May 14th, 2013 — Conventions
In the next two weeks WriteShop will be exhibiting at a couple more homeschool conventions: Teach Them Diligently in Nashville, TN, and NCHE in Winston-Salem, NC.
Teach Them Diligently, Nashville – May16-18
Kyra will be our friendly rep at the Teach Them Diligently conference in Nashville this month. With over 10 years of WriteShop experience, Kyra loves to answer your writing questions and explain WriteShop products to you.
NCHE- North Carolinians for Home Education, Winson-Salem – May 22-25
Kyra and Debbie will be greeting you at our booth in North Carolina! These knowledgeable ladies look forward to answering your questions, showing you WriteShop materials, and helping you choose the best level for your children’s and teen’s writing needs.
At BOTH homeschool conventions you can:
- See our full line of WriteShop products
- Purchase WriteShop materials.
- Learn how you can teach a WriteShop co-op class in your area.
- Receive much-needed encouragement about teaching writing.
Whichever homeschool conventions you attend, it’s a great time to stop by our booth to ask questions. Come see what’s new or browse through WriteShop books in person. Visit the convention sites for workshop schedules, exhibit hall hours, and directions to the conferences. We look forward to seeing you there!
January 24th, 2013 — Contests & Giveaways
We’re still celebrating WriteShop’s 12th birthday … and that means another great giveaway! This giveaway is open to everyone—even our international friends, with a prize package worth as much as $211!
Prizes from WriteShop
WriteShop will give the winner your choice of WriteShop Primary or WriteShop Junior curriculum package - includes ebook version of both Teacher’s Guide and related Activity Pack ($29 to $65 value)
Book A is recommended for kindergarten or first graders. It may also be used with reluctant second graders. The program accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers, teaching the skills of the writing process at the very simplest level.
Book B is recommended for first or second graders. It may also be used with reluctant third graders. The program accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers, teaching the steps of the writing process in a simple, engaging way.
Book C is recommended for 2nd or 3rd graders. It may also be used with 9-year-olds who learn with difficulty. Students learn to write simple stories, articles, and reports with parent help. The program accommodates beginning and developing writers, teaching the steps of the writing process in a simple, engaging way.
Book D is recommended for 3rd, 4th, or reluctant 5th graders. Students learn to write and publish fiction, nonfiction, and poetry using a variety of pre-writing games, graphic organizers, and self-editing tools. Effective with both reluctant and enthusiastic writers.
Prizes from Friends of WriteShop
Four of our favorite publishing friends are tossing some great gifts into the prize package!
Media Angels is giving the winner a ticket to the Ultimate Homeschool Expo. This year they’re talking about homeschooling methods, teaching styles, organization, making the most out of your holidays while homeschooling, creation science, exceptional children, teen years, and more. Listen to the Expo and each of the exciting speakers in the comfort of your own home! ($89.95 value)
Grapevine Studies offers Bible studies for all ages. The winner will receive the teacher and student download of The Resurrection study ebook. Starting in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, your students will study the people and events of the final hours of Jesus’ life. Great for family devotions, Sunday School, or Bible class. ($23.00 value)
Homeschool Adventure Co. creates and offers resources designed to inspire and equip parents to educate and raise children to be loving, compassionate, strong, and wise. One of their tools is Philippians in 28 weeks, which will help you memorize Philippians in 28 weeks! This streamlined approach uses memory cards carefully constructed to present Philippians thought-by-thought, copywork verses, journal questions, weekly reflections, recitation charts to test your retention, and an optional tracking tool called “The Log.” The winner will get their own copy of this eb00k. ($14.95 value)
Jim Hodges Audio Books has largest collection of unabridged recordings of the G.A. Henty historical novels available. The winner will get to pick one audio book of your choice. ($18 value)
Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.
- See my complete giveaway rules
- No purchase necessary.
- All giveaways are void where prohibited.
- Open to all age 18 and older.
- Winners are chosen randomly, by Rafflecopter.
- Unless otherwise stated, winners have 72 hours from the close of the giveaway to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed within 72 hours, an alternate winner will be selected.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 1st, 2013 — Contests & Giveaways
This month marks our 12th year of providing quality writing materials to homeschoolers—and we want to celebrate! A number of our friends have partnered with us to offer a fantastic Big Birthday Bash giveaway package worth over $500!
Here are the Birthday Bash prizes:
WriteShop will give the winner their choice of WriteShop curriculum. Choose the level you need! ($32 – $100 value)
Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations created a wonderful resource for homeschool parents called the Homeschool Planner. This great planner can be customized and used year after year. ($20 value)
Thirty-One Consultant Kathy Planton is offering an Organizing Utility Tote. See how Spell Outloud used this bag to organize her WriteShop curriculum. ($30 value)
Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler is offering her Classical Literature Unit Study Pack. Each literature unit study contains educational lessons, activities and a fun lapbook students will work on as they progress through the book. ($18 value)
Bright Ideas Press is offering a digital copy of their fabulous geography software called WonderMaps. It’s a customizable collection of over 350 different maps. With nearly endless possibilities, WonderMaps makes it easy to regularly integrate map study into a variety of lessons and make the most of every learning opportunity. ($49.95 value)
Michelle from Hi Mamma Designs creates beautiful fabric banners. She is making a fabric Happy Birthday banner for the Birthday Bash winner. This is a perfect decoration to use year after year as you celebrate the birthdays of your loved ones at home. ($38 value)
Schoolhouse Teachers is offering a 1-year membership to their online classroom, where Kim Kautzer is the writing teacher. With over 25 different “school” subjects presented via teaching videos, ongoing lesson plans, worksheets, lapbooks & unit studies, writing prompts and other assignments to choose from, students can additionally interact personally with the teachers by asking them questions and gaining feedback. ($64.26 value)
All About Learning Press is offering a $50 gift certificate to their store! Their All About Reading and All About Spelling programs are complete, comprehensive, and based on the Orton-Gillingham approach and the latest research. ($50 value)
Knowledge Quest created A Presidential Scrapbook and is giving a copy to our Birthday Bash winner. Journey back through time and get acquainted with our nation’s presidents, from General George Washington to our current Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama. Find out about the events that propelled these men into the highest office of the United States of America and what remarkable and memorable deeds marked each of their presidencies. ($18.95 value)
Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History curriculum, is giving a downloadable Mp3 Audio book of Vol I of The Mystery of History. Bring The Mystery of History Volume I Second Edition to life! You can listen to the professionally recorded stories through the voice of the author. ($49.95 value)
Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young is a practical guide to equipping the hearts and minds of boys without losing or breaking your own. The winner will receive their own copy of this encouraging book. ($15 value)
The winner will also receive a 1-year subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine. With its first-rate graphic design and culturally relevant articles, Home Educating Family Magazine has quickly become the most popular homeschool magazine on the market. ($19.95 value)
With 25 years of experience in the home educating community, Media Angels has developed an online EXPO addressing a wide variety of topics for today’s homeschool moms! Each year we line up an impressive speaker list with topics that are relevant to your every day life. This year we are talking about homeschooling methods, teaching styles, organization, making the most out of your holidays while homeschooling, creation science, exceptional children, teen years, and more. The winner will receive an Ultimate Homeschool Expo ticket! ($89.95 value)
Starting a Micro Business for Teens by Carol Topp will help teenagers earn money while learning a lot. A micro business is simple to start, usually home-based, low risk, educational, and easy for a busy student to run. This book offers ideas, a business plan, pitfalls to avoid, and resources to get a teenager started making money running their own micro business. The winner will receive their own copy of Starting a Micro Business for Teens. ($9.95 value)
Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.
- See my complete giveaway rules
- No purchase necessary.
- All giveaways are void where prohibited.
- Open only to U.S. Residents, age 18 and older.
- Winners are chosen randomly, by Rafflecopter.
- Unless otherwise stated, winners have 72 hours from the close of the giveaway to claim their prize. If the prize is not claimed within 72 hours, an alternate winner will be selected.
International friends, there will be a special giveaway open to everyone later in the month!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 24th, 2012 — Announcements
IT’S BLACK FRIDAY weekend, and WriteShop has some goodies for you!
1. FREEBIE: Writing Games and Activities
First, we want to bless you with a special freebie to download and enjoy with your children!
They’ll love this assortment of writing activities, including:
- “Where in the World” pre-writing game helps children plan an exciting setting for a story
- 30 kid-friendly writing prompts for both older and younger children
- A fun sentence-building game
Grab your download from the pop-up window by visiting WriteShop’s shop at Homeschool Block!
2. WriteShop Coupon: Save 20%!
While many shoppers are fighting crowds, others prefer taking advantage of online specials from the comfort of home. How about you?
We love our customers, so we’re offering a rare 20% discount on WriteShop products, valid through December 2, 2012. If you’re looking for the next WriteShop level for the new semester, or you’re thinking ahead to next year, now’s your chance to get those books at a great price!
The coupon code is included in the free Writing Games download.
September 10th, 2012 — Contests & Giveaways
creative commons
“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” ~Anthony Robbins
Have you ever been RAKed?
I have!
- A stranger shared her umbrella with me as we found our cars in the rain.
- My neighbor slipped a homemade cinnamon roll into my mailbox.
- A sweet friend cleaned my house while I recovered from surgery.
- When I ran a bit short at check-out, a smiling grocery clerk pulled twenty-seven cents from her own pocket and tossed it into the cash drawer.
Each of these simple gestures presented itself in my life as a Random Act of Kindness (RAK).
I can’t begin to remember all the ways I’ve experienced the goodness and generosity of both friends and total strangers. Some cost nothing more than a bit of common courtesy; others meant a greater sacrifice of time or resources.
These blessings happen every day, all around us. I wonder how often we miss the gift?
Smallest Gestures
Just last week, a woman invited me to go ahead in line at the grocery store checkout. I know this seems like such a small thing, but it was a hectic day, and those few precious extra minutes meant a great deal to me.
Secret Blessings
Once, when my husband asked our server for the dinner tab, she told us our bill had already been paid!
As we left the restaurant, we spotted a young family in the corner whose children had been in our toddler Sunday school class over the years. Were they the givers of this sweet gift? We’ll never know for sure, but we certainly left that restaurant with lightness of heart!
The Kindness of Strangers
Perhaps the most striking act of kindness calls to mind a November night many years ago when our new dog, whom we recently rescued from a shelter, got into some snail bait and became seriously ill. Her treatment costs were mounting by the hour, and without my husband in town to help make decisions, I told the vet how much I could afford and asked him do what he could for Casey.
As I stood in the office, a man approached the counter and said he’d seen my son crying on the steps outside the animal hospital. He couldn’t bear to see a boy grieving so, and he proceeded to tell the receptionist that he’d cover the difference in the bill, whatever the cost. Whatever the cost!
I have never forgotten the kindness of this man, this complete stranger, because Casey, now quite elderly, has been the sweetest pet we ever could have asked for—and he helped save her life.
Kim’s Birthday Celebration
Today is my birthday, but I’m much more in a giving mood than a receiving one: I’m in the mood to pay it forward!
Ever since the lovely Jenn at Daze of Adventure posted about how she celebrated her 36th birthday by performing 36 Random Acts of Kindness, I’ve been looking toward my own special day with similar thoughts fluttering around in my mind.
So when my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I remembered a blog post from my friend Ann Voskamp and told him I wanted someone to have clean drinking water. For just $55, our gift will provide fresh water for 68 people for their entire lives!
Next, I invited friends and family to join me in performing one RAK on my birthday to help me celebrate.
My original goal was 58 RAKs, but in harnessing the power of the Internet, with its amazing viral capabilities, I’m believing that—with your help—my mundane 58th birthday will be a vessel to impact hundreds of people, if not thousands, in our communities and around the world.
Random Acts of Kindness Ideas
There are limitless ways you can bless someone with a RAK—and they don’t have to cost a penny! Whether you have change to spare or not, here are some places to gather ideas for ways you can pay it forward.
Will you join me by doing one kind deed to help celebrate my birthday? My blog gets thousands of visitors each week, so it’s my prayer that our collective Random Acts of Kindness will rock our world!
WriteShop Giveaway
To add to the celebration, I’m giving away a gift package to one lucky winner! Each person who comments below by sharing how you “RAKed” someone this week will be entered into a drawing for your choice of one of the following WriteShop curriculum packages:
What if you already have the WriteShop books you need, or you’re not homeschooling or teaching? Choose a $25 Amazon gift card instead!
I can’t wait to see how this takes off! Are you ready to RAK someone?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
August 14th, 2012 — WriteShop
LAST time, we peeked at WriteShop Primary and WriteShop Junior for elementary ages. But if you’re homeschooling for junior high or high school, you’ll also want to consider WriteShop I and II as you make curriculum decisions for the upcoming year.
WriteShop I and II – Middle and High School
The flagship WriteShop program sets teens on a course for success, guiding them through each step of the writing process.
I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful your program is. The improvement in my daughter’s writing is phenomenal.” —Sandy, North Carolina
Teacher’s Manual for WriteShop I & II
Award-winning WriteShop takes the guesswork out of teaching writing. The Teacher’s Manual helps you teach writing with confidence.
Containing daily lesson plans and schedules for both WriteShop I and II, the Teacher’s Manual offers tips for editing and grading, answer keys, student samples, and supplemental writing activities, as well as dozens of essay topics for WriteShop assignments.
I love WriteShop. I used to feel so inadequate teaching writing but now I am confident they are learning all the tools they will need for High School level writing.” —Heather, Montana
Student Workbooks
Assignments give students a chance to practice various kinds of writing, including creative, expository, and narrative.
- WriteShop I gives your 6th-10th grader the basics of descriptive, informative, and narrative writing.
For grades 8-12, WriteShop II introduces descriptive narration, point of view, narrative voice, persuasion, and essay writing.
Lessons focus on clarity, conciseness, colorful vocabulary, and sentence variety, with a strong emphasis placed on the editing process. With each lesson, students learn and practice new skills, apply them to their current writing project, and edit and revise the composition several times.
The consumable workbooks contain Skill Builders, word banks, detailed lesson instructions, editing checklists, and grading forms. TM required.
First-timers should begin with the Basic Set or Starter Pack.
Someone asked me what I didn’t like about the program, and I couldn’t think of anything.” —Lynée Ward, iCHED
WriteShop also makes a great writing program choice for homeschool classes, co-ops, and private schools. Let us know how we can help!
Photo credit: Karah Fredricks. Used by permission.
August 13th, 2012 — WriteShop
FOR MANY homeschoolers, summer is the time of year to scour websites and homeschooling catalogs in search of just the right curriculum products for your children’s varying needs. 
So many subjects, so many choices! What to pick for science, math, history, language arts?
As you consider your purchases for writing and composition, here’s a brief overview of WriteShop— products that can help you feel more equipped as a teacher while giving your kids a leg up in the success department!
WriteShop Primary – Grades K-3
An introduction to early writing skills, WriteShop Primary gives young children tools to experience success as they develop the ability to plan and write stories.
Whether you have a more advanced child or one who is just beginning, this program’s flexibility lets your young students work at their own level. Pre-writers can even do all the activities orally!
Taylor has already asked if we can buy the other two books in the series … This really just speaks volumes for this program.” –Chris, Armyof5
Teacher’s Guide
Gently introduce writing through guided writing practice, favorite picture books, hands-on activities, and crafty writing projects. Extra challenges appear throughout each lesson to keep the interest of a more advanced child.
It’s also fun! Most writing programs seem kind of boring to me, but Write Shop Primary includes fun games, visuals, activities, crafts and books that help to enhance the writing experience.” –Erica, Confessions of a Homeschooler
Activity Set Worksheet Pack
In addition to your Teacher’s Guide, you will need a reproducible Activity Set Worksheet Pack to round out the program. Illustrated activity pages introduce or reinforce writing skills taught in each lesson. The pack also contains Evaluation Charts for tracking your child’s progress.
Not all children need to begin with WriteShop Primary Book A! We can help you choose the best starting level.
WriteShop Junior – Grades 3-5
WriteShop Junior eases your upper-elementary students into writing. Engaging games and activities teach and review important writing and self-editing skills while keeping it fun for everyone. (Note: Only WriteShop Junior Book D is available at this time.)
Book D was so easy to teach, I couldn’t possibly fail! The lessons were concise and fun, which made my reluctant writer start to come out of his shell. His writing skills have come a long way—and so have mine.” –Kelley, SD
Teacher’s Guide
Easy-to-use lesson plans and schedules help you lead and guide your children through the steps of the writing process. WriteShop Junior exposes them to genre, fiction and nonfiction writing, and journal writing and introduces exciting new brainstorming and editing tools that truly motivate young writers!
Activity Pack with Fold-N-Go™ Grammar
Each 2-pack contains BOTH the Student Worksheet Pack AND Fold-N-Go™ Grammar Pack.
Student Worksheet Pack: Activity pages your child will need to complete portions of each lesson. These worksheets introduce 
your child to writing skills such as brainstorming and self-editing.
Fold-N-Go™ Grammar Pack: Fun reference tools with simple exercises that introduce or review grammar rules and essential writing skills. Printed on brightly colored paper, pages are assembled inside a file folder to form 10 large flipbooks, one for each lesson in each WriteShop Junior book. {The Level 1 Fold-N-Go Grammar Pack is also available to purchase separately.}
The Fold-N-Go packs are really what I loved the most about the student part of this curriculum. It was the ‘hook.’” –Christina, I Have Been Blessed
Time-Saver Pack
For parents and teachers who appreciate shortcuts, the {optional} Time-Saver Pack includes a number of sturdy, ready-made props for activities featured throughout Book D, such as game cards and spinners.
If you prefer to make your own, that’s okay too! You’ll find instructions for each activity in the Teacher’s Guide.
WriteShop Junior SUMMER SPECIAL!
Get a FREE Time-Saver Pack ($14 value) when you purchase both Book D Teacher and Student books! Visit our virtual booth at HomeschoolConvention.com and look for the Summer Special banner. Hurry–Summer Special ends soon (offer valid thru August 15, 2012).
. . . . .
Now that you’ve had an overview of our younger-level writing programs, come back tomorrow for a look at WriteShop I and II for junior high and high school!
Photo credit: Karah Fredricks. Used by permission.
May 23rd, 2012 — Conventions
This coming weekend—May 24-26, 2012—heralds one of the largest homeschooling conventions in the nation: the annual North Carolina Home Educators’ Conference and Book Fair (NCHE) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The amazing and helpful team of Kyra and Tami will be manning the WriteShop booth to answer your writing questions, show you our newest products, and guide you to choose the best level for your child’s writing needs.
Visit the convention site for a workshop schedule, exhibit hall hours, and driving directions.
For our friends on the West Coast, WriteShop will also be in Long Beach, California this weekend for the California Homeschool Convention. Hope to see you at one of these great events!
May 10th, 2012 — Conventions
If you homeschool in the Dallas area, the annual Home School Book Fair is coming this weekend to nearby Arlington May 11-12, 2012! With great speakers and all sorts of curriculum exhibitors, you won’t want to miss this extra-special conference!
This is a perfect time to stop by to see us at Booth #605 to ask questions, see what’s new, or browse through WriteShop books in person.
At the convention you can:
At only $20 per person at the door, this is one of the most affordable homeschool conferences in the country! For workshop schedule, exhibit hall hours, and directions to the Arlington Convention Center, visit www.homeschoolbookfair.org.
Attend Kim Kautzer’s workshop
Kim is a featured speaker at the Arlington Book Fair.
You won’t want to miss her Saturday workshop, Gone Fishing: Tips and Ideas to Motivate Young Writers.
“What’s the secret to raising enthusiastic writers? Hook them while they’re young with fun, appealing activities that teach foundational writing skills. Kim will share engaging pre-writing games, clever brainstorming ideas, and creative publishing projects that will make your K-6th graders eager to write and proud to be published!”
See you there!
April 23rd, 2012 — Announcements
Spring is…
- brand-new baby birds
- beautiful blossoms and blooms
- curriculum conferences
- decluttering and deep-cleaning
- planning and purchasing
- special spring savings for our spectacular supporters
Have you been thinking about ordering for next year? From now until April 30th, 2012, you can save 15% on your order from the WriteShop store using the coupon code SPRING15 at checkout.
WriteShop products for every age
The last week in April is going to be busy yet rewarding! If you are attending the SHEM homeschool convention in Springfield, Missouri, I’ll have six sessions packed with tips and encouragement for teaching writing. Please stop by and say hello!
WriteShop is also sponsoring three bloggers who will be attending the 2:1 homeschool blogging conference. If you will be at the conference, be sure to see Stephanie, Shay, or Maureen for a WriteShop special just for 2:1 attendees!
Did you know that WriteShop has a booth at the Virtual Homeschool Convention? Unlike other conventions, this one is open 24/7, and you can attend without leaving home. Peruse the shelves and learn what our writing curriculum has to offer your homeschool.
