Fresh Start Academy Homeschool

Wordless Wednesday Our first camping trip in the new camper

2012-02-15T12:36:00.000-05:00

Alyx and Taylor and I went up to the new camper for a couple nights last week and while we were there we visited Frankenmuth. We had a lot of fun.

ALEKS TOS Crew Review

2012-02-15T10:50:00.000-05:00

You might be asking yourself what ALEKS is? Well I know I did and we were fortunate as part of the TOS Crew to be able to review it to find the answer to that very question.
My youngest son struggles with Math concepts, he is more of a hands on learner so I knew this would be a struggle for him. My older son on the other hand Math comes very easy to him and he rather enjoyed the ALEKS programming. It did help that it had his name, every time I said Alyx it's time to do ALEKS he thought that was a hoot.
An Important Note: ALEKS works with both PC and MAC computers allowing everyone the opportunity to benefit.
Here is what ALEKS stands for...
What is ALEKS?
Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking.
ALEKS also provides the advantages of one-on-one instruction, 24/7, from virtually any Web-based computer for a fraction of the cost of a human tutor.

ALEKS is a ground-breaking technology developed from research at New York University and the University of California, Irvine, by a team of software engineers, mathematicians, and cognitive scientists with the support of a multi-million-dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. ALEKS is fundamentally different from previous educational software. At the heart of ALEKS is an artificial intelligence engine that assesses each student individually and continuously.

One of the things that caught my attention right from the start with ALEKS, was that there are no multiple choice questions so the kids cannot simply guess and fool the program into thinking it knows more than they actually do. The program starts out by testing the kids in the grade level that you choose for them. Giving them a series of questions to test out their confidence in the specific area and then at the end of the assessment shows them by a pie chart what percentage of each topic they have mastered. The program then continues on with worksheets that the student will learn easily and increases as they grow more proficient.

They incorporate game time into learning to break up the monotony of worksheet study, which with my kids is always a motivator. I love when they are learning even though it is fun time to them. Whether you are looking for a comprehensive learning program for your basic Math needs for your homeschool, or if your child struggles with certain concepts and needs tutoring help. ALEKS may be the right answer for your family. They have something for all grades from K-12 and even beyond, while they offer higher education and college level. Learn more about how to receive college credit for ACE credit-recommended courses.

Individualized instruction at a fraction of the cost of a human tutor. ALEKS is available anytime you are, whenever you need it. Purchase ALEKS for yourself, or your child, and experience the benefits of a personal assessment-based learning assistant.

A subscription to ALEKS for an individual student is:
$19.95 per month
only $99.95 for 6 months! Six months for the cost of five
only $179.95 for 12 months! Best Deal: You save $59.45

If you would like to read about the experiences of my fellow TOS Crewmates you can do so over at our TOS Crew Blog or you can activate a FREE 2 Month Trial Membership to ALEKS and experience it first hand with your children. No matter what you choose you can make an informed decision based on your own experiences with ALEKS.

Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you soon.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

See-N-Spell TOS Crew Review

2012-02-13T10:07:00.000-05:00

Does reading come hard to your kids like it sometimes does to mine? Don't get me wrong my kids are actually very proficient readers and spellers, but sometimes due to their disabilities all the words seem to jumble together and a page in a book looks like an overwhelming mass of ink. We often go back to basics just to refresh their reading and spelling skills. Makes it a little less frustrating for both of them. Recently I was offered the opportunity as part of the TOS Crew to review, See-N-Spell a 40 pg. workbook that comes with a handy reading tool, this product is from See-N-Read.

See-N-Read products were developed by Dr. Sylvia R. Smith for her own children when they were struggling to read. They are now used by their oldest daughter who is an Elementary Teacher, with her students who she often sees struggling to comprehend reading and spelling.

See-N-Spell is a learning guide developed to teach students how to improve their spelling and build up their vocabulary.

The See-N-Spell™ Spelling and Vocabulary Quick Reference Guide design alphabetically lists the 300+ most common vocabulary words and the most commonly misspelled words in the (American) English language to help writers to correctly and confidently compose written work. It can be used by writers of any age as an "at-a-glance" resource for correct spelling and language function of the most common words used in daily communication.

   My son Taylor was the one most in need of some tools that would help him be a better comprehensive reader. He sometimes reads but does not retain and comprehend what he is reading because it all looks like a blob on the page to him. The handy tool that came with our book was the answer to my prayers as his Mother/Teacher. The tool takes the reading material and shades out the parts you are not reading and just highlights the line you are working on by having it show through the little window.This allows the reader to focus on just the line they need to read one line at a time. An asset to all readers but especially those struggling or who have learning disabilities. This tool has helped Taylor become more confident as a reader and express the desire to read more on his own.

   The booklet from See-N-Spell ...$9.99 with a free Reading tool.
Easily find the correct spelling of 300+ commonly used American English words

just by knowing the sound of the first letter or first few letters
Identify the correct spelling and usage of 'sound-alike' words (homophones)

Quickly determine the correct spelling of commonly misspelled words

Verify the correct usage of these words

It's fast and easy to use since it is divided into three alphabetized sections:

1.Most Commonly Used Vocabulary Words

2.Commonly Misspelled Words

3.My Special Interest Words

   The booklet was easy to work with and enjoyable for the boys to use on a daily basis, some spelling programs in the past were a headache to work with as the boys did not "get" them or enjoy them and we often struggled to complete the work. This is not the case with See-N-Spell.

With just 40-pages in the See-N-Spell™ booklet, users can simply flip to the page showing the first letter (a,b,c, etc.) of the word, then scan down the page and copy the correct spelling.

See-N-Spell™ is not intimidating and is easy-to-use.

Using the workbook along with the Reading tool was a beneficial combination and it sure did the trick. See-N-Read offers many other products and tools that are fit for readers and students of all ages from beginning to read all the way through college and even adulthood. I can see the reading tools being great for the overwhelming college textbooks for my older son who will be off to college in a couple years. They would also benefit my Husband and Mother who both have limited sight as it would help them focus on the words they are reading at any particular moment. There is even an E-See-N-Read that is for computer reading. You can download a FREE 7 day trial of the E-Version to try it out and if you like it you can purchase it for $29.99.
They have truly thought of everything to help make all readers successful. Reading tools start at only $2.99 and go up from there, they are available in single packs or multi packs for families and classrooms. There are packs for everyone.
All products are Made in the USA and have been classroom tested...

Research-Based Design is Classroom Tested

Practical design is based on extensive research in the fields of reading, dyslexia, ophthalmology and visual and cognitive processing.
SEE: Helps readers to concentrate on and track text with their eyes to smoothly move between words even when changing lines, increasing their fluency and comprehension.

FOCUS: The clear reading window helps readers control their field of vision and focus on each line of text. The tinted transparent area around the clear window allows readers to move smoothly to the next line without stopping, enables them to re-read without losing their place and reduces distractions on the page.

REMEMBER: Improved control of field of vision helps readers concentrate on content instead of using mental energy tracking location of words on the page.

If you have struggling readers, or maybe children just beginning to reach that milestone of beginning to read, be sure to check out all of the products offered by See-N-Read. You have nothing to lose except the struggle and I am sure you will not miss that at all.
Head over to the Crew Blog and see what my fellow Crewmates have to say about their experience with See-N-Read.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Celestial Almanack Vol. 1 No.2 February 2012 TOS Crew Review

2012-02-09T10:56:00.001-05:00

Science and the Bible, there are no two topics loved more in this house. My boys love anything to do with outer space as well. Astronomy and such are fascinating topics to my boys and I so when given the opportunityfrom the TOS Crew to review Celestial Almanack, Vol. 1, No. 2 - February 2012, from Fourth Day Press, I knew the boys would be super excited. To make it even more adventurous we were leaving on a winter camping trip for 2 nights and what better way to view the clear sky then up at camp around the roaring campfire.
Here is a short description about the Almanack...

The Celestial Almanack is your illustrated guide to learning the night sky, from Fourth Day Press.

Check out the FREE PREVIEW!
February, 2012: this month, learn about:
* The Sun is moving higher in the noon sky, and rises and sets farther to the north, and how this relates to the days growing longer;
* The constellation Orion dominates the evening skies. Find Orion and his neighboring constellations, and how Orion can be used as a starting point for finding 35 constellations!

* Wow! Jupiter and Venus are drawing closer this month, approaching a spectacular conjunction in March! What an amazing sight!
* Mars and Saturn are visible earlier in the night, and are well placed before midnight;

* Discover these planets and also many bright stars on the evenings when they line up with the Moon;

I absolutely love how the author Jay Ryan ties the Bible into the learning of Astronomy. This was a 21 page PDF that was full of illustrations, and facts about the month it was studying.
Learn the visual astronomy of the early American almanacks, from the Puritan colonists to the Founding Fathers. Learn the constellations, follow the phases of the Moon, discover the visible planets, and learn the signs of the passing seasons. Find out how these signs relate to the calendar and traditional celestial navigation. Use the Celestial Almanack as a monthly illustrated ezine companion guide for the Signs & Seasons curriculum, a traditional hard copy publication from Fourth Day Press.

Not to make it anymore perfect but the nights we studied the sky while up at camp included the true full moon. It was absolutely beautiful and made it so special. Not only did we see the full moon, but the Almanack helped us locate constellations and stars that we may have not known before. We learned the connections of these sights in the sky and how they were associated to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus.
We gained so much from this small unit study and at only $3.00 I know we will be getting some more to do up at camp when Spring hits. It was a wondrous experience sitting around the roaring campfire with my boys and learning about the sky.
There are so many exciting units studies available from Fourth Day Press , be sure to check them all out.
You won't be disappointed, and you and your kids will learn so much even when you think you know everything already.
Make sure to check out my fellow TOS Crew Mates and see how they incorporated the Almanack into their homeschool and family.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

We Choose Virtues TOS Crew Review

2012-01-23T10:59:00.001-05:00

Being Virtuous is an important character quality I want all of us in our family to have. Helping hands I can find along the way to help us all on the path of character building virtues is a friend to me. Some of us on the TOS Crew were given the opportunity to review a new product from the folks at We Choose Virtues . This pocket sized new product is called Virtue Clue Cards.

We were given a pack of the Virtue Clue Cards,Teacher's Handbook, Kids of Virtueville Coloring Book(download only). We were also given downloads that are available for free on their website, such as Family Character Assessment, this is a great tool for helping you decide which of the We Choose Virtues products would work best for your family. Kids Memory Verses, Bible Heroes and Truths is another great resource that is currently available as a free download on the We Choose Virtues site.
$3.00 pdf download

$4.99 pdf download

$19.99 hard copy

FREE

Here is a little background info about the creator of We Choose Virtues Products....

We Choose Virtues was created by Heather McMillan, my wife of 20 years, out of her love for children and her desire to see them reach their personal potential. As a preschool teacher and a children’s pastor, it concerned her how often she came across children whose lack of self control, honesty and perseverance was almost debilitating. How could they succeed in life without the skills that come from good character?

Helping to instill Godly Character Traits has never been easier with the brand new product Virtue Clue Cards. They are small enough to take on the go, they are the size of business cards and come in a handy little vinyl pouch and at only $5.99 is an economical way to get started. These cards are geared for preschool throughout Elementary school but there are other products available for all ages through 18 yrs old. There is so much more to the lineup over at We Choose Virtues, for instance the Homeschool Pack that is just full of valuable teaching tools for your homeschool adventures. Kit includes flash cards, Kids Virtue poster, three Kids of Virtueville mini-posters, parenting cards, 25 sheet pad of Virtue User Review, 16 sheet pad of Personal Virtue Charts, The Three Rules poster, and Handbook and Coloring Book downloads all for $99.99. See the We Choose Virtues website for a full listing of all their products and pricing.

   All of the We Choose Virtues products help teach the 12 virtues of Godly Character. Characters with catchy names, such as Stop Sign Madeline (I am Self-Controlled), teach children about 12 virtues:

•Attentive

•Content

•Diligent

•Forgiving

•Gentle

•Helpful

•Honest

•Kind

•Obedient

•Patient

•Perseverant

•Self-Controlled.

We used the cards one at a time, each week focusing on a new Virtue to brush up on and help keep us on track. If you were caught being virtuous then you got a star on the chart we made. If you had a star next to your name for the whole week we put a marble in our jar. We use our marble jar to work towards fun outings. The boys can earn marbles for being extra good, helping without being asked, doing their chores, completing school work without delay and for showing Godly Character on a consistent basis. When our marble jar is full we take a fun field trip or buy something fun for our classroom or home.
The Virtue I find the kids struggle with the most is keeping their self control. So we worked on this one for 2 weeks and I find the kids are trying so much harder to stay on track.

We have enjoyed using the Virtue Clue Cards, and I am looking into purchasing the Homeschool Kit for our Family. It is so nice to be able to have the freedom to use whichever products and curriculum add ons we find useful for our family. Instilling good Virtues into my kids and keeping everyone refreshed is an important aspect of our homeschool and I love that I can work on this with my kids on a daily basis and see them continue to blossom in to Men of Character and follow the path that God is taking them on.

If you would like to help your children become more virtuous then please check out all of the fine products available at We Choose Virtues. Whether they are small and you are just starting out or you have older kids like me and maybe you just need to all brush up and get back on track. They are sure to have something for every family that would make a good fit. Don't forget to visit the Clearance Rack while you are there, if you are anything like me you don't want to miss the bargains.

    January and February Specials at WCV

SPECIALS:

JANUARY/FEBRUARY-The 100 Days of Virtue Poster and Stickers will be included FREE with any Homeschool Kit purchase during these months.

Also the kind folks over at We Choose Virtues have offered up some discount codes for all of you to be able to take advantage of (NOTE: YOU MAY ONLY USE ONE CODE AT A TIME)
PROMO CODES:

These are the only active promo codes.

VIRTUE15 for 15 % off the shopping cart is still available
SHIPFREE for free worldwide shipping

I would really love it if you would LIKE the We Choose Virtues Facebook Page. Here you will find tips on parenting, leadership and inspiring lasting Virtue. Thank you!!! https://www.facebook.com/wechoosevirtues

    Be sure to visit my fellow TOS Crewmates and see how they used the Virtue Clue Cards.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wordless Wednesday Our New Camper

2012-01-18T23:15:00.001-05:00

These are the pictures that were sent to us by the seller. we are driving out to Port Huron to pick it up on the 29th and tow it to camp. We purchased our membership to OAI today. The kids are so excited.
Our new camper is a 2000 Cherokee by Forest River 33ft Triple Bunkhouse with a slide.
We are anxiously awaiting April when camping season officially starts and the water is turned back on for the Season.
It is worse than giving a kid a toy for Christmas that they cannot use until Summer.

Z-Guide to the Movies TOS Crew Review

2012-01-11T10:32:00.022-05:00

If you like to include Movies into your homeschool curriculum like we do then I have just the review for you. As part of the TOS Crew we were chosen to review to Z-Guide the Movies by Zeezok Publishing. Adding new dimension to homeschool movie watching.
My boys love, love, love History especially anything to do with the Wars, so when I presented the boys with this opportunity they chose to do our review on the movie Flyboys, which centers around WWI.

We were given the Elementary version of the download Z-Guide which retails for $12.99 or you can opt for a CD version mailed to you. There is also a High School version of this Z-Guide so you can chose which one would work best for your homeschool. One of the aspects I liked is where you can purchase a license to use these in a situation like a co-op or a traditional classroom. This license is available for a fee of $49.99.

    We did have to obtain the movie on our own for the review, but you are able to purchase the movies that go with their guides right on the web page where you purchase the Z-Guides, the prices do vary from movie to movie so you will want to check Zeezok for the exact price. Most of the movies are available through Netflix or your local library so it was not too hard to get our hands on it.
     The guides themselves are a comprehensive study guide to go along with the movie and makes for a great unit study.
Here is what is included in each guide...
Each guide starts out with a topic overview. This overview provides the student with more information regarding the specific time period in which the movie is based. Next is a movie synopsis. The synopsis will assist the student in understanding what is going on in the movie and how relationships, situations, and events all relate together.
Each guide includes the historical setting, research skills, writing skills, hands-on activity, a worldview study, critical thinking skills, and family discussion questions. There is also a section called The Filmaker’s Art activity that helps the student recognize the tools being used to influence the viewer.

All in all my boys and I really enjoyed working with our Z-Guide, it made watching a movie so much more rewarding and interesting. In the past we simply watched a movie that focused on a topic we were studying and then either just discussed it or I had them write a report or answer discussion questions. This was not enjoyable and often led to grumbling from the peanut gallery. When we used the Z-Guide the boys really became engaged in taking the movie many steps further. The key to my boys hearts is anything hands on and Z-Guides helped bring that to our movie watching.
   So if you like to use movies in your homeschool but feel there is something missing then you should check out Zeezok Publishing's Z-Guide to the Movies. There are Z-Guides for Elementary through High School and many titles to chose from. So I am sure you will be able to find something to fit your curriculum and tastes.
   Be sure to stop by my fellow TOS Crewmates blogs as there are many Z-Guide reviews to chose from since we all got to pick which one we would like to work on. Remember $12.99 is all is costs to have a little adventure back in time. What are you waiting for?

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Imaginative Play for All Ages TOYDLE TOS Crew Review

2012-01-08T19:32:00.000-05:00

In my mind there is nothing that tops good old fashion fun that centers around imaginative play. I posted a preview "commercial" post about Toydle back a month or so ago as part of the contest that the TOS Crew was running. I am back as promised with a full fledged review. I honestly do not know where to start except by saying Toydle Rocks!! My boys were so blessed with this review opportunity and it has brought so much fun into our home that I cannot say enough about it. My boys are 12, 13 and 15, and let's just say who ever said this kind of stuff is for little kids has never played with a Toydle Fort. I have even enjoyed the creativity that comes with designing different types of forts. The possibilities truly are endless.

Here are some specs from the company and then I will get back to gushing about Toydle Forts.

The Toydle Story

Toydle is the brain child of Robert Brownfield. Rob—president of Worry-Free Manufacturing in Boise, Idaho—has been making quality products for years. He is also the father of two fraternal twins, Ike and Molly. (Their pictures adorn our website.) Like all good fathers who refuse to (fully) grow-up, he loves toys, and he loves to give toys to his kids.

Problem is, as you’re fully aware, good toys are hard to find—real, high-quality, long-lasting toys. Frankly, most toys are only slightly better than junk. Awhile back Rob brought home a toy for his son. Within five minutes it had met its fate on the driveway concrete. Busted. Worthless. And only five minutes old! While stewing on this reality Rob thought, “This is dumb! I can build better stuff than this. I do build better stuff than this!”
And so The Toydle Dream was born.

The imaginative play is not where it stops that is for sure, let's add the Unconditional Warranty and that their Fort Kits are Made in the USA and this company is just at the top of my list for family friendly.

American Made/Unconditional Guarantee

Toydle Forts are made in the USA—in Boise, Idaho. Each tube is cut, each wood block is hand-shaped by an American worker. We believe that with a little American ingenuity we can make products better and more cost-effective than sending the work overseas. We believe that we can win jobs back for our workers and our economy. We practice it every day!

And we guarantee every Toydle product—we will replace any product or piece thereof that fails for any reason, even if your little critters leave a block out in the rain, or try to do pull-ups with a tube. The quality of our products speak for themselves.

Unconditional warranties are huge on my priority lists when it comes to buying anything for my boys and always has been. If you are a Mom of boys then you know what I am talking about. Boys are rough as I am sure girls can be too. What makes my situation a little different is my two boys with Autism, they are extra rough and do not always know their own strength. So far so good on the Toydle front but it helps to know that if something happens, help is always just a phone call away to help fix things up.

We spent the whole day making forts and taking them down and rebuilding them another way, the day ours arrived. I had planned to wait to give this to them for Christmas but I was just too excited to see what they would think. They even turned my bed into a giant fort. It was so much fun to see them work together and problem solve. This has always been harder for them than most kids but they are getting better.
We have made a small fort that we keep up all the time as a "safe haven" for when the boys need to escape away from the world. Some times with Autism kids get sensory overload and they need a small, safe place to get away and we have been able to do that thanks to our Toydle Fort. There are pillows and blankets in there and a couple of books. Anytime they want to get away or need to calm down that is where you will find them now. The neat thing is even though we have that one always put together we still have enough pieces left over to be creative and build new things. The boys are already talking about taking this with us camping this summer to build a little shelter from the sun. They are always talking about what to do next with the Toydle Fort Kit.

We were fortunate to receive the Big Toydle Fort which retails for $229.99 with over 90 sq ft of fort materials. They do have The Toydle Fort with half of the supplies and also half of the real estate for only $149.99. Each fort comes in a handy canvas duffel that zips shut. They do come in random colors, which is the only downside as with all boys I would have rather had a choice in colors as my boys were not too thrilled with the purple bag we got. Honestly though that was the only negative thing besides the price. Now this might seem pricey to some but remember there is an unconditional warranty. Unlike cheaper toys that break and then they turn to Garbage. Also this opens the door to endless hours of fun.
No batteries required and all you need to add is imagination and some material or bed sheets for days and days of fun. I am sure you could think of someone that would love to play and "escape" away in a Toydle Fort.

Be sure to check out the creative ways my fellow TOS Crewmates came up with for their Toydle Forts.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hola! Learn Spanish with REAL Homeschool Spanish TOS Crew Review

2012-01-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I took 4 years of French in High school. Today Spanish seems to be the language of choice for many schools, I know my son who is in Public High school is taking his 3rd year of Spanish as well as Italian this year. My boys that I homeschool have been begging to start a Spanish curriculum, but honestly I did not know where to start and I was feeling a little overwhelmed by teaching them a language I was not completely familiar with. This is why when presented with the opportunity to review REAL Homeschool Spanish as part of the TOS Crew I knew that God had answered my prayers. This curriculum had my interest right from the beginning as it is great for learning on the go as well in the classroom, since the MP3 audio files can go on a portable device we can learn where ever our day takes us.

REAL Homeschool Spanish was created for Homeschoolers not revamped to fit around homeschooling. Their curriculum is also developed so that the whole family can learn and enjoy at the same time. No need for the parent/teacher to learn it ahead of time. Their Motto is R-Relax E-Enjoy A-Aspire L-Learn Spanish. It really cannot get much simpler than that.

We were given their downloadable curriculum that is on sale right now for $49.95, and for only $10 more you can also get the daily curriculum guides as well. If you are an in your hands kind of family then the option of a hard copy which is retailing for $89.95, with the same curriculum guides for only $10 more may be the better way for you to go. You receive audio files as well as text and workbook style programming so do not worry, they have all the bases covered for you. You will learn the Spanish in a variety of ways as you begin by learning the vocabulary by conversation and speaking and listening to the audio files so that you will hear the spoken language.

Now do keep in mind this is not a Spanish derived from Spain, it is from South and Central American, for us that was not important but it may be for you and I just want to let you know that up front. Now we have that out of the way, here is some more info. I loved how the learning is incorporated into your complete day, because this was made specifically with homeschoolers in mind, the learning is not only great for class time but fun to use through out your family's day. Along with the workbook style assignments there are so many fun games and activities that it makes it so enjoyable to learn the kids will not even realize they are doing school. This all comes with a curriculum planning guide and chart so you can be organized and set forth the path your family will take on this learning adventure. This fits in well with our curriculum we are already using since we are exploring countries and cultures.

On the REAL Homeschool Spanish website you can not only by the curriculum, but there is so much to find there to help make the learning process more fun and informative, there are links to Mayan Culture and quizzes and don't forget the games, because this is supposed to be FUN, remember? Learning Homeschool style would not be complete with some fun in the kitchen, so do not forget to check out the recipes, that are coming soon to this area of their site. Now this programming is geared to kids aged 5-13 or K- 7th or 8th grade but keep in mind it is set up for the whole family to learn so adults please join in the fun as well as older siblings. My boys are in 7th and 8th grade and we all enjoyed it immensely. It is so much fun to see them engaging in Spanish conversation with their older brother.

So please if you or your children have been wanting to learn a second or even a third or fourth language and Spanish is not something you are familiar with, please do not let that stop you. Give REAL Homeschool Spanish a try today and you will be on your way to a whole new world of learning.

Please be sure to visit my fellow crew mates and see what there families have been up to with REAL Homeschool Spanish.

Adios! for now

The World's Greatest Stories TOS Review

2011-12-21T07:30:00.001-05:00

    We go to Church, we read our Bibles and we practice and memorize our Bible verses, I attend a Woman's Bible Study and so on and so forth. Yet I truly do not feel as if we know the stories of the Bible in and out. Often times audio Bible stories are often not told in a way that will hold ones attention for any length of time. It is sad to say this as we all need to know the stories of the Bible.

  Some of us on the TOS Crew were given the opportunity to review an audio CD from The World's Greatest Stories. We were given the choice of KJV or NIV versions of the Bible. We chose the NIV version as this is what we use in our classroom and home. I find it a simpler version for the kids to follow. These audio CDs and Cassettes sell for $7.95 each plus shipping. and there are currently 6 volumes, we were given the first volume to review titled, The Prophets. The first volume tells the stories of The Blazing Furnace,The Handwriting on the Wall, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, Elijah and the Prophets of Baal and The Prophecy of Jonah. The other volumes are as follows:
2. The Life of Christ
3. Beginnings
4. Joshua and Esther
5. Joseph and His Brothers
6. Defeating Giants

Each volume runs about an hour in length and at only $7.95 is a great way to really dive into the stories of the Bible, if you purchase all 6 at one time you qualify for FREE shipping, what a deal! These are great for all situations, car trips, errand days, in the morning when you do your Bible reading, at bedtime when the kids are winding down, or as a family in place of a TV show. The list goes on and on.

   We found these stories to be so engaging we did not want to turn them off, the stories are told by George W. Sarris,who desired to increase Biblical literacy in children. He saw the need to produce an auditory Bible that was true to the words of the text, didn’t add characters or remove any of the actual events from the telling but still keep it captivating for children to listen to. Sarris has such a gift from God for story telling, his ability to go from the narrator voice to the character voice from the stories he is retelling is phenomenal. The kids and I felt as if we were there in the story as it was happening. The boys and I would close our eyes as we listened, let ourselves be carried off into the stories of The Bible.These retold stories are just amazing to listen to, you truly get a feel for the events taking place as his emotion just carries you away.

My boys are looking forward adding more of volumes to our collection, they simply cannot get enough. I won't lie, either can I, I honestly cannot say who enjoyed the stories more, my boys ages 12, 13 and 15 or me and my husband and 91 yr old Grandma. The recommended age on these is 4-12 but I honestly believe they can be enjoyed by the whole family to enjoy young or old.

Not only does The World's Greatest Stories have the six volumes I mentioned above but for $9.95 you can purchase the Real story of Easter. I cannot wait to experience that with my family and this is next on my list so we can enjoy all through the weeks leading up to Easter and the Celebration of Christ. What a keepsake to pass down for your next generation. Making these stories part of your family traditions is the greatest gift you can give your family.

What are you waiting for, the longer you wait, the more you are missing out on by not experiencing the profound gifts awaiting your family when you experience The World's Greatest Stories together for the first time and every time after that. What a treasure.

Please be sure to check out what the other TOS Crewmates are saying about The World's Greatest Stories.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Simple Woman's Daybook Journal Entry for 12-22-11

2011-12-20T08:50:00.001-05:00

                                                               Simple Woman's Daybook

Well it has been a while, but here I am again. After a roller coaster ride these past couple of months, we are still standing thanks to GOD and his never ending Grace.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
A dull almost winter day... But good news No snow or ice on the ground so I will take it.

I am thinking...about my good friend Gyda and praying for her and her family's peace and comfort today as the beginning of her Mother's Funeral begins today at 2 PM. We will be visiting the funeral home tonight and attending the funeral tomorrow. My heart breaks for her as the loss of a mother is so great and a week before Christmas just adds to that grief. She would have been 88 on New Year's Day in a couple weeks. May she have comfort in the arms of Jesus now and suffer no longer.

I am thankful...for my Family and that everyone is "healthy" and home for the holidays.

From the learning rooms...(if this applies)Christmas Break is happening around here, but you can check out all of my TOS Crew Reviews to see what we have been up to as of late.

In the kitchen...
My hubby is making homemade waffles with strawberries and whip cream. YUMMY

I am wearing...My Capri PJ bottoms and the matching cantelope colored pocket T

I am creating...My new bedroom it is almost complete but there are a few finishing touches needing to be done thanks to Pinterest, Got to love that site.

I am going...to the funeral home and funeral over the next two days.

I am wondering...when we are going to put our tree up, we are very late in putting it up this year, because of the garage fire we have lost all of our christmas decorations and  it just is not the same this year when it comes to getting into the spirit of decorating. we have been blessed by wonderful friends donating ornaments and lights and such to help get us into the holiday spirit and my good friend Robyn also gave us stockings for the boys. I am determined to get into the Holiday Spirit this week no matter what.

I am reading...The Grace Effect

I am hoping...that we all fine peace to ending this year of 2011 and going into 2012 we all have a much calmer year.

I am looking forward to...Celebrating Christmas with my family and Celebrating The New Year with good friends and family this year.

I am hearing...the TV playing a Christmas movie, hoping it will spark me to get in the mood to decorate.

Around the house...It doesn't really look like Christmas and the Living room looks bear since we moved upstairs I took the book case and my huge desk up with us and that leaves the living room a little sparse. I look forward to redecorating in February with our new much needed larger couch.

I am pondering...
what to make for a small token for all of the girls at Bunco next month

One of my favorite things...Is listening to the kids laugh at each others jokes

A few plans for the rest of the week:Decorating, Decorating, Decorating, do you sense a theme here?

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... My new Room almost done.

I See Cards brings Funtime to Mathtime with Fractazmic TOS Crew Review

2011-12-16T10:39:00.000-05:00

   Math seems to be the subject my youngest son Taylor struggles to learn and the subject I struggle most to Teach. I am fluent enough in Math to get by but do not enjoy it in the least. So any opportunity to make Math fun for all of us is a blessing. Recently some of us from the TOS Crew were given the opportunity to review Fractazmic  from I See Cards. This handy little game is perfect for on the go Math fun as well as in the classroom. We find ourselves at many DR. appointments and this little game has been a blessing to pass the time away as it fits neatly in my purse.

   Geared towards children in the 1st-8th grade range, Fractazmic  is a comprehensive interactive fun lesson in fractions. There are several ways to play, our favorite is the one that is along the lines of Rummy. I grew up playing Rummy with my Grandma and her friend Elsa from England, and my kids have grown up playing Rummy with my Grandma and my Mom. I think this helped the boys catch on quickly since they were familiar with that game first. Fractazmic teaches Fractions, Numbers and Measurement, all while having a great time playing cards.

The Fractazmic set of cards is made from sturdy material and is bright and colorful.
Fractazmic Decks Include:

•60 Math Learning Cards

•Each card clearly numbered

•Each card clearly labeled with the fraction and reinforcing graphic.

The deck of cards are divided into three different sets. These sets are:

•The Twelfths suit – Blue

•The Tenths suit – Green

•The Sixteenths suit – Red

How to Play

Fractazmic is a 2-4 player game that uses math and language skills. The object of Fractazmic trap is to gather as many hands as possible before the first player runs out of cards. Hands are captured by either (1) playing a card that brings the sum of all cards thrown to 1 or (2) forcing the next player to throw a card that brings the sum to greater than 1. If any of these events occur – the player captures the round and is the first to start the next round.

You can also download a booklet that goes over the different ways to play in it's 28 pages that you can print out and refer to. In this booklet you will also learn to play other games from I See Cards as well such as Pyramath and Prime Bomb.
These are fun, educational card games which retail for US$6.95 per Deck of Cards.

There are also a couple of YouTube videos that you can visit that show you hot to play the Rummy version and also Trap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dushk1SHMIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKm7dnjWWSs&feature=related

Your first stop might be this web page HERE where you can actually play the speed game online as well as WIN A FREE SET OF CARDS if your time is the fastest.
Then you can check out all of the card games for sale by I See Cards for only $6.95 you may want to grab them all, I know my kids are getting the other two games in their stockings for Christmas, I cannot wait to play with them. Also be sure to check out the other TOS Crew Reviews for Fractazmic.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Travel Back to Medieval Times with Pitsco TOS Crew Review

2011-12-09T10:39:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't love hands on homeschool projects? I know my kids flip over them. We were recently sent the Pitsco Medieval Machines Homeschool Pack which retails for $21.95, with much thanks to TOS Crew for once again finding awesome products for us to review. Pitsco is Hands-on, Real-world K-12 Curriculum in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. They have been in business for over 40 years and are one of today's leaders in hands on technology and learning. An interesting fact about the company is that all of their kits are produced in house in Kansas so this helps them to keep their prices down, which already gives them an A+ in my book.

My kids could not stand waiting to put these together, but they did have to wait a bit as we needed to run out and get super glue to make sure once we assembled them that they stayed that way.

The Project packs came with an instruction/ learning guide and all of the components to assemble not one but 2 Medieval Machines, one being a Trebuchet and the other a Catapult, we were also sent a box of clean clay to make the projectiles. There is also a larger kit available that includes over 21 hours of teaching materials and it sells for $64.95. Now I don't know about you but our family is big into Angry Birds so this could not have come at a better time. The possibilities are endless when it comes to how you can use these projects once they are built. The guide was wonderful as it not only showed us step by step how to assemble them but there are also lessons which incorporate science, social studies and a little math.

We started out by laying all the pieces for our Trebuchet down on the table, the kids were almost giddy with excitement. Taylor was more anxious about making birds to fling than actually assembling the machine, but that is just how Taylor works. Alyx is more the mechanical one and Taylor is more about the fun. They work good together. We did find we needed a few tools to help us along as well. Such as wire cutters and a tool to bend the wire into the shape we needed, as well as a ruler and scissors.

   Once we assembled the machine it was time to go over some of the lessons, I wanted the boys to be serious about it and how it really worked and what made it function and such before we broke out the birds for some fun. It did take some adjusting on the size of the "boulders" that we made out of clay and how many weights we used and the angle of the sling before we truly got it to work. It sure was fun even with all the trial and errors.

   After all of the lessons and work, it was finally time to have some real fun. Their imaginations went wild and they built walls with foam blocks and wood blocks and Popsicle sticks and who knows what else. They had competitions where one would build and the other would try to destroy. It kind of reminded me of the 3 little pigs story.

The next week we built the Catapult and had just as much fun although I forgot to take my pictures for that one since we knew what we were doing we just got to work and completely did not think of the camera. The boys are hoping for some more fun projects from Pitsco for Christmas and at their reasonable prices who can resist. I feel the kids gain so much from hands on learning like the opportunities that are offered from Pitsco that I can hardly say no. Are you hands on learners in your homeschool like we are? Then you have to check out all that Pitsco has to offer, they even have K-12 Curricula, Robotics, and my favorite Green Education and this is not all, they have too many offerings for me to list. The next project on our list is the Wind Gen Kit and for only $12.95 I can't wait to put it under out tree. Kits range in price from $10-80 with a few being a little higher but the average are around $20-$30. So there is really something for everyone's budget. You will just have to head on over to their website and check out everything there is to get your hands on for yourself. If you hurry I am sure you could get it for under your tree for Christmas Day. Nothing better than combining presents with learning opportunities, well at least that is what I think.

   Be sure to head on over to the TOS Crew Pitsco post to see where the imaginations of my fellow crew members took them on their Medieval Machines Journey.

ARTisitic Pursuits TOS Crew Review

2011-12-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

      Once again we have been blessed by being part of the TOS Crew. My boys had been attending an Art class once a month but it just isn't enough. So when we were chosen to review ARTisitc Pursuits I was so excited for my boys. ARTisitic Pursuits is THE Curriculum for Creativity. "A Comprehensive Art program designed to involve the student in the creative process while developing observational skills."
The Philosophy of ARTistic Pursuits is...
At Artistic Pursuits Inc., we believe every child can understand the concepts of art and enjoy the process of putting ideas and visual images on paper. We're committed to the goal of helping children become visually aware of the wonderful world we live in, and be able to work in creative ways within this world. We offer parents and teachers a simple way to give children a quality art education that will prepare them to meet creative challenges in their future endeavors.

     The boys love Art and love to be creative but I want them to have the true foundation of an Artist so that they are doing things the right way when it comes to composition and the elements of Art. ARTisitic Pursuits has a creative curriulum for all ages from preschool through senior high. We chose Junior High Book One, The elements of Art and composition, by Brenda Ellis. My boys that I used this program with are in 7th and 9th grade and it was the perfect fit for us. You would want to make sure that you looked over the choices and picked the best fit for your unique family.

        Upon choosing our Curriculum of choice we were sent a supplies list that included various tools we would need for our course to be successful. This was wonderful as it allowed us to gather the materials before our book arrived at our home so when it came we were all set to jump right in and be creative. Many of the items we already had on hand and a couple we were able to pick up at our local dollar store, so if money is tight like it is around here, especially at this time of year. You can be a little frugal where you can. The list is split into Semesters so You only need to gather a few supplies at first and look for sales on the other items that you will need further down the line. If you find easier to one stop shop or you do not have access to a store for art supplies you can go ahead and order an Art Supply Pack through ARTistic Pursuits themselves. Prices vary on the supply packs based on which level book you are working with.
Our list was this:
First Semester
2 each-Drawing Pencils HB,4B
1-vinyl eraser
1-metal pencil sharpener
1-sandpaper block
1- sketch pad
1- wire (aluminum or light weight types)
Second Semester
1-pen or marker pad
1-waterproof drawing ink black
1- brush,round #8
2- pen nib, #101 Imperial or similar nib
1-pen holder
Additional Items
drawing board,wire cutter or pliers,modeling clay

    When our book arrived at our home, I was pleasantly surprised that it was a large spiral bound book with a protective clear cover on top. This is well worth the investment of  $42.95. Especially since the books are non consumable so you will enjoy using them over and over for years to come with your other children.

    The boys immediately wanted to get started so we adjusted our school schedule and added in a block of time on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. They were so excited to let their creativity flow and begin learning the foundation of Art. There are a few introductory pages and tips about getting started and then it was onto our first lesson. The title of this lesson was Space, the area of the paper that you draw onto. Not only did we learn the elements of Art but also a bit of Art History as well. Also Art culture from other countries. We found it all quite fascinating. We are currently on Lesson 3 How to Develop Observation Skills Through Contour Drawing. There are 64 total lessons in each book as each Lesson has sub lessons that delve deeper into the area of teaching for that sections. The boys are following along quite nicely and after we compete this Semester we are going to create an art portfolio to keep all of their work in. I have been looking on Pinterest for ideas for this.

   Artistic Pursuits has won a vast array of awards in the homeschooling community, including repeated first places in the Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards, Favorite Fine Arts Product from the 2010 Homeschool Crew, and first place in the art category in the Excellence in Education awards

    Each of the Artistic Pursuits books follows a similar format, addressing composition, art history, and media at an age appropriate level. Students receive both art instruction and plenty of hands-on projects, while moms have the lessons broken down for them in every detail.

I know we are looking forward to moving on to Junior High Book 2 next Fall and maybe you are in the market for new Art Curriculum as well.  So if you find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer task of teaching Art or you feel that more Art is needed in your current curriculum like us then this may be just what your family is searching for. Please visit ARTistic Pursuit's website to find the book that is the perfect fit for you and for more information so that all of your questions may be answered.

Read what the Crew members had to say about the various levels they received for review and as always thanks for stopping by and I hope this has helped you decide on an Art Curriculum for your homeschool family.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Endless Adventure is waiting for your kids with Toydle!!! Christmas Giveaway!!!

2011-12-01T08:09:00.000-05:00

Do your kids love to build forts? Do they use your chairs and furniture to accomplish this feat? Are they endlessly using their imagination to go to faraway lands? Blast off to space or just play house? Maybe they need a safe lace to escape to like mine, when the stimulation of everyday life just gets to be too much.
If you answered Yes to any of these questions, then you need to keep on reading...

The TOS Crew is working with a company that has the answer to all of my questions above. TOYDLE!
Toydle is a child safe company that creates fort making kits out of a pvc- like material that is safe and wood tinker-toy like joints to connect them with and includes clips to attach your extra bed sheets to cover it with.
The configurations are endless. Your kids could spend hours upon hours creating new habitats. Do you come from a cold snowy winter climate like me? Sometimes it is just too cold to go out and play. Now they can create "snow" forts inside. When your kids are done playing you can pack it up in the neat duffle bag that comes with all your Toydle parts, Zip it up and put it away and it is ready for the next time. Colors may vary for the storage bag.

American Made/Unconditional Guarantee

Toydle Forts are made in the USA—in Boise, Idaho. Each tube is cut, each wood block is hand-shaped by an American worker. We believe that with a little American ingenuity we can make products better and more cost-effective than sending the work overseas. We believe that we can win jobs back for our workers and our economy. We practice it every day!
And we guarantee every Toydle product—we will replace any product or piece thereof that fails for any reason, even if your little critters leave a block out in the rain, or try to do pull-ups with a tube. The quality of our products speak for themselves.

Toydle comes in 2 sizes, the Todle Fort is 45 sq ft of endless fun, and sells for $149. While the BIG Toydle Fort doubles the size at over 90 sq ft for double the fun and possibilities and sells for $229.99.

Wouldn't your child love to see this under the tree this Christmas morning? I know mine would. You can buy your very own Toydle fort by visiting http://www.toydle.com/ or you can try your chance at winning one of 3 BIG Toydle Forts over at the TOS CREW BLOG. That's right enter to win a Toydle Fort of your very own.
Remember if you cannot stand to wait and simply want it now head over to TOYDLE now and snatch one up. Toydle is a toy that will be around for years, backed by their guarantee, I'm sure it will be around for many, many years. Be sure to check back here in January for my personal review of TOYDLE.

So why are you still here? Head over to the TOS CREW blog NOW!! So you can get your chance to win one of 3 BIG Toydle Forts of your own. Tell your Mother, your Sister, your Brother and your friends. Whoever wins this will be the most popular house to play at in the neighborhood. So don't delay. Enter TODAY!!
CONTEST DISCLAIMER
This contest is open to residents of the United States ONLY. TOS Staff and TOS Crew Members (and their families) are not eligible to enter this contest.

Trading Spaces Kasprzak Edition Not So Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T10:41:00.000-05:00

Recently we have been thinking about changing rooms between the younger boys and Dave and myself. They needed less room to make a mess and we needed more room to combine our bedroom and a small office for myself. So Trade Spaces is what we did this weekend. They are both a work in progress but here is what happened so far.

The boys will have more room soon as we have ordered new pins to stack their beds back into bunk beds. We lost them when we moved and they did not need bunks in their old rooms. They are in the process of deciding on a color scheme. The runners up are orange and khaki or a red,white and blue room. We will see what they decide on hopefully soon.

This is the boys old room, our new room up in the bungalow of our home. We will be able to go back to a king size bed now. We have gotten rid of our waterbed mattress and currently are just using a mattress in our waterbed frame.

The dresser you see is going to be moved and my computer desk is going to go in front of that window. Currently my computer desk is in our living room. There is not enough room in there so by moving we are eliminating excess furniture from the living room.

Here is our much bigger closet and the built in desk that is going to be redone and made into a built in TV Unit soon.

Here is the area where you come up the stairs, the little L on the left of the open space is going to be where our dresser is moving to.

Here is our new color pallet. I love it I cannot wait to start painting this weekend.

Here is our new comforter set that is on its way thanks to my Mom.

Like I said it is all a work in progress and will be done a little at a time. I will be sure to post updates as different stages are completed.

Happy Thanksgiving from our Family to yours!! 2011

2011-11-24T12:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from our Family to yours. May it be filled with many blessings today and the days yet to come.

I have many things to be thankful for this year inspite of all our obstacles we have encountered this past year.

Today I am thankful that through everything my family has been through this year we have stood firmly planted in our faith and turned to the Lord for guidance and grace.

I am thankful that it was only our garage that caught fire and not our home, and that nobody was injured or worse.

I am thankful for my family and our health.

I am thankful for another year with my Grandma.

I am thankful for our home that we can call our own, when so many we know have no place to lay their head at night.

I am thankful for the food on our table when so many people are struggling to provide the basics for their family.

I am thankful that my cousins and nephews in the service are home safe and not away over seas this year.

I am thankful for the wonderful friends I have made this year, I am not sure what I would have done without them, They give the true meaning of friends.

I am thankful for my husband's job, while so many are unemployed this year. While money is tight for us there is at least income coming in.

I am thankful for my right to homeschool my children, and teach them what I feel the Lord wants me to teach them.

I am thankful that my children have a giving heart and know that even though we don't alway have what we would like there are many who have so much less and they know the true meaning of giving to those who need it.

I am thankful for all of the little things that God blesses us with on a daily basis.

I am thankful for all of the things that I cannot think of right now but am blessed with always.

Thanksgiving to God this year for all of my family's blessings.

AMEN

"How much time is left ?" Time Timer TOS Crew Review

2011-11-22T12:22:00.000-05:00

"How much time is left?" I must get asked this question 100 times a day, and not only from my children. My hubby asks this very same question, as does my 91 year old Grandma. It could be how much time do we have until dinner, how long before we leave to go ...... I also flip it on them sometimes, for instance you have X amount of time to clean your room, do your chores or until the TV gets turned off.

Most timers are audio only, meaning that you may hear time ticking away, but you only know how much time is left if you walk right up to it or hear the sound of the timer going off. The TOS Crew was given another great review opportunity to try out the 3" Time Timer.

Over 20 years ago, Jan Rogers, the mother of an independent, inquisitive 4 year old, sought a solution to her daughter’s natural curiosity about time. Nicknamed the "how much longer kid," young Loran found the concept of time to be both a challenge and a frustration. Her innate need to beat the clock in athletics as well as household tasks was combined with annoyance at not being able to understand the passage of time.

The Time Timer stands apart from other timers in that it is more visual than any timer I have come across. It doesn't make a loud ticking noise so it is not distracting, if for instance you were using it for test taking or other school work. There is also no loud obnoxious alarm noise that goes off when time is up. You can see a video on how it works by clicking HERE.

You simply put one AA battery in the back and you are good to go. There is also a heavy duty plastic shield that covers the time portion and also prevents little fingers from adding more time. On the flip side you can fold the cover back and it makes a more sturdy stand. I did not have a problem with it standing up without using it as a stand, I prefer to use the cover to do just that cover and protect the time.

When you dial the plastic dot counter clockwise the area of time remaining turns a bright, bold red. VERY visual. I loved that you can see it from across the room.

I put the Time Timer to use in many ways to test it to the fullest. I used it for chore time, and did a race with the kids to see if they could get their chores done before me and before the timer was done. I also used it to help differentiate the time we had left between subjects, my boys having Asperger's do not transition well without notice, so when I know we are needing to move onto the next lesson I set the timer for a 10 minute warning. This also helped when it was shower time and TV time was drawing to an end. I set it for a 10 minute warning signaling the transition to bedtime routine, such as showering and teeth brushing.

Taylor is a big fan of videogames but has a hard time when it is time to wrap it off so for him I set a 30 minute timer and then he can keep an eye on how much time is left for his game. Before the Time Timer he would always say he could not hear our old timer go off because he had headphones on. He can certsainly not use that excuse anymore as he can always see the Time Timer on top of the TV in plain sight all the time.

With my Grandma I used the time timer to give her a visual for how long until dinner was ready. She has Alzhiemers and it affects her short term memory. We often had her coming out of her room several times in a few minute span to ask if dinner was done. So now we just set the Time Timer for 15 minutes and she can watch the red get smaller and smaller as she watches TV until dinner is done with out having to keep ask.
We have also used it to show her how much time she has to get ready to leave for an outing. This has helped tremendously as we were always running late because she lost track of time.

Time Timer sells 3 sizes of their physical timers as well as an IPOD, IPHONE and IPAD App that is available for download. This makes it handy as there is something for everyone's needs. Their largest at 12" is the size of a clock and is perfect to hang on the wall. Then there is an 8" medium size and last the small 3" table top one that we received as a review. I liked our size as it is so portable to be able to take it from room to room and it doesn't take up much space. Time Timer also sell watches, puzzles and other software apps as well as many other ingenious products be sure to check them out.
The Time Timers range in price from $30 - $40. They have computer software that sells for $24 and the IPAD App is available from the App Store on Itunes.The Time Timer watch sells for $40 and all oders over $50 qualify for free shipping.

The Itunes App would be great for on the go, maybe to use it for how long the car ride to get to a place may take, like the Doctor or grocery store. The possibilities truly are endless.

Some of the TOS Crew were given the physical timer like I received and some were given the opportunity to review the App so be sure to check them out and see how my fellow crewmates used their Time Timers.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Math Mammoth TOS Crew Review

2011-11-18T10:26:00.003-05:00

   Math is one of the subjects that my youngest struggles with the most. I know he will get it eventually but I want to make sure that he gets what he needs to truly live life. You know the everyday math like being able to shop, balance his checking account, cook and other things like that. The current math curriculum is wonderful do not get me wrong, but it teaches the text book basics, in the traditional straight forward way. Taylor just doesn't seem to learn that way no matter how hard we try.

   The TOS Crew was given the opportunity to work with the wonderfully accommodating folks at Math Mammoth. From the minute we made contact, Maria Miller the Author of  Math Mammoth set out to help me decide the best curriculum for my kids and their level. The best feeling you can get from a company is one of true and genuine wanting to help you find the best fit for your family. In this day and age that is hard to come by. Maria was so helpful, I explained my sons and their developmental issues and Taylor's struggles with Math and we decided together that Make it Real Learning was the best program to go with. Then from there we decided which downloadable workbooks would fit our needs best, we ended up being blessed with MIRL Arithmetic 1, Fractions, percents and decimals 1 and 2, Linear Function 1, Quadratic Function 1, and Sets, Probability and Statistics 1.

Make it Real Learning is just what we have been looking for, it uses real life concepts and couples that with companies and products and places that my kids know and love.  For example we started with Arithmetic 1 and our very first lesson dealt with Australia. It dealt with population, distance of Australia and its coastline. When European settlers came to Australia. All the while teaching place value and rounding numbers and writing out the number in words. Not only was it teaching the boys math but Social Studies as well. Other lessons incorporate Science. Taylor truly enjoys Math time now, it is not a struggle to get him to sit down and do his worksheets. This has also been a great refresher for Alyx, Math comes much easier to him, but it has been nice to teach him Math in a new light putting into terms that he can incorporate into every day life.

The Make It Real Learning Arithmetic I workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively analyzed using arithmetic concepts such as addition, subtraction, estimation, division, bar graphs, and place value with large numbers. This book suits best grades 3-6.

From figuring out how to determine the difference between the populations of two countries to analyzing the number of visitors to a website, learners get to use basic math skills in meaningful ways. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. Webkinz, Australia, South Africa, sharing snacks, borrowing money), not just "realistic" data.

We have used Arithmetic 1 as a refresher to get used to the curriculum with some things the boys already knew. We will be finishing Arithmetic 1 this week and will be moving onto Fractions, Percents and Decimals 1 when we pick school back up after the Thanksgiving Holidays. This program can move as slowly or as quickly as you and your kids want to go. We found some days the concept was harder for Taylor to grasp than others. So some days we only did one lesson while others we did three.
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents 1
The Make It Real Learning Fractions, Decimals, Percents I workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively analyzed using proportional reasoning concepts such as fractions, percents, and unit conversion. This book suits best grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

From figuring out how much money is saved on a sale to determining how much of each ingredient to use when doubling a favorite cookie recipe, learners get to use basic math skills in meaningful ways. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. Aeropostale, Hershey's, cooking, baking, measuring milk, shopping), not just "realistic" data.

After we finish with that we will be moving onto Fractions, Percents and Decimals 2
The Make It Real Learning Fractions, Decimals, Percents II workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively analyzed using decimals, ratios, histograms, and percents. This book suits best middle and high school, meaning that some activities here suit best middle school students, and some suit best high school students.

From determining how to analyze a real estate deal to determining college housing costs, learners get to use mathematics in meaningful ways. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. BYU, Air Force, college basketball, real estate investing, sizing images, sales tax), not just "realistic" data.

These will probably take us until the end of 2011 and when we return to school days in January 2012 we will hopefully pick back up with Make it Real Math starting with Linear Functions 1.

The Make It Real Learning Linear Functions I workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively modeled by linear equations. This book is suitable for both algebra 1 and algebra 2 students.

Whether choosing a cell phone plan or downloading music, learners will discover how to use linear functions to help them become better informed consumers. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. Yahoo!, T-Mobile, life spans, WIC, making money), not just "realistic" data.

The other 2 books Quadratic Functions 1 and Sets, Probability and Statistics 1 will most likely be put off to next year but we will play it by ear.

The Make It Real Learning Quadratic Functions I workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively modeled by quadratic functions. This book is suitable for both algebra 1 and algebra 2 students.

Whether business growth, changing population or falling objects, learners get to use mathematics in meaningful ways. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. USAA, autism, body mass index), not just "realistic" data.

The Make It Real Learning Sets, Probability, Statistics I workbook focuses on real-world situations that may be effectively analyzed using principles of probability and statistics. This book suits both middle and high school math classrooms.

From determining a winning strategy for a dice game to predicting the contents of a bag of fruit snacks, learners get to use mathematics in meaningful ways. Each activity integrates real world information, companies, and issues (e.g. fruit snacks, Almond Joy, rolling the dice, El Pollo Loco, phone numbers), not just "realistic" data.

The other wonderful thing about MIRL from Math Mammoth is you really do not need to do them in order. Also for only $4.99 per download version of the workbooks it is an affordable Math Curriculum with it being your soul curriculum for Math or used as an add on to your already standard choice which is what we are doing. You can download a sampler of MIRL activities by going HERE. You know best what fits your family and with Maria's help from Math Mammoth together you will work to find the best fit, Whether it is Make It Real Learning like we chose or their more traditional Math like The Blue Series, The Light Blue Series, or The Green or Gold Series. Their color series Math is best for grades 1-8 while the MIRL Math that we chose goes up to 12th grade. They truly do have something for everyone.

Be sure to check out my fellow TOS Crewmates, as we all chose which curriculum was best for our family, you will be able to find a review for every program Math Mammoth has to offer.

Wordless Wednesday Taylor is Smitten with the new Kitten Nala

2011-11-16T11:02:00.001-05:00

College Prep Genius Vocabcafe Series TOS Crew Review

2011-11-15T22:50:00.000-05:00

One of our goals this year is to get the kids to want to read and not just comic books and books that are too easy for them. Now trying to find good books that will help strengthen their vocabulary and keep their interest is a feat in itself. When offered the opportunity to review the Complete Vocabcafe Series from College Prep Genius along with the TOS Crew I was hoping for just that.

We were sent all 4 books in the series, IM for Murder, Operation High school, Planet Exile, and Summer of St. Nick. We started off reading Summer of St. Nick, these are geared for middle school and Jr. high school and my boys are grade equivalent but not necessarily developmentally age appropriate. They did stumble with many of the words that were in the books but it was wonderful to expose them to the SAT Prep words and with using repetition, definition and reinforcement they boys were able to catch on fairly quick. These books highlight 300 words per book that are SAT Prep and the definitions of each word are given at the bottom and are also accompanied by word review and appendix as well.

In this day and age it is often hard to find fiction books that are suitable for the Christian teen and although these had some content that I was surprised to find, like for instance a reference to girls in the Operation High School book, there was nothing offensive or vulgar. I did not have to rip the book from my kids hands and say sorry you cannot read this. Everything is done in a tasteful way with no vulgar language, no sex and no witchcraft or sorcery.

It is always refreshing to come across modern novels of fiction that are safe for this age group where I do not feel compelled to read them before hand. I can trust the content and know that not only are they reading and enjoying the content but they are learning and expanding their vocabulary at the same time.

We have only had the chance to finish 2 out of the 4 books, like I said we started with Summer of St. Nick and then went on to Operation High school, we are currently beginning Planet Exile. The only one I have reservations with at the moment is IM for Murder and it is not because it contains anything bad it is simply because of the temperament of my boys. Taylor is afraid of everything even at this point in his life at the age of 12, due to his disabilities. So I am not sure if we are going to read the 4th book together as we have with the others or if we are going to maybe hold off and use it in the Spring or next Fall.

One thing that I am so excited about with these books is that I actually see them using some of the vocabulary words. They go out of their way to use them in the correct context. It is so funny they feel so important when they use words they think other people may not know. It makes for very interesting dinner conversation.

If this sounds like something you may be interested in for your tweens and teens be sure to check them out as soon as possible because right now they are on sale. You can get all 4 books for the price of 3. Normally the complete series runs $51.80 but right now they are on sale for $38.85 for the set. This is a great savings and these books are well worth the investment. They can also be purchased separately for $12.95 each.
While you are shopping be sure to check out all of the other offerings from College Prep Genius, like SAT workbooks and DVDs and even co-op materials. There are many offerings to get your students ready to take the SAT.

Be sure to stop by the TOS Crew page to see what my fellow crew mates have to say about Vocabcafe and also College Prep Genius for High school.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Keyboard Town Pals TOS Crew Review

2011-11-14T10:11:00.004-05:00

We use the computer just about everyday for some aspect of our homeschooling, and also just for fun. My boys use the computer for all of their essay work as they have very poor fine motor skills due to their disabilities. If they didn't nobody would be able to read any of it, but on the same hand they have struggled with learning to type correctly. No matter how hard I try they just did not get it. They found most typing skills programs too boring to hold their interest.

TOS Crew members were given the opportunity to review Keyboard Town Pals software for the computer for 6 weeks. My boys have been so frustrated with typing they were a little skeptical, but after convincing them that this is different, there are no timed tests, no counting your errors and always telling you what you are doing wrong, they seemed to relax a bit and enjoy the program.

The main character Sunny, introduces you to the keyboard and the "town" and it's residents who will teach you to type key by key, row by row. The program is taught in a fun, bright way that keeps kids engaged while learning to type letter by letter and where to hold their fingers on the keys. Always positive and I am sure that is why it worked with my boys. Many programs are always pointing out the keys you hit wrong and test your knowledge in a short amount of time and if you fail to do it in the allotted time you don't move on. My kids do not do well with timed tests and I am sure this is where we were coming up short in our efforts before.

After Sunny introduces the kids to the town she then slowly introduces them to the PALS. Seven cute character puppets beginning with A for Amy. These cute puppets take the kids through their town all the while teaching the children to type in a fun way.
PALS are more than puppets it is an acronym for the style of learning being taught in the program. The Purposeful Associative Learning System is the way in which keyboard skills are taught in this program. Creators Rita Herman and Donna Katz use meaningful association to excite children to complete lessons.

If you would like to see a sample of one of the lessons view the video below.

The children can learn to type in one hour. It is simply amazing, I did not believe it until I saw it myself. Now the recommended age on Keyboard Town Pals is 6-12 and also many children of all ages with learning or developmental disabilities.

Parents can purchase the program in either a CD Rom for $35 on sale with free shipping or Web-based package for $30 on sale , with English, Spanish, and French versions available.

The Keyboard Town PALS program centers around children who can recognize all the letters of the alphabet. However, the program “Little Hands Can Type” is also available for purchase for younger children.

I know this program worked for my kids ages 11 and 13, both of my boys have Asperger's Syndrome and suffer motor delays. They now truly enjoy their computer time, and can type just like mom. Now it did teach my kids to type in an hour but we spend and hour a week practicing so they can get better and gain speed, but this program was a great foundation for getting started. After the kids finish and perfect the lessons there is a great little assessment that has them type the alphabet forwards and backwards, and then type there name with their eyes closed, my kids get a kick out of that.

As always never just take my word for it check out the thoughts of my fellow TOS Crewmates and what their kids had to say about Keyboard Town Pals.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Christmas Lodge DVD Review and Giveaway

2011-11-12T13:13:00.000-05:00

I am a sucker for a feel good Christmas story, I love snuggling in with my family, making snacks and enjoying the flick together. When offered the chance to review The Christmas Lodge, I was so excited to have a new flick to watch with my family, one that I could trust the content without having to prescreen it first. The Christmas Lodge was just that, a good clean movie with a great moral story and a very happy ending. I know when looking for a family movie I can always trust one that has the Dove Family-Approved Seal on it . This means it has been approved by the Dove Foundation for audiences of all ages.

Synopsis:

Thomas Kinkade presents Christmas Lodge: a place where a heart-warming past and loving future meet for one remarkable group of people. During a weekend trip to the mountains, Mary (Erin Karpluk) finds herself at the now- dilapidated lodge where she spent the holidays with her family growing up. She becomes determined to restore the building to its former glory. Inspired by her grandfather and guided by her grandmother in heaven, Mary throws herself into the project, and during the process finds herself drawn to Jack (Michael Shanks), a handsome man who loves the lodge as much as she does. Historically unlucky in love, this chance encounter allows Mary to renew her faith in life and discover her one true love. For an uplifting story about the importance of faith, family and the true holiday spirit, go to the Christmas Lodge.

If you and your family enjoy family movie night, and you like to offer qaulity movies with none of the nonsense then please check out The Christmas Lodge.

Please head on over and check out the movie trailer.
The Christmas Lodge is now available for purchase on DVD from Vivendi Entertainment. Included with your DVD purchase is a FREE Thomas Kinkade Limited Edition 4”x6” Painting and you can also download three holiday songs for free too.

The Christmas Lodge trailer

You can win your very own copy of The Christmas Lodge here by simply telling me what your favorite Dove Approved family movie is. THIS MUST BE DONE TO MAKE YOUR ENTRY COUNT.
Winner will be randomly chosen on Wednesday Nov. 16 at Midnight Eastern time. I will post the winner on Thursday and the winner will have 48 hrs to get back to me with their shipping info or an alternate winner will be chosen.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wordless Wednesday Taylor's 12th Birthday Surprise Party

2011-11-09T09:25:00.000-05:00

The Person I Marry from Bower Books TOS Crew Review

2011-11-09T09:04:00.000-05:00

As the mother of 3 sons I often think about their futures and what their spouses will be like. Nobody ever talked about that with me when I was a child. I try to keep an open dialogue with my boys about the character traits that you want to look for in a potential mate as well as building a good foundation for a healthy and strong marriage filled with love. I wish I would have started this more when they were little, but it is never too late to start. Sometimes it is also helpful to hear of these things from someone other than Mom and it is always helpful to have a hand in teaching these things. I was given the distinct pleasure of reviewing a beautiful book by Bower Books, The Person I Marry is the perfect opener to begin the open dialogue of communication with your kids small or pre-teen. Beautifully written and illustrated by a parent duo of 12 themselves.

The TOS Crew members chosen for this review were given the E-Book version of The Person I Marry, and let me tell you it was nothing short of spectacular. I have recommended this book more than any other book to all of my friends that have children and I will be ordering it for a baby shower that I have coming up in December. I feel it should be the one of the first books added to that new little someone's library. It is simply never to early to start guiding them in that process of "Who is the right kind of person for me?"

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

Gary and Jan Bower together meld the character traits of the kind of person everyone should look for in their forever mate and the Norman Rockwell type illustrations modeled after their children and grandchildren, that just gives you warm fuzzies from head to toe. Jan's illustrations are rich and deep and present that oil painted feel to them. While Gary's writings of poetry captivate your heart and help teach the children to look for the traits in a person that God would want for them, and the qualities that will create a strong and happy marriage. I believe this book is told in a way that small children understand , yet written so eloquently that the older child to the adult still enjoys reading. All the while instilling good virtues for the reader as well as making them think about their future spouse and marriage.

I have read this book over and over and truly wish I had found something like this years ago, and as a 32 page hardcover book for only $11.99 is a must have addition to every household's library. The Person I Marry has also earned the distinguished honor of 2010 Christian Small Publisher Association Book of the Year . The neat thing for us about the Bower's Books as they are published right here in Michigan , not far from where we live. There are many other wonderful books written just as sweetly and illustrated in the same wonderful way.

Be sure to not only check out The Person I Marry but the books from the many series they offer like "Thinking of Others" which includes Tessa's Treasures and 3 other books. The Jingle in My Pocket from the "Bright Futures"series. One of the other series I know my kids and I will be looking into is the Michigan Kid series. They have board books for smaller children as well that include Mommy Love and Daddy Love. Descriptions and Illustrations of all of the Bower's books can be found at their website.
There is sure to be something for everyone on your Christmas list this year.
Please venture over to my fellow TOS Crewmates' blogs and see what their family is saying about Bower Book's Person I Marry.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

First Form Latin by Memoria Press TOS Crew Review

2011-11-04T09:36:00.000-04:00

In today's world knowing multiple languages is a must. I know as a student in high school I studied 4 years for French. My oldest son who is in public school is in in his 3rd yr of Spanish and first year of Italian. My boys when they were younger and we lived in the other school district were taught Spanish but hardly remember any of it as there was such a gap in between you could say they really have no foreign language knowledge. I was presented with the opportunity to review First Form Latin as part of the TOS Crew, at first I was not sure as Latin did not pop into my head as a language I was considering, I was leaning more towards Spanish. After doing some researching and realizing that this is indeed the perfect opportunity, as Latin is the gateway to all languages and would set the forefront for us learning many languages in the future with ease, I was ecstatic when I found out we were chosen by Memoria Press for the review opportunity.

We were sent the First Form Latin Plus Set that includes everything needed to get started on a full year of learning Latin. Instructional DVDs, CD of all of the lessons for the computer, Student Text book, flash cards,quizzes and test booklet, a spiral bound teacher's manual with workbook and test key,the teacher's manual,and lastly the workbook. When our box arrived I was blown away by the amount of materials that are provided , and the quality of the books and materials. You definitely get your money's worth when you order First Form Latin from Memoria Press. The plus set sells for $115, now there is also the option of the basic set $55 but does not include the flash cards or DVDs. Now in my opinion the addition fees to upgrade to the plus set are totally worth the investment. The DVD is in essence your family's private teacher guided by Glen Moore.

This curriculum is very well planned out and works at a pace that is not overwhelming. There are many components to the curriculum, but they flow together naturally. The 34 lesson course is grammar based and committed to the trivium model of classical education.

My boys were a little skeptical at first but as we got more and more into the study they are enjoying it. I love that I am learning right along with them and it is something that we share just between the 3 of us. The boys love having a "secret" language that we are learning. They are hoping when they get more fluent we will be able to have conversations that nobody else in our family will understand. I think it is great that they left their minds open even though it was not the language we originally were looking for. They look forward to their lessons each week. It is so inspiring to see them get excited about learning. This is one of the reasons I homeschool. To have the freedom to teach my kids whatever my heart chooses.

First Form Latin is intended for grades 5 and up. My boys are in 7th and 8th and are doing wonderfully with it. Upon our completion of the curriculum this year my boys will have earned one full credit for high school foreign language. I think it is so amazing that they have this ability when only in middle school levels. Another feature of First Form Latin is that you do not require any prior Latin knowledge. I was a little worried about not having any Latin experience especially since I am the teacher and how was I suppose to teach a subject I knew nothing about? My mind was set at ease as soon as we popped in the DVD and were taught our first lesson.

Here is some information from Memoria Press about First Form Latin:
Memoria Press' First Form Latin curriculum was written by Cheryl Lowe, author of the best selling Latina Christiana. Mrs. Lowe's simple but effective texts have been used by more than 100,000 students across the world to learn Latin.

Based on twenty years of teaching experience, this revolutionary "grammar-first" series will be your guide as you and your students successfully climb the mountain of Latin Grammar all the way to the top! The uniqueness of the First Form Series lies in two features:

1.It is committed to the trivium model of teaching grammar systematically in order to facilitate retention and understanding, rather than topically, to facilitate translation.

2.Extensive workbook exercises ensure skills mastery and rapid recognition of inflected forms.

Features include:

•Designed for students and teachers with no Latin background

•8x8 inch Student Text, small, concise, unintimidating with 34 two-page lessons on facing uncluttered pages

•Limited vocabulary of 185 words

•Full-size Student Workbook with 4-6 pages of exercises per lesson

•Vocabulary derivatives and detailed explanations of Latin sayings

•Grammar catechism for daily rapid-fire review

•Milestone markers for each grammar objective

•Everything-you-could-possibly-need teacher manual

◦Organized for easy access

◦Student Text inset with answers in color

◦Chalk-talk scripted lessons

◦Recitation schedule

◦Pronunciation reminders

◦Workbook with key

◦Unit tests and lesson quizzes booklet

◦FYI section for extra background

First Form’s grammar-first approach focuses on grammar forms and vocabulary because those are the grammar stage skills suitable for the grammar stage student. However, the First Form Series is for students of all ages because all beginners, regardless of age, are in the grammar stage of learning. Syntax (how to use the grammar) and translation are logic and rhetoric stage skills, respectively, and quickly overwhelm the student unless they are introduced at a slow, gentle pace and taught for mastery. First Form is the ideal text for all beginners, grades 5 & up, or is a great follow-up to Latina Christiana I at any age. Now every school and homeschool can have a truly successful Latin program that creates Latin scholars rather than Latin drop-outs.

After mastering First Form, the student will have a solid grasp on the six indicative active tenses of the first two verb conjugations, five noun declensions, first and second declension adjectives, and 185 vocabulary words.

Join our First Form Yahoo group to share your ideas and suggestions with other First Form teachers. Downloadable lesson plans and other teacher resources are available in the group's files section.

If you have contemplated teaching your kids a foreign language whether it be the first one or the 5th, please check out First Form Latin. You can take a look at a sample of the curriculum including recitation ,student text, student workbook and teacher manual. You can also take a peek at a 5 minute clip from the DVD lesson. This will give you a great feel to help you decide if this is indeed a foreign language curriculum that fits the needs of your homeschool.
Be sure to check out all of other curriculum offered by Memoria Press, such as Greek, Classical Studies, and full curriculum pakchages. There are many more that you can explore as well, but you will just have to visit Memoria Press and check them all our for yourself.

If you would like the opinions of other homeschool parents please check out my fellow TOS Crewmates and see what their families are saying about learning Latin.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Excellence in Literature TOS Crew review

2011-11-02T08:41:00.000-04:00

   As a homeschool Mom I will admit there are subjects that I dread teaching or am not as confident in teaching as I should be. Even though I may have strengths in these subjects I find myself still struggling to teach my boys especially now that they are older. With Alyx starting High School next year I want to make sure we are doing things the right way. One of the topics I have been dreading is Literature. I also feel that if he picks up on my uneasiness he will then have a bad attitude about learning the topic. Alyx has struggled with writing and reading comprehension since he started school. This makes this a subject that needs to be studied and studied again.

Being part of the TOS Crew has been such a blessing to my family this year as they have helped me find vendors that sell some of the curriculum I was lacking and they have done the leg work to seek out some of the best that are out there, it has helped us fill in the blanks so to speak. Excellence in Literature has been one of those helping hands in our curriculum this Fall.

   We were blessed with the opportunity to review Excellence in Literature: English I: Introduction to Literature from Everyday Education, this is an entire full year program. Compared to other curriculum of this nature it is a great buy at only $29 plus $4.95 Priority Mail S&H or if you would rather download and print it out it works wonderfully in a 3 ring binder format and then you can save on the shipping charges. The bonus to that is you get access to the program immediately and can get to work right away.

We received the download program and it is wonderful to use in a binder as the book lays open. The readings from the curriculum are carefully picked and the first lessons deal with short stories, which helped ease into the subject. It made for a an easy transition which is helpful with Alyx. Not only is he reading wonderful literature but he has context notes that really help him understand and grasp what he is reading. I loved the week by week lesson plans that help walk us through what needs to be learned. This is how our base curriculum works so it flowed for me naturally.I also thought that the evaluation rubric was an invaluable asset.

I am really starting to like this level of Alyx's education as it seems that a good deal of his learning is teaching him to be an independent learner, something else he struggles with and leaves me more time to help Taylor one on one. Excellence in Literature is no exception as it is planned out to be used directly by the student, with little to no help from the parent/teacher. Each lesson is carefully planned out with complete instructions and samples there for the student to gain knowledge and confidence from. Alyx really took to this approach and I have seen his confidence in this program and other areas of his learning grow a little more with each day. This has helped him grow as a student in so many ways.

There is an Honors track also that can be used for AP students, I feel this would be overwhelming for Alyx, but maybe your student could benefit from this aspect of the curriculum. The other important aspect of this program is not the reading but the essay writing, which is another area of struggle for Alyx. Excellence in Literature helps break it down and help discover the whole thought process to writing a thorough essay. Planning,drafting and revising are some of the key steps taught. With a short writing assignment to finish out each section of study. The act of planning out what you are going to do comes naturally to my Asperger's son as he does not like surprises. I think this is another reason why this particular curriculum has been so helpful, he can look ahead in the lesson plans and always know what lies ahead in his studies. Teaching him to use this strategy of thinking ahead in this writing has merged well for him.

Here is what Everyday Education has to say about Excellence in Literature:

What does Introduction to Literature cover?

Introduction to Literature is a college-preparatory literature and composition course. Focus works, including novels, short stories, poems, and drama, have been selected for literary quality, and for their place in the historical development of literature. Context readings provide background information about the author, the historical period, and the literary and artistic context of the focus work.

Students will gain an understanding of the development of literature and will practice the skills of close literary analysis through essays, approach papers, and other evaluative writing. You may learn more about how I chose the literature for Excellence in Literature in this blog post.

Objectives

By the end of the course, students will:

Understand the process of writing, including the use of tools such as a writer’s handbook, dictionary, and thesaurus.

Have specific understanding of selected representative texts by major authors of the periods studied.

Have a general understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the works.

Be able to analyze literary texts and present thoughtfully developed ideas in writing.

Demonstrate competence in essay organization, style, and mechanics.

Unit 1: Short Stories by-

• Sarah Orne Jewett: A White Heron

• Edgar Allen Poe: The Purloined Letter (This one is not scary, if you're concerned about that.)

• Guy de Maupassant: The Diamond Necklace

• O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief

• Eudora Welty: A Worn Path

• James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Honors: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain

Honors: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Honors: Shirley or Villette by Charlotte Brontë

Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

Honors: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot

Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Honors: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Honors: 1984 by George Orwell

Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Honors: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

Unit 9: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

Honors: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Note: Books listed in the table of contents above are focus texts only. Context readings are assigned within each unit.

If you go on to use Excellence in Literature as a 5 yr program as intended your student has the ability to earn 24-30 hours of college credit through testing. The 5 yr program is targeted for an audience of 8th-12th grade. If you invest a small amount of money into this program for your child's high school years it will prove to reward your student's education ten-fold. While saving both your student's time and money in the college years. The 5 year program does not need to be done in order and can be mixed up within the course study itself.

I am so excited and feel much more relaxed about this timeline in the boys education as I am confident in knowing they are learning Literature in the correct format. I am also not dreading this subject for Taylor next year when he starts 8th grade. It makes for a much happier atmosphere when everyone is relaxed and confident in what they are trying to achieve. I will definitely be purchasing year 2 for Alyx come this Summer when we do our Curriculum shopping and I more than likely going to invest in the entire download set of all five years for only $135 that is a savings of over $60 that is a great investment in my children's education and a small price to pay when you look at the outcome when you have completed the program.
You can also purchase the five year program hard copy format to be shipped to your door for $139 plus S&H and you are still saving a bundle by purchasing it all at once. Knowing I can use this with both of my boys adds to the savings as well.

If you have been struggle with this very subject then what are you waiting for? Check out Everyday Education's Excellence in Literature today. You will thank me for it. Your kids will thank you for it. See it is a win win situation. So don't delay do it today.While you are there be sure to check out all of the wonderful programs that Everyday Education has to offer like Spelling Made Easy.
Don't just take my word for it see what my fellow TOS Crewmates are saying about Excellence in Literature in their homeschools.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Simple Woman's Daybook Journal Entry for 11-01-11

2011-11-01T10:56:00.000-04:00

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...The Sun is shining on this Crisp 1st of November but it is slated to be almost 60 today with sun, sun, sun

I am thinking...about friends that are struggling right now and praying they find the Lord and he can help them through this troubling time.

I am thankful...for my family, my home, my wonderful friends and most of all having GOD in my family's life.

From the learning rooms...(if this applies) lots of discussions from the boys as they complete their math this morning.

In the kitchen...not much today but yesterday it sure smelled good. I made 2 crockpots of Beef Stroganoff, and a double batch of chocolate chip,toffee cookie dough dip for all of us that were handing out candy to the Trick or Treaters last night.

I am wearing...
Jeans and a long sleeve striped green tee

I am creating...plans for the remodel of our classroom in January and name tags for my Red Hat Group

I am going...to babysit for a good friend tonight as her hubby was invited by as a VIP guest of the Red Wings to tonights game he is a Marine and they are thanking him for his service to our country

I am wondering...what to get Nick for his Birthday and Christmas

I am reading...The Grace Effect by Larry Alex Taunton

I am hoping...my husbands hours continue to improve through the holidays at work

I am looking forward to...Taylor's Birthday and Party next Tuesday

I am hearing...chit chat from the children

Around the house...Bags of candy from Trick or Treating last night and Halloween Decorations that need to be packed up and put away

I am pondering...a few things

One of my favorite things...is getting the house ready for the holidays

A few plans for the rest of the week:not much, babysitting tonight, tomorrow going with a friend to pick out new bathroom vanities and sinks for her house and Thursday Enrich, Friday Bowling and Saturday Meat Bingo with friends

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...Our cat Katrina had a kitten who has not been named yet, he is 10 days old today.

______________________________

George Washington Carver His Life and His Work DVD by Marshall Publishing TOS Crew Review

2011-10-31T09:22:00.000-04:00

If you asked my kids what their favorite subject was when it comes to school, Alyx would quickly say History. While on the other hand Taylor likes History, Science is his ultimate favorite. Either way the History Channel plays on the TV a ton at my house. I might even say that sometimes it gets to be a little too much for me. Don't get me wrong I love that my kids are always soaking up knowledge even when they are watching TV but sometimes it gets extreme. If you have a child with Asperger's Syndrome you know exactly what I am talking about.

So when I mentioned to Alyx that we could have the opportunity to review George Washington Carver His Life and His Work DVD from Marshall Publishing &Promotions, Inc. he was so excited. The first thing he said to me was "Did you know that he is most famous for his affiliation with the peanut?" I honestly had to answer "No". That was all about to change as we were blessed to be picked as one of the reviewers from the TOS Crew and our DVD was on its way. Alyx checked the mail everyday. I could not believe how excited he was about getting this DVD. The minute it came we popped it into the DVD player and watched it we did.

I am not a big fan of History myself and I am sad to say that I did not retain much from my days in school from long ago. That makes learning so much more fun in our house as I sometimes feel as if I am learning right along with my kids. Learning seems so much more enjoyable here at home than it did when I sat and listened to the teacher and we just did book work.

My kids and I are all visual learners. When presented with the opportunity for hands on learning and DVDs I jump at it as the information seems to sink in more and we all seem to remember more. This DVD presented itself in a way that walked you through George Washington Carver's life and work.

Check out what the publisher had to say:

Product Description

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER: His Life and His Work DVD

Born into slavery and reared during the Reconstruction years in the South, George Washington Carver struggled through poor health, poverty and prejudice…to become a great benefactor, not only to his people…but to his country as well. Carver is known in history books as the “peanut man” – for his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton. As one of the world’s foremost experts in agriculture and horticulture, Carver, through his research and teaching at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama practically reinvented land management in the South. He is said to have compiled a list of over 300 uses for and by-products of peanuts such as cosmetics, dyes and paints, plastics, gasoline and nitroglycerin.

But his work as a creative scientist stretches far beyond that endeavor. He marveled at the world around him and his ability to inspire those closely associated with him may well have been one of his greatest lifetime achievements. As a living example of the importance of hard work, a positive attitude and a good education, Carver was instrumental in changing the stereotype of the time that the black race was intellectually inferior to the white race.

Here then, is the story of Carver’s life…a life that should not be forgotten, for it is full of hope, meaning and inspiration. To commemorate his life and inventions, George Washington Carver Recognition Day is celebrated on January 5, the anniversary of Carver's death.

For anyone looking for an inspirational story, for historians, teachers and students, and for young and old alike this DVD featuring stunning photography and a superb original music score is certain to be watched again and again.
© 2009 Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. A Kaw Valley Films Production
KVFD-106 Length Approx: 30 Minutes ISBN 978-1-9636134-12-0 UPC 894190001868

I know that in our house this movie will be watched over and over again. The other great addition to this DVD is the Study Guide that can be printed off and used with the suggested ages of 4th grade through adult. We used this study guide and turned it into a lapbook unit study. My boys love lapbooks and you can take any topic and turn it into one which seems to happen quite often around here.

If you think your family would enjoy this DVD of George Washington Carver you can purchase it from Marshall Publishing for $19.95 but for a limited time enjoy 15% off with the code I was given to share TOSC1 enter it at checkout to get your discount.
Be sure to check out all of the products that Marshall Publishing has to offer including many other History DVDs and so much more like Fire Trucks, Jets and Planes, Animals and Rockets and Space.
Please also be sure to check out all of my fellow TOS Crewmates reviews on George Washington Carver and also Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips DVD.

Disclaimer

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Northstar Games Say Anything Family TOS Crew Review

2011-10-28T10:24:00.001-04:00

    If your family is anything like ours we LOVE Family Game Night!! As a perk of being part of the TOS Crew, we not only do we get the privilege of reviewing curriculum and learning products, but also fun games that are great for family game night.

    We had the pleasure of reviewing 2 games from Northstar Games recently one of which was a Silly, fun game called Say Anything Family. The other was more of a learning game although fun in it's own respect. You can read about Wits & Wagers Family on my post here.


    Say Anything Family, is a game that makes kids use their imagination and think sometimes outside of the box. This game is geared for ages 8 and up. my kids are 11 and 13 that played this with me and they laughed themselves silly while playing.

Everyone chooses a color Meeple to be, this game does not use actual Meeples it uses "coins" that represent the player and have a Meeple pictured on it. My kids were a little bummed that actually Meeples were not used. The chose to take the Meeples from our other game and use them sometimes. Back to the game, players pick their color that will represent them and then they get the corresponding wipe off board and a marker. Make sure you have tissues handy to act as an eraser. Then the Judge reads off a question, now in this game there are no "right" or "wrong" answers. Just what the player feels is their best opinion.

The Judge chooses the Question and then the players write their opinion on their card. After all answers are placed on the table or floor as in our case, the Judge spins the selector to see which answer is the "right" one. Then the Judge places the Selector on face down and the players then bet on the answer they think the judge has picked as the best answer. . They have 2 coins to bet so they can earn up to 3 points, 1 for each coin that is on the "right" answer. The third point is if they were the one that wrote the answer the judge chose. After all bets are placed the judge flips over the selector to reveals the winning answer. The judge has the ability to earn points as well, the judge scores a point for every coin that is on the selected answer, with the maximum points being 3 for all players including the judge. The goal of the game is to be the Judge and have the most points.

You definitely need the minimum of 3 people to play like the rules state. One person is the "judge" while the other 2+ players write their answers. With only 3 of us playing it was easy for the judge to beat the players but I think once we get Nick and Daddy involved it will be a little more of a competition.

The game itself contains 60 question cards with a total of 360 topics, 6 dry erase pens and 6 dry erase boards, 1 SELECT-O-MATIC-6000 which is a spinner used to determine player order, 12 player tokens, 1 dry erase score board, and 1 full color rules booklet.

Say Anything Family Edition Game retails for $19.99 and can be purchased from places like Amazon.com, Target and other retail stores. Those of us on the TOS Crew that were picked to review this were chosen just in time to be able to do some Christmas shopping. Please be sure to visit my fellow crew mates and see how much fun their families had with Say Anything Family Edition. I know this will be a game I will purchase for some friends of ours this Holiday Season. Who could you buy this for on your shopping list?

Be sure to check out all of the array of family friendly games available from Northstar Games.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Northstar Games Wits & Wagers Family TOS Crew Review

2011-10-25T22:38:00.002-04:00

School time can't always mean books and work, there is a ton of positives about homeschooling and the one of them that comes to mind is the ability to make learning as fun as possible. In our house that means making games an intrical part of our homeschool curriculum. I am always on the hunt to find great family friendly games that we can use in our homeschool and also for family game night.

Being a member of the TOS Crew has helped me in my venture to find wonderful games that I can incorporate into our learning time. This review opportunity was no exception. Now I know what you are thinking how can a game be a learning opportunity? Well I am about to show you why! I was asked as part of the Tos Crew to Review one of the greatt games from Northstar Games, Wits & Wagers Family.

Here is what Wits & Wagers Family is all about:
Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!

The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples-- fun, cute, human shaped wooden pieces that the players use to select which answers they think are correct. Meeples have been a hallmark in European style strategy games for years, but this is the first time they have made an appearance in a party game.

So check out Wits & Wagers Family, the game that combines laughter and learning in a way that all ages can enjoy together!

A Family Edition of the Most Award-Winning Party Game in History!

My boys have asked to play this game just about everyday since we received it in the mail. It was very fun to see them laugh at some of the answers and learn all at the same time. My husband even got into this game and if you knew him you would know that games are really not his thing.
It made my kids really second guess themselves and to try and really think about their answers the next time around. As we all laid our answers down and "bet" on each others answers it was fun to see them really go against their answers. Sometimes they would split their wager and sometimes they would lay it all on the line with one answer. We had a different winner each time we played so it is so not a game where you really have to know the answers. Guessing is half the fun.

This game is suggested ages 8 and up, my boys are 11,13 and almost 15 and all liked it. I would even think that younger kids could enjoy it as guessing is half the fun. So you would have to use your best judgement.

What I liked about it is all of the answers had fun facts to be told to go right along with them. So they were learning even though they were laughing themselves silly. Usually at their Dad's answers but we won't tell him that. My kids loved "betting" against each others answers and it was great to see them thinking it through when it was time to put their meeples down. The large meeple was worth 2 points and the little one was only worth one point. Another great positive about this game is that it uses wipe off board for the answers and the score boards so you are not using paper and then throwing it away. We are big into being "Green" in our family so this was a huge bonus with our family.

The one downside is you have to have at least 3 people to play so my 2 boys that I homeschool could never play without me or my husband during the day. The flipside of this is it just makes me take time out to play and have fun too. So it is a small negative.
Northstar Games makes some other great fun games one of them is Say Anything Family which we had the pleasure of reviewing too, so be sure to check out my thoughts on that game also. Make sure you check out the whole variety of games they offer. If you would like to pick up Wits & Wagers Family you can do so online or from a variety of retail stores.

Be sure to check out the opinions of my fellow TOS Crew mates and what their family's had to say about Wits & Wagers Family.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Long Overdue Update

2011-10-24T14:12:00.000-04:00

Although I have been doing reviews, Simple Woman's Daybook and Wordless Wednesday I have been lacking in the actually updating of our lives, I am excited to do another Blog 2 Book for my Mom and I come January and need to keep up on the actual journaling of our family life, because after all is said and done this is for my kids and family.
   School has been going well we have been blessed with new curriculum this year along with our My Father's World by being part of the TOS Crew. God sure knew what he was doing when he lead me to apply for this wonderful opportunity. Be sure to check out our reviews of all we have been blessed with so far.
In September Dave and I started up with our bowling league from church again, we look forward to every other Friday of fellowship, fun and a little healthy competition. We had to get new bowling balls, shoes and a bag due to the summer garage fire, and although I love shopping I was not eager to get these new things. It was a struggle getting used to the new balls and shoes and took a couple weeks of getting back in the groove.
In September I also started back up in my stamp club with my upline Sherrie. I love seeing the girls and getting creative.
The end of the month was also the yearly women's retreat held at our church on a Friday night and all day Saturday. I always leave feeling so refreshed.
The boys and my mom and I also went to see Dolphin Tale the movie. I highly recommend it to anyone especially families. We have also returned to our co-op Enrich for our 3rd year and I am teaching 2 classes, Sewing Crafts to 7-12 grade girls we are working on a patchwork purse and matching wallet in this first session. I am also teaching Creative Calendars to 1-3 graders and we are having so much fun making our calendars for next year.
Alyx and I and my Mom went to see Courageous the movie the day it came out and then Dave and I went again to see it with our good friends Gyda and Dave and also went to dinner with them. It was a great date night.
October has been busy as well with many exciting adventures. My Best friend Sue and I have started a Woman's Bible Study at our friend Dolores' house and we meet every other Thursday. It has been a great time of fellowship and enlightening of our spirits and feels so nice to be able to share our feelings without the fear of rejection or being looked down upon.
    On the 14th we started a jam packed weekend with the boys and my Mom and I seeing Disney on Ice in the morning and then Alyx and I going with a group of friends to see The Newsboys that evening. Then on Saturday Sue and I and some other of her friends went to an all day scrap fundraiser where we stamped the day away. It was a much needed day of relaxation.
My Mom and I have been enjoying some quality Mother/ Daughter time while being involved in a wonderful new Red Hat group. We have been blessed with some wonderful new friends.
That I believe brings us up to date and please enjoy the pictures from some of our events from the last 2 months.                                          NewsBoys Concert

Disney On Ice

Apologia's Educating the WholeHearted Child TOS Crew Review

2011-10-24T10:55:00.001-04:00

    As I talk with many homeschooling parents, either at our co-op or at Church or anywhere really. I find that parents homeschool for many different reasons. Most I find may be for more than one reason like us. We were faced for many years with our Special Needs kids not fairing well in the public school system and struggling with what to do about it. We often let others guide our decisions and we were not listening to what the Lord had in store for us. When we made the decision to finally jump the proverbial fence to homeschool it was because we had finally given our lives to Christ fully and we were letting him guide us and our family in what was right for us. There were many things that were simply not working for us in the public school system and one of them was not being able to have control over the spiritual side of our children's learning.
   Whatever your family's reasons for homeschooling are, if you are a Christian homeschooling family, you have come to the right place today for guidance as I was blessed with the opportunity to review Educating the WholeHearted Child from Apologia. I was given this wonderful opportunity because of my place on the TOS Crew.

      I know that we often struggle with educating all areas of our children's lives, and that does not always mean school work. I often find myself feeling overwhelmed with where to start and how to fit it all in. I will start by saying I am blessed to live in one of the states with very relaxed homeschooling laws and this helps give me the freedom to teach my children what I want to teach them. Also what I feel the Lord wants them to learn without the pressures to get certain busy work done. At the same time I often feel like there are just not enough hours in the day and how am I going to possibly get it all done.

One thing was for sure "school" does not need to take all day. Learning happens in life all around us.
When we first started homeschooling, I felt the need to structure our learning time just like the public schools and I struggled with what I felt was right when that just did not seem to be working for us. We still have a schedule but I have learned that it is OK to be a little more relaxed about it. Educating the WholeHearted Child helped me to know that I was doing a great job as long as it was right for our family.

   This book is a huge 400 page book at a full 8 1/2 x 11 size. Chock full of inspirational stories, Bible verses that relate to the material it is teaching. The book takes you through aspects of having a well rounded Christian family both in schooling and life. Section 1 is Home, then it is broken down into chapters throughout the section. I was a little overwhelmed when I saw the size of the book, but quickly learned that it is OK to skim through it the first time and then read chapter by chapter from then on. This book is so easy to navigate and is written by Clay and Sally Clarkson and tells it like it is and supposed to be by writing about their life's adventures in homeschooling. This makes it so much easier to relate with as it is real people telling their story in a friendly way. The topics in the section "Home" are: The Christian Home, The Christian Homeschool, Home Nurture, Home Discipleship, and Home Education.

   Reading just the first section seemed to life such a huge burden I had put on myself to be "perfect" in our homeschooling adventure. Next was Section 2 Learning, the chapters in this section focus on the WholeHearted Methods. The WH Learning Model, The WH Learning Home, The WH Learning Child, and THE WH Learning Youth. These chapters focused on what needs to be learned as a whole and how to break it down to teach it.

    Section 3 Methods: Discipleship Studies Methods which is mainly focusing on the study of the Bible.
Disciplined Studies Methods, showing how to study the basics. Then it moves onto Discussion Studies Methods, Discovery Studies Methods and lastly Discretionary Studies Methods which is The Study of Living.
God did not forget to include "school" in his biblical design for raising children&mdash:home education is a natural expression of all that God intended for parents and their children. Clay and Sally Clarkson's Educating the WholeHearted Child is about rediscovering God's original design for the family. What you'll find in this book is a homeschooling model that makes sense. It's an approach that is based on sound biblical principles of nurture, discipleship, instruction, and learning. Newly revised and significantly expanded, Educating the WholeHearted Child is about much more than homeschooling; it is about life. Effective Christian homeschooling must begin with the sure foundation of a Christian home, and the Clarksons' uncomplicated, common-sense approach to life and learning will provide you with the tools you need to experience God's abundant blessings for your family.

Here is a sample chapter for your enjoyment. You can also find the complete table of contents, be sure to check them out to see for yourself.

     What I love about his book is how it teaches the principals of the lessons for that chapter but always included how in their home this principal was put to use. This is what made it real for me and showed me that this truly works for real people like me. It is not just a text book but a true life application study. Section 4 really hit home for me and I think has helped me more than anything, the title of the last section is simply put, Living. This section focuses on Family, Structure, Order and Support. The book finishes off with a Postscript, this is The Challenge: Keeping Faith in the Family. The most profound statement that jumps out at me from this is "The true ideal of home is not defined by human experience but is found in God's design and in his word." Which leads me back to my one of my favorite Bible verses, ""With God, all things are possible", Matthew Chapter 19, Verse 26
With reading this book, Educating the WholeHearted Child I took with me this.

If you keep God in the center of your life, home and homeschool, then you will be doing it the right way. There is no true wrong or right way to do things as long as you are following the plan the Lord has laid out before you and your family. Follow him and all will be right.

   The very end of the book has Resources for The WholeHearted Family, such as books and also wonderful worksheets for you and your family. There are some other wonderful books by Apologia by the Clarkson Family featured on The WholeHeart Ministry. They also publish books under Whole Heart Press and WaterBrook Press as well. I am sure any book by the family will be a book to treasure. I know I will read Educating the WholeHearted Child over and over for many years to come to help keep me focused on this journey God has laid out for my family and I.

   If you are a veteran homeschooler or a family just starting this wonderful journey, I recommend this book to be the next book you add to your library, at only $22.00 this is a must have for you and your family. You can purchase it straight from the Apologia website. Be sure to check out their other wonderful books and Apologia Curriculum while you are there. Apologia Educational Ministries offers many resources for the homeschool family, from science, Geography and History, to language arts, to Bible Studies, to Homeschool Parent Helps. All are written from a Christian Worldview. They also have retreats for homeschool moms. You will not be disappointed when you turn to Apologia for homeschooling needs.

Please be sure to check out what my other Tos Crew mates have gained from reading Apologia: Educating the WholeHearted Child.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services

mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I

only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:

"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Mighty Macs Movie Review

2011-10-21T11:15:00.001-04:00

Lately I have been pleasantly surprised by the many family friendly movies popping into local theaters and The Mighty Macs is no exception. I know as a mom of teenage boys I often struggle with finding movie content that I feel comfortable with them viewing. Recently we went to the theater to see a movie and one of the previews was for the movie The Mighty Macs that starts today in theaters. I knew the minute I saw the preview that I wanted to see it with my family. I was so excited when I was offered the opportunity to preview it right in the comfort of our own home online.
So this week during school we watched the movie and let me tell you I was not disappointed in the least. The boys were a little skeptical at first as the movie, which is a true story centers the plot around a Catholic Girls College Basketball team. They however were quickly immersed into the storyline and did not give it another thought. I too became glued to our TV watching the movie. Not one of us moved throughout the entire movie. My 91 yr old Grandma equally enjoyed the movie. So needless to say we had a wide age range of thoughts and opinions to work with when the movie ended.

I find it refreshing to watch movies that overcome adversity and this film was just that. The movie tells the story of a girls Catholic College Basketball team from a struggling all girls school,Immaculata College (now University and convent that is just barely keeping the doors open. The girls are meant to play basketball merely as a form of exercise never intending to be a real team that plays to win. The new coach that is hired thinks otherwise and she teaches the girls all they need to know about Basketball and themselves and how they are all capable or dreaming and making their dreams come true. I especially like the end of True Movies when they update you on where those who were depicted in the movie ended up going with their lives.

Here is the synopsis of the movie and you can go here for a trailer of the movie. You can also check out the movie page on facebook or twitter.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

It's 1971. Cathy Rush is a woman ahead of her time ... and she's about to embark on an adventure for the ages. A new era is dawning in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.

In the lead up to this historical season, major universities are preparing their game plans to win that first title. Meanwhile a tiny all-women's Catholic college in Philadelphia has a more modest goal: find a coach before the season begins. Providentially, Cathy Rush is about to find Immaculata College.

Recently married, Cathy is dealing with the aftermath of a truncated playing career. While cultural norms would have her staying at home, she's willing to do the hard work necessary to help her new team reach their goals—or perhaps she's just trying to achieve her unfulfilled dreams through them.

From the beginning, her challenges are as imposing as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy learns there is no gymnasium on campus, she receives little support from the school's Mother Superior, and the school is in dire financial straits. To top it off, she may not even have enough players to field a team!

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, all hope is not lost. With the help of Sister Sunday—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Will this pioneer buck cultural norms and spur her rag-tag team to unexpected heights? Or will her hard-driving ways create a wedge between the coach and everyone around her? One thing's for certain: there's never been anyone like Cathy Rush at Immaculata!

Disclaimer: I was given the opportunity to preview this movie from Propeller and was not compensated in any way and the ability to preview the movie did not affect the outcome of my review or my personal opinions.

E-Mealz It's What's for Dinner!! TOS Crew Review

2011-10-21T10:31:00.002-04:00

It's 4 PM and you are dreading dinner time, Why? You have no idea what to make and nothing sounds good and you are tired of slaving over a hot stove only to find out your family isn't thrilled with what you have made. Why? It is one of the tired recipes you make once a week and everyone has Dinner Burnout Blues! What is a Mom to do?

   Well I am here to save the day, because I have a meal planning solution to share with you. This solution will end dinner time troubles and help with the grocery shopping too. Have I got your attention yet? I though so.
My family were give the distinct pleasure of reviewing E-Mealz as part of being on the TOS Crew. Now I know what you are thinking but what does meal planning have to do with homeschooling? Well to answer your question more than I ever though it did. Read on to find out how I not only busted our dinner time boredom, but how I also incorporated E-Mealz into our homeschool curriculum.

        For a long while now I have been at a loss for what to cook, I am not sure why, but it was getting boring at the dinner table around my house. Now I like to think I am a pretty good cook and many will agree with me unless they have been just trying to make me feel good. There just has been some creativity missing and I think it was partly do to the fact that I hated spending the time to make up a menu and then make the shopping list and then trudge to the grocery store, especially when my boys were both in tow.

One thing I know for sure is that any company endorsed by Dave Ramsey is something I want to at least try.

Dave Ramsey

Recommends E-Mealz
Food is the biggest budget buster of all. I’ve wanted someone to create a practical solution to the "beans and rice, rice and beans" dilemma. Finally... E-Mealz has done it! Now thousands of my listeners subscribe to E-mealz from MealtimeMakeover.com. You will save a ton of time and money. And at just $5.00 per month, E-Mealz is a no-brainer!

E-Mealz Core Belief and Ultimate Goal
The ultimate goal of E-Mealz and their core belief is reflected in their organization, Make Time For Family (maketimeforfamily.org), through which they are booked for speaking engagements and publish articles. Jane and Jenny have found that parents fall into two categories:

1) Those who did not grow up with family dinnertime and therefore don't have a vision for what it can be, or

2) Those who did grow up with family dinnertime, but since current lifestyles are so busy and fragmented, struggle to duplicate their childhood experience and pull it off for their own families.

Our goal through maketimeforfamily.org is to inspire women and men with a vision to do something transcendent in their family's life.

    When I first applied to review E-Mealz I was not super excited but figured, What do I have to lose? It surely cannot make meal time worse so it is sure to make it even the tiniest bit better. So when I was picked I was excited to dive right in and what better time to get access than a day when we needed to go grocery shopping anyway.

   Logging in and creating my account on the E-Mealz Website was a breeze so I became even more excited, hoping that the whole system was as easy to navigate. You know what? It was, the E-Mealz website allows you to preview different menu plans like, Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Carb, Vegetarian and Portion Control. There are also different options for the size of your family or what store you like to shop at. Such as 2 person meal plan or a Family Meal Plan which feeds 4-6. Stores like Kroger, Walmart and our personal favorite Aldi.
   You can preview the meal plans that you are interested in by clicking the link and it will show you the shopping list for that week and the menu with only a couple of the actual recipes showing. You then decide based on the samples which menu plan you would like to chose based on your family's eating habits and family size. Don't worry though, after signing up you may change your menu plan once during your cycle. I thought I would end up doing that but we picked Aldi and we have stuck with it through out our 3 month trial membership that we have gotten to use for our review.

    Once you have purchased your membership, which by the way only cost $15 for 3 months, which broken down is only $1.25 a week. Now I know some of you are probably thinking that this is not in the budget. Honestly I was thinking the same thing before I started but after using it the last couple of months I can not imagine not trying to crunch the numbers somewhere to make this work for my family. This plan has helped me out in so many ways that I do not know what I ever did with out it.

      Back to the set up process, now after you have picked your menu option you can log right in and you will be able to print out last week's menu and shopping list and the current week's one as well. For Aldi the new menu and list is posted every Tuesday and is always there when I get up to start my day, which is pretty early. So there is no waiting around until a certain time which eliminates some frustration right there.

   My house has some pretty picky eaters, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that 6 out of 7 recipes for the first week of our trial was something that sounding like everyone in my home would enjoy. Now there are certain things that some of my kids will eat so long as they do not know what all of their ingredients are, this was no different. I have just learned to omit certain ingredients from the verbal list when going through the recipes with the kids. We still make them according to the recipe but we have a don't ask don't tell policy in our kitchen and a What they don't know won't hurt them kind of thing going on when it comes to cooking. I am sure you have someone that is like that too. Just keeps dinner time more peaceful.

   So we printed out the menu and the shopping list, which is a life saver if you ask me. The prices are matched to the store you chose, unless you pick the any store option then the prices will be blank, they are organized by store departments and on the far left column is the meal numbers for each ingredient. Some ingredients are shared between 2 recipes this helps in the cost saving department. For instance a package of cheese, or bacon or certain vegetables or eggs. What I do is highlight the items on the list that we may already have to prevent the buying of duplicates to save extra money and there is also a pantry list on the bottom of staples you should always keep on hand, some I did not so I initially bought some extra items like some spices, cornstarch and croutons and such.

For our first week that one day that the recipe would not fit the taste buds of our family I substituted that day for our Dinner at Church on Wednesday and just rearranged what meals we would be eating on what days. Now to be honest there were a couple weeks where they were more than one recipe that did not mesh with our family but what E-Mealz did for me was inspired me to fill in the gaps with other recipes that I found on Pinterest or recipe websites, but it still seemed much more manageable to just add one or two recipes and some items to the shopping list than having to start with a blank canvas.

Now I will let you in on a secret, I do double most of my recipes as I have 6 people in my family with odd people thrown in for good measure on many occasions so we have 8 on a regular basis and many of them are growing teenage boys, my hopes were to originally cook enough so we would have left overs for lunch the next day. You know what? We almost never have left overs anymore because everyone loves every meal I have made and they beg for seconds and sometimes thirds. Even my 91 year old grandma who was eating like a bird was asking for seconds and cleaning her plate. She had been bored with our prior meals too and just was not speaking up. Good grief had it really been that bad? Yes I am ashamed to say it had. How could I have missed it, well if your lifestyle is anything like ours it is chaotic to say the least and I simply just did not prioritize my meal planning above anything else, we just throw our meals together often at the last minute.
Our first meal we made was Sausage Pie and it was delicious and looked great too. I think it is our favorite, and the kids especially love eating "pie" for dinner.

Our next favorite was Toasted Ham and Cheese on Garlic Bread

Bacon Mushroom Quiche

And last but certianly not least Stuffed Pasta Shells which we used Manicotti instead of shells but delicious nonetheless

    So I have told your how E-Mealz has saved our family at meal time, but remember how I said I incorporated it into our homeschool.

   Well the kids and I are studying economics this year and so even though at the bottom of my shopping list there is a total for the week's dinner time meals and remember I was doubling it. I did not let the kids see the amount, we went shopping together I sent them to fetch certain ingredients all the while they are double checking prices and matching them to what I told them they should be( my prices at my Aldi were slightly higher than the projected prices on my sheet, prices differ from area to area) and then they also had to double the amount that was written on my sheet so they were multiplying and adding. So this was part of our Math on shopping day. I also started to see them work as a team which is very important to me. Alyx helped Taylor reach things that were high up or lift heavy items. So then when we got to the register they each had to estimate what they thought our grocery total was going to be. The one closest without going over received a prize. Over the course of a few weeks they seem to get more accurate in their estimating. This was so great!
We also decided to head to our local produce store to save some extra money as well as use coupons at other stores if we could to save additional money, but the menu prices without deviating from your plan typical run $55 to $70 for a family of 4-6 people (this is without doubling).
      This has truly been a time and money saver for our family and I know we are going to continue with E-Mealz, How can we not? I love hearing my family's praises around the dinner table it has truly blessed my family's mealtime in more ways than one. All the boys now have a new found joy of cooking, where is before it was totally up to me and Alyx to come up with dinner. Meal time if truly now family time in every sense of the word.
   E-Mealz has come up with the ultimate gift for those hard to buy for families. Newlywed Couples, Family with a new Arrival, or just simply to help a famuily have wonderful dinner time experiences. E-Mealz printable gift certificates. What a blessing that would be for a family on your holiday gift list or simply just because.

    What is for dinner at your house?? If you don't know or are simply tired of all the work of preparing the weekly dinner menu, and creating the shopping list, then you go to http://www.e-mealz.com/ and subscribe today. Don't just take my word for it visit my fellow TOS Crew Mates and see what their families are saying about E-Mealz and Dinner time in their house.

Disclaimer: I was given a 3 month trial membership to E-Mealz in exchange for my review as part of the TOS Crew. I was not compensated in any way and was not paid for my review. Receiving the trial membership did not influence my review or my opinions in any way.

Scruble Cube TOS Crew Review

2011-10-12T08:46:00.001-04:00

   Around our house we love word games, Scrabble, Words With Friends, Boggle and Yahtzee. We also like playing around with the Rubik's Cube. So we were super excited to try out a new game that is both educational and fun that combine two of our favorites all wrapped into one cube. The Scruble Cube is a word puzzle game that combines the word challenges of scrabble and the fun puzzle challenges of the Rubik's Cube.
   Language is something my boys whom have Asperger's Syndrome both struggle with, so we are always trying to make it fun with games that incorporate spelling and language. Being a part of the TOS Crew we were given the opportunity to put the Scruble Cube to the test.

They were very anxious to get this in the mail and could not wait to rip it open and get started. First I needed to read the instructions which I have to say explained the game play and directions in both word format and some pictures. Which for me is wonderful as I am a very visual learner as are my kids.
So after looking over the way we word to use it and reading the tips about it sticking in some points because it is new we got to playing.

Here is how the Company describes Scruble Cube...

Scruble Cube
Scruble Cube takes some of the best known play patterns of some of the most popular word games and puzzles in history and combines them in a brand new, unique format to create the World's Greatest 3-D Word Game! "SCRUBLE Cube™ is a patent pending game with over 7.4 x 1045 (that's 7,401 septillion) possible configurations that anyone who can spell can play. Plus it comes in a highly portable format that can be played anywhere- anytime. Scruble Cube is a game AND a puzzle...on steroids!
Game set includes a 7cm cube with 96 individually rotating letters, a sand timer, scorepad and instructions.

The Scruble Cube has won many awards like Dr. Toy Winner Best New Product and Creative Child Magazine's 2010 Seal of Excellence and has been featured in many magazines and websites such as Celebrity Parents Magazine, Education News and Forbes.

There are so many ways you can use the Scruble Cube, in play and in learning. We used the lessons from the online Press Packet that allow Scruble Cube owners the opportunity to expand on the natural fun of the product.
These lessons teach Academic Skills

Mathematics Trial & Error

Spelling

Vowel Awareness

Word Building with Rimes

Math Facts

Research Skills

Mechanical Skills

Vocabulary Development Life Skills

Team Work

Sportsmanship/Competition

Problem Solving Skills

Listening Skills

Oral Communications

Strategic Thinking

Higher Level Thinking

We even used it to have races, like how many words can you make in a set amount of time. The boys really liked that, they are very competitive. This was a healthy output for that. I loved seeing them challenge themselves to find bigger and more meaningful words after they initially became acclimated to the Scruble Cube. The other fun thing with the Scruble Cube is not only finding long words but taking advantage of the bonus pegs like 2x Word Score. The other fun thing was that there was no Q or Z on the cube, but with using one of the two Wild Card pegs you could make a word with those letters. The boys really tried to make good use of all of the bonus pegs including the Wild Card Pegs.
We not only used this for Language Arts time during our school day but made it a fun part of our Family Game Time, it was fun to see who scored more points the kids or the grown ups. I am embarrassed to say the kids usually scored more points and believe me when I say they do not let us forget things like that.

The only negative I truly saw with this as it is not made to be rough and tumbled. In our house that is fine but these games are only brought out with adult supervision. Some games the boys have constant access too, so that when they need quiet time or are bored they can just grab one and start playing. Scruble Cube is not one of those games, we have added it to the ones that can only be played when we are there to over see what is going on. Boys are boys and can get a little hyper and get rowdy and I am not sure this could withstand that.
With that being said I would not let that deter me from purchasing Scruble Cube which sells for $24.95. I would just make sure to let the kids know that is not meant to be rough with and they should treat it with respect and only use it for it's intended purpose.
You can purchase your Scruble Cube for $24.95 here at their website http://www.scrublecube.com/. You can also after many hours of family fun purchase replacements labels for the Scruble Cube for $4.95 for a complete set. This is a wonderful asset in case your kids do get too rough or your Scruble Cube just after time shows much love and needs a makeover.

   As always do not just take my word for it please check out what my fellow TOS Crewmates are saying about the Scruble Cube

Disclaimer: I was given a Scruble Cube in exchange for my review as part of the TOS Crew. I was not compensated in anyway and it in no way influenced the outcome of my review.

Wordless Wednesday CEMETARY WALK

2011-10-05T11:30:00.000-04:00

I was a bonehead and forgot my camera and I always forget to use my phone to take pictures so thanks to my friend Lisa for letting me snag some photos so we had some sort of remembrance of this great learning fieldtrip.

Exciting News from TOS Magazine

2011-10-02T20:38:00.000-04:00

As you all know I am proud to be a part of The TOS Crew and I am so excited to share with you some new things coming to TOS Magazine.
Check out this video

Aletheia Writing Magazine TOS Crew Review

2011-09-30T08:30:00.006-04:00

Do your teens like to read? Do they struggle with wanting to read just for fun? Do they like to write their own stories? Would they be interested in reading stories written by teens from across the Country?
If you answered yes to any of these questions just like I did, then I have the product review just for you and your teens. As part of the TOS Crew I was once again offered the opportunity to review content from a Christian company. This time I was chosen to review and use Aletheia Writing Magazine with my boys.

My boys are good readers but often struggle with wanting to read, they often say things like "Why do I have to read it is so boring." Or "I don't like to read." Sometimes it becomes a battle of sorts for me to get them to sit down and read. When faced with the opportunity to review Aletheia Writing Magazine, I thought to myself, " What have I got to lose?" I was hesitant to say the least as I have tried just about everything to get them to read anything other than comic books or their Bible.
When the magazine arrived in the mail I personally did not think much about it but the kids noticed the Art work on the cover and Taylor said, "That looks cool can I see it?" So I handed it over to him and he immediately started reading. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, but tried very hard to hide my enthusiasm because if he noticed I feared he would catch on that I wanted him to read it and he would stop.
   He called to Alyx and they started reading it together, I bummed I did not get any pictures but that would have stopped this wondrous occasion immediately as they hate when I take pictures of them while they are focusing, it throws them off. So instead I just sat and watched this exchange of reading banter, the comments on the children's drawings and their stories. They did not move until they had read the whole magazine cover to cover. I was in shock.
What happened next nearly had me pass out, they wanted MORE... Seriously could this really be happening? So I went online because I had read in the letter that accompanied my package that we had the opportunity to view the Summer Edition online with a special code, so I looked it up on my laptop and away they went. I am still in awe at how this little magazine can have this much affect on my boys, but I am not going to question it. Now do they not only like to read, and want me to subscribe to the magazine, but they want to write and illustrate pictures and send them into the magazine like the kids they read the stories from.
   It is so awesome to see them get excited like this about something worthwhile. So the $26 Shipping and handling included is a bargain for this amount of enthusiasm.
OK enough of my blubbering on and on, here is what the company has to say about their magazine.

Aletheia Writing Magazine is a quarterly publication focusing on the literary and artistic works of Christian teens, ages 13 to 19*.
We are excited to offer Christian teens a healthy platform in which to express themselves, especially in a culture that so definitively shapes and saturates their worldview with unhealthy imagery and values.

Moreover, we're interested in publishing teen work in a quality manner while preserving its honesty and integrity- we're not interested in dumbing down or overly sanitizing the writing we receive.

But whether teens use their writing to explore the darker realities of life or celebrate the brighter ones, their writing, in the end, must contain hope. Hope is what differentiates Christians from the rest of the world. They have hope that Jesus is truly who He says He is, and that He has conquered sin and death and all of the darkness of this world and opened up the gates of Paradise for humanity. So, even amidst struggle or tragedy, the hope needs to shine through.

In addition to the literary and artistic expressions of Christian teens, each issue offers a variety of unique features: a Writer's Challenge, the Featured Contributor, a book review, Glory to God for the Beauty of Nature, Ancient Ink, and an interview or other feature for edification and enjoyment.

*Aletheia Writing Magazine is geared toward youth ages 13 to 19. Because contributors’ ages vary, the maturity level of situational content may likewise vary.

Now my boys that are reading the magazine are 12 and 13 and 15 and I was comfortable with that, although the recommended age is 13-19 you would have to use your best judgement on the maturity of your child . With that being said:
If your kids struggle with wanting to read or write or just love it already you have got to check out this magazine for them to read. It has changed the opinion of reading to such a positive response that I cannot wait for them to get their next issue. You will not be disappointed.
As always do not take my word for it check out the opinions of my fellow TOS Crew Mates

My kids and I received a print copy of this magazine and an online edition in exchange for my review as part of being on the TOS Crew. Receiving the free merchandise in no way influenced my opinion or the outcome of my review and I was not compensated in any other way.

Wordless Wednesday Game time Fun

2011-09-28T08:44:00.000-04:00

Simple Woman's Daybook Journal Entry for September 27th 2011

2011-09-27T12:15:00.000-04:00

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...The Sun is shining and it is a beatiful fall day

I am thinking...about a Red Hat Sister's Family after her very sudden passing at 66 yrs of age. They need all of our praers right now.

I am thankful...for the Doctors and Modern Medicine that they made me well after being very sick Saturday Night and Sunday with Strep throat and a bad sinus infection.

From the learning rooms...(if this applies)
The boy started a unit study on Dolphin Tale which we saw last Friday and they are also loving playing with our Scruble Cube and Tricross games we have been given to review from TOS Crew

In the kitchen...
Crockpot Beef Stew cooking and many, many loaves of Zucchini and Banana bread baking. We baked 9 loaves yesterday and today plan on 18 loaves of Zucchini and 9 loaves of banana

I am wearing...Jeans and a Stampin Up shirt

I am creating...this weeks project for my Calendar class I am teaching we will be finishing up February and hopefully finishing March and most of April this week.

I am going..to Enrich Thursday and the Funeral Friday and not a whole lot else. A quiet week at last.

I am wondering...when this weather is going to decide what it wants to do. One day we have the fireplace going in the morning and later the A/C and some days neither and some days just A/C no wonder my sinuses are going nutso

I am reading...2 books
1. Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Anderlin for a Woman's Bible Study that starts next Thursday.
2.Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay Clarkson with Sally Clarkson by Apologia Press (TOS CREW Review)

I am hoping...that we don't hear anymore bad news this week

I am looking forward to...going away for a (ME) weekend of stamping and fellowship in Ohio next weekend at my SU Uplines house

I am hearing...the kids laughing as they are playing their games, I never tire of the sound of my boys playing niceley

Around the house...starting to decorate for Fall Harvest time

I am pondering...what deep freezer to get to be able to store up some of this food we are making.

One of my favorite things...is Fall time and the fun activities it brings with it, like visiting the Apple Orchard, Trunk or Treating at church and many others things

A few plans for the rest of the week: Enrich, Funeral and that is about it

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...What we are cooking for dinner today

Games For Competitors TOS Crew Review

2011-09-26T10:52:00.002-04:00

Learning doesn't have to be all books and computers. In our homeschool we like to play games to learn too. That was why the kids and I were so excited to be chosen to review Tricross from Games For Competitors as part of the TOS Crew. Tricross is a wonderful educational game, here is what the company had to say about the educational values.

Why Tri-Cross in Education?
It’s easy to teach and play
Can be played in groups of 2-4 students
Encourages students to become problem solvers
Can be played independently without teacher supervision
Variations increase the challenge for different ability levels
Helps develop skills in the following areas:
•Logical Thinking
•Cause and Effect
•Predicting
•Interpreting Outcomes
•Abstract Thinking
•Memory (In Variations of Play)
•Visualization
Learn Tri-Cross
Games For Competitors is passionate about education and confident that Tri-Cross is the perfect game to reinforce classroom teachings. Let the gaming experts at GFC introduce the game and teach the rules to your students in an hour long teach-and-play demonstration. GFC will equip you with all the tools necessary to best incorporate the game into your classroom, no matter what the grade.
For more information, contact jburns@gamesforcompetitors.com

The boys are super competitive so games can get pretty intense around here. What I love most is when they get excited about games that take skills. Skills such as critical thinking, memory(in certain game modes), problem solving, and many others.
We were given the Eco-friendly travel sized version of the game, and as a surprise we also had the full game board version in our package when it arrived. The kids were super excited to receive both versions, one for on the go and one for our board game collection here at home. Tricross is a combination of checkers, chess and dominoes. I loved how my kids were planning out their moves ahead of time so they knew if they would get jumped on their opponents next turn. It was great to see them interact over this game all while learning key skills.

Tricross has won several awards including the Mom's Choice Award.

They also won Dr. Toy's Best Green Product of Eco-friendly version here is the info on how they strive to Be Green.

Eco-specs

In an ongoing commitment to creating a healthy and sustainable future, Games for Competitors minimizes their impact on the planet by introducing an eco-friendly version of Tri-Cross. The new version of the game stays true to the signature board style and scratch proof game pieces, yet, does so in an environmentally friendly way. Trading in the large cardboard box for a resource reducing, organic cotton drawstring bag, the organic cotton cloth board, printed with non-toxic soy-based inks, is easily folded to fit inside with the game pieces. Perfectly compact to fit on the shelf or to throw in your bag for on-the-go game play, Tri-Crosss’ eco-friendly board game sets the environmental benchmark for future game manufacturing.

To reinforce the importance of education and environmental initiatives, GFC pledges to donate 10% of each eco-friendly game sale to the Captain Planet Foundation. Through this partnership, GFC hopes children will be inspired to use the creative thinking and problem solving skills learned through Tri-Cross and apply them to real-world issues – thinking outside of the box to create a new environmental initiative, revolutionary product or community focused organization – to become the next generation of leaders.

You can see for yourself how to play this family friendly educational game by going here to watch a video tutorial. You can purchase Tricross for $19.95 for the Eco-friendly, $24.95 for the full version and $35.95 for the Wood Board Version.

We as a family loved Tricross but don't just take our word for it check out what my fellow crew mates had to say about their experience with Tricross.

I received Tricross games for free in exchange for my review and for being part of the TOS Crew from Games for Competitors. I was not compensated in any other way and receiving these games for free did not influence my opinion.

Before FIVE IN A ROW TOS Crew Review

2011-09-20T08:56:00.001-04:00

   Do you have a little one that wants to do "school" just like their older siblings? Do you struggle with activities you can do with your toddler to preschool age children? Do you want to give your 2-4 your old a jump start on their education without taking the fun out of being a small child?
   If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions then you have come to the right place as I have just the product for you. As a member of the TOS Crew I was given the book "Before FIVE IN A ROW" By Jane Claire Lambert to review and share with all of you.


" Before FIVE IN A ROW"

This important product includes 23 Five in a Row-style mini-units (plus an extra mini-unit) based on outstanding children’s books for ages 2-4 as well as a large section of learning readiness activities for your every day life: things to do in the kitchen, at the store, at bedtime,bath time, etc.
You’ll find an entire treasury of ideas to prepare children

for pre-learning necessary for their educational foundation. These ideas are wonderfully effective without robbing

your little ones of those special golden years of childhood. Those few brief years of early childhood can never be reclaimed later and many parents discover too late

that they pushed too hard and too early for advanced academic achievement.

You can’t go back and swing at the park, float paper

boats in the rain and do the myriad of play activities with your young children that help build the foundation for learning in a way that also encourages a flood of warm, young-childhood memories.
Before Five in a Row is passionate about teaching, but the teaching comes through the subtle forms of play that are intrinsic to early childhood. These lessons are the important pre-education lessons that will both build your child’s mind and fill your child’s heart while truly readying them for the deeper academic experience to come.
Before Five in a Row is the perfect introduction to the joys

of parent-directed learning in just a very few minutes each day— whenever the opportunity arises!

    In my opinion this book could take you through most if not all of your school year but focusing on one activity a week. Maybe take each lesson that is based on a book and then divide it into even smaller lessons by doing one "Subject" a day with your child like Bible, Art, or Science. What you are actually purchasing is the Parent Guide the Literature titles may be purchased separately or in a bundle pack, or you can check them out at your local library. I know for us we already had many of the titles in our home library, There were a couple that were hard to find and it would be helpful if the parent guide could be updated to reflect the out of print books, but even with this small inconvenience this is truly a great investment.
One of my favorite lessons was from a classic book.

  Let's take "Corduroy" for instance, I know this book is a favorite among all of my children and is a wonderful addition to any home library.
We still have our copy from when our boys were small and they are in their pre-teens and teens now.  This particular lesson touches on Bible, Manners, Homes and Habits, Animals, Science, Art with a project to go along with the story, Games, Numbers(Math), Story-telling, and Literature. So depending on your child's attention span and/or how much you want to focus on a "school" program with your little one this particular study could be divided into 10 daily lessons. So it would take you 2 school weeks based on your particular style. I know around here we only do 4 days of school because we have a day of co-op.

   "Before FIVE IN A ROW" can be a wonderful addition to your homeschool life as it can occupy your little ones while their older siblings get their much needed work done. This can also help your pre-schooler ready for school time by easing them into a work routine. Starting education early on is a great way to jump start them on good learning habits. You can work on attention span, and listening skills. Also by completing their "work" it helps to build self-esteem. They will be so proud to show Daddy the work they did in school today just like their older siblings.

   The second half of the book is titled "Parent's Treasury of Creative Ideas for Learning Readiness"
This section is wonderful for Fine and Gross Motor activities that can be used in your everyday home life all the while teaching your little ones. There are family games, activities to do in the Kitchen and even activities to do at the Store out in the community. Drama, Singing, Dancing and Finger Plays are just a few fun things to do. Many of these activities work on enforcing coordination and muscle development. The kids just know they are having a good time.


If you would like to check out "Before FIVE IN A ROW" for $35.00 or any of the other "FIVE IN A ROW" products then feel free to head over to Rainbow Resource Room the exclusive retailer of all "FIVE IN A ROW" Products.
Also be sure to check out what my other Crew Mates had to say about "Before FIVE IN A ROW".

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

Big IQ Kids TOS CREW REVIEW

2011-09-16T10:04:00.001-04:00

     This has been a busy first full week back to school and we have been busy working on our studies, and also reviewing some great products from The TOS Crew. Today I am here to tell you about another wonderful online program for your children. Big IQ Kids has graciously offered some of the crew members a one year premium membership for Math and States for 2 of our kids. The boys have been busy the last few weeks scoping out the site and getting the hang of things. I too have been poking around to see what I like and maybe some other things that I may not care for. So that I could bring you a thorough review.

Here is what Big IQ Kids has to say about their programming.

Big IQ Kids Programs

Spelling & Vocabulary: With a over 40,000 word dictionary, BigIQkids spelling & vocabulary program comes pre-loaded with 40 lessons for K-adult appropriate word lists. Or, as a parent or teacher, you can easily enter your own word lists and the program will automatically create a week’s worth of lessons, quizzes and tests around your own list with the goal of achieving 100% on the Friday spelling and vocabulary tests. The program includes tracking and progress reports. You can build your own curriculum or use our default settings. The program is completely customizable and goes around a student's progress.

Math: You can set up a child's lesson to mirror what they are doing in their current curriculum. For example, if the child is on double digit addition and single digit multiplication, the program can focus on just these two areas providing invaluable practice and reinforcement that is certain to provide them with the tools to ace their next test. Or, BigMathTime can automatically generate grade specific and subject specific lessons as per your requirements.

U.S. States: Every elementary student will be confronted with the need to know their US State facts to mastery. BigStatesTime is the ultimate tool in learning the state's location, capital, spelling, abbreviations and general state facts. The program allows parents/teachers to add additional facts which will be included in the child's lessons and the program culminates in a “State Mastery Exam” that, if passed with 100% mastery, awards the child a State Master Certificate.

The boys have been primarily using this program for Math and Spelling the last couple of weeks and a little bit of the States program too. You can customize the lessons for each session by logging into each child's account. Your values need to add up to 100% so for instance 10% of the problems will be 2x2 digit multiplication, and then maybe 20% of the problems will be triple digit addition, or division problems with remainders and such. The one thing I did not like about the customizing part is that there is not a separate login for the parent. You have to login to each child's account to set up the days work. You can set the amount of work they are required to do and/or change the difficulty level. I would have preferred a parent account and then you purchase each child's account through that parent login. This would have made it easier to keep track of the kids progress and had my kids clicked on anything I did not tell them to, they would have figured this out and probably tried to manipulate the program so they had easier or less work to do.

They are required to do a lesson a day in order to earn a game coin, which this was a great motivator for Taylor as he loves to play games. Some of the games are ones he has played on the Internet so he was familiar with how to play which is great since you can only use the coins you have earned. So if your child doesn't "get" the game he will lose out on the coin he earned. There are pros and cons to having the coin operated game system verses the time limit of other online programs that reward the student with game time for doing their work. With the coin version such as with Big IQ Kids they get to complete the game they are playing without having to worry about time running out. On the flip side game play goes much quicker and therefor the reward is not as fruitful at least in my opinion.

The Math program shows the kids visually if they got the problems wrong or right by placing an X or a thumbs up by the problem. The child will earn mastery when they complete all problems without error. If they do not complete with Mastery they will need to redo the same type of problems on their next session unless you bypass this by changing the levels yourself, hence how I said if the kids figured this out they could manipulate the system.

The States program helped them to memorize the placement of the states in our nation. Repetition works well with my kids so this was a great refresher after not working on some of this stuff for a while. I really liked the fact that there were many things the boys could do with the Premium version of the States programming. Such as multi-player fun facts game, interactive map with quizzes and also movies that taught commonly known facts about each state.

My favorite program is the Spelling program, I was impressed that their spelling included adult spelling lessons as well as SAT prep. This is a beneficial aspect of any school program. Teachers in public school settings can even set up their whole classroom and use their word lists from their curriculum. This is all a free program. I was impressed by this. What a wonderful asset to any classroom homeschool or not.
Every day the children are given a lesson with that week's spelling words, such as simply retyping the words for visual memorization to selected games like hangbot and crossword puzzles. This helped the children master their spelling tests in a fun and creative way.

   Another aspect I love the idea of although we have not tried it out yet is their E Books that can be downloaded right to your IPAD or computer they are 3.99 each. They do not read the story to your child your child actually has to read it and apparently comes with a digital bookmark to keep their place. We are leaning towards trying this out with Taylor he seems to like to read on our E Reader, such as a Kindle or Nook and I PAD or his IPOD Touch more than a book so maybe this is they key to getting him to read more of his own will.

There is so much to do on Big IQ Kids whether it is part of their Free or Premium programming you are bound to find something that will fit with your students I could go on and on all day long to tell you about it all, but you should just go check it out and see for yourself. All in all I give Big IQ Kids 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book. So don't delay check them out today.

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew I was given 2 Premium one year memberships from Big IQ Kids to try out and post a review. I was not compensated in anyway. I was simply given the memberships in exchange for my review. Although I did receive these memberships Free it did not influence the outcome of my review. All opinions are mine and should not be used solely to make your purchasing decisions. Please check out the other crew members' reviews too.

30 Day photo Challenge Day 11 SOMETHING BLUE

2011-09-14T15:28:00.001-04:00

The boys in a friends indoor pool

Wordless Wednesday Curriculum Add On

2011-09-14T14:14:00.003-04:00

TOS Crew Blog Hop "Not Back To School"

2011-09-14T11:47:00.001-04:00

I am sure by now you all know I was chosen as a new member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. This is a wonderful group of homeschool bloggers chosen by the TOS Magazine to review curriculum items and post them on the crew blog so that all homeschoolers can gain insight to products that would be fit for homeschooling and some for any family homeschooling or not.
Well this is the 2nd month of the TOS CREW Blog Hop and the theme for this Month is "Not Back To School". Even though it is hosted by the Crew any homeschooler can join us and meet some new blogging homeschool friends.
So here is my post for the Hop

Here is A day in the life of Fresh Start Academy Homeshool

We try very hard to run a smooth schedule for all of our sakes, it is flexible within certain limits but we try to finish by Noon everyday. We also will not be doing school on Thursdays come the end of September as that is when our Co-Op starts and we will be in classrooms all afternoon so we use the mornings to chill and do errands since that is also Daddy's payday. We also treat ourselves to a Lunch out on our way to Enrich, our Co-Op. We try to find some where new each week to eat at, now new to us necessarily but new in the fact we do not like to eat the same thing each week. We try to be adventurous.

The rest of our days are spent as such

Take my hubby to work at 6 AM which means leaving the house by 530 AM sometimes they throw a curve at us and he has to be there at 4 AM or 5 AM if this is the case I come home and go back to sleep for a bit, but on average he starts at 6 so I come home and get my computer time in facebook,blogging,online banking, or posting new reviews and or giveaways. Or I may read a book in peace and quiet until the house starts stirring.

My oldest son Nick gets up at 6:45 to get ready to head off to the Public School. He is in 10th grade at the High School this year.

Then at 7:20 I drive him to school since it is a little farther away than the Middle School.

By the time I return home the boys are up and working on their morning chores, sweeping the kitchen, making sure the dining room table is clear of anything that does not belong, vacuuming the living room and hallway. Making sure their bedroom is tidy, floor picked up, laundry in the hamper, and beds made. Also the bathroom gets a once over to make sure things are in their proper places, laundry, shower towels, and toiletries. They also take their medicine before the start of school. Breakfast is usually eaten in our School Room.

We start school usually at 8 AM

8 AM Bible and Prayer and our daily devotional.

830 AM Writing/Newspaper project

900 Social Studies

930 Math

1000 Lapbooking project

1030 Science

1100 Language Arts/Reading 15 minutes on a grammar lesson and 15 minutes silent reading

1130 Music/Art

Noon Lunch

The above times may be altered slightly depending on what we are working on that day. The boys also have 30 minutes of silent reading and 30 minutes of research on the computer each day that they can do at their leisure. Computer research is used to find information about an approved topic that they will be lapbooking about. A new topic will be picked every month at the beginning and it will be due at the end of that month.

We are also starting a School Newspaper this year and that will be a big part of our Writing and Language Arts studies.

After Lunch we leave to go do errands, pick up Daddy at work, pick up Nick at school and anything else that needs to be done like Dr Appts. and such. Then it is home for Nick to do his homework, Dinner to be started and family activities. Such as Youth Group/Church on Wednesdays and anything else that may come up. They also have time to socialize with their friends,in by 730PM then it is shower and bed time by 10 PM.

We do go to the Library every Monday and Enrich every Thursday. We try to do one field trip every other week either on Tuesdays or Wednesdays if possible. I try to make the field trips tie into our studies as much as possible.

So there you have it a Day in the Life of Fresh Start Academy Students

Time 4 Learning TOS CREW REVIEW

2011-09-14T10:12:00.001-04:00

Those of us TOS Crew members chosen to participate in this review were given a one month trial for review purposes for Time 4 Learning. This is an online based learning curriculum for preschool through 8th grade.
Here is the company's curriculum overview for all ages.

Time4Learning is an online education program for preschool through eighth grade that uses multimedia activities to teach standards-based curriculum. It is popular as a homeschool curriculum, afterschool tutorial, skill sharpener for test preparation and for summer study.

Grade levels can be set independent from one another for each subject. In addition, students will be able to access to at least 2 (and in most cases 3) grade levels of curriculum for each subject, so they can move ahead or review at their own pace.

The math and language arts lessons are correlated to state standards. Science, social studies and art are also provided as a bonus for most grades. If you are just learning about Time4Learning, we suggest also looking at our interactive lesson demos.

I tried out Time 4 Learning with my 7th and 8th graders, I do agree with the fact that it is a comprehensive curriculum study covering all main subjects such as Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. Also an Art program is available after the first month, although because of the way this is set up I was not able to review the Art program so I can not give a personal recommendation of that program. As the kids did their required lessons, they earned playground time to play games. Taylor is a video game player so this was a highly motivated aspect of the program. I noticed he focused more on his studies and trailed off less because he wanted to get to game time. Alyx on the other hand is not motivated by games like that so it did not change how he used his time to get his work done. The great thing is parents control how long their child has to work to earn game time, and then you also get to control how long of a time they get to play with the games. The default game time was 15 minutes and it did frustrate Taylor a bit that it ended him mid game, so I changed it to 30 minutes for him after the first day so as to not have another meltdown in subsequent sessions.

The boys had one complaint as older children and that was the characters that talked to them through out the program. At first they found them funny but after a while, Alyx got a little irritated. I think it all depends on your child and how they respond to this type of interaction. Taylor did not let the characters bother him simply because he wanted to get finished and play the games. Alyx kept pausing his program to complain.

From a parent's perspective I found navigating the parent side of the site a little confusing at first. Although once I began reading through the directions, a thing I tend to skip as I do better learning on my own, but in this case found I needed to do, and also searching the web for help, I found it to be a beneficial addition to my homeschool curriculum.
I absolutely saw major benefits to the fact that you can see progress reports on the lessons your children are completing to know what they are struggling with or excelling at.
They look like this :

I was also pleased to see Alyx helping Taylor out when he got stuck on something. They both thought it was neat to do a whole days worth of school on the computer and the laptop. While allowing me some free time to get some housework done and also finish organizing our classroom. I am not sure if I personally would use it for an everyday curriculum but that is just me and our homeschool. What may not work for us would work wonderfully for others especially if you have a wide range of ages and need some free time to teach some of the other kids. I am considering using maybe 1-2 days a week for a little variety in our homeschool week. You can check it out yourself with a demo.

Overall I was pleased with the educational value of the programming.
The pricing for a membership is as follows:
The monthly membership is $19.95 for the first child and $14.95 for each additional child, with nothing else to buy. Your billing cycle begins on the day of registration and members are billed every 30 days, until you contact us to cancel. When an account is cancelled, members will have access to the program until the end of their billing cycle.

Your membership would include the following:
Time4Learning includes the following:

•Online curriculum for grades Pre-K through 8th

•More than 1,000 interactive animated lessons

•Self paced lessons that kids will enjoy working on

•Math & algebra tutorials & printable worksheets

•Language arts, phonics & grammar lessons

•Interactive, project-based reading activities

•Science (grades 1st - 6th) & social studies (grades 2nd - 7th)

•Detailed reporting for easy record keeping

•Extensive lesson plans & teaching tools for parents

•and much more...

Time4Learning is web based, so there is no software to download, no CDs and nothing additional to purchase. Members can access the program 24/7 from anywhere with a computer and an internet connection.

If you would like to read other opinions of Time 4 Learning, head on over to the TOS CREW BLOG and read all the reviews.

DISCLAIMER: As part of the TOS CREW I was given a 30 day Free trial to Time 4 Learning in exchange for my review. By receiving this trial is aided me in giving an in depth review but in no way influenced the outcome of my review. All thought are my own personal feelings and should not be used for the sole purpose of deciding to purchase or not purchase said company's products. Please search out multiple point of views before making your final decision to purchase.
I was not compensated in another way.

Simple Woman's Daybook Journal Entry for September 13th 2011

2011-09-13T13:10:00.001-04:00

Join us in the Simple Life over at The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...Sunny and Mild temps this is the perfect weather

I am thinking...about all the new curriculum that is on its way or already here for review from the TOS Crew. I also have some other random things being delivered this week for us to use for school.

I am thankful...for good friends and an awesome family

From the learning rooms...(if this applies)Quiet learning. Alyx is on the laptop doing research for his paper and Taylor is doing his silent reading for a book report.

In the kitchen...the smell of dinner in the crockpot. Wild Rice and Chicken a new recipe found on a fellow bloggers post.

I am wearing...Jeans and a polo shirt

I am creating...a new chore system

I am going...out with friends tonight and book club tomorrow and Thursday night cooking class at church and then this weekend the Woman's escape at church Friday and Saturday and then on Sunday a coupon workshop with my meetup group. I am tired just thinking about it.

I am wondering...Why some people have to be self centered

I am reading...Managers of their homes

I am hoping...that this MS flare up passes quickly

I am looking forward to...The Women's Escape this weekend. It is always so inspiring.

I am hearing...K-love on my computer and Pawn stars on the Tv in the background that nobody is watching.

Around the house...All is clean and picked up and dinner is a cookin and today is a perfect day.

I am pondering...taking some classes at the local college

One of my favorite things...Is being able to teach my kids LIFE SKILLS along with all of the Regular learning stuff like Math and Reading and Writing.

A few plans for the rest of the week:BUSY, BUSY See above

Here is picture for thought I am sharing... My September Calendar.

30 Day photo Challenge Day 10 CHILDHOOD MEMORY

2011-09-13T10:57:00.000-04:00

My childhood memory I am sharing is Bowling at Shorecrest Lanes. I bowled there for many, many years as did all of my kids and this Summer it was torn down. So many places from my childhood in our city have closed this past year it is just sad.

30 Day photo Challenge Day 9 SOMEONE I LOVE

2011-09-12T09:36:00.000-04:00

I have been asked to post a photo of SOMEONE I LOVE but I love more than one someone so here is a picture of my 3 boys that I love with all my heart.

30 day photo challenge day 8 A BAD HABIT

2011-09-11T19:04:00.002-04:00

My bad habit is drinking pop. I have cut down on the amount I drink and we only buy pop for our house on weekends if the kids have company. I really need to cut it out completely but I just cant seem to break my bad habit.

30 day photo challenge Day 7 FRUIT

2011-09-11T19:01:00.001-04:00

We started our drlivery back up for door to door organics for the fall. This is the canteloupe we received in our box. This is one of my favorite fruits.

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