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~ January 2015 ~
Dear Readers,
Hope you all had a fun, joyous holiday season! I can't believe the new year is already here! If you're like me, you probably only have one New Year’s resolution and that is: "This year I will do all the things that I didn’t get to finish last year." Ha!
Of course if the new year is really going to be any different, it means that you have to actually do something, not just continue in your wishful thinking. It might help to read this article that I wrote several years ago. I always re-read it every year around this time to remind myself that it's never too late! The article contains a list of 20 homeschool resolutions, but I also made an abridged list of "Top Ten Homeschool Resolutions" (download the PDF if you like).
Happy New Year!
Featured Article
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to make some changes in your family’s routine and start some new traditions. Did you know that January is National Hobby Month? Why not introduce your kids to a few different activities that they might find interesting in the New Year!
Whether it's crafting, collecting, model railroading, sports, singing, photography or writing, a hobby is any activity that kids might take up in their spare time to explore budding interests in various fields. For a list of popular hobby ideas, click here.
Who knows, someone in your family may become so serious about their new hobby that it may eventually grow into a business! Joshua DeJong, a homeschool graduate from Arizona, has a unique business that started out as a hobby. He makes replica World War II parachutes! Read about his fascinating pastime at HomeschoolingTeen.com.
Book of the Month
This set of books by a veteran homeschool mom will provide refreshing encouragement and practical motivation all year!
2. Easy Homeschooling Curriculum
3. Easy Homeschooling Companion
OR purchase one or more individual titles - also on sale!
E-Books of the Month
P.S. I've seen a 15-page e-book of Ben Franklin's Proverbs on sale elsewhere for $3.99, so I think mine is a great deal considering it's 36 pages and includes supplemental lessons!
Famous Homeschoolers
Wilson A. Bentley, homeschooled by his mother, had a unique hobby of studying snowflakes. On January 15, 1885, he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal. In his lifetime, Bentley captured more than 5,000 snowflakes on film. Of course, no two were exactly alike. Learn more about "The Snowflake Man" at FamousHomeschoolers.net.
Did you know...? Virginia is the only state to observe both Lee-Jackson Day (a state holiday) and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (a federal holiday). MLK Day celebrates the birthday of the slain civil rights leader. Lee-Jackson Day celebrates the birthdays of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. They may have been on the wrong side during the Civil War, but Lee and Jackson are both men of distinction - and not just because they were homeschooled!
Reading Between the Lines
Cellphones started out as a quick and easy means of communication but have since become associated with the stigma of wasting time, short attention spans, lack of social interaction, the dangerous habit of texting while driving, and everything that is not very positive. So what is it about these mobile devices that makes them so popular, especially among young people? Teen homeschool writer Narrelle Gilchrist addresses this conundrum in her essay, which you can read here: http://www.homeschoolingteen.com/article/the-twenty-first-century-addiction/
Learning Links
The New Year (Here's our chance to start over, to do it right this time, to have another chance at success, to accomplish something that we want to finish.)
New Year Resolutions (Haven't thought of a resolution yet? Try picking one or more from the list! Do you really want to keep your resolutions this year? This article includes a few goal-setting tips.)
Homeschool Resolutions (Even though it's the middle of the school year, the new year is a good time for re-assessment and mid-course corrections.)
Let it Snow (Fun facts about snow! Includes Eskimo names for different kinds of snow.)
Teddy Bears (January 18 is Winnie-the-Pooh Day. This silly old bear and his friends are perhaps the most famous stuffed animals of all time. Learn all about the history of Teddy Bears.)
"I Have a Dream" (January 20, 2014 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Commemorate this day by reading the text of his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.)
Handwriting & Penmanship (National Handwriting Day is coming up on January 23. This article contains tips for teaching handwriting and ideas on how to improve penmanship. Practicing better handwriting would be a good New Year's resolution! You can start by copying Ben Franklin's Proverbs.)
Freebie of the Month
For Everything There is a Season...and a Time for Every Purchase - If you want to get the best deals, it helps to know when the sales are. Most stores follow a regular sale pattern throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to the biggest bargains for you to print out.
(Requires Adobe Reader: click here for free download.)
Quote of the Month
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” ~Benjamin Franklin
A Note From Teri...
We had one week of winter weather between Christmas and New Year's Day in the desert where we live. In fact, Arizona rang in new year with a major winter storm (if you can call it that). On New Year's Eve we had a toast of sparkling cider out on our deck while watching fireworks and falling SNOW! This week the temperature is back up in the high 70's and the birds are chirping like it's spring. Wishing you and your family a warm, fun-filled year ahead!
Happy Homeschooling!
P.S. Did you like this month's newsletter?