New blog location

Hey there,

Glad you've come by to read my blog. However, I have relocated it so that it resides on our own website - http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/blog.

This is the permanent location, but a temporary template. It will be updated to match our "look" soon. But the content and comments are coming in steady, so come on over and join the conversation. Have a great day!

Warmly,

Terri Johnson

A Child's Geography Vol 2 - Now on Sale!

This is the first time we have placed the revised volume 2 of A Child's Geography on sale and we are so excited to get this title into your hands. However, the sale will only last for 5 more days, so this is the absolute BEST time to order!

Link to the sale: www.knowledgequestmaps.com/acg2.htm

Not sure if this book is right for you? You can download a huge sample by following this link - http://www.achildsgeography.com/holy-land-three-free-chapters/.

Have a great weekend!
Terri

Winners of A Child’s Geography v. 2

Wow, what a terrific response to our June Giveaway for the very popular book – A Child’s Geography: Explore the Holy Land by Ann Voskamp.

We are thrilled to give away 3 copies of this book and the winners of the drawing are:

Paulette
Sarathan
Tristan

Congratulations ladies!

And for everyone else, don’t forget that this book is on sale at the lowest price of the year (35% off) until Tuesday, June 16^th at midnight (EST). Here is the link to the sale – www.knowledgequestmaps.com/acg2.htm.

Also, just a heads-up… we will continue our monthly drawings and are very excited for the titles that we will feature in the upcoming summer months. Make sure that you are signed up to our newsletter so that you can get the information first hand. You can sign up for the newsletter on Knowledge Quest’s home page – www.knowledgequestmaps.com.

Have a great day!

June Giveaway - A Child's Geography v. 2

We have another drawing to present! But first, for those of you that didn't win last month's drawing for A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth, you can still get this title for free. Yes, you read that right, you can get your own free copy when you sign up for Homeschooling ABCs this summer! You can read the details here - www.homeschoolingabcs.com.

On to the details for the June Giveaway:

This month we are giving away THREE (3) printed copies of the book - A Child's Geography: Explore the Holy Land, written by Ann Voskamp. You will love this title! It is the second volume in the series

Check out some reviews at the links below and then click back here to find out how you can enter our drawing to win 1 of 3 free books.

http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Geography-Explore-Holy-Land/dp/1932786333

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=86337

http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=492

http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/child%27s-geography.htm

http://www.homeschoolchristian.net/curricula/reviews/childsgeography.php

Reviews not enough? Perhaps a sample lesson will hit the spot! Below is a link to a huge sample pulled out of the front portion of the book:

http://www.achildsgeography.com/holy-land-three-free-chapters/

Here's what you will need to do in order to enter our drawing:

1. Visit this webpage - http://www.achildsgeography.com/about-volume-two/ - and skim through the product info.
2. Download the free sample (if you wish) and take a peek.
3. Tell us what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog.
4. Include your email or blog address so that we can contact you if you win.
5. We can only provide free shipping to U.S. addresses. However, if you live outside the U.S. and don't mind paying the postage, you may certainly enter our drawing as well.

The drawing will be held on Friday, June 12th. That is less than a week away!

Please note: If you decide to purchase the book because it looks so perfect for your upcoming studies AND because it is ON SALE until 6/16 and then you win a free book in our drawing, we will REFUND the amount of purchase. Don't worry about that.

Link to the sale - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/acg2.htm

You can join UHSE live!

Wow, this is different from last year. Last year, you had to be a paid member to listen in during Expo week, but Cindy, in her generosity, is allowing everyone to listen in live - member or not!

So that means that you can listen LIVE all week. That is a great option for everyone who cannot afford the full Expo membership at this time. However, if you do choose to purchase a ticket, you will receive recordings of all 75 sessions plus access to the virtual vendor hall plus all of the downloads and goodies in the grab bag. It really is a tremendous deal at $39.95 (or $59.95 if you order with a friend).

Ultimate Homeschool Expo

Here's how you can participate, ticket or not:

Call-in (Call in on your phone, cell-phone, or SKYPE):
(347) 205-9175

Join Us Live Online:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ultimate-Homeschool-Expo

And the winner of the free ticket is...

We've held our drawing and the winner of the free ticket to UHSE is...

Karen from Alabama

She has been notified by email and will hopefully receive her ticket confirmation shortly. But Karen, if you do not get it right away, it's just because Cindy is so incredibly busy. Give her some time to get the details together for you.

For the rest of you, you will want to grab your ticket now because the conference starts in just 30 minutes!

Here's the link - Ultimate Homeschool Expo

Enjoy and I'll see you online!
Terri

Free Ticket to UHSE!

Hi friends,

This is a fun giveaway! Cindy Rushton is allowing me to give away a free ticket to the UHSE (Ultimate Homeschool Expo). Have you been thinking about attending this online event - the largest of its kind for the homeschooling community? It is going to be very fun.

I feel privileged to be one of the 35 speakers and my session is on Wednesday (June 3rd) at 2:00pm CST on the topic of the 7 Essential Ingredients to Homeschooling Success. I hope that you will join me.

Here's what you will need to do in order to enter the drawing for the free ticket:

1. Visit this webpage - http://tinyurl.com/q2xtbx - and skim through the conference info.
2. Tell us what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog.
3. Include your email or blog address so that we can contact you if you win.

That's it! Enter the drawing quickly, because we'll draw our winner in time to be included in the entire week long event which starts at 10:00am CST on June 1st. So, we'll conduct our drawing at 9:30am so that you won't miss anything. Sound good?

Hope to see you online at the conference!

Terri

Getting a piece of the sholarship pie

Every year, billions of dollars are given away in the form of scholarships and grants. The trickiest part of applying for college scholarships is finding out which ones the student is eligible for and has a chance of winning. 93% of all financial aid comes through the colleges and universities themselves and is therefore called "Institutional Aid". This aid is offered in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study programs and student loans. Only 7 percent of all financial aid is awarded through outside sponsors. However, these are the scholarships that are often the ones that are the most highly coveted and hotly contested.

Finding scholarships is not just about the search. It starts with understanding yourself and what makes you unique. It's all about assessment - assessing yourself and assessing the scholarships that come into your radar. Are you a good match? Too many students waste their time chasing the big dollar scholarships when they could more easily win a handful of the smaller ones.

As part of the Upper Level Homeschool class, we have created materials that will help your student get organized, understand his strengths, track his progress and stay in control of the scholarship application process.

You can find out more about this online class here - www.UpperLevelHomeschool.com.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Terri

Winners of A Child’s Geography v. 1

Wow, what a terrific response! Well over 400 people entered the May Giveaway for the very popular book – A Child’s Geography: Explore His Earth by Ann Voskamp.

We are thrilled to give away 3 copies of this book and the winners of the drawing are:

Deb W.

Heather117

Kathy in UT

Congratulations ladies!

And for everyone else, don’t forget that this book is on sale at the lowest price of the year until Sunday, May 17^th at midnight (EST). Here is the link to the sale – www.knowledgequestmaps.com/acg1.htm.

Also, just a heads-up… we will continue our monthly drawings and are very excited for the titles that we will feature in the upcoming summer months. Make sure that you are signed up to our newsletter so that you can get the information first hand. You can sign up for the newsletter on Knowledge Quest’s home page – www.knowledgequestmaps.com.

Have a great day!

A Child's Geography Vol 1 - Now on Sale!

This is the first time we have placed the revised volume 1 of A Child's Geography on sale and we are so excited to get this title into your hands. However, the sale will only last for 1 week, so this is the absolute BEST time to order!

Link to the sale: www.knowledgequestmaps.com/acg1.htm

Not sure if this book is right for you? You can download a huge sample by following the link in the post below. You can also enter our drawing to win your very own copy! Drawing will last until May 12th and the sale will continue until May 17th.

May Giveaway - A Child's Geography!

It is time for our monthly giveaway AND this one has been long anticipated! We are giving away THREE (3) printed copies of the book - A Child's Geography: Explore His Earth, written by Ann Voskamp. You will love this title!

Check out some reviews at the links below and then click back here to find out how you can enter our drawing to win 1 of 3 free books.

http://www.amazon.com/Childs-Geography-Explore-His-Earth/dp/1932786325

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=786323

http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=492

http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/child%27s-geography.htm

http://www.homeschoolchristian.net/curricula/reviews/childsgeography.php

Reviews not enough? Perhaps a sample lesson will hit the spot! Below is a link to a huge sample pulled out of the front portion of the book:

http://www.achildsgeography.com/explore-his-earth-free-chap/

Here's what you will need to do in order to enter our drawing:

1. Visit this webpage - http://www.achildsgeography.com/about-volume-one/ - and skim through the product info.
2. Download the free sample (if you wish) and take a peek.
3. Tell us what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog.
4. Include your email or blog address so that we can contact you if you win.
5. We can only provide free shipping to U.S. addresses. However, if you live outside the U.S. and don't mind paying the postage, you may certainly enter our drawing as well.

The drawing will be held on Tuesday, May 12th. That is less than a week away!

Please note: If you decide to purchase the book because it looks so perfect for your upcoming studies AND because it is ON SALE until 5/17 and then you win a free book in our drawing, we will REFUND the amount of purchase. Don't worry about that.

Link to the sale - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/acg1.htm

Star-Spangled State Book

I'm really pleased that we showcased the Star-Spangled State Book for all of you.  Apparently, many of you were not aware of its existence.  Well, I'm glad that you know about it now!

Don't forget that it, along with the companion workbook, is on sale until the end of this month, April 30, 2009.  Grab your copy now - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/prod5.htm

Stay posted for next month's giveaway!

Congratulations to our winners!

We've collected your comments and drawn 3 names to win the Star-Spangled State Book.  Thanks to each of you for entering our drawing.  That was alot of fun!  Here are the 3 winners:

Diane H.

MaineMom

Erika

Congratulations!  The 3 ladies above have received an email notifying them of their prize.  Maybe next time it will be you!

P.S. Don't forget that our sale on the Star-Spangled State Book and Workbook will continue until the 30th of April - the last day of the month.  Here's the link - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/prod5.htm.

April's Giveaway!

It is time for our monthly giveaway AND I am super excited for this one! We are giving away THREE (3) printed copies of the book - The Star-Spangled State Book.

Check out some reviews at the links below and then click back here to find out how you can enter our drawing to win 1 of 3 free books.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Spangled-State-Book-Joel-King/dp/1932786260

http://homeschoolbuzz.com/reviews.html?content=The-Star-Spangled-State-Book

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/1813.php

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=786260&netp_id=478884&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tn3jcarter/218599/

Reviews not enough? Perhaps a sample lesson will hit the spot! Below is a link to a sample pulled out of the front portion of the book:

http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/StatebookSample.pdf

Here's what you will need to do in order to enter our drawing:

1. Visit this webpage - http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/prod5.htm - and skim through the product info.
2. Download the free sample (if you wish) and take a peek. Workbook sample is available also.
3. Tell us what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog.
4. Include your email or blog address so that we can contact you if you win.
5. We can only provide free shipping to U.S. addresses. However, if you live outside the U.S. and don't mind paying the postage, you may certainly enter our drawing as well.

The drawing will be held on Friday, April 24th. That is less than a week away!

Please note: If you decide to purchase the book because it looks so perfect for your upcoming studies AND because it is ON SALE until 4/29 and then you win a free book in our drawing, we will REFUND the amount of purchase. Don't worry about that.

Also please note: The Star-Spangled Workbook (that turns the State Book into a full year curriculum) is currently on sale at over 40% off. This sale will last until April 29th.

Dual credit courses during high school

When you choose to homeschool through high school, you are presented with a unique set of challenges. Perhaps for the first time in your homeschooling career, you now need to assign grades to the course work that your child is completing. You are now responsible for maintaining a transcript that highlights all of your student's accomplishments, classes and test scores. And somewhere along the line, you realize that it can be tricky being objective when the student is your very own child.

Some of us parents are overly generous when awarding grades and credits to our high school children and some of us are overly critical about the effort that our teens are putting forth. In either scenario, we might be guilty of misrepresenting our teen on a transcript. We might be overly positive and complimentary and mislead college admissions with the incredible accomplishments of our child - perfect 4.0 (honors, AP, etc.) or we might dash his chances of getting into a really good school because we thought he could do better and so gave him less than wonderful grades (when in truth, his school work deserved a much higher score).

This is a fine line to walk, isn't it?

The great news is that there are certain check points along the way that can help us as we steer through this high school path. For high schoolers that are homeschooled, test scores become an objective measure of their knowledge and reasoning ability. In truth, test scores are an objective measure for ALL high school kids because standards and curricula vary so widely across our nation. This is the main reason why standardized aptitude tests (i.e. SAT I/ACT) are required of all students who desire to go on to higher education. Other tests that objectively measure a student's knowledge and skill are SAT II subject tests, AP and CLEP tests. These are regarded very heavily by college admissions officers.

Finally, another great way to show your student's true college potential is to have him or her take classes at the local community college. A high school junior or senior can receive dual credit for these classes - meaning they receive high school credit AND college credit at the SAME TIME. And if your teen is getting good grades in college level classes, this is looked at very favorably by college admissions staff.

The other great thing about having your high schooler take classes for dual credit is that they can chip away at their college requirements at a reduced fee (usually). Many community colleges have programs for high schoolers that allow them to take the college class for full credit but at a fraction of the cost.

Here's an example... Our local community college allows high schoolers to take classes for college credit (and high school credit) for $25 per credit unit. The regular cost is $80/credit. That is significant savings!

Plus if my child receives a good grade for her college class, that reflects very well on her. And I am just an observer. I take no part in awarding her the college grade or class.

BUT as her high school teacher, I do have to give her the grade and credit for the high school portion of the "dual credit". So, if she receives a B+ for her college level work, then I could very easily give her an A- or an A for her high school level work. Do you see how this works? You could also keep the grade the same and that would be fine also.

Anyway, I hope that this post has encouraged you to think outside of the box when you are homeschooling your high schooler. Consider dual credit. It is a great option.

Check with your local junior or community colleges to find out how you can enroll your teen.

And be sure to check into the Upper Level Homeschool class - http://www.UpperLevelHomeschool.com - starting this month!

God bless,
Terri Johnson

Interview with Meredith Curtis

Meredith Curtis of Take Root and Write (http://www.takerootandwrite.com/columns_joyful_and_successful_homeschooling/index.html) recently requested an interview with me. She'll be posting it on her blog alongside a review of our Homeschooling ABCs course. I thought that my blog readers might want to take a look into my personal homeschooling life as well. Thanks, Meredith for the opportunity.

Meredith: Terri, you mention on your website that you read Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Trained Mind which inspired you to make blank outline maps for your own children. Would you consider yourself a classical homeschooler?

Terri: Actually, no, I would not consider myself a "classical" homeschooler, although we do implement some classical concepts into our homeschool. Actually, I would consider myself an eclectic homeschooler and this is why. When we started out with our first kindergartener many, many years ago, we pursued primarily unit studies. That was a blast! Then I discovered Charlotte Mason and our studies took on this flavor for a while until I stumbled upon The Well-Trained Mind. It was at this time that I became convinced that the classical method was the best one for us to follow. This was when I was only schooling 2 of my kids and they both fit into this mold very well. However, as my next two daughters became old enough to join us in our school studies, I realized that I needed to alter some of the ways that I taught in order to accommodate them. We have gone back to incorporate more of the Charlotte Mason methods and unit studies to bring some flair back into our school days. However, I do use textbooks for a few subjects that require this type of approach for one or more of my kids. So, as you can see, I truly am an eclectic homeschooling mom!

Meredith: Please tell us a little bit about your own educational background when you were a child?

Terri: I went to public school when I was a child from grades K-12. I never knew or heard of anyone who was homeschooled at that time (although now I know that there were homeschooling pioneers way back then who were paving the way and I am thankful to them.)

Meredith: What led you to homeschool? What were the early years of homeschooling like for your family?

Terri: Our oldest daughter learned to read a few weeks before she turned four and this put me in a conundrum. I didn't know what to do with her for the next couple of years while she waited for kindergarten to start or what she would do while she waited for her schoolmates to learn to read. We were afraid that she would be terribly bored in school with the major emphasis on phonics instruction for the first couple of years. So, we decided that we would begin homeschooling the following year (technically a year early because her birthday fell after September 1st) and just see what happened. We thought that we would put her into school around 2nd grade when the rest of her peers would be reading and the emphasis would shift into other subject matters.

However, when second grade rolled around, our son was entering kindergarten and he was upset that we were thinking about putting him in kindergarten when we enrolled his sister in second grade. He wanted to homeschool just like his sister! So, we decided that if we were going to teach one of them at home, we might as well continue with both. That was the last year we even considered putting our kids into traditional school. Something that we used to say in the early years is that we were just taking it one year at a time. And I think that is a good way to approach homeschooling, because it is not us, but the Lord that leads us on our path. And yet, the Lord has made it very clear that this "educational choice" that we have been pursuing is truly a lifestyle and we have been faithfully traveling this path ever since that first decision to homeschool our first kindergartener and believe that we will see all of our children through school in this way, as long as He continues to make a way for us to do so.

We are finishing up our 11th year of homeschooling this year.

Meredith: Please tell us more about your philosophy of home education?

Terri: This is a bold statement, but I believe that every Christian parent ought to consider the option of homeschooling right alongside their choice of public or private schooling. That said, I do not believe that homeschooling is the best, nor certainly not, the easiest choice for all families as many factors come into play, BUT it is a tested and proven method for educational success. One-on-one tutoring within the family setting is producing children and young adults with strong academics and strong moral character.

Meredith: Terri, you have five children. What are their names and ages?

Terri: Actually, we have six children. Nicole is our oldest and she is 15 and finishing up her Sophomore year of high school. Brady is 13 and getting ready to begin his Freshman year this fall. Rachel is 8 and going into 4th grade. Lydia is 7 and going into 3rd. Autumn is 3 and Levi is 16 months old.

Meredith: Do you find yourself adapting your teaching for each of your different children?

Terri: Absolutely! As I said earlier, I have had to change my teaching style to accommodate various learners as they have been folded into our homeschool studies. In fact, now that my oldest two children are primarily independent learners, I now direct most of my teaching techniques toward my 7 and 8 year olds, who learn very differently than their older siblings. The classical approach worked very well for my oldest two, but my middle two thrive in a more Charlotte-Mason-style approach to learning. It is gentle, but not dumbed down… Interesting, but not too rigorous…

Also, I try to use the same texts and resources for each of my children as I strive to manage both money and time wisely, but when I find that a certain approach is not working for someone, I'll put that book away and try something else. Spelling is a perfect example. I have used Spelling Power for all of my kids and 3 out of 4 of them have done very well with the program. But one doesn't learn the same way. She is much more auditory than visual. I began using All About Spelling with her this year and her spelling ability has taken off! She just needed a different approach that suited her learning style. Yes, that means that I have to juggle spelling a little bit more, but the results far outweight any inconvenience to me.

Meredith: Where do you feel most successful as a homeschool mom?

Terri: I feel like I know my kids well. I know their strengths, their weaknesses, what frustrates them and what makes them swell with pride. I know when they are having a rough day and when they might need a little time to themselves or alone with me. I know when they are excited to get through with their schoolwork so they can get outside and play. I feel that I am successful in studying my kids and helping them to grow academically, emotionally and spiritually.

I'm not perfect, by any means, but I love spending time with my children and enjoying them for who they are.

Meredith: What is your biggest challenge?

Terri: Housework, hands-down! I am the Mary (vs. Martha) who would rather read, talk, listen and play. Dishes can be piling in the sink and laundry in the hamper and I am content to read another chapter in the gripping novel that we are engrossed in.

I have learned through the years that I need to create and use systems in order to stay on top of housework. The kids have daily chores that they need to complete before they rush off to any extra-curricular activities. If they don't keep up with their chores, then these extra privileges are taken away. We set aside times for housework when everyone must pitch in and mark off the duties they have completed on the chart. Kids and parents all work together to get the jobs done.

I am still largely responsible for laundry and this is the one area that I have not yet devised a workable solution that helps me stay on top of the huge task of washing, drying, folding and putting away of 8 family members clothing. Not to mention storing, organizing and getting rid of out-of-season or unwanted clothing. But I'll keep working on it!

Meredith: In your homeschooling journey, what has given you the greatest joy along the way?

Terri: My greatest joy has been watching my children succeed in something they have worked really hard for. When a child gets an A on a test or lands a lead role in a play, my heart leaps for joy. And yet I know that these are not the most important things in life. The real learning moments come from failure and disappointment. I cannot label it "joy", but some of my most satisfying moments as a homeschooling parent have been the times that I have been able to come alongside one of my children and encourage him after a difficult disappointment. These are the moments when real learning and growth take place. These are also the moments that strengthen our relationships with our kids. They need to know that it is not their success that makes us love them; it's just who they are!

Meredith: What inspired you to put together this amazing course, Homeschooling ABCs, for other homeschooling moms?

Terri: One day last summer, it hit me like a ton of bricks… there is nothing comprehensive out there that takes a new homeschooling parent by the hand and guides her through the steps necessary to begin homeschooling her kids. Over the years, we have talked with many parents via email, over the phone and at homeschool conferences about "how to homeschool". And yet I know that these 10 minute conversations are just not enough to fully equip a parent to dive right in. There is so much information out there, but your brain goes into overload when you try to digest it. Have you ever googled "homeschool"? There is a lot of information out there, but none of it is assembled into one easy-to-digest comprehensive program.

That's what inspired me to put together the Homeschooling ABCs course.

Meredith: Please tell us about Homeschooling ABCs.

Terri: Homeschooling ABCs (www.HomeschoolingABCs.com) is a 26 week long course that takes a new homeschooling parent by the hand and walks her through the first 6 months of her homeschooling journey. The class is delivered by weekly emails that contain a link to a PDF download that contains that week's lesson. The lessons are usually 10-12 pages in length and cover a single aspect of homeschooling such as:

A - 10 Easy Steps to a Great Start in Homeschooling

B - Let's Begin with the Basics

C - Copy the Classroom - Not! (Organization)

D - Dare to Differentiate (Learning Styles)

E - Establish Your Philosophy of Education

F - Finding the Best Curriculum for Your Family

Classes go on to cover individual subjects in detail, such as math, phonics, science, etc. The reason for this unique format is to allow the class member to read, absorb and apply that week's lesson before moving on to the next. We all know how easy it is to read a great big book and then apply maybe only 1 or 2 points from the entire volume. With this weekly delivery method, you get the opportunity to apply 1-2 points from each lesson and therefore are able to glean much more from the material over the course of the 6 months.

You can read all of the details on the website here - www.HomeschoolingABCs.com.

These classes are geared for homeschooling parents who have children of all ages and in all grades K-12. However, because of the unique demands and requirements of high school students, we have created a separate course just for parents of middle and high school students. It is called Upper Level Homeschool and you can read more about that separate 13 week course here -www.UpperLevelHomeschool.com.

It's been a pleasure, Meredith. Thanks for conducting this interview.

Be sure to visit Meredith's blog at:
http://www.takerootandwrite.com/columns_joyful_and_successful_homeschooling/index.html

Bonuses in first 48 hours...

In just 3 days, we will be unveiling our brand new homeschooling through high school class. We're really excited about it for a couple of reasons:

1. Working with these expert authors has been a fantastic experience. We have not yet graduated our first high schooler, so we've brought in experts to teach on the subjects that we have yet to experience in full measure. It's been a great educational and rewarding experience for me!

2. Our Homeschooling ABCs course (www.homeschoolingabcs.com) has really hit a sweet spot for new and seasoned homeschoolers alike. However, it does not delve as deeply into high school issues because it is a course that has a broader reach. So this next class will really hit those issues specifically and provide knowledge, resource and answers for parents who are considering or have definitely decided to homeschool all the way through high school.

The class will be open to sign-ups on April 1st and that is not a joke. For the first 48 hours, we'll be giving away a couple of bonuses and these are:

• High School Forms & Checklists - all the paperwork you'll need to complete the high school years!
• Helping Your Teen Find His Passion - Identify the Godly gifts and talents that will last a lifetime!

Also, the first 30 class members to sign-up will receive direct access to me for 30 days. You will become part of my personal support group and I'll take the time to answer all of your specific questions based on your unique circumstances. It's going to be fun!

Stay posted for all the details on April 1st.

Terri

5 Days and Counting...

Did you know that there are certain foods that will help your teen to concentrate better and stay more focused? These "brain foods" may even help him to get better scores on his tests. Keep your fridge and pantry well stocked with:

oats/oatmeal
wheat germ
walnuts/other nuts
blueberries
avocados
salmon
eggs
cheese

Limit energy type drinks and drink more water. This is a recipe for greater concentration, better focus and a stronger memory. Give it a try!

In 5 days we unveil our brand new class for parents of homeschooled high schoolers. Are you wondering if you can really do this? Are you afraid that something might slip through the cracks and he won't be able to graduate at the end of his senior year? Do you wonder if you can adequately prepare him for college and adult life beyond homeschooling?

Worry no longer! We are assembling everything you need to know about homeschooling high schooler in one complete course. You will learn how to:

1. adequately maintain a transcript
2. plan a 4 year course of study
3. design a course for high school credit
4. prepare your teen for the SAT/ACT tests
5. outsource difficult subjects
6. help him get motivated and stay that way

And so much more... Stay posted. We reveal everything you need to know to get started on April 1st - and that's no joke!

In just 6 days...

In 6 days, we will be unveiling our brand new class for parents of homeschooled teens. I cannot wait to share this with you! I've been working diligently on one of the lessons this week - Developing Good Study Habits. This is essential for your teen as he progresses through his high school and college years.

There are three parts to time management:

1. Organizing your stuff - if you don't have to look for it, you will waste less time!
2. Using your time efficiently - we all have just 24 hours in a day and how we use them will make all the difference in the world (setting aside a good number for sleep, that is).
3. Training your brain - by nourishing, resting and training your brain, you will be able to tap more out of it.

Next Wednesday, April 1st, we'll open up our class. It will run for 13 weeks, so if you enroll next Wednesday, you'll be wrapping it up by the end of June. This is perfect timing if you have a child in high school or about to begin high school.

JoJo Tabares has been working on our College Preparation lesson and let me tell you... it is jam-packed! This material is really solid and very step-by-step.

I'm excited!

Just 9 More Days...

After much anticipation, lots of research and hard work, we are so excited to unveil our brand new class - Upper Level Homeschool - on April 1st.

This class is designed especially for parents of high schoolers and middle schoolers who are thinking about homeschooling all the way through. It covers everything that you will need to know to start your teens off right and keep them on track from grades 9-12.

The first few lessons will thoroughly discuss:

Mapping a 4 Year Course of Study
Designing a Course for High School Credit
Outsourcing Difficult Subjects
Keeping and Maintaining a Transcript
Developing Good Study Skills

The class then goes on to teach how to prepare for SAT/ACT tests, timed essays, CLEP testing, dual credit, preparing for college, applying for financial aid, and so much more...

Every parent of a homeschooled middle or high school student will benefit greatly from this course. Stay posted for the link on April 1st.

Congratulations to our winners

Yay! I'm so excited to post the names of our 3 winners in our Homeschooling ABCs Giveaway. All three ladies were super excited to win this prize and are looking forward to getting a huge boost of encouragement and ideas for the remainder of the school year and on into next year as well.

Here are the winners:

Betsy Bookworm
Shawnda O.
Denise C.

Congratulations, ladies! Enjoy your prize. Wondering what they've won? You can take a look here - www.HomeschoolingABCs.com - and you can even download a sample lesson here:

www.HomeschoolingABCs.com/guestdnldcenter2.htm

The sample lesson is a mini-ebook in its own right. The title is "Math Can Be Fun!" Enjoy!

Stay posted as our high school course will be unveiled very soon. I cannot wait to share it with you. So many homeschooling parents lose their confidence once their children arrive at the high school years. They feel that it is easier and less stressful to just put them back into public school. I'm not knocking that decision, but I am offering hope, help and step-by-step advise so that you may continue to homeschool, even through high school. This course is only partially written by me. We have guest authors who have solid expertise in homeschooling, graduating and preparing teens for college and beyond.

It is so fun to walk this road together. It keeps us strong and on the right track.

Blessings to you,
Terri

Homeschooling ABCs Giveaway

We have fallen behind a bit in our monthly giveaways, BUT I am super excited for this one! We are giving away THREE (3) free memberships to our Homeschooling ABCs course (www.HomeschoolingABCs.com). This class has been getting rave reviews and we are absolutely thrilled that it has been benefitting new and seasoned homeschoolers alike.

Check out some of the reviews and then click back here to find out how you can enter our drawing to win 1 of 3 free class memberships.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/602443/

Just click on the links of the reviewers' names and you can read their reviews. There are 89 of them as of this writing.

Reviews not enough? Perhaps a sample lesson will hit the spot! Below is a link to a sample pulled out of the middle of the class lessons - Lesson 13 (of 26).

http://www.homeschoolingabcs.com/guestdnldcenter2.htm

Here's what you will need to do in order to enter our drawing:

1. Visit our homepage - www.HomeschoolingABCs.com - and skim through the product info.
2. Download the free sample (if you wish) and take a peek
3. Tell us what you think by leaving a comment
4. Include your email or blog address so that we can contact you if you win

The drawing will be held on March 10th.

Please note: If you decide to purchase the course and then win a free membership in our drawing, we will REFUND the amount of purchase. Don't worry about that.

Please note this as well: We opened up our class to an additional 1000 people as of last month and about half of those memberships are gone. If you are interested in this course anytime in the next few months, I would suggest that you not wait too long. Just a thought...

Okay, have fun and enjoy the sample lesson - Math Can Be Fun!

New Template

Well, it has been a while since I have posted...

We'll be doing another drawing very soon! In fact, it will be start next week on March 3rd, so check back here then.

In the meantime, I have changed the background to this blog so it doesn't look so template-ish. If you are looking for a new background for your blog, visit http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/. It's free and it's kinda fun!

See you next week!

Terri

We have 3 winners!

Yay, we held our random drawing for our What Really Happened in Ancient Times book. Here are the three winners:

malachiway
catchmeathome
t.muston

Congratulations! Your books will soon be on their way.

This book has been well received (read comments here and on Amazon.com) and is currently on sale until Sunday, January 18th. Check it out and get your free biography here - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/wrhancient.htm.

Interested in the CPSIA ruling and its potential ramifications? Read below...

Great article!

I just read this article after submitted the previous post. I think this one might be the most concise and entertaining of all:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

Do read!

Terri

CPSIA Ruling and What We're Doing About It

Hey there,

Many of you have been asking how Knowledge Quest will be affected by the new CPSIA ruling that requires all products geared to children 12 years and younger to be tested for lead and phthalate levels. First, here's a brief summary, as we understand it...

On August 14th, congress passed a new law stating that all products intended for children (or that will come into contact with children) 12 and under be tested to determine lead and phthalate levels. (Phthalates are used as plasticizers added to plastics to increase their flexibility, in case you didn't know. I didn't!). The law will be enforced on February 10th, meaning that all children's products need to be certified that they fall below the acceptable levels or be removed from store shelves.

Sounds like a law with good intentions, doesn't it? I mean, truly, who wants to have items around our home that will be harmful to our children. The only trouble is that this is a law that has used a very wide brush in an attempt to paint very tiny details. It is overkill! The law came into being as a result of the hundreds of recalled products in 2007 (nicknamed the Year of the Recall). Most of these recalled items were toys manufactured and imported from China. However, this ruling affects all products, whether imported or manufactured right here in the States. AND it affects products already on store shelves.

This law requires testing on toys, clothing, books, CDs, and so much more!

You might be wondering how this affects you. Well, big businesses and small businesses alike will need to come into compliance with this law or destroy their inventory as of February 10th. That is why you are beginning to see massive liquidation sales. Some small businesses are planning to close their doors on February 9th. February 10th is being dubbed National Bankrupcy Day. Why? Because it is incredibly expensive to have small batches of products tested - $400 per piece on the low end all the way up to thousands of dollars. PLUS there aren't enough labs around the country to handle the massive number of items that need to be tested before 2/10.

Libraries will need to remove their children's books, if revisions are not made to this law before the looming date. It will be considered unlawful to check out a children's book that is uncertified starting on February 10th. And the fine is hefty if a company is found to be in violation - $100,000.

Do I sound like a scare monger to you? Trust me, I am not. We have been watching this closely since the week before Christmas and have read all of the legalese, the class action suits, the articles and the petitions. Frankly, I do not think this law is enforceable at the scale in which it has been written, but we do not want to take our chances either.

We are praying that major revisions would be made to this law. We believe (hope) that books will be made exempt at some point during this process. But, we will not operate illegally. For this reason, we have sent out our books intended for children 12 and under to be tested. The craziest part, of course, is that even if a book is found to have higher than acceptable lead levels, a child would have to do much more than lick the book or chew off a corner. They would have to consume the whole thing! I have never in all my life witnessed such a rediculous thing.

At what point did we become more concerned with the amount and content of books that our children are EATING over and above the amount and content they are READING?

Does this ruling bother you? You can read more about it here:

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.html
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/74940-Congress-bans-kids-from-libraries/
http://kidsproducts.suite101.com/article.cfm/childrens_books_and_the_cpsia
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322
http://cfx.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080731/news_1n31toys.html
http://www.cpsc.gov:80/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

You can also call and write your senators and ask them to consider the enormous implications of this law as it stands and have exemptions put in place for books, clothing and other items that obviously do not contain any or hardly any of these substances.

And finally, please pray for small companies that may go out of businesses as a direct result of this law. Pray for the employees that will have to find work elsewhere. Pray for the thousands of home businesses that are currently self-supporting but will have to shut down because there is no way they can come into compliance because of the expense of testing. Pray that God would make a way.

We will continue to watch and pray!

We have a winner!

Lisa (AKA Berry Patch) won our drawing for the print book - Dining on a Dime. I hope that you really enjoy this book and that you are able to apply many of the frugal and money saving techniques that are presented within its pages.

I can't wait til I receive my own copy!

We'll be holding our drawing for What Really Happened in Ancient Times next week. Stay posted! We will have 3 winners in that drawing. It might be you!

Time for a survey and another drawing!

We've decided that these giveaways are alot of fun, soooo... we are giving away our Timeline Category Stickers to any and all who would like to participate in our short survey. We will keep your answers anonymous, but we would like to use this information for product development in this next year. Your opinions matter to us. When you complete the survey, you will get a link to our thank you gift PLUS we'll enter your email address into a drawing for 1 of 5 hardcover timeline books - Wonders of Old (www.knowledgequestmaps.com/wondersofold.htm).

Click here to participate in our 2-5 minute survey:

www.knowledgequestmaps.com/survey.htm

We've also decided that it's time to give away a few copies of What Really Happened in Ancient Times. Would you like to win a printed copy of your very own? Enter our drawing and you may be one of three winners randomly selected to receive a copy of the softcover book (not the ebook) delivered via US mail to your mail box.

Here's how to enter:

1. Click over to our website - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/wrhancient.htm
2. Read through the sales page and take a look at the fantastic illustrations by Darla Dixon
3. Come back here and post a comment about what looks interesting to you about the book
4. Be sure to leave us contact information (either an email or blog address will do)

That's it. We'll hold our drawing next Tuesday, January 13th and notify the winners by email. We'll also post their names for you here. So be sure to check back if you don't hear from us!

You may have noticed that we are also having a sale on this book and the 3 book series. Don't worry... if you DO buy the book NOW so as to not miss out on the sale and then win the drawing, we will refund the amount that you paid for your book including shipping.

Great! Leave us those comments and we'll look forward to holding our random drawing on Friday. Don't forget... there will be 3 winners!

Sending kids back to school tomorrow?

Today is the last day of Christmas break and I cannot tell you how often I have heard tired out moms say, "I am so glad that I can send my kids back to school next week and get them out of my hair!"

And then, of course, the next statement that follows is... "I don't know how you do it, homeschooling six kids and having them home all day long!"

I think the emphasis in this statement is the "having them home all day long" part.

Now, don't get me wrong... I am a normal parent and there are definitely times when my children drive me up the wall. I didn't choose to homeschool them because I have some amazing supernatural ability to put up with chaos any more than anyone else. I didn't choose to homeschool because I have no hobbies and no interests and don't know what else I would do with my time all day long. I didn't choose to homeschool because I have "no life" outside of my children.

No, the reason that I chose to homeschool has nothing to do with me. In fact, I learned a long time ago that I have to die to myself in order to be the woman that God wants me to me. To be truthful, I have to do this every day. It begins with marriage and continues all through the parenting years. My life isn't about me anymore (I guess it never was!).

The reason that I homeschool is because I believe that it is the best educational option for our children. The reason that I homeschool is because I want to have an impact in their lives. The reason that I homeschool is because I don't want my children to be peer driven. The reason that I homeschool is because I want my children to think for themselves. The reason why I homeschool is because I want our family to function as a cohesive unit, to love and care for one another. The reason that I homeschool is because I want my children to understand that life isn't all about pursuing our own personal hobbies at the expense of others. Life is about becoming more like Christ - dying to ourselves and giving to one another. That's why I have chosen to homeschool and that's why I won't be putting my kids on the big yellow bus that will be coming down the street tomorrow.

I may not be sending my kids off to school tomorrow, BUT I am looking forward to getting back into our school routine. It will be good to be more productive and have less idle time on our hands.

And to all of you, be encouraged and have a great week!

Dining on a Dime

We were snowed in for two weeks, but had a wonderful Christmas nonetheless! I hope that you, my readers, had a great Christmas and New Year yourself.

I am so excited to be offering another giveaway. This time it is a book written by my efriend, Tawra Kellam, entitled "Dining on a Dime".

You can read the full story here - http://www.livingonadime.com/books/nys.html - but basically, they are overstocked and are having an amazing sale on this title as well as some others. You see, Dining on a Dime is such a popular book that it sells for full price every day of the week and so you will rarely find it on sale. But now you can get a copy for HALF PRICE! I'm purchasing one!

AND I get to give away a copy as well. Here's what you need to do:

1. Go visit the website and then come back here and post a comment telling me what looks interesting to you about the book (or set of books).

2. Leave your name and a way to get in touch with you - either an email address or blog address.

3. Enter once per day until January 7th.

We will randomly draw a winner on January 8th and notify you by email. We'll post the winner here also. We can only ship to an address in the United States.

And don't forget to sign up for RSS feeds on this blog because we have another giveaway next week and have been doing monthly drawings since October. We're getting addicted to giving stuff away. It has been really fun. The old saying is true... It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Happy New Year,
Terri