The Homeschooling Blog

Win a $3000 Disney Cruise for 4!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Hang onto your hats folks! It's the moment you've been waiting for! Can anyone say DISNEY CRUISE???!

Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with American Family and a very special group of bloggers to bring you our BIGGEST giveaway to date! One lucky fan will win a Disney Cruise for a family of 4 valued at $3000! No, this is not a joke! You could find you and your family on a Disney Cruise ♥

This ocean of a giveaway is brought to you by American Family and Acadiana's Thrifty Mom, and hosted by Frugality For Less, and Debbie Does Coupons.

GOOD LUCK MY FRIENDS! If you're reading this from a direct link or from a feed, be sure to either click on "read more" or the post title to find the Raffelcopter widget where you can start snagging your entries! Collect as many (or as few) entries as you wish and if you run out of time, you're welcomed to come back anytime before the giveaway expires on June 18th to collect more! The Rafflecopter widget will remember you!

*This giveaway is opened to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years of age to enter to win. The winner will be responsible for transportation to and from the port of departure. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Google, Pinterest, or Twitter in any way. Please read HERE for complete rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wendy Lindsey

Wendy is the blessed mom to a 10 year old son with Asperger's Syndrome, a beautiful 9 year old daughter, & 6 children (miscarried) in heaven. She's temporarily given up homeschooling to give her son the peer modeling he was missing at home, essential for proper development in a child with autism. Currently she works full-time with special needs children as a para-educator.

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Win HP Omni 27t Series! Ends 6/1

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Coupontrade.com and HP are offering a mustn't miss giveaway event!

HP Omni 27t series including Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010, Norton Anti-Virus, keyboard, mouse, 3 Care Pack House Service, Windows 7 Home Premium Founded in 1939, HP is the world’s largest IT company and brings to market a vast array of innovative, advanced, and reliable products that continuously improve the way their customers live and work.

At the HP Home & Home Office Store you will find an unparalleled selection of notebooks, desktops, printers, accessories, and more! Whether shopping for your home or small business, HP has a solution for you.

CouponTrade.com is your new source for discount gift cards and NAME brand coupon codes. Now you can combine these discounts in ONE place to save more than you thought possible! Now you can SELL your unwanted gift cards too! Are you sitting on any unclaimed money?

Entry is easier than ever! Check out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Starting an Organic Herb Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:51:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I haven't actually started my garden, but I have been thinking about it! lol That counts, right? I can't decide if I should try growing the herbs inside or out, but I'm leaning towards indoors, given we have a dog now, and she eats EVERYTHING! Perhaps my kitchen window would serve as a great garden space... if that is I can find one of those shelves that sits over my sink.

Going organic is somewhat new to me, but then again, so is planting anything. I like that Whitney Farms® offers a totally organic plant food. With organic soil, and organic plant food, I won't have to worry about eating those awesome herbs once they're ready to chop and toss into my favorite recipes! With everything we know these days, I can't imagine not buying organic plant food.

Whitney Farms plant food is low odor and doesn't have a maneur smell! lol I also like that it's low dust and is fortified with beneficial microbes. Keeping organic soil will give me great peace of mind, not only inside, but outside as well... where I try every year to grow flowers.

I think I've placed my flowers on the wrong side of my house though... the shoot up and die within days. Perhaps the sun exposure is just too much, or maybe I still need to learn a thing or two about caring for them. Ooops!

I also have flowers in pots, which are doing much better than those in the ground. I have no clue what type of soil they have, since they were purchased as is. Shame on me though, because I've never once fed them! lol I have to wonder what they'd look like if I did!
Here is a photo of the types of flowers I'd love to see thriving alongside my home...

So gorgeous! They speak of beauty and health, do they not?

If you'd like to give Whitney Farms organic plant food a try, head over to their website now to find a $3 coupon! What better time than now to give organic plant food a try. You'll feel good about using an organic product in your flower garden, but even more so in your produce garden or when growing herbs. Feel great about what you serve your family. We can only imagine what we get when we buy from the market, and organic produce is rather expensive.

Do you grow your own herbs and/or produce? Have you ever considered organic plant food?

iPAD May-nia Giveaway!!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Welcome to the iPAD May-nia Giveaway! We are giving away the latest iPad to one lucky winner!

Bay Area Mommy has partnered with BeeSavy and some amazingly talented bloggers to bring you this must-enter giveaway for the most-coveted tablet out in the market!

Keep reading to learn how you can start collecting entries into this AMAZING Giveaway!

BeeSavy is your digital personal shopping assistant that pays YOU for serving you! BeeSavy scours the internet to make sure you get the lowest prices on the products you want at the stores YOU love. The best part? BeeSavy gives you cashback on your purchases! Sweet! Check out their site to learn more! To get a chance to win, enter using the form below.

The first entry is to sign up for BeeSavy by clicking here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Walmart Coupon Codes

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:26:00 +0000

I'm a coupon code junkie, but to be quite honest with you.... until today never thought to look for coupon codes for Walmart.com. lol I seek out money saving coupon codes with nearly every online shopping experience and yet, I had never searched for Walmart? I can't exactly explain that one... must be some sort of mommy brain experience... or perhaps just another glitch in my brain. I discover such glitches on an ever increasing basis.

As for not seeking coupon codes for Walmart.com... never again! I now know I can find coupon codes for Walmart.com at Frugal Dad! So, if you shop online and would find coupons from Walmart beneficial, you'll want to remember frugaldad.com.

With Mother's Day just a few days away, you may find yourself shopping online... for flowers, jewelry, books, clothing, perfume, or if you have a techy mom, perhaps even a new Kindle, laptop, or digital camera. Whatever you're looking for, be sure not to finalize your checkout before looking for coupon codes. You just never know what you might find!

I save on average 15% using online coupon codes. The only time I've found coupon codes unnecessary is when shopping on Amazon.com, but they're usually cheaper than the competition even without a code! lol I've never actually found a coupon code to Amazon... but I do check on occasion just to be sure.

In addition to saving me money on products purchased online... coupon codes have blessed me with privileges such as free shipping, sometimes even expedited free shipping! Occasionally, you'll even find bonus items being offered when entering a coupon code at check out.

There is currently a coupon code on Frugal Dad for Walmart.com offering free shipping on any pet supply order totaling $45 or more. Great time to stock up and save on pet food, a new bed for Scruffy, or a cat scratching post for Mitzy.

Do you use coupon codes? What is the best deal you ever snagged?

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Scholastic's 15000+ Teaching Worksheets

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:06:00 +0000

From pre-k through 8th grade, Scholastic offers thousands of teaching worksheets, printables, and mini books for use by schools and homeschools. It's amazing what you can contribute to your homeschool curriculum with just the Internet and a printer!

If you're looking for printables for nearly any subject imaginable, Scholastic likely has you covered with their award winning lessons! Kindergarten Printables are a great place to start... your younger students are hungry for knowledge! You simply cannot have too many printable activities and worksheets to keep their growing minds occupied and learning.

Your more advanced learners will benefit from Scholastic too. Worksheets and printables up to and including 8th grade are waiting for you to explore.

Have fun and happy learning!

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

The Case Against Textbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Have you looked in a textbook recently? Not a college textbook for certain subjects, but the elementary school textbooks (and even the middle and high school ones) that cover the whole year.

First, look at their size. I can stack the books we have about dinosaurs on top of each other and make a pile that is at least a foot high. The elementary science textbooks are nowhere near that tall. Even if I stack the math, history, and science books on top of each other they aren’t that tall. How can my child learn all about dinosaurs if the books don’t even cover most of it?

Second, examine the content. There is a page (or less) devoted to most concepts. And while I am okay with a page covering such trivia as geological time periods (because when does any adult – excepting a geologist or paleontologist – use these on a regular basis?), I am not okay with a page covering the Constitution of the United States, or a page – even 4 – covering the oceans. I am certainly not okay with history books that include facts about people that aren’t related to their historical accomplishments. I am not okay with endless repetitions of math problems on paper that present no alternative way of understanding problems.

Textbooks are written for schools. They have very little value for the person who is teaching their own child, except as a possible guide for what to cover. Textbooks might help if you are out of your depth on a subject; but then the library also has a lot of books on various subjects.

This isn’t a case about writing your own curriculum or reinventing the wheel. Textbooks are made to meet certain standards for preapproved items for preapproved grades. If you are homeschooling, for whatever reason, you have already decided to discard the notion of “preapproved” in schooling. Textbooks aren’t the thing you need.

What you need is an Internet filled with resources. If you want to learn about archeology, but don’t have time to visit a site in Egypt and participate in a dig, what about a virtual dig? How about seeing volcanoes explode online? Do you need worksheets designed for certain topics to aid in your themed lessons? Want to practice handwriting with certain words? Color certain pictures? Do various art projects? All of this is online, and most of it is free.

You need a library filled with books on any subject. If your child wants to learn more about a historical person, read the biography chapter by chapter or page by page. Children’s books are great, but exposing them to adult books (if you read them first for content) is a great idea too.

An art store can provide ways to make models of almost anything, collages of various kinds, crayons, clay and a lot of ideas. Local museums, parks, and trails can provide ways to experience nature.

Homeschooling families have chosen their path for various reasons. Some want more control over content; some want to go faster; some realize that their children won’t do well in a public school for a variety of reasons. Whatever your reason, you have chosen to reject the notion of “preapproved” schooling. Why would you want to use textbooks from the same schools you have chosen to reject?

You don’t need textbooks. You need a little planning for what to cover and time to find the right resources.

Natasha Wunderlich

I’m a homeschooling mom who made the choice to homeschool because I saw how rigid schools were and noticed how fluid my son’s learning style was and how hands-on his learning style was. We have been at it for over 2 years now (we started when he was 2) and are enjoying our time together. Learning and teaching has brought us closer together as a family. I do believe in structure and lessons, not simply free form schooling, but those lessons are child-centered and directed by his interested. We are moving on through Kindergarten and 1st Grade material now, and watching him learn and grow is awesome. You can find me on: www.wunderfulhomeschool.wordpress.com

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

$150 PayPal Giveaway... Chic Algene's Birthday Bash!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:59:00 +0000

Chic Algene of I Heart Giveaways and The Coffee Chic is celebrating her birthday today! To make things more exciting, she has teamed up with me and a handful of awesome bloggers to bring you a fantastic cash giveaway!

One random winner will win $150 Paypal Cash!

Finish as many or as few entries in the following Rafflecopter widget as you'd like. The more entries, the greater your odds of winning! The beauty of Rafflecopter is you may pickup where you left off at any time and the widget will remember you! So, you can complete a few entries a day if you wish until this giveaway concludes on May 30th. Also note... you don't have to complete all entries to be our randomly chosen winner... it just increases your odds of winning if you do!

Good luck!

This event would not be possible without the help and support of these co-hosts: Bay Area Mommy, Zoe's Printable Coupons, Samut-Sari, Wrap with Jolene, Mamal Diane and Stiletto Files.

The giveaway will be open worldwide. The rafflecopter widget will be closed on May 30, 2012 (11:59 PM).

a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Have You Entered? It's a Giveaway Overview!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:25:00 +0000

We have so many giveaways running on The Homeschooling Blog today that I thought it fitting that I shoot out a quick reminder! A couple of these awesome must-wins will be ending in the next couple days, so take a second look at what we're giving away and start entering to your heart's content!

Kitchenaid Mixer Giveaway
4/13- 5/12 (this is one of two KitchenAid giveaways we currently have running!)
Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway
4/13- 5/11 (win over $2500 in baby essentials, including furniture!)
$500 CASH Contest Chest Giveaway!
runs through June 30th (for this particular giveaway, if you win so do I!)
KitchenAid Mania Mixer Giveaway
4/29- 5/9 (this giveaway ends on Wednesday... don't miss your chance to win!)
Kindle Fire
4/30- 5/14 (We've participated in a handful of Kindle giveaways, if you're still hoping to land one, be sure to keep entering!)
Kate Spade Purse Giveaway
4/30- 5/10 (Who doesn't love a beautiful handbag? This one's retail price exceeds $400!)
Summer Amazon Blow Out!
3 winners of $200 Amazon
4/30- 5/21 (Yes, you read that right... 3 winners will each win the $200 Amazon.com Super Prize!)

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Multinational Translation Services

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:10:00 +0000

Have you ever experienced the realization that it is in fact a "small world after all"? lol Like myself, I'm sure you can find endless examples of how it seems our world is shrinking in this ever-increasing technological age. Then again, I can drive just two miles from my home and find myself in a largely Hispanic population where English is at best a second language... if spoken at all.

If you're a businessman or woman this experience can not only prove frustrating, but can negatively influence your ability to thrive. With a global market at your fingertips you have the potential to reach to the ends of the earth... and yet, there's just one little problem.... communication.

For this particular problem there is an answer and it's within reach. Rosetta Stone translations services is a leading multinational translation provider. Professional translators who fluently speak and write the language in question are just a website away. How cool is that? Especially if the service will help your business grow!

When I was in college I loved the experience of being surrounded by people from all over the world. I never had the pleasure of traveling outside the USA, so it was the next best thing. I loved meeting students from other countries and learning about their cultures, views, and impressions of America. Fortunately for me, they all knew English! lol

We live very near a good sized university and consequently I still to this day find myself meeting people from around the globe. In fact, we have people on our own street representing several different continents! Living in such a diverse population reminds me just how essential translation services must be to a growing business hoping to scan the globe... possibly even the neighborhood!

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Using Vacation Plans as a Basis for Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:50:00 +0000

Everyone has some memories of school or lessons where they learned about something or someplace that sparked their imagination. You wanted to visit the place; see the sights you had heard about. With a little careful planning, every vacation can be this experience for your children. The nice thing about vacations is that everyone takes them. Whether the vacation is to the local zoo, camping and hiking, overseas, or to museums, they can all be used as the basis for teaching.

First, plan what you are doing on your vacation. If you are going to an amusement park, water park, or theme park you can learn about the history of roller coasters, the physics of water rides and roller coasters (especially force and friction), or the history of the characters and animators there (learning about Walt Disney as a person is actually pretty cool). Most museums have an education section on their web page that can help you plan activities. The Smithsonian Museums actually have lesson plans, virtual tours, and other suggestions to help prepare for your visit there. At the least, look at what exhibits are at the museum and help your children learn more about the things in the exhibit – they will be more interested in the museum when you go there.

Space the lessons out so that you finish about a day before you go on vacation. Create some short coloring pages (or download them) for plane, train, and car rides that emphasize the things you are going to see and do. Take activities that your children would normally do – like video watching – and see if you can tie them into things you are going to see. If you are going to a theme park with characters, see if you can watch a movie with your child’s favorite character on the way there.

Then, once the planning and learning have been done, it is time to go visit the place everyone has learned so much about. Keep talking during your vacation about things that you have learned before you went and how those facts interact with what you are seeing. Take plenty of pictures so that you can make a real (or virtual) scrapbook with memories and fun facts.

Lastly, have lots of fun. There is nothing like seeing everyone involved having fun to make sure the kids (and adults) remember their vacation with fondness.

Natasha Wunderlich

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Summer Amazon Blow Out Giveaway! 3 Will Win $200 Amazon! Ends 5/21

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:26:00 +0000

You mean there's yet another giveaway launching on The Homeschooling Blog? Yes, there is... and this one is pretty fantastic! Aren't they all though?

This time Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with SaleCamel to bring 3 winners a $200 Amazon.com gift card! Enter as many or as few of the entries in the Raffelcopter as you desire... just remember, the more entries you complete, the better your odds of winning!

Btw, did you know that if you're short on time you can complete a few entries a day? The Raffelcopter form will remember where you left off! Pretty shnazzy, wouldn't you say?

This giveaway runs from April 30 until May 21. This giveaway is sponsored by SaleCamel and hosted by Acadiana's Thrifty Mom and Baby Coupons & Stuff. Enter the simple rafflecopter form below. GOOD LUCK!

This giveaway will be open to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway is, in no way, affiliated with Facebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

It's ANOTHER Kindle Fire Giveaway! Ends 5/14

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY!

Techy Tribe and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa-Mom have teamed to give away a Kindle Fire to one lucky reader! Win it for yourself or for mom! You haven't forgotten about Mother's Day... have you?

A special thank you to the AWESOME bloggers who made this giveaway possible including our co-hosts: Giveaway Bandit, Mommy's Memorandum and eReading on the Cheap.

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi - RV: $199

Movies, apps, games, music, reading and more, plus Amazon's revolutionary, cloud-accelerated web browser

Over 20 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books
Thousands of popular apps and games, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and more
Ultra-fast web browsing - Amazon Silk
Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content
Vibrant color touchscreen with extra-wide viewing angle - same as an iPad
Fast, powerful dual-core processor
Favorite children's books, graphic novels, and magazines in rich color
Amazon Prime Members enjoy unlimited, instant streaming on thousands of popular movies and TV shows.
Amazon Prime Members choose from over a hundred thousand books to borrow for free.

Giveaway begins April 30 at 12:01AM EST and ends May 15 at 11:59PM EST. Open to the US and Canada only; must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Mother's Day Diamond Earrings Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Coupontrade.com and My Jewelry Box are offering an AMAZING giveaway for Mothers Day! Mom is a girl, so who is her best friend? That's right, DIAMONDS! CouponTrade.com is your new source for discount gift cards and NAME brand coupon codes. Now you can combine these discounts in ONE place to save more than ever before!

For the most exquisite and wide selection of jewelry gifts this Mother's Day, MyJewelryBox.com is your number one of all jewelry stores that guarantees the best in quality, service at the most competitive prices. A Style for Any Taste; A Price for Any Budget; The Perfect Gift for Mom's Everywhere! Save 20%!

This stunning pair of 1/2 carat (ctw) diamond earrings boasts the luster of over five dozen round, brilliant cut blue and white stones and is delicately crafted from 10 karat polished white gold. Fourteen luminous blue diamonds glimmer alluringly among a bed of fifty-two pristine white diamonds.

Make this Mothers Day like NONE other- Entry is simple! Just fill out the Rafflecopter Form Below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

KitchenAid Mania Giveaway! Win it for Mom! Ends 5/9

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:38:00 +0000

WELCOME TO THE KITCHEN AID MANIA GIVEAWAY!

In case you missed it, this is the second LIVE KitchenAid Mixer giveaway on The Homeschooling Blog, so whatever you do, be sure to enter them BOTH!
I've linked to the other giveaway in my previous sentence. :)
Good Luck and Happy Entering!

Today we're introducing the giveaway of a
KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White
to one lucky reader!

What a perfect Mother's Day gift this would be...
or, you could win it for yourself and make mom something amazing!

This giveaway is made possible by Bay Area Mommy, American Family and a handful of amazingly cool bloggers, uh hem... including yours truly!

KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer-
Retail Value: $349.99

325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl

Tilt-back head for easy access to mixture - 1 piece pouring shield with large chute for adding ingredients - Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip - Measures 14 by 8-2/3 inches by 14 inches; 1-year warranty.

Giveaway runs April 29th at 12AM EST through May 9th at 11:59PM EST. Open to the US only. Must be at least 18 years old to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Hooray for Math Manipulatives

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:19:00 +0000

When I was learning arithmetic in public school I was taught to NEVER count on my fingers. And I mean NEVER! My teacher informed the class that was considered “cheating”. And apparently my mom shared her sentiment. Rote memorization was the only option.

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

Thankfully, learning that way worked for me. And I never questioned it. So, when I began homeschooling I taught my oldest son basic math skills the same way that I had learned them. And he successfully memorized his math without “cheating” with his fingers.

Uh Oh, It Broke

Then last year I began having my next son memorize the addition tables. And the flawless method was working perfectly. Until... he got to the 3’s. That’s when we ran into a wall. A big wall full of numbers and addition symbols that seemed insurmountable to my 6 year old. No matter how many times I had him study and recite his flashcards the material wasn’t being memorized. I quizzed him here and there throughout the day, just as I had with my eldest, but that wasn’t helping the numbers to sink into his memory either.

Now What?

I shared the issue with my husband and he suggested the unthinkable. “Why don’t you just let the boy count on his fingers until he memorizes everything?” I’m sure you can imagine the large gasp that escaped from my lips. “Fingers are just portable manipulatives,” my husband assured me. He then called our son into the room and gave him a 2 minute lesson on how to count on his fingers. My son mastered the concept quickly and he was immediately relieved from the pressure of memorization.

Manipulatives to the Rescue

Seeing the sigh of relief from my son instantly sold me on the method. And so began our journey using math manipulatives. I went online to find out how to effectively, and inexpensively, use them. From the information I gleaned I put together a Math Fun Box. (That’s what the children named it; which I must admit sounds much more inviting than my suggestion - Box O’ Manipulatives.) Here is what it entails, in case you’d like to make one for your homeschool.

Math Fun Box

Dice
Flash cards
Popsicle sticks
Play Money - various denominations of coins and bills*
Price tags*
Beans
Playing cards
Addition charts*
Fraction pieces*
Dominoes
Clocks*
Rubber bands, sandwich or drawstring bags - to keep like items together
Container large enough to hold everything and a lid - I used a gallon sized ice cream bucket

The idea of the box is to fill it with anything that can be used to make arithmetic visual and hands on. I am big on homeschooling economically. So as much as possible, I used what we already had in the house. The items marked with an asterisk I printed off of DonnaYoung.com onto card stock and then laminated.

Praise God

This simple little box of math goodies has revolutionized our homeschool. Now, my son actually asks to use the manipulatives on most days. He and his younger sister even make up their own math games and then play them together. I’m thankful to God that math is now one of my son’s favorite subjects, instead of his most dreaded.

Serfronya Wallace
The six loves of Serfronya Wallace's life are God, her husband, and her 4 children - whom she homeschools. Serfronya enjoys sharing educational tips and writing about her family's homeschooling journey at Cookie's Domain.

Kate Spade Purse Giveaway! RV $425!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:35:00 +0000

THIS GIVEAWAY GOES LIVE

at 11:01 PM CST on April 29th, so mark your calendars and come back to enter!

What an amazing purse!! Are you ready to own this Kate Spade?

This Navy Kate Spade purse is valued at $425!

One lucky reader will WIN it!

**Powered by Madame Deals and Slop Swap**

Thank you to our hosts for helping run this great event:

Become a Coupon Queen, Deals In Heels, Coupons For Your Family, Shopping Tips and Tricks

I LOVE this Purse! I only wish I could enter it myself. You however, have absolutely no reason not to! What's more, you have a lot of entry possibilities on the Rafflecopter widget below. Be sure to complete the mandatory entry requirements, which will then unlock dozens of bonus entry opportunities. Enter as many of those bonus entries as you desire! The bonus entries are Facebook likes, which are easy to accomplish through this handy giveaway widget!

Giveaway will run April 30 12:01 am EST - May 10 11:59 pm EST

If you don't see the Rafflecopter widget below... please give it a few seconds to load, or if you're not on The Homeschooling Blog, but rather viewing this in an email or reader, be sure to click on the post title, which will take you to the actual giveaway post. You'll find the widget there!

Happy entering and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Another FREE Blogger Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Are you a blogger looking for yet another great and FREE giveaway opportunity? Here ya go! Jump on board just as I have for this diamond earring giveaway offering FREE Twitter follows. All additional follows are just $1 each. You may opt for additional links, or do what I'm doing and just take advantage of the FREE Twitter followers.

Interested in learning more? Keep reading!

CouponTrade.com, partnered with My Jewelry Box, is offering this stunning pair of 1/2 carat (ctw) diamond earrings, valued at $1000. This set boasts the luster of more than five dozen, brilliant cut blue and white stones, delicately crafted from 10 karat polished white gold. Fourteen luminous blue diamonds glimmer alluringly among a bed of fifty-two pristine white diamonds.

To Participate in This Event:

Create a post about sign ups for this event, and link back to the form below for a FREE Twitter entry.
In lieu of posting, you may send $1 for your Twitter entry to contact@mvmgroups.com
Additional links are available for $1 each (Choose from Facebook or email subs)
Complete the form found here.
Your submission confirmation screen will contain a link to the post html, and rafflecopter script, and you may schedule your post to go live at 12:01 am 4/30 EST

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Mother's Day Opal Pendant Giveaway (RV $95)

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Enter to win this Lab Created Opal Pendant (Retail Value of $95.00)

Hosted By: Raking In the Savings

Our friends over at Exquisite Gems & Jewelry donated this amazing Lab Created Opal Pendant for us to give away to one lucky reader! This beautifully wire-wrapped pendant shimmers and changes color in the light. What a great Mother's Day gift! Specifications: Pendant cab size 18 mm x 14 mm with color ranges of brilliant reds and golds. Wire wrapped in 14K gold filled wire and includes a 18" 14K gold filled chain.

Exquisite Gems & Jewelry specializes in Ammolite and prides themselves in the Art of Handcrafted Wire-Wrapped Jewelry while creating One of a kind pieces. They display these treasures at Gem and Mineral Shows in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The website also has an online store where you can shop from home and even request custom orders!

Giveaway Details:

This giveaway is open to US residents and the pendant will be shipped via certified mail.

First Mandatory Entry:

Head over to the Exquisite Gems & Jewelry website and come back to this post and leave a comment using the Rafflecopter telling us what piece of jewelry caught your eye! *Make sure you check out the "Ammolite" tab to see many more beautiful pieces of jewelry like the one pictured below!

Additional Bonus Entries:

The first bonus entry is to "LIKE" our Facebook page, and the Facebook pages of the bloggers who are joining us to share this giveaway! You can really score some bonus entries with this last one: There is also a Facebook share option! You can share this giveaway on your wall every day it is running to get 5 bonus entries each day! This giveaway starts now, and ends Tuesday night (5/1) at 9:01 pm Pacific Time! The winner will be emailed and announced right here on our site. You will have 48 hours to claim your prize before a new winner will be drawn. Be sure to check your spam folder! Sometimes these emails end up there!

Thank you Exquisite Gems & Jewelry for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway!

Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Free Blogging Event... $100 PayPal Cash

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:57:00 +0000

Are you looking for a free giveaway even to join in exchange for increased exposure to your blog? Here's a free opportunity from I Heart Giveaways....

Event Details:

- The giveaway will go live on sponsor's birthday... (May 8, 2012)
- Open Worldwide
- Prize: $100 Paypal Cash for One Winner

Sign Up Information:

- NO COST for the first link (Facebook Page)
- To participate, please share this free event on your site and complete the form below.
- If you would like to include more links (Twitter, Pinterest, Votes, etc.) for this giveaway, then please send the fee to chicalgene@gmail.com via Paypal. Each additional link will cost $2.

Interested in co-hosting? Please send sponsor a message with the amount that you are willing to share or provide the details on the form below. The names and links (site urls) of the co-hosts will be included in the giveaway post. They will also receive the first spot on the Rafflecopter widget. Thank you!

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Win $500 Cash with ContestChest.com!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:44:00 +0000

Here's another great opportunity to win some cash... something we can all appreciate, am I right? This particular giveaway is a bit different from the others I've hosted in that if you win the $500, so do I! That's right, if the Rafflecopter widget selects a winner referred from this blog, we both win.

Not only would I get a chunk of change is you win this giveaway, but I'd also earn a month of free ad space on their website. I don't know which possibility excites me more! lol

This is all courtesy of the fine folks at ContestChest.com! If you're into giveaways, you'll want to familiarize yourself with their website, and entering this giveaway is the perfect time to do just that because you'll earn entries as you go! You'll never have an easier time finding contests to enter!

With all that said, be sure you tell 'em http://thehomeschoolingblog.com sent you! It would be a real shame (for me) if they didn't know who referred you after all! And well, my washing machine isn't working so this could be a huge answer to prayer! ; )

Blessings and best of luck to you and me both!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

We're Giving Away FOUR KINDLE FIRES! Giveaway Time

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Just in case you missed word the first time around, or the second, or all the tweets and reminders on Facebook as of late, we are currently giving away 4 Kindle Fires. That's right! If you enter the Fired Up for Summer Giveaway, you'll be in the running for 1 of these amazing, much sought after e-readers. Need I say more?

To enter this giveaway, simply click on the image above (or click on the link in the giveaway description above! Have fun, good luck, and be sure to check out all our current giveaways listed in the right sidebar!

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Earth Day $500 Cash Giveaway, Open WorldWide!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:59:00 +0000

Welcome to the EARTH DAY CASH GIVEAWAY hosted by MamaNYC! I have teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you a HUGE CASH prize! This giveaway event will run from April 20-30, 2012 and is open to residents WORLDWIDE!

One randomly drawn winner is going to receive. . .

$500.00 PayPal CASH!

Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below in order to enter this giveaway. Open to residents WORLDWIDE; 18+. Winner must have a PayPal account in order to claim this cash prize.

All entries are optional... but the more entries you complete --- the higher your odds will be to win this prize! This giveaway will end on April 30, 2012 @ 11:59PM (EST). Winner will have 48 hours to confirm winnings or the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

Please note that you only need to enter this giveaway ONE time since all participating bloggers are using the SAME Rafflecopter widget. Look for the Earth Day CASH Giveaway button if you are unsure as to whether you've entered. You can always contact support@mamanyc.net if you are unsure or can't remember if you entered this giveaway.

* Btw, if you should have any problems with the Rafflecopter: Please REFRESH the page by right clicking and using "Reload". As always, I am here to help you! If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to me or Nicole at MamaNYC.

Good Luck, Have Fun, & Thanks for Visiting!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This giveaway is a self-sponsored group collaborative effort in order to provide a cash prize. Each participant has provided funds in order to present this giveaway. This event is in no way sponsored or affiliated with any company or other individual(s) other than those included within the Rafflecopter widget.

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

5 Awesome Giveaways... Kindles, Cash, KitchenAid Mixer, a Nursery and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Just in case you've missed news of our most recent giveaways, here's what we have going today:

$30 PayPal Giveaway, WW
Open WorldWide!

4/18- 4/21
Fired up for Summer... Kindle Fire

We're giving away 4 Kindle Fires!
4/9- 4/21
Kitchenaid Mixer Giveaway

Because everyone should have one... don't you think?
4/13- 5/12
Ultimate Baby Shower Giveaway

Win an ENTIRE NURSERY for yourself or someone you love!
4/13- 5/11
Solstice Sunglasses

Look cool and protect your eyes this Summer!

3 Winners
($100 ecertificate) 4/16- 4/20

Good luck, have fun, and keep checking back for more AWESOME giveaways! It's sorta our thing. :)

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!

Enter to Win $30 PayPal Giveaway! Open Worldwide!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Lindsey) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

~CLOSED~

Enter to win $30 Cash! This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE and runs through April 21st.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wendy Lindsey

Thank you for following The Homeschooling Blog!