Happy January, everyone! I hope your second semester this year is going strong and fun. If you're anything like the rest of us, you probably at times feel like it should be May or June right about now. The "Winter blues" sometimes hit hard as we try to get through the curriculums and complete the school year. Homeschooling is wonderful, but we have to be realistic. We do have our bad days (weeks/months).
Just because Susie Homeschooler down the street is done with her Saxon program already doesn't mean your kids are failing - and it certainly doesn't mean that you as the teacher are failing, either. In fact, you probably more resemble the majority of us, trust me. My house does NOT look like Susie Homeschooler's either.
Please don't be discouraged with the "After Christmas slump." It's pretty normal I think for most of us to be trying to get back into the groove of things. Ease into them; that's the key. Don't feel like you have to jump in with all four limbs. The calendar is not your boss; don't be a slave to it. It's a tool and nothing more! (that goes for the clock, too)
This may be a good time to take a break from the heavily scheduled routines and do some group learning with other families. Encouragement is a big part of the homeschool equation, and your homeschooling friends truly are your best resources. Utilize them! Get the kids together for a crafts party or a cooking lesson. Maybe start a quilting club or a small arts & community association. Plan some field trips! Old folks homes are sad places right now, in need of encouragement. The holidays are over and older folks get very lonely. Perhaps get a group together for a mid-winter sing-along.
But be encouraged. As spring approaches, homeschoolers (and planned events) come out of the woodwork. Things get fun again in the spring. You've done a great job all year long, and you'll see it through. Look at your kids; they're fine! They're learning. In public school, they get lost. They lose their identity first and then it goes downhill from there. You are giving them YOU - what a blessing this is to them! And look at the big picture - they ARE learning and thriving at home with you. Well done, press on!
Our Gift of Encouragement!
One thing we want to do at The Old Schoolhouse is to encourage you all year long. We hope that our (approx) 200-page magazine is doing just that. Each quarter, you can expect a friend to land on your doorstep, a friend who's been down the same road you have. Do you know someone in your life who could use some encouragement right about now?
As you know, TOS often has a "19-gifts promotion." It's become a branding, almost with us, the "bouquet promotion." Any two-year subscriber (while supplies last) receives their magazine subscription plus 19 different learning gifts (value is over $200+ normally). DVDs, workbooks, downloaded unit studies, maps, etc. Once we had the national chain, Christian Book Distributors, even give out $10 gift certificates to everyone. We try to line up the best samples for the two-year subscribers.
But guess what? I have a special I want to tell you about. I've never done this before and I doubt I'll do it again. Take a look at this link.
We charge almost $30 for a one-year subscription to our magazine + the current issue. And we sell plenty of these! But these folks don't get the 19 gifts; those are reserved for the 2-year subscribers.
$14.95 Subs & Free Gifts For One Year Subscribers!
Today I want to run a special because we are getting ready to end the Winter promotion. View those 19 gifts HERE.
These are awesome. And they are ALL FREE. You get a history sampler, free video rentals, blackline maps, a Paws & tales (Chuck Swindoll) audio CD (a full length story for kids), lapbook stuff, a cookbook on CD, a special CD on Latin, phonics help, math review tests + answer keys -- you even get the full book, Pilgrim's Progress! And that's only some of it. You get 19 different fun gifts for your homeschool. The companies send them directly to you - so it's Christmas time all over again!
From today until this WEDNESDAY at 11PM eastern time, I'm going to allow the one year + winter issue subscription to go for:
1. $14.95 instead of almost $30 2. I'm also going to let you have all 19 gifts, too, even though you're not a two-year subscriber.
This is a HUGE value, over $200 And you can have it all for $14.95 if you take advantage of the sale before Wednesday night at 11:00. You can be a NEW subscriber or a RETURNING subscriber. If you already have a sub, then you may as well pay the $14.95 and we will add one year + one issue onto your existing sub. (Please write "renewal" in the comments when checking out so we know to add to your current subscription)
This is the time to consider buying gift for a friend who could use the encouragement. Or perhaps your library or doctor's office.
I have at least 1,000 packages, so first come, first served. If we run out, we'll let you know immediately and issue a refund.
Here is the link to buy in at the special; you have to go through THIS doorwayto get the special.
Again, it ends Wednesday night at 11PM eastern time. Hurry! $14.95 is getting you more than a full year subscription PLUS all 19 learning gifts. Forward this to your groups, too, please, if you would. The more the merrier!
Curious about The Old Schoolhouseฎ Magazine but not quite ready to commit to a subscription without seeing it first?
Check it out for FREE! We're so certain you'll love our publication that we'll gladly send a FREE sample to anyone new to The Old Schoolhouseฎ Magazine - we even cover the shipping!
Welcome to the HSB announcement blogboard from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine,
LLC. We hope you will enjoy the articles posted here by the Porch Team. Please feel free to leave comments!
~ Tia Linschied, Senior Editor of HSB
Purposeful Planning - E-Book ($9.95)
This time-tested method of planning will give your family new direction for the future.
Start today! Choose the dates for your planning weekend,
read her book which has the entire how to included, and go for it!
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Curious about The Old Schoolhouseฎ Magazine but not quite ready to commit to a subscription without seeing it first?
Check it out for FREE! We're so certain you'll love our publication that we'll gladly send a FREE sample to anyone new to The Old Schoolhouseฎ Magazine - we even cover the shipping!
