It’s a New Year!

Here’s a post to summarize activities of last year and give you a glimpse of what to expect in this year at “Peppermint Stick”!

Almost a year ago we relaunched our website!

OUR PRODUCTS –

A new direction when we relaunched, was for us to offer updated editions of most of our curriculum as printable e-books! (You can read more about the characteristics of those on this page here.)

Since relaunching our site, two more e-books were released, completing the new editions of full-year K-3 science curriculum.

My next goals for e-books/publishing are to complete the phonics curriculum series and more reading curriculum and at some point, in the midst of that, a few other resources but, as I’ve mentioned before, I can work on a project but it often takes me longer than what I’d like to finish it. Yet, I am thankful to have the ability to do this sort of work alongside homeschooling our family and looking after care needs here. I also want to take this opportunity to say “thanks” again to those of our readers who pray for us. ♥

OUR “ENCOURAGEMINTS” BLOG –

Beyond the product pages in our new online shop, last year we began a new blog called “Encouragemints” and a section of our website to explain, in detail, “Our Twist” (style, educational approach). That was a lot of writing to do but I think it completed the FAQ’s that we’ve received over the years (for now anyways :)). I am looking forward to “less detailed explanations” and shorter blog posts in general for this year! 🙂

In the “Encouragemints” blog this year, my plan is to take a closer look into one subject area EACH MONTH, compiling the places on our website which provide the most practical help for that subject. (This plan is also for my sake, so that I can add more pins to my Pinterest boards on a particular topic.) (Of course, I hope to write a handful or so of blogs on other things too.) For the first month, the subject is about writing (creative writing/composition).

January Example: Here are the links to 4 blog posts which give some WRITING TIPS:

• • • • • Tips for Writing MORE (and Better)! (January 2020)
        • How to Make Books with Children (January 2020)
        • How to Teach Writing a Paragraph (from 2019)
        • Wednesday [about “Writing Wednesdays”] (from 2019)
      • and “Our Twist” About Writing can be found at this link here.

CONNECTING MORE WITH THE HOMESCHOOL COMMUNITY –

Finally, it would be nice to be able to be more interactive, while still maintaining simplicity in our business. My health doesn’t permit me to attend conferences in-person which have the typical strength of wireless technologies. And I’d like to prioritize my “business time” to writing curriculum and encouraging moms through the public sites because that is easier for me compared to keeping up a newsletter. Perhaps someday we will re-instate a subscriber newsletter when I’m not writing as many other things, but that’s not yet. However, I am delighted to announce that a friend recently helped me to set up a Facebook page so I’d love to “meet” you over there!

A look at our new Facebook page and its mission statement:

Mission: “To refresh, inspire, and encourage with “lessons that stick with a refreshing touch of sweetness!” Join me (a mom of 8, curriculum developer, and blogger) in this interactive community built especially for homeschool moms!”

We have plans to look into more advertising in the future, especially once of our reading program is more complete. We have not done much of advertising in recent years and most of it currently has been by “word of mouth”. We hope to move this year sometime but any of those sorts of changes will be reflected on our website. We truly appreciate it if you would continue to pass along our “Peppermint Stick” website and now also a Facebook page to your friends! ♥