In this issue:
- It's LAST CALL for HOLIDAY SAVINGS MONTH!
- Coming Soon
- What Do You Think?
- More Free Curriculum Discoveries by Diane Flynn Keith
- Cathy Duffy Reviews
- Just for Fun
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Please join us in giving a hearty Co-op "Welcome!" to 274 new families in the last week!
This week we wish you a Happy New Year, bid farewell to Holiday Savings Month, issue LAST CALLS (Mark Kistler 3-year subscription! The Magic School Bus Science Club!) for some of our "member favorites", and more. (Keep reading...)
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| This is our last newsletter before New Year's, so from all of us to all of you, we'd like to wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Co-op!
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THANKS to the 11,224 members who "Like" us on Facebook. (We like you too!) Here's our community update:
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LAST CALL for our HOLIDAY CHEER CONTEST!
Just a few more days and it will be the New Year! Do you have a favorite holiday tradition (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year's), something you especially enjoy doing every year, or one that you'd like to start?
How about a favorite recipe just for this time of year? Or, a favorite activity? Or even a special event that you might attend or organize? Tell us what you do to create holiday cheer, and get a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
Our winner will be randomly drawn early next year from posts that get at least two "Likes" on our Holiday Cheer page so be sure to enter before the end of the month!
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LAST CALL for
HolidaySavingsMonth
at the Co-op!
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It's LAST CALL for HOLIDAYSAVINGSMONTH at the Co-op! This month we have been featuring some terrific holiday savings opportunities for members.
Here's the line-up:
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Brave Writer - Save 50%
Created by and for homeschoolers, this popular curriculum provides a comprehensive writing and language arts solution for grades 3-12. By joining this GroupBuy, members save 50% on The Writer's Jungle, Help for High School, annual subscriptions to Arrow and Boomerang, as well as bundles of back issues of Arrow, Boomerang and Slingshot.
We are also offering a 10% OFF Coupon Code for Brave Writer's popular online classes, taught by professional writers (who are also homeschoolers!).
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 Math practice that's fun? We hear time and again in the member testimonials for IXL Math that kids beg their parents for more time with this popular online program. Kids love it because they get certificates when they meet practice goals. You'll love it because you'll get emails that tell you how much time they've spent in different categories and how well they did, plus a weekly report for every child. The company says it's the most popular math practice site in the world, and we believe it! This program will even align your student's progress to your own state standards, if you so choose. 1000+ topics, 100+ skills, unlimited math questions! We were told that a child can literally use this program for hours and hours and never repeat a single question. That offers a LOT of challenges to keep their math skills sharp! Get organized for the New Year, and save 40% today! |
Many of us are ambivalent about our kids playing computer games. Here's an exception as BrainWare Safari is one game you might love to have them play!
The idea of this product is that the cognitive skills needed to excel academically -- attention, visual processing, auditory processing, sensory integration, memory, and thinking -- can be exercised and thereby improved.
Most importantly, improved cognitive skills boost a child's self-confidence and academic achievement across the board. Members consistently applaud the usefulness of this program which is recommended for kids 6 and up.
There program also comes in two versions: a download version or a full package version.
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If you are looking for a History product that can delight your child, you should take a look at our friend Chester!
Author Bentley Boyd turns traditional history teaching on its head by making the hat-wearing Chester Crab your child's guide on a colorful and witty romp through U.S. history. Bentley uses Chester, other cartoon characters, and large type as a way to draw reluctant readers -- typical of visual learners -- into the study of history.
A wealth of member testimonials speaks to his success. They report the entire family loves Chester Comix! Written for kids of all ages!
Plus, don't forget if you purchase "The League of Homeschool All-Stars"!, it will be personally signed* by the author, Bentley Boyd. "The League of Homeschool All-Stars" is a limited-edition (only 1000 copies were printed) hardcover book!
* See ordering instructions on site for providing information to have the book personally signed. Limit one "The League of Homeschool All-Stars" books per household.
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We consider the Discovery Education streaming Plus subscription to be among the crown jewels of our GroupBuys. Members tell us time and again that their Discovery Education streaming subscription is one of the best educational purchases they have ever made. (See their testimonials.)
And no wonder! With over 150,000 educational videos and "objects" on virtually every subject under the sun, enhanced with teaching guides, simulations, and much more, Discovery Education streaming Plus can supplement virtually every subject in your homeschool curriculum.
Adding Discovery Education streaming Plus to your homeschool curriculum is much like having the entire DVD selection of your local public library available to you from the convenience of your home, 24/7/365 -- take a look and start getting organized for the start of 2012 today!
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DriversEd.com offers state-approved drivers education for ages 14 and up in all states that certify online drivers education: California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
In all other states (except Utah, Indiana, Nebraska, and Florida), DriversEd.com offers quality drivers education that teaches teens essential safe-driving information and can provide potential savings on auto insurance.
Check out these helpful member testimonials whose teenagers have successfully used this program! If you have a teenager who might start driving in 2012, take a look at this program today! |
Type To Learn 4: Agents of Information's creators have gone to extraordinary lengths to make typing instruction FUN, as well as pedagogically sound.
Students become "secret agents" who are tasked with saving the world's information (hence the extended product name "Type to Learn 4: Agents of Information"). Students must start their training immediately to move up the 7 ranks from Recruit to accurate, fast-typing Master Agents.
Great testimonials continue to roll in highlighting the versatility of the program and how it can be used for any grade level, from Kindergarten to 12th grade! |
If you have a struggling reader, this is a MUST LOOK. Sally Shaywitz reviewed it in her classic book "Overcoming Dyslexia" and highly recommended it. According to Shaywitz, reading fluency -- repeated oral reading -- should be the #1 priority for parents of dyslexic children, and that's exactly what Reading Assistant is designed to facilitate.
Member testimonials repeatedly refer to how much this program has worked for their kids -- plus the kids love it!
Reading Assistant acts as a patient, non-judgmental listener for struggling, self-conscious readers and provides the much needed reading practice that benefits all students. Readers are helped with interactive resources, immediate feedback on errors, and private playback.
Research suggests that as little as 15 minutes a day with Reading Assistant can significantly improve your struggling reader's proficiency. If you're looking to augment your struggling reader's curriculum in 2012, take a look at this program -- you can save 74% through the Co-op!
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iKnowthat-Home is an ad-free version of the immensely popular educational children's website, iKnowthat.com. It features a vast selection of educational activities and games in a kid-safe environment.
Each activity is designed to give your child the experiences and access to content needed to meet standards and benchmarks in each subject area, including Math, Language Arts, Science, and more!
Check out the enthusiastic testimonials from kids and parents -- iKnowthat-Home lets your kids enjoy their computer time and learn while they're at it.
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 ~~~ GroupBuy Roundup ~~~
Here's our recap of what's happening with GroupBuys at the Co-op. |
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Trickomatics - Save 23% + FREE Shipping + Get 2,000 SmartPoints* - NEW!
We are pleased to announce that Trickomatics is back at the Co-op with another GroupBuy. Move over, Brainetics, there's a new kid on the block!
As with the popular Brainetics learning system, Trickomatics teaches math tricks that help kids solve word problems and perform amazing feats of multiplication, often in their heads. Unlike Brainetics, however, Trickomatics uses high-quality Hollywood animation to accomplish this task.
Along the way, according to Trickomatics, students improve their math and problem-solving skills. Take a look at an online review from a homeschool mom!
Members save 23%, receive FREE Shipping to U.S. addresses and earn 2,000 SmartPoints on this new BEST DEAL ON THE PLANET!
* FREE Shipping to U.S. addresses. SmartPoints awarded at time of purchase.
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Ko's Journey - Save 40% - EXTENDED!
Ko's Journey is an award-winning interactive math game and curriculum supplement from Imagine Education that can help students in grades 5-8 improve their foundational math skills while developing their critical thinking skills.
Members save 40% on this new BEST DEAL ON THE PLANET and access to the program is automatic once you place your order. NO WAITING! You'll have your access code within minutes of placing your order.
The web-based program supports different learning speeds and provides personalized feedback as the student progresses through the story.
If you missed out on the original GroupBuy, and want a math supplement to include for the New Year, now is the time to take a look!
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 It's LAST CALL FOREVER for the 3-year subscription to Mark Kistler's Online Drawing Lesson! Mark has offered this program to the Co-op as a 3-year subscription but will be changing this in 2012 to a 1-year subscription -- so, if you want a 3-year subscription, act now! Without a doubt, Mark Kistler's Online Drawing Lesson draws (pun intended!) many member raves telling us that their kids love to use the program, and, how they are amazed at their progress!
Over the past three decades, Emmy Award-winner Mark Kistler has taught millions of children how to draw in 3-D at workshops around the world, including Australia, Germany, England, Scotland, Mexico and the United States.
We have met Mark personally and can attest that his personality is every bit as fun and engaging as will be found in his online lessons, which is certainly part of the success of this curriculum.
* The 3-year Subscription GroupBuy will expire on 12/31/11.
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The Magic School Bus Science Club - Save 50% + Get 750 Bonus SmartPoints - ENDS 12/31
It's LAST CALL for "The Magic School Bus Science Club" from The Young Scientists Club! Join Ms. Frizzle and her students on The Magic School Bus each month in exploring one of twelve different science topics through hands-on experiments for a year!
Developed by a team of Harvard graduates, scientists, and educators, the award-winning kits will help your young scientist experience science in a fun and engaging manner.
The kit topics cover: Acids/Bases, Air, Bacteria/Fungi, Fossils, Human Body, Light/Rainbows and Mirrors, Magnets, Solids/Liquids/Gases, Stars/Planets, Volcanoes, Water, and Weather Station.
Members save 50% plus receive 750 Bonus SmartPoints. If you do order, the first kit will arrive towards the end of January 2012 -- what a great way to get organized for the New Year with your new science curriculum!
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StudyDog - Save 60% -CLEARANCE SALE - ENDS 12/31
It's LAST CALL for the award-winning StudyDog Adventures in Reading CD-ROM version. StudyDog wants to clear out their inventory of CD-ROM's, so they are offering our members 60% off through the end of December 31!
The CD-ROM version has the same content as the online version, but, unlike the online version, it can be used by up to 30 students (versus 1 with an online subscription), and it's yours to keep forever (versus paying an annual subscription fee)!
StudyDog Adventures in Reading is a validated phonics-based reading program specifically designed to help your Pre-K to 2nd Grade child improve or accelerate their reading skills.
Starting with the results of the National Reading Panel, reviews of major states' reading standards, and the research of the Big Ideas in Beginning Reading, StudyDog is based on proven reading curriculum. Each lesson directly teaches the lesson's reading skill, models the application of the reading skill, and provides the student guided practice in building reading and comprehension skills.
Study Dog is available for $19.95 -- a 60% savings off the original $49.95 retail price -- through December 31 ONLY! If you're looking for a reading program for your child, why not check out Study Dog?
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NEW SMARTPOINTS BONUS AMOUNT - ENDS 12/31
 It's LAST CALL for the 5,000 Bonus SmartPoints for this HOLIDAY SAVINGS BEST DEAL ON THE PLANET for STEM+ Educator Kit from the award-winning Zometool.
Designed for kids yet praised by scientists and artists alike, Zometool is a 3D modeling system for building and exploring structures from simple to profound. Zometool's color and shape-coded parts can lead to startling discoveries about the nature of space in 2, 3 and even higher dimensions.
The New STEM+ Educator Kit comes with almost 1,900 building parts and all the support materials needed to provide hours of education and discovery. It can be used to build any model from the Zometool Project Kit Series, and much more!
What's more, you will get the Zometool Lesson Plan booklet -- a $19.95 value -- absolutely free with your order, along with 5000 SmartPoints*!
* SmartPoints awarded at time of purchase. 5,000 Bonus SmartPoints offer will expire on 12/31/11.
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Tales2Go - Save 60% - ENDS 12/31
It's LAST CALL for Tales2Go, an award-winning audio story subscription service for grades PreK through 6. Tales2Go has access to over 1,600 brand name stories from leading publishers and storytellers to play on up to five of your Apple iOS devices -- iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches.
A one-year subscription to Tales2Go is now $39.99 -- a 60% savings and the BEST DEAL on the PLANET!
Listening to audio stories can be a great way to expose kids to new vocabulary, exercise listening and comprehension skills, and excite kids about literature.
Start taking literature on the road - at home, in the car, or anywhere you might go!
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- HOLIDAY SAVINGS END 12/31
It's LAST CALL for The Critical Thinking Co. Christmas sale! The Critical Thinking Co. designs critical thinking into reading, writing, math, science and history lessons to help students carefully analyze what they are learning.
With homeschool favorites like Mind Benders, Editor in Chief, and Dr. Funster's, The Critical Thinking Co. has won more awards than almost any other publisher in our line-up!
Best of all, when you purchase Critical Thinking titles through the Co-op, you not only save up to 40% but receive 10 Bonus SmartPoints* for every dollar you spend plus get FREE Shipping on orders over $50. With over 180 different titles, you're sure to find a topic to supplement your teaching, and, just may want to put these under the tree!
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Always IceCream and Clever Dragons - Save 62% - ENDS 1/2/12
It's LAST CALL for the Co-op's exclusive GroupBuy for Always IceCream and Clever Dragons.
Developed by homeschool parents, Always Icecream and Clever Dragons -- play and learn websites -- strive to offer fun and relevant drills in core academic subjects embedded in a safe, engaging and rewarding environment.
Always IceCream is created exclusively for girls between the ages of 7 to 12 and Clever Dragons is a new offering designed exclusively for boys of the same age range.
Members save 62% on lifetime memberships for girls, boys, or family. This might be just the treat you're looking for this holiday season! Makes a great gift, too!
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TELL ME MOREŽ Homeschool Foreign Language Curriculum by Auralog - Save 40% - ENDS 11 AM PACIFIC TIME - 1/3/12
It's LAST CALL for TELL ME MOREŽ Homeschool Foreign Language Curriculum by Auralog. The whole family can learn a new language together using TELL ME MORE. Best of all, members get the BEST DEAL ON THE PLANET - 40% OFF! Also, no waiting for the GroupBuy to end, as your order ships within 3 days of order placement.
TELL ME MORE offers 9 different languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Dutch. Each language program allows you to create accounts for the whole family and learn reading and writing, listening and speaking, grammar, culture, and vocabulary.
TELL ME MORE also offers unique features for homeschoolers, including an activity guide and student tracking, access to the content of TELL ME MORE with and without the answers, so parents can create their own workbook, and, advanced speech recognition technology to help your homeschooler improve his/her pronunciation.
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 ~~~ SmartPoint Rebate Offers ~~~In this section, you'll find products that you can buy on your own AND earn a big SmartPoints bonus that you can then use to purchase other award-winning products at the Co-op.
How does it work? When you begin your shopping trip by clicking the BUY NOW button on our offer pages, the Co-op earns a commission from the supplier and we are pleased to share that commission with you in the form of SmartPoints.
IMPORTANT! You MUST begin your shopping trip by clicking our BUY NOW buttons; otherwise, we don't get a commission, and we can't give you SmartPoints!
If you were thinking of buying these products or purchasing from these suppliers, why not get added value -- exclusively from the Co-op?
*SmartPoints are a special Co-op currency that you can use to purchase any of the curriculum in our SmartPoints Reward Center. |
Little Passports - Save 10% + Get 1200 Bonus SmartPoints! - SAVINGS END 12/31! Bring the world to your homeschool classroom in 2012!Every month, Little Passports' fictional characters Sofia and Sam travel to a different country and send your child an exciting package of educational souvenirs that teach your child about a country. Examples items include: music CDs, traditional country toys, arts and crafts projects, puzzles, pencils/erasers, photos, stickers, and postcards.
Based on the number of great member testimonials we received for this product, we are excited to have Little Passports back at the Co-op. In addition to the special offer of 1200 Bonus SmartPoints, Little Passports is offering a 10% discount through the end of the year. Drop by our offer page to get a special coupon code and start your shopping trip.
The 1200 Bonus SmartPoints will be given for any type of subscription purchase -- monthly, 3-month, 6-month or 12-month, when you start your shopping trip at the Co-op -- just remember to submit your Claim Form the day you make your purchase!
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Hooked on Phonics - Save an additional 35% - SAVINGS END 12/31
The award-winning Hooked on Phonics is a home school curriculum favorite, but we realize it is a challenge for many homeschool budgets so we have a fantastic year end deal for you to save an additional 35%*!
Drop by our offer page to get a special coupon code and start your shopping trip to save an additional 35% (even on sale items through the link!) to any Hooked on Phonics program.
As an added Bonus, when you start your shopping trip at the Co-op, you will be eligible for 10 Bonus SmartPoints for every $1 spent -- just remember to submit your Claim Form the day you make your purchase!
* The additional 35% discount cannot be combined with other coupon offers or the 30-Day Trials.
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 ~~~ Coming Soon ~~~These GroupBuys and Special Offers are "in the bag", but there are a few more details to be worked out before we can go live. We hope to take these GroupBuys live in the few weeks. Stay tuned!
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- Cicero: History Beyond the Textbook
IT'S OFFICIAL! We have decided to move forward with a GroupBuy for CICERO, an award-winning K-12 digital resource consisting of lesson plans, primary sources, standards, rubrics, assessments, activities, videos, games, interactive maps, and more. It is billed as "the quintessential teacher's assistant." Please check out the video introduction to CICERO. The company behind CICERO - the American Institute for History Education - went out of their way to meet with us, persuaded us of their support for homeschooling, and have backed up their interest by offering members an outstanding deal for their program - up to 60% savings with sufficient member participation.
Take a look and let us know: What do you think?
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- Family Time Fitness
We are pleased to announce that Family Time Fitness is returning with the best prices on the planet for their Physical Education program for the family -- just in time for those new year resolutions. Also, this coming GroupBuy will offer a *NEW* product that will be debuted at the Co-op. We can't let the cat out of the bag quite yet, so stay tuned to your member newsletter and the Co-op website for the official launch of this new GroupBuy!
Take a look and let us know: What do you think?
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- TeacherFileBox.com
We are pleased to announce that TeacherFileBox.com by Evan-Moor is returning to the Co-op. Loaded with learning resources for grades PreK to 6, TeacherFileBox gives you access to over 500 Evan-Moor books. We're working hard to get this one live as soon as possible, so stay tuned to your member newsletter and the Co-op website for the official launch of this member favorite GroupBuy!
Take a look and let us know: What do you think?
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 Negotiating and sponsoring a GroupBuy is an expensive and time-consuming proposition, but we love doing it, especially when there is strong member interest. This section of the newsletter is your opportunity to see -- and influence -- what GroupBuys we bring to our membership. Please take a look, and let us hear from you. What do you think?
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NOTE: Please understand that GroupBuys work best for software or online curriculum with retail values over $100. We would love to do GroupBuys for books or computers, as many of you have requested, but our experience is that in most cases these companies can't offer significant discounts.
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Our Field Trips database is bigger and better than ever!
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~~~ Free Curriculum ~~~
Please let us know if YOU find any great educational websites! |
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~~~ Product Reviews ~~~
By special arrangement with Cathy Duffy (author of "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum"), Co-op members are the first to hear about Cathy's latest reviews.
Here are Cathy's newest reviews: |
 | FREEBIES! |  |
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Homeschool ID Card | FREE!
Quick Start Guide to Carschooling | FREE!
Why Homeschooling ROCKS!
by Co-op Members | FREE!
Microsoft developer and design software | | | | | |
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~~~ Just For Fun ~~~
Quote of the week:
"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive."
- Albert Einstein
Do you have any videos, games, jokes, quotes or other light-hearted Internet discoveries that you would like to share with us? Tell us about it. |
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We appreciate you at the Co-op!
Brett Walter
President
Homeschool Buyers Co-op
Contact Information:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: news@homeschoolbuyersco-op.org
phone: 650-648-0808
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