• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY EAGER TO READ!

By Janet Colbrunn

Most people enjoy getting into the Christmas spirit by decorating, shopping and participating in Christmas programs and celebrations. However, writing the annual Christmas newsletter is often considered to be a last-minute chore for the procrastinating letter-writer of the family. Fearful that it sounds boastful or worse yet, boring, the family letter is finally sent and reaches busy friends and family, who skim over it and set it aside to read later because they have more urgent things to do. Our family has taken this whole communication dilemma and wrapped it up with a theme to create a strategy that makes the annual family letter not only compelling to read but fun to write too.

This innovative approach began in 1985, the year of the big family move with three young children, when I had so much to tell our friends back home. I knew that individual handwritten notes were too time consuming, but I resisted sending duplicated newsletters since they were uncommon at that time and widely regarded as impersonal brag letters. One day I came across a box, left by the former owner, full of stationery with an artist’s rendering of our new house on it. It almost shouted, “I’ll write your letter!”  Indeed, as I wrote about our activities from the perspective of the house (you know how the walls hear all) it did seem to write itself! Best of all, the playful attitude of the letter concealed the shades of boastfulness concerning how well things had gone for us that year.

Each year after that, we followed three easy steps to write a new creative Christmas letter. The first step is to make a list of events, accomplishments and activities for each member of the family. This task can be accomplished in a festive family atmosphere around a fire or in the car on the way to Grandma’s house every Thanksgiving. As each individual’s strengths and accomplishments are celebrated, the family creates a bonding experience, an unexpected bonus to the process. 

Step two requires the family to select a theme. Themes may be selected from three categories: list letters, format letters and perspective letters. The easiest themes are list letters. These letters might list the top ten TV shows or best selling books. Each show or book, of course, would describe the activities of one particular family member. Sometimes themes are drawn from various media formats. A crossword puzzle, game board and dictionary are among the options. Some letters can be written from a perspective other than that of the family members. Perhaps, the house, the family dog or a guardian angel might “write” the letter. One letter appeared to have been written about our family from the perspective of having lived 100 years ago with a picture of us in Victorian dress, taking on a stoical pose. The possibilities are endless.

Step three allows the family to blend the topics with the theme, adding humor and creativity to develop an informative and entertaining package for their friends and extended family to enjoy. The letters can be copied onto decorative Christmas stationery or enhanced with drawings, pictures, stampings and scrapbooking materials as well. The creative Christmas letter format perks up a boring annual report and tones down what may otherwise appear to be a brag letter.

Three other benefits emerge from the creative Christmas letter-writing experience.  First, parents and teachers can take advantage of the opportunity to enhance creative writing skills as children are actively involved in the authorship of the family letter.  Next, as years go by, letters can be compiled in a notebook establishing a written family history that contributes to a sense of roots and family values. Furthermore, Christians, who strive to share the true meaning of the Christmas message, find it more personal and effective to share their faith in a unique way every year.

Our family has compiled all the letters that we have written over the years, including those written by the families of our adult children, and produced a book to offer theme ideas and guidelines to others who desire to give their letters a creative flair.

Ideas for Writing Creative Christmas Letters That People Are Actually Eager to Read!  is written by Janet Colbrunn and is available at bookstores and from writingcreativechristmasletters.com for $14.95. A website purchase provides a free bonus ebook on motivating children in creative writing.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• First of all, I am an impatient person. Maybe you’re not like me, but I’m sure that at some point you have placed an order somewhere (whether online or via a catalog) and then sat for days wondering when it would arrive. The UPS man comes to the door; and, if you’re anything like me, you light into the poor guy! Well, E-Books have protected my poor UPS man from a lot of abuse, because when I order an E-Book, it’s available for immediate download! I can have the book in front of me in a matter of minutes.
• I tend to be as frugal as possible. I think a lot of homeschoolers can relate to this practice, because most homeschooling families are living on one income. I find  the fact that I don’t have to pay any shipping and handling charges when I purchase an E-Book very exciting. (As we all know, those shipping and handling charges can really add up when ordering curriculum and books.) The price of an E-Book is generally lower than the price of that same book in a print version, so you’re saving money all the way around!
• How many times have you been in the middle of a school lesson and thought to yourself, “Boy, I wish we had a book about _______. It would fit in so well with our lesson today,” or “So-and-so could really use more practice with _______. I wish I had some extra practice pages for him/her.” Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who does that! With E-Books, because you can access them automatically, you never have to think thoughts like that any more! You can simply jump online, find an E-Book that fits your needs that day, order it, download it, and use it. Voila!
• Have you ever purchased a certain workbook only to realize that you really needed only a few pages out of it, and the rest of it pretty much went to waste?  Because E-Books are digital downloads, you can print only the pages that you need and know for sure that you are going to use—no more wasted paper and half-used workbooks lying around the house. 
• I love books! We don’t have a place in our home that we can use only as a schoolroom; we do our schoolwork in the dining room. I have bookshelves, but they are filled to the brim. I just do not have extra space for more books. That’s another thing that I love about E-Books: I can save them on my computer or put them on a disc. Compact discs have become very important to me, because I store my E-Books on them and they take up very little room in my home. I like that. 
• Do you school on the road or do a lot of traveling? With a laptop computer and a jump drive, you can take school along with you so that you don’t fall behind.  Technology has made homeschooling much simpler.
  

• They’re instant gratification. In this microwave generation, it’s one more way to get something you really want fast, easily, and conveniently.
• They’re inexpensive—cheaper than traditional books and with no shipping fees, everyone can afford to buy one or two or more than a few. 
• They’re homeschool friendly. Parents can have access to teaching materials at their fingertips while children experience a richer and more fulfilling home education; it’s a win-win for parents and children alike. 
• They’re green. You save trees by going digital and waste less on half-used workbooks, printing only what you need. 
• They’re storage friendly. You can have your E-books and store them too. Unlike traditional books, which require shelving, space, and someone with the time to organize them, E-books are compact, space-friendly, and liberating to homeschool parents who would like to spend more time reading books than reorganizing their homes to accommodate them. 
• Finally, they’re versatile. E-books open up a world of infinite possibilities, from homeschooling while you travel to sharing your favorite titles with more than one friend at a time.
  

          

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

With all of the bad news about the economy in the press, TOS wants to, now more than ever, encourage homeschoolers to keep going strong in the Lord. So, they're doing something that they've never done before.

For the five days of their Black Friday Sale, shoppers can actually buy a ONE YEAR subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, for only $7.95!

That's the price you would usually pay for just one copy of the magazine at the bookstore. But for these 5 special days, November 26 – 30, 2008, shoppers will get a whole year (4 issues) of TOS mailed directly to their home for a fraction of the regular price.

PLUS, there's more! Every subscription to The Old Schoolhouse^® Magazine also includes a free subscription to their monthly, subscriber-only E-Newsletter, Teacher's Toolbox.

Each issue of Teacher's Toolbox includes a free E-Book from such companies as Hands of a Child, Amanda Bennett Unit Studies, Brandenburg Unit Studies, and more. Packed with teaching tips, field trip ideas, and hands-on activities, TOS subscribers will receive almost $250 in free E-Books through Teacher's Toolbox!

At this price of $7.95, why not buy a few extra?!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is perfect for:

• homeschool friends
• support group leaders
• church or public library
• friends who are considering homeschooling
• grandparents

Plus during the Black Friday Sale, TOS will have all kind of bonus gifts when you spend $50, $75, $100, or $150 in the Schoolhouse Store. Some products are electronic downloads that you can use immediately, while others are physical products mailed, free from any shipping charges, from various vendors directly to your home.

AND, their Win Big Contest is going on—if you happen to be customer number 67,000, you will receive a prize package valued at almost $500 which includes a $150 gift certificate to the Schoolhouse Store! You can qualify to win no matter how much or how little you spend!

Mark your calendars for November 26 - 30^th and do a little shopping from your seat, not your feet, at the Schoolhouse Store's Black Friday Sale!

www.TheOldSchoolhouseStore.com

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Ma always did the carving in the old days on the farm
When roasted bird at meals occurred she'd slice it to a charm;
But last Thanksgiving Father said, when Ma was carving ducks,
Her cooking, though 'twas passable, she couldn't carve for shucks.
Dad said agen, he noticed when a chicken came on deck,
Though all the rest got legs or breast, he always got the neck;
Henceforth he'd wield the knife himself, and now I'll go to work,
Events I'll trace, tell what took place when Father carved the "turk."

Christmas mighty soon rolled round, and Dick and me and Sue
Had fixed a little game on Pop, and Ma was in it, too -
We had a turkey on the farm, I'd heard Dad oft remark
He'd pledge his word that very bird came out of Noah's ark.
We chloroformed the gobbler, and though for hours we tried,
No ax or gun (we tried a ton) would penetrate his hide.
When in the oven birdie went Mom whispered, with a smirk,
There'll be some fun for every one when Father carves the "turk."

'Twas Christmas day, the table gay with fixings for the feast,
And ev'ry guest dressed in his best, a score of them at least;
A hungry horde sat round the board as Dad took up his knife,
All sharpened like a razor, for the battle of his life.
Hushed was the din as Ma brought in the gobbler, brown and slick-
Mom winked at me, I winked at Sue and Sue she winked at Dick;
All bowed their heads as grace was said by Reverend Joseph Burke,
Then still as death we held our breath while Father carved the "turk."

Dad shed his coat and bared his throat, and then he butted in,
The gobbler's hide to cut he tried, but couldn't pierce the skin ;
Its breast he jabbed, its neck he stabbed, and gave it such a slap
It went right swish clean off the dish and flopped in Sal Smith's lap.
'Twas soon put back, again Dad hacked; oh, things were going some!
When Dad's knife slipped and off it whipped the top of Father's thumb;
Dad stomped the floor, and strange oaths swore, while Reverend Mr. Burke
Begged Heaven, in prayer, our lives to spare while Father carved the "turk."

We fixed the old man's damaged thumb, then Dad, sad to relate,
Upon the table knelt and chased the turkey round the plate;
One knee was on the gobbler's breast, the other in the pie,
While gravy flew on me and Sue and hit the ceiling high,
We ducked beneath the table, 'twas the safest place to go,
While Pop was wrestling up on deck we breathed a prayer below;
Then came a crash, an awful smash; in my brain long 'twill lurk;
That deafening roar, when on the floor, went Father and the "turk."

We scrambled out and picked Dad up; you should have seen him prance -
The carving knife lodged in his shoe, the fork stuck in his pants,
His face was smeared with grease, his beard and whiskers full of pie,
Ere he could see Ma dug out three potatoes from his eye.
Then old "Doc" Jupp patched father up, and said 'twas very plain
He'd turkeyitis of the pants and gravy on the brain-
Another gobbler soon was cooked and each one went to work,
And ate, you bet, but don't forget 'twas Mother carved the "turk."

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Thanksgiving Comes But Once a Year

by Thornton W. Burgess

Thanksgiving comes but once a year,
But when it comes it brings good cheer.
For in my storehouse on this day
Are piles of good things hid away.
Each day I've worked from early morn
To gather acorns, nuts, and corn,
Till now I've plenty and to spare
Without a worry or a care.
So light of heart the whole day long,
I'll sing a glad Thanksgiving song.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Giving Thanks

by Author Unknown

Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

A Naughty Pumpkin's Fate

Author Unknown

A queer little pumpkin, a jolly fat fellow,
Stood close to his mother so rotund and yellow.
"What a stupid old place! How I long to aspire,"
Cried he, "I was destined for something much higher."

"My son," said the mother, "pray do be content,
There's great satisfaction in life that's well spent!"
But he shrugged up his shoulders, this pumpkin, 'tis true,
And acted just like some bad children will do.

With a shout and a whoop, in the garden they ran,
Tom and Ned, for they'd thought of the loveliest plan
To astonish their friends from the city, you see,
With a fine Jack-o'-lantern--"Ah, this one suits me!"

Neddie seized the bad pumpkin, and dug out his brains,
Till he felt so light-headed and brimful of pains;
Then two eyes, a long nose, and a mouth big and wide,
They cut in a minute, and laid him aside

Until night, when they hung him upon a stout limb,
With a candle inside; how his poor head did swim,
As they twisted him this way, then twirled him round that,
Till at last, with a crash, he fell on the ground flat,

A wreck of the once jolly, fat little fellow,
Who stood by his mother so rotund and yellow.
Just then a lean cow, who was passing that way,
Ate him up, just to finish HER "Thanksgiving Day."

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link