One of the questions that is asked over and over by new homeschoolers or those considering homeschooling is "where do I buy the books?"

Don't go right out and buy an expensive pre-packaged curriculum, I say.  Do research, talk to other Moms, read, read, read.  Use what you already HAVE, then see if you need anything.  Use the public library (but we careful--there is so much there that I don't recommend.)  I NEVER recommend just letting your child go wild in the library and get whatever they want to grab off the shelves.  Yes, I do believe in censorship.  That is my job as a parent; until the child has enough discernment to self-censor.
 
I thoroughly believe that there are some wonderful books that we should get for our kids.  I also believe that there are some wonderful resources that have been written by homeschoolers themselves (homeschool parents) who have gone before us and want to impart what they learned.  I urge you to buy from homeschool businesses run by homeschoolers!  We need each other!

I LOVE books.  I have more books than I will ever be able to read in my lifetime.  I thought about having a "read all the books you own" challenge, but frankly it would be impossible!  But, there are a few books in my shelving that I have read read more than once, just because I love them.  And no, I am not a classics snob or anything like that, although I don't have anything against classics per se.  We just have books that HELP us with what we are doing.  We have RESOURCES for what we are studying, or what interests us in an ongoing sense.  We have REFERENCE material that we could probably just look up online, but we want to physically hold it in our hands, and read it together without the glow of the computer screen.

I do have a list of books that I recommend.  I am hoping to get one posted REAL soon.  I even have whole one-and-a half inch thick unit studies that I like.  I have an entire set of KONOS, that I am just amazed by, but will probably only implement less than one percent of in my entire generation, but I still love it.  I have a wonderful writing book that I recommend, (and not just because I have a small contribution in it.) I recommend it because it is a REAL treasure.  It is about life.  It is a book that the whole family can learn from in a natural way. 

I know many mothers out there like me want to learn to write and they want to leave a family legacy through their writings.  We also want our children to know the joy of knowing how to write.  We don't want it to be boring, drudgery, or just be seatwork.  We want ALL of our homeschooling/unschooling endeavors to be vital, life-giving and joy-filled, right?  And while I can't promise you that your days teaching your kids will be ALWAYS joyous, they don't have to be boring, rote and schoolish.

Do you want to know more about this book?  The author believes in what she teaches in the book so deeply, that she even wants to share about it with you for FREE.  Gratis.  Isn't that wonderful??

Here is the information for you. 

This is happening TODAY, Thursday, June 27.  Don't miss it! 

Subject: Thursday's free writing seminar-Tell a friend!

Dear Friends, 

Introduction to The Gift of Family Writing - Tips and Techniques by Jill and Eric Novak(pre-school through highschool, and parents, too) We will be giving a free introductory Gift of Family Writing seminar online on this Thursday. 

We will answer these questions: 

What is Family Writing all about?
How do I fit it into my busy lifestyle?
Can teaching writing really be this easy? 

Yes! Yes! Yes! Join us and learn how. 

Do you already use The Gift of Family Writing? 
Share your life stories when I open up the mics or email them ahead of time if you prefer.
Share how family writing has enriched your family life! 

When?
Thursday, June 28th

Scheduled Start Time Thursday:
11:00 AM Pacific Time
12:00 PM Mountain Time
1:00 PM Central Time
2:00 PM Eastern Time 

OUR CONFERENCE ROOM... 

We provide the software download-free. Here is the link:  http://members.meetingonnow.com/conference.php?id=53127036 

Click to begin download or copy/paste into your internet 
browser and click ENTER. It will only take a few 
minutes to download into your computer, but you want
to do it ahead of time so you don't miss a minute in
the Conference Room. 

After it is downloaded on your computer, it will set 
up an icon on your desktop that says CONFERENCE. Then, 
you will only have to click it to open up the room.
Here are your instructions from there:

When you are ready to enter, you will enter your NAME 
or EMAIL ADDRESS in the first blank. 

Add the following information when prompted: 

Name of Room: Remembrance Press Class 'n' Chat
Password: chatnow 

Remember...your password is different for chats and other
classes. It only works for the room when the room is
open for the study.

If you have any trouble with the link, please email me at jillnovak@dls.netUntil then, here are .

some nature journaling posts to share with your children.

Anna's Amazing Discovery or  How to Draw a Toad 
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JillNovak/341016/ 

Drawing Hollyhocks 
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JillNovak/343852/ 

Milkweed 
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JillNovak/347196/

 _____________________________  

"See" you there! 

Homeschooling Is Life!  

Nancy