The room was brightly lit and cold. She was sitting at a table, across from an empty chair. She knew the questioning would begin any minute. The door opened and a man bearing a remarkable resemblance to Hugo Weaving walked in and sat down in the empty chair.
“Mrs. Anderson,” he began, “we’ve been monitoring your homeschool. Apparently, you have been living two lives. In one life, you’re Katherine A. Anderson, homeschooling mother and wife in a respectable community. You have a homeschool curriculum. You have a schoolroom. You volunteer . . . to help out with your homeschool support group. The other life, Mrs. Anderson, is lived in your pajamas. Your kids are unable to complete their assignments, and if you can get them bathed and dressed before your husband returns from work, you consider it a good day. One of these lives has a future, Mrs. Anderson. The other does not.”
She just stared across the table at this man. “Who was he?” she wondered. Why was he accusing her of these things?
The man opened up a folder and began leafing through it. “As you can see, we’ve had our eyes on you for some time, Mrs. Anderson. I think that you should look long and hard at how you are failing in your role.” He pulled out a single sheet of paper. “Your son is 6 years old and yet he cannot read. Your 11-year-old daughter spends half her time daydreaming and staring off into space. She hasn’t scored better than a D on her spelling quizzes all year. Your teen, this . . . Melissa, I believe her name is . . . she hasn’t prepared for the SAT test. If you really loved your children, Mrs. Anderson, you would have your children at their desks and hard at work by 7:30 each morning.”
Tears started to well up in Katherine’s eyes. Was she really that bad at homeschooling?
“As far as your curriculum goes, you’ve switched back and forth from A Beka to Saxon to Bob Jones and back to Saxon again in just two semesters. I have to wonder, Mrs. Anderson, if you are teaching them correctly. How can you jump from curriculum to curriculum without causing your children to become hopeless, blathering idiots?”
Mrs. Anderson made no effort to wipe away the tears that were now flowing down her cheeks. She knew all these accusations were true. There was nothing she could say to refute them.
“Tell me, Mrs. Anderson. What’s it like, living in your pajamas? Do you enjoy being a slob?” His words began to cut deep, and somewhere deep inside her soul, a wave began to form.
“How many times did you yell at your kids yesterday, Mrs. Anderson? Can you really say you love them if you treat them this way?”
The wave began to build, quickly becoming a surge. Mrs. Anderson’s anger was rising above and beyond the shame and fears this man was exploiting.
“Your best friend, Laurie, doesn't have any trouble getting her six children ready to go to eight different activities each week, yet you always manage to run late . . .”
“That’s enough!” Her waves of anger burst over the dam and began to pour from her lips. “I don't have to listen to these accusations. I am a loving wife and mother, and I care deeply about my children. We may not get to every activity on time or complete every assignment, but we are trying. My children are well fed and clothed, and they are learning so much more than they would learn anywhere else. My son is a gifted engineer. He dismantled three phones last week to understand how the buttons work . . .”
“You consider that school?”
“Absolutely! He is learning mechanics and science. If I can get him to put things back together so that I can answer the phone, I’ll be all set. By the way, Melissa doesn’t need to study for her SAT test right now. She’s 14! We will prepare for it when the time is right.
“Another thing. My daughter may not always study with perfect concentration, but she draws the most beautiful pictures. She understands forms and shapes so much better than her brothers or sisters do. She is a very bright girl, no matter what your files say.”
These bold statements took the man aback. Mrs. Anderson’s outburst, though somewhat controlled, was clearly not what he had expected to hear in response to his accusations.
“You say I yell at my kids, and that’s true. I do lose my temper when I clean a room and come back in thirty minutes to find it in worse shape than it was before I cleaned it. But your files don’t show the breakfast we had yesterday when we sat around and talked about three things we like about each other. I enjoy my children so much more than you could imagine. And we truly love each other.
“I stay in my pajamas some days, that’s true. But we are at home and like to be comfortable while we do our work. Learning is more important than appearances.”
“But are your children really learning, Mrs. Anderson? I show that you have lost ground every time you’ve tried to set a schedule. How effective are you if you can't even maintain a schedule?”
“We may struggle sometimes. I admit, we don’t hit the mark with schedules, but we do a good job setting goals. We know what direction we’re going, and we do a good job, even if we don’t end up completing our workbooks. If anything is out of line, it’s my own expectations.” An idea began to form in her mind.
“What? We are not to blame, Mrs. Anderson!”
“Of course,” she thought, “it all makes sense now.”
Katherine looked straight into her accuser’s eyes as she spoke calmly and deliberately. “I know who you are! You’re my own expectations. You’ve been trying to trap me.”
“Nonsense. We don’t need to trap what we already own.”
“You don’t? Then you would have no problem if I made pajamas the standard school uniform?”
“Uh . . .” Suddenly, the man became quite anxious.
“And you wouldn’t mind my going to thrift stores to buy more phones and other things for my son to dismantle?”
“Wait . . . this isn't what we wanted. Stop!”
“Why? Don’t you want to hear about how we’re going to stop going to so many activities and start spending more time together as a family? I've got some great ideas, including a bug collecting expedition and a board game night.”
“Board games don’t constitute an education! They . . .”
“Oh, yes they do. Colors, numbers, counting, reading, and strategy all work together to educate my children. And the best part is that they don’t even realize it’s school.”
The man was becoming transparent, and he was quickly fading from view. “But what about your curriculum? You can’t change in the middle of the year! It’s . . . ”
“I can change our curriculum whenever I think we need to. If something isn’t working, we can try something else. That’s one benefit of running your own school. I would rather find something that works than have my children suffer through an entire year of work that doesn ’t meet their needs.”
She could see that the man was livid and shouting angrily, but now, along with his appearance, his voice had faded. He was almost gone from view when she said, “Oh, by the way, school starts at 10 a.m. from now on.”
With that, he disappeared.
Mrs. Anderson was about to scoot away from the table when she awoke with a start. Rolling across the screen on the television in front of her were credits for a fantasy film about people fighting the forces of artificial intelligence. She quickly pushed the “off” button and headed upstairs to bed. After all, she had a bug hunt to plan tomorrow.
Steve Walden lives in Colorado with his wife, and together they homeschool their three children (ages 12, 9, and 5). Steve is a freelance writer and editor. When he’s not blogging at www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/SteveWalden, he’s searching for new opportunities to write about a variety of topics, including homeschooling, coping with disabilities, and connecting with God. Steve’s desire is to help others rediscover God as their first love and the source of their strength.
If you enjoyed this article, then you should consider subscribing to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. You will find each issue to be jam-packed with articles of particular interest to homeschoolers.
Be watching for details of an upcoming writing contest sponsored by TOS. Get those writing gears turning in your head because you will definitely want to take part in this contest – not only will the winners receive some fabulous prizes by some awesome homeschool vendors, but their work will also be published in an upcoming E-Book and a future issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.
The busy Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are rapidly approaching!
With schoolwork, meal planning, laundry, church, extracurricular activities, and other demands, the homeschooling lifestyle can often be a hectic one.
Could you use some fresh ideas for making the holidays special while keeping school going with the children? Do you want your children to remember more about Thanksgiving than just pumpkin pie? Have you been looking for practical tips for adding unique and budget-saving touches to your home?
Are your kids starting to grumble about doing their math lessons? Why not take a break from the books and just have some hands-on fun with math?
We've got help for you!
Our two new E-Books are packed with ideas to help you schedule fun family time into your holiday activities. Homespun Holidays and Amusing Mathematics instantly and affordably put creative holiday and math suggestions right at your fingertips.
You'll love being able to download them instantly, so you can dive right in to all of the creative ideas. Make your holidays more special and your learning time more fun!
Homespun Holidays: Fall and Winter
More than 80 pages, jam-packed with imaginative ideas, mouth-watering recipes and entertaining activities. . .
"A little this, a little that, wrapped up in eighty-some pages and tied up with a bright bow... Homespun Holidays, Fall and Winter is lavishly illustrated with colorful photos, ... you'll find ideas for crafts, homemade gifts, foods, hospitality ...even a few seasonal poems. Homespun Holidays, Fall and Winter is the perfect read for this time of year." - Jean Hall
Traditions - Bring you and yours closer to each other and the Lord.
Home decorating ideas - Welcome signs, trash bag wreaths, candy-themed decor you can make with your kids, how to make your own decorative scarecrows, window paintings, just to name a few.
Tips for entertaining - We share ideas on how to celebrate the holidays without losing your good cheer.
Games - Make holiday travel smooth sailing with our fun game suggestions.
Book reviews - Cozy up with your children and a good book. We've included some reading recommendations and complementary activities.
Seasonal poetry- Add humor and inspiration to your holiday season.
Gift ideas - No-sew scarf, fabric gift bags, layered-in-a-jar cocoa drink mix, and more.
Craft ideas - There are craft ideas for all ages. Make treat bags, holiday piñatas, 3-D paper snowflakes, and ornaments. Hints for recycling old holiday cards, and making nativities are also included, and that's only the beginning!
Most treasured holiday recipes - In addition, we've peered into our staff members' kitchens across the country and found their most treasured holiday recipes.
No need to waste hours online looking for Christmas gift ideas, recipes, decorating tips, and craft activities for your children.
It's all in Homespun Holidaysfor less than $13.00. That's the price of just one gift at the discount store!
November Planner Module: Amusing Mathematics
When does 2+2= FUN?
When you have Amusing Mathematics...
"Bravo! My ten year old son finished his chores in record time just to get back to the math riddles and tangram exercises. The math riddles were so much fun, he thought they were from Boys' Life. The rhyming copywork pages are perfect for my first grader to learn number formation and monetary values. What a fun, value-filled package for all the children in my family. So interesting, so much fun they won't even realize they're learning! - Michelle Smith
"Magical" math brain teasers - Amaze friends and family with "magical" math games. Guess birthdays, speculate as to the number of siblings someone has!
Puzzles and tangrams - Give their brains a real workout with ancient Chinese tangrams. They might think a puzzle with only seven pieces would be easy, but they'd be wrong!
Pattern block fun -
Use the pattern block templates for some added fun. Shhhh! There's no need to tell them they're learning about geometry and fractions. They'll think they're just having fun!
Currency and exchange rates- What's Morocco's money called? How much is a dollar worth in Peru?
How many ways can you think of to tell time? Games, activities, and projects to help your children learn about the many methods of telling time.
Fun copywork pageshelp your children learn about kitchen measurement. (They'll need this information when cooking the delicious recipes included in this module!)
Printer-friendly multiplication and addition drill sheets, puzzles, coloring pages.
And, of course, the answers are included!
For only $7.95, all the planning is done for you. Just download, print, and enjoy!
So, during this busy time of the year, let our our Amusing Mathematics module, or any of our other modules, keep your school planning easy and fun!
You already get our current issue for free and 6 great bonus gifts with our Fall Subscription Special, but for one more day, we're going to give you even more!
We have about 200 more of the Homeschooling with Heart tote bags left just for people who subscribe with our Fall Special. And when you subscribe online, we'll mail your tote bag, the current issue, and your postcards for redeeming the physical gifts right away.
You're going to LOVE our Fall issue. It's at the printers right now and it's chock full of articles.
Just look at some of the topics in this issue:
Homeschooling the high schooler
Transcripts
Homeschool fathers
Homeschooling through interruptions
Homeschoolers on the farm
And just in time for the holiday season:
The lost arts
Frugal cleaners & gift ideas
The Me-Time Myth
The adventure of serving God at homeschool
In fact, I can give you a sneak peek of our staff's Twelve Days of Christmas. It's sure to get you in the holiday mood!
So go ahead and invest in a two-year subscription to TOS. It will encourage and inspire you, as well as help you save money in the long run!
You're going to appreciate:
Reviews that save you from spending money on curriculum that's a bad fit for your family
Examples of what's working for other homeschool families
Free unit studies
Special freebies and coupons from advertisers
Monthly online Teacher's Toolbox with free downloadable curriculum items
Plus, if you subscribe today, you're going to be sure and receive one of our fabulous Homeschooling with Heart tote bags.
It all adds up!
The tote bags are going fast though. We're down to the last 200 and they should be gone today.
*Offer for new U.S. 2 year subscriptions only. (Military overseas included)
We’re excited about our new planner and know that you will be too! We have taken ALL of your suggestions and ideas and compiled them into ONE fantastic planner, so that everything you need to plan in your life can be in one place, making your busy life as a homeschool mom just a bit simpler! In The Schoolhouse Planner, you can expect to find:
• Calendars in various forms – yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily
• Lists of holidays and places to record special days in your family
• Planners for your homeschool – in various styles to meet your individual needs
• Pages for both long-term and short-term homeschooling goals
• Curriculum planning forms
• Evaluation forms and test score recording sheets
• A through-the-Bible in a (school) year schedule
• Forms for recording Bible memory and other memory work
• Logs for recording books read, movies and documentaries viewed, etc.
• A field trip planning form and recording log
• A sample science lab sheet and nature study sheets
• A place to record extracurricular activities
• Outside classes, co-op, and support group information and recording sheets
• Household planning forms
• Daily, weekly, and monthly household schedule charts
• Grocery, menu-planning, and food logs
• Various budget and financial planning forms
• Garden planning sheets
• An appliance and electronics inventory sheet
• Vacation planning ideas
• Address and telephone records
• And much, much more!
And, if that’s not enough, we’ve also included:
• 12 “homeschool must-know” items, one for each month of the year
• 12 essays from some of our favorite authors in the homeschool community – you absolutely won’t want to miss these!
• 24 easy main-dish recipes from some top homeschoolers around the nation
• Forms that are appropriate for preschool – graduation
• A 12-year planning form, so that you can plan your child’s school career from beginning to end!
• 2-page monthly calendar with BIG blocks, providing lots of room for writing in details each day
If all of that isn’t enough to entice you, each month throughout the year, we will also be offering “planner supplements” that you and your kids will love! Our first monthly module will be available in July and will include all kinds of interesting information about popular holidays. These will not only be filled with great information that you will love including with your planner, but they will also be extremely affordable!
What do the developers of the TOS Schoolhouse Planner have to say?
Kris says: “Just this year, I had FIVE planners in my home and NONE of them had all of the forms that I needed to keep me organized for the year. When the chance came to help create a planner that would try to meet ALL of the organizing needs of ANY homeschooling parent, I jumped at the opportunity! I feel that we have created an incredible product: a planner that includes forms to help organize BOTH the "school" and "house" parts of the home. Of course, we couldn't have done this without the outpouring of ideas that came from our customers. Each email was read carefully, notes were taken and then Heidi and I spent hours and HOURS working to create over 85 forms, all available in ONE product that is easily downloadable from anywhere in the world! You can buy The Schoolhouse Planner and begin using it the same day! I hope our customers are as pleased with it as I am!”
Heidi says: “I was so thrilled when I first saw the announcement that TOS was going to create a planner. To say that I was even more thrilled when I was asked to help create this planner would be an understatement. For years, I have looked for ‘the ultimate homeschool planner’, only to be disappointed by what is available on the market. I have continually made my own planning sheets to suit my needs. Now, not only were Kris and I given the opportunity to create what WE thought was the ultimate planner, but what YOU asked for in a planner as well. I’ve seen a lot of planners, but none with this amount of content. I am passionate about E-Books, so I’m thrilled to have this planner available in E-Book format. You might choose to print the whole planner, or maybe you will just want to print certain pages; it’s totally up to you. No two people’s planners will be alike; but each one will suit its owner’s needs. It is my hope that each one that purchases The Schoolhouse Planner will be as happy with it as I am, and will recognize the hard work and the heart that went into the creation of (what I like to call) ‘the Cadillac of planners!’”
Attention MAC users: In order to utilize all of the interactive features of this PDF you will need Adobe Reader which is a free download. Click HERE for the Macintosh download area
The download size of this pdf file is 8.2 MB. If you have dial-up or a slower internet connection we have also provided the download in a zip file. Please select below which version you would like to download.
A link to download your E-Book will be available in your account upon checkout.
Manufactured by:
The Old Schoolhouse - AffiliateItem #: ebok-TOS-planner
$39.00
Every Christmas the Home School Foundation sends cards to those who have received assistance from the Foundation. This year HSF is hosting a special contest which gives homeschoolers (both students and teachers!) an opportunity to design the artwork for the Christmas greeting card. Entrants must choose from one of the following categories. You are limited to one entry per person; deadline is August 1.
Category 1: Christmas Memories Category 2: Seasonal Beauty of God’s Creation Category 3: Christ’s Birth—The First Christmas
Free Download: Marilyn's Favorite Character Qualities for Moms (See information at the end of this e-mail.) Featuring products developed by Rick & Marilyn Boyer, homeschool parents of 14.
We're making room for a ton of new products,
and we must clear some shelves!
Take advantage of incredibly low prices now
on top-quality books, toys, dolls, etc.
Only a few items are left in some categories,
and when they're gone—they're gone!
A Sampling of Clearance Items
• Mary Doll (and other Bible character dolls)
• Bug Jar Fill and Spill (and other activity books) • Children are a Gift Tote
• Chunky Construction Puzzle (and other puzzles)
• Construction Magnetic Board (and other magnetic boards)
• Growing Up a Country Boy (...Country Girl)
• Leaders in Action Series (and other biographies)
Check out the Boyer's Seminar Audios Section on our website
for Rick's and Marilyn's encouraging, practical workshops.
We are offering all remaining workshops on cassette for only $2 each,
such as these and more: • Home Education-What it's Done For our Family
• Reclaiming the American Vision • What about Socialization?
• What is an Education?
"That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."
Psalm 78:6-7
By Marilyn Boyer
This is a list of character qualities that Marilyn has personalized to help her internalize the character qualities vital to being a good mom. If you don't understand the meaning of the character qualities, it's hard to know how to work on demonstrating it in your life. Use this list as a springboard to help you write your own to use in training your little ones to serve our wonderful Savior!
No Purchase Necessary.Order online. Use coupon code MOMS.
Thanks for all that you have done for homeschoolers over the years. Joining HSLDA each year gave me a feeling of security and support that helped me continue homeschooling for what is now my 15th year.
—Anna L., Cynthiana, KY
Looking back over the last 25 years, we are humbled by the ways God has used Home School Legal Defense Association and our member families to further homeschool freedom in this country and even around the world.
HSLDA was founded in 1983, with the goal of establishing the legal right of parents to teach their children at home. At the time, co-founders and attorneys Mike Farris and Mike Smith were homeschooling their own children and offering legal aid to homeschooling families facing stringent state laws and regulations. Some of these families were being threatened with truancy charges, arrest, and even loss of custody of their children.
Now, 25 years later, homeschooling is legal in some form in all 50 states, homeschool laws are constantly being improved, and HSLDA member families number over 80,000. By banding together, homeschoolers have made their voice heard in state and federal government.
As we celebrate 25 years of homeschoolers working together, we ask our members and friends of homeschooling to join with us in celebrating what God has done!
We invite you to participate in a year packed full of celebration: From special online contests to regional receptions that your family can attend to an open house at HSLDA’s office in northern Virginia, there’s something fun for everyone! Watch your mailbox and check back at this web page for more details coming soon.
Topic: “What is your family’s favorite or funniest homeschool moment ever?” Instructions: Describe it in 50 words or less. Winners: One winner per month of the quarter Award: $50 cash award
Check out this amazing website called Kiddie Records Weekly! There are nearly 200 recordings that can be listened to for FREE! Even the covers have been scanned, restored and preserved on the website! You can enjoy listening to the voices of Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Danny Kaye, Shirley Temple, Rosemary Clooney, Orson Welles, and many more! This website is truly a treasure. I hope you enjoy sharing these with your kids!
From now through February 1, HSLDA is seeking original, hand-done works for our 2008 Art Contest. This year, we're asking homeschooled students to create images inspired by the following quotes from American authors:
Category 1 (students ages 7-11): “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” —Helen Keller Category 2 (students ages 12-15): “Humility, like darkness, reveals the heavenly lights.” —Henry David Thoreau Category 3 (students ages 16-19): “A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes
It is time for another free E-Book from the Schoolhouse Store! This month we will be offering the E-Book: Math Mammoth Division 1.
Division 1: Divide, and Conquer the Concepts lays a good foundation in basic division, cementing the link between multiplication and division, and then solidly presents the concepts of remainder and divisibility. A good understanding with these helps the student later to understand factoring and long division.
The book provides plenty of practice and stresses understanding of concepts. This text is a self-teaching worktext to learn basic division concept after studying multiplication (in approximately third grade).
Now for another Math related freebie! A Maths Dictionary for Kids from Rainforest Maths is an awesome, interactive Math resource. Broken down alphabetically kids can click on a wide range of Math terms from abacus to zero! Not only will they get a definition, but they also get a little demonstration of how the concept works! Acre, binary system, co-efficient, dodecahedron... I could go through the whole alphabet, but you just have to check it out for yourself!
One last thing...Make sure not to miss out on the current special for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Subscribe or renew by January 6, 2008 and you'll get FIVE issues for the price of four. That's right, get an extra issue to your one-year subscription for FREE. Just use coupon code FREEBIEPLUS4 in step two of the checkout to get an extra issue! The deadline is January 6, 2008. Don't miss this fabulous Winter issue. It's a great way to start 2008!
I'll see you next week right here at - Freebie Fridays!
The fun and creative Project Packs from In the Hands of a Child are great to inspire your children with hands on learning. Whether you are planning a lapbooking or unit study on Geography, Literature, Science, History, the Bible, or any other topic, they will help you put laughter and learning together In the Hands of a Child! These kits take the preparation and organization out of your job description!
Receive Free:One Hands of a Child Project Pack of your choice! (Free Project Pack must be of equal or lesser value than the ones you purchased. Free unit will be in the same format as the ones you have purchased. This offer is available in multiple sets. Buy 4 get 2 free, buy 6 get 3 free, etc.) Choose your FREE Project Pack from our 131 Hands of a Child items you will find here. DO NOT ADD FREE ITEMS TO YOUR CART. See instructions below.
What To Do:
Purchase: Two Hands of a Child Project Packs
Type the name of the free Project Pack you want to receive in comments
Your Free Project Pack will be included with your order.
This is a subscription-based internet directory of online educational resources. Based on thousands of hours, days and weeks of surfing the net for SAFE, RELEVANT sites. This educational tool, now available online, has grown from 300 "scattered" websources to a total teaching program of over 1500 prescreened websites categorized by subject and user-type with a brief description of each site's contents.
Sites are marked according to their appropriateness for parents, teachers, or the students themselves. This unique resource provides curriculum from Pre-K through High School.
Happy New Year from the Schoolhouse Store! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are ready for a great new year!
The Winter issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is just about ready to send to the printers. It's going to be fabulous!
We've got articles on balancing home and work, tips on organizing your homeschool, a look at day-to-day life with Susan Wise Bauer, our first ever Freebie Directory, and so much more. What a great way to start the New Year.
The magazines will start hitting mailboxes at the end of January so if you want to get the Winter issue, you need to subscribeby January 6, 2008.
We're going to show you some free resources for your homeschool, let you peek in on homeschool life for other families from Hawaii to South Africa, and give you unit study information on the Iditarod and Civil War. We've got tips on educational games to play with reference books, do's and don'ts on teaching history, and information on working at home and finding balance.
If you're already a subscriber, but you need to renew, now's your chance to do that so that you don't miss an issue.
Subscribe or renew by January 6, 2008 and we'll give you FIVE issues for the price of four. That's right, we'll tack on an extra issue to your one-year subscription for FREE. Just use coupon code FREEBIEPLUS4 in step two of the checkout to get an extra issue! The deadline is January 6, 2008 and we don't want you to miss this fabulous Winter issue. It's a great way to start 2008!
We also have a great new free E-Book in the Store for January!Math Mammoth's Division 1: Divide and Conquer the Concepts lays a good foundation in basic division, cementing the link between multiplication and division, and then solidly presents the concepts of remainder and divisibility. A good understanding with these helps the student later to understand factoring and long division.The book provides plenty of practice and stresses understanding of concepts. You can get it FREE by clicking HERE.
Now for Store News! As always, we've added all kinds of new goodies you're sure to enjoy.
We have just added some GREAT Multimedia Download Presentations to the Store at the great price of $4.99 each!
These downloads include: Learning objectives, discussion and debate topics, review questions and research and essay assignments. These are a fun and easy way to teach History!
Learning and remembering all 50 states of the United States of America has never been easier. Once you open this book, everything you thought you knew about the U.S. map will change.
With the help of the book's main character, the Little Man In the Map (MIM), the states come alive, interacting with each other and with you, playing roles you'd never have expected. As you read the story and see how the states relate to one another, you'll find yourself easily learning their names and locations.
So let your imagination run free! Read the book just for the excitement of discovery and the fun of the rhymed verses. Then go back and review the clues in the individual sections.
Soon you'll know all 50 states of the United States of America!
We also offer the The Little Man In the Map Wall Map. This resource will make learning and remembering all 50 states of the United States of America is even easier. This 38 x 22 inch full-color wall map is the ideal complement to The Little Main In the Map and makes learning U.S. geography even more fun and easy!
We are very please to bring you this exclusive offer from Kregel Publications! The Parker Twins Series a 6 Book Set is a TOS exclusive that has been extended through March 1, 2008!
Buy all 6 books in the Parker Twin Series and SAVE $16.95!!!
Normally globe-trotting escapades are reserved for adults-such as a certain whip-cracking adventurer who asks not to be named-but somehow teen twins Jenny and Justin Parker always find themselves neck-deep in danger and intrigue. From the jungles of South America to an Indian reservation in Montana, the Parkers are never short on excitement wherever they go.
This series includes:
Cave of the Inca Re - Click HERE for more info. on this title.
Jungle Hideout - Click HERE for more info. on this title.
Captured in Colombia - Click HERE for more info. on this title.
Mystery at Death Canyon - Click HERE for more info. on this title.
Secret of the Dragon Mark - Click HERE for more info. on this title.
Race for the Secret Code - Click HERE for more info. on this title.
This is a great savings on a great set of books which you will find only at TOS!
This is a great resource to help children learn the addition and subtraction facts!
Two Plus Two is Not Five is a supplementary workbook that teaches children a way to remember the addition and subtraction facts.
The math facts are introduced with easy-to-learn methods and tricks, and there are many reproducible pages for written practice and review.
The methods and tricks in Two Plus Two is Not Five have been tried and proven to work!
You can find this book by clicking HERE. If you are interested in purchasing a scuffed copy of this book at 20% off click HERE. (While supplies last!)
As always, you can check our New Products link to keep up-to-date on new additions at all times. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Why don't you take some time and wrap up 2007 by voting for your favorite curriculum in our Excellence in Education Survey?
Winners will be announced in our Spring 2008 issue.
These are only a few of our exciting new products at The Schoolhouse Store. As always, you can scroll to the bottom of the category listings in the store and click on "New Products" to see the latest additions. Make it a habit to check in regularly!
And remember to be sure and let your friends know about the Always Free Shipping at the Schoolhouse Store!
Over 3000 homeschoolers have already shared their opinions with us, but we say "the more the merrier". We even have two free ebooks to share with anyone who completes the survey.
One is our newest ebook, Homeschool Dialogues, which features some of the most popular interviews from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine over the years. The other is 20 Homemade Learning Games from our friends at Trigger Memory System! We definitely think you'll enjoy reading both of these books. Be watching; once you complete the survey, you'll be directed to a page where you can immediately download both ebooks.
We truly appreciate all of you taking the time to participate in our survey and look forward to reading all of the results. It truly helps us to be the best magazine that we can be!
And won't you please share the link to the homeschool survey with your homeschool groups or friends so they can participate and get the free ebooks before Friday? We'd love to hear from them too!
Toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering, and the design process. Fifth through eight grade students are invited to form teams and create their dream toy or game in the sixth annual TOYchallenge™. The mission of this fun-fueled toy-design competition is to motivate kids, especially girls, to learn that engineering is fun! DEADLINE: December 12, 2007 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.TOYchallenge.com
Your students ages 6–9 can submit their self-portraits in any medium to the Artist to Artist Contest. Prizes range from copies of the book Artist to Artist, in which 23 illustrators talk about their art, to the chance to have their winning portrait displayed at the Eric Carle Museum! DEADLINE: January 4, 2008 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit us.penguingroup.com/static/html/sweepstakes.html
During the month of October, all new subscribers to the Knowledge House newsletter will get a free “Costumes for All Seasons” e-book. This colorfully illustrated six-page e-book contains hundreds of costume ideas including suggestions for educational costumes, how to outfit boys’ and girls’ costume trunks, easy-to make sweat suit costumes, how to throw together last-minute costumes, host a masquerade ball, and more. Go to www.knowledgehouse.info and scroll down for more info on this offer and to subscribe to the Knowledge House Newsletter. This free e-newsletter features original articles, unit studies, holiday ideas, teaching tips, quotations, book reviews, experiments, biographies of famous homeschoolers, learning links, etc. Each issue contains a freebie or bargain, too!
The 2007 Home School Legal Defense Association Essay Contest is now accepting entries. The deadline is November 1, so get those pencils flying!
Depending on their age, homeschool students’ essays must expound upon the following: Category 1 (ages 7-11): If there was one person in the world you could help, who would it be, why would you help them, and how would you help them? Category 2 (ages 12-15): If you could choose to make a small difference in the world at large or a big difference in one person's life, which would you choose and why? Category 3 (ages 16-19): Describe an admirable quality or admirable position of a person with whom you largely disagree.
2007 Guidelines
Submission Dates: October 1 through November 1 2007!
Entries received before October 1 or postmarked after November 1 will be sent back or discarded.
Topic
Students must write an essay answering one of the following questions:
Category 1: If there was one person in the world you could help, who would it be, why would you help them, and how would you help them?
Category 2: If you could choose to make a small difference in the world at large or a big difference in one person’s life, which would you choose and why?
Category 3: Describe an admirable quality or admirable position of a person with whom you largely disagree.
Spend some time reflecting on the question at hand and then be creative! We look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Entrant Qualifications
Contest prizes and themes are determined based on the student’s age. If a student falls into Category 1 in age, then he or she must do the Category 1 theme and will be awarded Category 1 prizes. The same applies for categories 2 and 3.
Category 1: Homeschoolers ages 7 to 11 as of October 1, 2007. Category 2: Homeschoolers ages 12 to 15 as of October 1, 2007. Category 3: Homeschoolers ages 16-19 as of October 1, 2007.
Only one entry per student.
For the purposes of this contest, an eligible student must have been homeschooled and received the majority of his or her educations through home education during the past year.
Contest Guidelines
Essays must be completely the work of the student entering the contest. No involvement or assistance of other parties, including but not limited to brainstorming, editing, or proofreading, is permissible.
Essays cannot be longer than 700 words.
All essays must be typed double-space on white unlined paper in 12 point Times New Roman font.
The student’s telephone number should be typed on the top of each page. If more than one student from a family is participating in the same category, the number should be followed by a letter to distinguish it from the other students. Example: 540-338-5600A and 540-338-5600B.
The student must fill out an entry form with their full name, date of birth, HSLDA membership number (if applicable), address, email, and telephone number; this should be on a separate cover sheet of paper attached by a paperclip to the essay. This sheet should also include a one-sentence description of the essay’s contents (e.g., “Joan of Arc is my hero because she did the right thing no matter what other people said.”) and word count for the essay.
Do not type or write the student’s name or any other identifying information other than the phone number on anything other than the cover page.
Submission
Essays must be mailed to:
HSLDA
Attn: Essay Contest
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, VA 20134-9000
Essays must be postmarked on/before November 1, 2007.
Essays from students in the same family may be mailed in the same envelope.
Fee
HSLDA members: Please enclose a $10 check with each essay.
Non-HSLDA members: Please enclose a $15 check with each essay.
The check must be made payable to “HSLDA” with a note of “Essay Contest” in the memo line.
Judging
Essays will be evaluated by a panel of judges appointed by Home School Legal Defense Association.
Essays will be judged on originality of thought, grammar, spelling, logic, clarity, writing style, and content.
All decisions of the judges are final.
Winners will be notified and announced on the web by mid-December.
Prizes for Each Category
Category
1
2
3
First
$100
$150
$200
Second
$75
$100
$150
Third
$50
$50
$100
Honorable Mentions (2)
$25
$25
$50
Other
Only essays sent to the above address will qualify for the contest.
No essay containing any plagiarized or non-original work will be considered.
By submitting an essay you:
Grant Home School Legal Defense Association the right to publish all or part of your submission. HSLDA may also allow other non-profit entities to publish the essays for non-commercial use.
Agree to all rules and the decisions of the judges and sponsors.
Home School Legal Defense Association is not responsible for any lost, damaged, misdirected, delayed, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, or postage-due entries or mail.
All profits from this contest will go to the Home School Foundation's Special Needs Children Fund.
Please contact Contest Coordinator Cherise Ryan at cherise@hslda.org with any questions.
Write for Sports Illustrated
Do your students love to write about sports? They can enter the Comeback Kids “Write Like Mike” contest for a chance to have a sports column published in a future issue of Sports Illustrated! The “Write Like Mike” contest is open to students ages 8–12. The winning students’ school will receive $1,000 to buy sports equipment. Here’s How: For official rules and an entry form, visit www.penguin.com/youngreaders.
Reward Green Power!
If you and your students are interested in environmental change, this contest is for you. The Lexus Environmental challenge asks students to create a team and develop an action plan to make an environmental impact in their neighborhood. More than $1 million in scholarships and grants are available. Here’s How: Drive right over to www.scholastic.com/lexus.
This nationwide phot contest for little ones, ages 2-24 months, is in search of America's next famous face for Evenflo. Parents can upload a favorite photo of their little star on www.evenflo.com for a chance to be featured in the Evenflo 2008 marketing campaign, and receive a $10,000 college scholarshipa nd a prize package of Evenflo products. The winning baby will be determines by the total number of votes received online. For more information visit www.evenflo.com Deadline for online entries: September 30.
The spectacular spring sale at Alpha Omega Publications (AOP) starts April 1! Will you be ready to take advantage of the incredible savings on prize-winning curriculum and resources? If you’re unsure about what curriculum your family needs, diagnose your child’s academic abilities today with accurate diagnostic and placement tests from AOP.
Every homeschooling parent knows what it’s like to order curriculum that is too difficult or too easy for his child. With AOP’s diagnostic and placement testing resources, you can eliminate that frustration and discover your child’s precise level in each subject. AOP’s complimentary Switched-On Schoolhouse® Math and Language Arts Diagnostic Tests are available at www.aopsos.com and you can order the complete test kit for all five core subject areas for only $15.96 from now until April 30, 2007. Certainly, it’s a small investment that will deliver tremendous results in your child’s educational success. And that’s not all! Diagnostic and placement resources are also available at affordable prices for LIFEPAC® and Horizons curricula to help ensure your child’s best learning experience.
Without a doubt, now is the time to get the help you need in diagnosing your child’s academic abilities. Don’t let the 20% off savings during the AOP annual spring sale pass by you! If you’re uncertain about your child’s grade level, simply click on the download now button below and let AOP assist you with the complimentary Switched-On Schoolhouse Diagnostic Tests. Don’t wait. Find the help you need today so that you can purchase the perfect curriculum at a savings you can’t afford to miss!
Who should use diagnostic and placement tests from AOP?
Homeschool students who want to avoid curriculum that is too easy or too difficult Homeschool parents who want to avoid the hassle of ordering the wrong curriculum Homeschool parents who love taking advantage of offers and discounts Homeschool parents who want to teach to the learning edge in their child
Available Tests
Switched-On Schoolhouse® Grades 3-12 Math and Language Arts Complete Kit for Five Subjects Math Language Arts Bible History and Geography Science
Horizons Math Readiness Grades 1-6
LIFEPAC® Bible Grades 2-8 Grades 7-12 Language Arts Grades 1-8 Grades 7-12 Math Grades 1-8 Grades 7-12 History Grades 2-8 Grades 7-12 Science Grades 2-8 Grades 7-12 Complete Kit for Five Subjects Grades 1-8 Grades 7-12
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