Newspaper Craze

For years now, there have been no subscriptions to any newspapers in the Woody household. We weighed the pros and cons, and the trees won. That was then.

Currently in our home can be found the following periodicals:
1) The Wonderwood (published by Jelly, fairly regularly)
2) Doodle's Daily News (published whenever she feels like it)
3) The Daily Prophet (which arrives once a week via owl post)

The Wonderwood, editor - Jelly Woodyette, is an 11" x 8 1/2" three-column format. There is usually a color-scheme coordinated to whichever holiday is closest. This newspaper contains a variety of articles written by Jelly and also by guest writers ("Mama, Daddy, Doodle, would you please write an article for the Wonderwood?" - and how can one refuse those baby blues and dimples?), illustrations, puzzles, games, contests, and even "links" to online news.

The Daily News, editor - Doodle Woodyette, is published in a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" two-column magazine format. So far it is only black and white, but with many pencil illustrations. Again, some articles are written by the Doodle and others are solicited contributions. The mix tends to be a bit more ecclectic than that found in the Wonderwood, but is always equally entertaining.

The Daily Prophet, as previously mentioned, arrives each Saturday by owl post. It is in 8 1/2" x 11" two-column newsletter format, printed on parchment paper, as used by wizards and witches at Hogwarts, naturally. The girls each have their own subscription, because each is a contributing staff writer. Jelly's articles usually contain reports of the escapades of a small witch called Nanzy. The Doodle, again, is more ecclectic in her writing. Her last article was a report on a nature center, where creatures of all kinds (magical and muggle) can be seen and studied.

We are "ecclectic" homeschoolers, with a preference for unit studies adapted to the Charlotte Mason style, with a classical twist. The child-led learning evident in this newspaper craze is a happy addition to our curriculum.

Apparently the number of writers in the family has now officially doubled. ;o)