Homeschool Review: Apologia (Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics)

I LOVE Physics! I’m not all the good at it, but I think it’s loads of fun. Chemistry is cool too. I didn’t do so well in chem class though. So being able to review Apologia’s newest text in the Exploring Creation series was exciting because I knew this would be a solid informational book that I can use. Apologia did not let me down!

Homeschool Review: IXL Math and Language Arts K-12

Sometimes a student needs something different than pencil and paper, or flash cards. Every child learns differently and using IXL is one way math and language objectives can be reinforced.

IXL Math and Language Arts is an on-line system that is filled with practice. Memberships cost $9.95 per month or $79.00 for the year. This allows for both the math (PreK – 12) and language (2nd – 4th grade) sections of activities. When I looked at the main page where each grade is listed, I was AMAZED at all of the objectives that IXL covers. The program also has state standards and the Common Core standards listed if you need those for your homeschool.

Homeschool Review: God’s World News

When I taught in a Christian School, one of the things I required of my students was a weekly current event. Did you ever do those as a kid? I can remember paging through the local newspaper looking for some news article that appealed to me. Then I had to write a paragraph about the article and then stand up in front of the class and tell about it. Yep. That’s what I had my students do. I figure, if I had to do it, they might as well do it too.

But these days we have to be SO careful with the media. Our family does not receive a newspaper anymore, nor do we watch the nightly news often. I’m not here to bash the national media, but it is what it is. Sometimes I wonder if news anchors and reporters think they are on The View instead of attempting to report events truthfully.

Homeschool Review: Fundanoodle

My son (first grade) has issues with writing. He doesn’t like it. It’s hard for him. I don’t know. Maybe I pushed him too early even though I was trying to follow his cues…but, still, he doesn’t like it. My daughter (kindergarten) is loving school and wants to be doing what big brother is doing. When the offer to review Fundanoodle came up, I had never heard of the company. Once I read more about them on the website I knew that I had to try this for two reasons: 1) I wanted some expert help to assist me with teaching RB how to write; and 2) My daughter would be able to have a book like big brother and work on her handwriting.

Homeschool Review: Seed Sowers

I have had the opportunity to review a book that needs to be in every church library and read by all Christian families. Seed Sowers: Gospel-Planting Adventures ($13.95-softcover; $30.95-hardcover; $3.99-kindle) by Gwen Toliver is a collection of short stories from the mission field. Gwen was blessed to have time to interview and listen to these wonderful people of faith tell their God-adventure stories, and she wrote them down in this book so we could be blessed by their experiences as well. This is a great book to use as a family read-aloud, as we did; or it is for 6th graders and older if reading on their own.

Homeschool Review: Godly Glimpses Homeschool Planner

I used to teach in the classroom. Planning was a part of the job. I was always given a planner I could use, or I could buy my own. And since we started homeschooling three years ago, planning has been pretty simple. But that was preschool…now we’ve begun 1st grade. I don’t want to miss anything. And if you’ve been in the homeschooling world long enough, you know that there are PLENTY of homeschool planners floating around out there. What makes one better than another? My answer? I’m not sure. When Jennifer over at Godly Glimpses asked if I was interested in reviewing her homeschool planner, I told her, “Absolutely!” I feel like I need all the help I can get!

Homeschool Review: In the Hands of a Child “Let’s Measure It!”

We have reached the point that we L.O.V.E. lapbooks (or project packs)! And through the Review Crew I got to choose one from the following list from In the Hands of a Child.

Pond Life (K-2nd)
Under a Microscope (K-3rd)
Exploring Landforms (K-3rd) Also available with Type It In
Ships and Submarines (K-3rd)
Kitchen Science (K-3rd)
Doctors and Nurses (K-3rd)
A Trip to the Library (K-3rd)
Let’s Measure It (K-3rd)
Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales (K-4th)
Strega Nona (1st-3rd)
Freedom & Equality: Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks (2nd-4th)
Words, Words, Words: Using a Dictionary & Thesaurus (2nd-5th)

All of these lapbooks are either $10 or $12 each. Right now you can get them for $5!! That is a great deal!

Homeschool Review: Reading Kingdom

My children love working on the computer, but I have to admit that I rarely allow them to have screen time for extended amounts of time. There are weeks when the TV and computer are never turned on. But when the offer to review a Reading Program came, I jumped at it. Both of the kids are in a transition stage in reading where the joy just isn’t quite there. RB is working on fluency and speed. Sweet Cheeks is learning the beginnings of how to sound out words. They are doing well, but we are losing some steam. So I thought maybe an online computer reading program, Reading Kingdom, might jump-start the love of reading once more.

Homeschool Review: BrainFood Learning DVD

Science videos? Yes, please!! There are times in our homeschool when I do well with fitting science into our schedule. Lately, it hasn’t been so easy. We’ve been traveling quite a bit and been busy with other summer activities. Through the Review Crew I had the option to review a science video.

BrainFood Learning was started by a set of parents who wanted quality content for videos so they would educate, as well as, entertain. So they made this series. The age range for these videos can be from 2 to 13 years of age. 

I was able to choose one of the following videos:
Fascinating World of Mammals DVD ($14.99)
Fascinating World of Birds DVD ($14.99)
Fascinating World of Insects DVD ($14.99)

I chose the insect video for two reasons. One, when I was a 4th grade teacher I taught insects and I think they are kinda of neat. Two, I chose this topic because the kids and I had not gotten around to studying insects yet. We were excited to watch it!

Homeschool Review: A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks

Have you ever homeschooled with lapbooks before? I must confess that I have not. I’ve done my own version of journals or activity books, but nothing official. But now I can say I have. I was given the opportunity to review a few of the lapbooks from A Journey Through Learning.

I was asked to choose from the following list:
Letters, Numbers and Shapes (ages 3-5)
The Earth (grades 1-4)
Knights and Castles (grades 2-7)
Astronomy and Space (grades 2-7)

I chose to do two lapbooks. Sweet Cheeks (age 4) worked on Letters, Numbers and Shapes, and RB (Kindergarten) learned about The Earth. I received the instant downloads which are priced at $13.00 each, but there are other formats available for some of the lapbooks such as printed or CD. The download included all of the lapbook sections to cut out and glue into the folders. It also included any information needed to read about the concepts being covered.

You do need a few materials before you begin your lapbook journey. You will need normal sized file folders. Some of the lapbooks use two folders and others three. Be sure to follow the directions given so the folders are glued together properly. (This stressed me out a little as I was doing it, but I get it now.) If you do the instant download, you will need a color printer. (If you desire color, if not, then print in black and white.) You will also need scissors, glue, a stapler, and brads.