Eagle's Wings "Considering God's Creation"

A creative in-depth encounter with natural science from a biblical perspective. Adaptable for Second to Seventh Grade. A gigantic 272-page book plus Teacher's Manual with free audio CD! -from the website.
This is a quality, well laid out, easy to use science curriculum. It is written from a christian perspective. We used it to supplement our own science explorations but it could be a great stand alone science program. We found it informative without being overwhelming. My DD (3rd grade) personal favorites were the science detective pages and the cut outs, for instance, you can cut out a large skeleton with organs and put it together during the unit on Wonderfully Made. 
The book also contains games like crosswords, cut out board games, sketching opportunities and songs to aid memory. This product could be adapted to all teaching methods from classical to eclectic, and Charlotte Mason. We liked the black and white page layout too!
The book covers: Creation, The Universe, Weather, Rocks, Plants, Animals, Ecology, Human Anatomy and Physiology.
If you are looking for a ready to go science program that is basically complete. Here it is!

Considering God's Creation $29.95
P.O. Box 502
Duncan, OK 73534
Ph: 580.252.1555
Info@EaglesWingsEd.com

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Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Talking Fingers: Wordy Qwerty

Reading and Spelling Software for 2nd and 3rd Grade.

"The long-awaited sequel to the Read, Write & Type Learning System, Wordy Qwerty – Foundations for Reading and Writing Fluency, takes 7-9 year olds through the next steps of reading and writing fluency, and picks up where our award-winning software, the Read, Write &Type Learning System leaves off. After successfully completing Read, Write & Type!, most 6-7 year-olds are able to write any word they can say. But they may not spell them all correctly, because they need to know a bit more about spelling conventions and about how words are constructed in English. This is where Wordy Qwerty comes in. In 20 consecutive lessons, woven together with fun-to-play games and delightful songs that will stay in their heads. "-Taken from website

That is the description provided by the company. As a parent all I can say is that my 3rd grade DD really enjoys this program. She has been doing the Read, Write & Type program through her schooling so this was an enjoyable continuation to her. She likes the games and the stories that you write. It takes a child level by level to learn the spelling rules in game form. The program is self correcting in that, for example, your child is given a story to write. If she forgets she can click on a "mouth icon" that repeats what needs to be typed or reminds her of her finger positions. She controls the amount of hint she gets by clicking when she needs it. We liked this because some of the games we have played in the past kept repeating and repeating instructions and this was very annoying. My only hesitation is that while my daughter enjoys this program and it is very instructional, we find it hard to be consistent in getting on the computer to use the program. My suggestion would be if you are trying to teach typing this is a great program. I would put into your schooling schedule so that you can use it consistently.

The Six Steps to Reading and Writing Fluency with Wordy Qwerty.

THE HOME EDITION INCLUDES: $35

• 1 or more copies of the Wordy Qwerty program CD

• 1 in Home & Network Editions
• 2 in Single School Edition
• 6 in Lab Edition
• 25 in Site License
• 1 Wordy Qwerty Program Guide in a three-ring binder
• 1 JingleSpells audio CD of the 20 songs contained in Wordy Qwerty
• Talking Fingers, Inc.
  830 Rincon Way
  San Rafael, California 94903
  Phone: (415) 472-3103
  Toll Free: 1-800-674-9126
  eMail: contact@talkingfingers.com
  
  System Requirements:

Macintosh Hardware Requirements:

• Mac: OS9 with CarbonLib or OSX

Windows Hardware Requirements:

• Windows: 98, SE, 2000, XP

Also requires QuickTime 6 (included) or greater

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Kregel Publications "Circle C Beginnings, Andi's Fair Surprise"

 

Andi's Fair Surprise (Circle C Beginnings)

Author: Susan K. Marlow   Illustrated by: Leslie Gammelgaard

Price: $4.99
ISBN:  978-0-8254-4184-4
Format: Paperback
80 pages.
Kregel Publishing Company

1-800-733-2607

Exciting adventures for early readers! Written for reading levels 2.0–2.8, the Circle C Beginnings series combines fun illustrations and six-year-old Andi’s signature curiosity.
In book three, if Andi can’t take her new foal, Taffy, to the 1874 California State Fair, she doesn’t want to go. But once she’s there, there are so many exciting things to see that she’s glad she came . . . until her big brother tells her she can’t keep the prize she won fair and square!

Book 3 is one of a 4 part series detailing the adventures of Andrea Carter it is geared for readers age 6-8. As a bonus you can also access learning activities to add to your child's reading experience.

My DD really enjoyed reading this book. She liked the story and the surprise ending! The chapters were easy for her to tackle. She liked the font size. She also liked getting to do the worksheets which are available that correspond to each book. This would make a good gift for a young lady who enjoys animals like my daughter. Kregel Publishing has a long list of quality reading material and activities for all age groups.
Check out their website.

Save 30% on your order April 1 through August 31, 2011



Enter code HOME11 during checkout.

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Greek n' Stuff Latin Edition "Latin is not so Tough"

This is a very well researched, well laid out program. It is easy to follow and very adaptable. I used it with my 3rd and 5th grader. The first 2 lessons are a review of Book 1. Lesson 3 reviews diphthongs, Lesson 4 is consonants. The Lesson 5-17 introduces new vocabulary. I really enjoyed using the program. I suppose the major pros of Latin is not so Tough is that it really takes very little time to do, and it is relatively inexpensive. Also, one can work pretty much independently. There isn't much instruction required. I do feel that memorization and drill are needed for the vocabulary instruction. I think for our introduction into Latin it was a good fit because my children are young and I just wanted a small taste of it for them. It has peaked their interest and I think we will do great when we get into more serious Latin study. The only complaint is with myself. I really had a hard time using it consistently. With my 3rd grader we were concentrating on her multiplication tables. With my 5th grader we are working on geometry.

 So... the only suggestions I can make are more consistency from Mom.

The Greek n' Stuff  Company offers a complete line of six levels of Latin Instructional Texts and other language aids.

Latin Level 2 can be purchased individually: student workbook $18.95, Answer Key $4.00 (answers only), Pronunciation CD $10.00, short set $36.45 , complete set $51.40.

Level 2 focuses on a review of the Latin alphabet, diphthongs and special consonant sounds that are introduced in Level 2. The target for this level is early elementary (6-7 years). The key to success with this program is use of the flashcards. Tips for use of the flashcard are located in the back of the workbook.

http://www.greeknstuff.com/latin.html


Greek n Stuff
PO Box 882
Moline, IL 61226-0882
309-796-2707

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Writing Tales: Level 1 and Level 2

Checking out this product was a really great opportunity for our family. While I love reading and feel comfortable with discussing literature and encouraging the love of reading in our studies I have to admit I feel grammar is a dry subject. Writing Tales Level 1 and Level 2 really addressed this issue for us in a fun, interesting way.

My DD grade 3 reviewed Level One which is geared to grades 3rd-4th.
Student Workbook is $19.95 188 pages, TE $24.95 388 pages.
We enjoyed all of the stories that range from fables to fairy tales. For instance, my DD liked the Princess of the Pea the best! Of course she is really into princesses right now. I have to say I really like the font in these books. It is large and spaced well which really helps her with her reading.  Each story works on copy work, vocabulary, grammar and composition. This level was right on for my 3rd grader. Each story is divided into about 10 lessons which introduce the skills mentioned above and then these skills were reinforced in her composition and practice/review pages. The practice pages are nice in that there are usually up to 7 problems to work on. The Princess and the Pea also worked additionally on the skill of use of quotations. Each story reinforces and different grammar concept like; 4 rules of sentences, capitalization noun, etc. WE liked that all of the skills were addressed without overwhelming her or giving her so much work she stopped trying. This was a hit for Mom and DD!

 My DS and I reviewed Level Two which is geared to grades 4th-5th.
Student Workbook is $24.95 294 pages , TE is $32.95 472 pages. My DS is a strong reader. He likes to narrate but he hates to write and grammar is a weakness. So while the set up of this workbook is the same as described above we focused more on learning the rules of grammar such as Memorize: An adverb is a word that "decorates" a verb, adjective or another adverb, this is an example from Aesop's The Boy Who Cried Wolf.  In this chapter we also focused helping him develop his outlining skills and then use them in composition. Then rewrite the story using his practice lists of synonyms, so two skills introduced and reinforced in his composition. He wrote a rough draft, used the writing checklist to review his draft and then was able to complete a final draft in simple, easy stages that were very manageable while still widening his skills. I have to say in all honesty that my son does not get excited about school books but this has been a hit for us too.
30 Lessons-30 Weeks-15 Models Studied-30 Stories Written!  Check out their sample pages too!

Contact Info: Amy Olsen
 info@olsenbooks.com
http://www.writing-tales.com/

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Science Weekly Reader

Science Weekly Love it, Love it, Love it. This is the type of product our family really enjoys. It is adaptable to both my children grade 3 and 5, has pertinent science information presented in a way that my children do not think is "babyish" and it is packed with information, experiments and game like activities but not overwhelming to the kids to read. We examined Volume 27, No. 03 on the Flu. The newspaper/newsletter format has 6 levels Pre-A through E for grades K-6.
You can subscribe to issues that cover Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science and Technology. Some of the current issues cover pulleys, scuba diving, the science of movies, caves, teeth, green building, composting and many more...
There are even free interactive issues available on five different science subjects.

Science Weekly is an excellent supplementary instructional tool for parents to help their child enhance his/her higher-ordered skills in science‚ math‚ reading and writing.*


Order here with an individual subscription of 15 issues for 19.95 per student.

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Go Go Kabongo: An Online World for Brain Boosting Games for Reading

 I really appreciate the opportunity that GO GO Kabongo offered to my family as a member of the TOS crew. This program is geared toward ages 4-7 to help build pre-reading and reading cognitive skills. In other words their program is set up to help child develop the skills needed to become confident readers.
Kabongo games do not teach with “right” and “wrong” answers. Instead, they guide children toward better thinking by using exciting, engaging game design. Children use a wide variety of critical-thinking and problem-solving strategies to play and progress, including these essential skills for reading:

Attention and focus.
Working Memory.
Processing.
Successive processing.
Visualization.
Planning.
Comprehension.

Go Go Kabongo accomplishes this through engaging characters and three different habitats that your child visits and works on these skills in game form. Each habitat features three different games that teach skills that aid knowledge of the alphabet, focus, memory and comprehension. You receive a detailed report that tracks your child's progress through the habitats.
My daughter age 8, slightly behind in her reading skills, really liked the games and enjoyed earning prizes. I sat with her at the beginning levels and watched as she played. The game is very visually stimulating. After she played the games for a while she actually turned off the sound because she did not like the constant talking. A smaller child with less reading skills would find this helpful in my opinion. I liked getting the reports because, frankly many times I did not pick up on the educational factor of the game she was playing. After playing through the habitats she did lose interest in the games. Ultimately, I feel this is just a type of educational program you need to check out for your family. Kabongo makes this very helpful by offering a free trial. The website has informative information for parents. There is a section of printables and a parenting/informational blog.
If your children do enjoy learning by means of online educational games there is even a program designed for older children.

By email
support@kabongo.com

Kabongo offers a free trial of two habits and six free games to boost reading. That is a wonderful opportunity to see if the product is the right fit for your family.

GO GO KABONGO! gets 4 to 7 year olds geared up for reading by developing reading readiness skills.
Your child can start playing GOGO KABONGO! today for free--at no charge, with full access to Laughter Lake’s brain-boosting games and activities. You can expand the learning with two additional habitats – Galaxy Gardens and Twister Top which are $4.95 each. SPECIAL OFFER: SIGN UP NOW AND YOU GET THE GALAXY GARDENS HABITAT FREE! This offer is only available for a limited time.

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Zeezok Z-Guide "The Scarlet Pimpernel"

  Zeezok Publishing's Scarlet Pimpernel was a hit at our house! Zeezok Publishing’s Z-guide to The Scarlet Pimpernel is a great way to incorporate media into your study of the French Revolution. Or in other words with Zeezok guides you get to watch TV for school! How great is that!  We chose to examine the Scarlet Pimpernel because we just finished discussing the French Revolution in our studies. This made for a very enjoyable review. We found the movie (movie version is suggested in the guide) from our local library.
The Scarlet Pimpernel Z-guide is 31 pages that contain a topic overview, movie synopsis, and ten learning activities based on this fascinating film. Complete a chronology of the French Revolution, define some French vocabulary, summarize changes produced by the revolution, design your own rescue plan to assist the condemned prisoners, draw a Wanted! poster for the Scarlet Pimpernel, and discuss your personal view of civil disobedience based on Sir Percy’s actions. Probe the director’s mind with “The Filmmaker’s Art” activity, and engage the student’s siblings with the “For Family Discussion” section. A brief bibliography lists suggested resources for additional reading.
Our personal favorites were the Topic Overview that summarizes the events that led up to the French which was helpful for my DS.  Activities 1 Movie Review Questions, Activity 3 Major Events of the French Revolution, Activity 5 Fun with French, and Activity 8 which reviews Sir Percy's Rescue Plans were highlights for us. We did not really delve deeply into the subject of civil disobedience and preservation of innocent life but there is some very meaty material here that we will revisit, this guide is directed to high school age. We adapted it to our advanced 5th grader.
Zeezok produces a wide variety of Z-guides that cover key moments in history. Check out their most recent products to custom fit your history needs. The guide contains everything need to complete the study and can be covered at your pace. The movie can be obtained from the library or from Zeezok.
This particular guide would be appropriate for middle-high through school students. Z-guide The Scarlet Pimpernel is $12.99 and can be purchased as a CD or downloadable e-book here. Check out this great company and add their products to your homeschool, you will really be glad you did!

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Book Sneeze: How To Be God's Little Princess by Sheila Walsh

How to be God's Little Princess by Sheila Walsh
is a beautiful book. I really appreciated the heartfelt introduction by Sheila Walsh. A wonderful thought expressed "The best of news of all is that if you are God's princess you don't have to get it right all the time. Being God's princess, is not about being perfect, its about being perfectly loved."
It would make a wonderful gift for any young lady. My daughter and I have been enjoying reading it together. It has made for some very good heart-to-heart conversations.She has been enjoying the quizzes in each chapter (for example, "Maze of Phone Manners", "What is your Princess Friendship Style").
Even though I hate to see a book written in, Sigh!


The book has 12 chapters that cover how to be a princess not just on the outside
but also on the inside where it matters most to the One who can read the heart. Some thought provoking chapters are "How to Be Friends Princess Style", "How a Princess Sports a Good Attitude", and How a Princess Knows She Needs an Inner Beauty Makeover".There are tips for manners, etiquette and personal hygiene. The book is very matter of fact for example how a a princess controls her daily "glow". I also appreciated the old world skills address of how to set a table correctly and good table manners. Subjects that most young people in general don't get enough information about in today's fast food world. The books is beautifully made and appealing and presents serious information in a way that would appeal to any aspiring young princess!

The books is 127 pages of charm. Here is a link for obtaining your copy!

Product Details Format: Hardcover Trim Size: 4.90 x 7.90 x 0.60 Page Count: 144 Retail Price: $9.99 ISBN: 1400316448 ISBN-13: 9781400316441 Style#: 9781400316441 Carton Qty: 24 Publisher: Tommy Nelson

Big IQ kids: Helping Kids Become and Stay A+ Students

 The premise of BigIQkids.com is to provide unparalleled FREE educational applications. In doing so, we firmly believe that structured learning – everyday - coupled with interactive fun, is a winning combination that begets higher grades, happier kids and an overall appreciation for scholarship and success. Our methodology focuses on developing disciplined study habits within an intellectually stimulating environment rather than overwhelming a young learner with crammed facts and figures. copied from site.

BigIQkids helps your child build proficiency in the core elementary subjects spelling, math, vocabulary and United States program. There are also supplementary games/ebooks at their site.

This product is well put together. It has quality educational value. BigIQkids offers online learning/tutoring. I feel this type of learning has it place depending on your families needs. This is a great product if your children enjoy playing educational, online games. Unfortunately mine do not. My 5th grade son worked through each level but found the tutor avatar irritating. You cannot turn off the tutor and the tutor is very repetitive. As  parents we know that repetition and drill are important. These skills are used in all subjects addressed: spelling, vocabulary, math and US facts. My child was able to anticipate the next word or problem coming up and I found him just clicking through the instruction to get to the problems. I did not like that aspect of the program. I did like that I received progress reports to let me know how my son was doing in each of the subjects. My best recommendation would be to check out their free options and if your child likes it subscribe.

 BigIQkids can be used as a free or premium product. The product is geared for children grades 1-6 and can be purchased for $19.99 a month.

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Artistic Pursuits Book 2 "Color and Composition"

 The ARTistic Pursuits approach to teaching art is a welcome departure from typical art instruction books. This award winning homeschool art program meets the specific needs of homeschoolers at home. A variety of fun art lessons teach both the expressive and technical aspects of art while allowing children to make choices about what and how they will draw, paint, and sculpt. copied from site.

I was thrilled for the opportunity to review this product. ARTistic Pursuits has a wonderful reputation in the homeschooling community. I  have always wanted to take an art history class and art class. Due to my lack of knowledge in art I have shied away from adding this to our curriculum. With ARTistic Pursuits I had art history and appreciation and techniques clearly introduced and explained in each lesson.  Materials needed are listed in the beginning of the book. Because this book focuses on drawing we used watercolor pencils purchased at our local craft store. All of the materials were easy to obtain locally but you can order kits from the company.
This became a family art class! This book contains 16 units. Each unit starts with an introduction to a famous work of art that showcases the technique covered in that unit.  Some of our favorites parts besides, learning to draw, were the historical tidbits about what was happening during the time the artist was creating the work showcased. We also liked the "try it" suggests such as picture a scene from your favorite story now try to draw scene and create a background.
This book is laid out to be covered in 32 weeks with 2 classes per week. We did not follow that schedule but used it as a supplement to our studies and as a way to incorporate family time away from the TV. This was enjoyed by my DS grade 5, and my DD  grade 3.
I would definitely recommend this book as a history supplement for American history, art class, or to give direction to any student who wants to learn about art. The company offers wide array of art programs from preschool-high school. Awesome program!

Book 2 Grades 4-6 Color and Composition $42.95.

Media Introduced: Colored Pencils, Watercolor Pencils using a Brush (a painting medium), collage and mobile using construction paper
Contents: 1. Color Wheel 2. Primary Colors 3. Secondary Colors 4. Intermediate Colors 5. Tinting and Shading 6. Neutral Colors 7. Values of Colors 8. Direction and Movement 9. Rhythm 10. Front and Back Point of View 11. High Point of View 12. Low Point of View 13. Buildings 14. Figure 15. Face 16. Interiors

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Kids Scoop's Reluctant Reader Solution!

 Kid's Scoop is a great find! I reviewed this product with my 3rd grade daughter. She loves to read but has been a slow starter. For one thing she always enjoyed being read to more that working at it herself. That is why I think is a great product.  I love, in particular, the fact that your local newspaper paper is a means for encouraging your child to read.
We also signed up for the 30 awesome activities to make reading fun and so everyday since then we have been given a newspaper activity like...

Pack up for Adventure
Pretend you have been asked to go on an adventure. Your mission is to explore a new place and you will be away for a month. Look through the newspaper for things you would like to take with you. Make a list of the things you will pack - they must all be found in the newspaper!  Every day you get another idea to start off a reading adventure.

The other feature we have been enjoying are the Kid scoop newspaper and activity sheets that encourage reading through articles, stories and activities like the true story of Owen and Mzee a turtle and hippo, germ patrol, beauty of flight and the amazing Maya. These are truly factual newspapers for kids. For example, with germ patrol there is a chart to monitor your hand washing, a science lesson on how germs make us sick. In the Mayan article there is an article on Mayan Math and you learn to write Mayan numbers.

"It's pretty simple, actually, but too few programs do it well: find ways to make your child's "work" feel more like play. No child ever passes up an opportunity to play, do they?
So when you give your child or students reading material that is fun, engaging, and liberates their curiosity for the world around them, you are opening up the doors to a lifetime of happy reading."

That statement from the website really sums up the program. My daughter enjoyed the activities because they were games to her. I wished I had this program when both my children were learning to read because it incorporates science, math, history, games, current events and much, much more in a complete program.

I would also check out the website because there are several sample editions and ideas to incorporate reading in daily activities. We thought the "Work out and Get Rewards"  incentive was outstanding! There is also a weekly storybook online that has a new chapter added each week. There are online games and much, more! Check out the free newsletter. This is an all around hit!

This program is appropriate for children learning to read to those of any age that need remedial help. The complete program is $97.00 paid through Paypal.

Contact Kid Scoop by phone: 707-996-6077 or e-mail at thescoop@kidscoop.com
http://www.kidscoop.com/reluctantreadersolution/howtouse/


Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

TOS Schoolhouse Curiosity Files: MRSA

Explorations With Professor Ana Lyze—Expert in Outlandish Oddities A FUN unit study for kids ages 8–13

The TOS team has been adding to their repertoire of quality learning materials. They have developed another series of unit studies.  The series titles are: Zombie Fire Ants, Quicksand, Red Tides, Blue Diamond, Blue-Footed Booby, Cicada-Killing Wasp, Dung Beetle, MRSA and Puffer Fish. We were given the opportunity to review the MRSA file.

Our family really enjoys unit studies because we can adapt them to the needs of each student. My son, grade 5, chose to do this particular study because of his interest in medical topics. While the unit study contains arts and crafts that was not his focus. He enjoyed reading and learning about MRSA and following the links to additional information. He enjoyed particularly the word searches, hand writing copy work and spelling opportunities because that is an area that we are focusing on this year in his schoolwork.

 As a parent, I appreciate that you can incorporate grammar, writing, vocabulary, spelling, science activities and crafts into one study. These unit studies are designed to be made into a lap book or notebook activity.  My son chose the note booking option. The graphics are a mix of pictures and text. There are a total of 94 pages in this unit. The first 11 pages are an introduction and discussion of MRSA.  Then you are presented with a comprehensive glossary and a 23 question review of the material. This unit study is packed full of activities. It can be adapted from elementary to high school levels with the variety and depth of material presented. It can also be adapted to different learning styles such as auditory (there are music activities!), visual, and kinetic. My son chose to focus his attention on the section "Being A Medical Researcher". There are also probably 25 links to additional information about MRSA that he is still following up on.

Look what’s included in this unit:
Bible study, discussion ideas, and memory verses
Math, history, and geography investigations
Literature and suggested book list
Writing, spelling, and vocabulary activities
Beautiful copywork pages (manuscript and cursive)
Science observations, projects, and experiments
Discussion questions
Art, crafts, and drawing and coloring pages
Lapbook/notebook pages and helpful lapbooking links
Special needs, hands-on discoveries
Internet resource and video links
Complete answer key

This unit study was a definite hit in our house. Check it out for yours:
Two options: the CD is only $49; or downloadable E-Books $46. You can also download sample pages of each unit study. Each unit is individually priced at $9.95.

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Dig-It Games:Roman Town Premier Archaeology Game

WINNER OF DR TOY'S BEST VACATION PRODUCTS AWARD

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL PARENTING CENTER'S 2010 SEAL OF APPROVAL

Dig-It Games recently gave TOS crew an opportunity to explore their down loadable game Roman Town.
This interactive, educational game targets 5th to 8th graders, but can be played by kids from 8 to 88! The game is suitable for the entire family all age groups. There is no violence.
Our family downloaded the game onto our Windows based family computer. We did not have any trouble downloading the game and with our high speed connection it downloaded in a timely manner.
My 3rd grader and my 5th grader each played their own game. The game has 6 levels. You, the player, are an archaeologist invited to help excavate Fossura a Roman town destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius.
The game begins with, you the player, answering an ad for an archaeologist to help dig outside of Naples in Fossura. When you arrive you organize and manage your diggers by placing them on the site (shown above) choosing tools to use and analyzing artifacts as you find them.  Found artifacts are taken to the lab where you learn correct terms for findings such as amphora, mosaic and brazier. Next you take a review/quiz on the facts you learned on that level, you complete a report and then move on to the next level totaling 6 (you excavate six rooms in a Roman house) and completion.
As a family we generally do not play games on the computer. My children did enjoy this game. It was a learning experience for my daughter in particular because she is studying Greek/Roman history right now. They enjoyed the mini activities such as reconstructing mosaics. One irritation for my daughter was that she got stuck on one of the reports and could not move on until she completed it correctly. I finally had to come in and do that report so that she could move forward in the game.
I would recommend this game if you do have a child who generally likes computer games. I would recommend this game if you are studying Greek and Roman history because it is a very good simulation of a dig and so would give helpful insights into how history is found. You can also get a feel for how some of the activities are completed by checking the online arcade section. This was definitely a hit!

"Who were Romans? How did they live and what did they do? What did they eat and how did they play?"

The game can be purchased here for 39.95 or here is a limited SPECIAL opportunity:
TOS  readers: coupon code TOS2011 which gets them 20% off the 2010 price of
$24.95. The code expires Feb 21, 2011

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Speekee Spanish "The World's Number 1 Spanish Course for Young Children"

Speekee Spanish is a well developed TV show from the United Kingdom. Three different versions of the program are available to the public. Our family enjoyed the opportunity to explore the online version of 10 episodes. The product is geared toward children ages 2-10.

"Speekee uses what's known as a 'spiral learning' approach, in which new language is presented and then revised when the next set of language comes up. With this methodology the child does not lose contact with what he/she has learned before, the learning being both structured and gradual. Therefore, we suggest each episode is viewed in sequence: 1, 2, 3 etc..." 

Our family found the episodes interesting and informative. We visited: the market, the park, a home, school and many more sites. The episodes last from 13-18 minutes long. We downloaded the program so that my children could access it easily without needing to log on each time. After the first time through the series my children watched random episodes.
There is a catchy introduction and repeated Spanish phrases throughout each program. And while this is a very quality program and a great introduction to the Spanish language my two students, 3rd and 5th grades, thought the program was "babyish", but they did learn Spanish phrases which they have been practicing with some bilingual friends! Which is the point!

You can subscribe to Speekee Spanish through this link. The US subscription is $7.95 a month and the first two weeks are free. So I would definitely recommend trying out the trial offer.

Here are 10 reasons why Speekee is chosen by parents:

-    Great fun and extremely effective
-    Created by specialist linguists and musicians
-    Accelerated learning methodology for natural success
-    100% in Spanish (English and Spanish subtitles available)
-    Simple presentation style
-    Lively, engaging characters
-    Real Spanish children in real Spanish locations
-    Concise, essential Spanish vocabulary, with lots of repetition
-    Catchy songs

 I felt the product meets all of those claims. The price is reasonable and I would recommend that you try it out to see if it fits your families learning needs. I would recommend contacting the company via their website, but you can also subscribe through Twitter and Facebook. A newsletter is available from the site also.

• tel: 01422 820263
• fax: 0871 714 2336
• email: customer.service@speekee.co.uk
• Lingua4 Ltd
• Swift Cross Farm
• Ripponden
• Sowerby Bridge
• HX6 4LQ
• United Kingdom

 

Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Building Thinking Skills Level 2

As a homeschooling parent I always worry am I covering the "bases" am I missing anything? How will my children perform in a testing situation? How do I keep learning alive and interesting without degenerating into just handing them a workbook?  Because of this I am always looking for resources that will help in this areas and still be interesting to my children.
As a member of Timberdoodle's Review team I was given the opportunity to check out the Critical Thinking  Company's Building Thinking Skills Level 2 activity book. This is a mammoth book with 409 pages of exercises and explanations. The book is divided into 10 chapters:
1. Describing Shapes.
2. Figural similarities and Differences.
3. Figural Sequences.
4. Figural Classifications.
5. Figural Analogies.
6. Describing Things.
7. Verbal Similarities and Differences.
8. Verbal Sequences.
9.Verbal Classifications.
10. Verbal Analogies.
Answer guide with explanations for above 409 pages Whew!

I chose my daughter to help me with this review.  She is just beginning to study geometry in her math lessons and is having trouble with spatial reasoning. Translated she does not "get" combining of shapes and rotating of shapes. So we are working in particular on chapter 3. We are also working on her writing skills so we are also doing exercises in chapter 6. I approaching this text as a supplement to our current course work. It would also be appropriate as complete course of study.

An example of an exercise in chapter 3 on sequence of figures is my daughter is presented with 3 boxes. Each is rotated in a different way. She is asked to circle the figure that best continues the sequence. Let me just say my daughter is determined and the chapter has 20 pages and she will probably need all 20 pages. Sigh.

On a positive note, Chapter 6 on describing things asks that my daughter describe dolphin. She wrote:   A dolphin is a mammal. It lives in the ocean in groups called pods. It talks in squeaks...
The answer keys gives a suggested description to help you analyze how you might coach your child as their writing skills progress.

My daughter is in the 3rd grade and enjoys doing workbook pages. The actual grade level is for 4-6. But I have found this a very adaptable book. She likes it and that is what counts as a resource for me in the end. I mentioned that we are picking and choosing our skills but again this would be solid option for assessing your child's critical thinking skills.

The Critical Thinking Company's Building Thinking Skills Level 2
$29.99
Authors: Sandra Parks, Howard Black
Pages: 408
Activities: 1,374
Black & White: Yes
Binding: Paperback
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 978-1-60144-150-8
Publisher: The Critical Thinking Co
Printed In: USA
Consumable: Yes
Reproducible: Yes, for one home or classroom


Timberdoodle Co
http://www.timberdoodle.com/

800-478-0672

Disclosure: As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

Editor In Chief B2 a great resource!

Recently Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team allowed my family the opportunity to review Critical Thinking Company's Editor In Chief B2. This is a resource that helps boost your child's editing skills and helps them learn how to correct errors in grammar, mechanics and content in short stories and letters. I was excited to check this out for my 5th grader since grammar is not one of his favorite subjects. I have to say I was happy to have a resource that would make covering this subject fun. I can present grammar instruction but I do not make it fun. Translation "stale crackers."
Editor in Chief B2 is an 86 page book with black and white drawings and text. There are 33 exercises in the forms of letters, stories, poems and other writing genres which contain grammar errors.  The editor in chief (student) is responsible to find the errors. Each exercise has from 9-13 errors which are clearly stated for each exercise so your child knows how many to find.
For the teacher the answer key clearly identified the needed corrections with the explanation as to why the grammar correction is needed. I presented the book as seat work for him to do while I worked with my other student. I let him pick the stories that caught his attention and while we have not started from the beginning of the book it does not take away from the grammar instruction.
My son tackled the exercises with enthusiasm. He found the articles interesting and the challenge of finding the mistakes "fun". He loves to read and this challenged him to pay attention to the readings and to look for mistakes.
Notice an example of one of his "editorial corrections" from an article about an eclipse. The sentence is "I've seen five in a row now, and this one is the better because I didn't have to travel.... The error is the word better. It should be best, a superlative adjective, and for those of those us who are saying huh? There is discussion guide that explains in this case, comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs.
It has been a great success as a supplement but would definitely make a good addition to your grammar program as a stand alone product. Timberdoodle has a wide variety of products to build thinking skills in a fun way.
The Critical Thinking Co.
Editor In Chief B2 $16.99
Pages: 86
Lessons:33
Binding: Paperback
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 9780894557200
Publisher: The Critical Thinking Co.
Size: 11.4" x 8.5"

Timberdoodle Co.
800-478-0672

http://www.timberdoodle.com/


Disclosure: As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

Easy Classical History "Explorers to 1820" Schedule

"The framework of these schedules is structured around the recommendations of Susan Wise Bauerʼs book The Well-Trained Mind: a Guide to Classical Education at Home. Read this book for an excellent foundation on which to base your childʼs schooling. It will also clarify how to use the sheets and helps that we have provided in your packet."

I have to say that after reading that introduction I was very interested in checking out this history schedule for the Grammar Stage: History from the Explorers to 1820. The Well-Trained Mind is my favorite homeschooling book, I re-read parts of it every year at the beginning of each new stage of learning. Easy Classical offers homeschool help by organizing, in this case, a 36 week history schedule that allows you to follow the classic model when teaching history.

"All the hard work is done for you. We have researched classical curriculum choices, integrated subjects, and tested the schedules for ease of use. Easy Classical schedules break a full year of education down into specific, daily assignments that are adaptable to fit all styles of learning. You will cover everything simply by following the schedule..."

I reviewed the Digital Version which is 106 pages of easy to read scheduling for a 5 day (M-F) school week. Each day's assignment is clearly outlined and easy to follow. The curriculum list is very clearly laid out and available for purchase. I would imagine that several of the main texts are already on your bookshelf if you follow the classical model.  I found that most of the read-alouds listed were available from my local library. The weeks are broken up by subjects: Explorers, 13 Colonies, Colonial America, Road to Independence and Revolution. The digital format can be printed and put into a binder. There are art, music, geography, and narration activities. The schedule can be adapted to your child's learning style. I really enjoy history studied in chronological order I have found that it makes history more understandable. You would find this schedule very helpful if you are wanting to tweek your history lessons, teach in an more organized fashion or you find that you just don't have time to make a schedule like this yourself. It is truly print and go.


Notebook Version: $35.95
Digital Version: $29.95


Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Math Facts Now

Math Facts NOW!" is a simple yet very effective program that will identify weak areas in your child's knowledge of the times tables and basic facts of math, and drill in those specific areas, automatically giving increased drills in those areas.
That is the introduction that the company provides to this downloadable product. I agree that the product meets those claims. But as anyone with a child that needs to learn their math facts will testify there is "many a slip between the cup and the lip." My 3rd grader willing started each math lesson and she enjoyed it for about 5 minutes. She did not like having to type in (twice) her wrong answer showing the correct answer. And she did not have the patience to get to the minimum of 50 points to complete the lesson.This is the way the program works:  daughter answers 8x3=27. This is incorrect. So she has to retype the complete math sentence 2 times in a row before she can continue to the next problem. This is very reasonable to me as a Mom, but very irritating to my daughter. I did not like that the lesson was not "saved" so that she could add to her previous points as she continued the lesson. It always began at 0 points though she did continue with the same set of preset up math tables i.e. 5 and 3 multiplication facts.

The program is very user friendly and easy to install and run. As a parent I did feel that it met the claims and that it does have useful components. This is just one product that I liked but my daughter did not. She is still learning her math facts in multiplication and at the beginning of that learning curve. She also only has rudimentary typing skills so typing in her answers also added to the learning curve.   My son in the 5th grade is past this stage in his math experience and did not use the product.

In the conclusion, if you want to add another tool into your family's learning of math facts this product would definitely be worth looking into. The company also offers a free trial. But in our family we will just stick to good ole flash cards.

Math Facts Now
Ages- K - 6

Download - $15.95
CD - $15.95 plus $3.95 S&H

2871 Shenandoah Shores Road
Front Royal,VA 22630


http://www.mathfactsnow.com/



Any products reviewed by me as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew have been given to me free of charge in order for me to provide you with an honest review of the product and/or how I used the product within my family. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.