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! Continue reading
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. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
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.
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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. Continue reading
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!
What do you know about the brain? It is absolutely one of God’s most amazing creations! My undergraduate degree is in Early Childhood Education. In my training, I had an excellent professor who was at the cutting edge of childhood development research. I learned so much from him about stages of growth from birth through the elementary years. I’ve even had the opportunity to teach some brain research as a part of a community college child development course. Being allowed to review a DVD produced by the Family Hope Center is a treat because I knew I would get to review some of what I already had learned, and then add to my knowledge so I can help my children succeed.
About the Product:
The Family Hope Center is an international entity that helps parents to help their children. Most of the children they serve are those with some sort of a diagnosed issue: ADD/ADHD, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and brain trauma. However, even those who struggle with reading or dyslexia can gain from the resources of The Family Hope Center. Their website is filled with information about the development of the brain and resources parents can use to learn more about early childhood development. This information has been put together by a team of “practitioners and consultants – pediatricians, internists, kinesiologists, chiropractors, osteopaths, neurologists, psychologists and homeopaths, among others – the Team of The Family Hope Center provide in-depth instruction and training in this innovative yet medically sound treatment protocol.” The goal of The Family Hope Center is to equip parents with practical strategies that will help their children be the best they can be.
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.
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! Continue reading
Future.Flying.Saucers 