Sometimes, homeschooling can feel a bit lonely. Sometimes it feels a bit like you’re talking to yourself ( and you probably are, since your audience is your children).
Now try being a secular homeschooler! No matter what your reasons for wanting a secular curriculum are, if you are in this minorities of minorities, you can feel like you’re a bit alone in the world.
I did, until I had Secular Homeschooling Magazine in my hands. I’ve posted previously about the Bitter Homeschooler’s Wishlist from Secular Homeschooling Magazine, the hilarious list that has orbited the internet a time or 10.
If, in my wildest of dreams, I wrote up a list of things I would want in a magazine for secular homeschoolers, what would be on my list?
How about some positive homeschool news?
A regular column about the great things homeschoolers have acheived?
Any updates on homeschooling legislation I should know about?
I sure would like some honest reviews on curriculum. Is it really secular?
I know, I know! How about a section for kids, where kids can submit their stories or pictures?
Is it too much to ask for some biting humor, and charming wit?
NO! It’s not! Because that’s ALL in Secular Homeschooling Magazine, all that, and an instant sense of community (not a bucket of chicken, sorry).
In the newest issue, (#5) Deborah Markus, creator/editor of the magazine, tackles two really hard subjects, for any parent, but even more so secular homeschoolers, death and sex ed. Wading through resources is one of the biggest time (and cash) sinks for secular homeschoolers, but Deborah has done the work for us, hopefully making the topics a little less panic-inducing.
Secular Homeschooling is a full-sized , professionally-printed quarterly, NOT a “zine”. The carefully-screened ads are for companies you can be sure are also secular. All back issues are available for $7 a piece (buy 1-4 as a set, get a discount!) , and a year’s subscription is the very reasonable $28.
BUT BUT BUT! Deborah has very generously agreed to give one of my readers a year’s subscription for free! (I’m trying not to squeal, here.)
To throw your name in the hat…click over to the magazine’s homepage, and you’ll see that down at the bottom, there are buttons where you can check out the contents of each issue to date. Click around on #1-5 and come back and tell me which headline sounds like something you just HAVE to read.
This contest is open to anywhere in the world, no matter where you live!! How awesome is that? You have until 11:59 PST Tuesday, March 17th to enter.
Extra entries: 1-extra entry (each) for subscribing to my blog, writing about the giveaway on your blog (with links), or posting my button on your site. Please leave a comment for EACH extra entry you earn.
I’ll leave you with how they sum up the magazine, and how wonderfully in-sync with my own definition of “secular” it is:
Secular Homeschooling is a non-religious quarterly magazine that reflects the diversity of the homeschooling community. Its readers and writers are committed to the idea that religious belief is a personal matter rather than a prerequisite of homeschooling.
This magazine is for any homeschooler, religious or not, who is interested in good solid writing about homeschooling and homeschoolers.
Finally!
February 28th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Well! I happened to click through to the latest issue and had to read “George the Fish Has the Worst Day Ever”.
The book she mentions must have been written by a french person. Most of the childrens books we get sent from France are not about dying but they are mildly scatological and the kids love them.
I think I need to find myself this book. My kids have a fish each and they are forever being replaced
February 28th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I would immediately be drawn to…The Overachieving Homeschooler’s Quiz. Gotta love a good magazine quiz!
February 28th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I subscribed via email to your blog for an extra entry.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I added your button to my sidebar for an extra entry also.
http://robynsonlineworld.blogspot.com/
February 28th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I’ve been wanting to subscribe to this for a while, but we’re cutting out expenses and that includes magazine subscriptions. Oh if I could win it would be awesome!
I’m curious about the Charlotte Mason for the Secular Home Educator in the second issue. I’ve seen a lot of very Christian CM sites, but never a secular one. Now I want to buy the back issues and read them!
February 28th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
We come in peace!
February 28th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
blogged
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspo.....eaway.html
February 28th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
subscriber
March 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Homeschooling for the Younger Years sounds like something that I NEED to read!
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 am
The whole mag interests me. We plan on homeschooling our youngest and we are agnostic – it’s IMPOSSIBLE to find decent resources for non-Christian homeschoolers!
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 am
Im a new subscriber!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:04 am
Homeschooling for the Younger Years is something I REALLY need as I have a 5yr old who is currently achieving a 4yr olds level in school…. all down the school’s teaching… but when I dual enrollment/afterschool him he is achieving a much higher level….. all because school is focusing on teaching him to write… which he isn’t ready for! Argh…. they also follow a one size fits all curriculum which doesnt suit ANYONE in his class! ARGH! I badly need this magazine!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:05 am
Also subscribed….
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
George the fish has the worst0 day ever was so funny! You never know what kids are going to latch onto
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I’m a subscriber to your feed.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Loved “Why History?” by Scott Powell.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Posted about the give away. I know people who have really recommended Secular Homeschooling.
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I’m subscribed!
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:39 am
I enjoyed the book review of the Joy Hakim science book “Einstein Adds a New Dimension”. I finally found a book reviewer that goes deeper than my reviews. LOL. This review:
http://www.secular-homeschooli.....stein.html
Please enter me in the contest! Thanks.
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I personally LOVE this magazine. So just picking one have to read article would be impossible.
I needed a giggle tonight so I was drawn to the Overachieving Quiz.
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Another entry for me….I blogged about your contest at Heathen Homeschoolers!
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I’m not actually entering the contest, because I have a subscription and I’ve written articles for the magazine, but I wanted to blog about it anyway! http://www.besthomeschoolplace.com/?p=291 and I tweeted about it, and I’ll be subscribing to your blog too! Found you through Heathen Homeschoolers website.
Good Luck to everyone!!!
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I would have to read Homeschool Burnout! I seem to go through that myself once or twice a year, and it would be great to know a better way to deal with this, and that I’m not the only one!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
From issue #1 these two jumped out at me!
Mom Found in Corner Sucking Thumb (Story at Six)
Homeschooling and the Home-Based Business
What an awesome giveaway!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I subscribed!
March 4th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Looks like a great magazine! We are just beginning the homeschool journey with my 5 year old daughter. I would love to read the articles in the Charlotte Mason section in issue #2.
March 4th, 2009 at 4:31 am
I subscribed! Glad to find your blog!
March 4th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I want to read this: Mom Found in Corner Sucking Thumb (Story at Six)
March 4th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I’m subscribed through RSS
March 4th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
The article that jumps out at me is Talking to Our Children about Death. We have had a few losses in our family. I also like the Conflicted Secularist, that describes me.
March 4th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
posted http://learning-adventures.blo.....eaway.html
and I subscribed.
March 4th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I’d have to say
Nurturing Science Interest in the Early Elementary-Age Child
sounds the most interesting to me!
March 4th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I subscribed
March 5th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I would love the read the Charlotte Mason for the Sucular Homeschooler AND Charlotte Mason Study Guide. I really love the Charlotte Mason approach but it is often difficult to find online help that isn’t Christian.
Thanks!
March 5th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I posted about your giveaway on my blog. http://homefrontlines.blogspot.....eaway.html
March 5th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
And I also subscribed.
Thanks for having this great giveaway!
Gerky
March 6th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Hi I’m new
But I’m grabbing your feed. I’ve a boy who will start Kindy work next year and I’m got a 2nd grader too. Will be fun to see what we can share!
March 6th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I want to read “Charlotte Mason for the Secular Home Educator.” CM secular style would be wonderful.
March 7th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Drawing:
I read The Bitter Homeschooler’s List.
I liked the one about how everyone assumes they are religious!!!
March 10th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I would like to read the section on ‘Homeschooling in the Earliest Years’ — thank you for the giveaway!
March 10th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Issue #1, I would like to read the article on video games. My husband is a video game designer and so naturally, we play video games. And lots of people give us a hard time about it. I too feel so lonely being a secular homeschooling family. We are actually relocating because of it. This magazine would really be appreciated around here.
March 13th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Homeschool horror stories sounds pretty interesting. All the departments look great too. Thanks for the chance to win!!!
March 13th, 2009 at 8:18 am
“So, How’s He Doing?”
by Deborah Markus
March 13th, 2009 at 9:27 am
“Our Homeschool Success Story” and “The Reluctant Homeschooler” both sound great to me (issue #4).
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
March 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I would love to win the magazine.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I remember reading the online articles on their website before! I’d like to see Our Homeschool Success Story. We want to homeschool our kids.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I subscribed to your e-mails.
March 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
thanks for the opp! Homeschool burnout is me!! lol
March 13th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
“The Overachieving Homeschooler” was a chuckle. I have been homeschooling for 22 (yikes) years now and trust that our kids will be fine. I am happy to see another secular home education magazine!
March 13th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
An article that sounds like a must read is The Truth Fairy. Not sure exactly what it covers, but I know something I wrestle with is how to handle fanciful characters such as Santa and the tooth fairy. I don’t want to deprive my child of the joy of wondrous things, but I want her to know the difference between make-believe and truth.
March 14th, 2009 at 2:29 am
I would love to read “How Do I Get Started Homeschooling?” in Issue #1. Thanks for the giveaway!
March 14th, 2009 at 2:29 am
I subscribe by email.
March 14th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I blogged: http://extra-entries.blogspot......oling.html
March 14th, 2009 at 2:32 am
I have your button: http://extra-entries.blogspot.com/
March 14th, 2009 at 9:49 am
I would be interested in reading The Truth Fairy. I am so glad I found out about this mag, I’m so subscribing.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:53 am
I’d like to read “Homeschooling a Child with a Learning Disability”.
March 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Issue #1 looks like a good read especially for parents just starting. Thanks for the giveaway!
March 15th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Issue #2- Article Simple Joys looks great to me.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
i would like to read # Homeschooling a Child with a Learning Disability out of issue 3. My son has a LD.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
subscriber
March 16th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Issue #1…How Do I Get Started Homeschooling?
I will be homeschooling my 3 oldest starting next year.I am tired of the labels and lack of communication at thier school.Thanks!
March 16th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
We homeschool in the south (9 years now) and it is almost impossible to find other secular families- so happy I stumbled across this giveaway! Thanks! All the articles look interesting. didnt even know this magazine existed.
March 17th, 2009 at 4:02 am
I need to read about homeschool burnout and homeschooling in the real world! We’re so struggling with being the outsiders homeschooling here.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I can’t believe I have to choose just one!
I just took the “Overachieving Homeschooler’s Quiz” and that was a hoot. And I’d really like to read “The Truth Fairy”.
March 17th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I subscribe through my feed reader
March 17th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
This magazine is perfect for our family! And timely too! I would start with Talking to Our Children about Sex. Thanks for the chance to win!
March 17th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Letting go of big bird…
I still have a little time but will go through withdrawals when Keely gets bigger!
March 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
“How Do I Get Started Homeschooling?” sounds very interesting.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I subscribed by email.