The TOS Homeschool Crew is ready to set sail on our second voyage - this one will be a full-year long! We have 100 new members, along with 33 Crew Mates who have returned for another year. We're looking forward to a very exciting year, filled with great products, informative reviews, and lots of fun.
We're glad that you are here! This blog will serve as the "hub" for the Homeschool Crew. Here, you will find information about each and every product that we will review, along with links to all the many blogs that contain Crew reviews. Simply click through the links to see what our Crew members have to say about the products you know and love, or the ones you're most curious about. We've got a wonderful line-up of products this year (please refer to the Vendors on Deck list in our sidebar).
As the captain of the Crew, I'll be steering our ship through some uncharted waters this year, but am looking forward to smooth sailing. If you have any questions about the Crew, please feel free to contact me at any time throughout the course of our voyage.
PLEASE NOTE - The Mr. Linkies are for CREW MEMBERS ONLY!
Please DO NOT SIGN unless you are a Crew Member, posting a link to your review.
A special note to VENDORS - If you are interested in using the Crew's services as a means to help spread the word about your products, that's great and we'd be more than happy to help you. Please DO NOT go down through our list of reviewers and solicit reviews on your own. You need to go through our sales team at TOS in order to set up reviews through our Crew. If you know who your sales representative is, please contact her. If not, please e-mail me and I will point you in the right direction.
We are starting the try-out process for the 2010-11 Homeschool Crew!
Would YOU like to sail along with us this coming year?
If so, please go here for more information and to fill out our demographics form: Homeschool Crew Third Adventure!
The TOS Homeschool Crew members have been participating in a weekly blog cruise, answering a homeschooling question each week. This week, they're sharing their thoughts on how to know if our kids are keeping up with their peers.
Enjoy your cruise as you explore what these Crew members had to say on the subject!
We hope you'll return next week to read how the TOS Crew members answer the questions: How do you handle multiple ages? ANDHow do you homeschool with a baby or toddler? It's a two-for-one!
This post was prepared by April E. of ElCloud Homeschool who did NOT enter the cruise this week, but will do her best to chime in on next week's topic, since she has lots of experience in that area.
Virginia Soaps & Scents is a homeschool family owned company, providing handmade soaps, shampoo bars, body butters, lip balms, laundry soap - even pet shampoo! This is another personal favorite of mine and I am excited that Virginia Soaps & Scents has offered to share with one reader the same sampler pack we reviewers received. Check out what the Crew had to say HERE.
The sampler pack includes sample sized handcrafted olive oil soaps, shampoo bar, and laundry soap kit. It's a great way to experience what they have to offer!
To enter, leave a comment and let me know which of their products intrigue you most, which scents are your favorite, or why you enjoy handmade soaps. As we are still trying to get the word out about our weekly giveaways, you may also add an extra entry by blogging, tweeting or sharing the giveaway on your favorite social network. Just leave an extra comment letting me know you did!
All entries must be in by Sunday at 11:59 pm EST. Drawing will be held on Monday and winner announced, along with a brand new giveaway. Please be sure to leave your email or blog link! If I have no contact information, I cannot award you as winner. Thanks!
NOTES: If winner has not responded by the Friday following the announcement, a new winner will be drawn. So be sure to check out this page every Monday! No members of the current (09-10) Homeschool Crew or employees/independent contractors of TOS may participate in these giveaways.To make my life easier, please note that you are a TOS Crew member or TOS employee if leaving a comment of support. Thanks! ~Lori www.HomeschoolReviewsandMore.com
Earlier this year, the Homeschool Crew had opportunity to review a great spelling curriculum from All About Spelling. Now we would like to introduce you to a new reading book, from the makers of All About Spelling ---
The Beehive Readers are a new reading series brought to you by the innovative spelling program All About Spelling. Crew members received a copy of Beehive Reader 1 for review.
Some general information about Beehive Reader 1:
It was created for the beginning reader.
It is a collection of 10 short stories on 160 pages inside a high-quality hardcover book.
Each page is printed on non-glare paper, making it easy on the eyes for children.
The reader correlates 100% with All About Spelling Level 1.
When one is using AAS Level 1, instructions are included in the corresponding lesson when it is time for the student to read a story in the reader, making it easy on the parent for scheduling reading time.
The reader can also be used independently of the AAS program.
It is written with natural phrasing and line breaks, making for smooth, enjoyable reading for the student.
The subtle underlining helps with tracking if needed, but otherwise easily ignored if not needed.
Beautiful illustrations throughout the book are included, and the stories use simple words and sentences.
Natural language and real storylines, including some funny stories make reading enjoyable for both student and parent.
Beehive Reader 1 was recently awarded a Silver Medal for The Moonbeam’s Children’s Book Awards.
Here’s what All About Spelling has to say about the Beehive Reader 1:
“Your beginning reader will delight in finding out what happens when…
…a busy cat lives in a windmill
…a sleepy bear cub takes a nap
…a grumpy duck demands a snack
…a singing bat befriends a lonely king
…a curious boy shrinks from tall to small
…and much more!”
The readers are part of a new series developed by All About Spelling called All About Reading. A new website for All About Reading is in development and will be available this summer.
All About Spelling has given the Crew some sample pages to share with you.
Last year, I shared with you about my book obsession, and how I like to feed it by buying used books. This year, I'd like to share with you about my local library . . .
I hear so many homeschooling parents talking about how wonderful the library is, how they spend so much time there, etc. etc. etc. Well, my story is quite different. The few times we've tried going to the library for a resource we need for our homeschooling, they have never had it! Recently, we decided to try a library in a college town, thinking it would be much more well-stocked that our small town library. Still, it was a disappointment. And, I have this issue with libraries always expecting me to return the books anyway. We book lovers tend to be a bit selfish with our books.
Am I alone? I can't help it. I WANT books and I want to KEEP them. I want to BUILD my HOMESCHOOL LIBRARY. That's where Homeschool Library Builder comes in. You can learn a bit more about Homeschool Library Builder by reading this post or by visiting their website.
Homeschool Library Builder has a very special promotion going on this month. How does 20% off the entire store sound to you? Good books at great prices PLUS a discount?! Sounds good to me! Also, if you make a donation to Heartline Ministries (serving Haiti), you will get a coupon code to save an additional 15% off on Super Bowl Sunday. See details here.
What does the Homeschool Crew think of Homeschool Library Builder? Let's find out:
So, you've decided you're going to homeschool. How do you decide what curriculum to use? How do you know what your child should know? Is there a list somewhere? What about gaps?
Or maybe you're not new to homeschooling, but you're entering a new "season" of homeschooling. This question is one that every homeschooler will have to answer. What is your guide?
Homeschool Crew members are sharing their answers to this question for this week's Blog Cruise. Once again, there are many wonderful responses that show a great variety of ways to answer this important question. Hop aboard and visit these great blogs!
**This week's winner is Shirley! Please send your mailing information to HomeschoolReviewsandMore at yahoo dot com, so that I may send it on to the vendor.**
The TOS Crew Facebook Giveaways have moved on over to the Crew hub blog. Wow, it feels good to be "home" and still giving away incredible prizes from our generous vendors! As before, a new giveaway will posted each Monday and a winner will be drawn the following Monday. You will have the week to enter, so be sure to spread the word among friends and pop over every Monday!
Our first giveaway is one our family enjoyed last year. I love Homeschool in the Woods! We have their timeline figures and book and so I was super excited when they began creating lapbooks. This week's giveaway is for The New Testament Activity-Pak download.
Check out the Crew reviews right here on this very blog. I'll make it easy for you, you can click HERE.
Then, leave a comment sharing your thoughts on Lapbooking and be entered to win!Is the term new to you? Is it something you've always wanted to try? Are you already a lapbooking fiend? Is it something you wouldn't get near unless your life depended on it (if so, you may want to wait for next week's giveaway and check out the other great products from Homeschool in the Woods, lol!)?
Would you like an extra entry? Tweet, Facebook, Blog, or otherwise announce this giveaway and leave a second comment letting me know!
All entries must be in by Sunday at 11:59 pm EST. Drawing will be held on Monday and winner announced, along with a brand new giveaway. Please be sure to leave your email or blog link! We have several anonymous entries with no contact information. If I have no contact information, I cannot award you as winner! Thanks!
NOTES: If winner has not responded by the Friday following the announcement, a new winner will be drawn. So be sure to check out this page every Monday!
No members of the current (09-10) Homeschool Crew or employees/independent contractors of TOS may participate in these giveaways.To make my life easier, please note that you are a TOS Crew member or TOS employee if leaving a comment of support. Thanks!
Recently, the TOS Homeschool Crew decided to set sail on a new adventure - the BLOG CRUISE.
The Blog Cruise will be a weekly "carnival", hosted right here on our blog (and on our FB fan page).
Each week, we'll have a new topic/question. Crew members will answer these questions on their blog. Kristen, our Carnival Coordinator, will post the "carnival round-up" each Tuesday, with links to all the various posts where you can learn more about the topic. I just know you're going to love it!
So, be sure to stop back each Tuesday and sail along with us on the Blog Cruise.
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And, just in case you missed the very first Blog Cruise, here you go:
I am so excited about our new weekly Blog Cruise. The rest of the crew is too, as you can see by the number of entries for our first topic. This week we’re talking about socialization. You know, the dreaded question homeschoolers all hear at some point: “What about socialization?”
Heidi, on her blog Reviews and Reflections, provides an excellent summary of the basic arguments concerning homeschoolers and socialization in her post What About Socialization?
Laura at Day by Day in Our World says that to her, socialization encompasses the ability to function in different social environments.
Angie at Minivan Moments states that socialization is equipping children for adulthood and tells why she thinks that’s best done at home in What about socialization?
Let’s look at the research…Wendy on Our Crew’s Ship discusses the facts in What About Socialization?
Tonia at The Sunny Patch asks “Do public schools provide socialization?” in her article What About Socialization?
Sheri says that “Home is a great place to teach social skills” in her blog Random Thoughts from the Homeschool Princess - What about socialization?
What better place to practice real-life skills than real life? Mrs. White at The Legacy of Home suggests some role-playing exercises in How My Children Learned Social Skills .
Barbara reminds us at Alive in Spirit, that it is the parents’ responsibility to socialize their children, whether they homeschool or not.
Michelle at Delightful Learning says that the hardest part of homeschooling and socialization is deciding what NOT to do - What About Socialization?
Tristan reminds us that the answer depends on who is asking the question at Our Busy Homeschool – What About Socialization?
My entry at A Day in the Life, provides some sample responses to the socialization question.
Dawn at Olive Plants shares a true experience that caused her to realize that she needed to Prepare An Answer.
Debra at Footprints in the Butter provides the MOST creative answer. I’m not even going to give you a hint, but I doubt you’ve heard this one before.– But What About Socialization?
Erin at Delighting in His Richness reminds us that our children don’t need everything that society says they do - What About Socialization?
“I Don’t Want Your Socialization” says Cindy at Fenced in Family in A Social Life.
But surely socialization is especially important to a family with one child. Find out from MO Mama at Ozark Ramblings – What about…(you know the rest).
And how can teens who are homeschooled have adequate socialization opportunities? Visit Annie Kate at Tea Time with Annie Kate – Socialization and Homeschooled Teens.
Heidi at Chatter, Clatter, and Things that Matter has also seen some social benefits. You’ll laugh when you read of her experience in Are Your Kids Socialized: The Rudeness Factor.
Heather from Faith, Family, and Fun provides a unique perspective as someone who has kids in public school and homeschool. Socialization. Socialism. Homeschool.
"Why aren’t you in school?" is the question that makes Lisa at Isn’t Normal Just a Setting on the Washer? cringe - What About Socialization?
And Crazy Mom asks “Is it really an issue anymore?” at Ramblings from the Crazy House 2 – The “S” Word: Socialization.
April at ElCloud Homeschool: Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet agrees and says it’s a “non-issue” in What About Socialization?
Thanks for blog cruising with us. Hopefully you feel a little more prepared to answer THE infamous question. Maybe you can even say, “Well, what about it?”
If you’ve found this helpful, consider posting a link in your status. Don’t forget to visit next week when we talk about how to know what to teach and when.
As I attended my state’s homeschool convention a few years ago, one of the booths displayed some of Zeezok Publishing’s Great Musicians classic composers’ series. These mid-20th century lively yet informative tales by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher were so tempting that I just knew I had to purchase one of those sets, yet it was so very difficult to make my selection! I finally chose the Mozart-Bach set and have not been disappointed. These composers’ sets are accompanied by not only these wonderfully illustrated books but also study guides for each book as well as an enhanced CD (MP3 format) of selected music from the composers, accompanying sheet music and printable coloring pages. Perhaps my personal favorite part of these study guides has been the wonderful character qualities it highlights from these books. The set I own has proved a delightful way to bring the composers and their biographies to life for my own elementary aged children!
Many of the Crew mates were excited to be receiving from this vendor and a number of them have received the Brahms/Schubert, Chopin, Foster/MacDowell or Handel/Schumann Great Musicians sets. Yet other Crew members have instead received one of the Presidential Penmanship sets in one of six different available handwriting styles. These sets of handwriting practice pages are not only good for handwriting practice but also present some wonderful quotes from many of our former presidents from George Washington through Ronald Reagan. Great for reinforcing and developing your children’s character or for discussion as well as handwriting, the pages you desire for your 1st through 12th graders are immediately available to print from your computer (Windows and MAC compatible) whenever you need them.
Yet this publishing company is also known for its historical fiction as well as an allegorical fiction series (the second book, Song of the Trumpet, is set for release in March 2010), a unit study on China, a character-building set and even has a new high school government curriculum currently in the beta-testing stage of development. This self-proclaimed "little publishing company" is also humble; it has 50 titles currently in print and continues to grow. Here is Zeezok’s mission statement:
"Established in 2003, we believe "It is better to build children than to repair men." To that end we strive to provide quality literature and educational books for use in training the next generation. We trust our products will assist you in developing your family's love for God and country."
You can see what the Crew has to say about the Zeezok products by clicking on the links below:
This blog will be the home-base for the TOS Homeschool Crew reviews. I will post a basic product description, and the members of the crew will come and post a link to their reviews.
Please stop back often as we have a lot of products on board!
Some general information about Beehive Reader 1:
