27. February 2009 by Shannon.

Further Up and Further In… to Narnia!

Kenzi and I have been enjoying a wonderful new curriculum called just that - Further Up and Further In!  Cadron Creek has published a Narnian Literature Unit Study which is just wonderful!  As you journey along in the Chronicles of Narnia, the Further Up and Further In guide has many activites and discussions such subjects as Bible, Critical Thinking, Life Skills, and also some Grammar, History, Geography and “Extra Reading” recommendations (which are exceptional in themselves!). 

The course is designed for students in grades 4-8, and I think towards the younger end of that range, you could successfully use it as a full “core” course for a homeschool year, but as you head towards the Middle School (7,8) you might need to view it more as a Literature Unit with added bonuses and cover your Social Studies with another course of your choice.  Kenzi can usually do most of unit work in about 2 hours of our day, including a wonderful snuggle up and read the next chapter with Mom session - my best time - which leaves us plenty of time to cover the other subjects we need to in our homeschool with ease.

Kenzi is loving the course, and as we work towards the end of the LW&W book, she’s getting more and more excited to start The Horse and His Boy (her favourite of the series)… and even Ev in grade 9 enjoyed doing The Magician’s Nephew with us (he’s not continuing with it - he has his High School stuff to work on, which takes up most of the day). 

I’m so excited to have been sent this to review, I am enjoying it a lot… once I got past expecting it to be a Full Core Unit, since for Kenzi’s age, as I mentioned, it is a little thin… however, I cannot wait for the Littles to hit grades 4/5 to jump into it again with them… this is definately a keeper! *grin*

FUFI (as it’s affectionately called) sells for $ 56 - but remember, if you are getting this for a grades 4-6 student, this would be your CORE, so besides maybe locating a few of the CS Lewis books to go with it,  you’d have everything you need besides math.  And oh, btw, keep your eyes peeled at the second hand bookstores, as all that really good stuff can usually be found there as the great learned men and women of the World War eras pass away and their books, not being the “latest craze” find their way to these goldmines of classical literature… but don’t get me started on that! *wink*  You can also choose (for a mere $6 more) to get the spiral bound version of the book so it will lay flat (or in this Mom’s case, flip over itself so I can hold it in one hand while I write on the white board…) and is extremely easy to use.  Every chapter has it’s vocabulary words (which we do before we read the chapter so that we know what the word means when we get there… imagine! LOL!), easily identified activities (by subject!) and LOTS of Bible content… honestly???  I think this could be used simply as a Bible curriculum if you really wanted to, covering such amazing subjects as Character, the Fruit of the Spirit, The Armour of God, and really challenges the student to ask himself WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?).

I’m already planning on doing another Cadron Creek course next year with Kenzi… they have an Anne of Green Gables course called Where the Brook and River Meet… and we’re even planning a trip to PEI this summer to visit Green Gables and get some seeds planted in her heart for that curriculum.  I can’t wait … between Anne and Narnia, you pretty much have my ABSOLUTE favourite books of all time covered!!! LOL!

Blessings!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Posted in F is for FANTASTIC! | Print | 1 Comment »

24. February 2009 by Shannon.

Tears!

Screaming!!

FRUSTRATION!!!

If that is the definition of Math in YOUR house (as it sometimes is in our house… sigh), I might have just the thing!

Math Tutor DVDs has a complete line of tutorial DVDs spanning from Basic Math Help (everything up to grade 7) to College level Probability and Statistics!  I received the Basic Math Word Problems DVD and the Algebra 2 DVD to review… I sat down with my daughter to check out the Word Problems one and was really surprised how simple and clear the intructor, Jason Gibson, makes tackling one of our worst subjects.  His voice is calm and relaxed… and he definately isn’t just reading from a script.  He does the DVDs as if he were standing at the dining room table with your student, walking them through how to do a series of general problems… explaining very clearly as he goes along each and every thing they need to look out for.

The DVDs are about 26$ each (way cheaper than hiring a tutor… and THIS tutor stays in your home and will explain the concept over and over till the cows come home in the same calm, never frustrated, way whenever your student is stuck - good luck finding that in even the best paid tutors! LOL!).  They are each about 8-10 hours long of Pure Math Help - all in organized little video clips - fantastic for the Fraction-hating Mom that I am… *grin*

Now, it needs to be very clear here, that these DVDs, even thought they have practice sheets and the likes, are definately NOT a replacement for a complete math curriculum… but they would be an amazing addition to ANY math curriculum.  We currently use two very different math programs, one computer-oriented program and one relaxed textbook program… and these Math Tutor DVDs are good companions to them both. 

An additional bonus is that Jason has arranged the DVDs into common bundles.. to save you even MORE money… very good for us single-income-by-choice homeschooling families!  I would (and have!) urge any friend of mine with a child struggling with math, or who is frustrated themselves helping their child through what might be their own worst school memories (math class… *shudder!*), to take a look at Math Tutor DVDs…. besides, the best part about them?  They are GUARANTEED to raise your child’s marks in math - OR YOUR MONEY BACK!  How can you go wrong???

I intend to get a lot more of these as the years go on… Algebra 1 will be my first addition (haha, pun intended! LOL!).

Blessings!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Posted in T is for Teaching | Print | 3 Comments »

17. February 2009 by Shannon.

Someone told me today that I must be a Saint to homeschool my kids.  Far from it!  I don’t like to mention it but sometimes I don’t like being a homeschool mom.  There are certain subjects I absolutely HATE teaching… Fractions is one of them… another would be Grammar.

I have avid readers, and my oldest son, Everett, wants to be a professional writer but teaching formal grammar daunts the heck outta me!  I was happy to hear that I had been selected to review The Latin Road to English Grammar.

Ev loves Latin, I figured this would help me kill two birds with one stone.  The program comes with all the teacher support materials and DVDs you could possibly need and a wonderfully organized notebook system including colour coded markers to help the student who is a visual learner.

However, as much as I tried, I found the program to be much more teacher time intensive than I would expect for a high school level program.  I believe it’s important for a student to develop the ability to work independently from Mom as they enter into these upper school years.

Now, to be fair, maybe it would help if I were proficient in grammar myself or if I had a basic knowledge of latin, but I really had a hard time understanding the course.  What I lack in edjucashin shouldn’t reflect on the program.

So… what am I trying to say without sounding too negative?  Well.  It hasn’t work for us as I dreampt it would yet… but I’m not saying I won’t keep working at it.  If there is nothing else about me that my readership should know, it’s that I am one very tenacious woman! *grin*

SO… The Latin Road to English Grammar is a very extensive program, covering everything that you could possibly want in both an english grammar course AND a beginning latin course.   The course, in my humble opinion, is a real investment (the Big Fat Latin Special runs at $249, covering 1 year of latin/grammar)… but the quality of the product is unsurpassed.  And, for the very dedicated Mom and Student, it might possibly be one of the best investments you make in your homeschool (oh, and it’s all non consumable, being a notebook system, so larger families would find the cost lessened over the years of use).

Blessings!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

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16. February 2009 by Shannon.

I was recently bestowed a great honour by a fellow crew-mate (Thanks Kristin!)… she awarded me the Most Extraordinary TOS Crew Mate Award.  WOW!  It is SO nice to get recognition!!!  Lord knows that many things a mom does goes unnoticed (buying milk, making supper, folding laundry, wiping noses…).  I think that’s why I love blogging so much.  People read and COMMENT on what *I* have to say!  LOL!  We moms all need a pat on the back now and then… right?

So… the spirit of the award, I’m to pass it on to my top 5 blogs of the TOS Crew… so here goes (in no particular order, just the ones I really like):

1. Danielle’s Teaching, Learning and Encouraging

2. Vickie’s Tumbleweed New

3. Amy’s Bow of Bronze

4. Shauna’s Treasure Seekers

5. Kim’s Train up a Child

So.. those are 5 I really like.. but it doesn’t mean I don’t love others just as much… *grin*  I love so many blogs I have designated Favourites folder for them all! LOL!  But this asked for 5… so there they are! 

Blessings!

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13. February 2009 by Shannon.

… it’s ROCKET PHONICS!!!

*grin* Couldn’t resist, sorry! LOL!

One of the neatest programs I’vebeen asked to review this year has been Rocket Phonics, the exceptional phonics teaching program that uses games, treasure hunts, goofy jokes (kids love that stuff), and flashcards with hints to help young readers master all the “rocket science” of phonics.  Greyson (6) knew many of his sounds already, but begs for Rocket Phonics, and Chaeli (almost 4) knew her basic alphabet sounds, and is loving “steppin’ it up a notch” with her big brother and Fun School.

John Holt, that guy who won Teacher of the Year then quit the system to advocate parents teaching their children at home, highly recommends this program which boasts being able to bring your child from pre-reading to a 5th grade reading level in just 2 years!  I can honestly see the progress the Littles are making.  In fact, they are moving along so fast that it almost looks “fake” in my record keeping program… like I am making it up.  I can’t wait to see them picking up books and reading on their own.. at least I can grab some pictures of that to “back my story up”!  LOL!

I’m very much a delight directed type homeschooler when it comes to the early grades (pre-K to grades 4/5), relying heavily on games, lapbooking, reading, and things of that sort.. so this syste fits perfectly into my philosophy of teaching.  And although the 100 Easy Lessons worked well and created two avid bookworms of my Bigs - I can’t say we enjoyed it… the kids stuck it out because they could see that they were more and more able to read, that was all.  With Rocket Phonics, however, the Littles can’t get enough.. asking me on weekends, bedtimes, whenever, “Can we do more Rocket Phonics?”.  Can’t argue with that for delight directed, eh?

One thing I love best about Rocket Phonics is the concept of the treasure hunt… with prizes included!  (and when you’ve used up those, go get some loot bag things from the dollar store to have as more prizes.. usually that’s 4 to a package, so for me it’d do two treasure hunts!)

The program is definately more pricey than 100 Easy Lessons (averaging $30 new), but there is no comparison in the quality and quantity of resources you receive…. Rocket Phonics costs $160 (remember, taking you from PreK-gr5) or you can spread it out with 3 payments of $53 and change.  100 Easy Lessons only brings you to a second grade reading level… so you are definately taking it further by investing in Rocket Phonics.  My only regret is that this program wasn’t around for my Bigs.

Definately Two Thumbs Up!

Blessings!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Posted in T is for Teaching | Print | 1 Comment »

12. February 2009 by Shannon.

We are a spoiled family. As a Bible lovin’ Mom, I am very big on making sure we have LOTS of great kids bible music to listen to in our home.  So you can imagine how excited I was to receive a copy of a music CD called Bible Story Songs in the mail to review!! 

Unfortunately, our excitement didn’t last too long.  I did mention that we are spoiled when it comes to Bible music and CDs for the kids… so that isn’t to say that this is worthless (the Word of God is never worthless), but the members of this house found the CD to be a little on the annoying side, often asking that it be turned off before we even finished the whole CD.  That is unusual for my kids, we just love music. 

I think that part of our issue is that the creators of Bible Story Songs have taken familiar hymns/songs and changed the words to make a new song about a Bible story - my kids, familiar with some of those songs found it confusing.  And, personally, as much as I love Bible stories, we have a particular preference for scripture CDs (which take actual scripture verses and put them to music, not just paraphrase a story).  The CD reminded me a lot of Sunday School songs, of which neither myself nor my children are big fans.

I had to really think about this review.  I don’t want to give the impression that the CD has no merit… it’d make a nice travelling CD if you have little ones with no “set in their ways” tastes yet in Bible music, it would also be an excellent background music for a church nursery school class, or during rest time in a christian daycare.  The philosophy is sound and good - I believe that it is very important to teach our children the stories of their Christian heritage, but again, our PERSONAL preference is for scripture verses put to music, not story songs. 

But I know lots of young children who would love this kind of music CD, so I still recommend it.  Anything that puts the Word of God into the hearts of our children can’t be all bad… right?  LOL!  So… if you aren’t as spoiled as we are… please, do not hesitate to try out Bible Story Songs, at only $10 a CD, it’s worth trying out and seeing if it’s a good fit for YOUR family!

Blessings!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

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10. February 2009 by Shannon.

Yup!  We’re learnin’ Spanish!!!

Kenzi was lucky enough to be chosen to review Bilingual Books’ Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day Course.  First I want you to hear what she thinks of it (since, really, she’s the one using it)”

I like the Spanish course because it is made so that you have lots of practice.  You review everything; pages, sections, chapters.  They always go back and have you review what you already did, which helps a lot when you are learning to say palabras nuevas (new words).  That’s how they teach you.  You learn new words in your lesson but also as part of the lesson.  It’s hard to explain but it works.  I find the books have very good explanations and good illustrations.  I find that the audios are clear and nice to listen to (nice voice). 

Honestly?  I could kick myself having read what she wrote about Bilingual Books because we spend hundreds of dollars on Rosetta Stone (for French) when Bilingual Books are only $59.95 for an entire language and I’m seeing a lot more results in a MUCH shorter period of time. D’OH! 

Of course, one could argue that Rosetta Stone is a lot more comprehensive, but honestly?  Right now I just want my children to be able to communicate in French, and I’ve not seen that yet from RS.  However, Kenzi takes great pleasure in slipping in some Spanish when she’s talking to me (messin’ with my old Mama brain… *grin*).  Learning a new language should be fun and interesting, and as good marks as RS is spitting out for my kids lessons, they aren’t enjoying itnear as much, and they are certainly not using it (the language, not the program… that’s non-negotiable because of the province I live in).

My analysis of the program?  Well, personally I think I would prefer a computer program myself that tracks progress, plans lessons, etc.  and most likely would have passed this program by if I’d stumbled it - thinking that it woudln’t be an effective system.  It’s amazing how we prejudge things, eh?  One really nice feature are the stickers which can be places on items around the house to help your student review the palabras nuevas.  *grin… are you getting the idea how the books work?*

The book is top quality, the CDs are in a innovative “wallet” case.  The text comes with a CD with the neatest interactive … I don’t know what you would call it, Kenzi said it’s like a game, but it’s called an Interactive Flash Cards and Sticky Labels… which to me sounds boring … it’s NOT!   It makes practicing what you’ve learned so much fun!  The words you are taught are primarily for assisting you, the learner, become a confident communicator in your new language, making everything from home conversations to travelling to a new country much more dynamic.  The CDs could easily be taken in the car on your activity commute allowing the whole family to learn together, or they could popped into the computer during school time, or maybe listened to on a walkman while taking the dog for a walk (one of my daughter’s favourite activities).  Portable learning… I love that!  The only caveat I could mention is that on the first page it teaches you how easily you can learn to speak another language… by showing you how to order a glass of wine in a restaurant.  Um.. maybe not as useful for our homeschool KIDS… but, well, they will grow, and possibly one day want to order a glass of wine in a restaurant somewhere in Mexico or Spain - and won’t you be glad to know that you’ve properly equipped them to do so?? LOL!

Bilingual books covers many languages, including Arabic, Italian, Chinese, French (that’s our next purchase, to compliment our RS and get Kenzi conversing), German, Hebrew (Cool!  Maybe I’ll get that for me!), Japanese, Norwegian, Portugese, Russion and of course, Spanish!  McKenzie wanted a program to learn Spanish so that she could write to her World Vision sponsor child who lives in the Dominican Republic in her own language… and she not only got her wish, but she also said that she hopes she gets to meet her one day because she knows that she will be able to talk to her as well!  I am so excited for my language-challenged daughter, that she has finally found something to help her discover what learning a new language is really about… FUN!

Thanks Bilingual Books!  I’ll be ordering another language soon! :o)

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Posted in T is for Teaching | Print | 3 Comments »

9. February 2009 by Shannon.

I think Moms are an untapped natural resource…

I do!  I think that the government sees only a population maker.  I think men as a whole see us as someone to protect or persecute (unfortunately, there are men like that out in our world).  I think even our children see us wrong.. they tend to see us as their live in food provider / taxi driver.

But if only the world could see our real potential.

A while back there was this email circulating about how awesome Moms are.  You know, “our kisses can heal almost any wound”, etc… well… I have come up with another Super Mom Ability.

We are the best espionage tool any secret service could ask for!  ONLY A MOM can decode a three-year-old.  And three-year-olds have a far superior “encryption program” than any military operation out there.

And only a mom can break the code.

Coversation from Saturday night AT THREE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (meaning, the code breaker in question, *me*, was extremely sleep deprived… yet still able to crack the code!):

Chaeli:  Mommy, come sleep wif me.

Me: All right, I’ll lie down with you for a bit, but no talking, okay?

(period of stealthy quiet.. just enough to lure her captive audience into a gentle doze… but still not enough to dull my wits)

Chaeli:  Mama,  at my birfday (that’s how she says it…), you can buy me a bar-b-que?

Me:  You want to cook something?

Chaeli:  NO.  I want a princess bar-b-que, that was on TV.

Me:  Well, maybe… (who knows, Fisher Price has everything.  I’m picturing a pink bar-b-que set, like those toy kitchen sets)

Chaeli:  wif a dress.

Me:  You mean an apron?

Chaeli:  NO.  A princess dress.

Me (forgive me, I was tired):  Okay… you can have a princess dress (thinking it was an apron).

Chaeli:  and I can bring the bar-b-que in my baf! (bath)

Me:  I don’t think it’ll fit, Hon… you need to keep it in your room.

Chaeli:  NO!  I want to bring it in the baf!  With a bayding suit!

Me (hang on a minute here… what is she talking about?!):  Is this princess a DOLL?

Chaeli:  YES!  A Bar-b-que princess doll!

Me (see… master code breaker!):  A BARBIE DOLL?

Chaeli:  Ya… a bar-b-que doll.  Can you buy me one for my birfday?

Me (trying not to laugh aloud, she hates that!):  We’ll see… okay?  Now go to sleep.

Chaeli (kissing me on my nose): Thank you, Mama… I wuv you!  You’re my best Mama!

(good thing, since as far as I know I’m her only one too!)

I defy ANY secret agent to have done better!

*grin*

Blessings!

Posted in M is for Mom | Print | 1 Comment »

6. February 2009 by Shannon.

Good things come in small packages!!

I was asked to review the Schleich animal figurines.  Immediately upon seeing the little box, I think the kids sensed something wonderful was inside.  They all crowded around me while I opened it.  TREASURE!!!  I don’t think they could have had a more positive result than if the box had been laden with chocolate!  LOL!

The two littles started snatching up the animals as fast as the Bigs and I could unwrap them!!!  I think I got 12 animals, but I doubt I’ll ever know… I know Kenzi claimed the slinking fox, Ev grabbed the hedgehog and the cute little squirrel.  Chaeli called dibs on the deer families (I got one that was a white-tailed and one that was another kind… unfortunately, the “catalog” which doubles as a reference book when you need to go look those things up was also swiped so my teenage daughter could drool over all the gorgeous horse figurines *grin*).  I think Greyson has the polar bear under his pillow and the little black bear hasn’t left his hand/pocket since it came to it’s “new home”.  These are definately a hit!

Schleich has been making life-like animal figurines and “action figures” (more like models of historical characters like knights, and also… that my daughter is drooling over… playworlds of equestrian, farming, etc) since 1953.  Their products can be found all over - from specialty shops to big name retailers like Target and Toys ‘R’ Us.   They sell their toys worldwide, exceeding global safety standards.  And they are sure to have something to thrill everyone, as their catalog has more than 500 items with many more on the way! 

I was a little tickled to find out that we actually *had* some of these figurines in the house before even receiving the package - I had been given a chicken by a friend for Christmas one year, and that same friend also gave my daughter a beautiful jumping horse from their equestrian collection (my daughter loves show jumping).  I’d never given it much thought till I stumbled on their pictures in the Schleich catalog… but both things had been long cherished as a quality piece of art (yes, the detail, colour, and quality make these little pieces of art in my eyes).

Thank you Schleich for the wonderful blessing!  These are absolutely favourites in this house… with several coveted pieces being “fought” over (the Polar Bear is MINE! *grin*).  I look forward to building a big collection of these products over the years… and I know Kenzi has big plans of getting every single one of the horses (I told her to start saving her babysitting money! LOL!).  The prices range from the very inexpensive to the extravagant… depending on the size of the piece, but the pieces are worth every penny! 

Blessings!

As a review blogger,  I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Posted in F is for FANTASTIC! | Print | 2 Comments »