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.“

A Mile in His Shoes {giveaway}

We have another family-friendly movie for you and it is just in time for baseball season. The only thing is that the movie isn’t really about baseball. It is instead about a special boy with a special talent who will not only inspire you, but also teach you a few things about never giving up.

From the director: A story of hope, strength and the power of friendship

From the director of Angels in the Outfield

Based on the book The Legend of Mickey Tussler, this family-friendly film follows the story of 18 year-old Mickey Tussler, who lives on a farm with his father and mother and who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. He can throw apples at an amazing speed. When a chance meeting occurs with the baseball manager of the semi-pro team the River Rats, Mickey gets a chance to pitch for the team and to prove to his father he can do more than live hidden away on the family farm taking care of his pig Oscar.

See the A Mile in His Shoes movie trailer:

Would you like to win the DVD?

GIVEAWAY PRIZE
one (1) lucky reader will win a copy of the A Mile in His Shoes DVD.

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

REQUIRED ENTRY
Leave a comment and tell us what is your favorite sport to watch (not play). If you want to, but not required, then you can even share your favorite team or player of that sport.

BONUS ENTRY
Like Homeschool Roster on Facebook – 1 additional entry. If you have already liked Homeschool Roster on Facebook, then leave a separate comment 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 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway ends 4/7/12 at 11:59PM CST and the winner will be announced 4/9 on the Homeschool Roster Facebook page.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it 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.

The Mighty Macs {review and giveaway} CLOSED

Cathy Rush is a newly married woman who has not easily transitioned into her role as housewife and bleacher warming cheerleader for her NBA referee husband. Both Cathy and her husband have a love of basketball and as a former college basketball player, she is not satisfied with only watching from the sidelines.

When the opportunity of becoming a basketball coach at the Catholic all-girls’ Immaculata College opens up, Cathy jumps at the opportunity despite opposition from her husband. It does not matter that the college offers her practically nothing in pay due to it being on the verge of bankruptcy, or that the gymnasium no longer exist due to fire, or that most of the players lack competitive basketball skills. It also does not matter that she receives minimal support from Mother St. John, the president of the college and also the person who hired her to basically be a baby sitter for these young girls.

What matters is that Cathy has a dream and she realizes that unless she does everything possible to fulfill it, she will never be at peace with herself. Cathy sets her aspirations high especially since this is the first year (1971-1972) in women’s basketball that a national champion will be crowned.

Immaculata Mighty Macs – National Champions…impossible, maybe, but Cathy never stops long enough to consider all of the obstacles. She pushes through coaching her team and along the way sparks a confidence in her players, garners support from the students, the nuns at the college, the community, and eventually Mother St. John who rally around these underdog basketball players.

There are heart warming moments like when Cathy and the girls return from a competition, past curfew, and are confronted by Mother St. John. Cathy is immediately apologetic having already been warned about keeping the girls out past curfew. Instead of being chastised, Cathy and the team not only learn they are going to the championship but waiting to greet them is a room full of Immaculata students and faculty with congratulations.

Later, following in another scene as the team is doing a photo-shoot for their new celebrity, the girls gather clothing and accessories for a fellow teammate after the photographer insist she “move to the back” because he thinks she is inappropriately dressed. You see growth in the girls, who all joined the team for selfish reasons, come together as a team on and off of the court.

In regards to the affect her coaching has on her marriage, Cathy is reminded by her assistant coach nun to “keep her eye on the ball,” and she is not talking about basketball. Cathy is determined as a coach and we have to assume that she and her husband resolve their differences because he is later shown, in between his games, warming the bleachers and rooting her on to victory.

This is an inspiring, true story of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Cathy Rush who led The Mighty Macs of Immaculata College to three consecutive AIAW national titles (1972-1974). Also an inductee into the women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Cathy far surpassed her dreams.

See The Mighty Macs movie trailer:

Would you like to win the DVD?

GIVEAWAY PRIZE
one (1) lucky reader will win a copy of The Mighty Macs DVD.

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

REQUIRED ENTRY
We are going to make this really simple. All you have to do is leave a comment saying you would like to win the movie.

BONUS ENTRY
Like Homeschool Roster on Facebook – 1 additional entry. If you have already liked Homeschool Roster on Facebook, then leave a separate comment 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 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway ends 3/10/12 at 11:59PM CST and the winner will be announced on the Homeschool Roster Facebook page.

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“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it 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.“

14 Days of February Freebies at How to Homeschool My Child

If you’re new to homeschooling, then you probably have a lot of questions and every once in a while second guess yourself. Don’t worry, some of us who have been homeschooling for a few years do the same too and that’s okay.

Kerry Beck has created a Web site called How to Homeschool My Child for new homeschoolers, but there are probably a few things any homeschooler can also learn regardless of how many years they have been homeschooling. She describes her site as,

“homeschool moms who need a little encouragement, who want to “see” their curriculum before they buy, or who might be a little (or a lot) tired.”

With the launch of her new Web site, she also has a few specials for new subscribers. For the next 14 days, new subscribers will receive an E-mail everyday telling them how to get their daily freebie. The first freebie offered today is “83 Ways to Celebrate Valentines.” Do you want your FREE copy? Read more here.

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

Classical Conversations – DEEP Discounts!

Okay you Classical Conversation fans. I know you’re out there and I have some sale news for you. Now, through January 31, you can get deep discounts – up to 70% off – on selected 3rd edition Memory Master products. Some of the featured products include the following:

Foundations Curriculum Guide, 3rd Edition (old edition)
Reg price: $50.00
Sale price: $15.00

Cycle 1 Memory Work Resource CD
Reg price: $30.00
Sale price: $10.00

Cycle 2 Memory Work Resource CD
Reg price: $30.00
Sale price: $10.00

Cycle 3 Memory Work Resource CD
Reg price: $30.00
Sale price: $10.00

Cycle 2 Audio CD
Reg price: $30.00
Sale price: $10.00

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.

Save 30% on Amanda Bennett’s New Unit Study Elections 2012

Amanda Bennett has a new unit study for us and just in time for all of the pre-election happenings of 2012. Elections 2012 is a four-week unit study that covers the following:

• History of elections
• Basic structure of representative government
• Voting and election process
• Campaign participation and opportunities

As always, her unit studies are complete (no other books needed) and easy to use with daily lessons for elementary grades through Jr./Sr. high grades.

This is a great resource to use during an election year that will also offer your child lessons on such things as the election process, how candidates are elected, and how campaigns work. Take a look at this new unit study, learn more, and add it to your curriculum for study in your new semester. Regularly priced 10.95, but on sale for $7.66 through December 15, 2011.

On Sale for Only $5 – What’s in the Bible DVD#1

The new series from Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer, What’s in the Bible?, is on sale with specials that are just in time for Christmas. If you need ideas for stocking stuffers or a complete and really cool present, then save now a one, two, or all of the DVDs in the series.

DVDs 1-6 cover Genesis through Chronicles. Buy the individual DVDs on sale for only $12.99 (regularly $14.99) AND DVD#1 is on sale for only $5 through 12/12/11. Check out the series now!

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