2. June 2009 by Shannon.

This was my first time checking out a title from the WannaBe series… and WannaBe: CHEF was the perfect choice for our family!  My husband is an amateur chef, I am a food consultant, my 6 year old son has the cooking (well, baking anyhow) gene, and well.. the rest of the gang LOVES to eat!  LOL! 

The ebook is packed with theme based learning activities and lots of just for fun stuff.  Inspiring chef testimonials share the culinary passion with your children.  Included also is a well written chapter with a clear plan for becoming a chef themselves… including stressing the important of always pursuing higher education.  There are beautiful copywork pages, some facinating science experiments, colouring pages (for the younger set), and fun games like crossword puzzles and a “fill in the story” type review sheet. 

If you have a budding chef if your home, this might be the perfect mini introduction into what a life behind the scenes might be like if they decide to pursue that non-conventional career path.  It’d also be a great “unit study” break from regularly schedule programming - because after all, there really is a little budding chef in every child. 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 »

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 »

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 »

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.

Posted in T is for Teaching | Print | No Comments »

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 »

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 »

27. January 2009 by Shannon.

Sometimes it is just too exciting being part of The Old Schoolhouse’s Review Crew! 

The BEST thing we’ve been asked to review so far this year (at least in Everett’s opinion!) has been the One Year Adventure Novel.  Daniel Schwabauer has put together a DVD course to guide your high school student in writing a novel length story, bringing it from concept to completion… all in one school year!  I can say that this honestly would count as a highschool Creative Writing credit, AND look exceptional as an addition to ANY student’s portfolio! 

My son, 15, who has always written stories, from one line stories as a little tyke to … well, how about I let him tell you about it, and the One Year Adventure Novel in his own words:

One Year Adventure Novel was terrific. It really helped me get a move on my story. I have wanted to be an author my whole life, but every time I made a story something seemed to be missing. Now with Daniel Schwabauer I am writing a book that actually keeps my attention, instead of allowing my mind to drift off leaving me uninterested and looking for a new story idea.  The one downside is that the book he encourages you to write is supposed to only be twelve chapters long, but that’s ok, I’ll just have to make really long chapters or make it my own by adding in more chapters.

Mr.Schwabauer teaches everything on how to make your story captivating – to make your reader not want to put the book down, not even for even a second. Thanks Mr. Shwabauer!  I’ll send you a copy of my book when I’m all done!

Here is an early excerpt from the book my son is writing…

Faragorn gazed out of his window, watching the heroic Warhawk Riders practice swordplay and flight on the back of their breathtaking steeds, the griffins.  Faragorn sighed, wishing that the day would pass quickly. Tomorrow would be Faragorn’s fifteenth birthday, and as was the custom, he would be taken to the Hall of Eggs.  If an egg were to hatch during his vigil, the hatchling would be his and someday he would have a chance to join the ranks of the Warhawks.

Since childhood, his dream had always been to earn the title of Warhawk Rider. He and his friends had all made little wooden swords and rode around on broomsticks, pretending to attack enemies and fly to the exotic cities of the South. Now at the precipice of realizing his life goal, Faragorn exhaled deeply and sat back down on his tiny cot.  What if no egg hatched?  Or if one did, could he become the type of Rider that would be a famous Warhawk who killed a hundred men in a single battle?  Or would he only ever attain the lowest rank of Rider and become some noble’s Lowling?

Included is a Teacher’s Guide (don’t panic, it’s only to give you an idea of what is going on, nothing involved), Student Tests (IF  you want to use them, we are not using them), 7 DVDs and a Resource CD with some classical literature, desktop wallpapers (LOVE the DESK top one… wow!), and many FAQ videos, a workbook, and a “text” book.  The Curriculum’s cost mightbe a little daunting at first sight, $199, BUT it is worth more than that by far (shhhh… don’t tell Mr. Schwabauer I said so! *grin*)… just the look on my in-law nay-sayer’s faces will be worth any cost when my son, the “poor homeschooled kid who will be socially backwards” (of course - *rolling eyes*) presents his book to them for the first time, well.. yes, that will be a tiny bit of a Mommy Pride moment for me, I have to confess.

If you aren’t sure if it’ll work with your teen, there are free sample lessons you can download and check out with no obligation. 

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 »

20. January 2009 by Shannon.

Can I tell you a secret?

The key to raising readers only HALF depends on what you read to them and teach them about the mechanics of reading…

the OTHER WHOLE HALF of raising bookworms is all about emulation.  They NEED to see you taking time for yourself to read for pleasure.. to WITNESS you enjoying a good book of YOUR choice.  Why?  Because that is how kids learn behaviours.  If you want them to go past the level of just reading for assignments, or just reading because they HAFTA… you need to entice them, not by reading TO them, but my making it a clear thing that you are reading for your own enjoyment…

“Mommy, can you read me this book” says your non-reading 3 year old

“Of course, Honey.. when I’m finished this chapter of MY book…. Mommy’s really enjoying her story right now, why don’t  you sit down next to me and look at the pictures of your book, and when I’m finished reading this chapter, I will read you your story.. okay?”

Three year old looks at Mommy.  Hmm… Mommy LIKES books too?  Looks over Mommy’s shoulder… but there aren’t any pictures in her book… I wonder why she likes it so much…

Over and over they see this mysterious behaviour… and mimic it in their own way with their picture books (btw, then they also learn how to sit still, be patient for a short time and wait, and repect your needs too)… then a few years go by and they are reading, decoding and all that jazz… and what do they do?  They repeat the learned behaviour because there must be something good in books that you have to spend time to get out of them.  It becomes an active process rather than a passive, I’m just here to listen to someone much more knowledgeable than myself read this story to me…

It’s a habit, and how do we form habits?  By displaying a good model.  It’s CRUCIAL to your children’s education that they see you reading books FOR YOU.

So, you should most definately FIND the time to read some Mom books… whatever kind of book you choose… because if it has nothing to do with school, nothing to do with parenting, nothing to do with self-help in any way… instead it’s a just a book that you can really enjoy… you will have given your children a precious gift.

Do you think our children will turn to prayer in their times of need if they’ve never witnessed Mom praying on her own when she needs help?  Of course not… same goes for reading.

You are now justified… have a nice read!

Blessings!

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