As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free copy of The Tortoise and the Hare from Maestro Classics in exchange for my honest review.
We are familiar with the classic story The Tortoise and The Hare. When I heard that audio childrens books were on the list to review I was envisioning the books of yesteryear you know the type the cassette tape with the story book and the ringing of the bell to mark when it was time to turn the page.
The story we received was nothing of the sort. This was a very intelligent version of the story. The narrator of the story is accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a delightful rendition. I enjoyed listening to it, as did my 10 year old.
Included with the story is a lesson in music theory. The children are taught about different instruments, how they work, and how you can use their sounds to invoke certain feelings. Or to create a setting for a story.
A product like this, is clearly not essential to homeschooling, however, it is a nice compliment. If you are looking for audio stories, this would be a great choice. I really like the fact that they are learning about music, while listening to an entertaining story.
Please visit Maestro Classics to see their full line of audio books. Right now they are running a special, buy 3 CDs for $45 or you can buy them individually for $16.98 each.
Please visit the Crew Blog to see what my crew mates think of Maestro Classics.
As members of the crew we were given 45 days free membership to Mathletics for the purpose of review.
This really was not something I was looking forward to reviewing. We have reviewed several math programs and with math not being my favorite thing in the world, I was not wanting to tackle yet another math program.
However, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by Mathletics. My children really have enjoyed the program.
Mathletics is America's #1 Math Website. It is the next generation in learning. Helping students enjoy math and improve their results. It is the essential curriculum based resource for students at school and at home.
~ Students love it, becoming highly motivated to improve.
~Phenonmenal improvement rates
~weekly report emailed to parents
~courriculum designed for K-8th grade
~costs less that $2 a week.
The parents section has some neat features that help to enhance the students and parents experience with Mathletics.
Mathletics has a number of unique features to strongly support homeschooling, these include:
~ a personal mastery dial tracking a student's daily progress.
~ Access to live mental arithmetic challenges with students with students of a similar age and ability from all over the world.
~ Intelligent adaptiveness for most concepts- with questions getting harder as a student answers correctly.
~ Immediate feedback to responses with animated step by step support.
~The ability for a student to work at their own pace through the curriculum content.
~Lots of rewards and certificates for progress and the opportunity to appear on the American Hall of Fame.
~ Access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, wherever there is Internet access.
So how did that look in our house?? It looked like all 5 of my children fighting over computer time, on our one computer! Seriously, though, I must admit on many days I have children that grunt and grimace through math. However, they have thoroughly enjoyed using Mathletics.
Here is how I had them work through it. They each had about 1/2 hour or so, depending on how much time we had that day, to devote to 'Rainforest' which is a fun area that gives them practice. Or simply in the section marked 'problem solving'. Then I would give them an additional 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to work in the 'practice' section. I really like this section as a parent. Once in the practice section they have listed 10 topics, and then once you click on one of those topics it will break down further into a smaller subset with 10 topics. When you click on those, your student will begin to answer a series of 10 problems. After they complete a section, they are given a score, and each problem they answered is given. I have my kids print these pages out. It shows me exactly what problems they were given and what their answers were.
Awesome!!!!
After they complete all 10 topic areas there is a test. My children really enjoyed working through the program! They had lots of fun and were learning all the while!
They do refer to their program as a curriculum, however and with the instant workbooks, it is a very good resource. Though I wouldn't feel comfortable using it as my sole choice for math curriculum, however it definitely would enhance your program, especially if you had a reluctant or struggling learner!!
There regular price is $99 year, however their current price is $59 a year per child. SPECIAL:if you know The Human Calculator's favorite number, which '9' you will get the an additional discount bringing your price to $49.95. Also, if you have more than one child you can contact them about a family discount. They also offer a 10 day money back guarantee.
Check out the crew blog to see what my crew mates think of this unique program!
The members of the TOS Homeschool Crew were given a 3 month complimentary membership to Tektoma; Game Tutorials for Kids, for purpose of review.
Tektoma offers a membership to their site, where you will find tutorials on how to create your very own video games using software available on the internet for free.. Now with 4 teenagers in my house this was very exciting! ( for them! ) The Tektoma Tutorials take you step by step teaching you how to build your own video game. While the software you are using is available for free on the internet, if you are not familiar with creating video games, the software I believe, would be too complicated to take on, on your own. And that is what makes the tutorials at the Tektoma website such a help.
On the website they state that their tutorials are appropriate for ages 7-17. However, I will tell you that my 10 year old would not be able to do this on her own. However, if you have a young child who has the propensity towards computers, then I am sure they could handle it.
My 14 and 15 year old decided to do the tutorials together. They have been having success with the program. They have created several games, and if I let them, they would do nothing but create games! Well, in all honesty, my 15 year old has really taken to it, and run with it. I think once the 14 year old has more time ( his brother is hogging the computer) he will also do very well with it.
(able to focus even with their goofy sister in the background!)
On a side note, my son has really taken to this. He has really enjoyed creating the games. As a mother, this thrills me to no end! Over the years he has been easily discouraged. He is my perfectionist. And if he cannot do things perfectly, then why bother, has always been his motto. Well, the way that Tektoma teaches them step by step how to create the video games, he has just been able to follow along and run with it. With NO intervention or guidance from me! I think the tutorials were key for this. I think he would have experienced the usual discouragement if he had to figure out the gamemaker program on his own. With Tektoma, he had a teacher, by his side every step of the way, which was great. Because his dear old mom, would not have been able to help him!
Now, let's get down to the nuts and bolts of it all...
Tektoma offers a 14 day FREE Trial, so what do you have to lose? This is something that takes time. So don't sign up for your trial, when you will not have time to devote to the computer.. Christmas break, just might be the perfect time to give this a shot!
Pricing; $14.95 per month OR $140 for a year. But here is the good news!
You can earn free membership time by referring friends. Once you are signed up, they will provide you with a secure link to share with friends. When someone signs up, you earn 15 free membership days ... in case you are so inclined, here is my link..... Join Tektoma, or you can visit their main page to sign up by clicking HERE!
Requirements: Currently, the tutorials are for computers running Windows XP or Vista only. Macintosh versions coming in the future. Broadband internet connection ~ Any browser should work, but make sure it is a current version For GameMaker tutorials, you need a copy of GameMaker installed and the GameMaker resources folder. Instructions for downloading these files can be found on the GameMaker Tutorials page. GameMaker requires 128mb of RAM, DirectX 8 with at least 32mb of video memory, and a screen resolution of at least 800×600.
Please visit the Crew Blog to see what my Crew Mates have to say about Tektoma!
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Home of the frugal, eclectic, hands on, parent led, child driven and special needs learning. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Seriously, though, I must admit on many days I have children that grunt and grimace through math. However, they have thoroughly enjoyed using Mathletics. 
