Review: Motherboard Books

Technology is an integral part of life in our family. We have computers, Kindles, iPods, and smartphones. The internet stays at our fingertips most of the time, except of course recently when I couldn't even get a cell signal out in the boonies. When given the opportunity to review computer instruction for kids that would result in a webpage, I jumped on the chance! The review today will be about the Let's Make a Webpage e-book by Motherboard Books.

Description

This 60 page e-book teaches your child how to create a web-page in a simplistic manner. Using a free trial software, students learn how to create their own web page project from the ground up. It is written for someone with no prior experience and relies heavily on the software for the specifics such as html and coding.

Routine

This was a very easy review. After downloading the software, I simply needed to print the e-book, place in a binder, and hand it to my girls. They worked together to walk through the process. I needed to offer very little support as they are both technologically minded and not afraid to jump into something new!

Good to Know

1. The e-book is 60 pages and written for 8-12 year olds. (However, depending on your child, this could be completed by those younger or older depending on technology experience.)
2. You can purchase the book for $19.95 online and download straight to your computer.
3. You will need to download Coffee Cup, a webpage editor to create a lesson project. The program that they use to complete it is simply a free trial so future projects could be difficult to complete. 

My Thoughts

This project was a fun starting point for webpage design. It allowed the girls to create something and share online with family. Creating and publishing was fun for them. My only concern from a teacher's standpoint is that they are taught using a particular free trial software. If unable to keep permanently, I cannot assign future projects in which they use the same procedure. Check out other reviews from my blogging buddies by clicking the link below!

Review: Math Mammoth

Math is a subject that can be daunting for homeschooling parents, especially if they are not confidant in the subject. We worry that we will not be able to teach the more difficult concepts in a way that is lasting and effective! I have talked with several parents who desire to homeschool but explain that though they aren't worried about other subjects, Math is a large worry. Today, I am going to share a Math program that takes out some of that worry: Math Mammoth. This company offers many great options for Math instruction like full programs or just single subject books that can support your child with a certain mathematical topic. As this review was towards the end of the school year, I chose books from the Blue Series.that would deepen their understanding of a topic or offer review.

Description

The Blue Series, written by Maria Miller, are Math books that focus on topic rather than grade. All worksheets are taken from the Light Blue series that is a full curriculum and organized in a natural progression. Each lesson is presented in a simplistic and easy to understand format. After reading the instruction at the top of the page, the student then completes the practice to immediately put that knowledge to use. There are no looping problems as each problem relates to what has just been taught. However, the topics build on one another in a systematic fashion.

Routine

I chose two topics for each of my girls. Nat used Early Geometry and Multiplication. Em used Geometry 2 and Statistics. For the most part, each girl completed their pages independently. They completed one lesson a day in each book. As the problems weren't exhaustive (meaning they weren't exhausted by the time they completed a lesson!) it was not difficult for them to complete two.I did offer some support; however, the instruction was easy to understand and implement! 

Good to Know

1.  Here are the specifics on the books that I used with my girls. As you can see, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

• Early Geometry- Grades 1-3, 119 pages, $2.75
• Geometry 2- Grades 6-7, 105 pages, $5.80
• Multiplication-  Grades 2-3, 102 pages, $5.00
• Statistics and Probability- Grades 5-7, 101 pages, $5.30

2.  They can be used as a supplement to a current program, as remediation for a particular topic, or a review. You can even use them to create a full curriculum; however, a better option is to purchase the full curriculum version to take the guess work out of progression and planning.

3.  Follow this link to find a complete list of the books available in the Blue series. It might be just what you were looking for!

4.  All books come with answer keys that are located in the back of the books.

5.  If you have annotated tools on your iPad or computer, the PDF files come with the option of completing the problems on your method of technology rather than printing the pages out. I did not have this option so I would print out 10 lessons at a time and file in their binders to complete.

6.  Still have questions about this program? Visit the Math Mammoth website to sign up for a virtual tour that will also provide you with 300 free worksheets and samples! This will give you a personal look at what this company offers and how it can take some of the tears out of Math time!

My Thoughts

I would highly recommend these Math books in your homeschool or even for those children that attend school but struggle with a particular topic! The instruction is simple and the practice just enough to  bring your child confidence. Also, be sure to visit my review friends to see what they thought of Math Mammoth!

 

Review: See the Light Art Projects

Hello, friends! Do you integrate Art into your homeschool? I will be sharing a great program that is founded on Biblical precepts and created with your child in mind! Today I will be sharing about See the Light: Art Projects with Pat Knepley; more specifically, I will be describing the Poppy Collage DVD.

Description:

In her art series, Pat Knepley focuses on artistic styles of famous artists. She then walks through a 4 lesson process that will guide your student in creating a project that resembles that style. For the Poppy Collage lesson, she focuses on art history (realism, abstraction, Georgia O'Keeffe) , art elements (color, space, shape) , and art principles (color gradation, warm colors, balance). This lesson teaches how to use colored art tissue paper to create an abstract flower in a beautiful display.

Her four lessons range from 17-22 minutes and provide a systematic process of learning and completing a goal. But before you think that the DVD is technical and boring, let me assure you that Pat Knepley teaches in such a way that maintains your interest and provides excitement! In fact, you can see video samples by visiting the See the Light webpage! Go ahead and explore the website! There are great goodies there to find. 

Routine

We completed the DVD in one day. Once my girls got going they didn't want to stop! The video portion took about an hour and a half. However, the art project did take quite a bit longer. My girls LOVE art so they like to take their time and get things just right. I know that they will use this video and technique in the future again as it was so enjoyable for them both.

Good to Know

1. This DVD is recommended for ages 10 and up. However, my *almost* 9 year old loves art and had no problems.
2. You can purchase the DVD for $14.99 online and they even have the option to pay through Paypal, which is a great option in my opinion.
3. Though my girls completed the lessons in one day, you could easily spread them out and watch one lesson a day with the fifth day being a completion day. This would make the lesson last a full week.
4. You will need to purchase supplies to complete the artwork but full supply lists are provided for each project before you purchase! This makes it easy to choose what will be feasible to do for your family. 
5. There are other many other Art projects available as well cartooning lessons and Bible Stories DVD's available. There are sure to be options perfect for your kiddos. 

My Thoughts

This is definitely a great curriculum to integrate into your homeschool that will teach Art history, elements and principles in a fun way! Each project is one that your child has the means to accomplish! I enjoyed Pat Knepley's teaching as well as the excitement my girls had as they entered Art time. It was more than crayons and paper, though these have their place. I will definitely be looking to this curriculum for our future Art needs.

Have a great day everyone and be sure to check out what others have to say about this Art program!

Review: Simplified Pantry

Hello, friends! It has been like crickets around here lately! It is amazing how time has been flying by and we have been keeping the roads hot. But, that is for another post. Today, I have the pleasure of another Product Review that I think you will find of particular interest. If you are anything like me, sometimes I feel that I am drowning in papers! I am a list person who has been skipping the list because I don't want to lose another paper. The problem is that my brain is not always as accurate as I would like, especially when you add in all of my husband's lists and calendar dates. My mind often feels as if I am going under! I was very excited to be given the opportunity to review Paperless Home Organization by Simplified Pantry. It has proven to be an fantastic resource that is helping Mom (aka. Mrs. Remember Everything) keep up with life.

Description

Paperless Home Organization is an E-book that teaches the reader how to use electronic tools already at your disposal to streamline your productivity. Utilizing free online tools, Mystie Winckler teaches you a step-by-step approach to getting all of your information into one place: documents, to-do lists, homeschool portfolios, calendar, etc. This is not a book full of useless information but a guide to using 3-4 programs that will change the way you look at organizing. She also provides clear instructions and even pictures to help the reader fully understand the process. 

Routine

The e-book is an easy read and very informative. It will get you excited about trying new programs and tricks. One thing to remember is that this is a process and one that has to be approached with patience. But, once you have trained yourself to get into a routine, this procedure is very effective. I am more of an evening person, so I seek to update my programs in the evening and preferably at the beginning of the week to prepare for the next week if any updates are needed.

Good to Know

1. Here are a few things you can organize with the system: appointments, special days, to-do lists, emails, contacts, files, receipts, checklists, book lists, PDF files, and more.
2. You can purchase and download the e-book as a PDF file or for your Kindle here for $3.99.
3. The author is running an awesome special for you! You will receive 30% off ANY ebook through June 3rd! Just enter the promotional code: TOS2013 at checkout!
4. There are also two other e-books available for purchase: Simplified Dinners (a great way to gain new ideas for easy and delicious meals) as well as Simplified Dinners Gluten and Dairy Free (for those with specific nutritional needs). 

My Thoughts

Mystie Winckler at Simplified Pantry has done a wonderful job at creating a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to paperless organization. She breaks it down in such a way that the mountains of paper feel conquerable. This book may be just what you need to crawl out of the paper pile and into productivity. Be sure to follow the link below to read how other Review members used this resource as well as the Simplified Dinner e-books!

Review: Home School in the Woods

Hello, friends! I want to share with you a resource company that uses the popular method of lap booking to teach history! If you have never heard of lap books, I encourage you to check out this resource. It is a great way to get your child involved and active in their learning. The review today will focus on The 20th Century in America Lap-Pack by Home School in the Woods.

Description

Home School in the Woods Publishing has created a detailed and thorough process for studying the 20th Century in America. It highlights some of the most important moments of this century as well as the fads and even styles of the time. I received the following in the download:

• Introduction and Directions so that you feel confident in how to create and assemble the lapbook. This is especially helpful if you have never used them before.
• LapBook Project Masters which are the printable pieces for each activity. There are 22 activities included that range from topics of the conflicts, music, famous people, medical advancements, transportation and much more.
• Reading Text Passages that are available in formats to either place in a binder or even print as a book whichever you would prefer. I printed mine to place in a binder. Also included is a list of books and resources that you can use to further your study on the topics.

Routine

I had my sixth grade daughter complete the lap pack for her daily history instruction. She would study the selected reading and then complete the activity that corresponded to it. There were a few days she completed two sections depending on the length. She filed each activity in a file until she was ready to put the pieces all together to create the finished lap book. I was very relieved to find extensive directions with pictures as this was quite a lap book once completed! 

Good to Know

1. This lapbook is suggested for grades 3-8.
2. The downloadable version is available for $21.95 while the CD version is $22.95.
3. I would definitely recommend obtaining the additional resources suggested as each topic is discussed in a shortened form. To build background and give students a better understanding, I would say that a bit more reading is necessary.
4. What I loved about this company was how thorough the instructions were. As we had never created a lapbook so extensive, I felt confident after reading the directions. They were detailed for each activity and then for the creation of the finished product. Your student's lapbook will look like the awesome pack below!

Our Thoughts

I label this section "Our Thoughts" as I wanted to include my daughter's opinion as well. In our opinion, this project gave activities that would allow her to transfer her what she has learned into a cut and paste activity and result in a finished project. However, we felt the reading was not quite complete enough. She often came to me to ask more questions about the reading and I needed to fill in the gaps or find resources that could do so. However, it is a great jumping off point for you to direct your child's instruction using the suggested resources. It is a fantastic method to bring a bit of excitement into what could be a very boring subject for some.

The best part of this learning method is that your child finishes the unit with a book to keep for future review or pleasure. The Lap Packs would be perfect to include in portfolios and learning files. It is also a fun way to share with family and friends what your child is learning. I was not the only one to review this great product. Be sure to click the banner below to read how other families used this curriculum in their homes.

Review: Math Rider

Hello, friends!  Lately, I have had so many wonderful resources to share with you and today is no exception. Games are one of my favorite methods for mastery recall. How do you keep a child excited about practicing the same math facts until they master them? Through a game! My latest review is a Math game that will keep your students excited about those pesky Math facts. Today, I want to share with you Math Rider: The Intelligent Math Facts Game.

Description

Math Rider is a program that allows your student to practice their Math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) in an exciting format. It is based in a land of fantasy in which your child is on a mission and must ride their trusty horse to see it through! By completing Math facts, they are able to earn rewards and advance through their missions.

The fascinating part of this program is that it records your child's answers in an internal memory to track their progress. It will then create personalized practice for your child based on their needs. This will help the child progress from those facts that have been mastered to those that the child really needs to work on.

Routine

My girls were able to use the Math Rider program 3-4 times a week after their regular Math curriculum. This became a great way to encourage completion of their work as they were eager to "play." Each girl had their own account, so they were able to focus on their own personalized problems to complete the challenges. My girls go crazy about anything to do with horses so it was a perfect fit!

Good to Know

1. Math Rider is designed for ages 6 to 12. Grades 2nd through 6th are recommended but keep in mind the abilities of your child. 
2. There is instant correction or reinforcement given when each problem is answered. This ensures that a student understands if they answered a problem correctly. Also, the student has to only focus on answering the problems and the game does the rest. This helps your child focus on the Math without worrying about controls.
3. Math Rider is a download to your computer so you do not need the internet to play the game, only for initial download and registration.
4. Records are supplied to the parent so that you can keep track of how they are progressing.
5. You can register up to 8 children on one license, prefect for homeschooling families to use again and again!
6. The game is $47 and is instantly downloaded from their site. You can even try a full featured trial version for 7 days by clicking over to their website!

My Thoughts

This game is a new favorite in our home. The girls are excited to play and work through their challenges, all while practicing their Math facts! I am also pleased that I will be able to use this program in the future with my youngest daughter. Math facts in a fun way: that is definitely a way to Learn It for Keeps. Have a fantastic day everyone!

Review: Progeny Press

Hello, friends! Today I am going to share with you another literature resource for your Middle Schooler: a literature guide for the book Eagle of the Ninth by Progeny Press.

Description

Progeny Press was started by a couple who were searching for literature guides that were written from a Christian worldview yet based upon classic literature. Frustrated by the lack of resources available, Michael and Rebecca Gilleland began to create their own. Twenty years later, there are over 100 different study guides available to benefit Christian homeschool families everywhere. The study guides are available in several different options: printed booklets, as PDF files on a CD-ROM or can be downloaded directly from their website after purchase.  

Each study guide begins with a synopsis of the book, pre-reading activities as well as a brief description of the author. They then progress through the chapters guiding the student through vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, and discussion questions that allow the student to apply what they have learned through a Biblical perspective. Their goal is for the student to comprehend, analyze story elements, and apply the knowledge.

Our Routine

For this review, I allowed my daughter to read the descriptions and choose a title she thought would be interesting. She chose Eagle of the Ninth and I admit that even though I have ready many books, this book was foreign to me. Upon receiving the study guide, we eagerly went down to the library to get the book. There was a single copy in the Adult literature section. After I perused the book a bit, I gave it to Em. To be honest, she struggled with this piece of literature. Reading through the first few chapters, she became frustrated with the terms used and historical context to which she was not familiar. Enter the Progeny Press study guide. The interactive PDF file of the study guide gave her something to look forward to and eased the transition from her pleasure reading as of late to an in-depth study of literature. There is quite a difference! 

Good to Know

1. Students will need a few resources to assist them throughout the study guides. These items are: a thesaurus, a dictionary and a Bible. (NIV is used within the study guides.)
2. Though study guides are available in print, I would highly recommend the interactive PDFs. The student is allowed to answer the questions directly into the computer. This saves paper, increases interest, and allows the student to focus more on literature than writing.
3. Study guides are available for first grade through twelfth grade. I have linked the available resources  by grade level so you can peruse the many study guides available for your homeschool students. Lower Elementary (1-3), Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle Grades (5-8), and High School (9-12).
4. The Eagle of the Ninth study guide is available for $16.99.

My Thoughts

This was a very challenging review for Em and me. The problem was not the excellent resource by Progeny Press but rather the book selection itself. However, Progeny Press is a great way to teach the deeper aspects of literature. Prereading resources are listed to help give your student prior knowledge to build upon. My goal is to to use some of these resources and then do this study again. Also, a list of optional activities like essays or projects are available with the study guide and even additional materials that would further the discussion. It is a great resource and one that I am looking forward to using in the future, perhaps when my young reader is a bit more prepared to tackle this classic work.

Review: Knowledge Quest

Hello, friends! Reading has to be one of my first true loves. Honestly, I wear glasses today because I would hide under my covers with a tiny flashlight to read "just one more chapter." (As if I could ever stop with just one!) I have been so excited to see my children follow in my footsteps as they have adopted their own love of reading but they have often gravitated towards modern novels. I jumped at the chance to offer my eldest daughter a chance to read a historical novel about someone she is already interested in. Let me tell you a bit about Knowledge Quest and our opportunity to read their interactive e-book Sacagawea.

Description

Sacagawea is an interactive e-book written by Karla Akins. Within its 112 pages, it immerses your young reader in the life of the well-known Sacagawea after she helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Recommended for ages 10 and up, this book gives an in-depth look at the trying, frightening and courageous life of this brave historical figure. (Be aware that the book does record spousal abuse and alcoholism in a non-graphic manner.)  There is adventure, struggle, loss and victories. The book is fast paced and takes the reader for an emotional ride that leaves them feeling as if they have gotten a rare, intimate view into Sacagwea's life as she relayed her personal story to her son: Pompey.

Good to Know

1. The book can be purchased in four episodes or can be downloaded in its entirety for $3.99 on Amazon as a PDF e-book.
2. It is a downloadable book that is interactive. This means that throughout the book, there are links that offer more information. If an uncommon word is listed or even an Indian term used, the word will be highlighted in blue. When your child clicks on the word, they are taken to another website to see pictures and descriptions of the word. If within the story, the characters are tanning hides, you are able to click and find the steps to tanning hides. If a particular animal is listed, the reader is able to click on the word and a picture as well as description is available. This made it enjoyable for my daughter as she didn't have to guess what a particular Indian term meant or have to ask me about unfamiliar words. This is one of my favorite features!

My Daughter's Thoughts

When I first assigned the book to my daughter, I did not realize that she would disappear for the rest of the day. She literally devoured this e-book and emerged from her room with an excited step. She handed the Kindle back to me and exclaimed, "That was awesome!" Since my goal was to get my daughter excited about historical fiction, I can gladly say that my mission was accomplished all thanks to Knowledge Quest and this fantastic historical fiction novel.

April Favorite and Giveaway: My Memories Suite

Hi, friends! As busy as this past month has been, I have been filling up my camera with family pictures and holiday moments. But, if you are anything like me, you never seem to get the pictures printed. They accumulate on the SD card until you have 1,200 unprinted memories that you can no longer afford to print all at one time. Even worse, you don't know which ones you want to print and display because you like them all!

This is where my April favorite steps in and saves the day! Introducing the  My Memories Software, a digital scrapbooking software.

This software allows you to easily import your pictures to create a scrapbook, movie, slideshow, calendar, you name it! I was so excited to download my software and dive in!

After the online download, I was very impressed with the easy to use interface. You can create presentations from scratch or use pre-existing templates based on a theme or look. I chose to create a presentation with my latest Easter pictures. A design template was already available with 6 different decorated slides. It  included places to insert my pictures and some of the cutest design elements that matched my Easter theme. Take a peek at a few of my pages:

Are these not the cutest?! It took minutes to insert the pictures and even add my lettering! I also moved some of my elements around a bit and added a bit of my own. This scrapbooking software is super easy to use and they offer the cutest packages to add the WOW factor to your pages. There is a certain amount freely given in your package but more scrapbooking kits are available on their site for very reasonable prices! 

Here are some of the highlights of this program:

• Easy to Use Interface
• Beautiful background papers and embellishments
• Ready to use Photo layouts or you can create your own!
• Insert text and Word Art quickly
• Insert videos and multimedia
• Insert music and narration
• Share albums by printing from home or send to My Memories to be professionally printed and bound into a photo album
• Share with others by creating slideshows with music and narration, create movies that can be played on your DVD player, create Ipod ready movies and interactive albums.
• Online tutorials are available on Youtube to ensure that you are getting the best out of your software!

To celebrate my April favorite, one lucky winner will be receiving the My Memory Suite FREE by signing into the rafflecopter below! There are many ways to earn entries and I wish you the best of luck!

Don't want to wait to purchase this great program? You can use my code below to receive $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value! Just type in STMMMS38656 at checkout! When you use this code, you will receive a discount and I will receive commission from your purchase.

Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Review: Adventus Piano Software

If you are around me for very long, you will find that music plays a huge part of my life. I have been singing in front of crowds since I was old enough to stand on my own, and piano lessons began early as I watched my Mom play away almost every day. I have had lessons and learned to play much by ear; however, it is my husband who is the real prodigy. He can play almost anything he hears. When I say anything, I mean anything!

This musical gene has passed down to my girls and I am happy to say that I see their musical skills beginning to develop and their playing by ear is becoming keen. However, we don't want them to only play be ear; we would like to see them excel in sight reading and musical theory as well. So, I was so excited to get the opportunity to review an interactive computer software called MusIQ Homeschool by Adventus.

Description:

Adventus is the developer and publisher of piano software for both homeschools and schoolrooms. I was given the opportunity to review the homeschool curriculum and let me say, one post could never do it justice. There is so much to this program! It is a comprehensive software that is downloaded onto your computer. You will need a keyboard with MIDI capabilities and an adapter to connect your keyboard to the computer. This will allow your child to actually interact with the program. Here are the program options that can be chosen:

• Children's Music Journey- this software is available in three different versions that increases in difficulty for each year. This is best for ages 4-10. Each level offers 25-35 lessons by great musicians and composers such as Bach and Beethoven. It includes games, theory practice, printables and interaction in order to make learning the piano fun!
• Piano Suite-  this software is around 4 years of instruction and would be best for ages 10 and up. It includes five skill levels and three different learning methods. 500 pieces of music are available in the library and ranges from classical to more recent hits. It offers narrated lessons on music theory, notation, sight reading, and playing.
• Ear Training Coach- It is suggested to begin using this curriculum during the second year of the Piano Suite. It offers thousands of activities to enhance aural perception and sight reading ability.
• MusIQ Challenger Game- a strategy game for advanced music theory.

Routine:

I wish that I could say that I had a steady routine with this program; however, my children are musical prodigies and computer fanatics. Marry the two together and we have educational bliss. I imagined that my girls would beg to take their piano lessons more than once a day and would want to stay on for quite some time. I was not disappointed. However, this is the beauty of the program. You are able to self pace and each child can work through on their own. It does require some oversight but as a whole, it can be completed independently, though you will find "independent" piano lessons become group lessons as many want to watch and play along. It really becomes a group effort at times!

For the Children's Music Journey, they begin on the main menu which is colorful and simple to read. They begin in the lesson room to learn their lesson from a famous composer. Next, they travel to the practice room to put what they have learned into practice. They would then go to the game room which is full of games that teach different aspects of music. Games are unlocked as the student proceeds which is fantastic as it encourages students to continue in the lessons rather than always playing with the games. Finally, a music library is available that stores the songs the children created in the improvisation rooms or songs by the teacher, reviews lessons, and provides more practice activities.

My suggestion is to begin with the Children's Music Journey and walk your way through. They offer a monthly subscription that allows access to all 9 programs! It is inexpensive ($10.95 a month) and you can set up several users at once! This program was a fun way to begin learning piano theory for all three of my ladies (ages 3-11). I just simply allowed them to walk through at their own speed. I wanted to insure that there were no learning gaps as my girls proceeded. These early stages were a bit mundane for my eldest but she quickly proceeded to more challenging activities and lessons.

Good to Know:

1. This software is for beginner to intermediate students.
2. You can purchase a monthly subscription as stated above that will allow unlimited access to all nine programs. Also, they provided discounted MIDI keyboards if you do not currently have one. I bought my daughters a keyboard within the past couple of years and it already had MIDI capabilities. You might want to check your current keyboard by looking in the back for a MIDI output. You will also need an adapter that will run from your MIDI output to a USB port on your computer. I, personally, bought one here and received it within a couple of days! 
3. Lesson Plans are available but are sold separately. They are not a necessity; however, it is very helpful in pacing your child's progress and is easily incorporated into your current homeschool lesson plans or into your child's portfolio. They include lesson objectives, printables, quizzes and assessments.
4. You will need to check system requirements here to make sure your computer is compatible. I had very little problems downloading my software and had to troubleshoot one minor issue. Adventus tech support is very helpful and will be a great resource for you should you have any problems.
5. Adventus offers a FREE 7-day trial for you to check out their program and determine if it would be a good fit for your family!
6. Check out this fantastic video for a peek into Children's Music Journey I.

My Thoughts:

As a music lover who was once a piano teacher, I feel that nothing can quite take the place of a living, breathing instructor who can not only teach but also be an example for you. However, this program comes very close. It takes the beautiful history of music and weaves in piano theory in a fun and captivating way! Children enjoy learning about musical giants as well as from musical giants. They are given the opportunity to appreciate classical music and the opportunity to explore current hits. There is even a section where they can create and compose their own music which was a big favorite in our house! If you are looking for a fun and interactive method of teaching piano theory without the huge price tag, I would say that Advantus would be a great choice for you! You might find that you will also learn a few things on the piano as well! ;) If you are interested in what other homeschooling families thought about the program, please click the link below!

Review: Essentials in Writing

Much to my eldest daughter's excitement, I was given the opportunity to review a writing curriculum that was just for her! She had been eagerly awaiting her opportunity to try something new and I was thrilled to see that it would be with the subject of Writing. She had completed her English and Grammar for the year so I was ready to move onto focusing entirely on her writing skills. Cue the music and enter: the 6th Grade Writing Curriculum by Essentials in Writing.

Description

Essentials in Writing is a complete language arts curriculum that focuses on writing composition. The primary focus is to observe how grammar is actually used in communication and how to become an effective writer. This curriculum was created by Matthew Stephens, a former Middle School English teacher with experience at all grade levels. His process is to present small amounts of content before modeling the process and then allowing the student to work independently. The curriculum includes not only worksheets and assignments, but also videos of Mr. Stephens teaching the material in short lessons. The first half of the year focuses on grammar and mechanics while the last half of the year shifts its focus to composition.

For sixth grade, the following topics are covered:

• detailed sentence structure
• grammar
• capitalization and punctuation rules
• proper use of a friendly letter
• composing narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing
• five paragraph essays
• compare and contrast writing
• effective writing skills
• multi-paragraph composition
• the research project process
• other forms of written communication
• and more...

Routine:

Em would begin her lesson by grabbing her writing folder and heading to her bedroom. She has a personal television and DVD player set up in her room and she enjoys the privacy while she works. She would watch the DVD lesson and complete the corresponding worksheets. The lessons are not very long and yet they were very effective in teaching the material. Em completed all of her work independently without needing much assistance from me. Mr. Stephens teaches in an engaging way and she never dreaded her writing time. In fact, I found that she eagerly approached this part of her day. A sample video of a lesson can be found on the website. It is recommended that if a student doesn't fully understand a concept, they should watch the video again before moving on to the next lesson. I found that Em only had to do this once as the rest of the time she quickly grasped what Mr. Stephens taught. 

After watching the lesson, she would then work on the independent assignment. Though for some lessons there would be several days of independent assignment to complete, Em chose to complete all of them in one day. It was not labor intensive and she enjoyed the lessons enough to complete more than one assignment. For a sample day, be sure to visit here. 

As the year is split in half, I allowed Em to do several grammar lessons from the late grammar lessons to get a feel for the program before jumping into Lesson 34 to begin working on composition. I intentionally chose a few topics that I know she hadn't covered in her Grammar for the year. She responded very favorably to the curriculum and I was excited to see how she would do once the focus shifted to writing. I was amazed to see the growth that began to take place almost immediately. She brought her writing assignment for me to look over after her first lesson on descriptive writing and I could immediately tell a difference. She had great detail that was both imaginative and fun. As she progressed through the lessons, her writing continued to develop and I found her one afternoon on the computer writing a short story on her own, not an assignment or requirement. She simply wanted to write! In reading her narrative, I noticed that the mechanics that were once lacking were very evident. She was using what she had learned to enrich her daily life. This, my friends, makes me smile! She proceeded to type up the narrative on Powerpoint, add pictures, and create a short book. This narrative will hold a proud place on our library shelf.

Good to Know:

1. The program provides an instructional DVD as well as a PDF file that contains the the worksheets and assignments. If you would like to save your ink, pre-printed workbooks are also available to purchase. I used the PDF file and simply printed around 20-30 sheets at a time and placed them in Em's writing folder. You could always print the entire file and place it in a binder if you would like the worksheets in book form.
2. First through eleventh grade is currently available while twelfth grade will begin shipment in August. There will also be two high school elective courses available soon!
3. A full-year's curriculum will cost $40.00 and the optional pre-printed workbook is available for $20.00. 

My Thoughts:

If you haven't already noticed, I have really enjoyed using this program and am even more impressed that it is available in such an economic fashion. Writing is a vital skill and it's instructional value cannot be understestimated in that it will impact our student's educational futures. I am confident that this curriculum will help build a strong foundation for Em and I look forward to using this product in the future.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.
 

Review: TouchMath Pre-K Curriculum

Hello, friends! I have been really looking forward to sharing with you the Math program that I have been using with my preschooler. It has been one of my favorites to review and I have been over the moon with the progress my little learner has made. Today, I will be reviewing the Preschool Math Curriculum by TouchMath.

Description:

The TouchMath curriculum is a resource that is available for not only homeschool families but also the public school systems. It incorporates manipulatives and worksheets to offer a hands-on learning experience. For the sake of this post, I will be focusing on the Pre-K program as this is what I used; however, you will not want to miss checking out the programs for the other grades. TouchMath offers so many multi-sensory products that are not only great for regular educational students but for kids with special needs as well. It offers a tactile approach to learning and working with numbers. 

The program is based upon a number system that is displayed with dots to represent one-to-one correspondence. For example, the numeral one has one dot, the numeral two has two dots. After you reach the numeral five, the students touch dots more than once and are taught the pattern to do this correctly. Here are the products that I used in my review:

Curriculum ($59.95)

• Implementation Guide to show me step by step how to use this program effectively. This describes in detail the skills, approach and research.
• 6 Module Guides with Instructional Strategies: These are your descriptive lesson plans that give you confidence in using the program. It provides the questions to ask and ideas to expand your learning. They give pictures of which worksheet to use for each lesson. The PreK lessons were quite short as they suggest only working on the subject for twice as long as their age. For instance, Lillee is three so it is suggested that she work on her Math for 6 minutes a day. However, I found that each lesson provided a thorough process.
• 90 student activity worksheets for students to practice. 

Supplemental Resources

• Texture Cards ($99.00) - highly durable, over-sized flashcards that represent the touch numerals in five different themes. It allows for a multi-sensory approach to learning numbers. I highly recommend this manipulative as I used it every day with much enjoyment from my Preschooler. It is a highly effective resource to integrate into your daily lessons. These could be used with the program or on its own.
• TouchShapes ($30.00) - This 108 piece pack includes 6 shapes offered in different sizes and different colors. It is a great tool to use with the worksheets to practice counting as well as to use for categorizing and learning shapes. It could be used with the program or on its own.
• 3-D Numerals ($79.00) - This was the first part of the pack that my daughter wanted to use. These 6" plastic numerals are wonderful and exciting ways to practice recognizing numerals. We had so much fun using these.

3D Numerals

Routine:

Each day would begin with my little one begging to "do her numbers." This was the first thing  we would do together each day. We would start by using the flashcards to discuss her numeral of the day. I focused on one numeral for several days before adding another. We would work on recognition and counting. I would then use the lesson plan and the corresponding worksheet. The lessons offer great guidance and ideas to extend the learning or review previous lessons. A recording sheet is also available for each module of learning that is used to record when your child completed each lesson in the module as well as how they did.  My little one never wanted to stop at the 6 minutes suggested by the vendor and would often want to do more than just one lesson. So, we would often do extra. I would use the touch shapes, cards, and 3-D numerals to accent the lessons throughout and add excitement.

Lillee's Math Schoolwork

Good To Know:

1. The supplemental materials are not required to use the product successfully; however, I would highly recommend taking the plunge. It will be resources that you can use many times and in future grades. It is definitely a good investment as they are made from durable materials that will last.
2. There are other resources available that would be excellent to add to your program. A thorough exploration of their website would give you a great idea as to what is available in each grade.
3. Homeschool Programs are available from Pre-K through Second Grade.
4. The Pre-K curriculum focuses on the following topics: 
• Counting and Number Sense
• Comparing and Classifying
• Sorting, Graphing, and Patterning
• Identifying, Classifying, and Sorting 2-D Shapes
• Identifying, Classifying, and Sorting 3-D Shapes and Coins
• Representing Quantities and Shapes

My Thoughts:

I am a new fan of TouchMath! For my tactile learner, this was a fantastic resource to use each day. I have noticed great improvement in my daughter's counting skills and she now recognizes the numerals 1 through 5. I am a results kindof teacher and like to see growth. With TouchMath, I have noted steady progress in my daughter's Math skills and even better, I have never had to struggle in getting her actively involved in each lesson. I would highly recommend this fabulous curriculum!

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.