Writer's Guidelines and Upcoming Themes

Thank you for your interest in writing for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (TOS), the premier publication of The Old Schoolhouse® Company, and the nation’s trade magazine for homeschool families. You may get a feel for the rich content The Old Schoolhouse® provides by viewing the latest issue on the TOS App. Visit TOSApps.com.

As the trade magazine for homeschooling, TOS has acquired a valued reputation as the quarterly publication homeschoolers can trust. Please query us with a well-structured article proposal that includes a catchy lead, a summary of the article (including approximate length and sidebar ideas), and appropriate details. Links to clips and portfolios are of assistance as well. Here are some helpful tips for success (How to Write for TOS).

All queries and other submissions are subject to the Terms of Submission posted on our website. Queries should be submitted electronically using the forms provided on our website. Queries submitted to TOS should be written specifically for our publication. Your article must be an original article that has not been previously published elsewhere, including on your blog or website. As compensation, contributing authors will receive a cash payment, agreed upon between both parties. Maximum word count per article is 800. Your article cannot promote or sell any product. You must write about your expertise, not your product. Your biography, which will be placed beneath your article, free of charge, may promote your product, website, book, etc. With our interactive digital format, readers will have instant access to your company/website/blog via hyperlinks. You are welcome to purchase an ad that promotes your company/resources; to learn more about advertising opportunities, please contact our advertising department at sales@theoldschoolhouse.com.

Below is a list of the themes and special features for upcoming issues of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. If you would like to contribute an article about any of these topics, or if you would like to suggest additional topics that you would like to write about, please use the Query Submission button at the bottom of this page to share your ideas with the TOS editorial staff.

Upcoming Magazine Themes

Winter 2024-2025


Publishing: Early December 2024
Article Deadline: August 31, 2024
Advertising Deadline: September 15, 2024
Click here to submit a query

THEMES:

• Theme: How Do I Teach My Child to Read?
• Theme: Teaching Kids Manners
• Theme: Handwriting, Cursive, and Copywork
• Theme: Homesteading: How to Start
• Theme: Family Ministry
• Theme: Homeschooling and the Holidays (creating memories, making gifts at home)
• Theme: How to Teach a Lit Class
• Theme: Winter Survival Guide (making life easy/cozy/peaceful during the winter months)
• Theme: Field Trips!
• Theme: Homeschoolers in the Orchestra

• Resource Guide: Literature and Curriculum Resource Guide
• Resource Guide: Higher Education Resource Guide

• Directory: Winter Homeschool Survival Directory

Spring 2025


Publishing: Early March 2025
Article Deadline: November 30, 2024
Advertising Deadline: December 15, 2024
Click here to submit a query

Special Feature: Homeschool Conventions: Don’t Miss Yours!

THEMES:

• Theme: Homeschoolers Using AI?
• Theme: Charlotte Mason Learning
• Theme: Biblical Womanhood
• Theme: Elementary Math
• Theme: Outdoor Science
• Theme: Middle School Writing
• Theme: Creative Learning: Outside the Box
• Theme: How to Teach Logic

• Resource Guide: Math & Science Resources for All Ages
• Resource Guide: Creative Learning, Writing, and Logic

• Directory: Who's at Your Convention?

In this issue, you will also find articles, advertisements and/or resource areas highlighting: special needs homeschooling, homeschool support/encouragement, and news shorts. Research-based, stats/data-filled journalistic queries will have special consideration for publication.

Summer 2025


Publishing: Early June 2025
Article Deadline: February 28, 2025
Advertising Deadline: March 30, 2025
Click here to submit a query

Special Feature: Entrepreneurship and Finances for Kids

THEMES:

• Theme: Special Needs Homeschooling
• Theme: Back to School Planning and Organization
• Theme: High School Helps
• Theme: College or Career?
• Theme: Methods and Styles
• Theme: Essay Writing
• Theme: Bible as a School Subject

• Resource Guide: Back to School: Planning, Curriculum & Supplies
• Resource Guide: High School, College, and Careers

• Special Author Directory

In this issue, you will also find articles, advertisements and/or resource areas highlighting: special needs homeschooling, homeschool support/encouragement, and news shorts. Research-based, stats/data-filled journalistic queries will have special consideration for publication.

Fall 2025


Publishing: Early September 2025
Article Deadline: May 30, 2025
Advertising Deadline: June 15, 2025
Click here to submit a query

Special Feature: Project-Based Learning (PBL) and STEAM Integration

THEMES:

• Theme: Setting Holiday Traditions
• Theme: Unit Study Homeschooling
• Theme: The Role of the Homeschool Dad
• Theme: Field Trips
• Theme: STEM and STEAM Learning
• Theme: Methods of Teaching History
• Theme: Reading, Writing, and Grammar
• Theme: Holiday Gift Giving and Education

• Resource Guide: Gifts Your Learners Will Love
• Resource Guide: Language Arts: Reading, Writing, and Grammar

In this issue, you will also find articles, advertisements and/or resource areas highlighting: special needs homeschooling, homeschool support/encouragement, and news shorts. Research-based, stats/data-filled journalistic queries will have special consideration for publication.

Winter 2025-2026


Publishing: Early December 2025
Article Deadline: August 31, 2025
Advertising Deadline: September 15, 2025
Click here to submit a query

Special Feature: Biblical Classical Education: What Is It?

THEMES:

• Theme: Organizing Home, School, and Family Life
• Theme: Homeschool Parent Helps
• Theme: History and Geography
• Theme: Classical Education: What Is It?
• Theme: The Winter Wiggles - What to Do?
• Theme: Music and Art Instruction
• Theme: The Best Literature
• Theme: How to Start Back After the Holidays

• Resource Guide: Homeschool Parent Helps
• Resource Guide: History and Geography

• Directory: Winter Survival

Write for TOS!

If you don’t see your theme above, send us your best idea here!

We will acknowledge receipt of your query within 45 days and decide to accept or decline the proposed article as quickly as possible. The review process normally takes between four and six weeks but may take longer at times. Our editors will contact you if we decide to accept a queried article. Publication of accepted materials may take from three months to more than a year, based on our needs and publication schedule. Terms of publication vary based on article length and content. At TOS, we slate authors’ works for future issues far in advance of the publishing date. Therefore, if you are interested in submitting a query, please do so immediately so that it may be carefully reviewed and considered prior to upcoming submission deadlines. Click here to submit a query.

Thank you for your interest. The production staff at The Old Schoolhouse® looks forward to reading your query!

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