Aug. 18, 2009 - Google Calendar is Great!

I’ve talked in the past about my planning month. This year we are plugging along as usual and the planning is getting done. I only have one child left who isn’t in high school yet. Once my children are in high school I believe they need to be more involved in planning their day to day assignments. When they are still in elementary, middle school or junior high I find that daily assignments are extremely helpful, even necessary with some students. If I don’t start the school year with a calendar, a calculator, and the school books I can never tell whether my students are on track or hopelessly behind schedule. In the past I have typed the assignments into a Daytimer® software program which printed two pages per month calendars that I could put in a nice folder. I would decorate the front of the folder and wrap the whole thing in clear contact paper to water-proof it.

Now that I’ve told you about the system I use, it’s time to tell you about this great new product that I have found. It does a better job with my calendars and it’s FREE! Google Calendar is my new best friend. Meredith, don’t worry! I’m just kidding, but I do love this product. I signed up for a Google Calendar account using my G-Mail address. I signed my son, Josh, up for a Google Calendar account using his Earthlink e-mail address. We can share our calendars with each other and anybody we specify. We can even view public calendars along side our own, like a list of American holidays. My college son, Zack, has an account as well so I can keep track of his class and work schedule. My husband, who doesn’t normally do a lot with computers, has signed up for his own Google Calendar account. One by one the whole family is getting its schedule together.

I am a big technology fan. I have all kinds of great computer software and gadgets, including Outlook on my laptop and a Blackberry. Google Calendar lets me take advantage of all these! I’m so excited. Google Calendar syncs with my Outlook and so does my Blackberry. I can choose to set pop up reminders on my laptop, or alarms on my blackberry OR Google Calendar can send me text reminders right to my Blackberry. My son doesn’t have all these great devices but he does have unlimited texting so he enjoys the text reminders.

For those of you, like my real best friend, Meredith, who aren’t big fans of technology… IT’S EASY!! To add a new event simply click on the Create Event link or click on the day where you want to add the event. You can change the view from day, to week, to month, to a custom selection of your own. You can specify a time or an all day event. You can even make your events repeat daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or other custom options. Everything is clearly labeled and works as you would expect.

One last feature about Google Calendar which I really appreciate is that each user can set up multiple, color coded calendars. When I set up Joshua’s account I added family and friends birthdays as his main calendar. After that I set up a separate calendar for each subject he will be studying: Bible, Math, Science, Language Arts, PC, Foreign Language, & History. All that was left to do was add an event for each assignment in the appropriate calendar. I abbreviate as much as possible so that the assignments will fit on one line each. While I’m working on the calendars I can select to view only the one I need, but when it’s time to print I can select them all, including holidays. Each calendar is a different color and Josh can see at a glance which subjects he’ll be working on that day. All the calendars included are listed at the top, so I can see at a glance that I included everything I wanted.

What else can I say? Google Calendar is great! If you’re organized, it’ll help you stay that way. If you’re not organized, it’ll help you get that way. I’m not organized by nature, but I have found that taking the time each summer to plan class assignments and put them into a printed calendar helps me and my children to have an organized school year. Check it out for yourself at http://www.google.com/calendar.

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Mar. 16, 2009 - Apologia's Exploring Creation with Biology Review

 Christ-centered with an emphasis on the wonder of God's living creatures, we have used Apologia's Exploring Creation with Biology in our home for years.  In fact, Shine will be using this textbook next year in ninth grade for Biology.  I was thrilled to receive another copy of Exploring Creation with Biology by Dr. Jay L. Wile to review. With a heart to glorify Jesus Christ as Lord, Creator, and Sustainer of all of life, Apologia science textbooks are wonderful tools for the Christian homeschool.

Exploring Creation with Biology is the best biology textbook I have ever seen. With a Bachelors degree in nursing, I have taken my fair share of biology classes and read numerous science textbooks at the high school and college level. I am impressed with the thorough coverage in Exploring Creation with Biology. The textbook is divided into sixteen modules. Here are the modules:  Defining life, Classification, Taxonomy, Kingdom Monera (Bacteria), Kingdom Protista (one celled organisms), Kingdom Fungi (yeasts and molds), Chemistry of Life (elements, molecules, photosynthesis, carbohydrates, proteins, and enzymes), The Cell, Cellular Reproduction and DNA, Mendelian Genetics, Theory of Evolution, Ecology, The Invertebrates of Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda (Crustacea, Spiders, Insects), Phylum Chordata (animals with a vertebrea), Kingdom Plantae:  Anatomy and Classification, Kingdom Plantae:  Physiology and Reproduction, Reptiles & Birds & Mammals.    The "On Your Own" Questions are throughout the module with answers at the end of each module.  At the end of each module is a study guide for  the student to fill out.  This study guide is great preparation for the tests, which are available in a package with the textbook for $85.00 or with the solutions manual only for $20.00 on their website:  https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4 The textbook is available separately for $65.00.

One of my favorite parts of all Apologia textbooks is the page at the beginning of the book entitled, "Need Help?"  This page lists all the possible ways for you, the homeschooling mom, to receive support and help using this textbook.  You can get help via mail, email, on their website, by fax, or by phone.  There is also a companion CD available with video and animation to accompany the textbook.  The multimedia CD also gives pronunciations and works out problems related to the material.  In addition, this textbook has a special website for this course.  The textbook contains the web address and password for you and your student to use the website.  For the biology class, you can purchase a microscope ($220.00), slide set with microscope ($270.00), a microscope slide set alone ($80.00) or a dissection kit with specimens ($40.00).  Everything else you need for the course can be found around your house or picked up at Wal Mart. 

Exploring Creation with Biology is a beautiful book!  There are lovely charts, graphs, illustrations, photographs, and funny cartoons to keep your interest throughout the whole book.  I enjoyed leafing through the entire book to look at all the pictures.  Well-written and easy to understand, your high school student will have no problem understanding this book. For the vast amount of information that is covered, great detail is shared without it being dry and boring. Another great job, Apologia!  Way to go!

You can purchase Apologia's (http://apologia.com/) Exploring Creation with Biology textbook on their website for $65.00 and the solutions/test manual for $20.00.  The companion CD-rom is available for $15.00.  The entire set is available on CD-rom for $65.00 (you would have to print book and tests!).  These textbooks are not cheap, but worth the price!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 22, 2009 - Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science Review

Christ-centered with an emphasis on the wonder of God's Creation, Apologia textbooks are always a favorite of mine!  I received Exploring Creation with General Scienceby Dr. jay L. Wile to review and was thrilled.  One more Apologia textbook to add to my growing collection.  I have the all the high school textbooks, zoology, botany, and physical science.  I love them all!  With a heart to glorify Jesus Christ as Lord, Creator, and Sustainer of all of life, Apologia science textbooks are wonderful tools for the Christian homeschool.

Exploring Creation with General Scienceis written for middle schoolers, but could be read aloud to younger children or even used by high schoolers. What a neat textbook!  It covers so many different topics:  a little bit of physics, some earth science and geology, some biology, and several chapters on anatomy!  I love the way it touches on a little bit of every kind of science.  The only science not really addressed is chemistry. The textbook contains sixteen modules, which take about two weeks each to finish.  The "On Your Own" Questions at the end of each module should be answered as you read through the module.  The Study Guide Questions (at the end of the book in the appendix) should be answered after you read the entire module. Throughout each module are experiments that can be done with things you have around your home.  Let me give you a list of all the modules covered in this book!

Module # 1:  A Brief History of Science

Module # 2:  Scientific Inquiry

Module # 3:  How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments

Module # 4:  Science, Applied Science, and Technology

Module # 5:  The History of Life--Archeology, Geology, and Paleontology

Module # 6:  Foundations of Geology

Module # 7:  The Fossil Record

Module # 8:  Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism

Module # 9:  What is Life?

Module # 10: Classifying Life

Module # 11:  The Human Body:  Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Module # 12:  Energy and Life

Module # 13:  The Human Digestive System

Module # 14:  The Human Respiratory and Circulatory System

Module # 15:  The Human Lymphatic, Endocrine, and Urinary Systems

Module # 16:  The Human Nervous System 

One of my favorite parts of all Apologia textbooks is the page at the beginning of the book entitled, "Need Help?"  This page lists all the possible ways for you, the homeschooling mom, to receive support and help using this textbook.  You can get help via mail, email, on their website, by fax, or by phone.  There is also a companion CD available with video and animation to accompany the textbook.  The multimedia CD also gives pronunciations and works out problems related to the material.  In addition, this textbook has a special website for this course.  The textbook contains the web address and password for you and your student to use the website.

Exploring Creation with General Science is a beautiful book!  There are lovely charts, graphs, illustrations, photographs, and funny cartoons to keep your interest throughout the whole book.  I enjoyed leafing through the entire book to look at all the pictures.  I found the illustrations of body systems and organs bright, colorful, and easy to understand.  Well-written and easy to understand, your middle school student will have no problem reading this book on his/her own.  However, the whole family may enjoy listening to Mom read it aloud too!

This is the best General Science textbook I've read! For the vast amount of information that is covered, great detail is shared without it being dry and boring. Another great job, Apologia!  Way to go!

You can purchase Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science textbook on their website for $65.00 and the solutions/test manual for $20.00.  The companion CD-rom is available for $15.00.  The entire set is available on CD-rom for $65.00 (you would have to print book and tests!).  These textbooks are not cheap, but worth the price!

Happy Homeschooling!  Enjoy the journey of learning more about God and His Creation!

 Meredith!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 22, 2009 - One2Believe Noah's Ark Playset Review

"You got a package of stuff to review," my son, Jimmy, informed me.  "Do you need me 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! 

I am going to use my playset when I teach Sunday School as an object lesson and for free playtime.  Or maybe I'll save it for my grandchildren...I just have to hide it from my kids.

If you are interested in the Noah's Ark playset or any of the other toys from One2Believe, visit their website here!  You can order the Noah's Ark playset here for $29.99.  This company, One2Believe, has a vision to provide toys with a purpose, teaching children, through play, about the greatest heroes that ever lived!  I like this company and their vision.  These toys are created to make Bible lessons come alive with the hope that all the children who play with these toys will come to have faith in Jesus Christ and be born again!  What a great mission for a company to have!

So, to all you Moms who are raising their children to be radical disciples of Jesus:  blessing and Godspeed!  

 Meredith Curtis

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 17, 2009 - Math Mammouth Review!

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, susubtraction, multiplication, division, place value, clocks, metric measurement, fractions, decimals, U.S. money, and Canadian money.  You can purchase individual e-books at Curriclick with prices ranging from $2.00 to $5.00. There are some great dealson 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 Curriclick.

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 Curriclick. The Green Series is workbooks by topic.  The worksheet pages are pulled straight from the Gold Series. 

I received several e-books to review:  Math Mammoth Gold:  Algebra I-A and Algebra I-B with answer keys, Math Mammoth Green:  Statistics with answer key, and Math Mammoth Green:  Ratio, Proportion, and Percent with answer key.

Math Mammoth Gold:  Algebra 1-Ais a set of one page worksheets that cover different topics in Algebra.  It does not contain textbook teaching and explanations.  This collection was designed as a supplement, when students need to work more of the same type of problems.  Even without explanations, my son had no difficulty doing the problems.  They were straightforward and easy to follow.  The book is attractive and neatly laid out.  You can't ask for much more from a math book.  I liked the answer keys and found them easy to use.  I liked all the pretty colors used in the problems too!

Math Mammoth Green:  Statistics is another collection of worksheets with statistics problems.  My son, who uses a different math curriculum, had no problem using these worksheets.  The problems were easy to understand and simple to follow.  The workbook itself was laid out well and attractive looking. The colors were pleasant.  All the bar graphs were easy to read and understand with pretty colors to make it interesting!

I did not receive any of the Blue or Light Blue curriculum (with the explanations) because my youngest son is in Pre-Algebra, so I cannot tell you how well Maria explains mathematical concepts.  That, of course, is what will matter if you are considering using Math Mammoth as a curriculum.  So, I decided to go on-line and read over all the samples from her website.  You can do the same and see if you like her teaching style.  I thought she was pretty good.  Here is Maria's Math Mammoth website and her main math website, Homeschool Math is here.  It is full of free resources for teachers and parents with on-line games, curriculum reviews, and articles.

If you're looking for extra math problems or even a whole math curriculum, Math Mammoth is worth checking out!

Happy Homeschooling!

Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 16, 2009 - Deeper Roots: Discovering Who I am in Christ Bible Curricululm Review

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 assingment, 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!

Here are the lessons covered in this book:  Sinner or Saint?, A New Creation, Adopted!, Precious in His Sight, Citizens of Heaven, A Sheep in His Pasture, A Royal Priest, A Branch Full of Fruit, Free at Last, and Who am I?:  A Summary.  The unreached people profiles in this book were:  Banjar People, Phuta People, Guizhou Yi People, Bhadrawahih People, Bedouin Arab People, Malu People, Nukak (Macu) People, Balinese People, Higlanders of PNG, and Neighborhood People.

The Teacher's Guide is an important part of this class and includes very precise lesson plans.  All the answers are given for each lesson and teaching tips, illustrations, and teaching plans are given.  Science is added in lesson two and six, art is added in lesson four, and social studies is added in lesson five and seven.  This curriculum is written for classroom use and is complete with tests.  It would work wonderfully in a coop situation or another formal classroom setting.  A homeschool mom using this at home with her children would need to make adjustments and make the curriculum less formal.  But the material is worth adapting...it is lovely to look at, and, more importantly, will give your junior high student a feast on God's Word!

You can purchase Discovering Who I am in Christ and other workbooks at Deeper Roots's website for $19.95.  The Teacher's guides are available for $28.95. 

If you are looking for a non-denominational, Christ-centered Bible curriculum, check this out!  From beginning to the end, I appreciate the tone of this curriculum.  Jesus is exalted, His Word is honored, and students are encouraged to love and obey Him with all their hearts!  Great Work, Deeper Roots!  I'm impressed!

Blessings to everyone!

Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 15, 2009 - Heads Up Now Review

"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 querried 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, 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 catelog.

Now, let's get back to the frames and readers that arrived at my house to be reviewed. Here is a picture of the reader frames, especially helpful for students with dyslexia.  They come in a rainbow of colors.  They are quite simple to use and allow the reader to block out nonessential information and pay closer attention to the material at hand.  They come in different sizes for different sized reading material.  The square ones are perfect for highlighting math problems.  

 The use of color draws the child's attention away from everything else to the subject matter at hand.  I don't know why certain colors work better for certain students.  I did my own non-scientific survey with my own children and their friends.  I had them use each color to read with and then decide which color was the easiest to use and was the most difficult to use.  Here were my results for easiest color to use:  Cody--yellow; Josh--light blue; Jimmy--yellow; Cassie--green, Phoebe--orange; and Shine--blue.  Here were my results for hardest colors to use:  Cody--blue; Josh--pink; Jimmy--red; Cassie--red and blue; Phoebe--pink and blue; and Shine--orange.  I couldn't figure out any rhyme or reason that colors were any easier or harder for people to use.  It must be personal preference. 

For my children and me, these were just fun things to play around with, but I decided to show them to my friend, Mary.  Her daughter has dyslexia and reading is a challenge.  When she saw my collection of reading frames her face lit up, as did her daughter's when she was using the reading frames.  What a difference they make to students who need them!

Be sure to check out Head's Up Now's website to get an idea of all they offer. I was intrigued by some of the things that offer for kids with ADD and ADHD.  They have neat squishy toys that kids can hold while they do school, big balls (like the exercise balls) that they can sit on for movement while they work, and "weighted" blankets and toy snakes that somehow help your ADD/ADHD students.  Quite interesting!

There are so many books available on all kinds of topics, including autism and aspergers.  There are also speech and language programs to do speech therapy at home with your child.  There are also many teaching games available.  Neat stuff here!  If you have a special needs child, please check out this company.  It may have just what you are looking for.  The reading frames are available for $1.00 a piece.  

A word of caution. The books and materials are from "professional" educators and doctors for the most part.  There is no mention of God or Jesus in the entire catelog.  Realize that anytime you glean information from a secular source, you must be VERY discerning!  I would use their materials and steer away from the teaching toward a Christian perspective and taking good care of your special needs children.  All children need to be raised in the fear and instruction of the Lord!  Look for wisdom in the Lord in this area by contacting NATHAN:   National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network.  They seek to equip Christian families to raise challenged children in ways that honor and glorify the Lord!  Here is a list of books that NATHAN recommends!

May the Lord bless you as you serve your children!

Blessings!
Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 15, 2009 - Aplogia Exploring Creation with Zoology Review

I love Apologia textbooks because they are easy to understand, full of beautiful pictures, and have hands-on activities that require things I can find around my house.  But my very favorite thing about ALL Apologia textbooks is that they honor God as the Creator and  Sustainer of Life!  More than any other textbook, Apologia seeks to promote Creationism by filling the readers' hearts with wonder as the marvels of the Creation are explained!

When Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 1:  Flying Creatures of the Fifth Dayby Jeannie K. Fulbright arrived to be reviewed, I was thrilled. So, let me tell you a little bit about this book on flying creatures that were created on the fifth day.  This elementary/middle school age textbook is 240 pages long and can be understood by every age and grade level, but I would recommend 4th through 7th grade. 

One of my favorite parts of Apologia's textbooks is a page right near the beginning titled, "Need Help?"  The entire page is devoted to getting help through the mail, email, on the web, by fax, and by phone.  It sort of gives you the idea that they care about helping homeschooling moms and their students!  They really are great at being supportive and available.  One more thing to love about Apologia!

Another favorite part of the textbook for me is the three page list of everything single things you need to complete every project, experiment, and activity in the book.  It is laid out chapter by chapter and is so simple to follow.  Very quick and easy, so mom can just add items to her grocery list if they are no already in the house.  (Most items are already in your home!)

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 remember the material.  I love reading these textbooks aloud with my children, no matter what age, but older elementary children and older will have no problem reading it on their own and understanding everything.

Notebooking activities often involve narration.  Here is an example from lesson 9, A First Look at Insects.  "Write down what you remember from the lesson in your notebook.  The topics we covered were:  classification of insects, exoskeletons, eyes, heads, antennae, the three types of mouths, the thorax, and the abdomen.  See how much you can remember from each of these topics.  Record it on paper 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 of the textbook)  Other times notebooking activities are more light hearted, such as making an advertisement.

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

Here is a list of topics covered in this textbook:  what is zoology?, classification, extinction, bird watching, what makes a bird a bird, bird feathers, flying, nesting, matching & hatching, bats, flying reptiles, insects, insect life cycles, social insects, beetles, flies, interesting insects, and lepidoptera.  If you want want to learn more, there is a password for the course website where students and teachers can dig deeper.  But, I can't give you the password.  You have to buy the book for yourself!  To learn more, check out their webiste:  http://apologia.com/ 

Yes, in case you haven't guessed, I highly recommend this textbook!  Blessings to all you mothers of future scientists in the service of their Creator-King! 

Homeschooling for His Glory!
Meredith 

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 6, 2009 - Math Tutor DVDs 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. 

  Now, 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!  We really need daily help because math is a subject that our children should do everyday.  I received two DVDs 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!  In fact, 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-caluculus student)

"It was a little boring....but math is a little boring. 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:  The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor (8 hours of instruction) and The Algebra 2 Tutor (6 hours of instruction).  There are no bells and whistles in Jason's teaching...just straigthforward, easy-to-understand math instruction.  Don't expect jokes, cute little cartoon characters, or funny skits.  This is staightforward math!  The Algebra 2 Tutor 2 DVD set is sold on their website for $26.99 (list price = $34.99).  The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor 2 DVD set is also sold for $26.99 on their website (list price = $34.99).     

Math Tutor DVDs website has sample videos that you can watch online. You can also find Math Tutor on facebook.  I recommend watching them with your kids and see what everybody thinks.  This may be the help that you are looking for in your home school for the dreaded subject of math!

Blessings to you and your family!

Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 5, 2009 - Logic, Critical Thinking, & 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.  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.

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!

Let me just say a little something about critical thinking and logic.  Critical thinking is a broad term thrown around in educational circles.  The definitions vary. For some educators, with a Post-Modernist worldview, critical thinking involves questioning all authority and morality, except the reliability of the critical thinker's own doubts. These "critical thinking" educators propose exercises that involves questions such as "Who should live when there are only five seats on the lifeboat and ten people in the sinking boat?"  The real question, of course, is who should die.  Morality becomes relative, rather than based on the unchanging principles found in God's Word.  Gone is the classical "search for truth," only to be replaced with a "discover what I belief truth is" or, better yet, "make up what I want truth to be."  These educators, while sounding so intellectual, are only spouting off nonsense!  This is why I am concerned when I hear the term 'critical thinking.'  You can recognize these products because they show one-world governments as heroes who will rescue mankind or the polluted earth from the evil white male chauvinists.  They will stress that there are "no right answers," promote skepticism, and produce confusion in your child.  When you see these materials, toss them in the garbage where they belong!

However, because logic is out and critical thinking is in style with secular educators, some companies package LOGIC in workbooks and call it 'critical thinking.'  I think this is the case with Critical Thinking Press.  There 'critical thinking' problems are based on the principles of logic, rather than the current educational nonsense we have left public schools to get away from.

Logic is the art of reasoning. Logic presupposes that there is absolute unchanging truth.  Christians would define that truth as found in God and revealed through His Word, the Bible.  The goal of logical reasoning is to arrive at truth, not to support your own opinion with intellectual-sounding reasoning. 

Check out their website, Critical Thinking, and take a look at all their products.  They offer free printable sample pages and free trials of their software. They also offer test preparation if you are worried about standardized testing.  Check out their articles on thinking skills too. 

Blessings to you and your family!

Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 4, 2009 - 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.  At the end of the year you have your very own adventure novel. This is a practical course on fiction writing.  It covers all the basics and provides strong peramaters and boundaries for that 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 suspence in his/her novel.  Your child will be writing about a Heroic Quest. 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!  Four 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.

The complete homeschool writing curriculum package includes The Compass, The Map, 7 DVDs, a teacher's guide, and a copy of the novel, The Prisoner of Zenda. There is also a bonus DVD disk with 26 quizzes and 14 classic adventure novels (Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, The Jungle Book, The Blood Ship, Captain's Courageous, Black Rock, Tarzan, Rupert of Hentzau, King Solomon's Mines, Wulf the Saxon, Peter Pan and more). The cost is $199.00 for the entire package.  You can order from their website: http://www.oneyearnovel.com/

Daniel tells us in the beginning of the course that there are three basic plot types in novels:  the romance, the character change, and the heroic quest where the the protagonist must overcome trials and adversity to achieve the "story goal."  In lesson 3, we learn how to write a synopsis that has two parts, a situation and a question.  The situation in our synopsis is the way things are (the Context), someone to care about (the Hero), and something to want (the Story Goal).  The question in our synopsis is something to dread (the Villian), something to suffer (the price paid), and something to learn (the Theme). Throughout the whole book we read excerpts of good books, classic adventure stories, that illustrate what Daniel is teaching us.  I'm so excited about this curriculum! 

In high school, I teach speech and essays freshman year, research writing sophomore year, fiction writing junior year, and delight-directed writing senior year.  I have used, and been very happy with,  Writing the Novel Way from Konos for fiction writing.  I will continue to use and point people to Writing the Novel Way, but this fiction writing curricululm, One Year Adventure Novel, stands alone, apart from other writing curricula.  Your child will learn about writing in a more in-depth way than I have seen in other writing curriculums.  I am very impressed.

My friends, Laura and Karen, and I are going to use the One Year Adventure Novel curriculum next year with our high schoolers--a senior, two juniors, two freshman, and two seventh graders.  Now, we will adapt things for our seventh graders! Did I mention that I want to be part of the class?

You can learn more about One Year Adventure Novel curriculum at their website here http://www.oneyearnovel.com/  or visit the author's publishing company, Clear Water Press, website here http://clearwaterpress.com/index.html. On the One Year Adventure Novel website, there is a showcase for student novels.  You and your child could take a look at those completed works to see what the year will hold should you choose to use this amazing fiction writing curriculum.

Blessings to you and your family!

Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 3, 2009 - Five in a Row Volume 3 Review

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

Five in a Rowis a curriculum designed for children ages 4 to 8, so I never paid much attention to it.  By the time I had heard of it, 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.

There were sixteen picture books to read in this volume, including one that is the famous poem, Paul Revere's Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Each book has its own section with information about the book and activities to go along with your daily reading.  You learn about the book, it author, its illustrator, its copyright date, and a summary of the book. 

The rest of the book's section is devoted to activities to accompany your reading.  The activities are divided up in the following categories:  Social Studies, Language Arts, Science, Math, and Art.  You read the book each day and choose one or more activities to do with your child/children.  The next day you read the book aloud again and choose a different activity.  You can make your own lesson plans, be spontaneous each day, or use Jane's lesson planning sheet.  Jane even has a sample lesson planning sheet filled out.  

Let me give you some details using The Bee Treeby Patricia Polacco, one of the books in Five in a Row volume 3.  Here is Jane's summary:  "An adventure and a merry chase lead to a discovery about reading when Mary Ellen learns that good things take effort."  Here are some of the activities you can do with your child/children.

Social Studies:  your own family's traditions (relationships), Michigan & Yukon Territory, Canada (geography), Eastern European culture (culture), plan a time of hospitality (hospitality), kindness to animals (relationships).

Language Arts:  recognizing signals and catching clues (clues in language), onomatopoeia, vocabulary, analogy.

Art:  instruments in the story (musicians and instruments), appreciating artwork in book (art appreciation), make a map of the adventure (map making).

Math:  Hexagons.

Science:  Bees & beekeeping, gold & gold mining.

I was very impressed with these books.  Add phonics instruction and a math book and these series would make a wonderful first grade curriculum!  Volume 3 is available for $25.00 for standard binding and $35.00 for spiral binding.  The collection of books (all ten picture books covered in volume 3) is sold on Jane's website for $99.00.  You don't need to buy the picture books--they can be found in your library, or at least ordered through inter-library loan. 

Visit Jane's website here:  http://fiveinarow.com/ Jane is a pioneer homeschooling mom who started homeschooling her own children in 1982.  She's a grandmother now, passing along her love and knowledge of good books to a brand new generation!  Check out  Five in a Row--you'll be glad you did!

Blessings to you and your family!

Meredith

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jan. 18, 2009 - Salem Ridge Press Review!

Salem Ridge Press Review

         What kind of company does a homeschool graduate start?  A publishing company, of course!  Daniel Mills, a homeschool grad, firmly believes that what we read forms our ideas and character.  As a young man, he read two very old books, At Seneca Castle and Our Fellows.  After reading them, he had a strong desire to republish them.  Years later, Daniel decided to do just that!