Here we are on the day before Thanksgiving.  Do you have your dinner rolls baked and the turkey stuffed?  Thankfully, we go to my sister's for Thanksgiving.  So I bring a few dishes, but I'm not responsible for the entire meal!  Everyone brings something.  It's a great way to do a big dinner like Thanksgiving.  I highly recommend it.

Let's move our thinking from Thanksgiving for a moment to Christmas.  Today's midweek markdown is to help prepare you and your children for Christmas.  Christian Perspective is offering their e-book:  Jesus-the Promised One for $12.99 today only.  That's a $5 discount from the regular price of $17.99.

You're going to love this journey through Advent, especially if you have elementary aged children.  Each day there is a devotional reading which takes you through the plan of salvation as it is woven through the very beginning of the bible to Jesus' birth.  The readings are not lengthy and, although they are easy enough for a child to understand they will keep the attention of every adult as well. 

The thing that makes this Advent study unique is the book that your children will make as they complete each day's devotions.  Everyday there is a coloring page or a cut and paste activity for children to do while reading.  All of the pages are bound into a book, when the study is done on Christmas day.  Your children will have a lovely book as a keepsake of their Advent journey. 

All you really need to do is print your pages and get started with this Advent devotional.  You don't need to hunt down any special materials or shop for supplies.  Print the pages to color or cut, and then read the devotions beginning on December 1st and you are "good to go!"  That's my kind of Advent study!

Don't forget, this great e-book is only available at the special price today, November 25, 2009.

E-Book: Jesus- The Promised One

Regular Price:  17.99

Sale Price $12.99

Today only!

I'd love to know what you and your family do during the advent season to prepare for Christmas.  Do you light an advent wreath?  Do you do special devotions?  Please leave a comment and share!

Today we've got two great resources from one of our favorite vendors, Grace and Truth books.  I love this vendor because they sell such quality books.  These are the books Charlotte Mason would have called "living books."  Grace and Truth has taken older books and republished them for children and teens today.  Their books focus on character and encourage children who read them to grow spiritually, and today's midweek markdown is no exception.

Our first offering from this wonderful vendor is the Children's Character Building Collection.  There are 11 books in this set.  All 11 will challenge your child or pre-teen to strengthen their character. But these books aren't just for children, adults love them too!  The books in this series are:

Do you and your family acknowledge Advent in your home?  If you’re not familiar with Advent, it is the period leading up to Christmas.  Some families or churches begin the day after Thanksgiving.  Some Advent studies begin on December 1^st and lead you up to Christmas Day, December 25, 2009.  In the past our family has done different Advent studies during the Month of December.  One year we used a book as a guide.  One year we listened to specific audios every day leading up to Christmas.  I always plan a special study that the boys and I do during the day together leading up to Christmas as a special Advent study just for us in addition to what we do with Daddy in the evening.  During the month of December when things get a little crazy I can be sure that we are still getting a little writing, maybe some art and music, and some reading completed each day by working through our special Advent study.  I love to have a new study for our family each year.

If you are still looking for that perfect Advent study, I may have just the thing for you today.  Today’s midweek markdown comes to you from Graham Family Ministries.  Today we are offering the  E-Book: The Glorious Coming - A Jesse Tree Advent Celebration for a special price of  $5.00.  That’s $2.95 off the regular price of $7.95.

This E-Book will help you and your family to create a Jesse Tree.   To quote the description from our Old Schoolhouse Store, a Jesse Tree traces “the family line and heritage of the family of God, of human beings from the beginning of time to the coming of God Himself, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”  Each day there is a scripture to read and a short reading.  Then, there is an ornament for you to hang on your Jesse Tree.  You can print these on cardstock and laminate them to use year after year.  Your Jesse Tree could be a branch you bring in from the yard, or you can draw a Jesse Tree on a sheet of poster board and hang your ornaments there.  This is an Advent study that you can do as an entire family.  The readings are short enough to keep a younger child’s attention, yet worded well to keep the attention of older children and adults.

Graham Family Ministries is donating all of their proceeds from the sales of The Glorious Coming during the month of December to Samaritan’s Purse. Each year, the Graham family finds a worthy charity to receive the blessings of their sales in December.  This year, the recipient they chose was Samaritan’s Purse.  So, the portion of your midweek markdown purchase that goes to Graham Family ministries will go directly to this charity that focuses on blessing needy children all over the world.

So, there’s plenty of incentive to purchase The Glorious Coming – A Jesse Tree Advent Celebration. 

            #1.  It’s a study that will bless your family, bring you closer together, and closer to our Saviour.

            #2.  It’s at a great price!

            #3.  Part of the proceeds will help children all over the world.

If you do pick up a copy, stop back to the blog and let me know how your Jesse Tree goes this Advent season.  I’ll be looking for those comments!

I have a lot to share with you today, so I won't bore you with my personal stories!  This week's midweek markdown comes to us from vendor Amy Puetz.  She is offering six of her e-books at very special prices to you.  As always, these specials will only be for one day, Wednesday, November 4, 2009.  So, get yours today! 

E-book:  Countdown to Christmas

Regular Price:  $21.95

Sale Price:  $17.00

Countdown to Christmas is a book that will lead your family from the first of December right up to the 25th, Christmas Day.  Every day you and your family will gather around the kitchen table or cuddle up on the sofa and read a story or article about Christmas and then do an activity together around that reading.  Many of the readings are from writings in the 1800s and 1900s.  This book has a feature from one of my favorite authors, Louisa May Alcott, as well as, Edith Nesbitt, Hans Christian Anderson, the Bible, and the editor/compiler of the book Amy Puetz. 

If you get this ebook today, you will have plenty of time to get your activities planned before the first day you begin this charming path to Christmas.  This is a large book, 150 pages, so when you order it, you will have four separate downloads.  Check out this great seasonal resource today!

E-book:  Costumes with Character

Regular Price:  $21.95

Sale Price:  $17.00   

This 112 page e-book is chock-full of history.  In it you will find the patterns for eleven costumes ranging from the 1620's to the late 1800's.  But this is not only a costume book, it is also the basis for a unit study.  You will find facts and quotes from each time period that you can use for copy work or to make mini-books for a lapbook.  There is also a list of resources for further study of the time periods.  Pick up a copy of Costumes with Character at this special price for today, one-day only.

Read a review of costumes with Character here.

And finally, all four of Amy Puetz's Heroines of the Past e-books are on sale for this special one-day only sale.  In each book you will find a complete unit study for that period of history featuring the famous, and some not-so-famous women of that time period.  Each book contains biographies, activities, (usually a costume), games from the period, book reivews, a quiz, art appreciation and so much more.  These e-books are truly a treasure and unlike any history unit in the fact that they are about historical women.  Check them out today.  Each of these e-books normally sells for $14.95.  Today you can get them for $11.50 each.  Follow the links below to the product page to pick yours up or learn more about these e-books.

 E-Book: Heroines of the Past: Civil War 1861-1865

Regular Price:  $14.95

Sale Price $11.50

 E-Book: Heroines of the Past: Colonial 1630-1775

Regular Price:  $14.95

Sale Price:  $11.50

E-Book: Heroines of the Past: Patriot 1775-1783

Regular Price:  $14.95

Sale Price:  $11.50

E-Book: Heroines of the Past: Victorian 1870-1900

Regular Price:  $14.95

Sale Price:  $11.50

So, I've left you with a lot to consider today.  You can pick up a resource for the upcoming Advent Season, or maybe an e-book or two to spark something in your history studies!  I hope you find something that will bless you this week!  If you do, leave me a comment and tell me what you got!

Until next week,

Here we are again for the midweek markdown.  I'm really excited to share this with you because this week's midweek markdown is FREE!  We will be offering a new freebie each quarter, so tell your friends to subscribe to the blog so that they won't miss a freebie.  Remember, as with the regular midweek markdowns, this will be available for one-day only, in this case, Wednesday, October 28, 2009.

This week, we are offering all of you a free copy of one of our Schoolhouse Planner Modules.  To see all The Schoolhouse Planner Modules, go here in the Schoolhouse Store.  The Planner Modules are a great idea to spark something different in all of our homeschools.  You can subscribe to the planner modules and receive a new module each month.  All the modules are filled with great ideas, information, and activities.  Go here to view the 2009-2010 Planner Module Membership.

The module we are offering to you today is Amusing Mathmatics.  This was the November 2008 module.  For me, this couldn't come at a more perfect time, being about a fourth of the way into our school year, our guys are pretty tired of the old routine!  Taking a day for some different and fun math activities just might be the ticket to get them out of our rut!  I'm planning on downloading this module and using it to break up our math lessons in the coming weeks.

Included in this book are math jokes and riddles, lots of activity pages, coloring pages, math tricks, and even copy work.    I know our boys are always amazed by number tricks where you add, subtract, multiply, and divide one number and somehow the person giving you the trick can tell you what your ending number is.  Do you know those?  Well, learning those number tricks will impress every grandparent!  So get your copy of this week's Midweek Markdown, and start impressing!

Download your copy of Amusing Mathematics   today!  Because it won't be free tomorrow!

If you would like to read a review of this particular module, check out what a fellow homeschooler had to say. (hint:  she gave it 5 stars!)

One addiction I seem to share with a lot of other homeschool mothers is a love of books.  I love looking over all the wonderful books offered by Grace and Truth Books.  My wish list for this vendor is very long and today we have THREE special offers for you!

If you have girls in your home, today’s midweek markdown is a wonderful way for you to fill your bookshelf with these valuable treasures.  The Girl’s Heritage Set from Grace and Truth Books contains 8 books.  That’s more than 900 pages of quality character reading.  If you get this set, you will receive the following books:
First Impressions of God
Grace Raymond
The Little Girl's Treasury
Behind Mr. Bunyan
The Dairyman's Daughter
I Have A Soul
The Young Cottager
Patty's Curiosity

Since we are planning to read Pilgrim’s Progress this year, I may pick these up even though I have two boys.  “Behind Mr. Bunyan” would fit well with our plans.  And, after all, I’m a girl!  I know I could benefit from some reading for my character!

If the girl’s heritage set is not a good fit for your plans, how about two excellent books to help parents? Courtship or Dating: So What's the Difference?  and Parenting From the Heart: Practical Parenting From a Mom of 14 Children are two great resources to help you on your parenting journey.

Courtship or Dating: So What’s the Difference? has been touted as “the most sensible and Biblical book on courtship.” 

Finally, Parenting From the Heart: Practical Parenting From a Mom of 14 Children is a gem full of practical advice and tips for parenting and homeschooling.  You will glean so much from this book.  It, too, comes highly recommended. 

So, there are quite a few recommendations for a Wednesday!  Don’t forget, these prices are only valid today, Wednesday, October 21, 2009.  Don’t miss them!

Grace and Truth Midweek Markdown,
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Girl’s Heritage Set
Regular Price:  $39.00
Sale Price, one-day only:  $31.00

Courtship or Dating: So What’s the Difference?
Regular Price:  $6.00
Sale Price, one-day only:  $4.95

Parenting from the Heart: Practical Parenting from a Mom of 14 Children
Regular Price:  9.75
Sale Price, one-day only:  7.99

If you would like to read the TOS review of Grace and Truth books, go HERE.

And don’t forget, you always get free shipping!  Go to the Old Schoolhouse Store today and pick up your copies! 

When I was in school, I never really cared for History class.  Most of our homework required reading the textbook and, although I LOVED to read, I found our history texts to be terribly boring!  When we had our boys, I was so excited to learn about Charlotte Mason's ideas of using living books to teach children.  This opened up a whole new world to me.  Now I love history.  I can't get enough historical fiction or biographies!

If you enjoy historical fiction, then you'll enjoy today's midweek markdown.  Today we are offering the E-Book, Father's Birthday and the Great Chicago Fire by Gail Kappenman of Kap and  Pen Publications for only $1. 

Did you know that the Great Chicago Fire occurred in October, 1871?  It did.  And Kap & Pen's book chronicling events that took place during the Great Chicago Fire will provide you with lots of information you didn't already know about this tragic event in American History.  Loosely based on the author's great-grandfather, Father's Birthday and the Great Chicago Fire tells of William and his family who are living in Chicago in October, 1871.  Not only are they in the city during the fire, but they are also part of the clean-up and restoration after the fire.  I learned things about the occurences surrounding this fire, just from reading the synopsis of the book!

And this book isn't just about the fire.  There are many other things to be learned just from conversations you get to "hear" while reading about William's family.  Subjects such as marbles, the history of chess, and D.L. Moody are mentioned in Father's Birthday and the Great Chicago Fire.

So, pick up your copy today.  You will not only enjoy the text, but also the pen and ink illstrations in this 73 page book.  For $1, you can add to your history study in immeasurable ways!

E-Book: Father's Birthday and the Great Chicago Fire

Regular Price:  $3.95

Sale Price:  $1.00

October 14, 2009 only

With Columbus Day fast approaching, how about taking your child on a journey with Christopher Columbus?  The book we are featuring today in our midweek markdown is so much more than your basic unit study.  I remember learning about Christopher Columbus in school.  I remember 1492.  I remember Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. But the Brandenburg study of Christopher Columbus goes way beyond the basics.   In the words of the author, “It looks at the inventions and changes that led to exploration; biography of Christopher Columbus; Navigation and mapping; and his 4 voyages.”  That sounds like an exciting time of discovery for our homeschools!

Heidi Strawser, E-book Reviews Specialist for The Old Schoolhouse ® Magazine, LLC wrote the following in her review of Brandenburg Unit Studies:
Each unit study by BrandenburgStudies contains a note to the instructor/parent, explaining what to expect from the study and how to make the best use of your time.  Also included are a lesson plan (that tells you what will need to be done each day), printable information and worksheets, lists of suggested literature and video supplements, notebooking instructions, project ideas, and the curriculum itself.  Each page of the unit study curriculum is filled with full-color photographs and lots of Internet links for further research. 

You can read all of her review here  as part of the description of the product.

When many of our other subjects require a lot of preparation on my part.  It’s nice to have at least one subject for which I don’t have to spend a lot of preparation time.  This Brandenburg study of Christopher Columbus is one of those studies that you can implement in your homeschool very easily.

This is a really great unit covering so much more than just the basics of the discovery of North America.  You can get your copy at a special price today only. Regularly priced for 9.95, this unit study is on sale for 35% off.  You can get yours for $6.47.  But hurry, this sale is for one day only, Wednesday, October 7, 2009.

E-Book: Christopher Columbus

by Brandenburg Studies

Regular Price:  9.95

Sale Price: 6.47  (35% off)

Date:  Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Get your copy today!

Unit studies are a great way to help your children learn in a more "hands-on" way. History could tend to be boring if it were just left up to a text book. I know my children always enjoy school more if they can get in and DO it instead of only listening. Well, today we have a great unit study from In the Hands of a Child. I hope you will take this opportunity to give unit studies a try!
 
Today only!
Regular price = $21.50
On sale for just $13.98! That's 35% off!
 
The American, Civil War A House Divided - In the Hands of a Child 
The American Civil War, which was also called the War Between the States, was a war between the United States of America (the Union) and the Confederate States of America (the Confederacy). The American Civil War lasted for four years and was fought by three million Americans. Now your student can learn about “A House Divided” in The American Civil War Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child. This 82-page Project Pack contains a 28-page Research Guide and 25-hands on activities to help your student complete a lapbook.

Click HERE to see what TOS Reveiwer, Amy Christy, had to say about this great unit study from Hands of a Child.
  
 

Have you seen this week’s Midweek Markdown?  Sorry we're so late posting this but Angela is super busy this week and asked if I would fill in for her. I was happy to do so because who would know this product better than I would. It’s one of mine. 

If you are doing a study of the 50 states or if your state is like ours and requires a state study be done, this may be the book for you. The State Study Motto Copybook and Notebook Pages from Proverbs 22:6 Academy has so much more to offer than just a bunch of state mottoes. From the product description you’ll find that the 168 pages are broken down into 4 sections.  The first section contains motto copywork with guidelines. Included on each motto page is an informational block for the student to fill in with other facts about the state, a state outline map, the state flag to color and a United States map to shade in the state location.

On each page of the next section you will find 2 outline maps for each state, a blank outline map and a political map with the county, borough or parish lines. Included in this section are pages to create state flash cards.

The third section has a collection of over 30 notebook pages to choose from to fit your needs.
In the final section of this book you will find  answers and resources to complete your study.

Our own E-Book Reviews Specialist, Heidi Strawser had this to say:

This is the most all-inclusive set of Notebooking and copybook pages that I have ever seen!  Virginia Donahue has thought of everything you could possibly need to enhance your study of the United States of America.  Not only has she included the regular copybook pages that she is becoming famous for (exceptional quality), but she has also included maps, Notebooking pages, and extra resources for further information and study. 

I am planning a study of the states with my daughter, and will definitely be incorporating these pages into our study.  Not only are they pleasing to look at, but they are so well laid out.  Your child can use these pages for so much more than daily copy work; they can create a keepsake state study notebook by using these pages.

I must say that I really like that these pages are black and white.  That feature allows for so much creative expression for your children.  They can decorate the pages with as much or as little color as they would like, making these pages truly their own.

Just for today you can purchase either E-Book: State Study Motto Copybook and Notebook Pages-Manuscript or E-Book: State Study Motto Copybook and Notebook Pages-Cursive for only $5.00.