Considering God's Creation: a creative biblical approach to natural science

When we began homeschooling preschool in the late 90s, we joined an online message board with others using unit studies.  As we moved into the elementary years, I noticed that many of the Charlotte Mason style homeschools were using the same science curriculum.  Considering God's Creation by Eagle's Wings was recommended over and over.

 

At the time, we were using a unit study with science included, so I didn't purchase Considering God's Creation myself.  I considered it, but we were just starting out in our homeschool years and needing to purchase new math and unit studies each year, so we didn't spend the money on an additional science curriculum.  I wanted to, but I didn't.

 

Fast forward 12 years, and I now have children ranging from preschool to high school.  I was pleasantly surprised to find myself on the TOS Homeschool Crew list to review Considering God's Creation.  My mind flashed back 10+ years ago to me drooling as other Mom's talked about it, when I couldn't afford to buy anything new.  I was excited to finally be able to use it.



If you haven't heard about Considering God's Creation, let me tell you about it.  Considering God's Creation is a very hands-on science curriculum for 2nd - 7th grade students.  It uses a notebooking approach to learn about earth science, from a Creationist viewpoint.  Each of the 36 lessons includes worksheets to complete for individual science notebooks.  Some of the worksheets involve cutting and pasting, and some are just for writing on.  There are also crossword puzzles, games, and a CD of songs to help the students learn different concepts.

 

The Considering God's Creation set that we received includes a Teacher's Manual with the song CD, as well as a student workbook, which retails for $29.95.  The Teacher's Manual is 128 pages long, including teacher's notes and answer key.  The Student workbook is 269 pages, with worksheets, 12 review crosswords, glossary, and song lyrics.  Both books are softcover.  The student workbook can be photocopied for family use only, or additional workbooks can be purchased for $13.95 to save time and effort over photocopying.

 

Pros:

• affordable science curriculum


• can be used with multiple ages


• can be adapted for grades K-8


• shared family experiences as multiple ages learn together


• can be adapted for 1 or 2 years of study


• can use it as a science curriculum, or a supplement to another one


• reproducible (for family use only)


• extra workbooks are very affordable


• hands-on learning


• creationist viewpoint


• complete earth science course


• appeals to lapbooking and notebooking families


• provides a finished product showing your student's work


• very visual with the worksheets


• Bible study included

 

Cons:

• not a traditional textbook approach


• no colorful reference textbook for the student


• not everyone wants the hands-on, cut-and-paste approach


• Mom-dependent, not an independent study


• song CD seemed geared for the K-2nd grades only

 

I've come a long way since we first started homeschooling.  For one thing, I've learned that I do not fit my own "ideal image" of a homeschool family.  Ideally, I'd be very hands-on, and I'd follow Charlotte Mason's recommendations completely.   Ideally, I'd love to lapbook and notebook.  Realistically, I'm not that person.

 

Over the past few years, I've learned that notebooking and lapbooking just aren't my style.  I've even learned that I actually do like well-written and engaging textbooks.  Which means, that I'm finally able to say that Considering God's Creation is a wonderful science curriculum for the right family, but not for me.  My kids love it (except the songs), but I find myself dreading it.  And if I'm dreading it, it won't get used consistently.  And that's the honest, ugly truth about me.

 

I do honestly believe this is an awesome curriculum;  it's just not my style.  If you'd like to see if Considering God's Creation is right for your family, there are sample pages available at the Eagle's Wings website.  It's such an affordable and adaptable curriculum, that it's worth your time to take a look at the samples!

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

2010-2011 TOS Crew: ElCloud Top Ten List

I have posted a Top Ten list each year I've been on the Crew.  My children and I have enjoyed each Crew year and enjoy talking about our favorite review products as we compile our Top Ten list.  This year, our top ten list is quite varied.  I'll be honest ... I took their votes into greater consideration this year.

 

Top Ten List (in alphabetic order)

1. Bright Ideas Press:  WonderMaps


2. Buckets o' Fun Yuck products


3. Digital Frog's Digital Field Trips Software


4. Dig-It! Roman Town game


5. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids


6. Institute for Excellence In Writing


7. Schleich Toys


8. Wits and Wagers Family Edition game


9. Yesterday's Classics Ebook Collection


10. Z-Guide Father Goose Movie Study

 

Tomorrow the last little piece of my 2010 - 2011 Crew journey will post ... one final review.  I'm stepping ashore, and I won't be continuing on with the Crew next year.  I have mixed feelings about that, but it's the right choice.

 

My family and I  are extremely grateful to  TOS Homeschool Crew for letting us join the voyage for the past 3 years!   You can see links to all of our Homeschool Crew reviews by clicking on the Crew page tab at the top of this blog.

 

Stepping ashore,
April E.

 

 

Pearson EnVision 1st Grade Math

click fish banner to visit the Pearson enVision website

 

Scott-Foresman is a well-known, respected publisher of curriculum.  As members of the TOS Homeschool Crew, we were sent one of their new elementary math texts to review.  We received the 1st grade Pearson enVision Math student book.  It's a softcover, large, consumable workbook.  It measures 11x17 inches and is  very bright and colorful.

click to view enVision 1st grade

 

Each lesson is meant to be removed from the packet, folded in half, and then used by the student, thus the odd size.  In order to keep a record of your homeschool student's work, you'd need to either file the completed pages, or 3-hole punch them and place in a 3-ring binder.  Using them in the provided format, without tearing them out, wouldn't work very well.

 

I really wish I could tell you HOW this program is designed to work.  However, I didn't receive a teacher's guide, a manipulatives kit, or access to the online digital portion of the program.  I only received the student textbook and there were portions we could not use because we lacked other required components.

 

I CAN tell you that the book we received is very attractive, with bright colors and a visual demonstration of each new concept.  It would work great for visual learners, which is exactly what it was designed for!  The parts that we could use were well-designed, but some of it lacked explanation.  It also didn't have as much practice as some children would need, which may be because there is a separate homework workbook.

 

click to read about the enVision features and benefits

I have tried to search the website to provide more information to you, my readers, of how the program is supposed to work.  However, the Pearson enVision website is geared to the public school system and some of its features are limited to those who can confirm their status as a public school teacher.  They allow you to mark that you are a homeschool teacher, but then they limit what you can see, since they can't confirm that.

It would be helpful if they had a section that tells the homeschool parent EXACTLY what they need, and HOW the program works.  It would be awesome if they made their enVision samples more accessible.  There is a sample available, but for those who can't prove they are public school teachers, you can only see the student textbook.  Which leaves you in the same place I am, unable to really see how the program works.

 

I don't know which of the following enVision components are necessary for this program to work well:

• consumable student edition with digital access  $34.47


• consumable student edition with premium digital access $36.47


• interactive homework workbook $7.47


• teacher program overview $21.00


• individual student manipulatives $18.97


• teacher's edition and resource package $525.00

I can't tell you if the digital access would make this program more homeschool-friendly.  I can't tell you if the teacher program overview will help you use this program, or if the very expensive teacher's edition is required.  Which is a shame, because the student book is beautiful and my 1st grade son really enjoyed using the parts that we could use.  My 5 year-old daughter also coveted the bright worksheets and begged to be allowed to use it.

 

The enVision math program features look really great,  but it would be helpful to homeschool parents if Pearson would put together a Deluxe Homeschool Package and a Basic Homeschool Package so parents could know they had all the components they needed to use the program, and see right away what the cost would be for them.   If the consumable student edition with digital access for $34.47 was all you needed, then I'd give this program a huge thumbs-up.  But I really don't know if that is enough, or not.  You'd have to contact a sales representative assigned to your geographic region in order to try to find the answers.

 

I apologize for this rather incomplete review.  It's just hard to explain and review a curriculum when you only have a portion of it.  I did contact customer service, and if/when I hear from them I will update this review.

 

In the meantime, the best I can say is ... "it looks really neat" and "my kids love how it looks."

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

Motherhood Hint #88

This blog post has been entered in The Christian Home magazine's weekly issue.  You can read more entries at The Legacy of Home blog.

 

25 Things NOT to ask your kids ... because you probably won't like the answer:

1. WHAT were you THINKING?!?!


2. WHY did you DO that?!?!


3. Am I embarrassing you?


4. What were you whispering about?  (implying it had better not be me)


5. WHERE are your CLOTHES?


6. Were you eating MUD?


7. What do you want to eat?   (hot dogs and ketchup and ice cream)


8. Are you ready to go to bed?  (ha ha)


9. Did you use soap?


10. Don't you want to sleep in your OWN bed?


11. Has anyone seen the puppy?


12. Is that mud ...  or poop?


13. Can't ANYONE pick up the baby, or are we just going to let her cry?


14. Do I have to do EVERYTHING around here?


15. WHAT did you SAY?


16. Don't you care about their feelings?  (not at the moment)


17. Is that how you want to be treated?


18. What are you eating now?


19. Does anyone want to help me?   (silence usually follows this one)


20. Do you know how to do this chore?  (the answer is usually no)


21. Didn't I tell you NOT to do that?


22. Didn't you hear me calling you?   (huh?)


23. Was that a kind thing to say/do?


24. Hey, isn't that your friend so-and-so over there? (pointing helps)


25. What schoolwork have you finished already?  (again ... the silence)

 

Unfortunately, these are all things that I have said in very recent days.  I'm sure you can imagine some of the answers I got.

 

What question have you asked, and then regretted?

 

Rejoicing in Family,
April E.

Talking Fingers: Wordy Qwerty Review

 

Most of my children use the hunt-and-peck method of typing.  Only my 15 year old daughter has taken the time to learn to type properly.  My 12 and 14 year old daughters are rather set in their hunt-and-peck ways, and are pretty fast at it.  I wish I'd taken the time to teach them how to type properly when they first started spending time on the computer.

 

Talking Fingers wants to prevent children from developing the habit of using the hunt-and-peck method while doing their computer-based lessons.  It teaches typing skills (more properly known as keyboarding skills today) to elementary-age children AS they learn other language skills.  We were able to review their Wordy Qwerty online program, which includes spelling lessons with keyboarding skills.    Wordy Qwerty is designed for grades 2-4, and it follows after their Read, Write, and Type program.  However, students do NOT have to use Read, Write and Type first -- my son did not.

 

Product Information

There are 20 lessons in Wordy Qwerty, and each lesson has six activities.  We did NOT get through all 20 lessons yet, but my 4th grade son is enjoying Wordy Qwerty and my 1st grade son is looking forward to using it.

 



 

The Wordy Qwerty program is interactive and fun.  It teaches children not where to put their index finger (as I was taught) but where to place their middle fingers ... on D and K.  As children progress through the program, they learn proper typing techniques as they review these 20 spelling lessons:

1. Silent E


2. Sounds of C


3. Sounds of G


4. J or DGE


5. W or WH


6. C or K


7. CK or K


8. CKS or X


9. CH or TCH


10. LL, SS, FF, ZZ


11. OI or OY


12. VE Words


13. Open Syllables


14. Double Consonants


15. Doubling rule


16. ER, IR, OR, UR, EAR


17. I Before E


18. Plurals: Add ES


19. Plurals: Y to IES


20. Plurals: F to VES

 



I have to admit that I haven't learned these spelling rules as they are taught in Wordy Qwerty.  I learned how to spell, but not the rules behind the correct spelling.  I like that Wordy Qwerty teaches rules for the more difficult spelling issues in the English language.

 

Wordy Qwerty's activities are fun and challenging.  Midi the musician and Qwerty the word coach use musical ditties to teach spelling rules to the children.  You can even buy a Jingle Spells CD of the songs to review the spelling rules when you're away from the computer.



The parent account allows you to reassign the online licenses to younger children as an older child outgrows the program.  It also allows you to see which lessons your child has passed and what their score is on the lesson they're currently covering.  They must achieve 80% to pass to a new lesson, and you can see if they're only at 70%.

 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• interactive lessons


• engages multiple learning paths (auditory, visual, kinesthetic)


• affordable for families


• long membership of 5 years as opposed to annual memberships


• memorable ditties help children remember the spelling rules


• ability to track student's progress


• student can not pass on to a new level without learning their current lesson


• variety of colorful and fun activities within each lesson, rather than only one way to learn


• teaches proper keyboarding hand placement


• allows you to archive students and reassign their license to a younger sibling


• reinforces spelling rules being covered in other curriculum


• offers both an online version and a CD-rom home version for those with slow internet or download limits

 

Cons:

• some parents prefer to limit computer-based learning


• requires  regular practice to really benefit the student

 

The Nitty Gritties -- System Requirements and Prices

You can view a product tour of Wordy Qwerty at the Talking Fingers website, as well as a video clip.   There is even a free demo sample that you can download to try out the program before buying it.  Wordy Qwerty works with both Mac and PC computers, but there are a few 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

 

Wordy Qwerty Home Edition is available on a CD-rom for $35,  or online with a 5 year membership.  The online memberships range in price from $25 for one user, to $71.25 for 5 users.

 

ElCloud Opinion

I initially had my 6th grade daughter log into this because she does need to learn proper typing techniques.  However, this was definitely beneath her spelling abilities.  We'll have to find another method to teach keyboarding to her.   I then had my 4th grade son use the system.  We didn't get as far with him as I'd have liked in this review period.  There were several factors in this:  our perpetual need to limit our internet use (download limits), the fact that all our children have to share one laptop, this is a more difficult subject for him and he NEEDS these spelling lessons.   We WILL continue to use Wordy Qwerty.

 

My son likes the games, and he asks me if he can do Wordy Qwerty.  He doesn't ask because he's trying to substitute a workbook lesson for game time, either.  He asks to do it in ADDITION to his other schoolwork.  Now his younger brother is eager to get started with it, too.

 

I really like the Wordy Qwerty program.  I wouldn't use it in place of a regular spelling curriculum, but it is a fun supplement to other spelling curricula.  The online version may not work well for those on dial-up internet, or those who have download limits on their internet use, but there is also a CD-rom version available.  I really can't think of many cons for this program, as my list showed.

 

My readers know I am not usually a fan of online  memberships, because they  usually have high annual fees and can not be reused with future children.  However,  Wordy Qwerty online prices are for a 5 year membership (longer than most) and you can archive older students, add students, and then move your licenses to a younger student as needed.  The prices are very affordable, especially for larger families that will use the program with multiple children.

 

Wordy Qwerty gets the ElCloud Homeschool thumbs-up!

 

We were provided two free 1-year licenses in exchange  for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

 

Trusting In Him,
April

Mad Dog Math - Math Facts Drill Software

I used to love flash cards.  I collected a wide variety of them, put them on my school shelf, and occasionally used them.  Occasionally, but not often enough.  Then the toddlers and preschoolers discovered them.  Now, if I want to use them, I have to first make sure that all the flash cards I need are still present and accounted for.  Others have gone missing, maybe swallowed by the dust-bunnies under our furniture.

 

I don't like flash cards, but my children DO need to practice their math facts.  One solution to this problem is to use a software game for math facts drills.  Mad Dog Math has developed a software that allows multiple children to practice their math facts in all four math functions:  addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Within each level, and each math function, you can choose the fact family (group of numbers) to practice.

 

Product Description

The first two levels of Mad Dog Math focus on addition and subtraction.  The first level leaves a blank at the end of the equation, but the second level places the blank in the middle of the equation for a greater challenge.  The third level focuses on multiplication and division.  The Challenge level has two games.  Mutt Math drills on all four math functions mixed together.  Kennel Trouble has the children fill the blanks on different charts.

 



 

To begin their drills, the children push the Time Me button.  They can issue a new set of problems by clicking on Fetch.  As they take their drills, each child can track their progress and earn virtual stickers for successes.  The drills can be timed for  30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes or left un-timed .  To view your child's progress, you just log in under their name.

 



 

You can view this video from Mad Dog Math to learn more about the program:

[youtube]l7keYvxo0II[/youtube]

ElCloud Thoughts

We had some minor issues getting started with the Mad Dog Math software.  Once it was installed, we could not open it from the desktop shortcut.  We had to open it from the Start Menu instead.  Additionally, the only way we could get it to recognize the license key and show us our expanded version was to right click and "Run as Administrator" from the Start Menu.  The Technical Support people were very willing to help, and quick to reply to my requests.

 

Once we had it running, we were able to adapt it for each of my two sons.  My older son (4th grade) worked on practicing his multiplication and division tables, with the 2 minute time limit.  My 1st grade son practiced his addition and subtraction facts, with an unlimited time limit.  The program is basic, without a lot of bells and whistles, but it is effective.  The fact that it isn't complicated with games helps to keep them focused on completing their drills quickly and moving on.  But, it's not something my boys would ASK to do unless I was allowing them to replace a regular math lesson with math drill practice.

 

If your child only needs a little practice to learn his math facts, then the 1 year license may be all you need.  If you have multiple children, or a child who struggles with math, and you plan to use this program for more than two years, you might as well purchase the perpetual license.

 

Samples and Prices

You can test out Mad Dog Math in your own home with their free trial download.  The free trial version unlocks the lowest level of each math function.  You must know if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit before downloading it.  Sorry, Mac users, this is a Windows-based program and not Mac compatible.

 

To unlock the upper levels of Mad Dog Math, you must purchase a software license.  The Mad Dog Math software license costs $19.99 for the one-year license, $29.99 for a two-year license, or $39.99 for the perpetual license.  Mad Dog Math also sells a Complete Instructional System for Home Use for $69.99, as well as other products like flash cards.

 

A 3 month trial of this item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

Lessons learned from life on the Crew

My journey on the TOS Homeschool Crew is coming to an end, for awhile at least.  I have four reviews left to post and I am done.  This is the final Blog Cruise for the year, so it's my last chance to participate.

 

The question for this Blog Cruise was:  "What was your favorite homeschool experience in relation to your participation in the Crew this year?"

 

I thought about it, and I could not settle on a particular review item or piece of curriculum that was my favorite homeschool experience this year.  The favorite homeschool experience I had this year (in relation to the Crew) was a renewed understanding ... of homeschooling and my family.

 

There are SO many curricula available for homeschoolers at the moment, and even more supplemental materials.  There are websites, software, books, DVDs, textbooks, unit studies, study helps ... the list is endless!  I used to bemoan the fact that we couldn't afford many of those items.  But this year, after three years on the Crew, I actually found myself growing tired of the clutter of curriculum and supplemental items.

 

I was reminded that STUFF isn't necessary to homeschool success.  We can learn a lot of things with our library card, our personal bookshelf, and family discussion.  We don't need a set curriculum to study the Bible or a supplement that helps us learn about fractions.  We can do that just fine with discussion and the old-fashioned method of MOM taking time to teach, which sometimes means MOM has to take the time to LEARN with the children.

 

As our school year was winding down, and I was beginning to make plans for next year, I took a hint from another Crew member, Kristen.   I asked my children some questions about THEIR THOUGHTS on our homeschool and our time on the Crew.  I found that they were content with the curriculum we'd been using (all but one of them); they liked the variety of books they are required to read for school.  They didn't like changing directions repeatedly with Crew materials.  Though they enjoyed the new materials that came in, they realized they didn't need it either.  They did need more of ME, though.

 

My children (and I) are ready to settle down again, to proceed with our regular curriculum.  At the beginning of this Crew year, I couldn't imagine life without the Crew.  I couldn't imagine NOT receiving new items each month.  I didn't want to miss out on any new thing I might discover through the Crew.  But now, I realize that I don't want to keep discovering new curriculum.  I want to be able to really USE the curriculum we already have, that God has already directed us to use in our home.

 

I was reminded that I don't need the "latest and greatest" ... I just need to pray over how best to use what we already have.  Sometimes that does mean buying supplemental materials, especially those that are reusable with future children.  Sometimes, though, it means continuing to use the curriculum that is no longer cool, rather than rushing after the popular, shiny, new materials.

 

Mainly, I was reminded that *I* am the key to our homeschool success, as long as I am seeking God and His plan.  My availability to my students is more important than any curriculum or supplement.  My interaction helps them learn.  And if I am seeking His plan, then we do not "labor in vain" as parents or homeschoolers.  (Psalm 127:1)

 

I feel as if we are back where we started.  But we aren't.  We may have come full-circle so we are mostly using the same materials we started with at the beginning of our 3 year Crew cruise, but we are here with a new understanding and a lot of experience under our belt.  We have broadened our curriculum-horizons and made some changes ... realizing that we do benefit from more structure and textbooks than we I initially wanted to admit.

 

If I were to add new lessons to my "Lessons Learned from Homeschooling" page, I'd add these:

1. Trust God, your husband, and your own instincts re: your homeschool direction and curriculum.


2. Listen to your children, respect their opinions, and hear their needs.


3. Be willing to change directions, if needed.


4. Being able to homeschool on a shoestring is a good skill to have, but having a homeschool budget is also a good thing.  It's important to have the freedom to buy supplements and even new curriculum if your family needs it.


5. Be available!  Mom, the teacher, is the key to her student's success no matter how independent the curriculum is designed to be.


6. Seek God for the creativity to make what you have work, or to know which things to change if it can't be made to work.


7. Sometimes you don't need to completely change curriculum, you just need a brief jaunt out of the rut you're in to enjoy something different.  Try a unit study or two for a textbook-vacation, or spend a year (or less) using textbooks while Mom recharges her creativity batteries.


8. Trust God to give you all you need to homeschool your family:  both the physical resources and the emotional and spiritual resources.


9. There isn't one homeschool style that has more inherent value or spiritual worth than the other ... just different methods that are better fits for different families.


10. You can learn from homeschool families who use different methods than you, or have different beliefs than you.  DON'T push them away or seclude yourself with only those who are like-minded.

It seems like I could go on and on.  I guess God has really been speaking to me a lot this year as He helped me work through the decision to step down from the Crew and not re-apply.  I can't point to one ITEM that made the biggest difference in our life this year, but I can say that being on the Homeschool Crew for three years has changed our lives dramatically, because it has changed ME.

 

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew to read what others Crew members had to say about this Blog Cruise topic.

Praising Him,
April E.

Bright Ideas Press: WonderMaps

Bright Ideas Press is known for publishing quality curriculum that brings history and science to life for our students.  These are not just boring textbooks, which is why they are embraced by homeschoolers from many different educational philosophies.  Bright Ideas has added a new product to their store and it's wonderful!  They've obviously succeeded once again in creating a product that ANY homeschool family would love!

 

WonderMaps is a customizable collection of over 300 maps, including 125 historical (and biblical) maps.  There are also 60+ modern maps of the US and 60+ modern maps of the world.  If you use other Bright Ideas Press products, you'll be glad to know that this includes the full set of maps from Mystery of History, volumes 1 - 3, and All American History, volumes 1 and 2.

 

Each map has layers that can be turned on and off.  You can choose between color, black and white, topographical, political, reference, outline, with or without cities and capitals, etc.  The maps can be made more difficult for older students, or kept basic for your younger students.  I personally like the color and topographical maps when viewing them at the computer with my children.  But I love the outline black and white maps when printing them for use in our history lessons.

 



 

WonderMaps is both simple, and complex.  It's simple in that it is just a PDF file, not a complicated software you have to install.  The complexity comes in the many layers you can adjust for each map, and the large number of customized maps available to you.  It really is a wonderful treasure-trove of maps ... right at your fingertips!  No more searching the internet or trying to photocopy a map in a textbook you're trying to hold flat on the copier.

 

When you first open WonderMaps, you can click buttons to take you right to the Teacher's Guide, Mystery of History maps, All American History maps, World Maps, US Maps, Historical Maps, or Thematic Maps (such as Explorers).  You maneuver within WonderMaps using Home, Next, and Previous buttons. Once a map is chosen, it opens a separate PDF file of that map, where you can choose which layers and attributes you want to use to customize your map.  To close that map, simply close that PDF file and return to the WonderMaps main PDF that should still be open.

 

This video from Bright Ideas Press helps explain what WonderMaps is, and how it works!

[youtube]YAbx7Go8F88[/youtube]


WonderMaps is available for PC or Mac computers, but you must have Adobe Reader 9.1 or higher installed.  The WonderMaps License Agreement does not allow it to be re-sold.  You can install it on TWO computers within the same family and make ONE copy for back-up purposes.

 

WonderMaps retails for $49.95, and is available as a Download Only, or a Download + CD.  Hint: If you subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse magazine, check the Spring 2011 issue (page 30) for a 20% off subscribers-only coupon code.

 

Homeschoolers love flexibility!  They love curriculum and products they can adapt to fit their needs and their family's style.  The easier it is to adapt the curriculum, the better!  Homeschoolers also love having products that are readily available for whenever those teachable moments arise.  WonderMaps makes geography simple and adaptable for any family or any curriculum.  It is a wonderful resource and I highly recommend it!

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

Housekeeping Rule # 1004

Supper usually turns out best if the chef pays attention to it.  In other words, that is not the best time to try to write a blog post.  Somehow, multi-tasking during supper preparations doesn't work well if the other task is on the other side of the house, involves sitting down, and concentrating on something else.

 

Oddly enough, I had just been telling my 15 yo three nights ago that cooking isn't difficult if you do two things:  follow directions, and pay attention to the meal.  Don't get distracted.

 

Unfortunately, this week she saw what happens when you don't pay attention -- scorched charcoal sausage links.  They make nice teething sticks for the baby, though.  Very flavorful!  I bet the puppy would like it, too.  The children were not so inclined to gnaw at them.

 

April E.

Happy Anniversary to Me! (and Steve too)

I got a little silly on my husband this week.   Every day I posted a quote about love or marriage as a facebook status, and tagged him in it. I hope it blessed him rather than annoyed him.  I just thought it would be a fun way to let him know I love and appreciate him as we celebrate 17 years of marriage.

 

The quotes that I shared were:

 

We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.

~ by Dr. Seuss

 

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars, 1939, translated from French by Lewis Galantière

Love one another and you will be happy.  It's as simple and as difficult as that.

~ Michael Leunig

 

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

~ 1 John 3:16, 18

Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots.

~ Author unknown, as printed in The Hoosier Farmer

True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights.  If you hear bells, get your ears checked.

~ Erich Segal

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

 

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ?  So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

~ Matthew 19:4-6

 

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

~ Mignon McLaughlin

 

The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly.

~Peter De Vries

 

Newlyweds become oldyweds, and oldyweds are the reasons that families work.

~Author Unknown

 

Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.

~Barnett R. Brickner

 

At that point, I figured I'd better stop.  LOL!! But here are a few more for YOUR enjoyment!

 

In the opinion of the world, marriage ends all, as it does in a comedy.  The truth is precisely the opposite:  it begins all.

~Anne Sophie Swetchine

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity.  The order varies for any given year.

~Paul Sweeney

A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.

~Ruth Bell Graham

I love being married.  It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.

~Rita Rudner

 

Happy Anniversary, Steve!  Thanks for being my loving husband, a godly man, and a caring father!

 

April E.

Random Silly Remarks

We had a fun week here at our house.  It seemed like one thing after another as we worked our way through the next-to-the-last week of school.

 

1.  I was threatening to take pictures of my 7 month old daughter wearing nothing but a cloth diaper, so we could document her chubbiness in her scrapbook.  One of my daughters begged me not to, "Oh, Mom!  She'll be terminated for life!"  (hysterical laughter from Mom)

 

2.  After helping one of my children understand an algebra problem, that child said they hated math.  I replied that I remembered when they told EVERYONE that math was their favorite subject.  They answered, "Yes, I used to like math, but then I got to algebra."  I told them to think of it as a puzzle to solve.  The reply:  "It's a lame puzzle."  (more hysterical laughter from Mom)

 

3.   My 10 yo son was playing outside with my 5 yo daughter.  He threw himself to the ground, pretending he'd been attacked and killed by something.  His sister stayed hiding in the woods, then walked up and sang to him ... "Flower, gleam and glow.  Let your power shine.  Make the clock reverse.  Bring back what once was mine." Then she ran back into the woods and returned with some flowers.  (hysterical laughter from brother) Yes, she's watched a little too much "Tangled".  

 

4.  My 11 yo daughter was explaining Les Miserables to her 5 yo sister.  At the end of  Eponine's song, "A Little Fall of Rain", the 11 yo told the 5 yo that she died.  5 yo L asked seriously, "Was she dead when she was singing?"  (hysterical laughter from older sister)

 

There were many other moments of laughter this week, and times I told a child I was going to blog about what they'd said or done.  Some of those I simply can't share without embarrassing the child too much.  Unfortunately, some of them I've forgotten.  It helps me to write down the moments of joy and laughter, to help me focus on the fun side of parenting.

 

April E.

 

 

Institute For Excellence In Writing

If you ask anyone in the homeschool community to list the top writing curricula available for homeschool families, IEW will be included in that list.  I've heard of Institute for Excellence in Writing for years -- almost as long as I've been homeschooling.   (You can read about the long history of IEW and Andrew Pudewa here.)  In every discussion of how to teach writing, IEW was recommended by another happy parent or co-op teacher.  I was definitely intrigued by what I heard, but the cost made me cautious.   I wanted to be sure it was going to be perfect for our family before investing in it.



As members of the TOS Homeschool Crew, we were very blessed to receive the IEW Teaching Writing/Student Writing Intensive Combo Pack (Level B) to review.  This bundle includes the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style parent's guide, as well as the Student Writing Intensive Level B class.

 

Product Descriptions

Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) $169 -- This ten hour seminar is designed to teach the parent HOW to teach writing to their students.  It includes 9 DVDs of Andrew Pudewa teaching other parents.  The accompanying notebook includes appropriate hand-outs to accompany the lectures and to refer back to as you teach your students to write.  The TWSS works with each level of the Student Writing Intensive, so you only have to buy it once.

 

Student Writing Intensive (SWI Level B) $99 -- This course is a structured, focused program that helps students develop writing skills.  Students start with provided paragraphs, which they take notes on by completing key-word outlines, and then re-write in their own words.  New skills are added as they proceed through the course:  dressing up their writing, what words not to use,  who/which clauses, etc.   The 15 lessons  are intended to be taught over 30 weeks.  This course includes a notebook with teacher's pages and student handouts, as well as 4 DVDs of student lectures by Andrew Pudewa.  There are three levels of the Student Writing Intensive:  level A is for grades 3-5, level B is for grades 6-8, and level C is for grades 9-12 .  You can view Andrew Pudewa's introduction to SWI or  a sample of SWI Level B online.




The above products are also sold together in a  TWSS/SWI Combination Package for $239, which saves $29 over buying each component individually.



We also received a  Portable Wall ($7), which is a handy resource full of reminders from Andrew Pudewa's lectures.  This tri-fold cardstock folder can be placed in your writing notebook as a quick reference of dress-ups, sentence openers, decorations, adverbs, prepositions, strong verbs, and more.  It even includes an at-a-glance summary of all 9 units of the SWI.

 

How does it all come together?

The cover of each IEW notebook includes the subtitle:  "An effective method for teaching writing skills."  Andrew Pudewa states in his Teaching Writing: Structure and Style lectures that this is a "skills-based program, not a product-based program".  The focus is on learning writing skills, with LOTS of practice.

 




Ideally, the parent should watch the TWSS DVD on HOW to teach writing before beginning the SWI course.  If you don't have time to watch the entire 10 hour seminar, you can watch the portion that pertains to the first few units of the SWI.   There is also a helpful Quick Start Guide to help a parent know how to get started easily.

 

Next, the student and parent should view the student SWI DVD for the first lesson, with the necessary worksheets provided in the curriculum.  During the lesson, there will be assignments for the student to complete while the DVD is paused.  Afterward, the parent should assign continued work (ideas provided in the parent sheets) to help the student really master the concept being taught.  This process will vary in time-commitment.  Each lesson could cover one week, or 2+ weeks, while the student practices the skills being taught.  However it is designed to be taught at the pace of two weeks per lesson.

 

When a student has completed an entire level of the Student Writing Intensive, they move on to the Student Intensive Continuation Course for that level.  They can then do the Continuation courses for the upcoming levels, without repeating the SWI again.  For instance, if a student completes  SWI level B,  they would next take the Intensive Continuation Course B, then they should take the Elegant Essays course, and finally the Intensive Continuation Course C.

 

There is a helpful IEW-Families yahoo group where parents can receive ongoing encouragement and support.  This yahoo group has IEW staff members as well as other homeschool families  available to share ideas and information.

 

What did we think about it?

We followed the suggestion to use Level B if we were new to IEW, since I intended to use this with multiple ages.  However, we found that my high school daughter was more advanced in her writing than I had given her credit for.  She was able to move very quickly through the units, so I didn't try combining students  who would be working at different paces.  Instead, I allowed her to move through the first 6 lessons very quickly, and then we slowed the pace down.

 

Initially, she was bothered by the fact that all the students attending the recorded lectures were younger than her, and also felt the provided content was beneath her.  We sought content from other sources for her to re-write, more at her reading level.  While IEW is very adaptable in this way, I wish I had used level C with my high school daughter instead.

 

After we adjusted to Mr. Pudewa's unique lecture style, both my daughter and myself began to enjoy his lectures.  He uses humor well to teach the lessons, and engages students in the learning process through discussion.  Even though we viewed the DVDs from home, my daughter and I did talk to the TV, joining in the discussion.

 

I really like the systematic method that Andrew Pudewa uses to teach writing skills to students.  My daughter, however, grew tired of re-writing others' material, and longed to write something of her own.  We adapted it by moving quickly through the lessons, and adding in our own assignments to help her satisfy her own needs to create and express her personality more.

 

My daughter didn't like that she was dependent on me for her lesson.  I had the lesson plan, I knew where to start on the DVD, and I had the worksheets.  If we had used this at the prescribed pace, she'd also need me to give her additional assignments.  Usually, we use materials that allow her to work more independently. This was her greatest complaint about the program.

 

Though the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style DVDs are GREAT for helping a parent learn how to teach writing, I know I would not have been able to apply the methods very well on my own.  The Student Writing Intensive, especially its lecture DVDs, really made a difference for us.  Though I found myself not referring to the TWSS very often, I felt more secure knowing it was available, if needed.  If you absolutely had to chose only one portion, I'd suggest buying the SWI.  For me, having the student lectures and handouts to follow was most useful.  Without its structure, I know I'd likely slack off on teaching writing from the TWSS.

 

This is an expensive program, but it WORKS and it's reusable for future children;  you'd just need to purchase a new notebook and handouts packet.  I definitely recommend the Institute For Excellence In Writing for mothers who aren't sure how to teach writing, or for students who are terrified of writing!

 

The nitty-gritty IEW details.

You can purchase the materials we reviewed directly from Institute for Excellence in Writing.

• Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) $169


• Student Writing Intensive (SWI Level B) $99


• Additional Student Writing Intensive B Notebook/Packet $18


• TWSS/SWI Combination Package is sold together for $239


• Portable Wall ($7)

If you would like more information about IEW,  just ask around.  I am SURE you will find another homeschool family who has used it.  You can also see what other Crew members had to say in their IEW reviews, or visit the IEW Help Page to access FAQ's, Where to Start Information, and helpful articles.

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.  Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

A peek at our weekend ...

I already posted that we had a busy and blessed weekend.  I thought I'd give you a visual, though.

 

My yard sale bargains -

• $5 white KitchenAid classic mixer that FITS under my cupboards.  I have a cobalt blue KitchenAid, but it's the taller version and sits elsewhere in my kitchen.


• Seven turquoise Corning coffee mugs (all for $1)  that coordinate well with my retro kitchen.  (Is it retro if it's really just not updated?)


• A cobalt blue oven-safe serving tray that is my favorite color and also looks nice with my kitchen colors, bought for $1.  (  You know, I wanted my bridesmaids to wear midnight blue dresses and carry a single coral rose in my wedding.  Instead, we went with deep purple dresses and white roses.  Sometimes I wish we'd gone with the midnight blue and coral after all.  That was almost 17 years ago.)


• A fun, summery glass kitchen trivet to set on my stove top that obviously matches my kitchen colors and was only $.50.

We also bought some clothes and shoes for a few children, but these felt like Mother's Day gifts to me ... and Anniversary gifts, since that is later this week.

 

 

Saturday we moved our remaining 9 hens and 1 guinea hen from the barn to this hoop-chicken-tractor.  We will move them every 2 days (or thereabouts) so they have fresh grass to destroy with their scratching and eating.  LOL!!  We still need to put a tarp on it for a bit of rain protection and for shade when we move them to sunnier parts of the yard.

 

 

This picture shows my lonely guinea hen with the lonely Buff Orpington hen, too.  We have a few Barred Rocks and Production Reds left, but the majority of them are Ameraucanas.

 

 

This is what the chickens see all summer long.  Don't be fooled by her sweet appearance.  She isn't Lassie.  She is just waiting for one of them to let some feathers, a foot, or a head poke out from under one of the boards ... so she can bite them.  Or it would be even better if one of them would be foolish enough to hop out as we enter the door ... so she can chase them ... and then bite them.  She is a chicken killer.  Sigh.

 

 

And here are our little chicks.  Most of them are 5 weeks old, a few are a bit younger.  They rushed into the one sunny spot in the chicken yard this morning to soak up some warmth after their first night outdoors.  We have 12 Buff Orpingtons, 18 Ameraucanas, and 4 Pan Fry Specials (who won't be long for this world).  Seriously, Pan Fry Specials are nasty things ... ugly, aggressive, pigs.  They're even half-bald.  Gross!

 

 

This is one-half of their enclosure.  We bought the nesting boxes with a roost bar on the backside at a recent farm auction.  They didn't use them last night, but hopefully they'll figure it out.  As you can see they rushed into the sunlight for warmth this morning.   They had slept around the feeder and they were eating and drinking earlier in the morning before I took this picture at 8:30.

 

And that was our weekend ... in pictures.  Well, part of our weekend.  It doesn't show our time at church, dinner with Steve's Mom, the wild phlox bouquet my 11 yo gave me, the dark chocolate my family gave me ...  or the piles of folded laundry in my living room.  LOL!!

 

April E.

MonkiSee: Baby's First Words DVD and Book

 

"MonkiSee, MonkiDo. I can read, so can you.
Learning's so much fun to do.  MonkiSee, MonkiDo."

 

Krista Guerrero is the creator of MonkiSee.  She has developed an interactive DVD, flashcard, and book program to teach reading to infants and toddlers.  Krista is a homeschooling mother of six who has used these methods and techniques with her own children.   Geared for children ages 3 months through 2 years old, MonkiSee has created colorful and fun movies that introduce children to language, shapes, colors, body parts, and reading.   The MonkiSee products are intended to be used daily, to encourage early reading.

 



The See and Say books are designed with text separated from the illustrations, so that the pictures don't distract from the words.  The illustrations do include single-word labels which are repeated in the very simple text on the next page.  This is intended to encourage children to learn to read as their parents are reading to them.   The illustrations include monkey puppets (Skip and Howie) in colorful backgrounds, acting out the text.

 



The MonkiSee DVD series uses poetry, music, puppets, and real-life images to introduce children to reading.  A word is presented on a blank screen, and then images that illustrate that word are shown afterward. The word reappears on one of the images before the next word is displayed.  The DVD also features a  slide show to review the words presented in the DVD.  The Baby's First Words DVD includes body parts, as well as words like "kiss" and "bath" that are likely to be part of their earliest interactions with their family.

 

ElCloud Thoughts

I am not a fan of sight-reading.  I don't really consider it to be reading.  To me, reading is decoding the letter sounds and their combination in words ... no matter the size of the word or whether it's been seen before.  I do accept that sight-reading is helpful for some children, but it shouldn't replace phonics.  With that said, I would not consider this MonkiSee DVD and book to be a viable reading program for 3 month old - 2 year old children, despite its claims.

 

I do consider Baby's First Words to be an engaging movie for infants and toddlers that teaches body parts and first words.  The rhyming Know Your Monkey book is cute and fun, but it covers far less than the Baby's First Words DVD.  Though MonkiSee isn't what I consider a reading program, I do like the movie as it encourages speech, which is something that my 2 year old son needs.  I loved hearing him repeat words on the DVD that he's never tried to say before.  The movie held the interest of my 7 month old (in spurts), my two year old (repeatedly), and my five year old (the first few times).

 

Since neither my 7 month old, nor my 2 year old, are very verbal, I can't give you any quotes from them.  I can only tell you that my 2 year old has requested the book and the DVD multiple times.  The monkeys, Skip and Howie, make him smile.  Best of all, it did encourage him to speak new words!  We enjoyed the book and DVD and will continue to view them (not daily) with our young children.

 

The MonkiSee Facts

You can order the MonkiSee Baby's First Words DVD for $19.95, on sale from its usual $24.95 price.  Other DVDs are also available at the MonkiSee website.  The Know Your Monkey book and other books are currently available for $9.95 each, instead of $11.95.  You can also purchase the Baby Reading Kit which includes 6 MonkiSee Baby DVDs, 5 flash-card sets, and 2 MonkiSee books for $139.95, with free shipping.  If you'd like to introduce your babies and toddlers to reading, check out MonkiSee.

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

A pleasant weekend ...

After I posted about how terrible my Mother's Day pre-weeks usually are, I decided I needed to update.
I had a good, blessed weekend.
I will admit that on Thursday and Friday I was sad and down at times.  Not at my kids ... just frustrated with my own long list of stuff that was nagging at me, and how I wasn't making progress with it. I started to indulge in a pity party and I made myself stop.  For one thing, my teens noticed it and I didn't want them to think I hated Mother's Day.  (They had read my blog post.)

 

Friday night I told Steve I didn't want to go to a Saturday morning outing he'd suggested because I just wanted to make progress on projects at home.  We did go to a few yard sales on Saturday morning as a whole family, and I'm glad we did.  We gained some neat things, like a $5 KitchenAid Classic stand mixer that actually fits under my cupboards.  (Mine is taller and won't fit on my counter so it gets used much less often.)  I also gained 7 turquoise mugs that look perfect with my melon-colored counter tops ... for $1.  (I figure if I have to have the oddest counters alive, I'm going to work with them and enjoy them!)  And then there was the $1 cobalt blue serving tray that I WILL use, because it is my favorite color!  We did buy some other things, but those were the best deals that brightened up my kitchen.

 

Saturday afternoon, my 3 oldest daughters and I attended an All Daughter's Tea at a local tea house.  We wore fancy hats (provided by the tea house) and enjoyed a table to ourselves with yummy dessert and iced tea.  We shopped at Wal-mart on our way home so the girls' could shop for my Mother's Day gift, and I had my oldest daughter spend 45 minutes practicing her driving, including driving us home on the highway for the first time.

 

Steve did a lot of mowing on Saturday, while I tried to catch up on folding (and washing) laundry.  It is so hard for him to keep up with mowing our 7 acres with a push mower, and he was really behind this Spring.  I know he felt good about crossing that off his to-do list.  I felt good making progress on the laundry.  That evening, we moved our nine 2-year old hens and our single 3-year old guinea from the limestone barn (their winter shelter) to the portable chicken "tractor" they live in during warmer weather.  They're enjoying the sunshine and grass again!

 

Today, we went to church, and Steve's Mom joined us.  We had her over for pizza afterward, and we showed her our chickens and our new puppy.  She didn't stay very long, but it was still nice to spend time with her.  The children told me they were doing my work and I was to relax.  They had picked up the house on Saturday and they started a few loads of laundry this evening, as well as cooking supper.  I appreciated their help, their hugs, and their cards.

 

While they did my work in the house, I ended up helping Steve outside to prepare our other chicken coop (not a tractor) for the baby chicks.  Once it was ready, including fence-repairs, we moved them up from the basement into their new home.  It was getting dark by then, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how they like it.  Steve also did a lot more mowing today, and he's exhausted.

 

I told Steve that I got a ton of gifts this year.  He had bought me a half-price Coffee House clock on Friday night for my kitchen.  Then Saturday we got the mugs, the cobalt tray, and the Kitchenaid mixer at yard sales.  Then on Sunday he (and the children) gave me lots of dark  chocolate.    In addition, we moved the chickens and made head-way on my laundry and his mowing.  I love checking things off a list, so that was also a gift.

 

It was a really nice weekend, of just being together and working together.  Yes, I worked on Mother's Day ... but it was what I wanted to do.

 

Feeling Blessed,
April E.

Circle C Beginnings: Early Reader Fiction

 



 

My 7 year old son now wants a horse.  I fully blame Susan K. Marlow and Andi Carter.  He didn't want a horse until I read Andi's Pony Trouble to him, and now he feels his happiness is dependent upon having a horse of his own.  A horse he can ride really fast like Andi longs to do, and not a trotting pony like the one that Andi has to be content with.

 

 

Published by Kregel Publications, the new Circle C Beginnings series is intended for early readers, age 6 - 8.  Andi's Pony Trouble is a 70-page paperback chapter book with black and white illustrations sprinkled throughout.  It has ten short chapters and a glossary of new words at the beginning of the book.

 

If Circle C Beginnings or Andi seem vaguely familiar to you, it might be because Susan K. Marlow is already a successful author of the popular Circle C Adventures.  In the Circle C Beginnings series, we meet a younger Andi Carter who is the main character in the Circle C Adventure series.  These are both Christian historical fiction series.  Andi Carter (Andrea) is a young woman growing up on a ranch in late 19th century California.  Andi has a penchant for trouble ... I mean, adventure.

 



Though the words in Andi's Pony Trouble were all in my son's own reading level, the amount of words on the page were overwhelming to him.  He would have grown quite tired by the effort to focus on reading a chapter himself.  I offered him the choice of reading to me, or me reading to him, and he chose to have me read to him.  Having me read to him allowed him to enjoy the story more.  Even though it had a female lead character, he was still interested in the story.  It helped that Andi isn't too girly or perfect.  I noticed my 11 year old daughter, who has read some of the Circle C Adventures, lingering nearby to hear about Andi as a younger child.

 

I have enjoyed reading Andi's Pony Trouble to my son this week.  The first day we read two chapters and he was ready for a break.  The second day we read 3 chapters and he was ready to go play.  The third day we read 3 chapters and he said we should finish it tomorrow.  But, a short while later he told me he had to hear the last two chapters because it was too exciting to wait another day.  Of course, I gladly read him the final chapters of the book.

 

Andi's Pony Trouble is available for $4.99 from Kregel, as well as the other books in the series (4 so far).  The Circle C Beginnings website has some wonderful features.  There are free online puzzles and coloring pages for your children to enjoy.   There are also free activity pages for each book to download.  A Journey Through Learning has created lapbooks to accompany each Circle C Beginnings book.

 

The Circle C Beginnings books are wonderful first chapter books for early readers.   Andi's tomboy ways will appeal to boys and girls alike.

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,
April

Mother's Day -- Reality vs. Idealism

I have always been an idealist with high hopes.  I have struggled with disappointment and disillusionment throughout my life.   I've tried to give up the habit of building up romantic idealistic dreams that will not match reality, so I can prevent the disappointment which often leads to depression.

 

But every year, I am disillusioned at Mother's Day.  For some reason, the week before Mother's Day is always terrible here.  I am not sure if my children really are that much more insensitive and disobedient that week, or if I just have higher expectations and hopes that week.  After all, it is the final days before Mother's Day.  Surely they'll want to show their love in more ways than drawing me pictures, right?

 

No.  They may have  good intentions, but usually by Saturday night I am in an angry and depressed mood.  I don't even want to see what sweet things they've written on their cards to me, because surely it is ALL insincere!

 

(A little melodramatic, I know.  I guess it's obvious where some of my children get it from.)

 

Once again this year, I find myself making a rather sarcastic mental commentary on the perfect Mother's Day gift.  After all, how hard can it possibly be to give me just a few little things:

• a clean house (instead of ... well, its current state)


• cheerful and prompt obedience  (instead of grumbling or ignoring)


• joyous laughter (instead of bickering and tattling)


• peace and quiet (instead of mom having to nag and lecture and push and prod)


• pleasant conversation (instead of whining and complaining)


• gentle hugs and snuggles (instead of fighting over who will sit by mom)


• time to just be (instead of rushing from one task to the next)

 

This year, I'm trying to stop the negative rut I was letting myself fall into.  You see, on Saturday my family asked if we could bring home a puppy.  Steve grilled them on their willingness to help with the puppy and EVERYONE was willing.  Mom had the final say, and Mom said yes.  Three days later, it's all on Mom again.  I had really thought they'd last a little longer than that.   Just before Mother's Day.

 

(Pity party begins, stress mounts, melodrama builds.)

 

Sigh.  I'm sure Anna Jarvis, the creator of the modern Mother's Day tradition, had good intentions.  But did she realize that idealists across America might develop hopes of "perfect" Mother's Day weeks and be frustrated by the normal sinful and selfish ways of their children?  Did she realize that the week leading up to Mother's Day might leave some mothers focused on all that they have to do and how it isn't appreciated?

 

How did I get so mixed up?  Being a mother isn't about me, or my feelings, anyway.  It's about serving my family "as unto the Lord".  It's about raising my children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord".  Usually on Mother's Day, God reminds me that it's not about me, anyway.  Usually on Mother's Day I get out of my negative funk and have a renewed commitment to serve God by loving my family unconditionally and joyfully.  I'm just trying to climb out of that funk before Mother's Day this year.  I'm trying not to let myself fall into that trap, actually.

 

Mother's Day isn't about me.  It's about the calling God has placed on my life when He blessed me with children.  It's about my love for Him.  It's about my service for Him.  It's about my mission.  Mother's Day isn't about me being pampered (though I won't reject any pampering that comes my way).  Mother's Day needs to be MY re-commitment to the mission God has given me. If that is my focus, how can I be disappointed?

 

Serving Him,
April E.

 

 

Yesterday's Classics Kindle E-books

 



 

Our home has eight bookshelves in it, and most of them are LARGE bookshelves.  Despite continuous de-cluttering efforts, we always have more books than will fit on our bookshelves.  We have books laying in front of books, or on top of books on the shelves.  There are thousands more books we'd love to own, but cost and space prohibit it.  I'm sure this problem is familiar to many homeschool families, especially those who use a literature-based curriculum as we do.

 

Yesterday's Classics offers an affordable solution that can help with this problem.  They have reproduced hundreds of classic books in an attractive, easy-to-read digital format.  Specifically, they have a bundle of 225 e-books available in both  Kindle and EPUB formats.  We don't own a Kindle, but we do have the free Kindle for PC application on both our computers.

 

When we received our download links for the Yesterday's Classics E-book Collection, I began looking at the individual titles.  I was thrilled to find one that was on my purchase list for next year's history studies -- Famous Men of the Middle Ages.  As I began to look more closely, I recognized many titles that are recommended in Charlotte Mason and Classical Education curriculums.  Then I began to be intrigued by the more obscure titles I didn't recognize.

 

These images represent just a few of the 225 e-books available from Yesterday's Classics.

 

You can see all the other great history, science, and literature books included in this package at the Yesterday's Classics website.  Each book is available in print format (if you really just want to hold a certain book in your hands as you read it), and in e-book format.  You can buy the e-books individually, or in a money-saving bundle of all 225 titles.  The e-books are available in Kindle and EPUB versions.  You do not need to have a Kindle or other portable device to use these e-books.  I downloaded the Kindle for PC free application from Amazon and have been able to use the Kindle Yesterday's Classics books without troubles on my laptop.

 

Though it was a little time-consuming, I had no problems downloading the thirteen zip files and the four other files that comprised this e-book package.  Since our internet has download limits, I chose to take our laptop to the internet and download them there using the wi-fi.  I discovered it went faster if I only downloaded 1 or 2 of the zip files at a time.  Once I unzipped the files, I did have to manually move them to my Kindle library.  (I definitely recommend backing up your files by copying them to a thumb drive in case you lose your hard drive or your Kindle.)  There is a helpful file to walk you through the process of downloading and opening your files, both in Kindle and EPUB format.  If you have any problems, the customer service is excellent!

 

I am very thankful I have these e-books and I plan to use some of them with our history and language arts studies.  I assign reading to some of my older children directly from the laptop, and I read aloud to the younger ones from the laptop.  Despite my own enjoyment of these books, I must admit that I do have two children (out of 5 readers so far) who strongly dislike older books.  They don't like the style and tone that many classics are written in and will beg to read more modern books.  If your children are like these two of mine, then this Yesterday's Classics collection will not be as useful to you.  Though it does have a plethora of educational books, please keep in mind that these are classics and the science books (for instance) may have out of date information that was believed to be true at the time the books were written.  But if you'll even use twenty of the 225 books, then their current special is a real bargain!

 

The Kindle e-book bundle is regularly priced at $149.95, but from May 1 - May 31, 2011, you can purchase this complete set for $99.95.   That's 44 cents per e-book, and there is also a 100% money-back guarantee!  If you aren't fully satisfied, just email and they'll reimburse your money.  I'm pretty sure you'll be satisfied, though.  We definitely are!

 

This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew.  We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion.   Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.

Trusting In Him,

April