Subject: Friend - Baby Steps into 2025

Baby Steps

Welcome to 2025!

As you launch into your new homeschooling year, remember
(1) to keep your life simple and
(2) to take baby-steps and build on what you are already doing
S-L-O-W-L-Y.

Many a homeschool parent's well-made plans have come crashing down because she embarked on too much too soon. If your plans are not working out well, then tweak them and change the plan!

Our article on how to use a daily schedule as a tool (rather than as a cruel taskmaster) might encourage you.

Homeschool Daily Schedules - The Good, the Bad and the Tips to Make them Work in 2025

Footprints YouTube Channel

Enjoy our chat with a veteran "homeschool planning queen" for great tips on Organisation and Planning in our Homeschool 101 series.

Also watch Juggling Life and Getting it all Done

Articles on our Website

How to Avoid Homeschool Burnout

Homeschool News

The author of recently published news article about home education gave us a great compliment:

"Friends, Wendy Young and Shirley Erwee, established one of the most successful homeschooling programmes to date, Footprints."

We like that!

Read more: Homeschooling Momentum Gains Upward Traction

This Month in History

A way to naturally introduce history into your children’s lives - and perhaps stimulate some great debates - is to use our “This Month in History” log.

Here are a few of February’s history happenings over the centuries…

14th February 1840 - Natal became a Voortrekker Republic

11th February 1966 - The apartheid government declared Cape Town’s District Six a whites only area under the Group Area Acts of 1950.

2nd February 1990 - President FW de Klerk unbanned the ANC and affirmed the decision to release Nelson Mandela from prison.

11th February 1990 - Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison.

14th February 2018 - Jacob Zuma stepped down as President of South Africa.

15th February 2018 - President Cyril Rampahosa was elected as the new president of the country.

Footprints – The Early Years (ages 8-14) and Voetspore 1 – Die Vroeë Jare (8-14 jaar) are our two most-loved, story-based South African social studies programmes.

2025 Uitgawe van Natuurskattejag 1 / Brand new 2025 edition

NOU BESKIKBAAR / NOW AVAILABLE

Natuurskattejag 1 - Suid-Afrikaanse tuisonderwyskurrikulum

Our newly-updated nature study programme in Afrikaans, Natuurskattejag 1 and is available in our online shop.

It has six sections and could be completed in about a year to 18 months. We have added Afrikaans poetry, music appreciation and Bible copywork and the updated edition includes tour guides who take you on an imaginary journey through the various biomes of South Africa and on other learning adventures in our magnificent country. Great books, fascinating outings and meaningful learning activities give you a well-rounded programme that both you and your children will LOVE!

In addition, a combination of our Footprints/Voetspore and Nature Study programmes meets and exceed most of the requirements of CAPS - for those who need that! Footprints and CAPS - Astonishing Alignment

To crown it all, the combination of Footprints and Nature Quest or Voetspore and Natuurskattejag 1 & 2 meets the requirements for the majority of credits needed to achieve the American High School Diploma. Read more at American High School Diploma and Footprints

The English version of Footprints Nature Quest consists of 12 sections in one programme. It covers the same content as both the Natuurskattejag 1 & 2 programmes in Afrikaans, using different literature. It is intended to be used over a minimum of two years.

MORE GOOD NEWS!

Live Q & A session - Homeschool Kitchen Table

The Homeschool Kitchen Table is our brand new mentorship event for homeschool parents. It is a safe place to share struggles and encouragement.

Join Shirley and Wendy on Tuesday 25 February at 7:30 pm for our second monthly live Q & A session about our Footprints programmes and any other homeschooling questions or challenges. Learn from us and from others.

The meeting will be hosted online, please book your ticket to this event at Quicket here:

BOOK NOW