The following post will be a blog archive copy of the Build Your Library’s March 2020 Monthly Newsletter. If you missed the email, you can subscribe to our mailing list here. [Scheduled to be sent 03/02/20 8:00 AM EST]
Hey everybody, it’s Emily from Build Your Library! If you are just going to skim the beginning, here are the main topics in this month’s newsletter:
Now that I have your attention, here are the details on those items and more.
It’s finally March – one of my favorite months of the year! Between birthdays, the beginning of spring, and lots of bookish fun, March has always been a special month for me. We have some new information to share as well as some reoccurring monthly reminders.
Our third monthly “Read Aloud Book Club” subscription pack is now available! If you loved our Family Reading Crates, I think you will love the Read Aloud Book Club too! We have updated our RABC FAQ and will continue to share information as this new project rolls out. The March theme is “Bear Hugs and Brotherly Love.” The book for this month is so adorable. It’s a perfect read aloud for the whole family!
March is a pretty busy bookish month! The first full week of March is Read an E-Book Week. March 2nd is Read Across America Day, March 21 is World Poetry Day and March 25th is National Tolkien Reading Day.
As far as birthdays go, Dr. Seuss – Theodor Seuss Geisel (Mar. 2, 1902), Douglas Adams (Mar. 11, 1952), James Patterson (Mar. 22, 1947), and Kate DiCamillo (March 25, 1964) all celebrate this month.
We also have a couple of Harry Potter character birthdays with Sybill Trelawney (Mar. 9), Remus Lupin (Mar. 10) and James Potter (Mar. 27).
Finally, Build Your Library will be closed on March 31st while I celebrate my birthday! You can still place orders, but I might be too busy eating cake to answer questions 🙂
This blog post seems to be a toss up each year when I try to update and reshare. When I first wrote it in 2014, we had over two feet up snow in our yard the first week of March. So it was a perfect opportunity to discuss “Nature Study When It’s STILL Winter.” But from the last time I updated the picture in 2017, you can see the dramatic contrast to near spring like conditions with just sparse remains of snow.
So far this year, 2020 is leaning towards the latter – it’s going to be in the 50s and 60s this week here… Depending on your locale, please take a look at the section for how to do nature study with snow on the ground, or the updated section on nature study with more spring-like weather. Or read both and decide what to do if mother nature changes her mind. Our bare yard up here in New England is just a random snowstorm away from leaning back to a winter wonderland!
We hope you are all enjoyed our “Tea with Emily” Facebook Live Streams. If you missed any of our previous ones, you can find a recording by scrolling our Facebook or direct links on our past events page. The last one in February talked about Avoiding Burnout (e.7).
Our next one will be in April, more details to follow in next month’s newsletter.
At the beginning of the livestream, I will give a brief overview of the topic and then open the floor to any questions you may have. If you have any questions you want to make sure we cover, you can submit them via our Contact Us page prior to the event, so we don’t miss it in the scroll. This is a Facebook Live event, so you will just need to click through on Facebook to watch it live.
Every other month, I host a 30-60 minute Build Your Library homeschooling chat. You can ask questions about homeschooling, using Build Your Library curriculum, book recommendations, etc. We will announce the date ahead of time, and you will be able to submit questions you would like to cover. Additionally, you can also ask questions during the interactive live stream. Grab a mug of tea (or coffee) and cozy up with our virtual hangout!
So many people ask us where they can get the best deals when printing out their instructor guides. For the last couple years, I’ve been telling everyone I can about The Homeschool Printing Company. They are a homeschool family run business, they have phenomenal prices, AND they do a beautiful job. I honestly can’t recommend them enough! If you ever see us at a vendor booth, our display copies of all of our instructor guides and unit studies are done by them.
Are you looking for help or advice on your homeschooling journey? We have compiled all of our helpful resources into one blog post for you. From the many BYL related Facebook groups to my book A Literary Education, there is a treasure trove of information and helpful parents out there to help guide you along your homeschooling adventure. If you have any questions, just ask!
We always have our Social Media “chicklets” at the bottom of our newsletters and webpage, but we wanted to make sure you are following us on our other platforms. The Build Your Library Facebook is our go-to social media site, and we post there frequently with cool Amazon products and book recommendations we think you would like, as well as all of our Family Reading Crate announcements, blog posts, full year and unit study product releases and updates, and more.
Our Build Your Library Instagram page regularly posts pictures and insider info about what I’m currently working on or what I’m doing with my kids.
Although not 100% exclusively Build Your Library related, our Arrrgh Schooling YouTube channel has videos about books and homeschooling – but let’s be honest – it’s mostly books. If you want to see what I’m reading, join my Arrrgh Booked Book Club, or just want ideas for books to read (either for you for your children) you are sure to find something useful! We also have a BYL Twitter feed where I share links and information about BYL and homeschooling. Or you can stay subscribed to our email list and browse our monthly newsletters.
I hope your school year is going well! If you are looking for inspiration, here are some articles you might find helpful:
We have well over 100 blog posts on various homeschooling and book-related topics if you want to browse for more.
I think that is about all for this month. Again, please follow us on whatever social media you frequent, there will be periodic updates posted there as well, but we will try to keep everyone in the know where ever you are surfing!
Thanks and Happy Reading! Emily
See Also: