Knowledge House Newsletter

Knowledge House Newsletter *Homeschool Information... Ideas... and Inspiration*
~ December 2009 ~ Dear Readers, Happy December! That means it's time to get out the Advent calendar, set up the Nativity scene, turn on the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music, and decorate the tree! We put our outside lights up on the day after Thanksgiving; it was such a beautiful sunny 80-degree day! There's nothing better than the joy of participating in family holiday traditions. I always look forward to our annual family read-aloud of A Christmas Carol, as well as watching It's a Wonderful Life. This is one time of year when it doesn't matter what's going on for better or worse elsewhere in our lives because the spirit of peace, hope, and love permeates the season regardless. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas!
Click Here for December Holidays & Special Days	Freebie(s) of the Month* MY gifts to YOU! The Candy Cane Print this page, cut it in half, roll each half into a scroll, and attach to a large candy cane using a pretty ribbon. Makes a great stocking stuffer or Christmas party favor. The Nativity Story Print this page (double-sided) and make copies for inserting in Christmas cards, or give as handouts. This is an abridged version of my original 10-page story. (*Requires Adobe Reader: click here for free download.)
Featured Article Christmas Gifts for Homeschoolers Are you looking for some educational but fun presents to give to family and friends this year? I’ve put together a page of gifts that I especially recommend for homeschoolers! Click here to see my 2009 Best Christmas Gifts for Homeschoolers. See also the previous year’s recommendations, all of which are still good! 2008 Best Christmas Gifts for Homeschoolers 2007 Best Christmas Gifts for Homeschoolers If you need more ideas, you may also be interested in the following: Homemade Gifts from the Heart Educational Toys Smart Software Computer Game Reviews Bless the Homeless While you're in a giving mood, please consider giving a gift to someone less fortunate. My son's service learning group hasn't quite met their desired goal yet of socks and shoes for the homeless, although they're getting there! They've collected nearly 500 pairs of shoes but the socks are lagging behind at less than 400 pairs. Just think how good a homeless person - perhaps a veteran, or a single mom, or a young child - will feel when putting on a fresh clean pair of warm socks. Talk about having an appreciation for the simple things in life! A $1 donation will purchase one pair of socks, and a $10 donation will buy a whole package of socks. If you would like to help by donating online, go to soles.xboltz.net. “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ~Acts 20:35 *** * * SPECIAL OFFER * * * In an effort to help my son with his project, I'm giving away FREE e-books to anyone who makes an online donation of $10 or more!** 1.) Just in time for the holidays, Gifts for All Occasions is jam-packed with a wide variety of ideas for gift exchanges, hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, gift baskets, homemade gifts, gifts for the whole family, gifts for babies, gifts for him, gifts for her, gifts for children, gifts for teens, gifts for grandparents, gifts for hospital patients and nursing home residents, gifts for the person who has everything, sentimental gifts for loved ones, and more! 22 pages of gift ideas! 2.) Easy Money Gifts features more than 50 easy, unique, and fun ways of giving money that will surprise and delight the recipient – while saving you time and money! This 40-page e-book also contains money facts, quotes, verses, and other monetary information of interest to homeschoolers. EXTRA BONUS: For readers of my newsletter, this week I'm giving away an additional freebie, a 60-page e-book of The Nativity Story & Nativity Activities! (This e-book doesn’t show up on the donation page, but I will e-mail it to you separately.) Just think, a gift of $10 will buy a whole package of warm socks for someone less fortunate ... and you will receive a gift of three free e-books (a $15 value)! Thanks in advance for your generosity! Click here to donate.
My Affiliates
	Quote of the Month “It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.” ~Charles Dickens
Famous Homeschoolers Konstantin Tsiolkovsky: Pioneer in Space Travel Self-educated rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) is well known in Russia as the father of cosmonautics. While his name is not as familiar in the United States, Tsiolkovsky’s work was extensively studied in the 1950’s and 1960’s as Americans attempted to understand the early success of the Soviet Union’s space program. Tsiolkovsky was a true visionary who theorized many aspects of space travel and rocket propulsion decades ahead of others. Tsiolkovsky also imagined satellites and space stations long before such ideas could actually be implemented. Click here to read Konstantin Tsiolkovsky's biography: www.famoushomeschoolers.net/bio_tsiolkovsky. (Each month I will highlight another famous homeschooler.)
	Verse of the Month “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” ~~Isaiah 9:6
Reading Between the Lines Usborne Books Make Great Gifts! Homeschoolers like gifts that are not only enjoyable but also educational. This means books are the perfect present for homeschool families! Usborne is an award-winning publisher of high quality children’s books that make reading and learning fun. So why not avoid the traffic, long lines, and stress this year – instead of giving a plastic toy that’s eventually going to break, give the gift of knowledge that will last a lifetime! Usborne has baby board books, preschool books, puzzle and activity books, art and craft books, classic tales, read-alouds, internet-linked reference books, and many more – with over 1,500 titles to choose from, they have something for everyone! The only problem is deciding which ones to get! To make it easier for you, I've made a page of favorite Usborne books that I recommend. These are books that any child will be happy to find under the Christmas tree, and which will keep them busy for hours. Take a look at my suggested titles here or go straight to my Usborne affiliate site and start shopping! * * * Click here for a chance to win $50 in free books! * * *
	Learning Links Merry Christmas (Jesus is the Reason for the Season... and Wise Men Still Seek Him.) Christmas Carols (From the first angelic choir over Bethlehem, carols have rung joyously through the centuries.) Family Holiday Ideas (For many families, Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the winter holiday season.) Gingerbread Houses (A homemade gingerbread house makes an impressive centerpiece during the holidays.) An Old-Fashioned Christmas (Celebrating family traditions is what makes families unique and bonds family members together.) Let it Snow (Learn all about snow, as well as the Eskimo names for different kinds of snow.) The Snowflake Man (Wilson A. Bentley, taught at home by his mother, had a unique hobby of studying snowflakes.) First in Flight: Wilbur & Orville Wright (To celebrate Aviation History Month, read about these two brothers who built the first successful airplane.)
My Products
My Websites Knowledge House Homeschool Patriot Little Brick Schoolhouse Homeschooling Teen Homeschool Hall of Fame Famous Homeschoolers Arizona Edventures	A Note From Teri... As you look forward to Christmas and the New Year, I encourage you to plan on taking a break sometime during the busy holiday season to have the whole family spend some quality time together discussing goals, dreams, and the purpose of life. While you’re at it, why not write a homeschool mission statement! I created an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide that explains how. If you are a new homeschooler, the reasons for homeschooling your children are probably still fresh in your mind. This e-book will help you clarify those reasons and put your educational plan in writing to ensure that your homeschool starts out on a strong foundation and continues to function well into the future. If you have been homeschooling for a while, you may have noticed that the busyness of daily life seems to distract you from the principles that matter most. Your family can get back on track by preparing a homeschool mission statement to assist in guiding you from this day forward. "How to Write a Homeschool Mission Statement" is only $4.95 for 36 pages! View the contents and download your copy here: www.knowledgehouse.info/hsmission.html Happy Homeschooling! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Copyright © 2009 by Teri Ann Berg Olsen, www.knowledgehouse.info. To subscribe to this free e-newsletter, simply send a blank e-mail to and then follow the instructions in the confirmation e-mail that you will receive, or sign up on the web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KnowledgeHouse. To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to . Questions? E-mail .