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~ December 2010 ~
Dear Readers,
Happy December! It’s been such a warm autumn here in the desert that I wasn’t expecting it to get so cold all of a sudden. After all, the first week of November was nearly 90°, and then it was in the 70’s while almost reaching 80° the week before Thanksgiving. So the day before Thanksgiving I was surprised to find ice in the bird bath! After that, the nighttime temperature got down to 26 degrees and a leaky pool pipe produced a foot-long icicle. Brrr! This will be the second year that we won’t have any heat inside our house. I put the oven on first thing in the morning to take the chill off the air, and the kids keep their rooms warm by leaving their computers run all night with their doors closed. I have my favorite sunny spot in front of the south-facing window where I curl up and read. ;) But no matter what the temperature is, at this time of year the warm spirit of the season fills the air. Blessings to you and your family this Christmas!
Featured Article
Are you looking for some educational and fun presents to give to family and friends? Avoid the traffic, long lines, and stress this year. I’ve put together a page of hand-picked gifts that I especially recommend for homeschoolers! These are items that our family already owns and enjoys, or that I've researched and would consider getting for the kids.
Click here to see my 2010 Homeschool Gift Guide. See also the previous years’ suggestions, all of which are still good!
Educational Toys
Smart Software
Favorite Computer Games
Computer Game Reviews
Book of the Month
This wonderful set of books by a veteran homeschool mom will provide refreshing encouragement and practical motivation through the year!
2. Easy Homeschooling Curriculum
3. Easy Homeschooling Companion
OR purchase one or more individual titles - also on sale!
E-Books of the Month
Famous Homeschoolers
Dr. Susan Wise Bauer is the best-selling author of The Story of the World, The Well-Educated Mind, The History of the Ancient World, The History of the Medieval World, The Complete Writer series, and co-author of The Well-Trained Mind. She is a professor at The College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she teaches writing and literature at the same institution from which she received her Ph.D. Dr. Bauer is also a homeschool mom and she was homeschooled herself through high school. Read about her life and accomplishments here.
Reading Between the Lines
Learning Links
- Merry Christmas & Happy New Year in Many Languages (Can You Guess the Languages? Translations provided.)
- 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.)
Freebie(s) of the Month
The Candy Cane
The Nativity Story
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.
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.)
Quote of the Month
“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” ~Oren Arnold
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!