Entries Tagged 'Announcements' ↓
May 8th, 2009 — Announcements
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Book B
WriteShop Primary Book B is coming!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted any WriteShop Primary news. (Actually, I’m embarrassed to say it’s been over a month since I posted just about anything. Read on and you’ll soon see why!)
We’re getting ready to begin an official countdown on the release of WriteShop Primary Book B, and we’re quite excited around here!
First, we’ve had an amazing group of homeschoolers beta testing the Book B lessons for us. We wrapped up the test period last month. Here’s what these moms are saying about the lessons:
“[My daughter] went from painfully writing 3-5 sentences to writing whole stories complete with beginning, middle, and ending. It even helped me not to be scared of writing.” –Andrea, CA
“Spelling improved. CONFIDENCE was a huge improvement. I had been dealing with the dreaded ‘I can’t’ and this program has helped them see ‘I CAN’! …A fantastic experience! –Cheryl, ON
“The difference in the length and complexity of [my son's] stories was astounding.” –Rebecca, CA
Last-minute frenzy!
Right now we’re in the final editing and revising stage as we work with our dear editor friend, Sallie Borrink. As we polish up each lesson, we whisk it off to Sallie’s husband David, who did an absolutely fabulous job with the layout of WriteShop Primary Book A. He’s got a few new tricks up his sleeve for Book B, which has a few surprise components.
Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for Deborah Thomson, our talented illustrator, as she turns our worksheet concepts into adorable, kid-friendly activity pages.
If all goes well and we don’t have too many wrenches tossed into the mix, we should be able to go to press by the first of June. Do I hear an amen?
What can you look forward to?
Here are some of the lessons you’ll enjoy with your first and second graders in Book B (though many of our test moms loved using the lessons with their reluctant older ones as well):
- Writing a Friendly Letter
- Standard Spelling
- Acrostics
- Poems and Nursery Rhymes
- Fairy Tales and Predictable Stories
- In the News
- Writing with Humor
- Problem and Solution
- Character and Setting
- Story Organizers
Keep watching for more info to come. Book B is just around the corner! In the meantime, visit our website for more about WriteShop Primary.
March 23rd, 2009 — Announcements
Raffle at HomeschoolChristian.com
Happy 11th Anniversary to HomeschoolChristian.com, a website dedicated to encouraging and supporting Christian homeschoolers. This special day will be marked by an equally special RAFFLE to be held Tuesday, March 24.
Today is the VERY LAST DAY you can buy your tickets.
Among the offerings? WriteShop is donating a copy of WriteShop Primary Book A and Activity Worksheet Pack, a $32.90 value! This fantastic resource helps you teach early writing skills to your K-2nd grader in a gentle, hands-on way.
The raffle includes many other great items, including:
- Curriculum for all ages and subjects
- Books and literature
- Gift certificates
- Hand-quilted items
- A horse (yes, a real horse!)
How to Enter
You can enter the raffle (which supports the ministry of HomeschoolChristian.com) for as little as $5 using PayPal. Remember that today (March 23) is the LAST DAY to enter.
- Click here to see all the raffle gifts (WriteShop Primary is item #12).
- Click here to download the entry form and choose the products you’re interested in winning.
Enter the raffle in one of two ways:
- Print the entry form, fill it in, scan it, and email it with your PayPal. Send to homeschoolchristian @gmail.com
- Type in the item number and quantity of tickets for each item and include that with your PayPal. Send to homeschoolchristian @gmail.com
The drawings will be held in the chat room at HomeschoolChristian.com on March 24 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
December 23rd, 2008 — Announcements
With Christmas upon us, hopefully in all hurrying and scurrying we’re also taking time to remember our Savior, whose birth we celebrate during this festive season.
We pray you enjoy the holiday wth your family and dear friends. We’ll be back to blogging around December 29—see you then!
Peace,
Kim and Debbie
www.writeshop.com
Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com Creative Commons license 3.0.
September 18th, 2008 — Announcements
Announcing the Winners!
Congratulations to our winners in WriteShop’s diamante poetry contest. With approximately 70 students submitting a total of 116 entries, it was really hard to select just four winners. My hand went into that bowl with much prayer!
The task of choosing my favorite of the four was even tougher! After all, I had to deliberate between fabulous adjectives such as blustery and timid; strong nouns like tusks, igloos, and frost; and amazing participles including shimmering, lumbering, and crackling. Wow!
In the end, though, I decided on Vincent’s Arctic/Desert diamante. First, I love his topic. It lends itself beautifully to a descriptive diamante. And not only did he choose each word with great care, he painted a dazzling word picture as well. So congratulations to Vincent, our Grand Prize winner, and to our runners-up: Gabriella, Hannah M., and Levi. Well done!
GRAND PRIZE WINNER!
Arctic
Blustery, desolate
Swirling, screaming, freezing
Caribou, igloos . . . Camels, tents
Burning, blinding, whistling
Barren, dry
Desert
Vincent, age 13 (Indiana)
RUNNERS-UP
Elephant
Heavy, strong
Lumbering, trumpeting, spraying
Trunk, tusks . . . Whiskers, cheese
Scurrying, trembling, gnawing
Tiny, timid
Mouse
Hannah, age 13 (New York)
. . . . .
Sunrise
Pink, purple
Shining, shimmering, brightening
Dawn, light . . . Dusk,shadows
Changing, glowing, darkening
Red, orange
Sunset
Gabriella, age 13 (Washington)
. . . . .
Fire
Red, hot
Scorching, burning, boiling
Ember, flame . . . Frost, glacier
Freezing, crackling, chilling
Blue, cold
Ice
Levi, age 10 (Colorado)
. . . . .
Vincent has won a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card for himself and a $10 WriteShop gift certificate for his mom. Congratulations!
Runners-up will receive our brand-new poster!
I hope you take a few minutes to read some of the other entries as well, for all our contestants gave their best. You’ll find some true gems, evidence of creativity, hard work, and time spent with The Synonym Finder! As a matter of fact, one mom emailed us to say:
“Thanks for having these contests. I love seeing [my kids] writing for someone other than myself and digging through the thesaurus!” —Theresa
September 2nd, 2008 — Announcements
Thanks to everyone who took the time to cast a vote in our poster contest and post a comment. The blue poster was the overwhelming winner by four to one, with 24 votes, while the red poster received only 6 votes.
This week, we’re going to polish up the blue poster and try a couple of your suggestions to see if we want to change anything. Then we’ll print ‘em and send them off to our winners.
Speaking of winners, WOO HOO! We drew five lucky names today, and each one will receive a free poster! (Coincidentally, our winners all voted for the blue poster.) 
Congratulations to each of you, and thanks for joining in the fun! We’ll notify you when your poster is on its way.
Edited: How remiss of me! I need to add a huge thanks to my talented daughter Karah of Blue Flombingo for designing our fabulous poster!
August 28th, 2008 — Announcements
Cast Your Vote
Our WriteShop Starter Pack includes an 8-1/2″ x 11″ poster featuring the 5 Steps of the Writing Process. Well, after several years, we decided it’s time to retire our old poster in favor of a fresh new look.
My daughter, our talented designer, has presented us with two great choices. The problem is we love them both and can’t make a decision, so we need your help! Please vote for your favorite by adding a comment…
…for a Chance to Win a Prize!
On September 1, we’ll put all comments into a hat and draw five names. Each winner will get a free poster! We’ll announce the winner here on Tuesday, September 2.
Red Poster
Blue Poster
June 7th, 2008 — Announcements
My friend Molly Evert is holding a contest on her blog for the month of June with an awesome prize! She’s giving away a complete set of Vision Forum’s Reclaiming the Culture DVDs. This set of teaching DVDs normally retails at over $100.
The contest is a pretty simple scavenger hunt. It shouldn’t take more than about 10 minutes to find the answers. Rules for the contest are on her blog http://www.counterculturalmom.blogspot.com, so pop on over and join the fun!
May 8th, 2008 — Announcements
April 1st, 2008 — Announcements, WriteShop
It’s Official
The March/April issue of Mary Pride’s Practical Homeschooling magazine features its 2008 Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards. We were excited to learn that WriteShop tied for third place in the Writing Composition category.
Among the winners, WriteShop is the newest kid on the block, so we feel especially honored to receive this distinction!
March 18th, 2008 — Announcements
In Thursday’s blog, I offered a challenge to readers to spot the paired adjectives in the museum plaque. Thanks to all who joined in the fun! The winners will receive a free World of People StoryBuilders eBook. But don’t despair! Even if you guessed incorrectly, we’re still sending you a fun consolation prize just for giving it a shot.
Our winners!
Congrats to: Heidi, Susan P., Irene, Penny, Ann, Beth, Susan M., Laura, Donna, Jennifer, Amy, Rebecca, and Angela.
And the answer is…
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