Finding Your Joy Giveaway from Willette Designs: Back to School Week

by on August 19, 2010
in giveaways ·

This giveaway has ended–thanks for entering.

Our previous two giveaways focused on materials to use for our kids, but today’s giveaway goodness is all. about. you.

Can you believe it?!

I probably don’t have to point out to you that as homeschooling parents we sometimes become so caught up with the busyness of teaching our children that we forget about ourselves. This is dangerous, as it leads to burnout, frustration, and even resentment–not the homeschooling atmosphere we’re trying to create!

So that’s why I’m pleased to share the details about a new photography e-journey from Willette Designs, called Finding Your Joy. [Read more...]

FBS Books Giveaway: Back to School Week

by on August 18, 2010
in giveaways ·

This giveaway has ended–thanks for entering.

I hope you’re enjoying this special series–welcome to Day 3 of Back to School Week!

The sponsor for today’s giveaway is FBS Books, a family-owned homeschooling company carrying a huge inventory of classical and traditional curricula.

FBS Books stocks a wide variety of popular, well-known materials in all subjects like Saxon Math, A Reason for Handwriting, Explode the Code, and Sequential Spelling. But they also keep in stock many new resources you may not have discovered before–I enjoyed browsing through the maps, puzzles, CDs, and cookbooks in the geography section. And I spent a long time admiring the collection of learning games available.

FBS Books offers affordable, reasonable prices on their materials, and they offer free shipping on all orders over $25! [Read more...]

Oak Meadow Giveaway: Back to School Week

by on August 17, 2010
in giveaways ·

This giveaway has ended–thanks for entering.

Welcome to Day 2 of Back to School Week here on Simple Homeschool!

Today I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce you to one of Simple Living Media’s sponsors, Oak Meadow Curriculum and School.

Oak Meadow offers two excellent choices for homeschooling families: PreK – Grade 12 curriculum packages you can purchase and use with your children, or the ability to actually enroll in their accredited school via distance learning, thereby receiving full academic credit and transcripts for your child’s work at home–as well as the support of an experienced teacher.

Oak Meadow has been in business for over 35 years, and their materials offer that wealth of educational experience to their customers. Their approach is simple: give children a safe, nurturing environment; provide creative activities for head, hands, and heart; offer each student respect and time to unfold naturally.

The staff at Oak Meadow are not just employees showing up to get a paycheck. Instead they are individuals who really embody the creative philosophy and passion for education that Oak Meadow stands for. This post, written by Heather at Beauty That Moves, describes her inspiring visit to the Oak Meadow offices in Vermont. Reading it gives a lovely glimpse into the ethos and values of this company. [Read more...]

Introducing Back to School Week!

by on August 15, 2010
in links · 7 Comments

Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and founder of Steady Mom

I‘ve been looking forward to this week for a while now. Many of you are in the midst of planning for the upcoming school year, and some of you may have already started your new school term. But even if you homeschool year-round it only takes one trip to a nearby store this time of year to realize one thing–it’s back to school time!

Those of us here at Simple Living Media thought it only appropriate to celebrate and encourage all of you who are busily making plans–so tomorrow we’ll be kicking off back to school week here on Simple Homeschool!

Every day this week stop by to visit for the chance to get some excellent advice and enter some amazing giveaways (They are really, really amazing!).

I’ll see you back here tomorrow to get started. In the meantime check out these helpful back to school links: [Read more...]

3 Lessons Learned for the Beginner Homeschooler

by on August 13, 2010
in inspiration · 21 Comments

Written by Simple Homeschool contributor Renee Tougas of FIMBY.

Eleven years ago our family started this home education journey with the birth of our oldest child. We never did try a public or private school option. Homeschooling is all we know.

Our family’s experience is limited to elementary aged education. So I’m certainly no expert on the subject of homeschooling, but I have learned a few lessons of my own along the way. Perhaps these are even more important than what my children have learned.

We’re all learning together and that’s one of the amazing benefits of home education.

These “lessons learned,” and still being learned, have come out of my insecurities and the question, “Am I doing this right?”

I hope what I’ve learned will be an encouragement if you’re just starting out or like me, have been at this a few years.

[Read more...]

Healthy Obsessions

by on August 11, 2010
in a mom's education · 22 Comments

Written by Amida of Journey into Unschooling

At one time or another, children will go through phases where they are consumed by a subject or hobby. Through the years, we’ve been taken over by Calvin and Hobbes, Harry Potter, and Horrible History, among a host of other infatuations.

Sometimes, these may not be desirable to us. We may not always understand or see the possible educational benefits of leafing through piles of Captain Underpants. It may even cross our minds to limit their exposure to these passing crazes and replace them with something more beneficial or academic.

I think though, that a little obsession does a body good.

It is at these moments of intense study that one really learns. When my eight-year-old was into Pokemon, he pored over a 600-plus guide day and night and studied the ins and outs of the trading card game, learned every character’s weaknesses and strengths, and became the household’s best player.

Sure, we may think Pokemon is nothing, but to that eight-year-old, it was a source of pride and accomplishment — something he was very good at. [Read more...]

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