Homestead Originals...

As a homeschoolin’ mama (no denim jumper please!) finding homeschooly, like minded folks is a challenge, at best. While that is fine by me, every once in awhile… it’s nice to feel encouraged along the way, get a little lift, chit chat with other Moms who ‘know where it is I am comin’ from’    Not to mention getting to see all the neat, NEAT things out there for homeschool families!

Well this week I hit the JACKPOT! The Schoolhouse Expo is going on RIGHT NOW, this week (in fact I just plugged in the headphones, cause it starts back up in less than an hour!) it is FULL of great speakers, so much encouragement and a lotta like mindedness going on here!  Malia Russell over at www.Homemaking911.com was great, Malia I want you to stop by for coffee sometime!  Todd Wilson was on last night (and he also writes for The Old Schoolhouse in The Homeschool Minute every week) was VERY encouraging and real–love that guy! 

There have been tons of neat companies sharing info about there offerings (I am going to try out ALEKS free 30 day math trial, the girls think any learning on the computer is just plain FUN–and ALEKS looks SO very cool!  I think it will be something we carry over into the schoolyear this Fall, it is an amazing program!) I love all this info –there are so many great companies nowadays that cater to homeschool families–its neat to get a real in depth look at their products and offerings, to see if they fit for our family–either now or if it’s something I need to make note of for the future–its a neat way to delve in to what these companies offer us–without standing in line, in an uncomfortable vendor hall to get a glimpse at a book or curriculum-all the while, running around, profusly sweating,  hollering at the toddler, stuffing 250 pounds of books in the stroller bin (why don’t they make those things BIGGER?!)-and for me, driving a couple hours to even find one (!) you get the full deal here–chat online directly with the vendor, get your questions answered–not to mention door prizes and all kinds of freebies and goodies too! All from the comfort of home…..in my jammies…with a hot mocha and my own bathroom. LOL–this is livin’ for this homeschoolin’ mama!

Come on by — check it out, you can do all your curriculum shopping right from home in the virtual Vendor Hall–lots of the Vendors have freebie goodies, www.SchoolhouseExpo.com and here is just one of the freebies that The Old Schoolhouse is generously giving out:

http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Digital-Supplement/Homeschool101.html

Did I mention you can do this all from the comfort of home in your jammies with a nice hot mocha? ;p

See ya at the Expo!
Lisa

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NOTE: ALL entries/posts MUST be made over at my blog at HomesteadOriginals to be valid– here is the link to enter and get to the original post– post your entry at that link or it won’t count. Now…..onto the fun part!

We have a fun giveaway this week! The folks over at Spell Quizzer are giving away 2 full versions of their fantastic Spelling Software, to two of our special visitors here at the Homestead! 

We use SpellQuizzer daily, here at our homesteady-homeschool and the children love it–so does Mom!  Check out my review here and find out how you can enter, below!

So–how do you win? We like to keep it simple around here. Just post a comment with your name and email address, and you’re entered!

Would you like more chances to win? Blog about this contest and  you get TWO more entries, just post your comment with your name, email and the link to your post.

Want yet ANOTHER entry? Sign up for our eNewsletter on the front page of the site — here & tell me in your posted comment that you signed up for it, it’s that simple !

We’ll pick the winner May 17th–enter by midnight, May 16th and Monday morning I’ll have my handsome 3 year old son draw a winner out of ye ol’ hat…thanks for stoppin’ by…. now git to enterin’ (how’s that for proper spelling?! I think *I* need a little time with Spell Quizzer!)

Thanks for playing along!
Lisa

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Please email Lisa @ Lisa@HomesteadOriginals.com

Paypal only to the above email address, I can ship however you like-just let me know – I’ll ship MEDIA MAIL unless another request is made-please add $3.00 to your total for shipping in USA. Will ship elsewhere—but you pay full ship charge.

EVERYTHING is BRAND NEW or in excellent shape LIKE NEW, unless they have a ** next to them, that indicates they are gently used.

I have a WIDE variety here—from Homeschool Curriculum to Homestead/Homekeeping books, to reading books & CD’s for the whole family

Homestead/Homekeeping & Homeschool Titles/Curriculum/Parents Books

Sonlight Core 6 Instructors Guide $30.00

Considering God’s Creation (student Book, Teachers Guide and Cassette)  $20.00

Christianity Is Jewish by Edith Scaheffer $3.00

Making It Home Magazine / Bundle of of 6 (no longer publishing L) $5.00

Growing & Canning Your Own Food by Jackie Clay $10.00

No Greater Joy Vol. 3 – $2.00

BJUP– A Servants Heart / Bible 2 Curriculum Bob Jones University Press Teachers Edition LIKE NEW $5.00

The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History $10.00

Lasting Lessons: Mini Theme Workbooks : Many Mini Mice / Going, Going, Gone & Simply Sunflowers $1.00 each

Writing: The Bridge Between Us by Popular Weasel Press Student & Teacher Book – BRAND NEW $3.00 set

Premeditated Parenting by Steve Nelson BRAND NEW $3.00

All In Good Time: Real Life Organizing for Work at Home Moms by Debbie Williams BRAND NEW $3.00

Household Wisdom / Tessa Evelegh BRAND NEW hardcover $5.00

The Basic Steps to Successful Homeschooling – Vicki Brady $2.00 **

Yankee Home Hints – Earl Proulx $3.00

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life w/CD by Marilyn Rockett BRAND NEW $10.00

Planet Earth 25 Environmental Projects BRAND NEW $3.00

Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling BRAND NEW $2.00

Skydiving for Parents – Jane Bullivant BRAND NEW $2.00

The How & Why of Homeschooling by Ray Ballman $3.00 **

Fields w/ God: A Nature Devotional by Lorraine Curry $3.00

When you Rise Up by RC Sproul $4.00

If God is so good, Why do I hurt so bad?  $1.00

Jonathan, You Left too Soon $1.00

We’ve got Mail: New Testament Letters in Modern English $1.00

My Broken Heart Sings by Gary Burlingame $1.00

Books for Homeschool / Children /Family / Readers


Silver Sails ABEKA $2.00 **

Heroes of the Faith : David Livingstone $2.00 **

Five Little Peppers & How they Grew by Margaret Sidney $3.00 **

Stories of Pilgrims Christian Liberty Press $3.00

A Question of Yams BJUP $2.00 **

Solider Fritz and the Enemies he Fought by Emma Leslie $3.00

A Family Guide to the Bible by Crossway $2.00

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling $2.00 **

ABEKA Reader : Message of the Mountain LIKE NEW $2.00

Great Truths for Little Children $2.00

Jesus Must be Really Special (hardcover) $3.00

Alice In Wonderland Hard Cover LIKE NEW $2.00

The Man Who Carried the Cross for Jesus $1.00 **

Widening Horizons ABEKA $2.00 **

The Secret Lives of Cats hardcover $1.00 **

The Prince of Egypt hardcover $3.00 (collectors edition)

Jesus is Calling by Ken Ham/Master Books $2.00

The American Twins of the Revolution- Lucy Fitch Perkins $4.00

Oliver & Amanda and the Big Snow $1.00 **

The Grapes of Math hardcover $ 3.00

ABC Safari hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $2.00

The Rainforest Grew All Around hardcover(Sylvan Dell Publishing) $2.00

Whistling Wings hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $2.00

My Half Day hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $2.00

Turtle Summer hardcover (Sylvan Dell Publishing) $2.00

DVDS-all NEW or LIKE NEW condition $1.00 each OR $5.00 for ALL

Dinosaur Eggs & Babies

Rainy Day Art Projects

Raising Children on a Godly Foundation

The Great Commandment

The Adventures of Walker & Ping Ping

Annie: A Royal Adventure

CDs-all NEW or LIKE NEW condition $2.00 each OR ALL for $5.00

The Well Integrated Homeschool- The Old Schoolhouse magazine

Grammar School Grammar by Tammy Peters

Shurley English- Level 2

Vision Forum CD’s: $2.00 each BRAND NEW OR ALL for $5.00

Sleeping Beauty and the 5 Questions

The Promise

The Heroism of the Fathers is the Legacy of the Sons

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As a homeschool family, we’d taken the ‘traditional’ route when it came to ’spelling’. Lists, words, more lists, more words…can you spell boring, tedious and chore? I believe that spelling is IMPORTANT. How intelligent do we appear when we can’t spell?! Not real intelligent! I also don’t like to ever see that ‘glazed over’ look in the eyes of my children, I want their memories of being homeschooled as a blessing, as fun and something they truly enjoyed! I want them to love learning, no matter what it is they are learning! Spelling was quickly becoming one of those ‘glazed over look’ subjects, not only for my children, but for us as parents! Lists were ho-hum, and something that ‘had to be done’. Fine, we’d endure it, BUT….enter Spell Quizzer!

NOW we’re talkin’! Spelling transformed from ‘had to be done’ to ‘FUN!’ Computer time is a privilege, not a given, around here–so doing spelling on the computer was now ‘a game’, a ‘challenge’, and ‘fun’ rather than a boring chore. Spell Quizzer has breathed new life into spelling in our homeschool!

Spell Quizzer Software allows us as parents create and manage each child’s spelling list with ease. I type up their list, (the software also offers some ‘pre-made’ lists already loaded into the software too) complete with audio recordings of their (custom!) spelling list for them, until mastery is achieved of said list. I love that we can keep the laptop open and as we go through our day and if a word is spelled incorrectly in other lessons, I add it to that childs list, in addition to their regular weekly list, that we customize for each child! SO easy for me! I have seen MUCH improvement, especially in one of my children who was less than excited about spelling, in the past.  Her whole attitude and enthusiasm for spelling has completely turned around! Spell Quizzer really makes spelling into fun for children!

Spell Quizzer is a unique tool, that has really been a blessing to our family! It makes managing spelling for me, much easier and not a daily ‘chore’, but something that really turns much of the responsibility over to the children, letting me keep a watchful eye over it, while allowing them the fun and freedom of ‘doing it themselves!’ It also incorporates their typing and computer skills, another bonus!

I will never go back to our old way of doing spelling, Spell Quizzer is a homeschool family’s dream–we LOVE it!

~Lisa

www.HomesteadOriginals.com

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