http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/

        Last week was the national collection week for OPC. I’ve seen a few posts and comments on Facebook about this lately. My favorite was the video of one lady demonstrating how she was able to fill 45 boxes for $45! As usual we were running behind so didn’t get ours dropped off on time at church, the items were gathered, just not put together in the boxes. When our family first started participating in this, each of the kids filled one box for a child their age. This year we got to help out at the local collection site, with our Keepers at home group. (Thankfully we got to bring our overdue boxes with us.) The kids watched a video showing some of the impact these simple gifts make. We helped make sure there weren’t any liquids in the boxes. Each box was labeled, checked for liquids, and rubber bands were stretched around them. Every box given to a child also has, in that child’s language, the message of God’s love and salvation.

 

 

 

          Sometimes when a concept is taught in a different way, it can be remembered more clearly. For example, I can remember my Mom teaching me by rhyming “stalactites hold tight to the ceiling. Stalagmites might reach the ceiling.” Maybe the GyMathtics DVD will work for some kids that way- be just the thing they need to help understand a difficult concept. It is a DVD gymnastics type workout, demonstrated and explained by Ms. Carrie, who is accompanied by children of multiple ages, to the theme of math concepts. As you workout she reminds that you are “getting flexible, getting healthy, and challenging the mind.”

From the back cover:

“Exercise + Education + FUN = Exploracise

Exploracise Gymathtics is a revolutionary program that teaches math and healthy lifestyle concepts while performing a complete exercise routine. Scientific research shows that movement in combination with learning enhances retention and recognition.

Gymathtics is a fun fitness learning experience that kids will want to watch again and again. This exercise program is great for kids of all ages. The math facts target 2^nd-5^th grade levels.”

          Some of the concepts covered were new to my children. Maybe with these explanations, when they do learn these math concepts, they will easily understand them. The exercises were easy to follow for my children who were able to complete all of the movements as shown. Joseph especially enjoyed the pattern power segment.

          The workout begins with shape stretches warm up, and progresses through counting calisthenics, pattern power, and ending with her well-being wind down. The voice over during the wellbeing wind down included things like “try to get a good night’s sleep every night”, changing from the math theme of the earlier sections to her “well-being” advice.

          My children (ages 5, 10, and 12) have done various DVD aerobics and workouts with me, and they enjoyed doing this one which is designed for kids.

          The DVD is available for $24.99 at their website www.Exploramania.com also see other products available from vendor including the new GyMathtics 2.0.

          My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

           “AVKO is a non-profit, 501(C)3 membership organization that focuses on the development and production of materials and especially techniques to teach reading and spelling, handwriting (manuscript and cursive), and keyboarding.  AVKO is dedicated to the teaching everyone how to read and spell, regardless of their mild to moderate learning disabilities, dyslexia, poverty, or opportunity.”

          As part of the TOS homeschool crew I was given a free 1 year membership to the AVKO site. The one year membership in the AVKO Educational Research Foundation sells for $25.00 but has a value in free e-books of over $400.00. This site has so much information, after reading through some of the joke sections on their main page, I went to the “where to start” section. I was interested in seeing their section on keyboarding. It is set up in sort of a lesson plan format and incorporates the sentences used in other parts of the program.

From their website:

“AVKO is a non-profit, 501(C)3 membership organization that focuses on the development and production of materials and especially techniques to teach reading and spelling, handwriting (manuscript and cursive), and keyboarding.  AVKO is dedicated to the teaching everyone how to read and spell, regardless of their mild to moderate learning disabilities, dyslexia, poverty, or opportunity.  Visit The History of AVKO for more information.

AVKO is a non-profit organization that specializes in teaching dyslexics how to read, write, spell and type. AVKO develops books and materials utilizing the multi-sensory approach (Audio, Visual, Kinesthetic, Oral) that can be used with anyone and by anyone. AVKO materials and methods are all common-sense and effective with those we have worked with: young and old, dyslexic and non-dyslexic.”

          One great feature with membership is that ALL e-books on the site are included! However not every book on the site is available as an e-book. MP3 versions of workshops are also included in your membership. One of the e-books available is the 364 page gem: The Teaching of Reading: A Continuum from Kindergarten Through College.  In this, Mr. McCabe, the program’s creator, shares how his own struggles helped him develop this program. He shares what not to do as well as what works. An explanation of how dyslexics actually read accompanies how to properly teach reading, spelling, handwriting (and grip) and so much more. All this is just one example of the resources available in e-books at the site.

          The parents/homeschoolers section includes additional information on dyslexia and their recommended curriculum for reading, spelling, typing and handwriting. A free curriculum consultation service is also offered.

         Benefits of this AVKO membership include teaching aids, videos, e-books, samples, discounts on their printed materials, and more- check out their website: http://www.avko.org/index.htm

 More contact information: Call Toll Free:  1.866.285.6612

From outside the U.S.: 800.686.9283
Fax:  810.686.1101
E-mail: Webmaster: webmaster@avko.org 

 

 My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

 

 

         Last year, on a homeschool fieldtrip to Mitchell Farms, another Mom shared that you can cook pumpkins, whole, in the oven, then scoop out the seeds and puree the good part to use or freeze. That amazed me. I was in my late twenties before I was taught how to make applesauce from apples. I cooked a lot growing up, but cooking and preserving some fresh fruits and vegetables somehow got missed.
         We brought home four big pumpkins from the pumpkin patch last year, and I have learned since then that you can add it to a lot of food without changing the taste. We have just one bag left in the freezer. It can actually make a pot of spicy chilli a little less spicy. I've tried pumpkin soup, added it to spaghetti sauce and taco soup, and my Mom made some delicious pumpkin muffins.
         We missed that field trip this year, but I saw some small pumpkins labeled "pie pumpkins" at the store, and I picked up 3 when they went on sale. I baked them, and scooped out the "meat" and then today was pumpkin day. I pureed it with a little water, bagged and labeled some for the freezer, make a sugar free pumpkin pie to freeze for Thanksgiving dinner, and made cupcakes. Quite a few years ago I learned a trick in Weight Watchers- add a can of pumpkin and a can of water to a cake mix and bake it, no oil, no eggs, a bit healther.Today I repeated that with a little twist. This is what I came up with:
light and fluffy chocolate cupcakes

1 box dark chocolate fudge cake mix
1 egg
1 c. water
1 c. pureed pumpkin
1 c. light sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients, fill cupcake pans. Bake until done.
makes 12 large cupcakes + 24 mini cupcakes + 1 tiny cake

Enjoy!

 

 

 

           

                      Bethany House publishers provided me with a copy of Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish In return for this book, I get to blog about it and share my opinion.

            This is a story of complexities in life, woven together so skillfully in a handful of very different characters. Christa Parrish blends the day to day struggles of a soldier haunted by memories of war, a young boy fighting for his life, a hurting wife in a strained marriage, and an abandoned baby.

            In the news we hear of babies left in dumpsters but that still seems so unlikely. This book shares a “what if” story and explains the characters involved in unexplainable circumstances.

             From the back cover: “Things like that don’t happen in Beck County. Deputy Benjamin Patil is the one to find the infant girl, hours old, abandoned in a field. As the police work to identify the mother, Ben and his wife, Abbi, seem like the obvious couple to serve as foster parents. But the newborn’s arrival opens old wounds for Abbi and shines a harsh light on how much Ben has changed since a devastating military tour. Their marriage teeters on the brink, and now they must choose to reclaim what they once had or lose each other forever.”

            If you know anyone who would be interested in signing up to receive review copies of Bethany House books, direct them to www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers!

 

 

            While on vacation, I had a lot more time to read (mostly while Mitch was driving) so I brought along a few books. My Aunt lent me an older book by Nicholas Sparks that I had not read before- very enjoyable, but if I share much I’d give away too much, so ask me to discuss The Choice with you after you read it.

            A Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola has been in my pile to read for a few months. I’ve enjoyed bits and pieces of it, but finally got to read more than just excerpts here and there. I expect a lot of myself, but find I can’t “do it all” realistically. This book in her “gentle” style shows a fictional example of working around things that come up in life, like caring for a sick relative, ect. I enjoy Charlotte Mason’s style of teaching, but there is so much of it that I never seem to have time for. This book focuses on one part- the nature journal, and makes doing it seem fun, as a part of their routine, in a non-routine, normal life.

            I also read a few books I was sent, just for the joy of reading and sharing my opinion, so the next few posts will be my book reviews.

 

           

      Three children. When compared to friends with four, five, six, and more it seems like it should be easy. I discourage the kids from comparing themselves to others in different circumstances, and one day I’ll follow the advice I teach. My point though, is with three, they do not get the same attention from me that Heather got when it was just her.

        Not all the time. But every now and then I spend the day with just one of them, and I enjoy getting to know them better. Today was Emily’s day. She was invited to a birthday party, and I took her. We live “in the boondocks” so when we go somewhere, any time we go, we run any other errands that need to be done. Today, there were no extra errands. After the party, I let Emmy take the lead. At first she just looked at me and smiled. I made a few suggestions and she agreed with anything I said. So I got silly with the suggestions and we laughed together. We ended up walking through some shops a friend recommended, which we had never been to before. We shopped, mostly window shopping. Emily makes the Christmas gifts that she gives, and had just one thing she wanted to purchase. It was fun hearing her opinion and seeing what she liked.

        All of the kids ended up getting a little one on one attention today. My Mom and my oldest daughter spent the day together while Joseph stayed with Mitch. The guys worked around the house and even found time to fish.

        What I am considering doing is even on the days we all spend together, take one child, even once a week, and focus on them- really concentrate on them, encouraging their siblings to listen to them. I have to put a little more thought into this.

 

            My Mom taught my sisters and me how to make spiced tea from a recipe book that had been a gift from her nursing instructors. My own kids enjoy mixing up the dry ingredients to make cocoa, but every year my oldest sister and I mix up spiced tea. We gave jars of it to teachers when we were little. Now friends ask for it. To me, it’s like comfort food when I am sick. When we were young and really feeling bad, my Dad would chop an orange or satsuma or even grapefruit, and add the fresh citrus to the hot drink. I still like it best that way. It’s about time to go shopping for these ingredients- we usually make it when all the family is together for Thanksgiving, after the dishes are cleaned.

 

SPICED TEA MIX:

½ c. instant tea (plain)

2 c. instant Tang

1 c. lemonade mix

2 T cinnamon

1/2 T cloves

2- 2 ½ c. sugar

Mix dry ingredients well.

 (Taste a sample in hot water and add more sugar if needed)

Add 2-3 heaping spoonfuls to hot water and enjoy!

Store in air tight container.

 

 

 

…I thought chess pie was cheese pie. I knew nothing of chess, and cheese was another of my favorite foods. Not to be confused with cheesecake, a later favorite.

…I thought that preachers didn’t sin and doctors knew everything.

…I thought everyone would believe in God before they died, and would go to heaven.

        Now, things are not all as I thought they were, when I was a child, but God’s Word does tell us to come to Him like a child. Then, and now, I believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word- 100% true.

        I believe God our heavenly Father created the earth and everything in it. I believe that He gives every one of us a choice, and when the first man and woman He created sinned, the future of the world changed. I believe He knew then, just as He knows now the choices we make before we make them. I believe He sent His son Jesus who bore the burden of our sin, died for us, and rose again- all for us. I believe because of Jesus Christ my Savior I will be in heaven one wonderful day. But I know better now than to think everyone will be. It is our responsibility to share about God’s love for us with people who don’t know Him. I read a blog recently about being a missionary where you are. I’ve never been on a foreign mission trip, but I pray to share God’s love with those I do come in contact with each day.

When I was a child, I believed as a child…

What do you believe?

 

            For the first time since beginning these reviews, I have information about a free resource to share! This free resource for teachers can complement your American history studies, and is available at www.americanheritage.org. As part of the TOS crew I was provided with the National Edition CD of America’s Heritage an adventure in liberty. It has 3 levels: elementary, middle school and high school, and includes a Spanish version of the elementary level. The lesson plans designed for teachers include the purpose, objective, theme, materials, preparation, and more for each unit.

            The elementary and middle school Thanksgiving Day sections were just right to add into our current studies. They include information on the history of Thanksgiving with application ideas and a Thanksgiving crossword puzzle. There are 12 additional units, rich in information for your students. The middle school section also included even more additional units.

            There is also a high school section which we will save for when the girls are a little older. For review purposes I did look through the high school section. It includes some of the same topics, but in much more detail. Some of the high school units are America’s Creed (informative and so applicable today), Our National Documents, Bill of Rights, and what is an American?

            From their information: “Teachers are provided these resources as a supplement to school resources as they deliver instruction focused on developing an understanding and teaching of our nation’s factual and philosophical heritage to promote Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens.” This was “developed and provided by the Houston Independent School District in cooperation with The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation.”

            This is not a comprehensive curriculum, but will make a great addition to any curriculum. Be sure to go to their site for your own free lesson plans. www.americanheritage.org

 

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

Our first week home has been busy. We are all still catching up from the time change. This morning we all slept in, then had breakfast for lunch- yummy pancakes. Our menu planning for the next month has a nice twist. The upcoming 4H cookery contest is open to all ages, which means even Joseph gets to participate. My girls both have favorite foods they like to prepare, so we have been planning which categories their recipes will fit into. (They can each prepare up tp four entries.) Judging is Dec. 10th, so between now and then the kids get to practice and perfect their dishes.  So far some of their ideas are shrimp butter, green pepper steak, taco soup, upside down pizza, deviled eggs, corn pudding, quiche, chess squares, chicken ritz, Hawaiian chicken, sausage muffins, and Mexican pizza. Even if they don't all get prepared the night before, we will have fun narrowing down our final selections.

 

            My recent blogs have been mostly reviews. We are leaving this week for the annual family vacation/reunion in Branson, so I’ve been getting ahead with my Homeschool Crew reviews. It has been a busy 2 weeks. Last week the kids auditioned, and both girls got roles in the Missoula children’s theatre production of “Princess and the Pea.” With 4+ hour practices every night, we were on the road even more than usual. As the girls practiced, I made some new friends. Several of the moms visited while waiting on our kiddos, and I met quite a few who also homeschool. We talked a bit about homeschooling, some about religious differences, and similarities, and about health. Many topics I’ve seen recently in the crew forum and in some of our reviews like vaccinations, food additives, and homemade laundry soap. I love learning from others who have “been there before me” and was also happy to be able to share of some of my recent experiences.

            Part of our yearly vacation planning is going through the fall/winter clothes. Changing seasons, because of going through clothes, is when the kid’s growth is most visible to me. We are about to go over night from summery 90 degree warmth into 30 degree winter land. Pray for us, please, that everyone stays healthy while traveling. This is especially a fun time for the kids. They get to be with their cousins more than any other time of the year. I also enjoy seeing the fall colors of leaves changing as we drive. I won’t be blogging while we are gone- but plan to share of our happy memories when we return!

 

 

                This is a familiar site to me as teachers I have worked with have shown me things they have printed from this site. On the day the authorization code was e-mailed to the TOS homeschool crew members for our free month, I spent several hours creating worksheets for my kids.  In the worksheet generator section, you can input any words you choose and make a word search or crossword puzzle. My kids all enjoy the word search puzzles, and the one I created with their chemistry terms and with a dragonfly shape was a hit.

                As I spent more time going through the site, I just kept finding more and more we could use. They have coloring sheets for almost anything, from musical instruments to airplanes. There are reading comprehension activities with stories as well as several different formats of quizzes, depending on what your focus is. Answers are provided as well, even to the crossword puzzles you create!

                Hurricanes are a threat where we live, and I saved the weather lessons on hurricanes and hurricane safety.

                They have lists of the most frequently misspelled words, and activity sheets for them including circle the correct spelling, crossword puzzle, word search, and more.

                A shape book is a new activity I know will be fun for Joseph.

                Outside of teaching my own kids, I work as an Occupational Therapist, often addressing handwriting skills. My favorite find on the ABC Teach site is the worksheet generator. You can find many styles of handwriting and make a worksheet with whatever words and tips you choose. For example, using the Handwriting Without Tears style manuscript, I made a page for my son Joseph, and put the lines with top, bottom, and dotted middle, as well as arrows on the letters showing exactly how to form each letter.

 From the site owners: "First some basics about abcteach:
- We provide thousands of printable educational materials and access to our abctools custom document generators to homeschoolers and teachers around the world. Our printables include worksheets, activities, and teaching extras that cover a broad range of subjects and categories.

- abcteach has a free site with over 6,000 free printable documents. The free site homepage is www.abcteach.com.

- Our membership site has over 30,000 total printable documents. We also give our members access to abctools. There are over 60 abctools in a variety of subjects and categories. Each allows our members to create custom documents, tailored to their childrens' specific interests and learning styles. A one-year membership is currently $40. You can watch our video tour here: http://www.abcteach.com/benefits.php#video_tour "

This year membership is on my wishlist.

 

 

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

   

                Each TOS Homeschool Crew reviewer received a personally autographed copy of Sarah’s Wish by Jim Baumgardner. This was a great book to read with my daughters. Sarah, the main character, is a child with a big secret. This is the story of loss, courage, history, and hope. Emily, my 10 year old, enjoyed reading about Sarah’s experiences, especially with the horse and the snake. She asked questions about slavery, which led to more understanding of that time in our nation’s history. The girls and I share a love of butterflies, and enjoyed seeing how they were woven into the story.

                From the back cover: “With the recent death of her mother, Sarah Smith now had the lives of Rachel’s “packages” in her hands. She must act today. Sarah’s Wish invites you to enter the 19^th century world of secrets and broken promises, runaways and slave catchers, colorful gypsies and noisy riverboats, and Granny. Although Granny’s hilarious dialect and lively antics are sure to keep you laughing, not all is happy. Emotions take a ride as Sarah’s big wish appears hopeless. But when life is at its darkest, the butterflies come!”

                I enjoyed the story, told from young Sarah’s perspective, and look forward to reading more in this series.

                The purchase of Sarah’s Wish also includes a coupon code for a complete audio book download. This is currently available on his website www.sarahbooks.net  for $9.99 with free shipping. Other titles in the series are also available.

The age range was not specified, but this book was enjoyed by both of my daughters, ages 10 and 12.

                Once you visit Mr. Baumgardner’s website www.sarahbooks.net, you can read more about his involvement in keeping history alive, and you can sign up for his entertaining newsletter.

                From the author: "I am a 62-year-old grandfather of nine grandchildren, all homeschooled by my two daughters and one daughter-in-law. The Sarah Books are authored by me for my grandchildren. I say that so that you will know these books do not have any sex, profanity, or anything that would be offensive to young readers. I would never subject my grandchildren to such writing.

          The books have been referred to as Christian fiction. I prefer to describe them as Young Adult fiction written by a Christian author. Sarah’s faith is important to her and she lives by it, but the books do not try to convert the reader to anything. The stories do teach Christian principals of living a good life and treating others as you would have them treat you. I do not ignore the evil in the world and Sarah must confront it at times just as we all do.

          Not all learning has to be from textbooks. Kids like to see history set in story form, and the Sarah books fulfill that quest for realism. The reader will learn pre-civil war history while enjoying a good read."

 

 

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

                Four e-books were shared with us by Guardian Angel Publishing. We enjoyed having these with us on the computer, on vacation. The kids and I share a love of reading, and the convenience of e-books as a whole is a relatively new experience, which I am also enjoying. Another reviewer shared with me that if you go into the view section and click “2 up” you are able to see two pages at once, as if you are holding the book. They have numerous books to choose from, rated for ages 0-12.

                Rainbow Sheep by Kim Chatel is a charming fanciful story of a little shepherd girl, told as if she is talking to the rainbow. The most delightful thing about this award winning book is the beautiful art. I would love to see some of the original felt pictures depicted here. The interesting process of felting is shared as well at the end of the book.

            From the back cover: “Genevieve is a little shepherdess with a big imagination. When she finds a sad, pale rainbow, she tells him funny stories until he cries happy tears and his colors return. Genevieve’s sheep are caught in the colorful rain of tears and become the ‘Rainbow Sheep’.”  Suggested age for readers: 4 (read to age) to 10 (read alone) Kim Chatel is the AUTHOR/ FIBER ARTIST of Rainbow Sheep. “This picture book has 11 fiber art illustrations and also includes four full pages of Felting for Fun Activities for Kids, glossary and fiber art information for educational instruction.”

  

            No Bones About It! The Sum of Our Parts Series Book 1 is written by Bill Kirk and illustrated by Eugene Ruble. “Learning the bones in the human body can be a challenge for anyone. Using this clever learning tool in rhyme may be just what you’ve been looking for, no bones about it. You’ll be amazed at how fast you will be able to learn them from head to toe.” Suggested age for readers: ages 8-13 The e-book download is $5.

            This rhyming book is easy to read, and could be useful to help remember the names of human bones. One picture of the skull sticking its tongue out was referred to as “gross” by my 12 year old, but the other pictures and facts are a nice resource for our biology studies. I would have appreciated this book in college when I was memorizing these facts; it is a lot more fun this way!

            ANDY AND SPIRIT GO TO THE FAIR is also part of a series. This book, written by Mary Jean Kelso and illustrated by K.C. Snider is the engaging story of a boy and a horse, competing with 4-H. At the end there is related information about wild horses, as well as links to additional related resources. The girls were interested in this one, which brought to mind their own 4-H experiences.

                Wheelchairs and children are infrequently depicted in books together. I enjoyed the realistic portrayal of how Andy used a ramp, and helpers to transfer off of the horse, yet it is not written in a way to elicit pity. He is pictured as a winner in front of the school bully.

 Maybe We are Flamingos is written by Safari Sue Thurman and illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier. “Flora and Fernando are the wrong color for flamingos. They wonder what they could be until they discover becoming pink can take a year, and staying pink is due to their diet. At last relieved, they draw funny pictures of how they might look if they ate broccoli or blueberries. 660 word picture book Suggested age for readers: 3 (read to age) to 9 (read alone)” This book is even available at itunes for your iphone!

            This whimsical tale had my 5 year old laughing with me at the pictures of flamingos showing the old phrase “You are what you eat.” It would be a fun addition to a related science lesson.

 

There may be other prices, but each of the books I clicked on including those reviewed above was $5. For a PDF e-book download, e-book on CD for $9.95 + $5.95 S&H, print paperback book for $10.95 + $6.95 S&H, or some have DVD book videos.

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

                We were delighted with the arrival of our latest TOS homeschool crew review item in our mailbox. Tony Salerno’s Character Building Company Good News Express: The Cheerful Grump. This beautifully illustrated book helps kids learn the importance of having a good attitude. The accompanying CD has its own pocket to help keep up with it.

                I wasn’t expecting music when I played the CD- I thought it would be like the old fashioned stories with CDs like we check out at the library, with a ding to turn the page as each page is read. Instead, this is so much more. After the cute theme song, the story is shared with expression, different voices for different characters, and background music, then when there are music notes on the pages, there are additional songs included within the story. Joseph is just learning to read and needed help to know when to turn pages, as that old fashioned ding hinting to turn the page is not there.

                This story has a great message for the kids, and I plan to order the rest of the set for Joseph. You can purchase them at www.PASSKEYS.org

                We were sent The Cheerful Grump. From the company “Children will enjoy this special story as they discover how to be cheerful even when things don’t go their way. The colorful illustrations and CD and characters found in The Cheerful Grump are sure to capture children’s attention. Parents will like the way this delightful story teaches that having a good attitude will help to make things better.” It is written by Tony Salerno and illustrated by Tim Davis. Inside the book there is also a note that a corresponding cassette is available.

                There are 3 other stories:

*The Birthday Gift “This exciting story with colorful illustrations and CD will enable kids to discover that giving can be as much fun as receiving. Parents will want to enjoy this with their children as The Birthday Gift teaches that the importance of giving and sharing makes everyone happy.”

*The Special Wish “This delightful story will capture the imaginations of young and old alike. Children will enjoy the colorful illustrations and CD as our lovable cast of characters leads them on a discovery of the true meaning of friendship. Parents will enjoy the delightful way that The Special Wish teaches children that people are much more important than things.” I have used that last phrase with my kids and am looking forward to reading this book, too.”

*Thanks, But No Thanks “This fun-filled journey is sure to excite kids. They will enjoy the colorful illustrations and CD and lovable characters as they discover the importance of being thankful and saying ‘thank you.’ Parents will enjoy the delightful way that Thanks, But No Thanks teaches kids the valuable lesson of thankfulness.”

                Four hardback books and CD’s are only $20. One individual book and CD is $7.50

 

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

The first thing that comes to my mind after getting started with the Sue Patrick Workbox System http://www.workboxsystem.com/ is order. Using the method taught by Sue for workboxes has been a great aid in helping my five year old know what is expected of him. Some subjects we do together as a family. I did not initially include these in his workboxes; instead just the things that he is expected to do on his own or with a little help from me. 

                Sue Patrick’s 122 page user guide is very easy to read and implement. She shares what led her to begin this system, as well as other programs that gave her the plan for the structure. I will be continuing this with Joseph. She initially created the system for use with her own child; however it is something that can be used with children of various ages and abilities. She even includes a section on using this with high school students.

                Joseph, age 5, has a child size table in our living room where his papers and coloring books pile up. Our intention initially was to have him work on his school projects in this space, but it became a clutter catch all for Joseph’s toys, puzzles, books, papers brought home from any activity- you can probably picture it. After reading Sue Patrick’s Workbox System User’s Guide, I purchased some plastic drawer type bins for him.

                I did not use the format exactly as she recommended. What worked for us was using small plastic drawer units, 6 drawers total, for Joseph. I only put his individual work here, and the subjects the family works on together were not addressed in my adaptation of her system. Her sample day outlines the way the very structured format works; we are not as structured in our homeschool.

                Chapters in the User’s Guide E-book (also available as a paperback, both versions $19.95) include How a Day Works, Life Skill Foundations, Discipline and the Workbox System, and more. Various methods used with her workboxes are explained in detail; these include unit studies, review, file folder games, centers, and quizzes and tests. Additional kits are also available for purchase at her site. She shares how to break down your current curriculum to make it work. Several pages of resources are listed at the end.

                After registering your purchase, multiple forms referenced in the book are available at her website. http://www.workboxsystem.com/ You can also consult with Sue Patrick about your specific needs, 4 months for $119.95.

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

                                       

The kids are as excited as I am at the arrival of the new review items. As soon as the box from Virginia Soaps and Scents came out of the mailbox, Heather opened it and all three kids had to check out the different scents of the sample size soaps they sent the Homeschool Crew. These soaps are softly colored, marbled, and have a light pleasant scent. We received coconut Lemongrass, fresh orange, and Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey. The product I was most pleased to see was the kit to make our own laundry soap. They also sent a Ginger Lime Shampoo Bar.

          My personal favorite of the three natural soaps they sent is the Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey which has small bits of oatmeal in it and gently exfoliates. They have many other scents including sandlewood, lavender, a new gourmet chocolate soap, and special holiday scents. They are made with all natural oils are are hand cut. Regular bars are 4.5 oz. ($4.50 per bar or 3 for $12) or you can also order a sampler of the "bed and breakfast" size which is the size we received in our review box. 

          I have heard of and read about homemade laundry soap, but having the kit with all of the ingredients and instructions was just what I needed to try it. Our sample made ½ gallon and contained shavings from lard cleaning soap packed in a bag with premeasured borax and washing soda. We were able to easily prepare it. The girls enjoyed watching the soap shavings dissolve as they stirred the mixture in the pot, and the way it all thickened as it cooled was another lesson in chemistry. During a different chemistry lesson we had a mess with mustard, which I know can cause bad stains. After pre-treating the kid’s clothes that were dotted with mustard, I washed them with this homemade liquid laundry detergent. The mustard came out! This was however, one thing that the kids shared with their Grandmommie that she was not enthused about; she shared about scrubbing clothes with a bar of soap, cold water, and a scrub board as a child, and said she is happy to be able to purchase powdered detergent now! The next test of this laundry soap was the dried on mud on my husband and son’s jeans after they returned from the hunting camp. I did not pre-treat these, and they came out clean just using this detergent in the washing machine. We plan to purchase and make this again. Their kit with enough to make 2 gallons is $4.95.

          The shampoo bar is a new concept for us. We all five tried it. The guys were fine with it, not many comments from them beyond the generic “it was okay.” My 10 year old has very thick hair, easily tangled, and this did not make her hair easy to brush. It made my color treated hair very soft, even without using conditioner the first time I tried it. The best results were for my 12 year old daughter, who continues to use it; she has long thin hair. Their 5.5 oz. shampoo bar comes in 4 scents and is $5.50 for one or two for $10.

          Virginia Soaps & Scents is “a homeschooling family business making handcrafted soaps, bath and body, and laundry products.” (They have many more products than these I have mentioned.) Look at the website http://www.virginiasoapsandscents.com/  for more about the family and the business, and consider them for your holiday shopping.

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

                 You may have read in some of my prior blogs about our timeline attempts. We have tried the fold out book type, imagined one the length of the hall, and been successful with our previously mentioned "Stick-figuring" one beginning in Genesis. But this covers all of it, and it fits on the table!

          When I first received the Amazing Bible History Timeline, I was amazed and thankful. We placed the table sized chart under clear vinyl on the dining room table and displayed it there to view and reference. It was amazing to see the history of the world at our fingertips. The chart is set up as a circle, beginning with creation and progressing to the time of the flood, the birth of Christ, and some more modern events. Events happening at the same time in history are near each other on the circle, so you can easily tell, for instance, that Confucius and Nebuchadnezzar lived within the same 100 year period. The chart is color coded designating the sons of Noah and their descendents through time. Tips were included in the box for enhancing your Bible study or teaching with this resource.

          From the owners:

"The Amazing Bible Timeline should be used as the tool it is intended to be –    

to see the order of Biblical events 

to visualize the length of time between Biblical and world events 

to coordinate Biblical history with secular history. 
We believe it is a great tool to support Bible study and build faith in Christ and hope you will use it that way.
We do our best to make sure there is no doctrine on it and to make sure it is historically accurate."

 

         We referred to it after Sunday school lessons and Bible reading at home to see specific people mentioned in our studies. It gives a visible picture of the genealogy lists in the Bible.

        There are also additional downloads available at their website, http://www.bibletimeline.net/ available with your purchase. These include interactive maps of the holy land with click on transparencies to compare ancient boundaries with those today. I enjoyed looking at that set. You can also sign up for additional bonuses.

The Amazing Bible History Timeline is a 38 x 46 inch varnished cardstock poster, available for purchase at their website:  http://www.bibletimeline.net/ It costs $29.97. 

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.

 

 

The TOS Homeschool Crew was given an amazing opportunity by Bright Ideas Press. They had us look at their site and choose our first and second choices to review for them, and then they sent me both books! I am familiar with some of their products already as just this year we have been using The Mystery of History and Christian Kids Explore Biology in our lessons at home. I looked through many of the titles they offer and chose more in the “Christians Kids Explore” series. These books are designed for grades 4-8, but along with my 4^th and 6^th grade girls we also have been having Joseph (kindergarten) sit and listen to the readings from these lessons as well as participate in the experiments and activities. Each unit has a coloring sheet which corresponds to the lessons, and I started the first lesson by passing those out. Joseph especially benefits from having busy hands as he listens. The books have 30 lessons; each designed to be completed in one week. Objectives, vocabulary words, Scripture tie-ins, and review exercises (some simple experiments) using mostly things from around the house are included. These books break down complex science into understandable concepts.

Christian Kids Explore Chemistry

 

                From the authors Robert W. Ridlon, Jr. and Elizabeth J. Ridlon: “God is at the center of everything-including the study of chemistry. The more advanced or older student may get more chemistry from the book than a younger or less advanced student. It might be good to repeat this course every other year. Build a foundation. Chemistry has a reputation of being an almost out of reach activity. Although chemistry isn’t simple, we believe that it can be made easy to understand. “

             We finished unit 1 of their elementary chemistry book: Christian Kids Explore Chemistry this week. The kids have all enjoyed participating in the “experiments” which have added to their understanding of the lessons. Of course we have not made it to the end of the book, but I wanted to share more of what is included. Other units cover atoms and molecules, the nature of chemistry, and states of matter. The last unit introduces organic chemistry. Some of the activities are building alkane, alkene, and alkyne hydrocarbon models! An extensive resource list and ideas for further study are shared at the end.

In college I changed my major from my initial plan of pharmacy after difficulty with chemistry my first semester. I know now that being a pharmacist was not God’s plan for me and I am so happy with the career that I ended up following, but I hope to give my children a great foundation. These books are helping me give them a strong science foundation.

The price is $29.95 on their website: www.brightideaspress.com where you can also download sample pages. You can also call them at

 

Christian Kids Explore Physics

 

                One of my fun school memories from high school is when our physics teacher took our class outside to try out some of the things we were learning. I have learned since then that that is my learning style; I learn best by doing. This book teaches to several learning styles. With each lesson is a hands-on time to experience and reinforce the material.

               Christian Kids Explore Physics ($34.95) is set up the same way as their Chemistry and has the same authors, Robert W. Ridlon, Jr. and Elizabeth J. Ridlon. Each lesson has a Teaching Time and Hands on Time. I love the way it all comes back to God’s creation. They weave science and Scripture so clearly.

                In the car one night this week I brought the Physics book to continue my review, and my 9 year old asked to read it! They enjoy these lessons. Typically, I read out loud, or sometime my oldest daughter reads part of a lesson to everyone. Then we all do the Hands on Activity together.

 Go to the Bright Ideas website to see more about these and their other products: www.brightideaspress.com

My product reviews are endorsements for products that have been provided to me for the purpose of reviewing them. I am not being paid for this. I am sharing my honest opinion of how these products work for my family.