2012 Great Homeschool Conventions Giveaway

It’s HUGE! It’s mindblowing! It’s the Mid-South Homeschool Convention and it’s coming to Memphis on Thursday, April 12 – Saturday, April 14. Great Homeschool Conventions is bringing one of the largest, not to be missed events that will have hundreds of encouraging and informative workshops, an amazing group of featured speakers and an enormous exhibit hall filled with curriculum vendors ready to help and guide you on your homeschool journey.

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Would you like to go? Homeschool Roster is giving away two family registrations to the Mid-South Homeschool Convention.

GIVEAWAY PRIZE
Two (2) lucky readers will win one family registration to the convention.

HOW TO ENTER
Complete the required entry below. Once the REQUIRED entry has been completed, then you may enter two additional times by leaving an extra comment for each bonus entry.

REQUIRED ENTRY
Leave a comment telling us how many years you have been homeschooling and why you enjoy it. Before registering, please be sure you will be able to attend the dates of the convention.

BONUS ENTRY (not required to win)
1) Like Homeschool Roster on Facebook – two additonal entries.
2) Subscribe via E-mail to Homeschool Roster or subscribe via RSS – two additional entries.

If you have already liked Homeschool Roster on Facebook or subscribe to Homeschool Roster, then leave a separate comment for each letting us know.

GIVEAWAY RULES
The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and you must be at least 18 years old. The winner will be notified by E-mail and given 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway ends 4/5/12 at 6:00PM CST and the winners will be announced 4/8 on the Homeschool Roster Facebook page.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: GHC provided me with free registration to giveaway on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.“

5 Family Fun Ideas for the Weekend {3/24-3/25}

It’s Thursday, so now is the time to make some really fun plans for the weekend to spend time with your family.

1. October Baby

Young Hannah learns that her life is one that may never have happened because it is one that began with a failed abortion attempt. As she seeks answers to so many unanswered questions, Hannah embarks on a journey to piece her life together and learn how to really appreciate life.

Admission: Prices will vary.
Address: Find a theater near you.

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2. Family Tunes & Tales
If you are looking for a creative way to interest your child in music and reading, then take him to the library this weekend. The Memphis Symphony weaves music and literature for a wonderful presentation of the instrument families of the orchestra that include string, brass, winds and percussion performing in five small ensembles; String Quartet: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf; Woodwind Quintet: Where’s Julius by John Burningham; Brass Quintet: Dogzilla by Dave Pilkey; Kinder Duo: Tissue Please! by Lisa Kopelke; and Percussion: Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson. Participating libraries are: Benjamin L Hooks Central, Randolph Branch, Cordova Branch, Germantown Community, and Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch, Jr. All programs begin at 11am and are designed for 3-8 year-olds. Performances start at 11am.

Admission: FREE.
Address: Call (901) 537-2500 for more information.

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3. Mid-South Ice House
It may be getting warmer outside, but if you need to cool down, then spend a few hours skating around in circles at the Mid-South Ice House. Every Saturday night, public skate begins at 7pm and if you can last longer, then the evening rolls into Cosmic Skate with strobe lights and disco music at 9pm. Public skate is also offered earlier in the day on Saturday 1:30pm – 4pm and on Sunday 1:30pm – 4:45pm.

Admission: $8.50 for ages 4+ and $2.50 for ages 3 and under. Skate rental is $2.50. Non-skating parents are FREE!
Address: 10705 Ridgeway Industrial Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654; (901) 881-8544.

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4. Desoto Family Theatre (DFT) How to Audition Workshop
DFT will present Annie Get Your Gun from June 22 – July 1. If you have plans to audition, then this workshop is for you. Although the role of Annie has already been cast, there are several other roles still open and one of those could go to you. Learn the audition songs, choreography, and receive guidance on reading scenes from the play. Get tips on what to expect at the audition to make your audition stand out from the rest. The workshop is 10am – 1pm.

Admission: $30/person with a $5 discount for additional participants from the same family.
Address: Landers Center Theater (formerly the DeSoto Civic Center Theatre), 4560 Venture Drive in Southaven, MS; (662) 280-6546.

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5. Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms
One place that will never grow old and always has a lot of fun for our family is Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms. Whenever we are in Memphis, if the weather is good, then we always finish our day there before heading home. If you have not been to the playground yet, then plan to spend a few hours the first day you go. There are enough areas of fun to keep children of all ages active.

Certified by the Sustainable Sites Initiative, the playground was inspired by how children love to play.

Admission: FREE
Address: Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, 500 North Pine Lake Drive, Memphis, 38134; (901) 767-7275.

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Do you know of some upcoming weekend family events that Homeschool Roster should share? E-mail Homeschool Roster to let us know. See what other fun and exciting homeschool events and learning opportunities are happening in West Tennessee by visiting the Homeschool Roster Event Calendar.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Homeschool Day {Memphis}

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will open registration for its spring session of FREE tours for homeschoolers tomorrow, February 1. The following exhibits are scheduled this season:

Materials and Meaning
Come and learn how a variety of artists were influenced by their beliefs, materials, geography, media, values, and more and the creativity it inspired.
Read date and time information.

Portraits
Learn about the artistic devices used by artists in their portrait drawings.
Read date and time information.

The tours are led for students 6-12, but all students, ages 4-18, are allowed to attend.

Register online to ensure your space because the tours fill quickly. Learn more about the Brooks Museum of Art Home School programs.

Tickets: FREE, but you must register to ensure your space.

Web site: Brooks Museum

FREE Registration to the MidSouth Homeschool Convention

It’s here! It’s here! Okay, well maybe there are a few more months, but the MidSouth Homeschool Convention will be in Memphis less than three months from now. If you are anything like us, then you just can’t wait until the exhibit doors open with aisles and aisles of fresh curriculum ready to see and touch because as you know seeing and touching a school book is better than trying to read through it online.

The line-up of speakers is incredible as always with a few of our favorites (Andrew Pudewa, Amanda Bennett, Linda Hobar, Leigh Bortins just to name a few) ready to walk across the stage and share their experience, wisdom, and tips of how our families can get the most out of our homeschool experience.

This is a new curriculum purchase year for us so we are going to be spending a lot of time inside the exhibit hall. Take a look at the list of exhibitors and you will see why you should really make a schedule and plan your “attack” before attending this event. We expect to have curriculum overload by Saturday afternoon.

Tickets are available NOW for purchase, but if you want to receive an even sweeter deal, then consider volunteering a few hours and being rewarded with FREE registration for you or your entire family. Yep! That is access to three days of wall to wall homeschool vendors and hours and hours of inspiring homeschool speakers for FREE just as a thank you for your time.

If this sounds like a great deal to you, then complete the volunteer registration form and return it to Great Homeschool Conventions.

Also, there are $10 day passes available which give you access to the exhibit hall only if you’re just wanting to buy curriculum. These passes will be available for purchase at the door each day of the convention.

You just may bump into us in the exhibit hall.

It’s Not Too Late to Celebrate Advent

If you thought it was too late to celebrate Advent with your child, then YOU ARE WRONG! Yes, even though it is the middle of the month and all of the plans you had of shopping, squeezing school in somewhere, and getting a handle on fitting in everything you still want to do seems unlikely, there is still time.

Amanda White’s Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands is a wonderful way to bring Jesus back into the season and celebrate Him with your children. The Truth in the Tinsel E-book is a combination of five activities that you do daily with your child which include:

1. The Clue – 24 picture and word clues of the study for the day which are offered either as cutouts to put into your own Advent calendar or to make a printable paper chain.
2. The Scripture – The chosen Scripture passage for the day mentions the daily clue as well as offer words of meditation for your child.
3. The Ornament – The ornament is something from the passage read and offers your child a chance to be creative and bring to life something they heard about in the Scripture read for the day.
4. The Talk – While making the ornament, this is a great time to discuss what your child learned from the passage of the day.
5. More – Amanda includes some extras (DVD selections, additional Bible Scripture, etc.) to use if you want to pursue the daily study further with your child.

Although the study is intended for and written with 24 days of activities, Amanda knows there are mothers out there who may need another option because of the busyness of the month, so she also includes alternate schedules of six (Just the Basics or By Book of the Bible), seven (Prophecy), or ten (Characters) days of study that allow you to still accomplish celebrating the season the way you intended with your child.

Truth in the Tinsel is normally $4.99, but through midnight (ET) tonight, you can receive 20% off of the E-book using the promo code 12DAYS to celebrate her 12 Days till Christmas Sale. Amanda has also added a new 12-day schedule to count you down to December 24th.

Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees {Memphis}

Nestled in a winter wonderland with brightly and creatively decorated trees for the Christmas season, yummy houses good enough to eat made out of gingerbread and peppermint, animated animals playing and working getting ready for Christmas, and a miniature train chugging its way through the Gingerbread Village. You will want to stay lost forever in this magical place.

George Hettinger’s creative imagination and vision of wonderment that has mesmerized and excited many children (young and old) for years dating back to World War II is once again causing “oohs and aahs” as it is brought to life at the Pink Palace Museum. TWIGS (Together We Initiate Growth and Sharing) presents this annual spectacular display of Christmas joy that over the years has raised more than $4 million for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Other excitement includes pictures with Santa and a special features of Light Before Christmas and Santa vs. the Snowman which are playing in the IMAX theater.

See movie trailer for Light Before Christmas:

See movie trailer for Santa vs. the Snowman:

If you would like to go, then come along with Homeschool Roster (see field trip event details).

Start a holiday tradition with your family that is sure to be passed down through the generations and all the while supporting a wonderful cause of helping children heal.

See ticket information.

See You at the Pole

Have you ever stood still and listened for a word from God? More than 15 years ago, a group of teens listened to a word from God, followed in obedience, and from that a prayer movement was born. To this day, See You at the Pole™ continues to bring together young people in one of the largest, organized student prayer events. It has grown to global proportions including participation from students around the world.

On Wednesday, September 28, young people around the world will meet at flagpoles on school campuses to pray for “their friends, schools, and leaders.” Although most prayer meetings will be at school flagpoles, which are an easily identifiable location on school campuses, there are many students who will be meeting at alternative locations, which include designated churches, parking lots, etc. If there isn’t an organized meeting place near you, then don’t let that stop you. The idea is to PRAY!

To learn more about this inspiring and uplifting event, visit the See You at the Pole™ Web site and learn how you too can participate. Let us know if you participated and what you did.

Homeschool Movie Club Homeschool Day

We are just a few days away from the first Homeschool Day at the Movies, which is Friday, September 23rd. This family-friendly movement was created by Sydney and JT Taylor who are homeschooling parents and the creators of Homeschool Movie Club. With the support of homeschooling families across the country, they are encouraging others to support family friendly films at the movie theaters to let the studios know that there is an audience who wants to see these types of movies.

On Homeschool Day, fellow homeschoolers and others who support this effort will attend a showing of Dolphin Tale, which is the first in a series of family-friendly movies people are encouraged to see, at their local movie theatre. This is a public event, but if you are planning to go see the movie, then register with Homeschool Movie Club, which is FREE, to receive notices about coupons, special discounts, or offers for this feature as well as future movies.

To make this an even more educational event, curriculum has been created by Sherri Seligson (Apologia author – I love their publications) and other helpful resources have been put together to enhance the movie going experience. You must be a register member of Homeschool Movie Club to access.

Find a theatre near you: Memphis, Jackson, other areas

View the trailer for Dolphin Tale:

Celebrating National Punctuation Day

Jeff Rubin, founder of National Punctuation Day (NPD), and his wife Norma (a.k.a. Mr. and Mrs. Punctuation) have been celebrating NPD for more than five years. The day even has an official dish, Punctuation Meat Loaf. “Punctuation counts. A misplaced comma can alter the meaning of a message.” This is one of the reasons that Jeff decided to create and promote the holiday and his efforts didn’t stop there. Mr. and Mrs. Punctuation take the fun to schools and make guest appearances in classrooms sharing through their program Punctuation Playtime.

Did you know that brackets [ ] were punctuation marks? If you don’t use them often, then you probably just thought they were neat looking symbols on your keyboard. There is actually a correct usage for brackets. In fact, all of the symbols have a specific purpose. What are you teaching your children in school? If you need a refresher before the annual day which is Saturday, September 24th, then visit the National Punctuation Day site and brush up on a few punctuation marks, write a few sentences, and make the teacher in you proud.

Rock Out and Worship with your Family

You don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy good Christian music. If you don’t believe us, then hold onto your seats because the concert season is here and there are some really great artists coming through Tennessee. Our all time favorite band here at Homeschool Roster is Casting Crowns, but there are also some wonderful bands that are going to be singing praises to the Lord and leaving you full after a night of worship and fellowship. Another great thing is that you can bring the kids and make it an evening to be enjoyed by the entire family.

First up is Brandon Heath who will be performing this weekend in Hampshire at Natchez Hills Vineyard, August 13 (see Homeschool Roster Calendar). He will bring his The Leaving Eden Tour and share the evening with his special guest Britt Nicole. Brandon has been on the scene for a little over three years and has made a significant impact on the Christian music industry with such favorites as “I’m Not Who I Was” from his debut album and “Give Me Your Eyes” from his sophomore album.

If you listen to Christian music, then you already know of the influence of Steven Curtis Chapman and of the many songs he has written that have blessed so many. He and his family also ministered to the world after the tragic death of his young daughter as they leaned, without shame, heavily on the Lord for healing. Well, he is on the road again with his Song & Stories Tour which will be coming to Cordova at Hope Church on September 30 (see Homeschool Roster Calendar).

Oh, let us not forget Casting Crowns who has been winning Dove awards since the beginning of their music ministry which began more than six years ago. Their Come to the Well Tour hits Cordova (Wow! Cordova gets some good ones.) October 13 and Nashville October 14 (see Homeschool Roster Calendar) featuring music from their new album including the song “Courageous” which is featured in the movie of the same title that will be coming to a movie theater near you September 30. You can also pre-order tickets for the movie Courageous NOW!

Check out other upcoming concerts and events on the Homeschool Roster Calendar.

Did you almost miss these announcements? If so, then sign-up to receive FREE E-mail updates from Homeschool Roster so you don’t miss out and then you can tell everyone else.

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