Take Root and Write

Review of America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty

We are studying American History this year. Five families have united to co-op every Tuesday in my living room, kitchen, backyard, and nearby park. We have listened to numerous books, read aloud, shot arrows from bows, worked on time lines, recited famous speeches, and created many hands-on projects. The fascinating thing to me about American History is the deep devotion to God that once lived in the hearts of men and women in this nation. Even those who rejected the Gospel, admitted that God had His hand in the formation of this great nation.

 Once, faith in the Lord led to core values that helped to make our nation great:  personal responsibility, integrity, and love for fellow man. My daddy always said, "You are responsible for your own actions. If everyone jumped off a bridge..." Your daddy probably said the same thing to you. Concern for the welfare of others led to charities and neighbors helping neighbors. People expected their politicians to be men and women of integrity and honor.

There also existed a great love of freedom so strong that people were willing to die to hold on to freedom. There was great pride in being a citizen of the United States of America. George Washington urged unity above political party affiliation. Patriotism, love of freedom, and a desire to move forward to make the world a better place for the next generation all united Americans.

While we cannot go back in time, we can pass on a Godly heritage to our children, reminding them of the providential blessing that has hovered over our nation. We can pass on the same values that led Daniel Boone across the wilderness, Teddy Roosevelt to storm San Juan Hill, and Lincoln to speak at Gettysburg.

The American Heritage Foundation is serious about teaching students the truth about the United States of America and current events. Historically, the United States of America is Modern History's first attempt at self-government. This adventure was bathed in prayer and led by men who feared the Lord and understood biblical principles.

This non-profit organization was formed to teach American history and to promote patriotism in young American lives. Though a non-religious organization, it promotes conservative, family-friendly values. Lesson plans have been created for use in public schools to fill in the gaps in public school history and government classes. Their lesson plans are offered free to homeschoolers too!

Review of The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell

"We are just starting out," the young woman informed me with shining eyes. I thought that she was a high school homeschooler with her fresh smile and "girl-next-door" looks.

I smiled to myself as I remembered those days. Was I ever a young mom who didn't need to reach for her reading glasses to check a writing paper or look at the numbers to explain a math problem? How wonderful those early years were when we enjoyed making volcanoes of paper mache and going to the zoo for a field trip.

"I need all the wisdom I can get," my new young friend interrupted my thoughts.

"Well, have I got a book for you!"

Though I have read many books on homeschooling over the past twenty years, this was my first time reading The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell (sent to me by Apologia Press to review).

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell is an honest look at educating children at home from a mom whose run the race with joy and success! Debra is honest and insightful. She doesn't sugarcoat homeschooling. Debra and her husband, Kermit, have four children who are all homeschool grads. Saved in college, Debra never envisioned herself teaching her children at home. However, she saw good fruit in the lives of home educated children in her church. This led her to pursue homeschooling for her own family.

Debra homeschooled her children and built friendships with other homeschooling families. She mentions the support group, co-op, and home educator friends in her book over and over. As she speaks about her family, you can tell that she values relationships. Her life, and the lives of her children, have been changed in these relationships.

Review of Young Minds Math Tutor DVD

I was excited to get another product from Math Tutor DVDs. Last year, I reviewed The Algebra II Tutor and The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor DVDs and loved them. Jason is one of my favorite math teachers because of his easy-to-understand style. I wish he could be part of our homeschool co-op and teach my children higher level math. Of course, Jason lives in another state. So joining our co-op is not a possibility. But, Jason can come visit your home school through his DVDs.

Math Tutor DVD is a company devoted to ridding the world of math-challenged students by turning them into successful math students. To this end, they have DVDs to watch and online courses to take! The teacher is Jason, who has a masters degree in engineering and physics, formally worked at NASA, and is a great math instructor!

Why is mathematics so important for your homeschool student? Well, a daily lesson of math is like a workout for the brain. The way our brains process information when completing math problems and equations trains our minds to think clearly, sequentially, and logically. Success in math will overlap into other subjects, producing confidence and competence in areas as diverse as logic, foreign language, economics, reading, writing, music, art, science, and history. 

Review of Celebrating High School by Cheryl Bastian

"How about if I just make the brochure and you just relax? I edited your course descriptions too. Could you check them and see what you think?" Cheryl asked me over the phone. We were talking about an upcoming conference that we were both speaking at. My Daddy had just died, so Cheryl took over the bulk of the administrative details. What a blessing she was and is in my life.

It was at that time that I learned just how truly remarkable and administrative Cheryl is. I should have realized it before, seeing that she started a homeschool group and led it for nine years, while she was busy homeschooling and having lots of babies (6 total!). The longer I know Cheryl, the more I appreciate her many gifts and talents.

We speak together about homeschooling high school  and I am always so thankful that she is there to answer all the administrative questions, not my greatest strength! Just how do you keep up with transcripts, SATs, visiting colleges, applying for colleges, and applying for Bright Futures and other scholarships? I thought that I was organized with all the high school stuff until I met Cheryl. She definitely has her homeschooling high school act together and she has written a book to help you do the same thing.

Exploracise Gymathtics

"Is this an exercise video? Is this a math video?" I wondered aloud when Exploramania Gymathtics arrived in the mail to be reviewed.

The answer to my question is YES! It is an exercise video and it is a math video.

What a fun, colorful, exciting video to watch! Our hostess, exercise leader, and math teacher is energetic and upbeat. She reminds me of my spinning teacher at the Y. Her name is Carrie and she is the creator of Exploramania. The exercise video is a high-energy aerobic workout with a twist. The twist is that you are always doing math while you move and sweat.

"Isn't exercise fun?" perky Carrie asks throughout the 30 minute workout.

"Yes, Carrie," I have to agree. "This is fun!"

Exploracise Gymathtics is a 30 minute exercise DVD. It is also a 30 minute math DVD. Let me explain. Carrie, an energetic mom, wanted to provide something educational for her high energy children. Would there be a way to help her children learn math and be physically active at the same time? I think that Carrie has her answer now because her motherly concern led to the birth of Exploramania, a company dedicated to learning in a high-energy, active way.

This brain and body workout promotes healthy living while reminding children of math concepts children need to hold on to so that they can be successful in school.

The workout, like all good workouts, starts with stretches. These stretches, however, are line, circle, and polygon stretches. With your arms, you make parallel lines and intersecting lines while you stretch. There is a side portion on the screen showing you parallel and intersecting lines, the way you would see them in a math book.

Review of Zeezok Publishing's Stephen Foster and His Little Dog, Tray

Growing up in Florida, I learned to sing "Way Down Upon the Swanee River," a Stephen Foster composition. As a piano student, I played "Camp-town Races" and "Oh,Susanna" in recitals, more songs from this famous composer. Stephen Foster composed American Folk Songs that reveal the flavor of the times he lived in. Listening to his music is part of USA history class in our homeschool, because it genuinely expresses the style and culture of Early America. Times have certainly changed and music has changed along with those times, but for those of us who enjoy remembering, Stephen Foster is a true American musician.

Originally published by E. P. Dutton Co., Inc in 1941, Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray by Opal Wheeler and illustrated by Mary Greenwalt is a biography of Stephen Foster with music scores of his most famous works included in the book. The story is lively and engaging, beginning with his birth into a large, slave-owning family in Pennsylvania.

From the very beginning, Stephen loved music! When he was two-years old, he "borrowed" his sister's guitar and plucked a melody. Soon, he was plucking piano keys with lovely results to his family's delight and enjoyment. Stephen's music was profoundly influenced by Negro spirituals sung by the black slaves of America. His songs often adopt the style or melody of a specific spiritual. Because of this, I had always assumed that he was a "Southern Boy," but it turns out he spent most of his life in Pennsylvania!

This biography is easy enough to be read and enjoyed by young children, but interesting and full of enough information that older children will enjoy it too. My first thought: a great family read aloud book! Best of all, the Bible is mentioned, as well as the family's devotion to God!

The study guide, Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray Study Guide by Judy Wilcox, impressed me! This slim book and companion guide was full of great information and divided into four sections. Each section covered a corresponding section of the book with maps, time lines, tidbits of interest, reading comprehension questions, and a focus on character qualities evident in Stephen Foster's life.

I love the time lines!  The time lines at the beginning of every chapter include all the pertinent information in the book about Stephen Foster's life, but also included musical events and composers, as well as United States and world history events of significance. I felt that the choices were perfect.

The time line gave me an idea! You could read the book aloud for a week with your homeschool crew, turning the book into a mini history unit study. There was enough information to study from the time line, plus comprehension questions could easily be turned into writing assignments, and music to listen to from the CD.

It was awesome to see them focus on character traits evidenced in his life. What a wonderful way to challenge our children to grow in godliness! While I didn't feel he was sugarcoated, I did feel that Stephen Foster was presented in a positive light and as a good role model.

I liked the comprehension questions too! They were easy questions and, best of all, the answers were included.

Now, let me tell you about the companion CD. Stephen Foster's music is combined with Edward MacDowell's music on this CD. (Edward MacDowell also has a biography and study guide in the series!) The music on the CD is not Foster's complete works, but only the selections from the biography. Reading the book aloud while stopping to listen to the selections on the CD would make a great way to learn!

The book, Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray by Opal Wheeler, is available on Zeezok's website for $12.95, the study guide, Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray Study Guide by Judy Wilcox, is available for $4.95, and the companion CD for $7.95.

There are several more musicians in this series, each with a biography, study guide, and companion CD. Here are the musicians.

• Edward MacDowell
• Franz Schubert
• Frederic Chopin
• George Frederic Handel
• Joseph Haydn
• Ludwig von Beethoven
• Wolfgang Mozart
• Robert Schumann
• Sebastian Bach
• Stephen Foster
• Johannes Brahms

Music is one of my favorite things in the world. History and music history is another favorite thing! This biography series covers both of these wonderful school subjects in a delightful, engaging way!

More than this biography series, there are several other series available too!

• Civil War series (The Guns of Bull Run, The Guns of Shiloh, The Scouts of Stonewall)
• Shining Sword (book and study guide)
• Ancient China To Wall and Beyond
• Presidential Penmanship
• When I'm a Daddy
• When I'm a Mommy

Be sure to check these books out! I enjoyed the opportunity to review this lovely series of musician's biographies. Seriously consider looking into these books. As Christians, music is part of our heritage and a tool we use to worship our heavenly Father.

Review of Bertie's War by Barbara Tifft Blakely

"Where is that book I got in the mail to review?" I asked no one in particular.

No one admitted to taking it, so I began searching through the house. I finally found it next to a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies. It was dog-eared near the end of the book.

I picked the once perfect copy of the book up and examined it closely. There was now a stain on the front cover! The book was worn, that worn look that comes from aggressive reading! What happened to my brand new book? Where was the fresh-off-the-press copy that was neat and clean? What had caused this well-loved look to come over our new book, MY new book!

"Oh, sorry!" Shine admitted sheepishly, walking into the room that I was currently searching, "I borrowed your book and read it!"

My annoyance subsided. After all, how can you get mad at children for reading books?

"Did you like it?" I queried.

"I love it!" she replied with gusto.

Ah, I have a reader to interview for the review. So, here is the opinion of a thirteen year old girl who loves Jesus and reading with all of her heart.

 
Meredith: Shine, you read Bertie's War by Barbara Tifft Blakey. What did you think of the book?

Shine: I really like it!  It was interesting and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Sorry I borrowed it without asking

Meredith: I forgive you! Who are the main characters in the book?

Shine: Bertie, Aaron (younger brother), Tamara (older sister), and Bertie's parents. They are a Christian family who really love the Lord.

Meredith: Are they a happy family?

Shine: Yes, they seem to be really happy and her parents had rules and made sure their kids obeyed them. These rules came from the Bible. They lived by the Bible. When her siblings do something bad, they go to the woodshed and Bertie doesn't know what happens there because she always tries to be good.

Meredith: What happens in the story?

Shine: Bertie is afraid of everything, especially her father. She doesn't want to disappoint him or disobey him. So, she tries her hardest to always be good so she doesn't disappoint him. She can never stand up to anyone. She is always trying to earn the "nod of approval" from her dad, but when she does try, she always messes everything up. She is also always playing make-believe. All kinds of things happen in Bertie's life! I won't give you all the details. People will have to read the book and find out!

Meredith: How does Bertie change in the book?

Review of Maestro Classics Classical Music CD Stories

Ballet. Classical music. Two loves of my life! How thankful I was when the girls were little and donned their ballet shoes to took lessons. Katie Beth continues to choreograph worship dances for church celebrations that are beautiful. The girls have also enjoyed attending opera and ballet. My son, however, is less interested in classical music and ballet lessons don't seem to be the way to introduce him to classical music.

The Tortoise and the Hare arrived in a small white package to be review and I was blessed. I couldn't wait to investigate the classical music story CD from Maestro Classics.

This CD, The Tortoise and the Hare, comes in a bright cheery cover that immediately gets a positive response from everyone I showed it to, especially young children. The Tortoise and the Hare is a delightful piece of music played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Stephen Simon.

Stephen Simon is a conductor, composer, and expert in the music of George Frederic Handel. He has delighted audiences, young and old alike, for years with his insightful explanations of the music he is conducting during his concerts. His warmth and humor shine through in this CD. I couldn't help but think about how much fun it would be to take the children and their friends to see Stephen Smith conduct an orchestra in our own town!

His wife, Bonnie Ward Simon, is an art director, music educator, and writer. She and her husband, Stephen, have teamed up to bring this wonderful series, Maestro Classics, to children all over the world. Capturing the feel of a live concert, Stephen narrates the story while the music plays in the background for the first twenty minutes of the CD.

Stephen is a good story teller and children will enjoy his rendition of this classic fable from Aesop. This short story has been expanded in an amusing way with a very cute personality given to the tortoise. He is "slow and steady" in all he does with an almost Eeyore personality. The story is set in France with bits of French music thrown in here and there. I only wish the music was a little bit louder compared to the talking. The next track features Bonnie teaching children about the story itself, fables, and other interesting facts. Younger children may be a little lost during this section.

Celebrate the Savior Bible Study Review

"Look at this baby book!" I grabbed Laura's arm and pulled her over to the table with the baby book on display.
Laura, who was gazing at science curriculum, reluctantly allowed herself to be dragged away. We were at the FPEA Homeschool Convention in May, 2008 at the vendors' hall.
"Look! It's a baby book for Jesus! Is that not the cutest thing in the whole world?" I cooed, picking it up and flipping through the pages. "Look, it says "Before Jesus was born, he was creating the world!" and this page says, "Here are the gifts baby received..." And, here is a page about His parents, God and Mary."
By now, Laura was interested. We scanned through the book several times, and, of course, I had to buy the unit study.

Celebrate the Savior by Charlene Notgrass is a Bible Study with history and crafts. There are craft projects and creative writing assignments. The children make two booklets: a Baby Book for Jesus and a Christmas Traditions around the World booklet. With fifteen lessons on the birth and life of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, this book is a great way to teach your children about Christmas!

Charlene and Ray Notgrass have been homeschooling since the 1990's. They have three of their own children and three adopted children. Both Ray and Charlene write curriculum. Check out Ray's history curricula, Exploring America and Exploring World History. With a heart for conservative Christian values and truth, they equip homeschooling families to educate children effectively!

Celebrate the Savior is a unit study that begins with a closer look at the birth of Christ Jesus our Savior revealed in Scripture and progresses into a look at the history of Christmas celebrating and traditions. Bible, history, geography, writing, music, and art are covered in this unit.

Review of Nutrition 101: Choose Life!

"I'm fasting all healthy food," I declared to my family as I popped a bad cholesterol-building cookie in my mouth. "Can someone pick me up some eggnog?"

I know, I know, at my age, 47, healthy food choices are important. Oh, how I wish I had been a healthier eater when I was younger. I knew something about nutrition, but obviously not enough because my heart leans to white chocolate Resee Cups, M & Ms, Moose Tracks Ice Cream, and Whoppers.

Maybe this review isn't about sharing information with you, but learning and cleaning up my own nutritional life.

Nutrition 101:  Choose Life A Family Nutrition and Health Program by Debra Raybern, Sera Johnson, Laura Hopkins, and Karen Hopkins is a 448 page E-book published by Growing Healthy Homes. This book is based on the premise that the "cures" to most of the dreaded diseases (cancer, heart disease, and diabetes) is changing the way we eat. Surely, eating healthy will go a long way in preventing these diseases.

 This book is meant to be worked through together as a family. Neat! The idea of the book is to learn together and CHANGE together! The goal is to become healthy eaters in 448 pages. The authors recommend that the family using this curriculum together...

• Get rid of junk food
• Make a list of healthy food each family member likes
• Each family member eats the healthy foods they do like
• Thank the Lord for each food and involve His help in changing
• Try at least one new thing at each meal
• Find healthy alternatives to those old favorites

The book is divided into 6 units, each unit containing 4 chapters. Every chapter has discussion questions, activities, additional resources, and recipes. One of my favorite things is all the "Fun Facts" scattered throughout each chapter. Here are the units:

• The Brain and Nervous System
• Digestion and Elimination
• Respiratory and Olfactory
• Muscular and Skeletal Systems
• Cardiovascular and Immune Systems
• Endocrine System and Emotions

The best thing about Nutrition 101: Choose Life! is that it is Christ-centered. Scripture is woven into every chapter with application to the subject at hand. I love that! You may want to read Fearfully and Wonderfully Made and In His Image by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey.

Amazing Bible World History Timeline Review

A large tubular package arrived and I have to admit I was excited! Was it a painting? Was it a poster for my son's room? Hopefully, it would be a sports poster, if it was a poster. Jimmy loves sports posters.

It turned out to be something better. Now, if you are not a homeschooling mom, you may think I'm crazy because it was a timeline. Yes, better than a painting or poster, a timeline is one of my very favorite teaching tools. I love to use glossy professional timelines and I love to have my children make their own timelines by rolling a roll of newsprint down the center of my house from the front door to the back wall of the family room!

One more timeline? Oh, no, not just one more timeline. This timeline is different than all the others in my house. All my timeline are long, long, long strips of cardstock, often laminated, and sometimes folded up into a large book-like container. The Amazing Bible World History Timeline is a large (36" x 48") and sturdy poster that can be spread out on your table or hung on your wall.

While I do prefer timelines to be laid out straight, the circular effect was neat. And it is wonderful to be able to see everything at once when you are looking at a timeline.

There were some concerns with this particular timeline, though, that I must share. First of all, there are references to the Book of Morman (Church of the Latter-Day Saints) which concerned me. There is even a Latter Day Saints Book of Morman Timeline available. You can get to know more about the publishers of the timeline, Bill and Margaret, on their website page, About Us. They produce two timelines, one for "Latter Day Saints" and a "generic one. Here is their explanation of why there are two different timelines.

Okay, here is my feeling about this timeline. It is lovely to look at and would be helpful to use. However, because of the link to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, which does not adhere to Orthodox Christian beliefs, I cannot recommend this timeline. If you do want to purchase it for your family, the cost is $29.97 on their website, The Amazing Bible World History Timeline. If you do purchase this timeline, I recommend reading The God Makers: A Shocking Expose of What the Mormon Church Really Believes  by Ed Decker and Dave Hunt.

At this point, I must be wary of the scholarship of the timeline because of the link to the Mormon church.

Dear friends and fellow homeschooling moms, be very careful about the books, curriculum, and materials you purchase and use in your home school. As much as is possible, use Christ-centered, Biblically-based materials that will uphold your beliefs and values. We are in a spiritual battle for the souls and destinies of our children. Everything that looks good on the outside is not necessarily good underneath. I was taken in by this timeline, only to discover that it was not in line with our family's values. Yikes! Another lesson on being careful as I educate my children at home!

"Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil," (I Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV).

With that said, I want to heartily advocate the use of timelines in your homeschool. And, teach your children that the earth is young, about six thousand years old, not millions or billions of years old. I appreciate the scholars we have today that research dates, historical events, and original texts. How blessed we are to live in the days we do. Surely with the all the apostasy and upheaval in our nation, we were born for such a time as this! Lift up your eyes and look to the Lord for wisdom as you prepare your children to be world-changers!

Blessings to each one of you!

Sue Patrick's Workbox System Review

After hoping and praying for a baby for ten years, Sue Patrick recieved a beautiful bundle of joy from her Heavenly Father. Grief was to follow, though, when her son was diagnosed at the age of two with Autism while Sue was working on her master's degree from North Carolina State University and getting ready to give birth to her daughter. She got through her grief as quickly as possible so that she could give herself to raising two little children. While they slept, she spent time researching and making materials and curriculum to use with her son. The result of this time of research and creativity is her Workbox System. It is loosely based on the structured teaching approach advocated by TEACCH (Treatment & Education of Autistic & related Communication-handicapped Children), a division of University of North Carolina's Department of Psychiatry.

While there is no cure for autism, the program Sue created, the Workbox System, has worked for her son. Even with a seemingly insurmountable language disability, he is at grade level academically, participates in group activities, and plays team sports. Sue believes that the research she has done and the resulting home program she has created for him has made all the difference in his life.

God opened the door for Sue to share what she learned with other families who had children with developmental disabilities. Trial and error, continued research, and interacting with more and more families has allowed Sue to improve the Workbox System over the years.

The Workbox System consists of two components: the physical structure and the educational philosophy.

Review of Nature Friend Magazine

"What is this?" my daughter picked up the magazine after scanning the pile of mail that my son had brought in and dumped on the table.

"The pictures are beautiful," Jenny Rose exclaimed, looking over Shine's shoulder as she perfused the magazine.

"Oh, it's Nature Friend magazine," I replied to Shine's original question. We used to get this when you kids were little. I remembered the lovely pictures and the Christ-centered articles.

"I like this," Jimmy said a few minutes later when he finally got a chance to look at the magazine himself. 

With Nature Friend, what is there not to love.

Nature Friend magazine helps families explore the wonders of God's creation with lovely pictures and Christ-centered articles that keep your children's interest. I received the September 2009 issue with lovely photographs on the front and back covers of birds. The issue was filled with beautiful photographs of nature and animals. My favorite was a Roseate Spoonbill in Virginia sent in by a young reader. This large pink bird was feeding on tadpoles in a flooded field by a river. Another reader sent in an interesting story, "My Experience with a Snapping Turtle." I like the way that readers participate in the magazine!  There are letters, drawings, and poems sent in by readers that are featured in each issue of the magazine.

Each issue is filled with articles, fascinating facts about animals, crossword puzzles, a drawing lesson, a hidden objects in the picture page, letters to the editor, Fill-in-the-Blanks, Acrostic puzzle, Research suggestions, and a writing lesson. In the issue I reviewed, there were articles on plant pigments, stars, weaverbirds, walking sticks, taking fall foliage photographs, Pacific golden plover's amazing flight, and wondernose birds. My favorite page in the whole issue was the reader's own creations from the May 2009 lesson on how to draw a dogwood flower. The reader's pictures were lovely and all pink--my favorite color!

Professor in a Box: Financial Accounting Review

"I've decided to go ahead and switch my major from Finance to Accounting," Julianna informed her daddy and me one evening. We had been praying with and for her on this decision for several weeks.

"Well, if you think that's God's will,..." I began.

My husband shot me a look. The look warned me to not share my personal feelings about accounting.

I had mentored a younger Christian girl in college who had majored in accounting. She hated it and I hated accounting for her. She worked faithfully as an accountant for ten years, married to a college professor, eventually pursuing another field. Her experience put a bad taste in my mouth. Not wanting to see my little girl suffer, I had my hesitations. I have since had to adjust my thinking on accounting. While not all people will enjoy accounting, it is not the boring task I once envisioned.

How thankful I am for people who crunch numbers and are good at crunching numbers. Since starting my own business, I see how important accounting is--how it can even make or break a business. My personal philosophy of educating my children includes training them to start and run their own business. So, when Professor in a Box sent me their Financial Accounting Class, I was excited to check it out. However, after looking it over, I decided to take the class myself so that I can grow in the area of managing my own business. Interested?  Let's take a look at this "course in a box."

Michael P. Licata, Ph.D. is the creator of this accounting course, Professor in a Box:  Financial Accounting, for homeschooled high school students. He is an accounting professor at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. My guess is that he is a popular professor because of his practical teaching style. Everything he taught had practical application with companies that young people can relate to.

Accounting, the language of business, is introduced to the high school student through lectures, homework problems with solutions available, and exams. Taught from a non-traditional approach, there is not a big fat accounting textbook to read. Instead, 12 chapters are divided into 2 or 3  flash lecture slides each. The flash lecture slides include a description of each key concept with discussions of all the important concepts and sample problems with step by step illustrations of how to work them out. The slides are bright and cheerful, easy on the eyes, but very informative and easy to understand. I learned a lot by reading them for this review. They were very impressive.

Review of Sarah's Wish

When Sarah's Wish by Jim Baumgardner arrived to be reviewed, I decided to read the book and found myself immediately involved in Sarah's life and dreams. Emotionally involved, I wanted her to find a family, to help her friends escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad, and to protect her from the evil slave catchers that made her life miserable. I felt scared with Sarah sometimes and, other times, found myself laughing aloud at her antics.

When I finished the book, I wanted to read more about Sarah, to stay involved in her life. I felt like I had made a new friend. 

Though JIm Baumgardner has been writing for forty years, Sarah's Wish was his first novel. He wrote the book for his grandchildren, hoping to teach them about history, especially about the horrible institution of slavery and the brave Americans involved in the Underground Railroad. Both slaves and conductors had to be very brave to help people escape from bondage into freedom. As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think of how Christians are like conductors on the Underground Railroad, helping those in bondage to sin escape to freedom, not in Canada, but into the Kingdom of Light. Jesus has an Emancipation Proclamation for all of those in slavery to sin and darkness. His life paid the price for us to be welcomed into the grace and mercy of God forever.

Born and raised right on the Ole Chisholm Trail in Wichita, Kansas, Jim demonstrates his love of history in his books and his life! He volunteers at the Old Cow-town Museum in Wichita. He also visits schools and homeschool groups to teach about the Underground Railroad, cowboys, trail drives, early Wichita history, and writing.

Sarah, our heroine, is a spunky girl living in Ohio in 1858, who loses her mom in an unexpected buggy accident. She fulfills her promise to her dying mother to "deliver the package" to the next station. The "package" refers to a slave couple and the "station" is the next stop on the Underground Railroad. As an orphan, she is forced to rely on God and His people to help her with her grown-up responsibilities as a "conductor." Having lost her father previously, her mother's death makes her an orphan with one wish: to be adopted by a loving family.

Review of Hank the Cow Dog and the Tornado Game

"How do you like the game?" I asked my four volunteers: Maria, Aisha, Christina, and Saxon.

"Saxon is frustrated because he can't get any of his dogs out," Maria answered first.

"Well...." Christina paused. (She is twelve and the game was created for much younger children.)

"I love it!" twenty-two year old Aisha gushed. She is very young at heart.

"It's a lot like Parcheesi," Maria added, "You move around the board and if you land on someone else's spot you send them back, no wait, that's the other game. In Tornado, you just share a spot.

I glanced at the small plastic game board. It was bright, cheerful, and colorful. The little doggie pieces were cute as could be. Thirty minutes later, Saxon, who had by then gotten out onto the board, was enjoying the game immensely. Saxon is nine years old!

Hank the Cow Dog is a lovable mutt that solves all kinds of mysteries with his friend and fellow Cow Dog, Drover. The game, the children were playing was based on Hank and his life. We received a book, Hank the Cow Dog:  The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse by John Erickson, the Tornado game, CD, and audio tape to review.

My son, Jimmy and I both read the book, agreeing that Hank the Cow Dog was hilarious. The book was a little young for Jimmy, age eleven, but we thought his friend, Saxon, age nine, would enjoy it. Neither of us could help laughing aloud at Hank's escapades on the ranch where he lives with his assistant, Drover, Sally May, Loper, Little Alfred, and his nemesis, Pete, the cat.

Hank is always doing something he shouldn't do, whether it's snacking on bacon grease, licking Sally Mae's nose, or stealing the family's pumpkin pie. Hank is incredibly funny as he narrates the book, telling the whole story from his perspective. I loved to see the story unfold through his eyes. For the most part, Hank is a wholesome character, but in the beginning of the book, he does encourage his readers to lie about wetting the bed. It's all very tongue-in-cheek and silly, but still. . .however, though Hank gets into trouble because of the choices he makes, in his world, good is good and bad is bad. Bad deeds are punished and good deeds are rewarded. And though the stories are silly, I felt like I was visiting a ranch in Texas. I liked the book!

Review of Study Pod

"What on earth is this?" I wondered aloud after opening the package Federal Express had dropped off at my front door. "A book holder? Isn't that nifty!"

"Here, let me help you," my husband offered, seeing that there was assembly required. Not difficult assembly, mind you, but assembly nonetheless.

"Soon the little book holder was holding Jimmy's reading book, The White Seneca. It stood at attention on the dining room table where everyone could admire the newest addition to our growing collection of "homeschooling supplies."

"I love it!" Sarah cooed, walking through the door minutes later. "That's what I need. I need something to hold my books and papers to keep my hand from getting tired."

"What? That's the silliest thing I've ever seen," Zack scoffed. "It's just a flimsy piece of plastic."

"Not so flimsy," I corrected him and picked it up to hand it to him so he could examine it himself.

"Oh, it is pretty strong," Zack adjusted his earlier evaluation.

"I like it!" Jenny Rose exclaimed. "Can I have it."

"It's mine," Jimmy explained, "See, it has my book in it."

"But, I wanted it," Sarah complained.

I guess one StudyPod is just not enough for our house!

The StudyPod is a nifty study tool designed to hold books open for the reader while he reads. You assemble the study pod quickly, standing on a smooth hard surface. The book is held into place with small wire-like prongs that don't hide words on the page. With your reading book in place, your hands are free to take notes, eat chocolate, or munch on popcorn. The book stays at eye level and is wide open, making studying so much easier. It is recommended for books up to 2.25" thick.

The study pod is portable and shaped like a book. Students can carry it around in their book bag with their other books and notebooks. There is also a section to hold pencils, pens, calculators, and note cards.

There is even a "how to use" video on their website; just scroll down the home page. This will make assembly and use so simple! In fact, everything about this product is easy to use.

To purchase Studypod, go to the store Stores/Locations page of their website and find the stores near you. The closest store location that sells the StudyPod near me is Stetson University Bookstore in Deland. My daughter just happens to attend Stetson University! There are also possiblities for reselling and fundraising. Or you can order online for $19.95.

Review of College Prep Genius

My sixteen year old senior in high school has taken the SAT one time. Though I was very happy with her score, she would like to take the SAT again, improving her score. Before I could find an SAT prep class for her to take, College Prep Genius: The No Brainer Way to SAT Success by Jean Burk arrived in the mail to be reviewed. Instead of reviewing it myself, my sixteen year old daughter reviewed it for me. Let's find out if she liked it.

 Meredith: Jenny Rose, what was your overall impression of College Prep Genius?

Jenny Rose: I found it very helpful in the way it informed me of how the test worked and how to take it in a way that would set me up for success.

Meredith: How was College Prep Genius able to do this?

Jenny Rose: It teaches you to take the SAT in a way that's logical. There were a lot of formulas and acronyms which help you to skirt around the tricks the SATs give you.

Meredith: What do you mean by "tricks" the SATs give you?

Jenny Rose: Instead of being a test on how much knowledge you know, it really is a test on how to use logic. They give you "fake" answers that may seem right, but are actually based more on opinion than logic. This program teaches you how to look out for those fake answers. It shows you what kinds of fake answers they give and gives you acronyms to help you remember them. It also gives you tips on how to see the questions logically whether by circling or underlining portions in the reading or circling specific words in the questions themselves.

Meredith: Can you share an acronym that will help you recognize a "trick"?

Jenny Rose: S.O.N. Avoid answers that are Strong, Opinionated, or Negative. They will always be incorrect.

Meredith: Wow! That's so cool! Tell me exactly what you use in this program.

Jenny Rose: There's a workbook, DVD, and a textbook. I watch the DVD and read the text pages that go along with it. I do the workbook while I watch the DVD.

Guardian Angel Books Review

Can anyone have too many books? I don't think so! I love books. My house is filled to the brim with books with overflowing bookshelves in every room. Still I buy more. But there is a new kind of book that fascinates me too...the e-book! It is easy to pop open on your computer, enjoying the beautiful pictures and information, but is doesn't take up any room on your bookshelves. E-books are easy to store.

I received three E-books from Guardian Angel Publishing Company to review: Hamster Holidays Noun and  Adjective Adventures by Cynthia Reeg; The Sum of Our Parts No Bones About It by Bill Kirk; and Gifts from God by Cynthia Reeg. Three very different books with one thing in common; they would all make great additions to your homeschool library.

Hamster Holidays Noun and Adjective Adventures by Cynthia Reeg is a delightful way to learn about nouns and adjectives. With adorable illustrations by Kit Grady, this book is kid friendly! The book opens with this poem, Nouns names people, places, and things, proper or common they may be, Adjectives stay close to nouns and describe them to a T, In this book of hamster days, You'll find both these parts of speech, Adjectives in red, Nouns in blue, How many can you find of each? After a brief explanation of nouns and adjectives, what follows is a fun-filled tale of the hamsters' holidays and how they celebrate them. Of course, every noun is blue and every adjective is red. After the enchanting story is finished, there are 8 pages of noun and adjective activities and teaching helps! What a fun way to teach or reinforce grammar!

 The Sum of Our Parts No Bones About It by Bill Kirk is another painless way for children to learn. This book is about our skeletal system and I really like it! With a Bachelors degree in Nursing, I appreciate well-written anatomy books for young children. This one pleases the nurse in me, as well as the homeschooling mom in me. Each page has a short poem, a factoid, and a zany illustration. The poems are lighthearted but true. For example, here is the poem from the first page: Without all our bones, We'd be shapeless and blobby--Just skin, guts, and muscles, All gooey and globby. Silly? Yes, it is. True? Yes, it is true. Without our bones, we'd be walking, oops not walking but oozing along, blogs of mush. Our bones are so important! This book drives this point home, while teaching all kinds of important facts and information. Some of the illustrations are funny, but all are excellent drawings of our bones and skeletal system. All ages, even high school students, will enjoy this book and benefit from reading it!

Aunt Sarah's Alaskan Cookbook

In the last election, Sarah Palin captured my heart and imagination with her spunky attitude, devotion to her family, and good common sense. I was so excited to see a woman of God who was not ashamed to talk about her faith in Jesus! Who was this woman from Alaska that I'd never heard of before? A governor? I never think much about Alaska, though my parents dreamed of taking an Alaskan cruise together. "Brrr...too cold," was my thought when they asked if I wanted to join them. But, as I have been learning more about this beautiful wilderness state of ours with its breathtaking landscape, I'm having second thoughts about taking an Alaskan cruise. At the very least, I am interested in learning about this wild state that produces hearty, spunky souls who value family and hard work.

With this in mind, I was eager to take a look at an E-book, Aunt Sarah's Alaskan Cookbook by Cheryl Moeller. With lovely illustrations by Susan R. Smith and breath-taking photographs by Clifford McGhyghy, this cookbook is a homeschool treasure. Use it as a foundation for a unit study on Alaska or just enjoy the yummy recipes.

More than a collection of recipes, Aunt Sarah's Alaskan Cookbook gives you a look at Alaska's history and beauty throughout its 60 pages. Divided into seven sections (six chapters and an appendix), each section contains information about Alaska that can be used as a springboard for a unit study or as a supplement to your family's Alaska unit study. Here are the sections with some recipe examples from each section.

• Chapter One:  Refreshing Cold and Hot Beverages (Polar Bear Guzzler, Pacific Rim Hot Lemonade, Dogsled Caramel Apple Cider, and more!)
• Chapter Two:  Berries and Fruit ("After the Sauna" Cold Fruit Soup, Aleutian Grilled Fruit-Kabobs, Klondike River Rhubarb Bars, and more!)
• Chapter Three:  Salmon and the Fish of the Sea (Fairbanks Citrus Salmon, Kanai Breakfast Fish Tacos, Water's Edge Crockpot Trout, and more!)
• Chapter Four:  Choose Moose, Rabbit, Deer, Elk, Bear and Caribou (Katishna Venison Sausage and Flax Pancakes, Barrow Buttermilk Grilled Rabbit, Wild Buck Beans, and more!)
• Chapter Five:  Dog Sled Race Party for Kids (Finger Lake Moose Munch, Rainy Pass Wheat Germ Cookies, White Mountain Ice Cream, and more!)
• Chapter Six:  Banquet of the North (Czar Alexander Elk Meatloaf, Easy Baked Alaska, Okmok Volcano, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, and more!)
• Appendix:  Curriculum for Children (Coloring Pages, Comprehension Chapter Questions, Comprehension Chapter Questions Answer Sheets)

Review of Grapevine Studies Biblical Feasts and Holy Days

Is there anything more fun than celebrating holidays? Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, and Valentine hearts filled with chocolate all bring a smile to my face and my heart. Life is good when there's a holiday to celebrate. God, of course, is the inventor of holidays, or holy days. What holidays did God establish for the nation of Israel? I can't think of a more enjoyable Bible study to dig into.

Grapevine Studies' Biblical Feasts and Holy Days by Diana Wiebe is a thirteen week study for your home school Bible class. Written for teens, this study would be enjoyed by younger and older folks too. We have college students, high school students, and middle school students in our home. All liked this Grapevine study on the Biblical holidays. We received a teachers manual and student worktexts to review.

Before I tell you about this delightful Bible study curriculum, let me tell you about Grapevine Studies. I love their mission. In fact, let me just quote it from the teacher's edition. "Our mission at Grapevine Studies is to provide believers with a method and curricula to study the Bible, using a timeline, stick figures, words, symbols, and colors to teach chronological lessons." What a great idea! Combining the intellectual (timelines, chronological studies) with the more emotional (stick figures, symbols). The result is that both the left and right sides of the brain are engaged, but more importantly, I think, is that both the heart and mind are engaged in these studies.

Each of their Bible studies start with a timeline as the framework for the entire study. Bible passages, characters, and events are understood within the big picture. Being a "big picture person" myself, I immediately latched on to this teaching method! Each day, your student reads a passage and then does some "stick figuring." Stick figuring is a method of notetaking using stick figures, colors, charts, words, and symbols. It is definitely more fun than normal notetaking. The lesson ends with a memory verse.

Review of Baby Steps to Better Health

Better health...healthy eating...more exercise...herbs for healing...homemade cleaners...I give my mental assent to all these things. My family's health matters to me...but I love chocolate. I want to feed my family healthy meals, but I want to fix yummy food that will tickle their taste buds. Can I do all these things? I thought I needed to choose between health and taste, but I don't. Sheri Graham can take us from not-so-healthy to healthy one step at a time!

Do you remember the movie, What About Bob? about a therapist and his patient named Bob. "Baby steps...baby steps," Bob would repeat to himself. Just like Bob, this book will take you baby step by baby step to better living!

Baby Steps to Better Health by Sheri Graham is health book with recipes (or maybe it's a recipe book with lots of healthy information and tips). Written in Sheri's encouraging style, the book begins exactly where it should with spiritual health, reminding us that the condition of our soul matters more than anything else!

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come," (I Timothy 4:8 NIV).

Right up front, Sheri encourages us to take it slowly, reminding us that we don't have to make lots of drastic changes all at once. Another reminder that I appreciated from Sheri is that God and people are more important than "health." Other books and speakers on this topic are so legalistic that our families can almost feel railroaded when we come home with our "New Healthy Philosophy!" Sheri suggest seeking God and following His leadership in making adjustments in your family.

The next section of the book covers drinking water and cooking and baking. In a nutshell, Sheri suggest drinking filtered water and increasing each family member's intake of water. That's easy enough! Cooking and baking from scratch are suggested for better health and that's when we get into all kinds of neat stuff to learn about and experiment with. Get ready to learn to bake bread, make yogurt & buttermilk, make cream cheese, brew kombucha (kom-what?), and make your own homemade mixes. Sheri shows us how to plan healthy menus with less white sugar, more whole grains & salads, and healthier fats. All this is painless because the recipes that accompany each baby step are delicious.

Review of 2009 Bigger and Better Schoolhouse Planner

A brand new school year calls for a brand new planner. Scheduling, lists, lesson plans, and dinner menus all have to be written down somewhere so that I can remember what, where, when, and how. My calendar is just too small. That is where a homeschool planner comes in!

The Old School Magazine has done it again with their brand new 2009-2010 Homeschool Organizer:  The 2009 Schoolhouse Planner. Published by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC, this home organizer was compiled by Heidi Stawser, Kris Price, and Karen Sargent. These ladies have combined organization, trivia, and helpful resource information for homeschooling effectively. And my favorite part, the recipes!

The e-book planner opens with 4 one page calendars: 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. From this point, the planner is divided by months from July 2009 to June 2010. For each month, there is a double page calendar of the month that is plenty big enough to use for all kinds of dates and plans. This is followed by a few information pages, a different topic for each month. Next comes the recipes. This formula is continued month by month for half of the planner.

Here are the monthly topics in this nifty planner: the thirteen original colonies, math, weather, emergencies, government, planets, letter writing, miracles & parables of Jesus, Latin & Greek roots, lap books, the basics of getting into college, and geography. The month by month section only takes a little over a hundred of the 375 pages in the homeschool planner.

Flip 3 Pancakes with 1 Spatula Review

"The kitchen is a living laboratory, demanding curiosity. Cups of water and corn syrup can be measured, heated, and transformed into one pound of hard candy. The circular circumference of a pizza can be measured, baked, and cut into fractional parts. Cylinders and rectangular prisms sit comfortably on the pantry shelf waiting to be sorted, counted, and stacked in geometric sculpture. Children love to experience and experiment with these math wonders, yet adults often scoot children from the kitchen because it is easier to plan, process, and prepare without the help of little hands. However, when a child's desire to help is tapped, math skills and life skills can be taught and will be remembered because of the natural inquisitiveness which saturates the kitchen. Children love the kitchen, a perfect place to be immersed in math." 
--Cheryl Bastian, author and homeschooling mom of six

Flip 3 Pancakes with 1 Spatula by Cheryl Bastian is book filled with hands-on learning ideas for teaching math without a textbook. It's a handbook to teach to the heart of your child, who most likely LOVES your kitchen and is constantly asking if he can "help." Cooking is fun. Math can be learned by cooking with mom in the kitchen. Ergo, learning math can be fun. That sounds logical to me!

 You will love this book! Set up like a cookbook, it is divided into the following categories: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks & Desserts, and Holidays & Celebrations. Each page contains a complete math lesson set up unit study style with a yummy recipe. You start out by reading one or two picture books. After gathering the needed materials listed on the page, the math lesson takes place while you are cooking. There are also Add Ons. The Ad Ons include additional math lessons, social studies activities, more books to read, science projects, writing or language assignments, and art projects. All are easy and fun!

There is a table setting symbol in the upper left hand corner of each lesson that indicates the math lesson level. One table setting symbol represents pre-number skills, two table setting symbols represent number skills, and three table setting symbols represent computations and equations (higher level thinking skills). This means that you can use these lessons for several years and/or for several children of different age levels. Pre-number skills include comparing, classifying, seriation, patterning, and geometry. Number skills include counting, measurement, graphing, numeration, place value, and estimation.

Review of The Master Plan of Evangelism

"I finally read "The Master Plan of Evangelism," Laura admitted to me. (I thought she had read it years ago.)

"Did you like it?" I asked, dying to ask her why she had waited so long to read it when I had been begging her to read the book for nine years!

"I tried to read it several times, but it isn't really light reading material," she informed me.

I nodded in agreement. It isn't light reading material. In fact, while most books we read are written at a fifth to eighth grade level, this book is written for college students so it is a more challenging read.

"I loved the book!" Laura broke into my thoughts. "You were right about it making you see all of life in a new way."

"Really?"

"Really.  I'm so glad I read it.  I'll never be the same!"

I read The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman when I was a sophomore in college. This book changed my life! I have my children read it in high school for one of their Bible classes. It is a book that I would like to see more Christians read, especially homeschooling parents. Robert, born in 1928, grew up in Texas, attending a Methodist church. He pastored for six years and moved into teaching. He has a Masters in Theology from Princeton, a PhD from the University of Iowa, and a Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity International University. His writing style is academic, but don't let them keep you from reading this book.

Along the way, Dr. Coleman became convinced that schools were not the answer to raising up mighty men of God. He carefully studied the life of Jesus, coming to the conclusion that Jesus knew exactly what He was doing in laying a foundation for the Church. Dr. Coleman values Jesus' pattern of ministry and embraces it in his own life.

Jesus spent His life calling people to repent and believe while healing the sick and injured, performing all kinds of miracles, and teaching His beloved people. However, He invested in a small group of men, His disciples. These He gave focused time and attention to for three years. He imparted to them truth and modeled a lifestyle that they could imitate. What a blessing to take a closer look at the life of Jesus!

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life

"What's for dinner, Honey?"

"Dinner?" I avoid my handsome husband's eyes. Yikes! I forgot all about dinner. I glanced around the house to find that somehow a tornado had invaded. School books were still on the dining room table along with today's mail and several of my piles. Piles seem to multiply in my house. I don't know where they come from. I stopped looking at the mess around me and met my husband's eyes.

"Dinner?" he asked again.

"Domino's has a special this week," I stammered.

"You forgot about dinner again?"

"Well, I had planned to make chicken and dumplings, but then the cat threw up when we were trying to have history class. Jimmy just wouldn't focus today and he doesn't like the ferris wheel in his phonics. Sarah Joy lost her grammar book and we had piano lessons. The kids hardly practiced at all. The piano teacher had a talk with me. I felt terribly guilty. The dog ran away and while we were chasing him, the oven caught on fire. I forgot that I was making nachos because we had forgotten to make lunch again..."

"Domino's sounds great!" my husband interrupted me.

The biggest challenge of homeschooling is not teaching my children, it is maintaining functional neatness in my house. Functional neatness? I'm glad you asked.

"Functional Neatness" was a concept that I could latch on to in Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett, this helpful guide to organizing your home and life. Full of practical wisdom from a mom who's been there, this book helps you stay on task while keeping priorities in balance. This book might be very helpful for you. It was for me!

This book covers all the topics that are difficult and stressful for moms like me:  de-cluttering, taming the paper monster, and keeping organized records. Marilyn is very administrative. She sounds like she enjoys organizing and de-cluttering. The book is positive and upbeat because her enjoyment shines through! Though I have learned to organize and keep tidy records for our family school, I don't enjoy it even a little bit. I see it as a necessary evil. If you are like me, you will appreciate Marilyn. She is truly "The Mom's Mentor" dispensing wisdom with encouragement. She promotes a lifestyle plan, rather than an unattainable pattern that brings condemnation. Marilyn thinks that we can get organized and she just might be right.

Review of The Shaping of a Nation: Blackline Maps of American History

"Pass the colored pencils, Jimmy." Shine was focused on the blank outline map in front of her, filling in places that Lewis and Clark explored on their expedition.

There was silence in the room as the children concentrated on filling in their color-coded maps just right. Silence? Wow! That's not a common thing in our house.

 Knowledge Quest's Shaping of a Nation:  Blackline Maps of American History was just what I needed for American history this year. In past years, I have discovered that maps and mapping assignments really help my children understand history with more clarity. Just seeing the WHERE helps them to remember the WHAT, WHEN, and WHY. My favorite mapping assignment is filling in blank outline maps, but all I have had in the past are large portions of the continents. I can zero in on smaller areas and then enlarge those areas, but it can be frustrating. Knowledge Quest to the rescue!

Shaping of a Nation: Blackline Maps of American History contains 112 hand-drawn maps pertaining to specific time periods. You can reproduce these maps as often as needed for your individual family. There are two versions of each map: a blank map and a map already filled out correctly. A great help if you are not as geography literate as you wish you were! Here is a list of all the topics covered by the outline maps.

Vikings discover North America

Columbus Sails West

The Write Stuff Adventure Review

 

 

"Help! My kids are terrible writers. Do you know of a writing curriculum that would help?"

I have been asked this question many times because I happen to love to write, as do several, but not all, of my children. There are plenty of grammar, spelling, and phonics workbooks, but you can't really teach good writing skills with a workbook. Contrary to popular belief, good writer are not born good writers, they are taught to write well. Often, the only barrier to teaching your child to write well is the confidence factor. This book may help you to feel more confident as you instruct your children in the art of writing.

Writing curricula that actually teach kids to write are hard to find. The Write Stuff Adventure:  Exploring the Art of Writing was created by Dean Rea, a retired newspaper editor and university teacher, for his homeschooled grandchildren. It is a delightful book that I have used with great success for all of my children at various grade levels. I use the section on essays sophomore or junior year in high school when we focus on non-fiction writing and research. This year, my sixth grader and eighth grader have done several of the newspaper writing assignments from The Write Stuff Adventure.  

This book covers letter writing and journaling in a fun way.  Students even write an autobiography.  The Write Stuff Adventure teaches children the art of interviewing with family history and news article assignments. The basics of journalism are covered in this wonderful book. My favorite thing about the book, though, is the way it teaches students to write essays.  What a great job Dean Rea does in teaching how to write the essay--the best I've ever seen.

Students,even as young as fifth grade, can use this book on their own. Dean's style is friendly and engaging, easy to understand. Your children can easily understand the assignments and come to you for help or simply to correct their papers!  The assignments are interesting and fun!  This book is NOT intimidating, but, boy, will your children learn to write!

You can purchase The Write Stuff Adventure at Great Christian Books for $17.99. A very good bargain, considering today's economy! 

Kindergarten Basics Review

After homeschooling for 18 years, I have come to the conclusion that you can spend a ton of money homeschooling your children or you can be very frugal, cutting homeschooling costs to a minimum. Truthfully, I haven't seen any correlation between the spending of money and the quality of education.
What makes homeschooling such an amazing way to educate your children is that it uses the one-on-one tutoring/mentoring method which is so very effective. 

With the turbulent economic times we are living in, it makes sense to be cost-effective in your homeschooling. So, when I find a homeschooling resource that helps us to keep the price of our homeschooling to a minimum, I want to check it out and pass it on! For those of you who will be homeschooling kindergarten, this is a resource to help you homeschool frugally.

Kindergarten Basics: Building a Solid Foundation by Kim Kargbo is the help you need to face homeschooling kindergarten with confidence! There are no bells and whistles here. Just a wise homeschooling mom passing on to you what works in her home. Kim believes that kindergarten should be fun, not a burden. She expresses concern that many people try homeschooling at this level and decide that homeschooling is just not for them. Why? Maybe they are making it too hard!

Kim starts by explaining the six basics of kindergarten: Bible knowledge, basic math skills, basic phonics skills, early writing skills, general skills, and general knowledge.  She takes each of these basics and explains how to teach these kindergarten basics for almost free.

Kim's next step is to give you a sample schedule that is practical and workable.  The rest of the book is devoted to all kinds of hands-on-activities that you can do with your child to teach the six basics.  The activities are, of course, divided up under these kindergarten basic categories.  I love her hands-on ideas--they are fun and easy! 

Kim gives a blank weekly lesson plan sheet that you can use at the back of the book.  She also has a list of  helpful resources:  books and websites. Let me give you an example of her suggestions on teaching kindergarten.

The goal for young children in the area of Bible knowledge is to learn "The Story" of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. This is not to be cluttered up with lots of facts and information, but let your kindergartener see the flow of the big story that starts with Creation and ends with Jesus coming back to take us home. People and places will become familiar, as stories are listened to each day. Kim encourages parents to read a passage from Scripture or to read aloud a Bible story from an accurate storybook. Afterward, your child just tells you about the story (Narration!) and then you (the teacher) explain how this story is part of a bigger story. The total time involved is probably 10 to 15 minutes. Kim also encourages Scripture memory work too. The only cost involved here is to purchase a Bible or Bible storybooks, but most of us already own both!

Review of Spanish 5 Tell Me More Homeschool

I was born in Venezuela and grew up hearing my parents speak Spanish and though I understand Spanish, I have trouble speaking it. When I visited my daughter, Katie Beth, in Mexico while she was studying in Guatajuato, she teased me about my attempts to speak Spanish. I kept messing up my vowel sounds. In high school, we learned to read, write, and to conjugate verbs.  Remember "Esta Susana en casa?" I wish we had done more speaking in Spanish class. I have tried many methods over the years to teach Spanish to my children, so I was filled with hope as I unpacked Tell Me More to review.

Tell Me More is five levels of Spanish in one small box. Well, it's really ten levels, but you only have access to five. With eagerness, I opened the box to find one DVD, two CD-roms, one page of instructions, and one headset microphone.  "Is this all?" I wondered. Boy, was I surprised to learn how much information was packed in this little DVD--5,000 lessons of Spanish instruction!  There are four complete levels of Spanish instruction:  Complete Beginner, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Tell Me More uses the immersion method of teaching Spanish, which is the most natural way to learn a language. That is how we learn to talk as babies. We hear people speaking, gradually associating words with the things or people they represent. Honestly, though, immersion is not so comfortable when you are in high school or are an adult. While I respect the concept of full immersion, I prefer a little more structure for my children and my children prefer even more structure than I do when learning a language. Having a Spanish-English dictionary handy is a necessity for survival in our house with this method! (Though there is a translation button that I discovered later!)

When you purchase this curriculum, you gain access to their website where you can set up your child's course of study. You can set up multiple accounts and might even want to set up an account for yourself to brush up on your Spanish! Honestly, it is all overwhelming at first, but beginning the introductory DVD and starting on 'Guided Mode' can help you as you take the plunge.

There are three ways to use the lessons:  Free to Roam, Guided, and Dynamic Mode. In 'Free to Roam,' the student chooses lessons based on her interest and level. In the 'Guided,' the student is guided along in a systematic way. 'Dynamic Mode' allows the student to progress at her own pace, adjusting the activities and lessons accordingly.

Math Mammoth Review

 

 

"Have you done your math?" is the question you can hear me asking everyday around 9:30 when I see the children reading a science book or working on a writing paper. We begin our day with  Quiet Times, but we begin school hours with math. What a great way to wake up and energize our brains. Math teaches us to think logically and helps our brain to work more efficiently. Consider starting your day with math too!

What math curriculum are you using? In our house we have used Bob Jones Math for younger grades and Saxon for older grades. We have also enjoyed Math-U-See, especially the skip counting tapes. So, I have never looked at other math curricula, being happy with our own. However, I received Math Mammoth to review, so let me tell you about this math curriculum designed to make math simple and easy to understand.

  Math Mammoth is an inexpensive way to do math!  Maria Miller is the author of the Math Mammoth series.  Her desire is to make math simple and easy to understand.  Maria has tried to explain each math concept so simply that even homeschooling moms can "get it" by reading the book along with her child.  She also wants to make it affordable. 

There are four different series in Math Mammoth:  Blue, Light Blue, Gold, and Green. 

The Blue Series, for grades 1 to 5, is organized by topic.  Each book covers a few topics only.  The topic is explained thoroughly and there are pages of problems.  Topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, place value, clocks, metric measurement, fractions, decimals, U.S. money, and Canadian money.  You can purchase individual e-books at Currclick with prices ranging from $2.00 to $5.00. There are some great deals on packages too!

The Light Blue Series, for grades 1 to 5, is a complete mathematics curriculum.  The Light Blue series covers all topics for each grade level.  Everything is explained thoroughly.  Each grade has two worktexts:  A and B.  There is also an answer key, tests, and a worksheet maker. Part A and B both sell for $15.50 a piece, whether printed or e-book. The complete curriculum with answer keys and worksheet maker can be purchased for $29.70 at Currclick.

The Gold Series is a set of worksheets only with no explanations. These workbooks are collections of worksheets by grade level.  The Gold Series covers third grade math through Algebra I.  The worksheets cover only one topic per worksheet.  These workbooks books range in price from $6.50 to $9.75 are are also available at Currclick. The Green Series is workbooks by topic.  The worksheet pages are pulled straight from the Gold Series.

Review of Schleich Action Figures

 


"Look, Mom, the alligator is eating the cow!" my son informed me with glee.

"Can I see that?" his friend, Josh, put down the elephant he was holding to examine the cow-eating alligator.

How realistic the Schleich animal action figures are! My imagination traveled to all sorts of places with one glance at the animals the boys were examining:  African Safaris, Wisconsin dairy farms, Everglades National Park, and a Kentucky horse farm. What hours of fun the boys had examining and playing with these animal action figures.

Hands-on activities are the fun part of unit studies. Imaginative play and role playing is a great way to process and remember information. Hours of fun await the children who play with these life-like toys.  They can imagine that they are back in the days of dinosaurs and ancient peoples.  Of they can turn the family room into a section of Kenya while they play with Scheich's wild animals. So, these toys can be educational tools in your home school. Children will love to play with these realistic animals, knights, trees, plants, people, and elves.

"And God said, 'Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.' So, God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged creature according to its kind.  And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.' And there was evening and there was morning--the fifth day.

Homeschool in the Woods New Testament Activity Pak/Lapbook Review

 

 

Have you heard of lapbooks yet?  They are a fun, hands-on way to learn while you finish off a project!  Lapbooks are made with simple file folders (you can use pretty colored folders if you want to!) and projects that are small enough to display.  The little projects your child makes are glued on the file folders to make a "lapbook"--something he/she can show to friends and read to younger siblings!

Homeschool in the Woods sent me their New Testament Activity Pak/Lapbook to review!  What a great way for your students to get an overview of the New Testament!  In the picture, you can see the finished lap book (made from a red file folder) and several of the completed activities that go inside!

Homeschool in the Woods is the Pak family business, a homeschooling family that takes great delight in learning history and sharing their learning adventure with you!  While studying history through living books, drama, writing, and hands-on activities, Momma Amy, a free-lance designer/graphic illustrator began to illustrate the all important timelines they were using to learn history.  Soon, their business, Homeschool in the Woods, was born. 

The New Testament Activity Pak we used is one of four different Hands-On History Activity Paks.  The others are Composers, Artists of the 16th through 20th Century, and The Old Testament. The Time Travelers History Study Series is also offered by Homeschool in the Woods. These hands-on unit studies include New World Explorers, Colonial Life, The American Revolution, The Early Nineteenth Century, and The Civil War. You may be interested in the Preprinted Sets of Wall Size Timeline Figures. There are four sets and a collection that cover all of history from Creation until modern times.

Deeper Roots: Discovering Who I am in Christ Bible Workbook Review

 

 

The most important thing about a person is what they believe, truly believe, about God. Discovering the amazing character and love of Jesus Christ changes our lives forever! When we glimpse our Lord, we are transformed to become like Him.  To discover who we are in Christ, to walk in our identity in Christ, and to walk with Christ each day will not only fill our lives with joy, but will change the world around us. It is our highest educational goal in homeschooling to teach our children the Word of God and the biblical principles found in the Scriptures. Not only is this our duty to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, but a great delight and privilege!

Deeper Roots sent me a junior high Bible curriculum to review.  Since the authors are from my hometown and are also New Tribes missionaries, I was excited to review their materials.  I received a student workbook and teacher's guide (The Homeschool Edition!).  I was not disappointed.  Discovering Who I Am in Christ by Jan L. Harris, & Howard & Bonnie Lisech is a 200 page Bible Study workbook written for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade boys and girls. There are three more workbooks in the series for this age group by the same authors:  Discovering our Amazing God, Discovering Christ-Like Habits, and Discovering Christ-Like Character.  There are materials available for older and younger students too!  They also have short-term missions resources that I would love to see!

Discovering Who I am in Christ is an unique Bible Study workbook.  A lesson has six days worth of work and should take about a week to finish. The lesson begins with a memory challenge.  Each day there are passages to read, questions to answer, and fun assignments to complete.  In the second lesson there is an interview assignment, a drawing assignment, and a writing assignment.  At the end of each lesson, there is a review of all the previous lessons and a final test.  But I haven't told you about my two favorite parts of this Bible curriculum.  I love the Reflections questions where students are given the opportunity to meditate on what they are learning.  They can write down their reflections on the Reflections pages, which are really journaling pages.  Another part I loved was the Unreached People Pages!  Found at the beginning of every lesson, these beautifully illustrated pages are packed with information about people groups around the world who are waiting to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the very first time.  There is even a prayer focus for personal or family devotions.  I remember years ago using Operation World in my Quiet Times to pray for unreached people groups, so this brought back fond memories.  The illustrations in this workbook are gorgeous!  They add so much to the book!

Beautifully Made, Approaching Womanhood Books Review

Wrapped in a lovely pink ribbon, three Beautifully Made! Books looked too pretty to open up and read. So glad I overcame my hesitation and looked inside the pretty covers. Straightforward, but overwhelmingly pure, these small books are a treasure for young women and their mothers, who are wanting to lovingly guide them into womanhood.

Beautifully Made! Approaching Womanhood edited by Julie Hiramine introduces young girls to the changes occurring in their bodies. This book is straightforward, but not awkward in any way. I love the way the physical changes in a young woman's body are introduced as being a good gift from a loving Heavenly Father. I was thrilled when I entered womanhood because I knew that my body could bring forth life--our glorious privilege as women! Unfortunately, most of the time, a young woman's first period is marked by negative comments about "the curse" and "Oh, you poor thing." How sad!  Our monthly cycles are a reminder that our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image to bring new life into the world. Julie Hiramine and her friends remind us of this fact in all three books and recommend celebrating this brand new phase in a young ladies life with flowers and lunch out with Mom!

Beautifully Made! Approaching Womanhood covers all the physical changes girls can expect during the early years of puberty. Everything is clear and easy to understand. Soundly scientific and from a Creationist perspective, this book would make a great addition to an anatomy or health class for your daughters in high school.

Beautifully Made! Celebrating Womanhood looks at the emotional and spiritual aspects of the womanly process covered in the first book. With a lovely look at blood in Scripture (yes, you read that right!), girls are encouraged to look at their periods as a monthly reminder of the grace of God and how the blood of Jesus purifies us from every sin. I was so touched that I read that section aloud to all my girls (my four daughters and our dear friend, Aisha, who lives with us!). I will never see my period in the same way again. There is another look at suffering in Scripture, followed by practical ways to alleviate the sometimes uncomfortable side-effects of cramping, PMS, and heavy discharge. Throughout all three books, there are real life testimonies that girls can relate to. Always upbeat, girls are reminded that it is a glorious privilege to be a woman!

Homeschooling ABCs: Curriculum for Mom! Review

 

In 1991, I was a brand new homeschooling mom with a bright eager student.  Reading every book and glancing through all the curriculum I could get my hands on still left me feeling insecure.  What I wanted was someone to be there just in case they were needed in the first few months.  "What if...?"  "How should I teach....?"  "Is there an easier way to explain...?"

There were other homeschooling moms in my life, but they were finding their own way too.  What a blessing Homeschooling ABCs would have been to me when I was just starting out.  Are you new to homeschooling, feeling a little lost, or just wanting someone who is a further along in the homeschooling journey to give you a hand?  "School for Mom" arrives each week in small packages, manageable in your hectic life.

Intrigued? Terri's vision is summed up in her own words:  "Creating and maintaining a healthy, well-rounded, academically superior, and God-honoring environment at home requires some intentional planning and execution." Sign up for the course at Homeschooling ABCs.  When you order, you can instantly download your first lesson and freebies that come with it!  After the initial download, you receive an email every week with a link to download the next lesson for six months!  Yes, it's like being homeschooled by Terri!

Let's continue the interview we started earlier this week with Terri? 

Meredith:  What inspired you to put together this amazing course, Homeschooling ABC's?

Terri:  One day last summer, it hit me like a ton of bricks...there is nothing comprehensive out there that takes a new homeschooling parent by the hand and guides her through the steps necessary to being homeschooling her kids. Over the years, we have talked with many parents via email, over the phone and at homeschool conferences about "how to homeschool." And, yet, I know that these ten minute conversations are just not enough to fully equip a parent to dive right in. There is so much information out there, but your brain goes into overload when you try to digest it.  Have you ever googled "homeschool"? There is a lot of information out there, but none of it assembled into one easy-to-digest comprehensive program.

Artistic Pursuits Review

 

 

Another art curriculum to review! ARTistic Pursuits Junior High Book Two Color and Composition arrived in my mailbox with its companion, ARTistic Pursuits Junior High Book One The Elements of Art and Composition. Teaching art intimidates me, so it was with a little anxiety that I perused these two non-consumable art curriculum books. I understand the principles of art and design and can explain the elements of art. It's when we actually use media that I get a little nervous. My renditions never look like the pictures in the book.

What a pleasant surprise awaited me! ARTistic Pursuits Junior High Book One: The Elements of Art and Composition by Brenda Ellis covers the elements of art and basic composition. There are four parts to each unit. The unit begins with an explanation that introduces the vocabulary of art to your students. Little by little this "art talk" finds its way in your child's vocabulary. Next is our art appreciation/history section. There is an interesting mix of Western and Eastern art. Though I prefer Western art, I have enjoyed learning more about Easter culture! Next is the actual art project in two parts. There is the quick sketch and the more challenging project. Materials and their use are explained in clear detail when the project is assigned.

For the teacher, everything is laid out clearly. It is easy to understand the lessons and easy to teach. For the student, the book is attractive, easy on the eyes. Children will have no problem reading on their own if you want them to do the class more independently. For the first semester, the focus is on drawing (with good materials!) with one sculpture assignment. The elements of art (space, line, texture, shape, form, value, and 3-D lines) are addressed in drawing assignments that are fun! For the first assignment (space), the student writes his signature in the corner of the paper. Then, he signs his name, attempting to fill an entire sheet of paper. For the art appreciation/history section, an Eastern art masterpiece, Portrait of the Elephant, Del Bedal, Chasing His Attendant is studied from the perspective of how space is used. They show an outline of the picture on a vertical canvas (different use of space) and it just doesn't work!  This shows your child the importance of space in art.The second semester introduces ink drawings too. Your junior high student will study balance, symmetry, perspective, proportion, and rhythm.

Latina Christiana Review

"Salvete amici Latinae," the sweet teacher on the DVD greets my children.
"Salve, magistra," they answer back.
Soon, they are reciting the Lord Prayer in Latin, followed by their Latin verb conjugations. The lesson is easy to understand for all the children. Later, we put in the CD and sing "O Come all Ye Faithful" (Adeste Fideles) in Latin. I love teaching Latin this way!

It is my personal goal to teach one year of Latin to each of my children when they are middle school age. This past year was my first time using Latina Christiana I: Introduction to Christian Latin by Cheryl Lowe and it was a great experience for all of us! In the past, my older daughters used a computer Latin curriculum that we thought was great. This was even better.

Latin is not a dead language, it lives on in numerous words in our own English language. Students who take Latin during their school years score higher on average on their S.A.T.s and other college placement exams. Latin study increases vocabulary and helps students understand English grammar better because Latin has affected our language. Latin grammar is easier than English grammar, so it helps students tackle any difficulties in English grammar. I taught my own younger children and my friend, Laura's three children this year once a week using Latina Christiana's workbook, teacher's edition, instructional DVD, and pronunciation CD from Memoria Press. I had never taught a language with a DVD before, but now I think that it is the best way to go. Seeing the teacher, listening to her teach on the DVD, and listening to the CD all combined to make learning smooth and simple.

Tapesty of Grace Renaissance & Reformation Review

The Renaissance was a rebirth of Classical Greek and Roman art, literature, and culture that took place mostly in Southern Europe.The Reformation was a spiritual rebirth that took place in hearts as they rediscovered the Truth found in Scripture:  Salvation through Faith alone. The Reformation took place mostly in Northern Europe. As these earth-shaking movements were happening across Europe, men were bravely sailing to the New World. What an exciting time to study! How thrilling to see God moving through time and history to glorify Jesus and spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth!

Tapestry of Grace Year 2, Between Ancient and Modern, Unit 2, Renaissance and Reformation, from Lampstand Press was a delight for me to review!  Being a history buff, I read everything they sent me and wanted more to read! For years, I have laid out my history classes in this same way, adding literature, art appreciation, philosophy, church history, music, writing, geography, government, and historical fiction. But, I have to admit, Marcia does it better! What an amazing job Marcia Somerville, wife of an HSLDA lawyer, has done! A history major in college, Marcia has taken her knowledge and love of history to create a multi-age-level curriculum that cycles through world history every four years. Each child is learning the same content at the same time, but at different levels (called threads).

Since this is a classical curriculum, the material is presented at different levels: grammar (facts), dialectic (logic), and rhetoric (persuasion). Tapestry of Grace weaves adaptation into the assignments for families new to classical education. In Year two, high school discussions in Unit 1 focus on the facts, but in Unit 2, they begin to analyze what they are learning and, by the end of the unit, are honing their debating skills. What a gentle way to lead families into classical education!

One 2 Believe: Noah's Ark Playset Review

 

 

"You got a package of stuff to review," my son, Jimmy, informed me. "Do you need us to open it for you.

"Would you, boys?  That would be great!" I gave my son and his best friend the nod and within minutes, they had kitchen knives in their hands and were hacking away at the boxes.

"Guess what?" Josh asked with excitement in his voice.

"You tell me!" I laughed at the boys' happy faces.

"It's from that company that sent the Nativity scene," they both said together.

"Oh, let me see." Now, I was excited too and soon all my daughters were gushing over One2Believe's latest shipment, an adorable replica/toy, Noah's Ark. 

One2Believe has done it again...fascinated my entire family with a toy that is meant for little people younger than anyone living in my house. Jimmy and his friend, Josh, tested the ark out in the rolling waves of a bath tub, soaking their clothes and the bathroom rug in the process.  I'm happy to report that the ark sails and all the animals were safe!

As a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom, I am thrilled to tell you about this toy. It makes me so happy to see toys for children to play with that are biblical and Christ-centered. The Bible tells us, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:16-17 NIV). If you want your children to obey this verse, even when they play, this Noah's Ark Playset is the perfect tool!

Noah's Ark Playset comes with with an ark, a tiny Bible storybook, and fifteen 3" PVC figurines. This little size is perfect for small children to hold in their tiny hands. (Be careful with babies and toddlers...you know how they like to put everything in their mouth!) Sturdy and well-made, they are also endearing with their cute little faces and brightly colored bodies. The figurines include Noah, 2 elephants, 2 camels, 2 sheep, 2 donkeys, 2 lions, 2 monkeys, and 2 ostriches. 

Building Thinking Skills Review

 

The first time I used Building Thinking Skills was back in 1998. When Julianna finished the book (six months sooner than our lesson plans called for!), she asked for the next one. She loved figuring out the logic problems.  It was more like a game to her than a school workbook.  I have been a fan of this series for years!

 I was thrilled to get Building Thinking Skills Level 2 by Sandra Parks and Howard Black to review! Now, I already have next year's copy for Jimmy! This workbook covers logical thinking, similarities & differences, sequences, classifications, analogies, antonyms & synonyms, spatial awareness, vocabulary development, following and writing directions, descriptive writing, geometry concepts, map reading, and graphic organization.  It is a massive book with 367 pages of thinking skills workbook pages plus an answer key at the back. The book sells for $29.99 and you can buy it on their website, Critical Thinking.

This program is not from a Christian perspective, but I have found no objectionable material in it. I had used a couple of different thinking/logic workbooks before trying Building Thinking Skills. Then one year, I didn't want to spend so much much on a thinking skills workbook, so I bought two cheaper ones. It was a big mistake! I ordered two different thinking skills workbooks from two different publishers, trying to find something as good. Each one was confusing to work with. Now, I haven't worked with all the thinking skills workbooks that are out there, but with my limited experience, I don't think that Building Thinking Skills has any real competition!

Building Thinking Skills will not take the place of formal logic. I use Introductory Logic by Douglas Wilson in middle school with my children to teach formal logic--but, that's another review!  But, Building Thinking Skills teaches your child to think logically and to apply logic to simple problems.  I highly recommend this book!

Apologia Zoology, General Science, & Biology Review

 

 

Christ-centered exploration of God's Creation makes, Apologia  textbooks a favorite! Apologia textbooks because are easy to understand, full of beautiful pictures, and include hands-on activities that require things around my house. Best of ALL, Apologia textbooks honor God as the Creator and Sustainer of Life! More than other textbooks, Apologia seeks and promotes Creationism by filling the readers' hearts with wonder as the marvels of the Creation are explained!

I will be reviewing three Apologia science textbooks:  Exploring Creation with Zoology for elementary students, Exploring Creation with General Science for middle school students, and Exploring Creation with Biology for high school students.

A favorite part of Apologia's textbooks is near the beginning titled, "Need Help?" This page is devoted to getting help through mail, email, the web, fax, and phone. Apologia is supportive and available for homeschooling families.

Another favorite part of these textbooks is the three page list of everything you need to complete every project, experiment, and activity in the book. It is laid out chapter by chapter, so simple to follow. Mom can just add items to her grocery list. To dig deeper, there is a password for a course website. 

 When Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day by Jeannie K. Fulbright arrived to be reviewed, I was thrilled because my son loves animals, especially flying insects! Let me tell you a little bit about this elementary school age textbook. It can be used in 4th through 7th grade. 

Along with reading the textbook, suggestions to complete the course include narration, notebooking, projects, and experiments.  Narration is simply the student telling Mom about what he/she has just finished reading orally or in writing. Conversation with Mom is a great way to learn. I love reading textbooks aloud with my children, no matter what age, but upper elementary children and older will have no problem reading it on their own with understanding.

Notebooking activities often involve narration. In lesson 9, A First Look at Insects, you "Write down what you remember from the lesson in your notebook...and make illustrations.....After you have written down what you learned, draw an insect with every feature that makes an insect an insect..."  (Page 145, Exploring Creation with Zoology)  Other notebooking activities are more light hearted, such as making an advertisement.

Easy and fun projects and experiments are varied and include making an insect zoo, building a birdhouse, discovering which color or food birds prefer, building a bird bath, or a nature scavenger hunt. 

Some topics covered are  classification, extinction, bird watching, bird feathers, flying, nesting, matching, hatching, bats, flying reptiles, insects, insect life cycles, beetles, flies, and lepidoptera.  On Apologia's website, you can buy the book for $35.00.

Heads Up Now Reading Frames Review

 

Are you ready for an unusual review?  It's not a book.  It's not a toy.  But it will help children who struggle to focus when reading, especially those children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.

"What are these things?" my daughter mused, as she and my son examined the contents of my latest package of materials to review for the TOS Crew. 

"I have no idea," I admitted to them and quickly looked through the package for an explanation!  "Here it is!  They are Heads Up Frames and Heads Up Readers!"

"Excuse me?" my daughter queried politely.

"I have no idea," I admitted a second time.  "Let me read this material and get back to you."

Now, after reading through the material from Heads Up Now, a company specializing in providing information and products for struggling learners, I understand our gift a little better.  Heads Up Now not only provides help for homeschooling parents, but occupational therapists, speech therapists, teachers, and other specialists who work with children who have developmental delays, learning disabilities, autism, or other special needs.  God has not given me the privilege to homeschool a special needs child, but I have great admiration for parents who do!  I have to say right up front that I was impressed by their catalog.

Math Tutor DVDs to the Rescue: A Review

 

"I'd love to homeschool, but I'm scared to teach my kids math," is a cry of despair I have heard through the years. Why is math so intimidating for homeschooling moms?  I really don't have the answer to that question, but I just might be able to help homeschooling moms whose nemesis is math. Yes, you can have your child dual-enroll at a nearby community college, but that probably won't work for the elementary years! 

There is a solution for those who would rather have someone else teach their children math, but don't want to take them to one more outside activity! If we need help, we really need daily help because math is a subject that our children should do everyday. I received two DVDs, The Algebra 2 Tutor and The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor, to review and was very impressed with the teacher and his style of teaching. Jason is a very calm and easy-to-understand teacher. We often only see his back because he is working problems out on the board.  In fact, that's what I loved about the DVD--it is full of practical help! All of the teaching is done through example problems. That's how I like to learn math! 

I watched segments of the videos with my own children and their friends. Afterward, we talked about what we had watched. Here are some of the comments.

"He made everything really simple. I could understand it." (age 11, pre-algebra student)

"I liked how many problems he did. That's where I get confused with my math book." (age 16, algebra II student)

"I've already learned what he was teaching on the video, but I wish I could have learned it from him first. It would have made my life easier." (This was said with dramatic flourish!) (age 16, pre-calculus student)

"It was a little boring....but math is just boring to me. I would want to watch him, though, to learn how to do math problems. He's easy to understand." (age 16, geometry student)

Jason Gibson is the math teacher on the two DVDs I received. His education includes a bachelors and master's degree in electrical engineering, along with a master's degree in physics. His work history is fascinating, including research and engineering in various areas, including space technology. Right now Jason works for NASA!  

One Year Adventure Novel High School Writing Curriculum Review

 I have fallen in love! Yes, it's true!  I have fallen in love with a writing curriculum that I received in the mail to review. You are going to love this curriculum. Your high school teens are going to love this curriculum too.

Daniel Schwabauer, an award winning novelist and playwright, has created an amazing one year writing course for high school students. After completing the course, your child will have theirr very own adventure novel. This is a practical course on fiction writing. It covers all the basics and provides strong parameters and boundaries for novel writing. The finished production is an adventure novel.  So, along with teaching about plot, setting, characterization,and proper writing technique, this course teaches your budding novelist how to build suspense in his/her novel. Your child will be writing a Heroic Quest. What an exciting way to spend a year of writing!  But, the best thing about this course is that it is written from a Biblical worldview and upholds our Christian values.

The One Year Adventure Novel kit comes with a textbook, The Compass, a workbook, The Map, and a set of DVDs. I love the  DVDs! Each video segment opens with an Indiana Jones-type intro complete with action music and clips from old adventure movies! Three questions are asked, "What makes a story a story?"  Why do we look for truth in books?" "Could it be that our thirst for story and our search for meaning are somehow related?" and "What if purpose just be another word for adventure?"  Then we move to a beautiful study filled with lovely old books where our author begins to teach the lesson. There are 78 lessons on 7 DVDs.

Five in A Row Review

 

Today, I made a delightful discovery!  Five In A Row & by Jane Claire Lambert  arrived in my mailbox. 

Five in a Row is a curriculum designed for children ages six to eight, so I never paid much attention to it. By the time I had heard of Five in a Row, my children were all older. I knew it involved reading good books and I had the impression from other homeschooling moms that it was a wonderful thing! But, I had no idea what five in a row meant? Did it mean five books in a row alphabetically? Did it mean five books in a row chronologically?  I was clueless. Now, I know what it means and I'm so excited about it!

Five in a Row means reading one book once a day, five times for five days in a row. Each day, there are activities that go with it. I love that idea!  It makes sense. You see, I also found out that the books are lovely picture books. Picture books are meant to be read over and over. They are short enough to read again and again. Each picture book chosen by Jane Claire Lambert is well-written with enchanting illustrations. Jane has excellent taste and you will love all the books she has chosen. Your children will enjoy every book too!

I received Five In A Row, Volume 3. In the beginning of the book, there are clear explanations to you, the mom/teacher, on how to use the book. I found this section very helpful and clear. After reading it, I would have no problem using this curriculum.

Understanding the Times & Thinking Like a Christian

To read Understanding the Times is to take on a mammoth project.  The book is 509 pages--a huge hardback book the size of a college textbook.  This may be the most important book that your teenager ever reads besides the Bible!

The title is a great one--it captures the role of the book in your child's life.  It will help your teenager understand the times in which we live.  Golly, is the world a different place than the one I lived in as a little girl in the sixties.  In spite of hippies and rock-n-roll, people stayed married and divorce was frowned upon, integrity, while not always practiced, was respected, and hard work was still valued.  Since the time of FDR, the United States government has taken upon itself the role of provider for the people, marching unashamedly toward socialism.  Evolution is taught as a fact in public schools, television, movies, and museums. The Bible is mocked as outdated and accused of being just a storybook. The Christian worldview does not dominate our culture anymore.  What worldviews are behind the books we read, the movies we watch, and the politicians in Washington?

As Christians, we believe that the Bible is true. We accept the authority of Scripture over all areas of life.  But what does the Bible say about politics, economics, law, psychology, and philosophy?  You can either do an intensive Bible study yourself, or you can read this book!

"For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and intents o the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account."  Hebrew 4:12-13

Mystery of History

Mystery of History Volumes I & II

Do you enjoy the drama and personalities of history more than dates and facts? If so, these books are for you! Though written for grades 4 to 8, your whole family will enjoy reading or listening to this book read aloud. We got together with another family and everyone from grade two to senior in high school listened each week as Mom read the stories (lessons) aloud. Filled with information, these books include little known but thrilling facts and stories.

The author, Linda Lacour Hobar, takes us on a trip back in time to meet those who have made history and to experience them ourselves. What an adventure!

Laid out in chronological order, beginning with Creation, each week has three lessons accompanied by writing, craft and cooking projects. There are tests and quizzes too. We normally ignore tests, but we enjoyed these tests too.

Can you guess that these are our very favorite history textbooks?

You learn what was going on in the world--at the same time. While one nation is in its height, another is beginning. It even covers China, India, and Africa!

Volume I covers Creation to the time of Jesus Christ. Volume II covers world history from Pentecost to the printing press. Good News: Volume III (covering 1450's to the early 1700's) is out!!!! I can't wait to read it!

http://www.themysteryofhistory.com/

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)