~ January 2017 ~

Dear Readers,

Happy New Year! Would you like 2017 to be the year that your life genuinely changes for the better? Move into your dream home? Eat healthier? Lose weight? You can do it! I already made great strides so far in de-cluttering my house this year, plus getting in shape. You can too!

P.S. Want to be more active? Get a DeskCycle! I love mine!

Featured Article

It can be difficult for homeschoolers to get enough exercise, especially if you’re not into sports or taking a P.E. class. It’s really easy for us to just sit in front of our computer screens all day long, or lounge on the couch reading books. When there’s studying to do, who has time for exercise? I know that this is certainly an issue in our house. However, I found the perfect remedy for it! I’m here to tell you about an amazing product to help keep you in shape - the DeskCycle!

Read the whole review at HomeschoolingTeen.com.

Reading Between the Lines

In order to be an educated, responsible citizen in America, one needs to be biblically literate. Patrick Henry said, “The Bible is a book worth more than all other books that were ever printed.” Thomas Jefferson was the first president of the Washington D.C. school board, which adopted the Bible as a primary reader.

No one could rightly claim to be educated today, or to be a true intellectual, who has never read this powerful and exciting book that has transformed innumerable lives, influenced kings and presidents, and guided entire nations. Our U.S. laws are all based upon the Constitution which is a direct pattern of the Old English Law, which unashamedly proclaims its entire jurisprudence system to be based upon the Bible and the Ten Commandments.

To what can we compare the Bible and its influence? English professors from leading colleges and universities all agree: “Knowledge of the Bible is a deeply important part of a good education.” Read more about it and find recommended resources 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!

Get ALL 3 BOOKS (valued at $57) for ONLY $30!*
OR purchase one or more individual titles - also on sale!

*And don't forget the FREE SHIPPING!

P.S. Another homeschool site sells downloadable copies of these titles, but why settle for PDFs when you can have the pleasure of holding the actual books in your hand? These are the original softcover BOOKS!

E-Books of the Month

How to Write a Homeschool Mission Statement - The new year is a good time to re-think and re-organize your homeschool. Perhaps the excitement of beginning school in the fall has worn off and the mid-winter doldrums combined with the anxiety of all you have yet to cover has you feeling overwhelmed. In addition, you may have noticed that the busyness of daily life seems to distract you from the things that matter most. The whole family can get back on track by sitting down together and compiling a homeschool mission statement to assist in guiding you from this day forward. My easy-to-follow step-by-step guide explains how. Download this 36-page e-book for only $4.95! Click here for details.

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!

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 16, 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

Top Ten Homeschool Resolutions - A PDF to print out.

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 keep handy.

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...

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! We went to a gem and mineral show last week, and I was inspired to dig out my old rock collection that I've had since I was a child.

Whether it's crafting, collecting, model railroading, sports, singing, photography or writing, a hobby is any activity that someone might take up in their spare time. Hobbies let kids explore budding interests in various fields. Some hobbies can even be turned into elective courses for high schoolers.

For a list of popular hobby ideas, click here. Everyone should have a hobby they enjoy. Who knows, a family member may become so serious about their hobby that it may eventually grow into a business!

Happy Homeschooling!

P.S. Did you like this month's newsletter?