Heart of the Matter

Hear-ye, Hear-ye..

LOL, Ok seriously friends, I have a super exciting announcement for you! We have 5 tickets to giveaway for the August 2010 Homeschool Conference. The requirements for you to earn an entry in this giveaway are super simple, you must:

1. Be a registered member on the forum and,
2. Reply to this thread on the forum and answer the simple question.

That’s it! Easy right? **REMEMBER** you need to answer the question in the thread I have linked to above IN THAT THREAD AS A REPLY in order to be eligible for the drawing. You will have until midnight EST Friday, July 23rd to enter. The winners will be chosen by random.org’s random number generator and announced on the forum no later than midnight EST on Saturday July 24th. The winners will also be notified via e-mail (the email you gave when you registered so make sure it’s a valid email).

Good Luck! And I hope to see you there!

(BTW: Did you know I am hostessing Thursday’s sessions and leading a “between sessions chat”? So exciting!)

Cassie Simpson is a homeschooling wife and mother of four children, ages 1, 8, 9, and 12. She is starting her 6th year of home educating in Indiana and uses a “Classically Eclectic” teaching approach. Cassandra is the Assistant Lead Moderator for HOTM’s forum and loves talking homeschool with anyone who will listen! Her hobbies are reading, blogging, sewing, and cooking. You can check out her family’s blog at In His Image.

Hearts at Home Curriculum Store is offering one lucky Heart of the Matter a $15 Hearts at Home Gift Certificate.

To enter:

1. Create an account at the online store and opt in for the newsletter.
2. Leave a comment here letting us know that you created your account and would like to be entered.
3. For an extra entry you can post a review on the store’s website for a product you already have and love.

If you are seeing this on Facebook or Twitter, visit the post at http://heartofthematteronline.com/giveaway-hearts-at-home.

**Contest ends Friday, July 23rd at 10pm EST, winners will be chosen and emailed by Monday morning and must respond before Friday, July 30th at 10pm EST!

Egghead Academics™ introduces . . .

Are you looking for a fun way to shake things up with your little eggheads?

Schoolhouse Scrambles™ will offer the variety that you need to keep school interesting, while still giving you the depth that you desire in educating your children. Focusing on grades 3 through 8, you and your children will find new ways to study everything from the founding of our country to the animals of the rainforests.

With a fun “scramble” of activities, this new line is sure to egg-cite your children!

Egghead Academics is offering one lucky reader the chance to win their new Schoolhouse Scrambles™ lapbook titled Liberty—The Founding of a Country.

• When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
• What does treason mean?
• Did any women fight in the Revolutionary War?
• Who was King George III?

Every child should know the story of our country – about the brave men and women who chose to fight for what they believe in. With Egghead Academics™ newest study, your child will enjoy American history with hands-on learning, while you have fun along side him.

Liberty—The Founding of a Country
by Stephanie Ruby and Christi Gifford

Our country was formed because some very brave men and women decided that they were tired of being ruled by a king thousands of miles away. They chose to stand up and say, “Enough is enough!” Come and learn about them, discovering what pushed them to this point, and what happened next. When you are finished, you will have a gorgeous finished project to showcase what you have learned during your study.

Look through the study guide to find loads of clickable links with extra information. That’s right, the study guide contains everything your elementary student needs to complete their activities, and the links are fun and informative extras! No need to spend hours researching to find what you need, or sorting through random links trying to decide what should be taught and what should be discarded; we have done the hard part for you. These links include fun games, cool videos, and extra research.

We also have activity pages, with crossword puzzles, mazes, “What’s the Difference” game, writing pages, and more!

We’ve included:

• A complete study guide for your child
• Links for additional information and resources
• Lapbooking activities for grades 3-8
• Activity sheets designed with fun in mind
• Creative writing activities
• Copywork activities to help develop strong penmanship skills
• Fill in the blanks, research activities, crossword puzzles, and more!

How can I win? Simply leave a comment on this post. If you are seeing this on Facebook, visit the post at http://heartofthematteronline.com/giveaway-schoolhouse-scrambles.

**Contest ends Friday, June 11th at 10pm EST, winners will be chosen and emailed by Monday morning and must respond before Friday, June 18th at 10pm EST!

If you are not the lucky winner, you can purchase a copy for only $14.95!

Introducing a brand new line of products that entice the educators, as well as students, to view unit studies in an entirely new way. My Favorite Things- A Preference Project™! encourages the reader to investigate the history and descriptions of each topics to draw out critical thinking, investigation and independent opinion based on real, sound knowledge of the subject.  My Favorite Things- A Preference Project™! brings in lessons in science, history, creative writing, outdoor activities, copywork, Venn Diagrams as well as so much more in order to compliment your primary curriculum. Your child will enjoy their favorite topics while building their skills in other areas. These eBooks are packed with enough details to be understood by adults while challenging and encouraging their children.

My Favorite Ancient Civilization- A Preference Project™!

Mesopotamia, Inuit, Ancient Rome and China are just a few examples of what your child will be enjoying in this eBook. My Favorite Ancient Civilizations leads the learner through the way of life for these different cultures. Explore maps, ancient writing, contributions of each and MUCH, much more. My son thoroughly enjoyed the projects provided, especially the section that allowed him to write his name in different dialects using the symbols for each civilization. My Favorite Ancient Civilization brings these cultures to life and helps the child determine their favorites! Ages 10 and up

My Favorite Number- A Preference Project™!

Designed for 12 year olds and up, My Favorite Number tackles math and physics terms such as Pi, Avagadro’s Number and more. Math and Physics terms are explained through history, math formulas, and memory projects to reinforce the concepts. While journeying through this eBook students are able to determine their favorites, learn how to apply these symbols and numbers, and intelligently describe them to others. My Favorite Numbers is a fun way to supplement your math program as it draws the reader in with great content, peaking their natural curiosity, and reinforces the lessons they are learning in their primary curriculum.

My Favorite Spring Flower- A Preference Project™!

Learn about the Crocus, Lily of the Valley, Eranthus and Tulip. My Favorite Spring Flower allows the student to assess these four types of flower to determine their favorite. The eBook covers origins, fragrance, creative writing and art to draw in the person and cites interesting facts to keep their interest going. The beautiful illustrations and practical applications make this a Spring must-have. Designed for ages 8 and up, this eBook is the perfect supplement for both the science and writing program you are currently using.

My Favorite Horse- A Preference Project™!

Have a budding equestrian? My Favorite Horse is a great unit study geared at teaching kids about the different types of horse breeds, their individual personalities and how each interact with humans. What makes this product exceptional is that it uses their love for horses and encourages them to determine their favorite breed while instilling key components of learning. For the parent this is a great supplement to any curriculum as it includes poetry, history, geography, reading lists and copywork. Once the child has completed the study they are then able to use their newfound knowledge to seek the opinions of other students and debate their position online. Ages 8 and up

My Favorite Spring Constellation- A Preference Project™!

Supplement your child’s astronomy lessons by encouraging them to look towards the night sky. Parents are sure to learn something new along with their starry-eyed student as they learn about different constellations. Look out for real-life application as your child is able to point out the different shapes in the sky, know the history and/or mythology behind them and learn how to read a constellation map. This April to June eBook is sure to be one that your entire family can enjoy together. Some concepts covered include reading, history, symbolism, copywork, creative writing and art. Ages 8 and up

My Favorite Things- A Preference Project™! is offering a prize to 5 lucky readers!

Each winner will receive all 5 eBooks listed above.

How to enter: Leave a post stating which eBook your child(ren) would most enjoy and why.

Contest ends at Midnight, June 4th, 2010

Angela DeRossett is a fun-loving, married to the military, homeschooling mother of four. She has four cats and a great big dog and loves her very full house. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Christian Education and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts and Science in Christian Ministries. Angela is a coffee and theology junkie and is passionate about Autism advocacy and disability rights. You can find her blogging at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy and Homeschooling the Chaotic Mommy.

Turn your family statement into a stylish laminated magnet to hang on your fridge, with many tasteful patterns to choose from!

EngageFamily is here to help you build your family mission statement. Your family has a purpose in life and we are here to help you find the right words to put that mission down on paper.

We believe a family mission statement posted in a prominent area in the home is crucial. That is why we have designed a magnet form of your family mission statement to post in the most high traffic area of your home: the refrigerator.

Why?

Here are 10 reasons why your family should create a mission statement now.

The Buzz…

Check out all the great things people say about creating a family mission statement.

EngageFamily is giving away custom family mission statements to TWO lucky Heart of the Matter readers.

How can I win? Simply leave a comment on this post. If you are seeing this on Facebook, visit the post at http://heartofthematteronline.com/engagefamily-mission-statements-giveaway.

**Contest ends Friday, April 2nd at 10pm EST, winners will be chosen and emailed by Monday morning and must respond before Friday, April 9th at midnight!

Today I’d like to welcome Jill and Mark Savage. Jill and Mark’s newest book Living with Less so your Family has More just released and I’ve invited them to share a little bit about this great resource!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

We have been married for 27 years…17 of them happily. After finding ourselves in a marriage counselor’s office around year 8 or so, we realized that we really didn’t know how to be married. We worked hard to turn things around and now we like to share that hope with other couples.

We have five children ranging from 13 to 25. Our oldest three are married. Anne (25) and her husband, Matt, live in Zion, IL, and are expecting our first grandchild in April. (We are very excited!) Evan (22) and his wife, Julie, have been married a year and a half and they live just a few miles from us. Erica (19) married her husband Kendall last September. They live in Augusta, GA, and wherever else the Army takes them.

We have two teenagers still at home. Kolya just turned 16. He’s learning to drive and we’ve nearly worn a hole in the carpet on the floor in the passenger seat trying to find that non-existent brake pedal. Kolya is the newest member of the Savage family. We adopted him at the age of nine from Russia.

Austin is 13 and in the 8th grade. He wants us to make sure and tell the world that this “living with less” life is a real bummer because he’s the ONLY kid in 8th grade who doesn’t have a cell phone.

Tell us about your newest book Living With Less So Your Family Has More?

The world screams the message that bigger is always better, but we have found that is not often true. When it comes to raising a family, less materially can actually result in more relationally. Children don’t need the best houses, the best lessons, the best cars, or the best clothes. What they really need is the best home life and the best family relationships we can give them.

Why did you want to write this book?

We didn’t start out with the “less is more” mindset. We started as a double income family wanting to have the “best” of everything. Then Mark decided to pursue ministry. We went from the “high life” to the “frugal life” very quickly as we moved to another state for him to go to Bible College full-time.

That experience introduced us to the concept that less is more. We definitely had less money, but we had more time. We had less stress and more peace. We had less activities and more fun.

Since that experience, we’ve continued to live primarily on one income for the past twenty years. We’ve had to battle cultural peer pressure and make different decisions for our family than many other families in our neighborhood have made. But we’ve never felt that we were materially depriving ourselves or our kids…instead we’ve focused on what we’ve actually been able to provide for them emotionally and relationally.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?

We hope the reader is encouraged to evaluate how they are living their life, spending their money, and thinking about family matters. Our goal is to introduce families to the “less is more” concept and then equip them with the attitudes and actions to actually make that happen.

For families that are already committed to less is more, we hope to bolster their resolve and help them stay focused on the long-term goal of providing relationally for their kids.

In today’s economy, there are many families being forced to live with less. We want to help them see the opportunity they have with this unexpected downsizing they’ve been forced to do.

And for those who have just been a little discontent with their life and saying things like, “I’m tired of the rat race of life,” or “Is there more to life than drive-thru meals for dinner?” we hope to help them see other choices they have and how they can lead their family in a different direction.

What unique elements will the reader find in Living With Less So Your Family Has More?

For couples who want to read the book together, we’ve included discussion questions at the end of every chapter. This helps move the readers to discussion and eventually actions. Even a single parent can use the discussion questions for personal evaluation.

Readers will find this book a practical guide to changing your attitude and your actions to live a successful “less is more” life. They’ll find our writing style to be a warm, casual, honest discussion where we not only share our victories but our mistakes along the way. We are an average couple living successfully on an average income who want to help others to see the possibilities before them.

This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?

Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!

Any closing thoughts?

It’s healthy for parents to occasionally pause and evaluate their vision for their family and the choices they are making. We hope this resource will help them do that together and that it will lead them to live a life of little regret.

Would you like to win a copy of Living with Less so Your Family Has More?
How can I win? Simply leave a comment on this post. If you are seeing this on Facebook, visit the post at http://heartofthematteronline.com/living-with-less-giveaway.

**Contest ends Friday, March 19th at 10pm EST, winners will be chosen and emailed by Monday morning and must respond before Friday, March 26th at midnight!

If you are not the winner, you can purchase a copy for only $9.35!

Egghead Academics is offering TWO lucky readers the chance to win their new lapbook titled Magnificent Marine Life.

• Do you know what a marine biologist does?

• How long can a sea turtle hold its breath?

• Do mammals lay eggs?

• And what are denticles, anyway?

Join us on an underwater adventure, as we explore life in the ocean with Egghead Academics™ newest Lapbooking Study

Deep in the oceans are amazing sea creatures, exotic plants, and fierce predators. Come and take a closer look and learn about these remarkable animals while building a beautiful lapbook with your children. When you are finished, you will have a gorgeous finished project to showcase what you have learned during your study.

Look through the study guide to find loads of clickable links with extra information. That’s right, the study guide contains everything your elementary student needs to complete their activities, and the links are fun and informative extras! No need to spend hours researching to find what you need; we have done the hard part for you. These links include fun games, cool videos, and extra research.

For those that need a little more, for their advanced or older children, we have lapbooking activities that encourage the development of researching skills – skills that will serve a child long past their childhood school days!

We also have activity pages, with crossword puzzles, mazes, “What’s the Difference” game, art activities and more! We’ve included:

• A complete study guide for your child
• Links for additional information and resources
• Lapbooking activities for grades K-6
• A separate set of lapbooking activities for older or advanced children
• Activity sheets designed with fun in mind
• Hands -on science experiments
• Fill in the blanks, research activities, crossword puzzles, and more!

How can I win? Simply leave a comment on this post. If you are seeing this on Facebook, visit the post at http://heartofthematteronline.com/egghead-academics.

Bonus Entries (post each in a separate comment):

• Subscribe to Heart of the Matter Online.
• Twitter this giveaway.
• Post this giveaway on your blog and leave the link in your comment.
• Facebook this giveaway.

**Contest ends Friday, March 5th at 10pm EST, winners will be chosen and emailed by Monday morning and must respond before Friday, March 12th at midnight!

If you are not one of the 2 winners, you can purchase a copy for only $13.95!