costs to print your online ad in the next issue of their newspaper.

Shared Advertisement

A great way to advertise is by sharing the expense or the work with a partner. Major corporations do it all the time. Car companies share the expenses for a television commercial with a Beer company. Or a snack-chip company shares the expense of a television commercial with a grocery store chain. You can do the same with someone in a non-competing industry. For example, if you make wedding baskets, you can partner with an even planner to give discounts to any of the even planners customers. Or the even planner can give discounts to any of your customers.

All of these are great low cost advertising tools for small businesses. Before you undertake any of these strategies, plan your marketing strategy, set a goal for yourself and put tools in place to monitor the progress of your advertising campaign.