tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20852059081045406422024-03-20T05:42:48.755-04:00Sand Dollar SurpriseShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-61798221328645664492011-03-30T23:31:00.000-04:002011-03-30T23:31:22.359-04:00TOS Review of Classical Academic Press' Song School Latin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> I recently had the opportunity to use Song School Latin by Classical Academic Press. My children’s exposure to foreign language has been mostly in Spanish, as that is the foreign language I studied in high school and college. Therefore, we weren’t sure how easy or difficult this would be, but nonetheless decided to pursue learning something about the Latin language with determination.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/images/medium/sslbundle_MED.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Song School Latin Bundle" border="0" src="http://classicalacademicpress.com/images/medium/sslbundle_MED.gif" /></a><a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/includes/templates/cap2009/images/header_bg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Classical Academic Press" border="0" height="29" src="http://classicalacademicpress.com/includes/templates/cap2009/images/header_bg.jpg" width="200" /></a> Although Song School Latin is meant for younger children, my children (the oldest three are 14, 12 and 11 and the youngest is two) really enjoyed it. We received the Song School Latin bundle which is comprised of the student workbook with cd, a teacher’s book and Latin MonkeyMatch Flashcards. We perused the student workbook and teacher’s book when we first received the materials and found them to be of great quality! The colorful illustrations, sturdy design and cd made us want to delve into the Latin language right away! The exercises were fun and the explanations were helpful. I quickly discovered that this program would require teacher assistance as opposed to the children being able to work independently. But, as I said earlier, this was our first exposure to the Latin language, so I was not surprised by this. We found the cd and the Latin Monkey Match flashcards to be a big plus to the Song School Latin program. We were able to use the cd at home as well as in the car, and the flash cards were easy to use at home or on the go as well. The music on the cd was very enjoyable and made the concept of learning quite fun for everyone. </div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"> If you are looking for a foreign language curriculum I would encourage you to visit the <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=16">Classical Academic Press website</a> and take a look at their products. You can view Song School Latin and many other options at <a href="http://classicalacademicpress.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=16">classicalacademicpress.com</a>. There you will find useful explanations and samples of their products. You will also find additional product information, such as pricing, a catalog and some free resources. This particular set was priced at $64.95, but there are other Classical Academic Press products that you may want to consider depending on the ages of your children and other needs. Good luck in your homeschooling adventures!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This product was given to me for the purpose of review. I did not receive any compensation for doing so.<o:p></o:p></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-19858643991681762022011-03-07T23:22:00.000-05:002011-03-07T23:22:24.457-05:00TOS Review of Reading Kingdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://www.readingkingdom.com/images/RK_logo_book_200.png" width="200" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.readingkingdom.com/images/RK_logo_book_200.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span></a></span></div><br />
<br />
<br />
As parents, we all want our children to have a love for reading, right? In addition, we as parents recognize the importance of knowing how to read and comprehending it. Do you need a resource to help your child with reading? If so, Reading Kingdom is a reading program that you could consider as an option in teaching your child how to read.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Reading Kingdom is an online program that teaches children no matter what their level of mastery. It is recommended for children ages 4-10. The cost is $19.99 per month, or $199.99 per year. The program offers a 30 day free trial. There is also a scholarship program for those unable to pay. To learn more about Reading Kingdom's cost and payment options, you can visit the Pricing and Pledge section, under Learn more, located at www.readingkingdom.com.</div><br />
This program worked well for my daughter. She enjoyed using it and found that she could do the lessons independently. In addition to improving reading skills, she was also able to improve her typing skills as wel<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are looking for an online reading program for your student, consider Reading Kingdom. It is an option that promises good results with a strong foundation for reliability. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><tbody>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><tbody>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><tbody>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><tbody>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I was not compensated for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-29652863379243812562011-02-25T09:11:00.000-05:002011-02-25T09:11:34.990-05:00TOS Review of Math Rider<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="MathRider Math Game Package" height="200" src="http://mathrider.com/images/sp/807181.gif" width="170" /></div><br />
When we received the opportunity to review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> Math Rider</span>, I was really excited for my kids. Who doesn't love horses, right? Combine that with Mathematics and you've got a pretty creative motivator to get kids engaged in a subject that (speaking from experience) can be intimidating, to say the least.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Math Rider</span> is a unique math computer game that<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ombines fun game play with a highly sophisticated </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">question<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"> </span>engine that adapts to your child</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">."</span> Using a technique that "senses" your child's mathematical needs and abilities, this game helps your child master addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for the numbers 1-12. While the game learns and records information on what your child can and cannot do mathematically, the "rider" gets to take on four different "quests" to try to rescue a princess, among other activities. In addition, the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> Math Rider</span> game gives the student and the parent/teacher feedback on progress and an "overview map" of math facts that the student has mastered. The Math "rider" has lots of opportunities for success while playing the game, which undoubtedly builds up your child's confidence in their mathematical abilities. <br />
<br />
Our family's thoughts on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Math Rider</span> were a little mixed. My husband and I, both former teachers, played the game and felt that the game was fun and positively reinforcing while incorporating important math skills that many kids of all ages struggle with. My children enjoyed <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Math Rider</span> as well. Everyone had their own rider and didn't feel that they had to compete with each other (big plus for us). My youngest student, who is a fifth grader, enjoyed playing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> Math Rider</span> most of all. She found out that learning math could be fun after all, and was pretty successful at answering the math questions correctly. My sixth grader, who loves horses, but struggles a bit with math, was really excited about the game. After spending some time on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Math Rider</span>, she felt like she was timed, as the horse and rider jump hurdles if the rider answers the math equation within the time allowed. Otherwise, the game was a success for us.<br />
<br />
If you are looking for fun and exciting ways to improve your child's math skills, I would recommend you visit the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Math Rider</span> website at <a href="http://mathrider.com/">http://mathrider.com/</a>. You can learn more about <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Math Rider</span>, purchase it for $37.00 (with a 30 day money back guarantee) and see clips of the game at their website.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-49376355728610537622011-02-19T23:44:00.000-05:002011-02-19T23:44:05.268-05:00Life Before Homeschooling: A JourneyHas anyone else out there ever wanted to homeschool but wasn't in the right situation to do so? I've often wondered if I was the only one who had been down a variety of paths before homeschooling became possible. I often think about why God placed me in those situations when I knew, and He knew, my heart's desire was to homeschool my children. But I do know that I treasure my opportunity to homeschool my children at this point in my life and I truly believe it was God's plan all along. Just my timing wasn't his timing.<br />
<br />
So before homeschooling my children, I held several different positions. I've been a mental health therapist, a teaching parent at a group home, an in-home day care provider, and a middle school teacher. All the while, my heart told me that I needed to be at home with my children. Not a day passes by that I don't reflect on what my family's past situations have been, and how wonderful God is to have carried us through. I am so very thankful to Him, because I know that I am a homeschool mother and stay-at home mother in His name. <br />
<br />
Beginning homeschooling in the middle of my children's education has certainly had its challenges. I appreciate each opportunity to work with my children and encourage them in their lives' journeys as Christians striving to achieve what God has intended for them.<br />
<br />
If you are a parent who has had a unique start to your homeschool experience, I'd love to receive a comment from you. I hope this brief post has been a source of encouragement and support to anyone who needs it. Please feel welcome to leave any prayer requests as well. And remember, I'll be praying for you!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-63322473890641923312011-02-18T21:49:00.003-05:002011-02-18T22:37:47.559-05:00TOS Review of KID SCOOPWe recently had the opportunity to use the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Reluctant Reader Solution </span> from Kid Scoop. This is a two part digital product that provides an online newspaper titled<a href="http://www.kidscoopnews.com/"> Kid Scoop News,</a> as well as a digital e-book (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Reluctant Reader Solution </span>e-book).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJY7qRvHVDsqqX0d7vJasDq1SLxcYAhC9eDOK8rikzIfI0FqYl-ecGX1RnIX67hf6H-gH-VdQQ2J9DKDKFn_B6KNcy_r-J9vMRo-0LtEYloy66jExRR2h5sxHFh74akl115yaUO4mat44/s1600/online_edition.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJY7qRvHVDsqqX0d7vJasDq1SLxcYAhC9eDOK8rikzIfI0FqYl-ecGX1RnIX67hf6H-gH-VdQQ2J9DKDKFn_B6KNcy_r-J9vMRo-0LtEYloy66jExRR2h5sxHFh74akl115yaUO4mat44/s400/online_edition.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>By purchasing the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> Reluctant Reader Solution</span>, you will receive 12 full color issues of <a href="http://www.kidscoopnews.com/">Kid Scoop News</a> online and 365 Kid Scoop worksheets. In addition, there is also a 365 day unconditional money back guarantee. All this for the low price of $97.00. After using this product and exploring the vast amount of resources available, the cost is definitely reasonable and well worth it. To learn more and to view some examples of this great product, please visit their <a href="http://www.kidscoop.com/reluctantreadersolution/">website</a>.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSdOGB_jXCNLJAQX-5-oxL27S9L_dtsXOuhE8eRkO3cAkeyE3m_cEuMYVKFW5Op5nmIlq0_ko_0CD8V6cdhA9jebarEc-v2B-K_shliXtm3y5AxbOgtRr2Tv7AX7P6lE_pkWUcVnSsQhB/s1600/turnreadingintofun.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSdOGB_jXCNLJAQX-5-oxL27S9L_dtsXOuhE8eRkO3cAkeyE3m_cEuMYVKFW5Op5nmIlq0_ko_0CD8V6cdhA9jebarEc-v2B-K_shliXtm3y5AxbOgtRr2Tv7AX7P6lE_pkWUcVnSsQhB/s320/turnreadingintofun.gif" width="259" /></a>My kids enjoyed the Kid Scoop website and the online newspaper. I would say the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Reluctant Reader</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> S</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">olution</span> is a versatile product since each of my students, whose grades are 5th, 6th and 8th, were able to benefit from the website, the online newspaper and the e-book worksheets. For our worksheets, we chose <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">The International Space Station</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Owen and Mzee</span>, and Louisa May Alcott</span>. Although I, too, liked the website and online newspaper, I was particularly impressed with the worksheets. My children were not just benefiting from the product's versatility, but also from the various learning style options that are found in the worksheets. For the visual learner, there are a lot of pictures to coincide with the written material. There are plenty of question and answer style questions as well. Writing, puzzles, brain teasers, mathematics, historical facts and arts and crafts are also found throughout the Kid Scoop worksheets, making them great lessons as well as supplemental material. All the while, the student is increasing his or her reading ability (and probably won't even realize it!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUocSbABcaPrH3r5M-ai6oZGSu89Q2L_pAmMhElvukWb2G-yZFM16o-U84Es7Uul63oSWDBPdXOnt25Br3caCyAMYT3685iJG8hfEjQRowWdNbbmDYO6jOFqK27ynnGLJt-7u0RBnLdxa/s1600/Capture001.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUocSbABcaPrH3r5M-ai6oZGSu89Q2L_pAmMhElvukWb2G-yZFM16o-U84Es7Uul63oSWDBPdXOnt25Br3caCyAMYT3685iJG8hfEjQRowWdNbbmDYO6jOFqK27ynnGLJt-7u0RBnLdxa/s400/Capture001.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">My family would highly recommend the Reluctant Reader Solution from Kid Scoop. Help your child improve his or her reading skills while having fun at the same time! Visit the <a href="http://www.kidscoopnews.com/">Kid Scoop</a> website today and learn more about this unique educational product.</div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-79665591895400547882011-02-11T12:32:00.002-05:002011-02-11T20:32:47.058-05:00Review of TOS Unit Study Zombie Fire Ants<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Recently, our homeschooling family completed a unit study on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Zombie Fire Ants, </span>part of the collection of unit studies from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Curiosity Files</span>. When we first began the journey of learning more about <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">zombie fire ants, </span>we had no idea what was in store! I thought zombie fire ants, seriously??? Why in the world would anybody want to learn anything about those pests? After all, our first experiences with<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> fire ants </span>had been nothing but annoying and aggravating, not to mention painful. Nonetheless, we began our adventure on the learning path to increasing our knowledge of what else but the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">zombie fire ants. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/images/products/ZombieFireAnts_cover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="E-Book: The Curiosity Files™- Zombie Fire Ants" border="0" src="http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/images/products/ZombieFireAnts_cover2.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">This was our first experience with unit studies, as well as with learning more about those pesky bugs. What is a unit study? Well, a unit study is a well-organized and comprehensive combination of various readings, worksheets, internet links and activities that are combined into a unique learning experience. For our family of four homeschooling students (ages 14, 12, 10 and 2) the unit study is a true blessing! After working on this unit study, we found a way to accomplish a great deal of our homeschooling work in a very timely yet worthwhile manner. AND, EVERYONE ENJOYED IT (even mommy!). Where has <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Curiosity Files </span>been all this time? Yeaaaa! I can't believe we've finally found a system that is not only educational but also fun to begin and complete for everyone involved. I'm truly serious when I say that I did not have to prod, poke or admonish anyone into completing this unit study. The kids truly enjoyed and looked forward to working on<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> Zombie Fire Ants</span> each day that we worked on it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The actual <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Zombie Fire Ants </span>unit study is 91 pages long from front to back. It has cute and entertaining illustrations throughout, enhancing the fun of completing the unit study. Just looking at the table of contents will spark your interest in learning more about these unique little insects. It begins with an introduction to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">zombie fire ants </span>and their Biblical purpose. This is followed by several math activities that are appropriate for all age groups. Writing, spelling and vocabulary exercises (including word searches and crossword puzzles) are next, broken down into elementary, junior high and high school categories. Copywork ( several bible verses that your student can learn and copy), science activities (including instructions for making your own ant farm!), arts and crafts activities, additional information on the zombie fire ants, mini quizzes and answer keys are just a few of the things that you will find in this superb unit study. I wish I could list and describe all that you would find, but then again, that would take away from the surprise! An additional plus to this unit study is the option of selecting what exercises/activities you want to do - you may choose to do everything in the unit study, or only a part of it. You can also set your own pace for completing the unit study. This makes it very easy to use as it can be modified to fit your family's needs. Believe me, you will find it well worth your time to take a look at this unit study from The Old Schoolhouse's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Curiosity Files. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"></span></span><img height="170" src="http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/TOSGraphics/CFpagespreads/fireantpagespray.jpg" width="400" /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">To learn more about the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Zombie Fire Ants</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"> </span>unit study, visit the Old Schoolhouse Magazine's website at </span><a href="http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/">http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/</a> and click on the store tab. There you will find the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Zombie Fire Ants</span> unit study is available for $6.95. You can also explore the other <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Curiosity Files</span> unit studies that are available, as well. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I truly hope that if you decide to explore the world of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Zombie Fire Ants</span> and other unit studies, you will find this review was helpful to you! We will definitely be pursuing the world of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Curiosity Files</span> and other unit studies in our future homeschool adventures, and hope that you will find them to be as much a benefit to your homeschooling studies as they have been to ours.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I was not compensated for this review.</span></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-64587005399872302832011-01-12T22:55:00.000-05:002011-01-12T22:55:04.758-05:00Review of Virtual NerdVirtual Nerd is a website geared towards those students who are struggling with mathematics. A conglomeration of online video resources are used to assist the student in solving a variety of mathematical problems. In addition, a white board and a live teacher are additional up to date benefits that work to help the student feel ready and capable of learning.<img alt="Virtual Nerd Logo" src="http://www.virtualnerd.com/images/vn_logo-click_target.gif" /><img alt="Virtual Nerd Logo" src="http://www.virtualnerd.com/images/vn_logo-click_target.gif" /><br />
<br />
<img alt="Virtual Nerd Logo" src="http://www.virtualnerd.com/images/vn_logo-click_target.gif" /><br />
Both my son and daughter have used Virtual Nerd since we were asked to review the website. My son and daughter, who are in the 8th grade and 6th grade respectively, were both impressed with the Virtual Nerd website. They found it to be easy to use and also to understand. My daughter especially commented after watching the video on numerical and algebraic expressions that she found it easy to understand what the teacher was explaining. My husband, a former math and science teacher, also looked through the website and viewed many of the videos. He found that Virtual Nerd would be a useful tool for teachers, parents and students to use. <br />
<br />
Virtual Nerd is available for $49 for a month long subscription. Other pricing options are available as well if you are in need of a different time frame. To find out more, visit www.virtualnerd.com. <br />
<br />
<br />
I did not receive any compensation for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-54516055693135746292011-01-07T23:15:00.000-05:002011-01-07T23:15:21.765-05:00See n Read review<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div><br />
I was presented with the opportunity to review the product See-N-Read, which is a reading tool developed by CadenaSmith Enterprises. Dr. Sylvia Smith tells of her daughter Robin's difficulty with reading in school, and how the development of the See-N-Read system helped her daughter overcome numerous obstacles in reading and make great achievements in her academic career. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.see-n-read.com/store/media/snr_book_size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="snr_book_size.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.see-n-read.com/store/media/snr_book_size.jpg" /></a></div>The See -N-Read reading tool comes in a book size, which is 5 1/2" wide for smaller books and in a document size, which is 8 1/2" wide for larger books or documents.<br />
<br />
In addition, there is also a MemoryMark version, which is the same see-n-read tool with the clear window cut out for the reader to have the option of highlighting the passage read without moving the tool.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.see-n-read.com/store/media/MMArtsmall" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MMArtsmall" border="0" src="http://www.see-n-read.com/store/media/MMArtsmall" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another option is the eSee-N-Read, which is the See-N-Read version for the computer.</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.see-n-read.com/store/media/esnr_electronic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="esnr_electronic.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.see-n-read.com/store/media/esnr_electronic.jpg" /></a></div>The See-N-Read is backed by numerous research studies and child-tested reviews that prove the See-N-Read is an assistive device that helps reduce incidence of skipping words and/or lines and pattern glare. It is proven to work well for all ages and skill levels as well. <br />
Fortunately, my school-aged children are all very fluent readers and do not have any problems with reading comprehension. Upon trying the See-N-Read reading tool, they commented that they found it to be useful for keeping their place on a page if they had to stop reading and close their book, as well as helping them to maintain their place on a page while reading. However, our trials with math are quite different. The See-N-Read reading tool was helpful in aligning numbers while performing all math operations. It also helped them to maintain focus on one problem at a time, instead of seeing all the problems at once. This reduced their anxiety while working on one of their more difficult subjects, allowing for our school time to run smoothly. The See-N-Read reading tool and Memory Mark were both very helpful while completing our homeschool studies. The eSee-N-Read is also an option and can be downloaded for a free trial at the See-N-Read website, www.see-n-read.com.<br />
The See-N-Read reading tool is available in a 6 piece combination pack for $17.99. It can also be ordered in varying increments if desired. The Memory Mark can also be ordered in a 6 piece combination pack for $17.99, or in varying increments as well. To learn more about the See-N-Read reading tools availability and pricing please visit their website at www.see-n-read.com. <br />
Overall, I was very pleased with this product's performance. It truly lives up to what it says it will do to help with one's reading, in addition to numerous other advantages. The See-N-Read products are highly recommended by this homeschool family!<br />
<br />
<br />
I received this product for review purposes only. I did not receive any compensation for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-76222352142141751492010-12-03T23:04:00.000-05:002010-12-03T23:04:39.106-05:00Review of The Master Ruler from Master Innovations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.themasterruler.com/images/Master-Ruler-Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Master Ruler Starter Set" border="0" src="http://www.themasterruler.com/images/Master-Ruler-Logo.png" /></a>My family and I had the opportunity to use and review the Master Ruler, a neat and highly useful measuring manipulative from Master Innovations. We received the standard ruler, the metric ruler, the Marvels of Measurement poster and the Master Ruler workbook. The development of The Master Ruler came about when a teacher recognized that her students were not able to use a ruler without a lot of confusion. The Master Ruler eliminates this confusion by giving the user a way to distinguish decimeters, centimeters and millimeters through the use of separate layers on the ruler. Color coding and index tabs also make it easier for the student to identify and separate, learn equivalent metric fractions, and learn to measure each part of a meter by using its own layer. The Master Ruler workbook contains about 22 pages of measuring activities as well as an answer key. Both the workbook and the Master Ruler are appealing and fun to use. In addition, the Master Innovations website (www.themasterruler.com) is a useful resource for learning more about using The Master Ruler and the other products offered by Master Innovations. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.themasterruler.com/store/images/fullsize/Workbook%201%20stand%201%20metric%201%20teachers%20angle%20V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Master Ruler Starter Set" border="0" src="http://www.themasterruler.com/store/images/fullsize/Workbook%201%20stand%201%20metric%201%20teachers%20angle%20V.jpg" /></a>My family enjoyed the opportunity to use The Master Ruler. My husband, who is considered the math expert in our family, found that teaching math and measuring skills through estimation with The Master Ruler was useful in the homeschool setting. Additional worksheets in the workbook would be useful for providing more learning opportunities and reinforcement of the measuring concepts.<br />
<br />
To learn more about The Master Ruler and Master Innovations other products, please visit their website at www.themasterruler.com.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.themasterruler.com/store/images/fullsize/Poster.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Measurement poster" border="0" height="214" src="http://www.themasterruler.com/store/images/fullsize/Poster.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
I was not compensated for the review of this product. Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-14174185129239433822010-11-05T23:51:00.000-04:002010-11-05T23:51:49.780-04:00Book Collectorz Review<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Book Collectorz is a downloadable program that will allow you to keep track of all your books, cd's, and dvd's. It is a great idea for the book collector or family that enjoys reading and therefore has a lot of books that they want to keep on hand. <img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww95/homeschoolcrew/Homeschool%20Helps/book-overview-small.jpg" /></div><br />
<br />
Simply entering the book titles or scanning the ISBN barcodes will record the book's information into a database for your reference at a later time. Situations that may require you to have a list of your possessions for insurance purposes, or even to avoid buying books you already own, would make the Book Collectorz program beneficial for you. Checking your list of books while away from home is even possible with Book Collectorz. You can use the Book Collectorz program with a PC or MAC. In addition, there are various other items of interest to accompany the program that are featured on the website www.collectorz.com, such as a barcode scanner, a user manual and a user forum. The version of Book Collectorz that I was able to try was the pro version, which sells for $49.95. You can get a trial version of Book Collectorz for free, or try the Book Collectorz standard edition. There are also bundles that you can choose from. Visit the website www.collectorz.com and find out more about how Book Collectorz may benefit your family! <br />
<br />
I was not compensated for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-51741084792289717412010-10-27T23:41:00.000-04:002010-10-27T23:41:46.941-04:00PG Key Review PG Key is a small device that makes managing computer safety a lot easier! When we first received PG Key, we were ready to install the key and find out how it would work. Having tried out some other alternatives to managing the safety of our family computer, we were wondering if PG Key would be able to meet our expectations. <br />
Installing the PG Key was fairly easy. It involved simply plugging in the key, installing the software and then subscribing to the PG Key website to access the full function of the device. Next, we were able to set up blocks of websites and arrange for notifications when a user attempted to access something that was blocked. Once this step was met, the PG Key then would regularly record all activities that took place while one was using the computer. It supplies you with a a movie of what the key recorded, which was a very nice feature.Also, the PG Key recorded all keystrokes on an internet log, which could provide parents with useful information if they were monitoring their children's access to sites that require passwords. <br />
There were only a couple of dislikes of the PG Key. Because the key is small, of course there is a concern that it may get lost. But, the PG Key comes with instructions on what to do if this happens. Secondly, we ran into a situation that required us to unblock a website. The wait time for this unblock to take effect was quite lengthy, so it wasn't possible to immediately access the website although it had been unblocked. Also, we decided to uninstall PG Key but found that our browsers didn't recognize that PG Key had been uninstalled. <br />
PG Key is a good program with a few minor technical issues involving its filtering features. It would be a great piece of equipment to add to your computer. Of course nothing is as good as the direct monitoring of your child while he is using the computer, but PG Key comes pretty close to letting you know exactly what took place during others' use of the computer. I would definitely recommend it! <br />
If you are interested in PG Key, please visit their website at www.pgkey.com.<br />
I was not compensated for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-70682970100102362582010-10-15T22:45:00.000-04:002010-10-15T22:45:58.593-04:00Soli Deo Gloria Review/Young Hearts Longing for God Young Hearts Longing for God is a study of the book of Psalms for elementary, middle and high school level students. In thirty lessons, the student will gain quite a bit of knowledge about the book of Psalms as well as engage in some personal reflections of one's thoughts on the Bible verses found in Psalms.<br />
<br />
My children really enjoyed using Young Hearts Longing for God. It was simple but not too easy and allowed for some creativity as well. Based on our experience, I would recommend Young Hearts Longing for God to those looking for a Bible curriculum.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in learning more about Young Hearts Longing for God or other resources from Soli Deo Gloria resources, please visit their website at www.solideogloriaresources.com. <br />
<br />
I was not compensated for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-47860617642608043432010-09-24T22:04:00.000-04:002010-09-24T22:04:29.660-04:00Schleich Review When we received the Schleich animal figurines in the mail, we were so surprised and excited! The kids thought someone had anonymously sent us a present. What a delight when we opened our package and found out that we had received these great animal figures for a review. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmwv6UDjc5dbfi6OYsq-Je_tat_hgBEPqgdfVtNYF19qfa4uguHOmmq_s9v5cPmHtJ6lu3cUuGByBlth5ze28WdpWjSP5jDPshzLD0UTk-DOHzN_A8hWJmgO0TvoGwbgEcT-bKPVUS0MW/s1600/bbIMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmwv6UDjc5dbfi6OYsq-Je_tat_hgBEPqgdfVtNYF19qfa4uguHOmmq_s9v5cPmHtJ6lu3cUuGByBlth5ze28WdpWjSP5jDPshzLD0UTk-DOHzN_A8hWJmgO0TvoGwbgEcT-bKPVUS0MW/s200/bbIMG_0001.jpg" width="168" /></a></div> Some of the animals we received were the Gnu calf, the Okapi, and the Asian elephant calf. These figurines as well as the others that came in our package are of excellent quality. The detail and workmanship that went into making these animal figurines is remarkable. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they are also fun to play with.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExCPPJqTU2M2kVttsxVtDvzeRTnvE-LxFLOSVDIXWDCzHAWASFCumXERVPKb7yTd-dPCBnbSPRb1_ZHnfiQfv_yELCKy2kAnLTrZCTg0pq7camIY6EshcilUQY8VG3TYYr_wpWwwHkts7/s1600/a_IMG_0001_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExCPPJqTU2M2kVttsxVtDvzeRTnvE-LxFLOSVDIXWDCzHAWASFCumXERVPKb7yTd-dPCBnbSPRb1_ZHnfiQfv_yELCKy2kAnLTrZCTg0pq7camIY6EshcilUQY8VG3TYYr_wpWwwHkts7/s1600/a_IMG_0001_1.JPG" /></a></div> My kids are ages 14 to 1 1/2. Believe it or not, all four of them were interested in these animals and have enjoyed playing with them. Even us parents have found the animals to be fascinating and fun. One additional positive note for those parents with special needs children is that the animals are softly textured and feel really good to the hands. Not only would they encourage pretend play, but they would also help improve on fine motor skills.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gFWi-afy0xbS-kRcuz-xLEb2rSnhGaiMEIKQ9ftaEtvkEO0wqkoQ7fNirCsEDcwp8owzdZtQyJoW9eBGqvff71kUTlUhBfx9aGMrIxCeBv2f7wDycLpyKdgJJVsojSwiG37H0cx9EVul/s1600/a_IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gFWi-afy0xbS-kRcuz-xLEb2rSnhGaiMEIKQ9ftaEtvkEO0wqkoQ7fNirCsEDcwp8owzdZtQyJoW9eBGqvff71kUTlUhBfx9aGMrIxCeBv2f7wDycLpyKdgJJVsojSwiG37H0cx9EVul/s1600/a_IMG_0001.JPG" /></a><br />
From a homeschool standpoint, the Schleich animal figurines could be used in a variety of ways. Your students could look up information online about each animal, or use them to tell a story. They could also be used as manipulatives in math. Basically, the Schleich animal figurines are can be used for educational purposes in any way you choose.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in learning more about Schleich products, you can visit their website at www.schleich.com. On the website, you can use the store locator feature or place an online order. <br />
<br />
I was not compensated for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-50310545110156384952010-09-22T20:36:00.000-04:002010-09-22T20:36:47.088-04:00Salem Ridge Press Review: From Bondage to Freedom, Marie's Home and Before the Dawn<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span> I had the exciting opportunity to review three books from Salem Ridge Press. The titles we received were "From Bondage to Freedom", "Marie's Home" and "Before the Dawn". <br />
<div><br />
</div><div> Salem Ridge Press is a publishing company founded by Daniel Mills. The books published by Salem Ridge Press are generally Christian oriented. They are geared towards providing the reader with historical information on Christianity and it how it existed in history. They could serve as supplementary material to your homeschool social studies curriculum or bible curriculum, making the books versatile for the user. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Salem Ridge Press has high standards for its published material. It follows the bible verse taken from Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren,whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."</div><div><br />
</div><div> The book titled "From Bondage to Freedom" is a nicely bound book that was written by Emma Leslie. It begins with a preface, a listing of helpful historical notes, important dates, a table of contents and a table of illustrations. Throughout the book are multiple footnotes giving the reader definitions for unfamiliar words. The language of the book made it difficult for my 8th grader to read, however. He continues to work on reading the book, as he is an avid reader. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The books titled "Marie's Home" and "Before the Dawn" were e-books that we received. "Marie's Home" , written by Caroline Austen, begins with a publisher's note and a table of contents. "Marie's Home" is easier to read and follows the author's connection with the past as she receives her grandmother's journal. "Before the Dawn" was written by Emma Leslie. It depicts the struggles for religious freedoms in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries. "Before the Dawn" is similar to "From Bondage to Freedom" as it begins with a publisher's note, a preface, multiple historical notes, important historical dates, and several maps. The book also provides the reader with explanations of unfamiliar words through the use of footnotes. </div><div><br />
</div><div> The books that my family and I had the pleasure of exploring would be a nice and informative addition to a homeschool library. As a parent, I know that these books would be clean and safe material for my children to read. If you are considering purchasing these books, plan to read them over an extended period of time with opportunities for you and your children to discuss the books in small increments.</div><div><br />
</div><div> I received these reading materials for review purposes only. I was not compensated for reviewing these books.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-36978404599727574802010-09-10T22:47:00.000-04:002010-09-10T22:47:20.609-04:00Math Essentials ReviewMy family had the opportunity to try out and review Math Essentials. Found at the web address www.americasmathteacher.com, Math Essentials is a good addition to your homeschool curriculum. The user can access many written exercises for basic math through algebra. There is an interactive feature as well, where the invisible tutor demonstrates the steps to solving a large variety of math problems while talking through the solution process. <br />
We immediately jumped at the chance to try out Math Essentials and began using it as soon as our homeschool began this year. All three of my children (who are in grades 5, 6 and 8) used the website tools and found them to be very helpful. Although getting started was a little difficult, once each of them got used to the website's features, they found it had many uses. We were able to use the demonstrations as reviews for previous math skills already learned, as well as to help with learning new skills. Having the math tutor demonstrate the steps as he talks the student through the process was helpful, as were the corresponding math worksheets. So many options, and so little time! What time we did get the privilege of using Math Essentials was well worth it.<br />
I would recommend Math Essentials to those who need a supplement to their current math curriculum. It would also work well for a student who is able to stay on task and work well independently. My oldest child had some difficulty with staying attentive while observing the math demonstrations, but did well when I sat with him and watched the short clips. He benefited from using the website as a tool for review as well as to learn new math skills. <br />
If you are interested in Math Essentials, you should check out their website mentioned earlier, at www.americasmathtutor.com. For $195.00, you will receive a one year subscription to the website along with the worksheets and other helpful features. Good luck in your homeschool adventures and enjoy Math Essentials!<br />
<br />
I was not compensated for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-2008926751954549122010-09-01T01:05:00.003-04:002010-09-01T01:05:00.310-04:00Vantage Learning My Access! Home Edition Review I had the great opportunity to review the My Access! Home Edition writing website. I was excited to incorporate this into our daily homeschool routine, as writing is an important part of our school day.<br />
My Access!Home Edition has some great features. It allows for each student who uses the program to log into their own personal writing page. It also gives the parent/teacher the same option so that you can monitor the progress of each user's writing skills, as well as make writing assignments. In addition, a parent's guide and a student's guide are also available on the website. <br />
We used My Access almost every day. My children thought it was fun to use the website as a way to record journal entries or to write book reviews. The My Access!Home Edition was best suited for my two older children, who are in grades 6 and 8. I was curious to see how much progress these two would make in their writing abilities, as they both struggle with writing somewhat. Although it took several attempts to get started, they were both able to utilize the features of this writing program and save their work relatively easy. On the following days, it was somewhat difficult to find a way to start writing about a new topic, as opposed to having an assigned topic given to them. (I chose this option to provide extra encouragement and incentive to get them writing). However with some perseverance, we were able to pursue a daily writing routine using My Access!Home Edition. I chose to track the kids' writing progress by reading and critiquing their writing samples myself, as opposed to the website's feature of generating progress reports. This seemed to fit my needs as the teacher better, but the option of tracking progress through progress reports is available.<br />
I would suggest that if you are considering using My Access!Home Edition writing website, you should explore the website and all of its features prior to introducing it to your students. Your familiarity with the website will make it easier to be the navigator for the writers. Also, consider it as an option for any grade, but in our situation it worked best for middle schoolers. <br />
If you are interested in learning more about or purchasing the My Access!Home Edition writing curriculum, you can get additional information by visiting www.myaccesshome.com. The cost of this program ranges from approximately $90.00 to $130.00.<br />
I did not receive any compensation for this review.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-36612130479420211132010-07-22T01:00:00.005-04:002010-07-22T18:11:32.692-04:00Travel Kits Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww95/homeschoolcrew/Totally%20TOS/travelkits_cover_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww95/homeschoolcrew/Totally%20TOS/travelkits_cover_sm.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>I was curious to learn more about the e-book titled "Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others" when I was assigned as a reviewer. Written by Donna Rees, "Travel Kits" is well written and entertaining as well as informative. It explains how one can prepare and give a variety of gift ideas to someone who is traveling.<br />
<br />
Anyone can put the ideas and suggestions for making travel kits to use if you follow this guide. Ms. Rees begins her e-book explaining the basics of her travel kit idea. She then explains how to compile the items for the travel kit based on the traveler's needs. For example, she explains how to prepare travel kits for families with small children or older children and even mom and dad. Ms. Rees also gives suggestions for how to prepare travel kits for the traveling individual. It becomes clear as you read further into "Travel Kits" that the author has thought of every possible situation that may call for a travel kit. She also shares with her readers her numerous ideas for what to include in a travel kit, from special toys to books on tape/cd to resources from the department of tourism. Games, snacks for mom or dad, and gifts for grandparents are also in the list of suggested ideas. As if that wasn't enough, Ms. Rees also provides an abundance of suggestions on how to package the gifts appropriately, depending on the receiver's traveling situation. Big budget or little budget, crafty or not, this e-book is a great idea for anyone who is interested in finding unique ways to bless others.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed reading the e-book "Travel Kits". I found it to be entertaining and personal, both which contributed to its ease of use. Scattered throughout the e-book are various stories of the author's and others' experience with giving and receiving travel kits, and pictures to demonstrate. I look forward to the opportunity to put what I learned from"Travel Kits" to use for someone and see how it turns out!<br />
<br />
If you are interested in purchasing the e-book "Travel Kits: A Simple Way to Bless Others", visit the website www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.<br />
<br />
I did not receive compensation for this review.<br />
<br />
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085205908104540642.post-50045931644841030142010-07-19T01:00:00.005-04:002010-07-19T01:00:05.172-04:00Travel the World Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww95/homeschoolcrew/Totally%20TOS/2010JunModuleCoverSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww95/homeschoolcrew/Totally%20TOS/2010JunModuleCoverSM.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>I have had the great opportunity to review the product titled "Travel the World", which is a part of The 2009 Schoolhouse Planner (June 2010 module). "Travel the World" is an e-book that can be transformed into a lapbook as well as used in other forms depending on what best suits your needs. You will need to have a globe and a world map available to you while working on "Travel the World". (Globes and maps can be accessed at your local library if you do not own your own.) <br />
<br />
<div></div><div>The "Travel the World" e-book is comprehensive in that it covers geography, social studies, bible, reading, writing and spelling all in one. The e-book has a variety of links throughout that will give the reader and user the opportunity to explore various topics in depth, if so desired. "Travel the World" is appropriate for upper elementary through high school level students. There are approximately 52 pages in this e-book, all of which are full of great information that will spark the interest of any learner. In using "Travel the World", you will need to review the e-book prior to starting the lesson with your students. A detailed Table of Contents at the beginning is a great way to get an overview of "Travel the World". A considerable amount of reading of geography is required at the beginning of the e-book, but the reader will find plenty of useful links to click on as well as a mixture of motivational, thought-provoking quotes and bible verses scattered throughout the text. Colorful pictures throughout the e-book provide some visual explanations of the material as well. Sections titled "What is Geography?", "What's an Accurate Model of the Earth?", "What About Maps?", "The Land and Waters", and "Continents" provide detailed information that will be useful when compiling information for this lapbook project. Your students will also find fun worksheets such as fill in the blank, crossword puzzles, word scramble, rhebus puzzle and word search included in "Travel the World". There is a section on how to complete a "My Travel Book" as well as a high school expander that make it possible to use this e-book for a variety of grade levels. Because this e-book is accessible through your computer, it would benefit the student who loves to work at their own pace. The student can be an independent learner, or one who needs a lot of guidance. Basically this product will work for a variety of situations and can be manipulated to suit your student's learning needs.</div><div><br />
</div><div>"Travel the World" would be a useful addition to your homeschool curriculum. Although there is a considerable amount of reading in the beginning of the e-book, the clickable links throughout the text break it up. The reading was enjoyable for the most part but not for the student who is below upper elementary grade level. The worksheets and "My Travel Book" are fun to use and make the completion of the lapbook less tedious. In addition, there are numerous links and suggested resources as well as answer keys that are helpful.</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you are interested in learning more about or purchasing the e-book "Travel the World", you can find it at the website www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com for $7.95. <br />
<br />
I received this product free of charge for review purposes.</div><div><br />
</div><div></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03301606525185465766noreply@blogger.com3