The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

The first product I get to review is the Old Schoolhouse Magazine itself. It is available in both digital ($16.95 a year) and printed ($25.00 a year) formats and is printed quarterly. It is a Christian based homeschool magazine filled with well written articles, practical ideas, and reviews of homeschool products. There is also a complete homeschool unit study in each issue-- the Summer 2008 one was on flight. I don't tend to buy a lot of magazine subscriptions, but after looking through the free online back issue from Summer 2007 on the website, I decided to subscribe a few months ago. Here's the free back issue: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_inf...

I went with the print magazine because I don't have a laptop and one of the pluses of a magazine for me is being able to haul it with me to the park or keep it in the car for those waiting times when I have a few minutes to read. I was very impressed with the Summer 2008 issue. I liked the Christian focus and didn't find anything that conflicted with LDS beliefs. I grabbed it out of the mailbox on the way to the park and ended up letting the kids play for almost 3 hours while I read most of it. It's sat near the computer since then as I've looked up some of the advertised products that I flagged. The one con is that I will probably find some fun new curriculum and end up spending more money. :)

My favorite thing about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is reading about other families who are living the same lifestyle we are and getting practical ideas and advice for the lifestyle we've chosen.

Right now, they are running a Fall Special. For $39, you can get two years of the magazine, 6 physical gifts (no downloads!) worth over $120, plus the current issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine that is full of ideas for the new school year, so you start receiving your magazine in a flash!

It's one of the best deals I've seen on it and if you are one of the first 1000 to subscribe, you get a really cute Homeschooling with Heart tote bag (valued at $13.95). About half of them are gone, but you will get all the other freebies, even if you miss this one. Here's the link if you are interested: http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/US_Promotion.php

Homeschool Reviews

I found out a couple weeks ago that I get to be a part of the focus group for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine testing and reviewing new products. So as part of the focus group, they will be sending me new products from a bunch of different vendors to review-- up to 50 over the next year-- and giving me the chance to do some giveaways.

I am really excited to get to try a bunch of products, several are things I've considered, but not wanted to buy without seeing or reading more about. My husband says that in the long run, it will probably just end up introducing me to more companies and costing me money, but it will be fun. :)

If you are interested in the everyday aspect of my life with kids, things like birthdays, accidents, and the funny things they say, you can find those on my other blog: http://simplyschooling.blogspot.com/