Monday, December 2, 2013

Back from NaNo and a Giveaway!

HI, all! I'm back!
Alas, I did NOT win NaNo (although truth be told, I never thought I would) but I got a little bit written into my book and had a nice break from blogging. So all in all, it's good.
More on NaNo next week...

Instead, today I'm so happy to announce that one of my good bloggy buddies, Karen Lange has a new non fiction book out right now! YAY!!!!

homeschool co-ops 101
Essential co-op tools, tips, and options for today’s homeschool families.
Thinking about joining or starting a homeschool co-op? Not sure if a co-op is a good fit? Homeschool Co-ops 101 weighs the pros, cons, and creative options available for today’s homeschool family.
  • Section 1 includes essential, digestible info on co-op ingredients such as planning and organization, schedules, teaching, finances, and addressing conflict and burnout.
  • Section 2 shares a sampling of co-op games and activities, and
  • Section 3 contains five hands-on unit studies. These ready to use studies include lessons on Leonardo da Vinci, Birds of Prey, Public Speaking, Tall Tales, and Creative Writing, and are suitable for co-op or home use. This section also includes unit study guidelines that are easily customized to suit any topic.
  • Section 4 offers suggested books, curriculum, and other resources.
Karen Lange has gathered insight from years of co-oping and now shares her own and others’ experiences in this valuable and encouraging handbook.
Homeschool Co-ops 101 is available at:
~~~Amazon~~~
~~~Kobo~~~
karen langeAbout the Author Karen Lange, her husband, and three children were active in co-ops during their sixteen-year homeschool journey. Her experience includes serving as a local homeschool support group coordinator and consultant for a state homeschool network in New Jersey. Karen’s children have since graduated, and she is now a freelance writer and online writing instructor for homeschooled teens.
You can connect with Karen at her Blog, on Twitter, and Facebook. homeschool co-ops 101
 
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The Giveaway is Open to US addresses only. One person will receive a $25 Amazon GC and a copy of Homeschool Co-ops 101.
Please use the Rafflecopter below to be entered:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The winner will be chosen from those entries and announced December 5, 2013. Good luck!
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as e-mailed, and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Diane at That’s What I’m Here For… and sponsored by the author, Karen Lange. The author provided me with a free copy of Homeschool Co-ops 101 to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a giveaway in return for the free book. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


What prompted you to write this book? Thanks so much for inviting me over to your blog! I’m looking forward to visiting with you and your followers. About ten years ago, I was encouraged by a good friend in the homeschool community to write a booklet about co-ops. She was the director of a statewide homeschool support network, and she knew people often asked me about how a co-op works. The booklet seemed like a good way to share the info, so I self published it. In May of 2013, Helping Hands Press offered me a contract to expand it, so here we are!

What can readers expect to find in the book? The book offers info on how to start a co-op and weighs the pros, cons, and creative options available for homeschool families. One thing I emphasize is that parents have options when it comes to co-oping. Co-ops come in all sizes and sometimes an existing one is not a good fit for a family. Parents shouldn’t feel bad or be intimidated if this is the case; they need to know that it’s okay to either not participate and even start their own co-op if they wish. Another thing to note is that HC 101's usefulness is not limited to just homeschoolers. The how to section offers helpful setup and structure tips for other K-12 student groups. The activity segment has lessons, games, and hands on projects that suit these groups as well.


Tell us a little about your homeschool experience. My husband and I homeschooled our three children (two sons and a daughter) in grades K-12. We chose to homeschool because, among other things, we wanted to personalize our children’s education and felt home was the best place to do that. During this time, we were active with our local homeschool support group’s events such as field trips and science and art fairs. Co-ops played an important role too. These activities helped supplement our studies, provided balanced socialization, fellowship, and fun. They also offered a broader worldview as our children interacted with not just homeschool families, but the surrounding community. If you happen to be interested in more info about the ups and downs of homeschooling, socialization, higher education, and other related topics, visit this link:
http://www.insanitek.net/ink/archives/865

What would you like readers to take away from the book? No one plan fits everyone, so I encourage families, whether they decide to co-op or not, to find the right balance and fit for them. My hope is that they would find ideas and encouragement for their children’s educational journey.
  Thanks again for sharing your space with me today.

It’s been a pleasure!

That's it for me today. Don't forget to enter Karen's giveaway and have a great week!

19 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Sounds like a fab practical book to assist all those venturing into homeschooling! Thank you Jennifer and Karen! All the best with this!

Take care
x

Karen Lange said...

Old Kitty,
Thanks so much! I appreciate your kind words and support! :)

Jennifer,
Thank you again for hosting a stop on the tour. Your support means so much! Congrats on doing NaNo! To me, you are a winner for participating! :)

Happy writing,
Karen

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Congrats on being able to share your experience and knowledge with others, Karen.

Welcome back from your break, Jennifer. I enjoyed mine, although I wasn't writing during that time.

BECKY said...

Great interview. I'm happy to say that I'm a bloggy friend to both Karen and YOU, Jennifer! Happy December to you!

Maria Zannini said...

Welcome back, Jennifer. And congrats to Karen.

I have to admit, every child I've met who's been homeschooled is much more further along academically than most traditionally schooled kids.

It's nice to see parents so involved with their children's education.

Diane Estrella said...

Thanks for spotlighting Karen's book and for being such a sweetie! Hugs!!!

Karen Lange said...

Diane,
Thanks so much! Glad you had a good break! :)

Becky,
Thank you! Looking forward to having you stop by my blog soon too. :)

Maria,
Thank you! It's great to meet you! :) Homeschooling is one of the great options educational available. Thankful we have so many options in the US.

Happy writing,
Karen

Robyn Campbell said...

I have homeschooled for many,many, years and have never found the practical advice and down home friendliness that this book has! It is a treasure! I have told all the homeschoolers I know. Hugs amigo!
*waves to Karen and Jennifer*

Janet Johnson said...

Very interesting! I've had many friends homeschool and I love the idea of personalizing your kids education. And what a great tool for those just looking into it. Wishing Karen the best of luck with her book!

Angela Ackerman said...

My kids are not homeschooled, but I just wanted to pop in and wish Karen all the best with her book! (Congrats, Karen!)

Angela

Karen Lange said...

Robyn,
You are so sweet! I value your input more than you know. Thanks so much for passing the word, and for everything else you've done! :)

Janet,
It's nice to meet you! Thanks for your kind words! :)

Angela,
Thank you Angela! Appreciate your support! :)

Happy writing,
Karen

Connie Keller said...

Congrats, Karen!

Co-ops seem like wonderful opportunity.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Welcome back, Jennifer, and whether you hit that "magical number" of words in the Nano, you're still a winner to us.

I have a lot of respect for parents who home-school their children, and the kids I've met who've been educated in that manner have all been bright, articulate, and well-balanced. Kudos to Karen for writing this book to share her home-schooling expertise with others.

Sandra Cox said...

Welcome back, Jen:)

Sounds like this book will be very helpful for a lot of people.

Karen Lange said...

Connie,
Thank you! They are a wonderful thing when a good fit for a family. :)

Susan,
I agree, Jennifer is s winner no matter what! :) Thanks so much for your kind words!

Sandra,
It is good to see Jennifer back, isn't it? :) Thank you!

Happy writing,
Karen

Stephen Tremp said...

Welcome back Jennifer! And best wishes to Karen. I have thought about home schooling. But for now I don't think it would work out. Maybe next year.

Karen Lange said...

Stephen,
Thank you! Homeschooling is a great option, but not everyone can or needs to do it. Wishing you all the best no matter what educational path you and your kids take!
Karen

Rula Sinara said...

I know a lot of families who homeschool. Sounds like a great book!

Karen Lange said...

Rula,
Seems like homeschoolers are popping up all over, doesn't it! Thanks a bunch!
Happy writing,
Karen