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ONLY FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW (May 25-26) , you can get your subscription for one year, to the The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for a whoppin' $15!  That is one of the best prices I have seen-and to make it more interesting-they are including 5 free WeeBooks of your choice.  I love these little articles/booklets.  They contain loads of info without being a long, drawn out novel! 

Be sure to spoil yourself, and get this most fantastic magazine for homeschoolers-bar none!  I love this mag!  You will too.  Jammed packed with awesome articles, stories and ads; it is like having an extremely knowledgable homeschooling pal neatly packed into a wonderful magazine. 

For more info-just click the picture icon and it should take you directly to the TOS store.

                                                                                                                    OH Wait! There is more, if you RENEW your subscription before June 2nd, you get 2 years for the price of 1!  So for $25 you will get 2 full years of the best magazine delivered to your home!  Awesome!  Do not delay, because June 2nd is only a few days away!

TOS _fcksavedurl=""http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_176_179&products_id=10458"rel"nofollow">TOS" MAG Renewal Info, and please note-the price has been reduced from the already reduced price of $39 to $25 but only for these last few days of May and the first 2 of June!

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Gabby and I are hosting this weekly meme.  Be sure to visit Gabby's blog at The Work of Childhood for more info.  I will always post my responses and the questions of the week (when I am hosting) on my blog expressly for workboxes, at What's in the Box?-so be sure to visit often (I also try to post a few ideas and helps during the week to help others figure out what to stuff into them!)-plus I have links to other blogs and sites that are most helpful for the workboxing families.

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We just returned from a tag-along trip with daddy, to Indiana.  It was laid back and non-stressful.  Needed that so much.  So anyhoo-posted the pics of some of our experiences there.  Please visit my other blog: Homeschooling on a Wing and a Prayer to see the tour and pretty old bridge. 

If you want to keep up on what is going on with us, please visit my blogspot blogs-I post there most often.  I also have a blog for the workbox system- What's in the Box?,  one for lapbooking-Scrapbooks and Lapbooks, and one for all my review posts from being a part of the TOS Review Crew (I am returning as a First Mate this year)-1 of 100 (plus 25) TOS Crew Reviews, which is a great place to glean insider info on many homeschool products, with links to other crewmate's blogs and vendor websites!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Sorry about that-I am mostly on the blogspot ones.  I am up to 5 of em now, so maintaining them all can be time consuming.  If you haven't had a chance to visit my new blog for workboxes, please do so.  Even if you are not using the system, you may get some ideas for your kiddos-and be sure to check the blog roll-lots of great bloggers there too. 

Thought I would post the little critter my hubby spotted scooting across the yard yesterday before the big storm hit.  He is kinda cute.  We actually get lots of turtles thru our yard (maybe I will start charging a toll?) becuase for whatever reason their autopilot takes them right between our yard, and the neighbor's house.  They go pretty far too, as we have figured they are layed and hatched way across the street in a depression area (gets kinda boggy and such when it rains a lot,but nothing too wet most the time-which is kinda odd because I thought they needed watery areas to lay their eggs)...guess we have some researching to do about turtles.  Anyhoo-we usually spot about 10-20 a season.  We have a 100 year flood plain (and due to the storm, it is very full of water right now) and a large pond behind us.  Guess it is more turtle friendly than the bog area.  So it seems they are hardwired to make a trip across the bog, street, and thru our yards to get to the ole pond.  Hope he makes it and becomes a big turtle dude, and not anyone's lunch.  We let old Columbus go after the huge, destructive storm blew over.  The boy loved him and begged for us to keep him-but alas, that just isn't going to happen.  We do not have very good luck with that sort of caretaking. 

Ok, the one with my son and the turtle is so cute but is taking forever to load (and basically isn't) so I will post that one on my homeschooling on a wing and a prayer blog. 

Blessings

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I started a blog just for workbox chatter; and so if you are interested in such things-please feel free to visit it for ideas, memes and resources. I have links to other blogs that discuss it as well...since this is kind of a newer program -finding such blogs is not easy, except by word of blog.  Sure hope this helps you fellow workboxers out; and for those looking to see exactly what all the fuss is in regard to, sure hope it helps answers some of your questions.

What's in the Box?

Blessings!

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I have been seeing some chatter on some fellow HSer blogs and they kept talking about these workboxes and organizing their hs day and so and I was thinking-"I need to know what this is all about!"

I have to buy the book still, but have been gleaning info from several blogs-

the gal, Sue Patrick, came up with this idea to use boxes to put the goodies for the day (for each kid) into for them to work on (that way they know what to do, and what needs to be done, and you can see progress and well-it organizes things).  Her site is:  Sue Patrick's Workbox System

I suggest going thru it yourself, since I have yet to buy the book and cannot clearly describe it.  Also, check out these blogs for more helps and I see there are also Yahoo groups too.  This seems like a great way to get my HS flowing in a positive direction and looks to save frustration on all member's parts (esp. mine!) and you can find info on the FIAR Thread.

Joyful Mother of 6 Children

Color Me Orange

Cuddles on the Couch 

HSing My Boys 4 God

These are just a few I have found. Hae fun researching this.  I will post again after I own the puppy and have a clearer understanding of it. 

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A small thing really, but it is going to bless our homeschool so much by it.  I have tons of things that are in the pile to be laminated.  I have been wanting one for years...and finally bought one today.  I am so proud of it.  Have already laminated my son's practice sheets for his handwriting, and test drove them to see how well they worked (quite nicely actually) so that he will not use up a few hundred tress trying to get his HWing down pat.  We just use a washable Vis-a-Visa marker and a paper towel...when he has the letter or number down pat-then he can write out the stuff on a reg. sheet of paper to add to his notebook.  We are using a new HWing product I received to review, and I like it, but we had to take a step back to the letter formation so he had that in his head before moving on to the full-blown activities.  My mind is buzzing with all sorts of stuff I can make for his schooling....and the kids' photo IDs and getting the FIAR disks laminated, so I can put the velcro dots on them finally (for the map) and so and so on....

It may sound sad to most out there that one gets so excited about a laminator, but if you have a high demand for plasticized items, then you would understand.  It obviously doesn't take much to thrill me...hahahaaa. 

Ah, just had to share my exciting purchase for the day! Well that and the 2 boxes of Girl Scout cookies we bought too....

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Please try out for this-it is rewarding and I would love to be able to work with you this coming year!

**********

The TOS Homeschool Crew is ready
to set sail on its 2nd adventure!
 
Would you like to join us?
 
Last summer, TOS launched what would become one of our most exciting adventures to date--the Homeschool Crew. The Crew set sail for a year of fun and hard work, reviewing products from fifty different homeschool vendors. If you haven't seen our blog, check it out now--it's like a "convention in a blog", with information about many homeschool products (including websites, pictures, and plenty of reviews)!

 
Maybe you've heard about the Crew and wondered how you could become a part of it. Would you like to become a part of our exclusive group of reviewers--sharing your opinion on hot homeschool products via your blog, online support group, or homeschool newsletter? Do you have what it takes to be selected as the "cream of the crop" for this year? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then this e-mail is for you!

 
The Homeschool Crew = Focus Group

 
The Internet is busy with homeschoolers talking, sharing, and networking. It is natural to recommend our favorite homeschool resources, products, books, and more. We love to share!
 
The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, is embarking on our second exclusive "whisper campaign" with up to seventy-five ofour magazine advertisers. You can help us start out as a whisper and end in a roar, known as "viral marketing." Are you game to be part of it?
 
MarketResearchTerms.com defines viral marketing as: The effective way of advertising or producing brand exposure through social networks. The technique spreads throughout the network rapidly by word of mouth or by Internet resources like e-mail, blogs, or other services. Like a virus, it replicates and spreads quickly.

 
I want to join--how do I sign up?

 
TOS is looking for 100 blogging, emailing, cyber talking, home educating parents for this exclusive group and will begin the screening process for the top 100 very soon.

 
We are inviting 75 of our best advertisers to take part in this special viral marketing program. These exclusive advertisers are going to send you a selection of their hottest products to try.

 
Your job as a Crew member is to thoroughly use the products in your homeschool. Then, blog about them, email, tell your online groups, and get the information out, helping us go viral. Not only do you get to use the product but it is a free gift, for being part of the focus group!

 
If you are a support group leader, then you should send out information about some of the focus group items to your support groups. Additionally, support group leaders are asked to take some of these exclusive products with them to physical meetings, and do a "Show and Tell," sharing their experiences with the items they are reviewing with their groups. The more you write, blog, and share about the items, the more fun you have, and the more viral this campaign goes!

 
It all works quite simply . . .

 
The accepted vendors will ship the select products you are to review directly to you. Naturally, they will send you catalogs and brochures. If this viral marketing campaign is to work, they need you to become intimately familiar with the items they send you. Use them. Think of yourself as a lab worker--thoroughly testing, studying, and then writing about your findings.

 
Is this the same as a TOS Reviewer? No. You will be a special independent reviewer exclusively for the Homeschool Crew. TOS will put you in touch with these companies. You will provide the homeschool community with an independent review and analysis of the products you use!

 
Do you get paid? No. You are, just like a regular reviewer, simply agreeing to test products and write about them on your blogs, within your newsletters, and through emails to homeschooling friends. You recommend your favorite books and restaurants; now you can recommend wonderful products specifically for the homeschool community!

 
You should also verbally/physically share your thoughts about these products with friends at park days, at your support meetings, whether you are a leader or not, and just in any other day-to-day contact with homeschool friends. Because you'll have company contact information such as website addresses, toll free numbers, etc.--due to all the support materials sent to you by the companies--you should include this information in your reviews and emails so that others visiting your blogs or lists can go check out the products for themselves.

 
Our goal is to get as much information out about each product reviewed as we can, and into the hands of as many homeschoolers as we can. This is the viral part!

 
I'm ready! Where do I sign up?

 
In order to be considered for a spot on the Homeschool Crew, you will be required to download some of our products and write a review of them. If you are a blogger, you can simply send us a link to your blog post(s) containing your reviews.

 
In order to download your free items for review, please follow the instructions below:

 
The first item for you to review is our newest E-Book, HomeWork. To receive your copy, go to this link and follow the instructions below:
Click the "Add this to my cart" button.
Log in to your account (or create one, if you haven't already).
At check out, select the Paypal® option. To select this you click on a little circle to the right of the word Paypal®.
Enter the code FREEHOMEWORK (all caps) in the "Redemption Code" space.
Then, click the CONTINUE button. At this point, the order total should be zero.
Click CONTINUE again.
You will see the free download link.
Click the link to proceed with the download of HomeWork.
The second item we would like for you to review is our newest E-Book line--WeE-books. Currently, we have 30 WeE-books available for download.  We would appreciate it if you would review our WeE-book line, in general, by downloading 3 WeE-books of your choice. You may see the entire line here.

 
  Select the three you would like to receive, then follow these instructions:

Add each individual WeE-book (up to 3) by clicking the "Add this to my cart" button on each page.
At check out, select the Paypal® option. To select this you click on a little circle to the right of the word Paypal®.
Enter the codes: FREEWEEBOOK1, FREEWEEBOOK2, and FREEWEEBOOK3 (all caps) in the "Redemption Code space.
Then, click the CONTINUE button. At this point, the order total should be zero.
Click CONTINUE again.
You will see the free download link.
Click the link to proceed with your one-year FREE subscription.
Again, we ask that you review both the HomeWork E-Book and WeE-book line. When your reviews are complete, please send a link to your post to hstrawser@thehomeschoolmagazine.com. If your review is not a blog post, please include the text of your review, let us know where you shared it, and with approximately how many people.

Also, we ask that you complete the demographic form below as follows. Cut and paste all the information that appears below the dotted line into the email you send to Heidi upon completion of your reviews. Insert your answers under the questions, and then initial under each of the four conditions. Again, both reviews and the completed form must be emailed to Heidi by April 30th.
Enjoy your free downloads . . . and we're looking forward to reading some really great reviews!

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

TOS Focus Group Demographic Form

 
Full name:

 
Email Address:

 
How many children do you homeschool?
Please share their grade levels and genders.

 
What is your preferred method of homeschooling? (textbook, eclectic, unschooling, etc.)

 
Where do you plan to spread the word about the products you'll be reviewing? If you plan to share on your blog or website, please include the web url. If you are posting to an online group, or mailing list, please include the name of the group, and the approximate number of members.

 
Approximately how many people will see your reviews?

 
Please read each paragraph below. If you understand and agree with each statement, please add your initials after each paragraph.
If you are among the 100 participants selected, your name, address, email address, phone number and other contact information will be shared with the participating vendors so that they can send products to you.The vendors may want to email you, or talk to you by phone about their products--and there may be up to 75 of them. There may be less, but there will not be more than 75. We anticipate that the project will last about one year.

If you are among the 100 participants selected, your name, address, email address, phone number, and other contact information will be shared with the participating vendors so that they can send products to you.
The vendors may want to email you or talk to you by phone about their products--and there may be up to 75 of them. There may be less, but there will not be more than 75. We anticipate that the project will last about one year.
Several of the products you will be asked to review may be E-Books or other downloadable products or website services. There will be some physical products, but at this point we cannot guarantee the mix of products that any individual participant will receive.
TOS reserves the right to use all or part of what you write about any product in our print magazine, or in other TOS venues or marketing materials. We will always credit you by name, and where possible include your blog address. Please note that this applies to anyone doing a review, not only the final 100 participants.
The Homeschool Crew is a subsidiary of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine LLC, and is not to be duplicated in any way, shape, or form.

 
 
God bless all of you,

Paul and Gena Suarez
publisher@thehomeschoolmagazine.com 



 
 
  
      
 

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Thought I would mention to ya that I have a lot of new posts up in my 1 of 100 TOS Crew Reviews Blog and my Scrap and Lapbooks Blog.  I have 3 new lapbooks and at least 6 or more reviews for you to check out.  Please stop by and visit-

Especially since convention time is upon us-there is a lot of products we were able to use and write about -take advantage of this great project-visit our Crew's Homepage for many different opinions on the very products you may have been considering....

www.scrapandlapbooks.blogspot.com

www.1of100toscrewreviews.blogspot.com

www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew

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Memory Verse - Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:14-16

Introduction - I thought that I would hit the “easy button” this week and not only make the assignment light, but also give us a chance to get to know each other better through prayer.

Assignment - This week I would like you to post any prayer requests you have. What is going on in your life that you need prayer warriors for? Feel free to post an unspoken request if you feel it is too personal. Then if you would just take the time to visit as many other BFS buddies as possible, pray for them and then leave them a little note letting them know that you have prayed or will be praying.

Ok, well-

Please pray that I can stay focused and finish out the last stretch of weeks for this school year-as we are all feeling the burned sensation and I am lacking motivation.

Please pray for our friend Kristen (Inheritance of Hope founder with hubby-info found at Inheritance of Hope) as she is not doing well with the trial drugs/therapies to kill the cancer that is continually growing in her body (she has been struggling with this aggressive and rare cancer for several years-we believe her strong faith in God has kept her fighting and here all this time-esp. since they have 3 young children she homeschools).

Please pray the Lord will bring spring here soon-as this winter has been long and overwhelming to many in the upper US states.

Thanks.

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