Need a little encouragement?

It is getting to be that time of year when homeschooling can become difficult.  Here is a link to a podcast that might help you "stay the course."

Share Your Sonlight Photos!

It's not too late to get your kids in the Sonlight Catalog for 2012. My kids are on page 86 of this year's catalog. Just follow this link. But hurry, all entries must be in by August 15th!

Order by the end of June!!

I got this reminder from Sonlight and I wanted to pass it along . . .

Thursday, June 30 (Mountain Time), is:

1.The last day to choose a 6-month payment plan. With Sonlight's payment plan options, you can spread your curriculum payments over 3 or 6 months at no extra charge, if you qualify. Starting July 1, the 6 month option won't be available again until next April. Read more and calculate your payments here.

2.The last day to lock in your current Sonlight prices. Changes may be minimal, but if our vendors raise their prices on individual titles, we'll have to increase our prices on those items starting July 1. Core and Multi-Subject Package prices will stay the same until April 1, 2012.

3.The last day you can expect your order to leave our warehouse within 3-5 business days. Since so many families get their Sonlight in the summer, it can take 7-10 business days for us to move your order out the warehouse doors during July, August and September.


For help putting together or finalizing your order, turn to SONIA (your online, automated curriculum advisor) or a Sonlight Curriculum Advisor (a live Sonlight mom who will happily answer your questions). They are both ready to help you make the best curriculum decisions for your family.

If a payment plan, locked-in prices and faster service are important to you, don't miss out! Place your order today.


Sincerely,
Tim Heil
Customer Relations Manager

www.sonlight.com

P.S. When you do order, breathe easy with Sonlight's Love to Learn Guarantee. When you buy a Core or Multi-Subject Package you have a year to use up to half of your curriculum. Then if you don't completely love it, just ship it back (used books and all) for a complete refund of your purchase price! Read complete details about this "Love to Learn Guarantee."




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ICHE starts tomorrow!

This year I'm looking forward to representing Sonlight at the state convention in Naperville! My van is packed and my team and I are ready to help you plan out the next school year for you and your family.

Make sure to sign up at the booth as we will again be having our convention special coupon of $15 off an order of $50 or more!

Looking forward to seeing you there. Mention my blog and I will have something special for you!

ROSETTA STONE SALE! Until June 11th

2011 Rosetta Stone is on Sale at Sonlight - check out these prices. It's for a limited time so get them while they last!


April 13-June 11
Level 1 Programs: Regular price $249, Sale price $159
Level 2, 3, 4 and 5 Programs: Regular price $299, Sale price $159
Level 1-2 sets: Regular price $449, Sale price $259
Level 1-3 sets: Regular price $579, Sale price $359
Level 1-5 sets: Regular price $749, Sale price $459

APACHE in Peoria is this weekend!

Catalogs are everywhere, and my "crew" is ready once again for the APACHE convention! I am looking forward to talking about some of our new products and changes. I will have the new spelling program - All About Spelling, as well as books from the new High School elective - What Good is Christianity?

I hope to have a little bit of everything there, but if you are looking for something specific please drop me a note and let me know here.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Sonlight Catalog!

The convention season is soon to be upon us and that can only mean that the new Sonlight catalog is coming out soon. If you haven't already gotten a copy of your 2011 Sonlight catalog, click here to visit Sonlight's digital catalog.

Stay tuned for more information regarding Sonlight at the APACHE conference coming soon!

New Catalog Coming Soon!

It is getting to be that time of year again - Sonlight Catalog season! Want a sneak peek? Check out Luke's blog here to see the new "core wheel"!

SB136

I just got back from the capitol in Springfield concerning an informational meeting regarding SB 136 which would require homeschoolers in IL to register with the state. I think Mr. Woodruff, senior counsel for the HSLDA, had a very good summary which I wanted to share here. If you look very, very closely, I am one of the brown spots you see sitting against the wall on the right :). I will try and keep you posted of any more happenings as they come to light.

Illinois: 4,000 Homeschoolers Say "No" to Registration Bill

Dear HSLDA Friends and Members,

An awe-inspiring 4,000 homeschoolers flooded the Statehouse today as
Sen. Maloney did his best to get the Senate Education Committee to
support his plan to mandate registration for homeschoolers. But the
committee did not vote, so homeschoolers must continue to press for
the withdrawal of the bill.

ACTION REQUESTED

Please call your own senator and ask him or her to contact Sen.
Maloney and ask him to withdraw--NOT AMEND--his bill. Use our
legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10343 to find
your senator.

BACKGROUND

Sen. Maloney has stated he intends to amend his bill so it impacts
homeschoolers only--not other private schools. There is no way to
amend his bill to transform it into a good bill. Its objective is to
push government control into your living room and kitchen, and that is
unacceptable no matter how he may amend it.

Prior to the hearing this morning, the entire auditorium filled up
quickly for the 9:15 a.m. Home School Freedom Summit in the Howlett
Building. After that, homeschoolers poured into the Statehouse. They
filled the committee hearing room, then completely filled that entire
floor of the Statehouse, even pushing up into the upper galleries.
Security estimated the crowd at 4,000.

While waiting for the hearing to start, the crowd beginning singing.
Strains of "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," "Amazing
Grace," and "The Star-Spangled Banner" drifted into the committee
room. No one present will ever forget the huge, orderly, but
passionate crowd, the singing, and the sense that their presence made
a powerful statement in defense of liberty. No Illinois senator or
representative will forget that statement, either, I believe.

Recognizing the crowd, staff agreed--for the first time in the history
of the Illinois legislature--to leave the doors to the committee
hearing room open during the hearing (if the crowd would stay quiet)!
The hearing went longer than scheduled. Homeschool leaders testified
powerfully against the bill. Sen. Maloney testified that officials
"needed to know" who was homeschooling, though it was never entirely
clear why.

Some senators worried about homeschoolers "falling through the
cracks." But if "falling through the cracks" means kids ending high
school without a diploma, without being able to read, without being
able to enter college without remedial classes, and with a juvenile
justice record, then "falling through the cracks" is quite common in
public schools. The sad truth is that the public schools do not have
the solution to "falling through the cracks!" Why have the least
effective system of education supervise the most effective system?

The senators on the committee seem closely divided between "for" and
"against" on SB 136. The change of a single vote could have dramatic
consequences. The efforts of every single homeschool family in the
state are urgently needed.

Sincerely Yours,

Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Senior Counsel

Raising Boys that Read

Have you been frustrated that all your son wants to read is the latest Captain Underpants book? Have you been hoodwinked into thinking that all he needs to develop his reading skills is to read any book no matter what the content?

Here is a great article from the Wall Street Journal on How To Raise Boys that Read. The author of the article, Thomas Spence, talks about the effects of video games and dispells the thought that boys should read and it doesn't matter what they are reading. He talks about the value of reading classic books that can still capture a young mans attention.

Of course that is another benefit of using Sonlight for your homeschooling. Not only is it literature based, but they have put together the best of the best - the classics, the ones you loved when you were a child. No fluff, no potty humor, just good literature which will, in my opinion, create a love for reading and learning.

After beginning his article explaining how great the difference in reading levels is between boys and girls, I love how he ends his article: "I offer a final piece of evidence that is perhaps unanswerable: There is no literacy gap between home-schooled boys and girls."

Time is almost out to Submit Your Photos!

The Time is almost running out for you and your family to be in the Sonlight Catalog for 2011! Here is the scoop in an e-mail I just received:

What would you do if you discovered something you and your kids loved? Would you tell other moms about it?

Here's your chance.

You still have four days to join the Sonlight Photo Contest. Whether or not you've submitted in years past, this invitation is for you.

Here are 7 reasons to join the fun:

1.You have great children. Celebrate by taking their picture!
2.You love homeschooling and want others to know it.
3.You love Sonlight and want others to know it.
4.You'd really love a big Sonlight gift certificate. (If you win first place, you'll get a $500 gift certificate. Second place gets a $250 certificate and third gets $100.)
5.It'd be fun to get your 2011 catalog and see your family's picture inside (or even on the cover)!
6.You probably already have pictures somewhere. Why not share them with other homeschoolers?
7.Your photos and stories could help other families know if or why Sonlight might be right for them.
If you're one of the many who has already submitted, thank you!

If not, grab your camera for a photo shoot or submit what you've already got. When you upload, we'll prompt you to share why Sonlight fits your family. Just write as if you're telling a friend why you like your curriculum.

And remember: Sunday is your last day to submit photos for the 2011 catalog. (We'll include any submissions after that in next year's contest.)

Click here to submit.

Thanks for joining in,
Tim Heil



It's free and it's fun, one of my photos even made it in a few years ago! You may even make the cover and a win something so give it a go!

Three Reasons why to order by June 30

This just in from Tim Heil, Customer Relations Manager at Sonlight, and I thought you would want to be reminded!

Lock in current prices, get faster shipping & more: order by June 30!

1.You have two more weeks to lock in your current Sonlight prices. Some prices may increase on individual titles starting July 1. These changes may be minimal, but I want to give you a heads up so you can save money. We won't change Core or Newcomer Package prices until April 1 next year. But as vendors raise their prices, we may have to pass along those increases on some individual items.

2.Order in June to secure a "no fee, no interest" 6-month payment plan. As you consider your budget, remember Sonlight's incredible Time Payment options. If you qualify, you can spread out your curriculum payments over 3 or 6 months at no extra charge. But the 6 month option is only available in April, May and June. We've updated this policy and removed the fee since we released the 2010 catalog. Read more about this improved service here.

3.Get faster shipping if you order in June. Orders in June usually ship within 3-5 business days. But from July through September, we have to stretch that to 7-10 business days because so many families order Sonlight then. So beat the rush and order now.

If I can be of any service in helping to place your order, please don't hesitate to let me know!
kthroop5@sonlight.com

New Time Payments Option

Sonlight has now made time payments easier than ever! Check out this link to see how you can make payments for your Sonlight order with NO interest. Like I've said before, Sonlight is a great company!

The Updated Website is Now up and Running!

The website is now up and running for the new catalog season! Be sure to check out the all the new items as well as the new Sonlight apparel in the Sonlight Store. Not only are there some really cute shirts, but the winning T-shirt was designed by my friend's daughter! Trust me, I had nothing to do with her winning, it was all her own talent. Way to go Amanda!

CONVENTION SPECIAL

I'm delighted to tell everyone about our Convention Special this year. For each family who stops by my booth and fills out a card I will have a coupon for $15 off an order of $50 or more which is good until August 31, 2010. That is a great deal - I mean, who can't find $50 worth of books and then pay only $35? So please make sure you stop by and see our new and improved booth! The excitment is growing!

The APACHE convention is only a few weeks away and Sonlight is planning on having the biggest booth we have ever had! There will be a special convention only offer only for those who sign up at the Sonlight booth! I will also have some free give-aways and some great new displays! We are all anticipating the new catalogue which should be there in time for the convention.

So, whether you have been homeschooling for a while, just starting out, or maybe just looking for a change, be sure to check out the Sonlight booth March 26-27 in Peoria. If you are not able to make it and would still like to talk about homeschooling, please leave me a comment, or send me an e-mail to kthroop@sonlight.com and I will set up a time when we can get together. As always, if there is something you would specifically like to see, leave me a comment and I would be happy to bring it with me to Peoria.

Mention that you've seen my blog and I will have a special treat for you!

Blessings,

Kim

GPA

I am a member of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and I would encourage anyone who isn't already a member to become one. Not only do they offer support should you need it, but it is also a way to support other homeschoolers. They also have many wonderful articles and resources which are helpful for the busy homeschool mom. I recently received their article on the dreaded GPA. In my effort to help those to not be in the position where you have to quickly do a transcript, I have included some of their thoughts here. I have not included the entire article as it is rather long, but the nuts and bolts of what is a GPA, and how to compute it are included below . . . . I trust it will help you as you continue to work out that High School Transcript.

Definition

The wiktionary definition of grade point average is “a method of computing a numerical value for letter grades received in school by assigning each a numeric value and averaging the numbers.” You will notice from some of the transcript templates listed on our high school website, that there are often two sets of GPAs shown—yearly and cumulative. Each of these is calculated a bit differently so we’ll take a look at how to compute both types.

Yearly GPA

The first step to computing the yearly GPA is to convert each letter grade to points. For example, an A equals 4 points, a B equals 3 points, a C equals 2 points, and so forth. The grade points are then multiplied by the number of credits a course earned resulting in what is known as quality points. An example will clarify this operation. Let's say that a student received a letter grade of an “A” in Algebra I. The first step is to convert the letter grade of an A to 4 points and multiply by 1 credit for a total of 4 quality points. In addition, if a student takes a one semester health course earning one-half credit and receives a “B,” then calculate the quality points as follows: multiply .5 credits by 3 grade points for a total of 1.5 quality points. Continue this operation for each course your teen takes in a given school year.

The next step of the computation will be to total the quality points for all courses and divide by the total number of credits earned in a given year, rounding the answer to two decimal places. This results in the yearly GPA. You may find it helpful to review these steps on the GPA computation example we have listed in our in our transcript section of the website.

When calculating the yearly GPA, there are some factors to take into consideration. (Isn’t it always the case that as soon as you think something is cut and dry, someone throws you a curve?!) Well, here is one of those situations. If you give pass/fail grades for any of your courses, the credits for these courses will be included in the sum of credits shown on the high school transcript, but they will not be used in computing the GPA. When calculating the GPA, you will need to subtract the pass/fail credits out of the total number of credits for that year before dividing by the total number of quality points. An illustration may help.

Total credits for one year: 6.5 (including .5 credit for a course graded pass/fail)Total quality points: 21.5 Compute GPA: 21.5 divided by 6 (6.5 minus .5) equals 3.58

Another curve—if you plan to attach +’s and –’s to your letter grades, then your grade points will need to reflect that. For instance, an A+ will compute to 4.3 points rather than the usual 4 points. An A–, however, will be 3.7 points; a B+ (3.3 points); B– (2.7 points); and so on.

With this information in hand, you are now ready to calculate the GPA for each individual year of high school.
Next let’s turn our attention to computing the cumulative GPA over the course of all four years.

Cumulative GPA

Since you want to show an overall average of your child’s high school work and not an average of the averages, you should not simply add up all the yearly GPAs and divide by 4 (the number of years). Instead, to calculate a cumulative GPA, it will be necessary to add all the quality points from 9th through 12th grades and divide by the sum of all four years of credits (first subtracting out any pass/fail credits).
If you wish to include a running cumulative GPA for each year of high school, then you will need to do the above operation in steps. Obviously, the yearly and cumulative GPAs for the 9th grade will be the same. For 10th grade, you will add the quality points from both 9th and 10th and divide that sum by the total number of credits (minus any pass/fail credits) for both those years. Then in the 11th grade, you will again go back to 9th grade and add all the quality points through the 11th grade and divide by the sum of the credits for those three years. The 12th grade computations will be completed in the same fashion and the resulting GPA will be both the cumulative GPA for 12th grade as well as the grand cumulative GPA for all four years of high school.

Starting out the school year right!

It is Labor Day weekend and most of us have probably already started school or are just getting ready to start. If you need help getting and staying organized, I wanted to suggest a site which I have found very helpful.

Donna Young has put together a website which has many forms and templates which you will find helpful in staying organized while homeschooling. She has daily lesson plans, transcripts, checklist forms, you name it and she probably already has a form for it. So don't reinvent the wheel, just give a click and see if you can find what you are looking for at her FREE downloadable site.

Get $25 Off Sonlight Order!!

This morning I received an email titled "Get $25 off Sonlight order", but nothing in the e-mail said anything about $25 off. Later today I received this letter from Sonlight explaining that an error was made but that they were going to extend the offer to everyone. It doesn't last long, but what a deal! I love this company!! Read on for the details.


Dear Kim,

I am deeply embarrassed. Yesterday afternoon, in preparing my letter about five reasons to order sooner rather than later, we accidentally attached the wrong subject line to the email you received. I had prepared that subject line for a different email headed to a group of people who had never purchased from Sonlight before. I wanted to see if a special offer might help these non-customers place their first order.

The subject line for that email offered $25 off the recipient's Sonlight order. The email these non-customers received specified a time limit on the offer, as well as a minimum order total of $250.

This morning I discovered we sent that subject line to everyone who has bought anything from Sonlight in the last two years!

Yikes ... NOT what we had intended! Talk about expensive mistakes.

But I talked with John and Sarita, who said, "You gave your word. You must fulfill your promise ... Since you've got lemons, do what you can to make some lemonade."

So we're going to do something we pray doesn't completely swamp our computer system and warehouse crew. I can imagine it may slow our ability to process orders for a few days, but...

We have decided to honor the promise of my last email to you in the following manner:

Since you've ordered from us before, we're extending the offer (originally intended for families new to Sonlight) to you for a very limited time. Place your order worth $250 or more (not including shipping) no later than 11:59 p.m. (MDT) tomorrow (7/23) and you will receive $25 off. That's in addition to any Sonlighter Club discounts you may receive.

Just enter PRXDY in the box marked "Special Offer Code" at Step 2 of check out.

I hope this little bit of "lemonade" is a blessing to you.

Sincerely,
Tim Heil
Customer Relations Manager
Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.

Book Give Away!

Even as a little girl I have always loved books! My mom would drop me off at the library while she ran errands and I would search out books to my heart's content! My love of books is one of the main reasons I was drawn to Sonlight.

Because of my love of books and my love of Sonlight, I thought it would be appropriate to combine the two! For the remainder of the month of July I am offering a free book to anyone who would like to refer a friend to me. So if you know of someone who is not currently using Sonlight and they would like to hear more about homeschooling using a literature approach, just drop me an e-mail with their phone number at kthroop@sonlight.com. I will then give your friend a call letting them know that you recommended that I share with them the benefits of teaching your kids through real books - The way you wish you'd been taught!

After I've spoken with your referral I will send you a list of books for you to choose from. Simple huh? Look forward to hearing from you!!