Nov. 21, 2009
Good Steward Saturday- Thankfulness
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With this week being Thanksgiving, it seemed appropriate to write about being thankful, but how does that tie in with being a good steward? 1) Making a list of things you're grateful for makes you realize how much that you have. During the next few weeks the emphasis will be on getting new things. Realizing just how much we have may help to curb the MErry Christmas syndrome and help us to focus on the real meaning of CHRISTmas. 2) Making a list of your blessings can lighten your mood when you're feeling low. This pick-me-up is a lot cheaper than a shopping trip, or even a cup of coffee, and it lasts a longer. Usually I start to feel low when I start to fret about things, or talents, that I wish I had. I can get in a real funk real fast if I let feelings of jealousy, inferiority, or competitiveness take seed in my heart. My favorite hymn is "Count Your Blessings"- it might seem a little trite and simple, but it has a lively tune and cheers my heart. Have you ever tried singing this hymn with a frown- it is very difficult. BTW- It's tough to count your blessings and woes at the same time!  3) Realizing what we have may help us to better use our money and/or time. If you are thankful for your family, you will spend more time with them. Investing time in a quality relationship with your spouse and children will reap far bigger dividends than all that over-time at the office. Don't get me wrong, God wants us to work hard, but not at the expense of our families. These are a few of my thankful things: 1) My belief in God. During difficult times, it helps to know that He is in control of ALL things. 2) My husband- he lets me indulge in my crafts, but doesn't allow me to become obsessed. He puts his family first in such a way that no one around him doubts his love for us. It doesn't hurt that he's very easy on the eyes.  3) My children. I'm supposed to be teaching them, but they seem to teach me something each day. 4) Friends 5) Family 6) Quiet 7) talents 8) time 9) being able to help others 10) knowing how to say "no" There are so many more that will be on the list to be written later this week. I really do need to count my blessings on a more regular basis. Being aware of all that you have to be thankful for shouldn't end when Black Friday begins, let's try to give thanks in all things at all times. This is something that I have to work harder on. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! |
Nov. 14, 2009
Good Steward's Saturday- Laundry detergent
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Yikes! I almost forgot to write this post today. I guess if I wrote it tomorrow it could have been called Good Steward's Sunday . Two years ago, our neighbor( and fellow homeschooler) suggested that we make our own laundry detergent as a school project. We looked online and found oodles of recipes, but the one we used came from the "Simple Dollar" site- altered, of course, because we follow very few recipes as written .1 bar soap ( you can also use scraps) 4 cups water 1 cup washing soda 1/2 cup borax 3 gallons water 1) grate soap and melt with 4 cups water on med heat 2)When a soapy soup, pour into 5 gallon bucket or tote 3) add 3 gallons hot tap water 4) stir in washing soda and borax 5) let mixture set overnight The laundry detergent will resemble a huge container of jello but will turn gel like after some stirring. We tried using our old ALL containers that had a spigot, but the gel was too thick and didn't come out easily. We then tried filling up old dish detergent bottles. It was easy to squeeze the detergent out but difficult to get the laundry soap in the bottles. Someone suggested filling bulk- sized ketchup bottles( the kind with a pump top) with the laundry soap for easy dispensing- it worked wonderfully! Some have wondered if this is ok to use with a high efficiancy washer- it does. We have a HE washer because of it having a sanitizing cycle and us having allergies. We usually fill the dispenser 1/2 full, unless it is a very dirty load, in which case we fill to the max line. Why do we make our laundry detergent? 1) It's cheaper. We were spending about $70/ year on ALL CLEAR from BJ's. Now we spend around $10/year. 2) It's great for those who are sensitive to frangrances or dyes. My son and I are bothered by most frangrances, but this has none. My dear MIL washed my son's clothes while he was staying with her for a week and his exema got really bad, but when he came home and wore clothes that had been washed with our detergent, the exema cleared up. 3)It's fun to make. About 4 times a year we make a big batch and count it as a science time. The kids like to put their hands in the "cold white jello" 4) It's customizeable. You can use essential oils(use caution as they may cause damage over the long run) to get the smell you want. We followed a suggestion to run your clothes through a second rinse, just to make sure all the soap is out. You can also put vinegar in your fabric softener dispenser to freshen your clothes without the cost and issues associated with fabric softeners. A reason not to- difficulty in finding the washing soda. We had difficulty locating the washing soda, but finally found it at Kroger's. Raising Olives has a recipe using ingredients that you probably already have at home. She has nine Maybe next week I should do a post about how procrastinating is not part of being a good steward . |
Nov. 7, 2009
Exploramania TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Exploramania's motto is "Get fit, Get smart, Have Fun!". Too many times we can focus so much on working out our mental muscles that we forget about the physical ones or the other way around. We should be good stewards of all that God has given us, including our physical bodies.Gymathtics gets the kids (and you) off the couch and moving around while learning math facts. You may be so focused on trying to say the prime numbers that you forget that your shoulders were hurting or maybe the moving around makes you forget that you wouldn't mind if math followed the way of spoken Latin and died .A warm up, callenstitics, and cool down are done by an adult, a male teenager, a female teen, a pre-teen boy and a cute litlle girl (around the age of 6?). These people make you feel more comfortable because they're not perfect, but are fun to watch. At one point in the cool down it looks like the little girl is trying to take a nap on her mat- very cute! As conservative Christians we are careful about the videos that come into our house. There are few exercise videos where the women are dressed in such a way that I don't mind my impressionable son watching-this one was fine. All the kids are wearing loose, long sport shorts and loose t-shirts. The lady wears a t- shirt that is semi loose and black pants. The music was acceptable, dress was appropriate and everyone seemed to have good attitudes. I had heard that some kids found this DVD hokey, but my kids loved it! I thought the high-fives were a bit hokey, but my children had a ball with it. The Price $24.99 There's nothing objectionable, and the children love Gymathtics, but our children have other avenues of exercise, and I'm not sure this DVD would be a wise expenditure for our family. Exploramania also carries an exercise mat:  and Thumballs: As a member of the TOS Review Crew, I received this product free, in return for my honest OPINION. I am a Jane of all crafts, master of none, Homeschool my children, a daughter and son. Been married to my sweetheart for 18 years filled with joy, frowns and happy tears. I don't always have it all together, But with God's help, I'll get better. I'm no expert, and all I can do, is to say how it works for us and share it in a review. |
Nov. 7, 2009
Good Steward Saturday - easy Granola
Oct. 31, 2009
Good Steward Saturday Introduction
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Hello All, This will hopefully be the beginning of a beneficial blog series. What is "Good Steward Saturday" and why should you spend your valuable time reading it- good questions, I hope to answer them in a satisfactory manner. The beginning: "Steward's Steno" started as a way to post reviews regarding products sent to the TOS review crew, and I hope to branch out a little more through better time management and blogging knowledge. I started reading other crew members' sites and there are several great blogs that spoke to me, but the one that inspired me the most was Kimberly at Raising Olives. Kimberly has included DIY tutorials, homeschooling tips/information, and other information she is gleaned from helping to raise 9 children. Many blogs contain great information, so what made "Raising Olives" stand out? It was Kimberly's humor. She has a blog series "Not Me Mondays" that had me in tears from so much laughter. She helped me to remind me to look for the fun side of homeschooling and raising children. I wanted to share some of the lessons I'd learned, but I'm not very funny, or maybe I should say that only a few select (usually those who love me) find me funny. I'm more punny than funny- you can pray for our children because they seem to have the same odd sense of humor .The name: In our state, we can't change our homeschool name once we've registered, meaning the name you choose when your child is 7 stays with them and is on their high school diploma and transcripts. This encourages you to be careful with your school name. After much prayer and thought, my husband chose "Good Steward Academy"- not because we are great stewards, but because we are striving to be good stewards with everything God has given us. What does it mean to be a good steward? To me good stewardship requires us to use and take care of everything God has given us to the glory of God. That sounds nice, but how does that show itself? It means not wasting time- plan your work, and work your plan. I am good at making a schedule, but not so good at implementing it. It means not wasting money. You can make all the budgets and do all sorts of systems, but you can get around any system if you really want to. It means learning and teaching what God wants us to do, and how God wants us to it. It means taking care of our bodies- OK, not so great at that either. It means enjoying the intangibles in life, the laughter and excitement of those we love, amazing sunsets and sunrises, the lessons learned through trials. It means not just living for today, but also investing in tomorrow. Good stewardship basically boils down to: "two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self (The Wilds Christian Camp)." I'll be giving my take on finances, crafts (I am a craftaholic), recipes, and others. I'm not an expert or someone that has it all together, but hopefully you can pick up a tidbit or two. Hope to see you back next week. |
Oct. 26, 2009
AVCO TOS
Posted in Reviews
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Benefits of AVKO Individual Membership
For those who suspect that dyslexia might be in their families or for those who have poor spellers, AVKO will be the best thing since sliced bread. Mr. McCabe has dyslexia and was a teacher in the Michigan school system. In the audio "I Think My Child Might be Dyslexic", McCabe tells you the characteristics of dyslexia to be used as a teaching tool , but not a label. I appreciate it that he doesn't think it is important to have proof (being officially diagnosed) before trying techniques that work for dyslexia. If your child is showing the signs (such as consistantly misspelling words in a logical manner), then it may be beneficial to implement some of these spelling/ reading techniques. What about those who have great spellers and "dyslexia" is only a word in the dictionary- can AVKO be beneficial to you? I think it can. In the audio "The Mechanics of English Spelling", Don McCabe breaks words down into a few categories; basic, fancy, odd, confusing, and scrunched up. He also has words separated into different word families. According to Don, you can teach someone how to spell a difficult word that they have never seen before by leading then into it gradually, using word families. AVKO Members can get a file containing these word families and an audio on how to make your own spelling program. We have great spellers, and we have a program that works for us, but I'm still contemplating using what I've found on the AVKO site instead. Students will like this program because THERE IS NO STUDYING involved! The audios made me aware of how mixed up the traditional way of spelling is. For example: "yellow" is a first grade word (color), "yell" is a third grade word and "low" is a fourth grade word- seems kind of mixed up to me. An AVKO membership is $25/ year and very worth it (in my opinion)! It also allows you to receive a 20% discount on any products that you order. We will be getting the "Tricky Words" to help with homophones. Word of advice: When you become a member, just take it slowly and step-by-step or it can be a bit overwhelming. Based on the available audios, we are looking into changing from a loved spelling program to Sequential Spelling because of the word families. Maybe we'll follow McCabe' suggestions on making your own spelling program- we'll have to see what works best for our family, both time-wise and financially. As a member of the TOS review crew, I received this great product free, in return for a honest opinion. |
Oct. 26, 2009
American Heritage TOS
Posted in Reviews
In honor of November being American Heritage month, the American Heritage Education Foundation wants to bring the attention of teachers( including homeschoolers) to the wealth of free information available from their site. The Mission AHEF is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation (501.c.3) dedicated to the understanding and teaching of America's factual and philosophical heritage to promote constructive citizenship and Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility among our students and citizens. AHEF accomplishes this patriotic mission by writing, producing, and distributing FREE K-12 lesson plans to teachers, students, and families in all 50 states and through additional initiatives, programs, and partnerships. AHEF is inclusive of individuals of every race and creed and every religious or non-religious persuasion.(taken from AHEF's website) BASIC CONCEPT The three founders of AHEF believe that America and its beginnings could be explained using 4 basic themes: 1) Freedom 2) Unity 3) Progress 4) Responsibility They believe that Americans should use these 4 themes to realize that no matter how diverse we are as a people, we have to remember that we are all part of the same nation and should act accordingly and not forget what this country was founded on. AHEF's founders feel that the teaching and learning of these 4 important themes aren't being taught or learned by today's youth in K-12 and even in college. The PRODUCT We were sent a CD that contains the K-12 lesson plans that you can download free from their website. The down load is divided into 3 sections: 1) Elementary-include lessons about the colonists' experience under monarchy; the context for the writing of the Declaration of Independence; the creation of important American symbols, songs, and holidays; and the character traits modeled by great national leaders and presidents. 2) Middle school- include lessons focusing on concepts within the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and other important texts and American symbols as well as the ideals for which many fought and sacrificed their lives. 3) High school- include lessons for in-depth analysis and understanding of the ideas, intentions, arguments, rights, and meanings addressed in significant texts from the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence to Federalist 47, the First Amendment, and a government letter on religious expression in public schools. Since we have two in the seventh grade, we used the middle school lesson plans. At the beginning of each lesson plan the following is stated : Purpose Objective Theme NCSS standards Time needed Material list Preparation list Each of the 15 units has the following: Focus Activity Closure Assessment Some lessons also include an enrichment activity. I had heard that most Americans are only focused on the United States and don't know much about the rest of the world- I'm afraid our family is the opposite. We were so concerned that our children learn about world history, but somewhat neglected US history. It's like telling your children about all the religions of the world but forgetting the one you believe. We are proud to live in the United States and our children should be able to see where we stand by observing us! The COST Downloads -instant & free Lesson plan CD- order for free Binders - $19.50/ level We plan on using this along side our world history curriculum so our children will have a better rounded education. As part of the TOS review crew, I received this CD free in exchange for an honest review, but you can get it free and not have to write a review- good deal, right? http://www.americanheritage.org/index.html |
Oct. 26, 2009
ABC Teach TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Reading Comprehension Flashcards Clip Art Themed Units Learning Centers Homeschoolers and Parents and Languages These worksheets and printables are pre-made and can not be edited, but there is a wealth of resources for your classroom/ homeschool. For those who want more ready-made worksheets and/ or the ability to make up their own worksheets, you'll need to purchase the ABC Teach member subscription ($40/ year or $70/ 2 years). What do you get for $40 of your hard earned money? 1) Members get access to 30,000 worksheets and other printables 2) Members can use worksheet generators to create documents for a specific topic 3) Their are 19 video tutorials available to make sure you get the full benefit of the abc tools. The abc tools are custom worksheet generators to help make learning fun. They include: 1) ABC sort 2) Handwriting 3) Shapebook and border paper 4)Word Wall 5) Word Search 6) Unscramble 7) Crossword 8) Desk tag 9) Bingo 10) Sudoku 11) Word Shape 12) Spelling 13) Missing letter 14) Circle and Spell 15) Word list We no longer use a lot of worksheets and I wasn't sure of how much we'd actually use it, but there are a few things that have been great for our family. Number 1 on our list is probably Sudoku. Our daughter is on a Sudoku kick right now, and she's trying to teach our two younger students how to play. This worksheet generator allows you to choose themed pictures, numbers, and shapes in the 4, 6, & 9 square formats. You can choose whether or not to allow hints- this allows you to make a sudoku that is is easy enough for beginner or difficult for an advanced player. Another good generator is the word search. How would you like to do a word search about butterflies with a butterfly-shaped word search? There are hundreds of shapes to choose from including: animals, basic shapes, the 50 states Canadian provinces food science Sports Besides being able to make up your own worksheets, membership also allows you to choose from many more ready-made worksheets. Let's take French as an example.
As you can see from the table above, a member has about 10x more worksheets available than a non-member. The down side to ABC Teach is that although they have some things for middle school and jr. High, most of their worksheets are for elementary aged children, The worksheet generator would work for any age , level and subject because you are importing the information. Another side note- Some worksheet sites require you to destroy any worksheets you made after your membership runs out- ABC teach does not. You can save your worksheets and use them for younger children without having to destroy them after you aren't a member any longer. If you have young children and a decent printer, this is an excellent buy for you. We decided this was worth our hard earned money because of the worksheet generators and Mini Offices. Mini Offices are a few sheets highlighting the rules for a certain topic. You, or your child, cut and attach this information to file folders for portability.
This product was sent to me free, as a TOS crew member, in return for my honest opinion. | ||||||||||||
Oct. 25, 2009
Virginia Soaps and Scents TOS
Posted in Reviews
  I have spent several years trying to find the right methods and products for my hair and I thought I had found the perfect combination for me,but I'm proof that old dogs can learn new tricks. Because of Virginia Soaps and Scents, I learned a few things about hair that will change what we will be using for our hair in the future. It seems that most shampoos and conditioners contain plastics and other substances that coat your hair and make it unhealthy. We were sent : Honey and Oatmeal, Coconut and Lemongrass, and Fresh Orange soaps ($4.50/ 4.5 oz bar), unscented shampoo bar($5.50/ 5.5 oz bar),and laundry soap kit($4.95-makes 2 gallons) My daughter confiscated the oatmeal soap and took it to her bathroom as soon as we opened the box. Lemongrass is one of my favorite scents, so that one ended up in my bathroom, and our son got the orange one for his bathroom. The shampoo bar came to our shower because my husband is the only one in our house that shampoos his hair daily- the rest of us have dry hair that doesn't like daily washings. DH has such oily hair that he sometimes has to wash his hair twice a day if we are going somewhere in the evening. He liked the way his hair felt clean and looked clean, but the shampoo bar didn't help his dandruff problem. By the way- VSS currently doesn't have a "dandruff" shampoo bar, but they are working on it. In the meantime they suggested the clarifying shampoo because it has helped others suffering from dandruff. I used the shampoo bar every 2-3 days because I have thick wavy/curly hair that looks like straw if I shampoo daily. My hair felt like straw the first time I used the shampoo bar, and I was ready to let my husband have the bar all to himself until I read the advice of some of the TOS crew. It seems that some hair types, especially thick, curly hair , need help to make hair the best it can be. In my case, an apple cider vinegar rinse was the key to soft manageable hair- just be careful that the vinegar is sufficiently diluted. I also learned about "plopping" my hair to encourage nice looking curls. Before trying the shampoo bar, vinegar rinse,and "plopping", I would have to use styling products and a diffuser to get the same curly results, and I would have to wash my hair that evening because I can't stand going to bed with gunk in my hair. I had been using the shampoo bar for several weeks when the results were first tested. Recently we went out of town and brought dandruff shampoo because everyone in our family can use it and only one bottle has to be packed. I used the dandruff shampoo with and without the vinegar rinse, but still had an itchy scalp and a head full of tangles. When I plopped my hair, the curls weren't as well defined and my hair looked lifeless. Some crew members didn't seem to have the same results, maybe it had something to due with hard water. Soaps are affected by hard water, but detergents aren't. Because all of us like the way the shampoo bar cleaned our hair, we thought about making our own and use natural ingredients for dandruff control, but there are some roadblocks. 1) Because lye is being used for illegal purposes, it is very difficult to find, regulated and usually expensive. 2) Lye is extremely caustic and great care needs to be taken when working with it. 3) Some of the recommended oils can only be found in special health food stores. 4) Good essential oils are expensive. 5) It takes about three weeks for the soap to cure so you can use it. We are going to try making soap because we try to make things ourselves to see how things work, but many times we find it is better stewardship to buy from those that know what they are doing- this may be one of those times. We have been making our own laundry soap for about a year. It started out as a science experience, but we've kept it up because it works and is much cheaper than store bought detergents. My son seems to be allergic to most laundry soaps, but he's never had a problem with the homemade stuff. Virginia Soaps and Scents has put all the ingredients (except the water) together in a convenient kit so that everyone who wants to make their laundry can. Sometimes it is difficult to find the washing soda locally, and the Spargurs have done the time-consuming job of grating the soap bar already. We live near three major cities and can usually find the ingredients without too much trouble, but for those who don't , VSS's laundry soap kit may be a good option. My children liked the hand soaps, but I'm partial to liquid soaps because they seem to make less mess. VSS does sell a wooden soap dish that keeps the soap up and away from the excess water, thereby reducing the "goo" factor. As a whole, our family liked the soaps and if our foray into soap making flops, VSS, here we come! To see what other crew members had to say about Virginia Soaps & Scents click here. P.S.- VSS is a homeschool family owned and operated business- they do everything. They even do their own printing on the premises. This is a family that, with God's grace, has turned a tragedy into a God honoring business. As part of the TOS crew, I was sent this product free in return for my honest opinion. |
Sep. 19, 2009
Workbox system TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Sue Patrick's Workbox System
The TOS crew was sent Sue Patrick's Workbox System User Guide in e-Book format. This eBook can be purchased for $19 at http://www.workboxsystem.com/purchaseebook.html . Other offerings from the Sue's website are:1) pre-made kits ($13/ child) for those that are either too busy to do it themselves or want to implement the system now (or at least right after the mailman delivers it). 2) pre-made centers ($40/ subject)- non consummable, durable 3) typing program ($15) 4) general supplies 5) packages When I first read Sue Patrick's e-book about her workbox system, I wondered how in the world we could make it fit our family. For us, the workboxes themselves and the amount of prep time needed didn't fit in with our family. With modifications, we were able to use some of Sue's ideas to improve our school day. We already had a detailed 6 week schedule because we school 6 weeks and take two weeks off. The schedule is set up so they know what is expected of them on Mondays, on Tuesdays, on Wednesdays, etc. Half our subjects are done in a group setting. I did not relish filling all the recommended number of boxes each night when the children already knew what they were supposed to do and already did much of their work independently. Sue's idea that children are encouraged when they see their to-do list get smaller inspired me to use her grid system in a way that works with what our children are used to. We made a 4x4 grid, attached velcro dots, and laminated small cards that had the subjects that needed to be done on them. We then attached pockets made of colorful duck tape at the bottom for storage. There is also a chart that says what belongs on their grids each day. The children and I fill their charts with the appropriate cards each morning or evening. As each child does a subject, either individually or in a group, the card is removed from the grid and placed in the pocket. This way the student can see at a glance how much work needs to be completed.  We've had items for years that haven't been used because they don't "fit in" with regular schoolwork, but now we use them in learning centers. I put in what they need for the week on Sunday evening, and I don't have to worry about it until the following week. To reduce clutter and save space, we have the centers in a 3 drawer rolling cart- the fourth center is informational place mats or maps to study and they're located between the cart and wall. All our centers contain a timer so they have enough time to finish the rest of their work without getting caught up in the fun stuff.  SORRY the picture is sideways, but I couldn't figure out how to turn it .The children seem to like it so far, probably because they have a bit more fun added to their day  !I've modified Sue's system so much that I' not sure we can call it a work box system- there are no work boxes .The workbox system did not work for us, but may help those whose children learn differently. Sue Patrick comes at this program with 11 years experience helping her son with Autism. Children with ADD, ADHD, and those children who get easily frustrated, would probably benefit from using workboxes. As a TOS crew member, I was sent this product free in return for my honest opinion. |
Sep. 15, 2009
Amazing Bible Timeline TOS
Posted in Reviews
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THE AMAZING BIBLE TIMELINE with World History ($29.95) is a 38" x 46" poster printed on durable card stock and coated with a scuff coat varnish. It also included a downloadable version of "Interactive Maps of the Holy Land" (a $14.95 value). I was thrilled when we first received "The Amazing Bible Timeline" because it meshed secular and biblical history in an easy-to-see format, but upon closer examination, we found it to be unsuitable for our family. We placed the time line on our table and protected it with a taped-down, heavy-duty clear shower curtain. Our children and I liked to look at the timeline to see people we were studying and just because we were curious who lived at the same time as various Bible characters. The bright colors were nice because it made the different lineages of Noah very clear; however, when we became aware that it was a timeline with LDS sources on it, my husband had a thorough look at it to see if we could just black out any mention of LDS sources. We can't because it permeates too much of the chart. This is what my husband had to say about "The Amazing Bible Timeline": "This time-line seeks to present the content of history in a compact way. It does that and at first thought a circular flow of information could quite easily be considered appropriate, however what the authors ended up with is quite difficult to read. The circular pattern doesn't provide an easy way to enjoy the information on the chart. It would appear that the authors have spent a fair amount of effort compiling the information included on the chart. I can appreciate the effort they have spent. However it appears that they have chosen to include on the chart more than just historical facts supported by scripture and reputable historical documents. They have included information based on their religion. This chart should only be including information considered factual as substantiated in the Bible and in reputable historical books. All other information becomes doctrinal and I am the one responsible with teaching my children doctrine, no one else. I have read a rebuttal by the authors attempting to answer questions concerning the chart and the reliability of the information contained it and it is my opinion that the authors are hiding a very important piece of information that those purchasing this resource have a right to know. They have a right to know what theology the authors subscribe to (Mormonism). They have right to know what type of church the authors attend. Let's face it. If there is doctrine in the resource, the public school system isn't going to use it. That makes the resource exclusively for the private sector, for example home schools. I believe it is customary to include the name of the translation when quoting scripture, in case the reader doesn't subscribe to the same theology as the author. In conclusion, my family cannot use this resource since I believe it to have too many errors which would be too difficult to mark out." To see what other crew members had to say about "The Amazing Bible Time line" click here. As part of the TOS Crew, I was sent this product free, in return for my honest opinion.
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Sep. 15, 2009
Sarah's Wish TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Sarah's Wish is about a little girl with a BIG secret- her widowed mother is an "agent" in the underground railroad and Sarah helps. When her mother dies in a wagon accident, Sarah tries to help the two "packages" hiding at her house, but can't because she's being taken care of by her mother's best friend. Sarah eventually is able to safely tell adults that help the runaway slaves, but Sarah still has some obstacles to overcome. What is Sarah's wish? Will it come true? Read this wonderful book to find out the answers and learn a few new( or should I say old) vocabulary. Sarah's Wish ($9.99) is the first of 3 books (hopefully more will eventually be available). The next two in the series are Sarah's Promise($13.50) and Sarah's Escape ($17.50). (Free shipping and Handling) Audio Books are also available for the first two books for ($16.99 and $18.99) (Free shipping and Handling) Mr.Baumgardner wrote this book for his grandchildren as a fun way to learn about a bit of history and we are able to reap the benefit. He even personally autographs his books! You can sign up to join the Sarah's Web Newsletter by e-mailing sarahbooks@cox.net and putting "send newsletter" in the subject line. The newsletter contains contests, "Question of the Month", history tidbits, and "Words of Wisdom". My 11 year old loved the book, but thought it was a bit sad in parts. |
Sep. 15, 2009
Guardian Angel Press TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Welcome to Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.- where our publishing goals are to lovingly create fun, affordable and educational eBook computer & print book experiences for preschoolers and primary age children. And to embed positive, loving and worthwhile meaning into these books.(Mission statement from GAP) Andy and Spirit go to the Fair - written by:Mary Jean Kelso illustrated by:K. C. Snider This book, second in a series of 3, is about a handicapped boy in a wheelchair and the lessons he learns with the help of his albino horse Spirit. 24 pages. Earthquake- written by:Susan J Berger illustrated by:Eugene Ruble 30pgs If you want to know what an earthquake or tsunami is, this book will tell you. It also tells you how to prepare you and your family should an earthquake happen. Checklists are included in helping you and your family prepare, should an earthquake occur where you are. Hamster Holidays - written by:Cynthia Reeg illustrated by:Kit Grady 26 pages Ms. Grady's art, depicting the antics of Ms. Reeg's hamsters. This book has the nouns highlighted in blue and adjectives in red to draw the child's attention to nouns and adjectives. Maybe We are Flamingos- written by:Safari Sue Thurman illustrated by:Kevin Scott Collier 30 pages Two little flamingos question if they are in the right flock because they're not pink like the others. After failing to figure out what animal they are, they finally ask their mother and find out that their diet determines their coloring. No Bones About It - written byBill Kirk: illustrated by:Eugene Ruble 30 pages This was my personal favorite. Bill Kirk has come up with a cute rhyme to help students of all ages remember the bones' names. For example, the tibia and fibula are east to mix up, but Bill makes it easy with this rhyme: The fibula’s tibia’s Skinnier friend. They work side-by-side And sometimes get “skinned.” Caution: some crew members thought the pictures were kind of creepy because of having eyes on the bones, but our children didn't seem phased by it at all. Stubby's Destiny - written by:Dixie Phillips illustrated by:Kim Sponaugle 22 pages Stubby is a donkey, wanting to do something more important than being a beast of burden, takes lessons from his stately steed friend with no success. Stubby thinks the situation is hopeless, but he ends up learning that God has a job for each one of us, no matter our station in life. Guardian Angel Publlishing sells their books in three formats: 1) Downloadable eBook-$5 2) eBook on CD ($9.95 + $5.95 S&H) 3) print ($10.95 + $6.95) While GAP's eBooks have an advantage of being cost effective, whether you print them out yourself or read them on the computer, our family likes to hold a bound copy in our hands to read. One option is that we could print them out and put them in a three ring binder, but the children would be less likely to choose it to read on their own. These books say they're for ages 1-12 yrs old, but they weren't very challenging (except No Bones About It) for our 8, 10 & 11 yr old advanced readers. They're cute, but not challenging. To see what other crew members thought of their books, click here. As a TOS crew member, I was sent this product free in return for my honest opinion. |
Aug. 25, 2009
Mystery of History TOS
Posted in Reviews
 We requested Vol II- The Early Church and the Middle Ages because we are interested in Church history, especially the great people that came before us, who allow us to worship as we do today. Mystery of History Vol. II is 700+ pgs starting at Pentacost (31 AD) and ending with Johannes Gutenberg's printing press (1456). Three lessons are done each week; each lesson contains a pretest, text,a mini quiz, timeline figures, and Activities. Activities are broken down into three age categories: younger, middle (jr. high?) and older (teens). The younger students focus on the five senses to help them remember, while the older student has more research based projects to do. These categories are not fast and firm and we have chosen activities from all three levels, but mostly from the middle. We tried to find time when all the children could get together and do MoH , but between piano, violin, nap, and other schoolwork, we were finding it difficult to be able to read the text - the solution, Audio CD's. Our children love to listen to history CD's in the car, so we decided to purchase the CD's of the author reading the text with culturally appropriate music in the background. Linda Hobar has a voice that the whole family likes listening to (that is quite a feat). We listen to the CD's during breakfast and lunch 3 days a week, freeing us to do the activities during our regularly scheduled history time. Our family liked Mystery of History so much that we sold our old history (the complete set for 4 different levels) so we could get the CD's for levels 1 & 2. We listen to Vol I in the car for fun and to Vol. II during meals for school and the kids are loving it! The side benefit of mealtime listening is less noise and rowdiness- anything that brings quiet gets an "A+" in this mom's book. The beginning of the book contains useful information, such as: How to make a portable timeline (from a sewing cardboard cutting mat), suggested schedule for different age levels and school weeks, adaptations and "Supplemental Books and Resources". The Cost: the 700+ pg book with activities and reproducibles $49.95 12 CD audio set $48.95 reproducibles on CD (found in the book, but on CD for convience ) $19.95 While $49.95 might seem like a lot for one book, consider the following: 1) Its History from a Biblical perspective. 2) You can teach history to several different levels at the same time. 3) The activities for each level are spelled out for you. 4) You can go through this book and do the harder, more in-depth activities the next time. 5) The reproducibles can be copied for your family, co-op, Sunday School, or class; it can not be copied for a whole school (homeschools are the exception). With our other history program, we had to buy a $30 student book for each student. Just think how much money money you can save especially if you several children. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being trash can worthy and 5 being worthy of eating beans and mac & cheese to save for it, Mystery of History gets a 5 !  This is a picture of the timeline, made of a cutting board , contact paper, and duck tape, suggested in the beginning of the book. Our timeline goes up & down because we can work with it easier than if we hung it on the wall. A closer look at the timeline. The timeline folded up compactly, now it can be stored in an number of places like under the bed, in a closet, or our favorite, behind the couch.As a member of the TOS crew, I received this product free in return for a honest review. |
Aug. 25, 2009
College Prep Genius 2 TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Our children aren't old enough to take the SAT and their workload is already pretty heavy, so I decided to sharpen my pencils and take this course myself. The College Prep Genius system consists of the textbook (176 pages), workbook (74 pages) and the Master the SAT class DVD (usually $115 but is currently $79 for the entire program.). Because I am past the need to take the SAT, and my time is at a premium, I decided to check out the math section only. I purchased a used copy of 10 Real SAT's, took the 2 math sections of one of the tests, did the math portion of the College Prep Genius program, and then retested using another SAT. I missed 7 problems the first time and only 1 problem on the retest. Some of the improvement may have been due to refreshing my memory of things learned back in school years ago ( we don't need to say how many), but some of the improvement was because of the things learned from College Prep Genius. I learned that the SAT is a logic test, not one that tests your knowlege. There are usually two ways to solve a problem: the long way of actually calculating the answer and an easy way that usually doesn't require a calculator. By knowing how the test is set up, you can eliminate some of the answers and there are hints to help you eliminate even more wrong answers. College Prep Genius uses a lot of acronyms to help the student remember important information like the PARC rule- Pay Attention, Read Carefully or the ways to remember the definitions of the mean (Math Equation's Average Number), mode ( Most Often Digit Exposed) and median (Middle Exact Digit In-between All Numbers). There is a list of 300 math terms and their definitions because it helps to know what the question is asking. There are many forms that you can copy for your student to keep track of their scores, scholarship websites, and practices. I would recommend the student watching the DVD and following along in their workbook- it was engaging and not too tedious. In my opinion the textbook is a bit dry and redundant, but an important read, by both the parents and students. There is information found in the textbook that isn't found elsewhere in the program. If your child is college- bound, or even remotely concidering college, you will probably want to go through this program. $80 now may save you much more in the future in the form of scholarships (there is a list of 84 scholarship websites in the back). While my children aren't quite ready for this course this year, I have learned the importance of starting early to prepare for the PSAT/ SAT. They will start this course next year, in the 8th grade. I am very grateful to have College Prep Genius on my bookshelves. |
Aug. 25, 2009
Journey Through Learning TOS
Posted in Reviews
 A Journey Through Learning has 48 lap books, 24 copy books, and 9 notebooking books for pre-K-7th grade. The wide variety includes Science, History, Holidays, Literature, and Bible. Most of the lapbooks include the study guide so you can start right away! We had our 1st, 4th, and 7th grader do the Desert lapbook with study guide designed for 2nd-7th graders. The first grader had a little difficulty cutting out about 4 of the unusual shapes and she needed help filling out the information due to her handwriting level. The 7th grader liked doing it, but she didn't think it was very in-depth. The 4th grader didn't really have an opinion about the lapbook. The two youngest not only learned all about the desert, they also worked on improving their cutting, glueing, and following directions. The first and fourth graders did the lapbook using the file folders and the seventh grader put her mini booklets on colored cardstock so be later put in a 3 ring binder. A Journey Through Learning also carries lap books for the Circle C Adventures by Susan Marlow. The Circle C series (bought separately) is for those who like horses, the Wild West and ranching. The lapbooks don't just include information about horses, it also gives you ettiquette lessons, history of baseball, history of sheriffs, cowhands, Jonny Appleseed, history of the railroad, history of the circus, and much, much more. I forsee the entire collection in our library in the future. We have a horse lover and possible future vet in our house. "How much does this gem of educational fun cost?" you may be contemplating. Well, I'm glad you asked (and even if you didn't- you were going to because it's a smart thing to know, and all of you are smart). You have three, yes that's three, not one, not two, but three options. Behind Door #1- Immediate Download for those who need it now (around $13) Behind Door #2 - CD for those who may want a hard copy in case your computer imitates your children and throws a tantrum (around $14) and last, but not least Door #3 reveals the option of receiving printed material and the needed three file folders for those of you who may not want to do battle with a printer that chews up and spits out more paper than your toddler does (around $21) All funning aside, A Journey Through Learning is a great place to look if you need something to lighten up your schoolwork or want to indulge an interest your child has. |
Aug. 25, 2009
Nutrition 101 TOS
Posted in Reviews
  In each unit, the student learns the anatomy of major body systems, how they function, their common health issues, the benefits of good food and the consequences of bad food. The six units are: 1) The Brain and Nervous System 2) Digestion and Elimination 3) Respiration and Olfactory 4) Muscular and Skeletal Systems 5) Cardiovascular and Immune Systems 6) Endocrine System and Emotions Our children loved the hands-on cooking part of each chapter and are looking forward to trying the Avacado/ Carob Pudding (the pudding contains no milk- hmmm....). For the most part, the recipes are easy to make and contain ingredients that aren't too difficult to obtain. I took nutrition classes in college and didn't learn some of the things found in this book. It doesn't just teach you what you should and shouldn't eat- it also tells you why. A word of warning: your children may start saying something about you put in your grocery cart. At $79.95 for the CD ROM , $99.95 for the book, or $129.95 for the CD ROM/ book combo it can be a stretch for some budgets, but this 448 page is worth the money if it can find a place in your budget. |
Aug. 25, 2009
College Prep Genius TOS 1 of 2
Posted in Reviews
 We were recently sent College Prep Genius and asked to give our initial impressions. College Prep Genius, "the no brainer way to SAT success", gives the students strategies on taking the SAT and PSAT. They say that the key to doing well on the test is not memorizing long lists of words, but learning how the test is set up and the strategies needed to result in successful test scores. “Master the SAT Class” DVD, College Prep Genius textbook, and Class workbook are usually $115 but is currently $79 for the entire program. I will be testing (pun intended ) this program by taking a practice SAT before and after reading and watching this program. Stay tuned to see how it goes. |
Aug. 25, 2009
StudyPod TOS
Posted in Reviews
Do your children get a crick in their necks while studying? Do you wish you had an efficient way to hold your cookbook? Does your sheet music pretend to be butterflies and flutter all over the room? If so, the Study Pod may be of assistance to you. The Study Pod is a deceptively simple product that helps to hold your books open. It is versatile because of its flexible holding arms. It can keep open your sheet music, cookbooks, and other books of almost any size. Your student can study more efficiently if they can look over, instead of down, to their books while working on the computer. An unexpected bonus received from using this with your cookbooks is that if you spill a liquid, your book is safe on the Study Pod's shelf and won't act as a sponge, not that I would be so careless as to allow a bottle of apple juice to spill all over my counter . The Study Pod has an internal pocket to hold study supplies such as pens, pencils, calculators, and a MP3 player. When folded up, it can easily be mistaken for a book and stores easily in your backpack so it is ready anytime you need it.The Book Pod and Study Pod are the same except the colors. Study Pod comes in black, blue, and pink. The Book Pod's colors are black, gray, and beige. You can purchase one for $19.95 or two for $16.95 each. Study Pods and Book Pods can be combined for this offer. |
Aug. 7, 2009
Quarter Mile Math - TOS
Posted in Reviews
 Recently we were able to experience Quarter Mile Math , a fun and engaging math drill program. We used the Deluxe version which is a internet based subscription. The Cost: $2.95/ month/ family (12 accounts)- yes, that is 2 dollars and 95 cents per month $19.95/year/ family (12 accounts) $34.95/ 2 years/ family (12 accounts) BEST VALUE Each subscription is for up to 12 family members. Family members do not need to live in the same house or even the same state; this allows grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. to race each other and have another way to keep in contact with one another. How it works: After ordering, download the software, set up an account for each person (don't forget the adults!), and start the fun. Each person can choose riderless horses or cars to race. The first 5 times you race, the computer generates opponents programmed to lose. After the 6th race, you are racing your 5 best times. Tournaments can be run between family members. This software isn't only for older children, little ones can get involved because Quarter Mile Math includes keyboarding as a topic.  Kid's perspective: Having a choice between using a car or horse appealed to both girls and boys. Racing against siblings and parents raised the interest a notch or two. The kids suggested daily sessions of 15-20 minutes because after 20 minutes it got a bit boring. The children liked it so much that they requested it to be brought up for their week long stay at their grandparents- doing "school" without parents around (must be fun!) Parent's viewpoint: My husband and I set up accounts for ourselves so we could see what Quarter Mile Math was all about. We expected it to be easy, breezy since the software "only" goes to the 9th grade level and we both did well at math , but we were in for a surprise. Maybe it was the quick pace or our slow learning curve, but our kids seemed to do better than we did. Actually it's because we are such great teachers, that our children were able to surpass us (Ha! Ha! Ha!). Barnum Software seems to really take the family into account. Quarter Mile Math is good enough to be used by Sylvan Learning Centers, but priced for the average family ($3/month for 12 family members). Being sensitive to those who don't approve of horse racing because of the gambling or other behaviors, the horses are riderless and race in straight lines in a green pasture. The cars are classics. In a Nutshell: We thoroughly enjoyed Quarter Mile Math and think it is a great value! BTW- For those who either want a product they can keep to pass down to younger siblings, or one that doesn't require the internet, there are CD versions of the different levels. |