 The homeschool doldrums can set in during January and February. Rather than give in to the doldrums, resolve to beat them. Set up your homeschool for success during these dark and frosty months by planning ahead. We here at Silverdale Press want to help you plan for success. Below are ideas for daily, weekly, and monthly activities that can help you have a successful winter homeschool. Get out your calendar and pencil and get planning!
January Daily: Resolve to get outdoors once a day. Edith Schaeffer once wrote, "Try getting out somewhere into the fields or woods, even country lanes...Walk under trees after snow, or while it is still snowing, and listen to the quiet." Outdoor activity is more restorative than sitting at home on the couch. Weekly: January is a great time to get started with Hot Chocolate and Current Events. In the cold winter months, this weekly discussion can spur kids to share what's on their minds, including their worries and concerns. Talking is important when the doldrums set in. Monthly: Plan ahead for a field trip. January and February are great months to use some of those homeschool field trip days. Schedule a trip to a museum or historic site. Do some Web surfing to see what's available in your area. The key here is planning ahead and involving your kids in the planning. Everyone will look forward to the break in routine. Holidays: Resolve to celebrate MLK Day by doing a unit study. The big holiday in January is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Silverdale Press has just released our Martin Luther King, Jr. Unit Study, for the whole family to enjoy together. Plan to do the unit study the week of January 8-12, and then plan ahead to participate in the MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 15th. Doing a service project is a great way to beat the doldrums by focusing on others. February Daily: Resolve to participate in Audubon's Great Backyard Bird Count. Such a fun way to infuse yourself with nature during the cold months. Weekly: Are there any enrichment subjects you've been neglecting? Maybe art and music fall into those "neglected subjects" category? Add an artist or composer study onto your weekly Hot Chocolate and Current Events. Check out Enrichment Studies for their art pages and Ambleside Online for their artist and composer rotation schedule. Monthly: Plan ahead to participate in a public program. Check out a local sketch club, book club, moon walk, or family art program. Does your local library, arboretum, or children's museum have any special events? Now is the time to go to their Websites, register, and get them on your calendar. Holidays: Valentine's Day and Washington's Birthday are great February holidays to commemorate in your homeschool. We here at Silverdale Press are putting the finishing touches on our new Valentine's Day and George Washington Unit Studies. We will release them by February 1, 2018. Valentine's Day is February 14, so block off the four school days prior to complete our unit study, saving our very special fifth lesson to complete on Valentine's Day. In 2018, Washington's Birthday is observed Monday, February 19 (also known as Presidents' Day in some states). Block off the week of 19th-23rd to complete the George Washington Unit Study. Our unit studies are also a great way to work in those enrichment subjects. Though they are anchored in history and government, they also cover art, music, crafts, baking skills, and more. Happy planning!
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 January and February are upon us. For homeschool families, this can mean a big slump. But take heart. You can beat the winter doldrums! You just need to have a plan. Here are 5 tips for doing just that.
Silverdale Press is pleased to announce the release of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unit Study! You can do this unit study any time of the year, but it might be especially meaningful around the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
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We hope you will join us for this meaningful unit study.  Do you have a budding writer on your gift list? We here at Silverdale Press are gearing up for the upcoming release for our new Persuasive Writing curriculum. So, we know a thing or two about the habits of great writers. Consider one of these gifts to help your friend or loved one cultivate the these habits.
1. Moleskine Paper Tablet: There's nothing quite like capturing your thoughts by hand. The paper is luxurious and the price is affordable. Moleskine products also come with apps to easily transfer handwritten notes from page to screen. 2. Roget's Thesaurus: Every writer should have a copy of Roget's Thesaurus on his or her desk. When the right word just doesn't come easily, a thesaurus can be indispensable. 3. Writer Memoirs: Writers read. It certainly doesn't hurt for writers to read books about the writing life, for both insight and inspiration. Try Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott or The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. 4. Style Guides: Books such as The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White and On Writing Well by William Zinsser give sound advice for writing in a variety of genres. 5. Coffee Shop Gift Card: What writer doesn't love to crank out words at a coffee shops? Ok, some writers don't like the buzz and bustle of cappuccino machines and customers. But many do. We hope these suggestions help you find just the right gift.  Hot Chocolate and Current Events is our weekly effort to help homeschool families connect over the important issues of the day. Discussing currents events at home helps kids develop critical thinking skills. This week, we're talking about art in the news.
Read this article about the mystery man behind a recent record painting purchase. There's also a short video. Mix up a batch of hot chocolate, then discuss the questions that follow. Map Points: Saudi Arabia New York, NY, USA Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Discussion Questions
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