Posted in Reviews

About the product/service:  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received the TOS 2009 Homeschool Planner to review.  Now, I have to say, right away, that this product is totally misnamed.  I mean, it is so much more than a homeschool planner.  Seriously, folks, it's like a life coach!  LOL

I'm not kidding here people!  This planner has EVERYTHING!  Well, everything I could ever need anyway, and even some stuff I don't need!  LOL  (I'm thinking here of the page for garden planning.  I wouldn't have a green thumb if I took a green permanent marker to it.  It would probably just turn brown like my plants do!)

I'll try to describe it for you, but I don't know if I can do it justice.  But here goes..

First, there are calendars.  The cool thing is that you can type stuff on to the calendar before printing, leave it blank to pencil in later, or even just keep it on your computer.  Then in each month's section, there is an article, some supplemental information, and two recipes.  There is also a page of links to products available at The Old Schoolhouse Store on the month's topic.  The July theme, for example, is the thirteen original colonies.  (That would be American colonies, of course.)

Then there are the pages for household forms.  There are just so many forms here!  Use these forms to organize everything from your grocery lists, to your Christmas Card lists!  (Be sure I'm on it, too.  I get so few these days!  Could be that I never get around to sending any out?)

Then, of course there's all the homeschool stuff.  I kid you not, there really are forms for everything school related you can think of.  There are ideas to keep your toddlers busy and there's an article about getting your teen into college. Then there's a form for everything in between. There are forms for keeping track of subjects studied, crafts completed, library books borrowed, chores completed, grades earned, etc., etc., etc.  I'm getting tired of typing here, so I'll just move on!  LOL

Then there are just all the extras!  Pages to help your little one practice the alphabet, lists of all sorts of interesting facts, on and on it goes.  Let's just put it this way, you could spend 24/7 using this planner and still not get to everything.  It just has SO much! 

What are the pros of this product?  Well, I think you can figure out from my description above that there are lots of pros.  I like that you can type right onto the forms.  That's my main gripe with most PDF stuff.  I like that it does not take the approach that all homeschoolers teach alike.  There are even forms for unschoolers in the planner.  I like that there is just so much information here! 

I guess it's not bad!  LOL  :)

What's not to like?  I thought a good, long, time to come up with three things I wish had been included in this planner.

1.

2.

3.

Sorry, folks, they have thought of everything!  Honestly, if you buy this planner and find that they have not thought of something, you just leave a comment and I will let the good folks at TOS know about it! ;)

The Crazy Mom take:  OK, I really like this product.  Now, the real test will be if I am smart enough to actually USE it!  I tend to be a bit of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kinda gals.  I NEED to use planners!  I think the first thing I am going to do with it is plan next year's school year.  Each year I just scribble out my plans in old notebooks and then lose them before I order the books.  LOL  I also never follow the great schedule I come up with because I can't find it!  This year I will type everything right onto the planner page and it will be sitting right here on my computer.  Then I can print it out and lose it as many times as I want to!  :)

Of course, if you are an organized sort of gal, you will probably be even more excited about the planner than I am. So check it out and happy planning!!!

What's the bottom line? $39.00

I am going to give out of 5 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out!  http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191_193&products_id=10450

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/698913/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Reviews

New to my blog?

 Check out my welcome post at

 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

LOVE IS A VERB
STORIES OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LOVE COMES ALIVE

BY:  Gary Chapman

Posted in Reviews

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Exposure
A Novel


By: Brandilyn Collins   

Format: Softcover | Audio Download, Unabridged | Show All

List Price: $14.99 (USD) 

As part of Zondervan's blogger program I was sent an advance reader's copy of Exposure, by Brandilyn Collins.  I can't hold it in, I loved this book!!!

Okay, I know I'm supposed to tell you a bit about the book first, before I give you my take on it, so here it goes.  The story revolves around a newspaper columnist names Kaycee Raye.  Kaycee deals with multiple fears and devotes a column to writing about those fears and helping others to deal with their own fear issues. 

One day Kaycee comes home and is standing in her kitchen when suddenly a camera she hadn't noticed sitting on her table takes her picture.  Frightened, she picks up the camera to find not just her own picture, but a picture of a dead man.  She throws the camera in a panic and goes to the police, only to have them search the house and find nothing out of order, and of course, no camera.  The police write it off as one of Kaycee's many false alarms.

This is just the first in a number of mysterious and terrifying events which Kaycee must try to ignore as she has an even more important task ahead of her.  A young friend of hers has gone missing and she must find her. 

This book was a page-turner from page one.  I was totally absorbed in the storyline from the minute I started reading.  As with any good mystery, I was totally stumped as to what was going on and try as I did, I could not put all the pieces together.  In the end was twist I never saw coming. 

Brandilynn Collins is a new author to me, but I will be reading more of her books.  Like I said above, I really loved this book!

Happy reading!

Additional info:

ISBN: 0310276438,  ISBN-13: 9780310276432

Suggested Uses: Spiritual Growth
Ages: Adult

Related Product Types: Fiction – Suspense / Mystery

Book & Bible Cover Size: Medium
Page Count: 272

Paper Edge Description: Plain
Size: 5.5 wide x 8.4 high x 0.8 deep in. | 139 wide x 213 high x deep 20 mm
Weight: 0.615 lb | 278 gms

Available: June 2009
Publisher: Zondervan

Posted in Life in the Crazy House

Posted in Reviews

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Hello blog readers!

Well, my first year-long stint as a TOS Crew reviewer has come to an end.  I have to say, it has been one of the most wonderful and fulfilling things I have done!  I got to try SO MANY new and wonderful things! 

It's been lots of fun to try all of these products and services with my family, and I have really enjoyed sharing my opinions with all of you.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about them as much as I have enjoyed writing about them! 

It wasn't easy, but I have chosen my Top Ten Products for 2009.  They are in no particular order. 

THE BEST!!!

ALEKS

One Year Adventure Novel

Crayola Art Studio

Friendly Chemistry

Math Mammoth

Flying Creatures of the 5th Day

The Missing Link: FOUND

Times Tales

Latina Christiana

SpellQuizzer

ALEKS is a web-based math program that corrects you child's work as he or she goes along.  Progress is shown as the pie chart fills up.  My son completed an entire year's worth of work in two month's becausehe was so motivated by ALEKS's unique program.

ONE YEAR ADVENTURE NOVEL is a fantastic creative writing program that will show your child, step by step, how to write an entire adventure novel in just one year!

CRAYOLA ART STUDIO is like Microsoft Paint on steroids.  It's just too cool for words, you'll have to check it out for yourself.

FRIENDLY CHEMISTRY is a program that's not pretty, but it makes chemistry so simple; I loved it!  A diamond in the rough, that I hope really catches on in the near future!

MATH MAMMOTH makes doing math simple.  Just print out the pages you need and you're good to go.  No more misplacing books and you can print each page as many times as necessary for a child who needs practice, or even other kids in the family.  Sorry, you still might have to search for a pencil.

FLYING CREATURES OF THE FIFTH DAY from Apologia.  This book is all about birds, bats, flying insects and more.  Very easy to read, and lots of fun ideas for your budding scientist.

THE MISSING LINK: FOUND is an exciting adventure novel written by a homeschool girl.  It's all about a family who believes in a young earth and the trials they go through as they try to discover the truth about the discovery of the so-called missing link.

TIMES TALES is just the way coolest way to teach your kids the upper level times tables.  Period.

LATINA CHRISTIANA is an easy to use program that will help you to teach your child Latin.  You'll learn it too!  :)

SPELLQUIZZER is an easy to use computer program that will help your child learn to spell.  My kids love it!!!

So there you have it!  My Top 10!  I must admit, though, there are lots of others that almost made the cut.  I pretty much loved everything I got.  It was a great year! 

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From a Distance

Happy reading!!!

Posted in Promos

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Price: $15.99 (Trade Paperback)

As part of the blogger program from Crossway Books I got a copy of What Does the Bible Say About That? by Carolyn Larsen and illustrated by Rick Incrocci.  I didn't know what to expect when I joined the program, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this book on my doorstep!

The book is marketed to kids ages 8-12 and, as you might guess from the title, addresses many topics from a biblical perspective.  When I say many, I mean well over 300 topics.  It covers everything from anger and attitude to world missions and worship.  Each page addresses a single topic, and it is all laid out in a simple and easy to use format.

First, the topic is addressed in general, then several scriptures are given that address the subject specifically, then after a bit more discussion there is a "Today I will..." section that gives your child (or maybe you!) a way to apply what the Bible says about a certain issue to his/her (or your!) life.

This is such a wonderful book to have.  You could use it as a daily devotional, or you could pull it out when you need to address a particular issue.  Of course, it would certainly okay to do both! 

My plan is to go through this book over the summer with my kids, addressing one or maybe two issues per day.  I think we will simply read through it in order, but I might choose to address a specific area if necessary.  The way I look at it though, most kids (and parents!) need tweaking, or just a better biblical understanding, in just about every area of life.  My five-year-old and thirteen-year-old will be joining my eight, nine and eleven-year-olds as we go through this book.

If you are like me you probably tend to bring up scripture when you are trying to help your kids work out their issues.  This book will be a handy little guide to help you do just that.  You can even hand it to your child, and have him or her look up the topic and study it on his or her own.  Beats giving a lecture! 

As you might have guessed, I highly recommend this book. 

~The Crazy Mom

For more info about Crossway and their publications visit their blog at:  http://www.crossway.org/blog

• ISBN-10: 1433502135
• ISBN-13: 9781433502132
• Format: Trade Paperback
• Pages: 352 Size: 6 x 9 inches
• Published: Jan 31, 2009

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Format: Jacketed Hardcover
Retail Price:  $17.99

The Noticer could easily be described as a quick-read, Christian fiction novel, but it's a whole lot more than that.  The fact is, it isn't a long book, it is a page turner, and you could easily plunk yourself down and read this in a few hours.  However, that would be mean missing out on the real meat of this story.

The Noticer is about a guy named Andy and his relationship with Jonas, a mysterious old man who always seems to be in the right place at the right time.  Jonas always has just the right advice for every situation, and he shares his advice not only with Andy, but with several residents of a small town named Orange Beach.  Once you meet Jonas, your life will never be the same.  He understands what you are going through, whether it be homelessness, divorce, reaching old age or any number of other issues we all face. 

Like I said, this book is very meaty.  My recommendation would be to either read it once and then go back and really let the message sink in, or read one chapter at a time.  Each chapter contains a nugget (or  several nuggets) of wisdom that deserve to be pondered.  Sure, some of I have seen in e-mail forwards, but it is good advice anyway.  (Oh, and I do think there were a few historical inaccuracies concerning George Washington Carver.  Not that it in any way takes away from the message, but I had just read a Carver bio and it kinda bugged me!  LOL)

Once you read the book, the hope of the author is that you'll become a noticer too.  Sometimes we all just need to learn to get a new perspective on things.  This book helps you to do just that.

For more information on The Noticer, click HERE.

ISBN: 0785229213
ISBN-13: 9780785229216
Format: Jacketed Hardcover
Trim Size: 5.60 x 8.40 x 0.80
Style#: 9780785229216
Page Count: 176
Carton Qty: 24

Posted in Education

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Hello!! 

I am posting an article about Classical Education from my fellow First Mate Kristen's blog.  I will be posting some reviews here soon products from Memoria Press and Tapestry of Grace, both which are classical curricula, so I thought it would be a good idea to give you an idea of just what classical education is.  I am not a classical educator and am just learning about it myself, so I asked Kristen if she would enlighten us and she graciously agreed. 

Thanks Kristen!!!  :)

Classical Education

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About the product: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was given Write Shop's Primary Book A Teacher's Guide and the corresponding Activity Set Worksheet Pack to review.  I got the digital editions of both products. 

Book A is written for kindergarteners or first graders. It is also appropriate for second graders who are late bloomers or have learning differences. The program accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers.  Students learn about the writing process at the very simplest level.

Unlike most drugstore activity books, these books are not just about filling in the blanks.  You child will do activities and crafts that will help make learning to write fun!

What are the pros of this product?  As for the product in general, it is written to gently teach writing to your student in a way that is fun and not "work."  It's nice that you can feel "OK" having your child dictate to you what he or she wants to write.  I have done this with my children before, but it's nice to know that the author's are not only okay with it, but encourage it!  What can I say, I am a people pleaser.  LOL 

The gentle approach makes it a great way to start off a younger child or older stuggling learner.  Many kids tend to be quite imaginative, but get bogged down by the mechanics of writing.  Once your child sees his or her own story "in print" he or she just might be inspired to grab a pencil and take a stab at it!  Okay, bad visual. LOL Maybe I should say you child might be insprited to grab a pencil and write the story him/herself!

Having the digital edition of the worksheets is great because you simply print what you need.  It makes it nice if you have more than one child using the book.  I honestly don't like making scans of print book so I tend to put it off.  It's very easy just to print out two three for each of my kids.  (In all honesty, I would probably prefer the printed version of the teacher's guide.)

Also, the program is set up so that you can schedule lessons to fit your needs.  They also have a sample schedule for parents teaching kids at different levels.

Another plus is that the program is just so easy to use.  It takes the teacher step-by-step through the process of teaching the child to write.  It is very well put together, much better than anything I've seen for young children, though admittedly I haven't really looked into writing programs for my young children as I thought they were, well, too young!  LOL However, this is so geared to young children that is is just perfect for them.  The lessons are short and sweet so little ones do not get bored, frustrated, or overwhelmed.  Most lessons takes just five or ten minutes.

What's not to like?  I might be crazy, but I'm also frugal.  I found the price just a tad high for the teacher's guide.  For one child it seems a bit high, but if you have two or more it gets a whole lot closer to being a bargain.  I have to say here, though, that the worksheets are a bargain indeed! 

As I said earlier, I would probably prefer the printed edition of the teacher's guide.  This is probably not something that would be true for everyone, but since the only computer in the house that is connected to the printer is in the basement (where I don't like to sit and read), I'm pretty much forced to print it all out.  That means lots of paper and ink.  If I were buying this, I would probably be willing to spend the additional couple dollars, plus shipping, to have the printed version.  Then all I would have to do is print the worksheets and I'd be good to go.

The Crazy Mom take:  I was honestly surprised how impressed I was when I got this book.  Initially I just looked at the worksheets which look a lot like the books I buy for the kids for a few bucks at the local Walgreens.  I even gave them a few of the worksheets thinking that's all there was to it.  Then I started reading the teacher's guide and found out that I was mistaken.

Once I knew what I was doing, I decided that not only my kindergartener and second grader would be doing these activites, but my fourth grader would too.  I just have not focused much on writing with any of my kids at that age.  I don't really get them writing much, or at least I haven't, until they are closer to high school age.  I tend to do a lot of things in a group and do a lot of things orally.  I mean we do spelling and some writing in workbooks, but it hasn't been a huge focus of mine.  (In my defense, my two oldest are getting straight A's in college English, so I am not that pathetic! LOL)

Anyway, I have really been enjoying doing this program with my younger kids.  I work with them all together, but I have them doing it at their own level.  When we write I have Baber, 5, dictate to me what he wants to say and I write it for him.  With Bear, 8, I write it down and she copies it.  Dode Man, 9, writes on his own, though I let him "peek" at the other kids' papers if he is stuck on spelling. 

The fact that everything is spelled out for me makes it so easy.  I could probably come up with a similar program myself if I wanted to, but I just don't have time to reinvent the wheel.  The kids have enjoyed what we've done so far and want to continue.  This is the measure of how much we like something.  When we make it a point to continue using it after the review is turned in, that really says something.  This is one I'm glad to own, and I'll probably even consider using the rest of the books in the series when we get to that point.  I guess you could say, we like it!  :) 

What's the bottom line? Teacher's Guide: $26.95 print/$24.25 e-book  Activity Set Worksheet Pack: $4.95 print/$4.50 e-book

I am going to give out of 5 smileys!!! *

Check it out!  http://www.writeshop.com/

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/667687/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Reviews

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About the products:  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received three books from Apologia Educational Ministries.

For my younger kids I received Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day.  This book is all about winged creatures such as birds, bats and insects. Students reading Flying Creature of the Fifth Day will learn about flight, find out how to attract various birds to their own backyard, study the science of animal classification, and more.

For my middle schoolers I got Exploring Creation with General Science (2nd Edition.) This book was produced for seventh graders, although it can be used for eighth graders if they don't have a  solid science background.  Many families I know use it in high school as a base course and then supplement it as they feel necessary.  This book gives students a good foundation in general science.  He or she will learn the scientific method, designing experiments, simple machines, archaeology, geology, paleontology, biology, and human anatomy and physiology.  Your student will also learn how to perform lots of fun experiments using household items to help aid them in their learning.

My high school students got Exploring Creation with Biology (2nd Edition) This is a very complete high school biology course.  There are 16 modules which introduce your student to animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, organic chemistry, cells, ecology, and much, much, more.  Lots of lab activities are included.  You can also purchase microscopes, slides and even specimens for dissection right from the Apologia website.  You will not have to feel like your student is "missing out" by studying biology at home. 

What are the pros of these products?  All of the science texts are great.  They are written in conversational tone, yet are jam-packed with tons of scientific information.  There are also lots of experiments, as well as question and answer sections.  Colorful photos and illustrations throughout make the layout pleasing to the eye.

What makes Apologia science texts especially attractive for the Christian family, is that they are written from a Christian point of view.  They teach creation science, as opposed to evolution.  However, creation is not simply ignored.  The flaws in the theory are explained so that your child will see that evolution is not only wrong from a theological point of view, but from a scientific one as well.

If your the kind of mom who likes to test, there are tests available along with the solutions.  Also, you can get the product in an MP3 audio CD format for your audio learner.

Check the Apologia website for lots of products and supplements.

What's not to like?  Apologia takes a creationist approach so if you are not a creationist, these are not for you.

Also, these books are are not fluff.  I would say that just about any student could handle the books for younger and middle school aged kids.  However, if your high schooler isn't really science-minded, or tends to get bogged down with details, these may not work for you.  In other words, using these books takes a serious student and a lot of work!  Any student who conquers these book should be able to breeze through any basic science course!  (OK, disclaimer time.  I'm making no guarantees here! Just my humble opinion!) 

 The Crazy Mom take:  Well, I've been an Apologia fan for years.  Now, if you know me from reading my blog, you know I am a bit of a scatter-brained mom.  I don't do tons of testing and follow ups with my kids as they get older.  I give them the books, have them read it, say my prayers, and hope for the best! 

We have had an older version of General Science for years.  My three oldest have all read it.  I normally have them read it when they get to be about 12 or 13.  Well, after reading General Science, my second and third sons easily passed the science section of our state's standardized test.  (Only the two have taken them so far.)  Now, to be honest, we keep tons of science books around here, they've seen lots of science shows, and have read and watched the Magic School Bus.  However, General Science has been our base text.  I suppose I can't give Apologia all the credit for their science knowledge, but they can take a fair share of it!  :)

We have also been using an older version of Exploring Creation Through Biology in our homeschool for years.  Again, I mostly have them simply read through the books on their own, although with the high school books I also have them do the questions at the end of the chapter.  My oldest will be taking his first college biology class next year, so I will have to reserve judgement on how well-prepared he is until then!  LOL He do well on the science portions of the ACT and also on our state's high school standardized tests, so that does mean something.

Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day was totally new to me.  This is a great book for my younger kids.  I was totally excited to get it!  I plan to add it to my curriculum for next year.  Right now I am just having my 4th, 5th, and 6th graders read it as time allows.  So far they seem to enjoy it.  When we start up school again next year we will go through it and do all the activities and experiments.  I'm looking forward to it!  Suddenly all the other texts for younger kids are looking rather tempting!  :)

What's the bottom line?  Flying Creatures of the 5th Day $35/Exploring Creation with General Science and Exploring Creation with Biology 2-book set $85, text only $65, solutions and test manual only $20/MP3 audio CDs $15

I am going to give out of 4 out 5 smileys!!! *

Check it out!  http://www.apologia.com/

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://www. .com/HomeschoolCrew/658929/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend these products.

 I doubt these products would be helpful to many people.

 These are good products, but aren't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find these useful.

 These are great, and I would recommend them to anyone!!!

Posted in Promos

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A few weeks back I got a free sample of UHU glue.  All I had to do to get this glue stick was to promise to use it and blog about what I did with it!

Well, first of all, I did want to comment on the glue stick itself.  It's a lot bigger than the usual glue stick, which I liked right away.  The others seem to be used up in no time.  Also, the cap actually screws on.  I don't know why, but my husband was quite impressed with that!  LOL  Third, like many glue sticks now, it shows up purple, but dries clear.  This makes it very easy to use as you know exactly where you have glue.

I've decided that the UHU stick is MY glue stick!  My kids like to use glue sticks, leave off the cap, and let them dry up.  No, not MY glue stick.  The big UHU glue is mine, all mine!

As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I got a New Testament Hands-On History Activity-Pak from Homeschool in the Woods.  I'm not able to upload a picture right now, my camera is giving me grief, but here's what the finished product will look like*:

UHU glue works great to glue it all together.  (Well, the parts that you glue.  You will also need two-sided tape, and a paper fastener to put it together completely.)

You can check out my review of this project from Homeschool in the Woods right HERE.

I will be pulling out my UHU glue stick for a long time to come.  It should last me quite a while.  Remember, it's bigger than the usual glue stick.  But more importantly, it's mine, all mine!!!  :)

*Image from Homeschool in the Woods website. 

Posted in Reviews

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About the product/service:  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was given Lampstand Press's Tapestry of Grace Year 2: Unit 1 to review.  I received the unit in digital format.

Tapestry of Grace is a Christian, history-based unit study that has been designed to be very flexible.  It can be used with either one child or with multiple children at various levels.  All of your children will be studying the same period of history at the same time, at their own level.  Along with the history, other humanities subjects are covered as well.

Tapestry covers:

• history
• church history
• literature
• geography
• fine arts
• government
• philosophy
• writing & composition

 There are four "years" (broken down into units) in the Tapestry of Grace program that you purchase once and can use to teach your child throughout his or her entire homeschool career.  Every four years you will cycle back through what you have already studied, but at a higher and more intense level.  The study is put together using the classical model of education. 

(If you are not familiar with the classical model, you can read an excellent guest post on my blog by fellow TOS Homeschool Crew First Mate Kristen H. HERE. To read Kristen's blog click HERE.) 

Year 2: Unit 1 covers the following topics:

• Fall of Rome
• Byzantine Empire and Islam
• Charlemagne
• Viking Age
• Feudal System
• High Middle Ages
• Trade and Towns:  Marco Polo, the Mongols, the Far East
• Pre-reformation lights

What are the pros of this product?  There are a lot of pros to this product, especially if you are already a classical homeschooler.  If you already know what the upper grammar and rhetoric stages are, especially if you are a history buff, you are probably going to love this curriculum!

Another plus is that you own the license to the digital version of the program, so you can make as many copies of the pages as you need for your own family's use.  (NOTE:  You may not transfer your license OR resell any printed copies of the program.)  If your computer crashes, no problem, just download it again.  Lost?  The tech people are great! 

Also, if you buy a unit or year you can use it with all of your children over several years.  Once you've purchased all four years, there is no need to buy any more base curriculum for the subjects included in Tapestry of Grace.  Or course, you will need to borrow or buy additional reading material.

What's not to like?  The digital version of the curriculum can be a bit of a pain to navigate.  It does take some getting used to.  Of course, it makes things easier if you print it out, but then you are adding to your cost for paper and ink.  However, you most likely won't need to copy everything, just the pages you need.  (I made the mistake of copying like 80 pages, and then only needed about ten of them!)  One caution, the pages aren't numbered, so be sure to mark them up somehow if you have a hard time keeping things in order like I do!  :)

Also, this is not a curriculum in a box.  (In my humble opinion, a pro really!)  You will need to borrow or purchase a significant amount of books to really make full use of this curriculum.  If you live near a large system of libraries that allow inter-library lending, you will probably have little problem finding most of what you need.  However, if you are a country girl or simply don't live near a good library, you may find yourself spending a whole lot of money for books. 

I would also have to say, that if you are not naturally organized or have trouble with things that send you in several different directions, you might initially find Tapestry of Grace hard to figure out and use.  Also, you will need lots of prep time, so if you like your children do most of their schoolwork independently, this is probably not for you.  (Older kids could probably take most of it on themselves, but if your kids are younger, you will be spending lots of time for both prep-work and teaching.)

Also, the classical model is not for everyone, and if you are not a classical gal, I don't think you'd be interested in purchasing this curriculum.  Never say never, though.  Check out the website for yourself, but if you are a relaxed homeschooler or an unschooler type, I don't think this is for you.

The Crazy Mom take:  I admit, I am a bit out of my element here!  LOL  I am not a classical homeschooler, so this was totally new to me.  I definitely understand what they mean when they say new Tapestry of Grace users experience a four-week fog.  Because I tend to get overwhelmed by lots of options, I think I was a bit foggier than most!  (Don't take me to a restaurant with lots of choices!)

I spent a whole month just getting things together.  I read through the materials several times, ordered books from the library, read up on classical education, and clicked around the website.  I even asked a few veteran Tapestry of Grace users if I was on the right track.  Finally it was time to take the plunge!

Once I figured out what I was supposed to be doing, I was rather surprised at how simple it was.  I read aloud some books, my kids read some books on their own, we alphabetized some words, talked about nouns, learned lots about geography, and even made salt maps.  My kids now know the true stories of St. Patrick and St. Valentine, they can name the seven continents, and they have a better understanding of Islam.  They learned about monasteries, the first printing press, and castles and knights. 

Now, I am fortunate to live near a library that is part of a much larger system.  I can simply go online and order books from any library in the system and then pick them up at my local library which is just blocks away.  When I first got Tapestry of Grace, I got the book list and simply ordered every book I could from the unit.  I found that almost every book was available to me.  The funny thing is, that because I did that first, my kids ended up reading all the books as they sat here in my book basket for month while I was trying to get a handle on the program!  LOL

Now, I do want to add something here.  You must realize that I was probably far more overwhelmed than the average homeschool mom.  I got this study near the end of the year.  I was already well over half done with the school year, and my annual spring burnout was setting in.  Most people would get the program before the year begins and would be good to go before the first day started.  I was trying to figure this out while doing all my regular schoolwork and prep, not to mention using other products for review.

Also, as I stated above, I am a real airhead when it comes to all things new, especially if they come with a lot of bells and whistles!  I still haven't figured out my sewing machine, and I get totally frustrated with the expensive camera my husband bought me.  I'd much rather have a machine that does two stitches and a point and click camera!  So I tend to look for things that I can just toss at my kids and say, "Here!  Read this!"  LOL  Plus it just took me a while to figure out what some of the classical ed terms even meant! ;)

So here's what I came away from this with.  After all was said and done, I actually found out that Tapestry of Grace is really rather simple to use.  I do like the idea of reading "real" books to learn, and I like the idea of everyone studying the same time period at the same time.  At this point in my homeschooling career, I don't think I would make a drastic switch from my current method, but had I tried Tapestry years ago, I can honestly say I'd consider it.  Of course, being able to get the books at the library makes a big difference.

The curriculum is very thorough and can be overwhelming, but if you simply start with the basics, it's not just doable, it's quite easy.  As you get "with the program" you can add things and make it as "light" or "intensive" as you want to.  I tend to do things light and let my kids dig in as they have the interest.  When I push, they resist.  Just like I stated above, just having all the books around was a good thing as my kids simply read them for pleasure.  Even my ninth grader read them, and I was not reviewing Tapestry with my older kids. 

So, if you're new to homeschooling, or new to the classical model, I would at least get the free samples (see below) and check it out.  It certainly can't hurt, and you just might find out that your family and Tapestry of Grace are a match made in heaven!

What's the bottom line?  Year 2 Unit 1 digital $45.00/Full year (4 units) $170

(There are many more ways to buy, see website for details.)

I am going to give out of 3 out of 5 smileys!!! *

Check it out!  http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/explore/

Want to see samples?  

http://wwww.tapestryofgrace.com/de/#3

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/655987/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Reviews

New to my blog? Check out my welcome post at cleehttp://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

 Don't forget to take my poll in the sidebar!

Note:  Before reading this review, you might want to check out this article about classical education from classical educator and fellow TOS First Mate Kristen H.  

You can check out Kristen's blog here.

About the product/service:  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received several items from Memoria Press. I received Latina Christiana Book 1 by Cheryl Lowe (both the Teacher Manual and Student Book), a pronunciation CD, and the Latina Christiana Instructional DVD set by Leigh Lowe.   

The Latina Christiana program is arranged in a very easy to use format.  Each lesson consists of ten vocabulary words, a set of grammar forms, and a Latin saying.  There are also exercises to reinforce memory work, teach systematic grammar, and provide simple translation.  Also included are prayers, songs, conversational Latin, history lessons, maps, and games. 

Posted in Reviews

About the One Year Adventure Novel:

As part of the TOS HomeschoolCrew I was sent the One Year Adventure Novel homeschool writing curriculum.  This very professionally done curriculum was written by award-winning adventure novelist Daniel Schwabauer.  The package contains 78 lessons on DVD, and additional resource DVD, an in-depth textbook, a student workbook, a teacher's guide, and a novel called The Prisoner of Zelda.

You student will do three lessons per week for 26 weeks.  First he or she will watch the lessons on the DVD.  These lessons only take about 10 to 20 minutes.  The textbook, or Compass, then takes the lessons and expounds on them.  Then the fun starts.  No,  I take that back, even the lessons are fun, but the "even MORE fun" starts when your child opens up his workbook, known as The Map, and starts to write the novel. 

The resource disk contains all of the following:

* 26 Weekly quizzes that can be administered by computer.

* Video FAQs

* 14 classic adventure novels, including:
Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, The Jungle Book, The Blood Ship, Black Rock, Captains Courageous, Rupert of Hentzau, Tarzan, King Solomon's Mines, Wulf the Saxon, Peter Pan and more

* Computer desktop images/wallpaper

The teacher's guide helps you as you grade your student's work and also helps you to help them as they learn to write.

The Prisoner of Zelda is Anthony Hope's classic swashbuckling tale of court intrigue and double-identity.

As stated on the One Year Adventure Novel website your student works through this curriculum he or she will learn and understand:

•  Classical story structure.

•  The 5 Elements of every great story, as well as:

•  Characterization, plot, setting, theme, and conflict (but in ways that are fun and exciting).

•  By creating, not just analyzing; by emphasizing practical application over theory.

•  How to interpret stories. They'll never read a book, see a play or watch a movie the same way again.

I thought I'd also add this "disclaimer" from the website:

What it isn't:

- It's not a spelling curriculum.
- It's not a traditional English course. We DO study some classic novels, but we don't cover everything a traditional High School English class covers. The things we do cover, we cover in far more depth than most college courses.
- It's not fluffy. You will be challenged.

 

What are the pros of this product?  This is just a fantastic product.  The DVD's are well done, the books are well organized, the resources are great, and it's all from a biblical point of view.  And what I love is, there is NO prep-work for me!  I can just hand this over to my son and let him go!

There are also lots of additional resources you can find by checking around the website.  There are even contests for your budding novelist!

What's not to like?  I can't think of a negative thing to say.  Well, the price is quite high, but this is quality material.  I have to admit, though, that I could never afford this.  This is not to say, however, that it is not worth every penny.  I think of all the products I've reviewed, this is by far the most professional product I've seen.   If I did have an extra $200 to spend on curriculum, this is where I'd spend it.  (Of course, that is, if I didn't already own it!  LOL)

The Crazy Mom take:  I guess you already know, I really, really love it!  I had purchased another novel in a year type of program and my son just never got into it.  Now he is doing more lessons than I assign him.  He gives me no objections to doing the work. (And, oh, what a joy that is!  Lately they've all been in the "Do I have to?" mode.  Blech!)  His only objection is that he hasn't really decided exactly what his story line is going to be, but he's working on it! :)  I plan to use this with the other kids.  This is a keeper!!!

What's the bottom line? $199 FREE SHIPPING

I am going to give out of 4 out of 5 smileys!!! *

Check it out! http://www.oneyearnovel.com

Order a FREE demo here. 

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/631063/  

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Reviews

About the product:

We were excited to get this one!  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew, we got a nice selection of animal figures from Schleich.  Schleich is a company which makes all sorts of action figures and accessories.  How can children not get excited about TOYS?

Schleich makes figures in a variety of categories.  Check out this partial list!

• Farm Life
• Wild Life
• Forest Animals
• Trees and Plants
• Human Figurines
• Pets
• Dinosaurs
• Prehistoric Mammals
• World of Knights
• World of the American Frontier

What are the pros of this product?  Well, look at the adorable pig above!  It honestly looks real!  These are very well made toys.  They are hand painted, and they are done very well.  There is such a HUGE variety of products.  They are so well made that you could display them, and so fun that your kids will love playing with them!

What's not to like?  These are great toys, but some are made in China.  I understand that that is an issue for some folks, so I wanted to point that out.  Other than that, all I can think of that's negative is that you could go broke buying all the ones that you just gotta have!  LOL

The Crazy Mom take:  I got what I called the "Patriotic Package."  I don't think it was on purpose, but among the things we got were an American Eagle, an elephant, and two donkeys.  I took the eagle right away and put it up on my mantle.  My son, Mr. Personality, and future Republican presidential candidate, took off with the elephant.  The rest of the toys my younger kids added to the Noah's Ark toy we got earlier in the year!  Of course, now it's not Biblically accurate, we now have four donkeys and one horse, but that really has nothing to do with this review, does it?  :)

Anyway, we enjoyed getting this product to review.  It actually brought back some happy memories.  When I was small my grandma lived in our basement.  We were really close, but she died when I was only eight.  I have lots of memories of playing for hours with some animals figurines she had bought me. 

I still have one of those figures, a lion, in my top dresser drawer, and it's one of my prized possessions.  The others are long gone.  They were cheap products though, and I'm amazed even one lasted.  Has they been from Schleich, I might have more of them.  Anyway, these toys brought back some warm and fuzzy memories, and I couldn't help but like them.  When I have grandchildren, I'll be bringing these out. 

What's the bottom line? Prices vary significantly, but the figures I received and those pictured above tend to run about $6.49.

I am going to give out 3 out of 5 smileys!!!*

Check it out!  http://www.schleich-s.com/

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/659133/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Promos

New to my blog???

Check out my welcome post at 

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

Don't forget to take my poll in the sidebar!

Get some wonderful FREE Easter goodies from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine!!!

Posted in Reviews

New to my blog? Check out my welcome post at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

Don't forget to take my poll in the sidebar!

About the company:  As part of the TOS Crew I was sent a three book set called Beautifully Made as well as a novel called Teknon and the Champion Warriors from the company Generations of Virtue. 

Generations of Virtue is truly a company that we, as Christian parents, need to know about.  They specialize in products which equip parents to "empower their kids for purity in our world today."  Boy, could we parents use some help!  Clicking around their website, I found that they have all kinds of products from books, to jewelry, to clothing, and more. 

The three books in the Beautifully Made series are, Approaching Womanhood, Celebrating Womanhood, and Wisdom from a Woman-Mother's Guide.  Approaching Womanhood is a book for a young girl who has not yet reached puberty.  It explains all about the changes she will soon go through in a very positive and encouraging light.  Celebrating Womanhood is for the young girl who has already reached puberty, and it discusses "girl things" in a bit more detail, if you know what I mean!  LOL

For the mom, Wisdom from a Woman-Mother's Guide helps give a bit of advice as to how to approach this milestone in your daughter's life.  Moms will learn to make growing up a thing to celebrate, rather than dread.

The books are all about girls and their changing bodies.  There is no mention of boys or any other, shall we say, explicit details about "you know what."   

"As CHAMPION Warriors, we win or lose by the way we choose!"

Teknon is a science fiction adventure novel written by Brent Sapp, specifically geared to young boys ages 11-16. Teknon, the lead character, is training to be a CHAMPION warrior. As he undertakes a dangerous mission to retrieve God's Word from the clutches of the enemy, his faith is tested.  Can he uphold the CHAMPTION creed to live his life completely in submission to the Lord?

Young boys will learn to make good choices about purity, friends, relating with young women, their thought lives, and much more.

More than just a novel, this book can be used to help navigate your son through many of the challenges that face young boys today.  To that end, the following resources are available to go along with the book:

• Teknon and the CHAMPION Warriors: Son's Mission Guide
• Teknon and the CHAMPION Warriors: Father's Mentor Guide

These books complete the set for a great Father/Son Study

Please visit http://www.championtraining.com for more fun stuff about Teknon!

Check out the Official Teknon Blog, written by author Brent Sapp, at www.teknon.wordpress.com

What are the pros of this company?  Purity of Heart.  Purity of Mind.  Purity of Body.  These are the virtues Generations of Virtue promotes.  You can't get any more pro than that.  There are tons of products to choose from, so there is something for everyone.

What's not to like?  If you're liberal, pro-choice, and want to see your daughters grow up like Britney Spears or Madonna, and you think the Jonas Brothers are weird, then you'll probably do your shopping elsewhere.  (Though I hope some day you'll see the light!)  Other than that, I don't see any negatives. 

The Crazy Mom take:  I love what I got from Generations of Virtue.  I quickly read through the Beautifully Made books and found them to be quite positive.  I gave the first one to my oldest daughter, Princess, to read and she enjoyed it.  Though she still plays with dolls, and just got a new one for her 11th birthday, she often makes comments about growing up.  The book came just in time, and it made her even more excited about the changes ahead. 

I do take issue with one or two things in the second book, though I will still allow my daughter to read it.  We'll just discuss it as we go along.  There is just too much good stuff in these little books to set it aside.  (The main issue is a theological one, if you can believe that.  A point was made about the symbolism of blood that I found to be quite a stretch.)

My son, Mr. Personality, 14, read the Teknon book, as he is my resident teen boy book critic.  (Hey, he's president of the Teen Advisory Board; he knows his stuff!)  I confess that I did not read it myself, though I plan to when I get a chance.  Mr. Personality says he enjoyed the book, and the storyline, though he could tell is was a book "with a message."  He thought the message was a good one, however, and he recommends it to other young boys.

Looking through the Generations of Virtue website, I found absolutely TONS of stuff I would love to buy!  Oh, to be rich!  LOL  But seriously, their purity rings are totally cool, they have all kinds of great books, and, well, just lots and lots of stuff.  Actually, I felt rather uplifted just looking through the site, as it made me realize that there really is a lot of great purity and virtue products out there.  It's great that Generations of Virtue has taken the time to seek it all out and make it available in one place!

What's the bottom line?  Beautifully Made is $18.99 for the three book set/Teknon is $13.99

I am going to give Generations of Virtue 5 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://www.generationsofvirtue.org/

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/659129/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this company.

 I doubt this company would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good company, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Promos

New to my blog? Check out my welcome post at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

Don't forget to take my poll in the sidebar!

CONGRATULATIONS TO

TWANA JENSEN!!!

Twana won the copy of Turning Points!!!

Many thanks to all who entered!

Posted in Reviews

Greetings blog readers!!! 

I just thought I'd pop on here and remind you about a company I posted about way back in December, called Alphabet Alley.  These toys may be just what you are looking for to add to that Easter basket.  A bit of spiritual food instead of sugar!  LOL

About the company:

Alphabet Alley is a faith-based, family-run business that sells products for early childhood.  They sell magnetic toys, wooden toys, stickers, and games.  All products have a Christian theme.

For the purposes of this review I was sent the Two By Two Matching Game (right) and the Noah's Ark Go Fish Game (below.) 

What are the pros of this product? 

The two products I was sent were very cute, colorful, and durable.  So far my son, Baber, 5, has really enjoyed them, and has not detroyed them.  The only other thing they could do to improve them, is to put in a sensor to find them when they are lost!  LOL  (Can you tell we tend to lose things around here?)  Seriously, though, these are nice, quality products.  The little matching tiles are very thick and the illustrations are really cute.  So cute, in fact, that Baber took out his paint set and proceeded to copy the rainbow picture from the back of the tiles!

The Noah's Ark Go Fish game is a classic with a twist.  The cards are illustrated with cute Noah themed picutures.  They are bigger than a normal deck of cards, and quite sturdy.  If your little one doesn't know the numbers, he can ask if his game mates have any lions, cows, or whatever.

What's not to like?

This is one of those times where I can't really think of any negatives.  I mean, you can get other products like these just about anywhere.  However, these are good quality, and you gotta appreciate that your kids will be thinking about a Bible story while they are playing games!

What's the bottom line? 

Of course, the prices vary, but the Matching Game is $10.99 and the Noah card game is $5.99.

I am going to give Alphabet Alley 4 out of 5 smileys!!!
*

Check it out!  http://www.alphabetalley.com

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/621337/

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Life in the Crazy House

Hi!

Perhaps you are traveling out there in the blogosphere checking out nominees for best this or that and have stumbled across my blog.   Maybe you found me at a carnival or blog party. (For blog party fun, click on the button above!)  Maybe you Googled one of the products I've reviewed.  Whatever the reason, I thought it was time for a little timely update about just what this Ramblings from the Crazy House blog is all about!

My name is The Crazy Mom, and I am married to Sane Man, and we have eight wonderful, but hopelessly normal, kids.  Normal in that they do all the things normal kids do.  They fight, disobey, refuse to change their socks, leave their wet Pull Ups on the ground to be stepped on, sneeze all over their dinner, etc.  We also have a dog who loves to sneak downstairs and poop in the basement.  We are so far from the perfect model of the perfect homeschool family that it just ain't funny.  Mosty, I guess, this is because I'm a very far from perfect homeschool mom.

Now, one day it occured to me, as I was pondering my failures, that I couldn't be the ONLY one out there who wasn't raising a brood of perfectly groomed, perfectly well-behaved children, who wake up at 5:00 in the morning to sing hymns, milk the goats, and get the homemade bread dough prepared for the day.  I couldn't be the only one whose kids weren't totally excited about sentence diagramming, or long division, or cleaning their rooms.  I couldn't be the only one whose kids don't study nuclear physics or do advanced calculus at age three.  There had to be other moms who, at the end of the day, crawled into bed thinking wistfully, tomorrow will be better...

So I decided to let it all hang out and put myself out there to be an example of the crazy and imperfect Mom.  Cause you know what?  We are out there.  We are out there on the farms, we are out there in the suburbs, and we are out there in the city.   We've got rambuncious kids, dirty houses and a to do list that we can never seem to finish.  We are just gettin' by and doing the best we can, and do you know what?  Our kids are doing just fine! 

So, I thought I'd share my crazy life with you so you will be able to look at it and say, if she can do it, I can do it.  And even though my family is so far from perfect it just ain't funny, we do have some funny moments, and I will gladly share them with you!

To get a taste of what this is all about, check out a few of my blog entries.  Wake Up!, Testing, Testing 1-2-3, Driving Miss Crazy, That's Why They Call Me The Crazy Mom, and Searching for Buried Treasure are a few of my favorites. 

You might notice that there are also lots of reviews and stuff as part of my blog.  That's 'cause I am part of the TOS Homeschool Crew, and I get stuff to use and blog about.  So even if you are not a fellow Crazy Mom, you might want to stop by some time to learn about some great homeschool products.  Either way, you are always welcome!  Stop by any time!  I love to say that, because I don't have to clean!!!

Update!!!  Soon I'll be posting reviews about books from Christian publishing companies.  I'm doing reviews for Thomas Nelson, Bethany House, Crossways and more.   I'm trying to branch out a bit.  You'll even see a review for UHU glue! 

You never know what you'll find here on my blog.  Again, stop by any time.  If I've baked cookies, I won't even have to share them with you.  Yeah, like I have time to bake cookies!  LOL 

Have a great day!  You can do it!  Yes you can!!!

~The Crazy Mom

PS.  If you join the Ultimate Blog Party you can win PRIZES!!!  Here are the top 3 prizes I'd like to win:

USC 26 — 10 $50.00 Gift Vouchers to Hatley
Provided by: Hatley

INTL 61 — $30 Gift Credit to Amazon.com
Provided by: Robynn’s Ravings

INTL 8 — One Karmin Salon Pro G3 Hair Styling Iron
Provided by: My Hair Styling Tools!

I'd also be interested in winning: 19, 21, 56, 60, 26, 44, 51.

Actually, I would love any type of gift certificate for household products, or anything for kids ages five and up.

Posted in Life in the Crazy House

New to my blog? Check out my welcome post at  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

 Don't forget to take my poll in the sidebar!

Just how does Crazy Mom get any school done in the Crazy House?

I've probably never made a school schedule I've actually kept to the letter.  We just aren't that organized or efficient around here.  For years I would make these wonderful lists, and then would fail to check everything off, feeling totally defeated by the day's end. 

So I gave up.

Now what I do is "Priority Scheduling."  Think about it.  I have eight kids who are taking anywhere from two subjects to eight subjects.   That's forty or fifty subjects to cover in one day.  Like that's even possible!  Trying to do it all was just setting me up for failure.  So this is how I do it now.

When I get up I think to myself, what does each child really need to do today?   If they are lagging in math, I have them do math first, if they are lagging in spelling, I have them do spelling.  I don't worry about them doing everything, I just make sure they are doing what they really need to work on.  Then I list the other subjects in order of importance.  They simply do the subject in order, finishing what they can.  (And here's a dirty little secret, once in a while we start out by cleaning up!)

Of course, there are other factors that also come into play when I make up our daily schedule.  We do a lot of contests.  Sometimes we will just take a day or two, or even a week, to work on the current contest.  It seems to work, because my kids often win!  Sure they have an advantage that they can work hours and hours on it.  Well, guess what?  That's one reason we homeschool.  I like to be flexible and we can adjust out schedule as we see fit.   The ability to spend more time on things that are important is a great advantage.  I'm not going to feel guilty because other kids are sitting in school all day doing busy work. 

This year has been different because we are all testing out new homeschool products for the TOS Crew.  I do have to schedule time to use these products so that I can honestly review them.  We have tried about fifty new things, so you know everyday just has to be a little different.  I don't think we could have done this if we were the rigid schedule types.  It's been fun and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it this year!  I am thrilled to say that I am staying on another year, so here we go again!  LOL

So, it's not like I don't make schedules.  I do.  Every day.   But I don't make my kids do everything everyday and just about every day is different.   I admit, sometimes I feel guilty that they are not doing everything they'd be doing in public school.  Then again, they are not doing everything they'd be doing in public school.  Know what I mean?

Posted in Reviews

About the product/service:  As part of the TOS Crew I was sent the homeschool version of Auralog's Tell Me More® Spanish language learning software.  This program contains over four years* of Spanish in one little box!  The program teaches reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary, and culture.  Students can start out as complete beginners and become advanced students with this one program!* (Note:  This version won't be available for sale to the public until mid-April 2009.)

The homeschool versions also include exclusive content, such as an activity guide, the ability to track students, and more.  You can create muliple accounts so that everyone in your family can learn the language at their own pace and in whatever mode they choose.  (Choose from Free-to-Roam, Guided, or Dynamic.)  Parents can even create workbooks from the content in the program.

The program comes with a headset, complete with microphone, so that your student can practice pronuciation with Auralog's advanced voice recognition technology.   Your child will actually see his or her own voice pattern compaired to the pattern of the proper pronunciation.  There is also a neat little graph that shows your student how accurately he or she is speaking the word or phrase.  When your child gets really close, it turns green so that your child knows he or she is learning! 

*Each box of software contains 10 levels of study.  When you purchase the product, you get to activate five of the levels.  Start at the beginning, or if you are familiar with the language, take a placement test and activate any of the higher levels.  (Keep in mind, everyone in the family has access to the same levels, so activate the levels that will work with whomever will be starting at the earliest point.)  When you have completed your five levels, there is the option to purchase and activate the remaining levels.  The cost of this will be finalized when the newest version comes out mid-April 2009. 

Also available are programs that teach English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic.  There is even a product for kids who are learning English as a second language.What are the pros of this product?  The software introduces the language in a way that is more natural than  many other language programs and texts.  I know that in college we spent a log of time memorizing lists of words and conjugating verbs.  We just didn't really use the language a lot in a natural way.  As a result I never really learned to be fluent in Spanish though I took enough classes to earn a minor in it!

The voice recognition software is way cool!!! :)

There are lots and lots of bells and whistles and many different ways of using the program.  You can totally use it in a way that works best for you.

What's not to like?  It takes a bit of time to learn how to navigate around the program.  You will need several days to just play around and get the feel for the program. 

Also, the price seems a bit steep.  However, if you keep in mind that you get five courses of Spanish, equivilent to at least two years of high school study, and that you can use it with everyone in the family, it seems a whole lot more like a deal!

The Crazy Mom take:  We really liked this program.  I didn't have my kids use it to do formal lessons, because I wanted them to see it as fun, so I let them look it over and have fun with it.  Of course, the headset and voice recognition software were a big hit.

I, on the other hand, used the program as it was intended so I could get a real feel for it before doing the review.  It took me a while to really figure out how to navigate around it because it has so many bells and whistles and that can be a bit overwhelming for me.  However, once I decided to actually use the "help" option, I was able to figure it out quickly and it was a whole lot easier to use.  Go figure!

The actual lessons were easy for me because I'd taken a lot of Spanish back in college.  I never really did learn to speak or understand it very well, though, because we weren't taught in a way that someone would naturally learn a language.  I plan to go through the program too, in hopes that I will actually be able to speak to native Spanish speakers without embarassing myself!  I do like this program and intend to use it next year with my older kids. 

What's the bottom line?  $319.99

I am going to give 4 out of 5 smileys!!! *

Check it out!  http://www.tellmemore.com/content/view/full/128

See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/656562/  

*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Posted in Promos

Posted in Promos

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Thought I'd pass this along!!!

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Posted in Reviews

New to my blog? Check out my welcome post at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/crazyhouse/595801/

Don't forget to take my poll in the sidebar!

Committed to the educating, training, loving, nurturing, and raising up of our sons and daughters in the knowledge of Jesus Christ to be heirs of His kingdom and ambassadors of His calling...

About the product/service:  As part of the TOS Crew I was given a download of the New Testament Activity Pak to review from Homeschool in the Woods, a family-run business that sells history resources from a biblical world view.  The activity pak includes:

• A Lap Book:  "The New Testament Lap Book"
  
• A Newspaper Project: "The New Testament News!"
• A poster project:  The Armor of God poster

Posted in Reviews

About the company:  Bonnie Terry Learning is a company that offers books and games to help teach kids basic English and math skills.  While her products work with any child, they are designed to be especially helpful to kids with special needs or who learn differently.  I thought I'd share with you Bonnie Terry's philosophy of education, one I happen to agree with, by the way!

"Our philosophy is that all students can learn; they just need the tools and the encouragement to find their wings to reach their goals. And we have results to prove that this is true."

I was sent two products to review from Bonnie Terry Learning for the TOS Crew, The Writer's Easy Reference Guide and The Sentence Zone game.

The Writer's Guide is a handy little reference with 12 pages of tips, hints and short lessons to guide you or your child (or student) step by step through the process of writing.

Included in the guide are:

  Paragraph Writing Hints
  Steps of the Writing Process
  Words to Make Your Writing More Interesting
  Common Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words
  Essay Writing Hints for the Four Basic Essays
  Grammatical & Literary Terms
  How to Write a Bibliography with examples
  Much more!