24. March 2009 by Shannon.

Okay… maybe not ALL science is UNfriendly despite my high school experiences (yes, I was indeedy that poor pathetic student who tried to blow up the science lab.. only in my case, it was that I started an OH SO small, COMPLETELY over-reacted to TEENIE TINY fire.. sheesh… it’s not like I KNEW that container couldn’t be left open… *sigh*).

*ahem!*

Yes, back to FRIENDLY sciences… Joey and Lisa Hajda has written a course called just that, “FRIENDLY Chemistry“. Why knew? With learning games, skits, stories, and of course EXPERIMENTS… Joey and Lisa have taken high school chemistry, a subject I absolutely fear, and made into something that is actually FUN, exciting (not that the fire in chem lab wasn’t… but this is a much less stressful exciting.. *grin*), and the most important thing… MEMORABLE.

The course consists of a Teacher’s binder and a Student binder (notebook), and a game board and some chips. There are “getting to know you” games suitable for introducing this to a co-op of homeschoolers (and even in your little homeschool setting, you might be surprised what you learn about your kids!), a sneaky sack game, and even a game to demonstrate the importance of clear communication (that can’t be bad, right?). By lesson 10 you are baking a cake to demonstrate “atomic radius” (okay, seriously? We never got to eat cake in chemistry when *I* was in school.. that might have changed the whole direction of my education *grin*) and in the next lesson, you are doing drama to learn chemistry! MAN! This is *not* your typical chemistry course!!!

The course is broken down into 32 lessons… perfect for a year long weekly co-op or even just a one year highschool chemistry credit for your homeschooled student. To get both the teacher (absolutely necessary for the chemistry challenged mom like me!) and student notebooks for $135 (includes free shipping to U.S. addresses), which might seem like a high-ish cost, but when you factor in the “painless” part.. this course is worth twice that… at least (and besides, these books are both huge, over three HUNDRED pages each!) And besides, where else are you gonna learn to teach chemistry using SMORES?!?! Sheesh.

So.. if you have a highschooler who simply needs a highschool credit in chemistry but is not “interested” in the subject as a career…. why not check out Friendly Chemistry. And while you are there, could you drop them a note and ask them to create a “painless” Biology course next?

Blessings!

ps, maybe that is the best part of homeschooling… getting to learn it all over again, and hopefully this time you *don’t* blow up the science lab.

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 »

20. March 2009 by Shannon.

Well, I have decided I have a homeschool favourite.  You know those people who are die-hard Sonlighters, or hard core A Beka Bookers… well… I’m officially a Critical Thinking Presser. (There’s a new word! *grin*)

Once again, I was blessed by Critical Thinking Press with yet another one of their exceptional student workbooks.  This time it was Mathematical Reasoning Level A (Kindergarten)… what a fantastic find!  The book, of course is of excellent printing quality, and also meets their very high standards in the content quality department as well. 

From classifying to shape tracing, from number lines to simple logic problems… this book has it all.. everything to give your young student a critical mind when approaching the subject of mathematics.  It’s been a great cuddle on the couch book for us… I didn’t want to “ruin” the book, as I’d like to use it with Chaeli next year, so we do all the pages without a crayon (use our fingers for tracing, do the logic stuff orally, etc…) and I also got the book spiral bound (my local copy shop loves me, I think I personally keep them in the binding business! LOL! I spiral bind everything I can!)

Critical Thinking Press is my all time favourite homeschool supply company now… I have an order for this upcoming year that put more white hairs on my poor husband’s head when he saw it… I know, I know, I have to taper it a bit (I think I topped $350 on my first draft… working on paring it down, but it’s just so durned hard when the products are just so goooooooood, you know?).  I will probably try to sneak in a few of the “cut” books as the year goes on (shhhhhhh!), but I’m putting my foot down on Mathematical Reasoning.  I’m going to get the 4 year old book for Chaeli for next year and the grades 1 book for September and the next ones in following years… how can I not??

My only sad point was that the “by year” system ends after grade 3, when they have a single book to cover concepts from grades 4 through 8 in one book.  But I’m pretty sure I can find SOMEWHERE to spend more money with them when that happens… LOL!  Again, Shhhhhhhhh!

(two thumbs up!)

Blessings!

PS. HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!

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 »

13. March 2009 by Shannon.

I was sent a copy of the Homeschool in the Woods New Testament Bible LapPack to review with my children… and I have to say, I am impressed!  The graphics, of course, are of the finest quality -  I’d expect nothing less of the creators of the Timeline Figures - and not only can you use them for the lapPack, but why not use them on your timeline as well, or in your notebook pages? 

but *ahem!*  back to my review…

Now, this isn’t your typical lapbook type kit, where you child cuts out a simple empty template and fills in his answer… I can’t even say they have to fill in *any* answers, this is more of a springboard lapbook kit that gives your child something to complete while maybe Mom is reading the corresponding Bible story, and then you are free to discuss and take the study to whatever level is appropriate for your student.  I printed off a couple of the simpler books, cut them out and threw them in ziplock baggies to bring to places where I have to keep little hands busy, like doctor’s offices and restaurants… that a few well chosen crayons and we’re good to go till the food comes (or the doctor is finished with Mommy! LOL!).  Super handy and no “work” involves, so there is no balking at the idea of “doing school” while out in the wide world.

But there are is also the New Testament News project to work on as well.. full of thought-provoking writing prompts and funy “ad copy” to create… it’ll get even the most pencil-allergic kid inspired.  Tabliod-style articles on such topics as Jesus tipping tables at the temple to Lost Ads for a “missing sheep” - it tickled my kids funny bones more than once!

(Hey, it even tickled Moms - “Disciples Hit The Road!” hehe… shouldn’t we all?)

The younger kids all liked the Armour of God poster (this is Kenzi’s… doesn’t she look funny?? LOL!) - Ev felt it was “beneath” him to make colouring posters… *sigh* what can I say, he’s a teen boy.  But overall, the quality and the DIRECTIONS are fantastic… the graphics are the best in the the business… bar none (sorry LnL and HOAC, I love ya both, but there’s no comparison!).

If you are looking for something to just open up further discussion, or to keep little hands busy during family Bible time… seriously consider the New Testament LapPack from Homeschool in the Woods… and if you are in the market for timeline figures, be sure to check them out there as well.. they are absolutely exceptional!

Blessings!

PS, They also have an Old Testament LapPack as well.. why not get both and start at the very beginning… (uhoh, I hear a song coming on! LOL!)

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 »

12. March 2009 by Shannon.

Okay… yes, I know that today is “Th for Theology”… but I guess children’s theology counts too, right? *wink*

One2Believeis a toy company with a rather unique mission… their goal is to get Bible Action Figures into the hands of children everywhere.  If you give Barbies and Bratz dolls to your children and expect uplifting, godly play… well, don’t hold your breath.  Our children need good models, they need to see what we value, and if we put the Bible stories in their hands, well, it stands to reason that what you’ll get it a more biblical play.

I received the One2Believe Noah’s Ark set  (retails for $29.99)to review… WOW!  The kids (who as you know from reading my Schleich review) immediately gravitated towards the animals… the boat was forgotten, in fact, poor old Noah was left hangin’ out on the boat by himself on the island for at least a week before anyone noticed him *grin*.  However, with reading the little storybook (perfect for carrying around in a pocket, according to my 6 year old… ya, I gotta remember to check ALL pockets before doing the laundry! LOL!), the kids started putting the whole thing together.  Not that they didn’t know the Flood Story beforehand, but for this it helped them see the boat on the island and Noah keepin’ watch.  After that, well, I have heard the most interesting stories… like how the animals had to make bath soup in the ark (did you know that monkeys are made of cheese and if you shake them you can get cheese for your soup?  Or that Elephants don’t like pepper because it makes them sneeze?  Yup, this is one educational toy!).

I have to say though, I was a little disappointed in the quality for the ark construction at first… I was sure it’d be toast in an hour… but it’s survived many a bath-time and play time with no real signs of wear.  Guess it is tougher than it looks! The kids *did* ditch the top of the ark as it seemed tedious to them to keep taking it on and off… it’s more fun to just throw everyone inside and go with the bathwater flow… *wink*

I can honestly say that these toys have good play value… and I am definitely considering getting the One2Believe Nativity set for Christmas for my gang… so I guess it’s a thumbs up for this amazing BIBLE toy! 

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 Th is for Theology | Print | 1 Comment »

10. March 2009 by Shannon.

Hmmm… I was asked to review a new spelling program, SpellQuizzer, and this time they were really talking about a PROGRAM - as in a computer program!  With this program you can create customized spelling quizzes… meaning, you type in the word, record the corresponding audio clip (you saying the word… try it in a funny voice, or with a silly sentence) and then your child can practice his/her spelling tests on their own without needing mom to sit and dictate over and over (yay!).

Now, that being said, we don’t really use spelling lists in our home (my Bigs don’t do that kind of program and my Littles aren’t doing spelling quite yet), but I can definitely see how it would bless the socks off a more elementary/middle school student with weekly spelling lists to practice.  I’m excited to have it in my homeschool “toolbox” to use with my Littles as the years go on.

SpellQuizzeris only 29.95$, which includes program updates and several free down-loadable spelling lists (on such themes as Dolch sight words, Greek Mythology, Religious words, Frequently misspelled words, and more).  Since the word lists can be used by anyone in the house, the costs are definitely even lower per child, and since it’s not a time limited licence, it’s even lower when you figure out how many school years you can use it in… wow, talk about dollar value!

Still not convinced?  Well.. that’s fine, you can also download a 30-day free trial of the program to see if it’s a good fit for you! 

I don’t really see any negatives for this product… as it’s completely customizable for your child’s needs… what could be better than that?  The only thing I can say about it is that it’s not for everyone… as I know that not everyone handles spelling the “school” way.  But all in all I give SpellQuizzer the 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 | 2 Comments »

3. March 2009 by Shannon.

Math that is short, clear, to the point, and SELF TEACHING???  Wow… that’s my kind of math! 

That’s what Math Mammoth has been working hard to provide for students in grades 1 through 8.  Through clear instruction which illustrations to explain, the Math Mammoth Grade 1 I was sent to review was simple to follow… although I found that for my 6 year old son, I sitll needed to be sitting nearby to explain the instructions, but he is little, and I *do* expect to sit next to him during math time… so it was no trouble at all. 

The concepts are clearly laid out, and my son got a kick out of figuring out some of the addition facts and then I’ve been listening to him recite all the facts he learned while in the car, on a walk, at the dinner table… yada yada… (sigh, just what I needed, a math whiz kid to show up his non-maths Mom… LOL!)

The Math Mammoth courses are very afordable (the full year grade 1 course is less than 30$) and as an ebook, you have instant delivery (so if your child is frustrated today, you can start something new tomorrow… no waiting!).  What’s also neat about ebooks is that you can reprint any page for extra practice… but ALSO, if you go to the Math Mammoth website and sign up for her newsletter, you can check out (FOR FREE!) over 280 math worksheets including samples of all the different grades that you can use to supplement what you are using, or to “try out” to see if Math Mammoth would be a good fit for your family.  This program can easily be adjusted for a manipulatives-loving learner, like we are, by having the student work out the problems with manipulatives and then recording their findings. 

The downside to the program?  Well, so far the only thing I can think of is the printing costs … but we have a printing costs budget in our homeschool as I just LOVE those ebooks *grin*, so it hasn’t been an issue here.

Good value, clear teaching and adaptability are all reasons why we are really liking Math Mammoth.

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 »