Say What You Mean Convention 2008

Everyday Education: The Story of a Business
Janice Campbell

I love to read, learn, and write, and it gives me great joy to share what I have learned with others. I began writing for homeschool publications and speaking at conventions in the early 1990's, and started an educational website, www.Everyday-Education.com, a few years later. This enabled me to share things I learned while homeschooling our four boys, teaching high school English online, and helping students earn college credits while in high school. As I talked to homeschoolers over the years, I heard the same questions and concerns over and over, I realized I could provide answers through books and workshops.

My first book, Transcripts Made Easy, was written just after my first two boys made the transition into college. As they were preparing for the transition, I read everything I could get my hands on about record keeping and transcripts, but most of the systems I read about seemed full of unnecessary busywork. I already knew what we were studying for high school—all I wanted was a simple guide that would show how to keep basic records and create a credible transcript. When I couldn't find the easy guide I wanted, I decided to do more research and write it myself. Transcripts Made Easy was very well received, and a third edition is now available (see www.transcriptsmadeeasy.com).

Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens evolved from a workshop of the same name that I've been doing for several years. All my boys started earning college credit while in high school, and many people seemed interested in finding out exactly why and how to help their students do the same thing. It's a wonderfully rewarding process, and I love to hear the success stories of those who have used the book and gotten a jump start on life. ( see www.GetAJumpStartOnCollege.com )

The Beat-the-Clock Essay Workshop (see www.essayworkshop.com) was created in response to the anxious questions I kept hearing about the timed essay on the SAT. Because homeschoolers don't do a lot of timed writing in everyday schoolwork, the idea of having to write an essay in 25 minutes seemed intimidating. I created a one-day workshop that takes the fear out of the process by providing a simple, step-by-step plan for planning and writing an acceptable essay in the allotted time. During the workshop, students have the opportunity to write two practice essays using the techniques I teach. They discover that it is entirely possible to write a good essay in less than an hour! I hope to have this workshop available on CD or MP3 download by mid-2008.

For several years, Everyday Education offered online high-school English classes, but demand was so great for these classes that I am now in the process of transforming them into a five-year literature curriculum that should be available at the beginning of 2009. In an endeavor to fill the need for qualified evaluators for student writing, I have also become the Director of the National Association of Independent Writing Evaluators, a business-building professional organization for writing evaluators, including copy editors, academic evaluators, proofreaders and writing coaches.

Everything I offer has been created in response to needs I have heard expressed, and my goals have been met if others have received help through information I've provided. I want to provide articles, links, and resources that will help you make time for things that matter to you. I'd like to help streamline life's necessities - like high school transcripts, records, and diplomas, and teaching writing- so you'll have more time to spend on things that last for eternity.

You may subscribe to my blog (http://www.Janice-Campbell.com) or e-newsletter (http://www.Everyday-Education.com) to receive articles, reviews, and encouragement for the homeschool journey.

For other homeschool parents who are considering a business, I would suggest the following:
Keep priorities straight—your family is your first responsibility.
Start small, especially if your children are young.
Choose a business that meets a need in a market you understand.
Remember Micah 6:8 daily.

Special Offer: I'm offering a special sale on a two e-book set that will equip you for homeschooling through high school-- Transcripts Made Easy and Get a Jump Start on College. You get both e-books, plus a bonus one-hour audio workshop for only $27! To take advantage of the special offer, click here.

I offer a number of free articles on my website, including:
-Socialization: What Exactly are Homeschoolers Missing?
-Writing Motivation for Students: Contests! and Home-School-Friendly Writing Contests for Students!
-Build a Quality Home Library Without Breaking Your Budget

Additional Resources:
- I blog at http://www.Janice-Campbell.com. This is where you'll find my latest articles, book and product reviews, and excerpts from good literature. Be sure to subscribe to the blog to receive updates in your inbox!

- The National Association of Independent Writing Evaluators launches this year at http://www.NAIWE.com. If you have ever needed a writing evaluator for your student's work, or if you have done writing evaluation or copyediting for others, you'll want to check out this site. NAIWE is a business-building professional organization for writing evaluators, providing many benefits, including a central, searchable database to help evaluators connect with clients.