Light, Liberty, and Learning

Blog Officially Closed

2011-08-27T17:21:00.002-04:00

I finally made up my mind to close my blog. I have deleted all posts except for those that pertain to homeschool reviews, etc.~ I have frequent visitors to my review posts so I will continue to leave them up.

Read for the Heart

2011-05-27T00:01:00.002-04:00

Being a good, well-rounded reader is the most important aspect of education. With a great ability, desire, and love of reading, one can self-educate in any topic or field imaginable.

The love of reading is developed early in the home. That is not to say it cannot be developed otherwise, but for most individuals, home is where the spark is ignited.

I had the opportunity to review Read For The Heart: Whole Books for Wholehearted Families by Sarah Clarkson. As a college educated, book loving, homeschool mother, I have many books about books on my shelves. So, in its basic premise, this book was not all that different. But Sarah adds a personal flair to the book.

Sarah begins the book by sharing family reading memories from her childhood and teen years. It is these memories and moments that gave her a deep love of literature. Sarah does a terrific job showing the importance of reading great literary works, and how the admirable character qualities of their heroes are transmitted to our children in the reading process.

Sarah details a plan to make reading a priority in your home- both individual reading as well as family read aloud time. She then walks the reader through individual book categories (Picture books, The Golden Age Classics, Children's Fiction, Fairy Tales and Fantasy, History and Biography, Poetry, Music, Art and Nature), alphabetically listing suggesting books for each category and time period.

Also included are several appendices including lists of Caldecott Medal Winners and Newberry Medal Winners, among others.

WHAT I THINK

The book is well written, thoughtfully laid out, easy to read, and includes classic literature choices. I appreciate how Sarah's love for reading is made evident through her writing. If you are looking for a source from which to choose great literature for your family I highly recommend this book.

Apologia Educational Ministries

$17.00

Geared for all ages
See THIS LINK for more reviews of this product.

Apologia has many other wonderful products for you to choose from. Please check out their website

I was given a copy of the book, Reading for the Heart to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion. I was given no other compensation.

Review: Considering God's Creation~ Eagle's Wings

2011-05-25T00:02:00.000-04:00

COMPANY: Eagle's Wings

PRODUCT: Student Journal/Text, Teacher Text, CD

AGE: Target range: 2nd-7th Grade

COST: $29.95

Considering God's Creation is an elementary through junior high aged earth and life science program designed to introduce children to the Creator through His creation. It will teach your child to love science and become a science detective. It is easily adaptable for younger as well as older children.

The program is designed to be used once a week for a 1 1/2-2 hour block of time, though this is easily changed to suit your individual needs. It can be used alone as a one to three year program, or in conjunction with other science materials. This is a hands on program, using what you have. The final result is a science/nature journal the child can cherish for years to come.

The study begins with creation, continues with solar system, study of the earth- non-living things like rocks & weather, plant and animal kingdom, animal anatomy and physiology, and ends with human anatomy and physiology.

The student journal, 269 pages, is designed to be read aloud, doing one lesson per week. Older students can continue each lesson with Digging Deeper ideas between lessons. There are 36 lessons which can be spread out for as long as you need. For example, one lesson contains the 8 (formerly 9) planets. These can be broken down into several weeks if working with younger children.

Each lesson begins with Preparation Directions, which include what is needed to complete the activities. Vocabulary words follow next- listing their root as well. There is a short Introductory Paragraph which gives background to the lesson & captures the students interest. Many include a song (which can be listened to on the CD) that covers scientific definitions set to original music, and/or a spiritual meaning. A Biblical reading, often included, helps one to focus on what God is teaching about Himself. Each lesson then includes an activity or experiment. These are hands on activities, and many include work in the student journal.

The journal itself did not look that appealing when I received it. It is all black and white inside and contains very simple worksheet type drawings. However, it is a WONDERFUL little science/nature notebook for the child to actively work on and be able to save for future. There are discovery pages, pop up windows, 3-D page activities, cut put and glue pages, and MUCH more! My son's favorite were the hands on OUTDOOR activities. He is a nature boy through and through!! His favorite things to do include reading animal/bird/plant field guides and hiking through the woods in search of them. He is, quite honestly, an amazing bird identifier! Just about every weekend we find some new woods to hike in- and he always amazes us by correctly identifying new birds.

I received the Teacher's Manual, Student Notebook, and song CD. My 8 year old son, who is NOT a crafty, scissors, gluey kind of boy, really enjoyed the notebook! As it is spring, we started with the Plant section. His first activity was an experiment in which you take celery (though a carnation flower works better), place it in colored water, and observe. He enjoyed this. BUT next came one of those cutting and glueing projects. He rolled his eyes when he saw he had to color and cut out parts of a flower. BUT he had fun doing it! AND, to my surprise, as soon as his father got home, he grabbed his notebook and proceeded to show his dad the page- AND to explain all about the flower's parts and how it reproduces! Other activities he enjoyed were collecting flowers and identifying their petal and leaf types.

I think this is a wonderful program!! I will continue using it alongside my other science program. I know we will enjoy working on it through the summer!

I have to say- my son did not care for the song CD that accompanied the set. I think it would help to have the songs song by a voice more kid friendly. The tunes and words were good- my son just did not like the more "operatic" type voice of the female singer.

Eagle's Wings produces other products as well. Alphabet Island for phonics, Bible history, Kinder-Math, and more.

Please check out their website

Want to read more reviews of this product? Check them out HERE

I was given a free Teacher's Manual, Student Notebook, and song CD in exchange for my truthful review. I was given no other form of compensation.

Review- Institute for Excellence in Writing

2011-05-13T00:01:00.014-04:00

I have longed for this writing program for several years now, wondering if it was truly as excellent as its name claims- and as I have heard many others describe it. I was ecstatic to be able to review this company and product! I can now tell you without a doubt that Institute for Excellence in Writing is an outstanding company, producing fantastic products, teaching writing in a pain free and logical way.

I reviewed the Student Writing Intensive Level C, geared for grades 9-12, with my two oldest children, ages 13 and 12, for several months.

To keep this review as brief as possible, I will refer you to the following links if you would like to learn more about the company and its founder, Andrew Pudewa.

WHAT I RECEIVED:

3 Ring Student Writing Intensive Notebook- Containing sturdy labeled tabs, check lists, structured models, stylistic techniques worksheets, adverb help sheet, etc.
Structure Style and Overview Disk- overview of the program.
4 DVD's- Andrew Pudewa teaching directly to students. These lessons were taped over a single week, but parents are encouraged to go at a more leisurely pace with added practice.
Portable Wall- A heavy card stock, tri-fold folder with pocket. It is a helpful privacy wall/folder that is covered in reminders, tips, "-ly" adverbs, prepositions, synonyms, outline & story sequence reminders, and more.

Upon opening the notebook and student packet, you find "Easy Start Instructions". They are EASY. It tells you exactly how to set up the student notebook- where everything goes. Most of the papers are handed out as you do each lesson, but several are placed into the notebook at the beginning, such as the tabs and some techniques pages. Once you have read the two pages of Teacher's Instructions for Using the Student Writing Intensive Level C- you are ready to begin!

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

"The Student Writing Intensive was produced to give parents and teachers a jump-start for teaching writing to their students by providing direct instruction for students or model lessons for teachers." It provides all handouts and supplementary material you will need to teach your students to write paragraphs, stories, reports, and essays all with added style. You can choose to use the writing material provided within the student packet, or have your students write based on material they are studying from in other subjects such as science, Bible, and history.

The teacher reads through the Teacher's Instructions before each lesson. This tells exactly what part of the DVD's to watch.
Once a week (or every other week if you prefer) students and teacher watch the appropriate lesson. These are anywhere from 25 minutes up to an hour- give or take. The DVD's show Andrew Pudewa teaching and working with a group of students at a seminar, which was filmed over the course of a week. The teacher's pages contain the important items Andrew covers and writes on his whiteboard during instruction.
Write. Students are given a writing assignment so they can apply what was just taught. The rest of the week (or weeks if you choose to take longer) the student spends writing. EVERY writing assignment has a CHECKLIST so the student knows exactly what is expected of him. There is no question or confusion. The checklists have a space to assign due dates as well. These checklists are a key component to the writing program and make the student secure in what they are writing. They can be used for ANY subject the student is studying.

The Student Writing Intensive is based on the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar, which is Andrew speaking directly to parents, explaining the process, as well as the whys, hows, and reasons behind the instruction given. You can use the Student Writing Intensive alone, but the TWSS seminar is a great benefit. You can also use the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar alone, but you will have to come up with all your own writing assignments. It depends on what type of teacher you are, and how much time you have.

The best thing about this program is that it can be used year after year for each of your children! Once you learn the Units- there are nine in all- Key-Word Outlines & Summarizing from Notes, Story Sequence, Summarizing a Single Reference, Writing from Pictures, Summarizing Multiple References, Creative Writing, Essay, and Critique- and how the program works, you can implement it yearly. Simply adapt and use more difficult source material as your child ages.

WHAT WE THOUGHT:

We completely love this program! It is perfect for those who struggle with writing or just don't enjoy it, as well as those (like my daughter) who adore writing! It is flexible, adaptable, logical, understandable, freeing, and excellent. This is now our writing program. I only have one small complaint. It would be nice to have a teacher copy of each paragraph or story. Currently the students each receive their handout (we purchased an extra student notebook for my second child), but unless the teacher makes a copy for herself, she has to look over the shoulder of her student to follow along when reading a supplied story or paragraph aloud. Not too much of a complaint for such a great program.

This program takes the frustration out of writing. It supplies your child with WHAT to write. A model to write from. This allows your child to focus on the actual writing.

There is so much more I could say about this program- there is so much to cover. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have. I encourage you to browse through their website. There you will find much information, including articles and newsletters that will help you understand the philosophy and program better. You can also view many videos pertaining to individual products.

Student Writing Intensive Level C is $99 and well worth the price. This can be used for many years with all your high school aged children. You may photocopy all pages for multiple children within your family, or purchase a separate Student Notebook for each child for $18.

The Portable Wall can be seen and purchased here for $7.

Institute for Excellence in Writing offers a 100% Money Back Guarantee if you are not satisfied!!

If you are interested in reading more reviews of this writing program, please visit HERE

I was given a free Student Writing Intensive Level C set to use and review in exchange for my honest opinion. I was compensated in no other way.

Get Fit with GoTrybe!

2011-05-11T00:01:00.005-04:00

GoTrybe is an online fitness program that gets you moving, teaches about nutrition, and connects you with other fitness minded friends. You simply sign up, create your avatar, and get moving.

"GoTrybe wants to be an inspiring force in the fight to get children and teens active while combating childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes."

GoTrybe has three Trybes in which to sign up your child:

ZooDoos- up to 5th grade
Trybe 180- 6th-9th grade
Nextrybe- 10th-12th Grade

HOW DO THEY DO THIS:

Active-Screen-Time™, which is all about getting children and teens on the move using technology
A team of designers and developers, project manager, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, physical education teachers and marketing specialists
Foundational exercise programs developed by Olympic trainers
Comprehensive online fitness videos led by exercise professionals
Cool, current and relevant health, fitness, nutrition and wellness information
Customization and personalization of the site with "my page," and avatars
Prize Rewards. GoTrybe's point system rewards Trybers for completing daily exercise routines and working through the question-and-answer segments of the new and changing health information. These points can then be redeemed for enhanced online rewards such as avatar upgrades
Socialization with friends through the buddy list, "Shout out" messaging and forum features, and competition through the Trybal leader board
A Trybal Elders blog that invites parents, educators, influencers to share up-to-date information and trends in fitness and health

GoTrybe was started in 2005 by two friends- one a lawyer, one a health research scientist. Read the interesting story HERE

WHAT I THINK:

I signed up my 13 year old daughter and 12 year old son. Sign up was easy to do, and you can get started immediately.
My daughter LOVED this program!! She jumped right in, threw on her exercise clothes, and began working out. Here is what you do:

Log In
Go to Fitness
WARM UP - browse through the MANY warm up videos- they include length of time & description. Click on a warm up.
CARDIO - browse through the MANY videos containing cardio. Hover your mouse over to find time, body parts worked, description. You can chose up to 3 cardio videos depending on how long you want your workout to be.
STRENGTH - browse through the MANY videos and chose one strength video- again info is provided for each video.
FLEXIBILITY - browse through the MANY videos and chose one for stretching to finish your workout.
ENJOY your workout! Burn calories, build muscle, and feel great!!

GoTrybe also has tabs for Nutrition, Motivation, and Wellness. Nutrition gives you information to read with questions to answer. Motivation is usually a video by one of their fitness experts giving you some motivational advice and tips to get you moving in the right direction. Wellness is also a fact or tip about being healthy. After watching each of these videos, or doing a workout, the student will be given points. She can use these points to purchase clothes and other items for their individual avatar.

As I said, my daughter absolutely loves this program! She takes the computer to her bedroom and does her workouts there. My son is active and prefers to be outdoors- so though he thought the workouts were well done, he would rather be outside.

I think this program is terrific- especially for those kids who love being on the computer. They get to be on the computer, use points for purchases, and there is also a social aspect of GoTrybe where they can make friends and communicate if they or the parent so chooses. It is a great way to get kids active!

GoTrybe offers a free trial membership to see what you think of the program. Should you decide to continue the program, you pay $19.95 for a yearly membership (regularly $39.95).

I urge you to check this program out!! Use the free trial and see if your student/s would enjoy it. I really believe the price is terrific for one whole year! It is fun, affordable, and easy!!

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions Page to find out more!

Read more reviews HERE

I was given a free trial membership for my children to use and review this program honestly. I was given no other compensation.

Monki See, Monki Doo!

2011-05-09T00:01:00.002-04:00

"Monki See is a fun and entertaining collection of baby DVD's that expose babies to upbeat music, original poetry, lovable puppets, and real world images." The Monki See series teaches body parts, colors, shapes, and more. Help your child learn necessary preschool skills with Monki See! Concepts are introduced in a playful and entertaining way, and your child will enjoy their monkey guides- Howie and Skip!

I received the Monki See Baby's First Words DVD to watch and review with my three year old.

Baby's First Words is geared for ages 3 months to 2 years, though I watched it with my 3 year old.

The video is 30 minutes long and teaches 40 words, including body parts and other familiar words such as: stroller, bottle, pacifier, mommy, daddy, books, reading, bath, puppets, and more.

There is a 40 word slide show at the end of the video featuring all the words introduced throughout the video.

The video features original poems and upbeat (but not rocky) music. Children will be exposed to the written word, poetry, music, a variety of voices, and many real world images of familiar things. They will see toys move in silly ways, children playing with their favorite toys and friends, children reading books, families outside at play, and funny, adorable puppets. Their favorite Monkeys, Howie and Skip, will entertain them occasionally. As your child is learning, older monkey brother Howie will be teaching younger brother Skip.

When I noticed the age of the video suggested for 3 months -2 years, I wasn't sure how my 3 year old would like this video. He watched it three times in a row the day I received it! Now, he was recovering from a sickness, so he was much more inclined to relax and watch, but he does not normally stay still for videos. He cried when I turned it off!

He has watched the video many more times for my review period (it was suggested for us to watch the video 5 days a week for 4 weeks at least). The company claims the videos teach your babies to read. I disagree with sight/whole word reading. I believe phonics is the way to teach reading, and have successfully taught my first three children how to read well by the age of five using phonics. I DO believe that your child will learn to memorize these 40 words and most likely be able to say them. Due to the fact that my child is three, he was saying most of these words already. So while I believe the videos have learning value, I just would not call it reading.

Video sells for $19.95, runs 30 minutes, Full screen

I also received the book Know Your Monkey. Know Your Monkey is a short rhyming story that teaches your child to identify body parts on their favorite monkeys while learning about their own bodies. The book includes several pages containing only large words in order to draw the child's attention to the written word. Each full color illustration also includes labels of words read on previous pages.

The book is 24 pages, teaching 29 words. It is geared for ages 0-3 years, and uses rhyme to teach body parts, allowing the child to interact with the story as they copy the monkeys Howie and Skip.

Book is listed for $11.95 and sells for $9.95

I think the video and book are both very cute and nicely made. As I said, my three year old enjoyed watching them. And though I don't like the overuse of video entertainment for children, most of us use them from time to time. I think it is a great tool for exposing children to more words and encouraging speech.

The videos and books are produced by Intellectual Baby, LLC.

You can see a sample video clip HERE

You can see a book sample HERE

Be sure to check out the website for more videos, flashcards, and reading sets.

Also, be sure to check HERE for more reviews of Monki See!

I was given a free copy of Monkey See Baby's First Words as well as Know Your Monkey to use and review with my family. I was compensated in no other way.

See the Light!

2011-04-22T00:01:00.008-04:00

Please feel free to watch this trailer on the See the Light drawing program- then read my review.

Art Class Promo-hs from Kip Perry on Vimeo.

See the Light is a Biblically based drawing program that is geared for early elementary children through upper middle grades. It is taught by Master Artist Pat Knepley who received her degree in Art Education from Penn State.

I was given a free copy of the first four lessons of Art Class to review and use with my family. Art Class is a 9 volume DVD series containing 36 tutoring lessons. Each lesson runs about 15 minutes and incorporates Scripture into the lesson. The series requires very minimal supplies that are easy to obtain.

Pat is extremely likable and appealing to younger children. In fact, even if your child is too young to really learn from the drawing lesson, he would still eagerly watch! She is that engaging!
I personally think the lessons are geared for children about 11 and under. Older children, though they might learn from the DVD's, might find the teaching style to childish for them.

I also felt the lessons were a bit too short- which is great for younger children 5, 6, 7, or 8. But my 12 and 13 year old felt the lessons were way too short for them. They were also quite simple for my two older children, but just perfect for my 7 year old. I cannot speak for the later DVD's, as again, I reviewed only the first DVD of four lessons. I would imagine they are more complicated and detailed.

I thought this DVD was extremely well done! Pat is a tremendous teacher- I wish my kids could have her teach in person. She is animated and natural at what she does. Her love of what she is doing is very evident. I also appreciated the natural way she incorporated Scripture into the lessons.

If you are looking for an art class for your children or students, I encourage you to check out their beautiful website.

The Art Class DVD set sells for $99.99
You can view the first three lessons free
Also available is an online subscription program for $10.00 per month. Each month 4 new lessons will be released to you. You will still be able to view previously released lessons. The cost for the subscription would amount to $90.00.

See the See the Light store for other available art DVD's and art supplies.

Please see HERE for more reviews of this product.
I was given a free copy of Art Class DVD lessons 1-4 in exchange for my truthful review.

Choose Life!

2011-04-20T00:02:00.008-04:00

COMPANY: Growing Healthy Homes
PRODUCT: Hardcover Book
PRICE: $99.95
AGES: Elementary-High School

Nutrition 101: Choose Life! is a Biblically based nutrition and health curriculum that includes hands on activities, science and art, close to 80 recipes, AND is geared for all ages! I was give an electronic copy of the book to read, use, and review with my family.

FACTS ABOUT THE BOOK:

448 pages
Beautiful full color photos!
Co-authored by four women experienced in their field
6 Units

UNITS:

The Brain and Nervous System
Digestion and Elimination
Respiration and Olfactory
Muscular and Skeletal Systems
CardioVascular and Immune System
Endocrine System and Emotions

We are currently in Unit 2, chapter 1, Digestion, so I will share a bit of this chapter with you.
First, I want to point out the beautiful, full color photos in this book! They are simply gorgeous!

These photos are taken from my computer screen

Just a few of the topics we covered in this chapter: components of the digestive system, tongue, teeth, glands, esophagus, stomach, acid, heartburn, small and large intestines in detail, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, colon, and MUCH more. These topics and more are covered in excellent detail- many with charts, diagrams, and photos. This is excellent for the visual learner!

Following each chapter are suggested activities geared for Elementary as well as Older children. You are free to pick and choose from several suggested ideas. There are recipes, art projects, scientific projects, hands on activities.

One activity we preformed during the chapter on digestion was to cut a string to 30" (the length of the alimentary canal) to visually SEE just how long it is.

My daughter measures while little brother looks on

This book is an amazing resource for any student and family! Though it covers material in quite extensive detail, it is easy to read with most ages. It is also a great spine to branch off from and continue further study in as much detail as one wishes. This book has really inspired my children to research more on their own. I LOVE how the book challenges the students to think about what they are eating and how they are taking care of their bodies. It is harder to eat junk food once you have covered several chapters from this book!

I personally have not seen the book in physical form. I know the photos are beautiful! The price does seem a bit steep. But when you realize this is covering so many topics, and is geared for so many ages- it makes it a great value! It truly is a text the whole family can learn from and enjoy together. My 3 year old enjoyed looking at the computer with us as we read, and he enjoyed participating in our projects.

This book is a three in one nutrition and health program for all ages! You will discover the major body systems, how they function, their common health issues, the benefits of good food, and the consequences of the bad.

Read an excerpt of the book HERE

Use the code TOScrew11 right now to receive 15% off your order!!

Please see the Growing Healthy Homes Store for other products.

** This book is also available in CD-ROM form for $79.95 or a Book and CD-ROM combo for $129.95

The CD-ROM is helpful for printing recipes, shopping lists, and printing pages to be used for several students.

Want to see more reviews of this product? You can do that HERE

I was given a free download of Nutrition 101: Choose Life! to use with my family in exchange for my truthful review. I was given no other compensation.

GoGo KaBonGo!

2011-04-04T00:01:00.004-04:00

GoGo KaBonGo is an online learning game, for kids ages 4-7, that develops cognitive skills necessary for reading. Your child will develop skills such as:

Attention and focus
Memory Skills
Processing
Planning
Visualization
Comprehension

* Read more about the cognitive approach to reading HERE

Your child can explore three different habitats- Laughter Lake, Twister Top, and Galaxy Gardens, each containing three games with six different levels. Learn more about the habitats and games HERE.
You can build your own skate park, solve exciting quests, make your own comic book, decorate a tree house, and more.

You will meet characters such as Duffy
Who is the main host of the site. Meet the other characters HERE

GoGo KaBanGo even provides a learning skills chart so you can see what skills your child will be developing with each game they play.

Your child can play FREE today, with access to Laughter Lake! You can chose to expand your game playing by adding two more habitats for $4.95 each. That is a really excellent price! At the time of this post they are offering Galaxy Gardens habitat for FREE!

See This Page for frequently asked questions.

My son Andrew, who is 7, greatly enjoyed playing GoGo KaBonGo for this review! His favorite activity was building his skate park and receiving his rewards for the many games. (Your child will receive many rewards for play- he will be able to choose from several choices).

I am not able to determine how well the games teach reading readiness skills, as my son is already an excellent reader. I do believe it would be a great learning source for younger children and older children who are not yet excelling at reading.

What I really think is a neat aspect of the site is they send you a weekly email showing your child's activity on the site, skills being practiced, and what level the child has reached for each game.
Here is a generic online sample from their site

Here is a sample sent for my son:

Hi There Parent,WOW! AndrewT is having a great time playing and learning on GoGo Kabongo. Here's a summary of what your child has been doing this week:

Your Child's Progress

Game	Level	Skill
	4	Verbal Rehearsal: Talking through a problem is one way young readers maintain focus and make sense of more complex ideas.
	3	Sound/Letter Identification: The first step in learning to read is beginning to associate a particular sound or group of sounds with a particular letter.
	4	Spatial Awareness: Being able to visually determine the placement of objects in space helps readers begin to identify sight words and particular letter groups as representing certain sounds.

Kabongo's Learning Activity of the Week

Extend the fun and learning with this activity you can do at home.
Spongey Fun
Cut shapes out of sponges or purchase precut sponge shapes. These make great bath toys: they stick to the wall of the bathtub, and there are tons of things you can do with sponge shapes in the bath. You could have your child make patterns with the shapes, sort the shapes by size or color, or have them think of other objects that are the same shape. It’s good clean fun, and a great way to practice categorization and simultaneous processing too!
For more helpful advice check out https://www.kabongo.com/parents/parent-resources

Did you know?

Zeezok~ Your Guide to the Movies

2011-04-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

Product: Johnny Tremain z-guide to the movies e-book
Company: Zeezok Publishing
Cost: $12.99
Targeted Age: Middle School/Jr. High
To be used alongside Disney's Johnny Tremain

TOPICS COVERED:

Events leading up to the American Revolution
Dealing with false accusations
Handling personal disappointment
Self-Sacrifice for the good of the nation

Zeezok movie guides are to be used concurrently with videos to increase their educational value. They provide a terrific service to parents and teachers wishing to add videos to their program.

I reviewed the Johnny Tremain z-guide which contains 36 pages (36 pages!!) of worksheets, questions, puzzles, coloring sheets, first account speeches, historical facts, activities, material for memorization, and much more!

Below is the List of Contents

Please click to see larger image

The worksheets in the guide are well done and varied. The questions contain multiple choice, essay, worldview, as well as true/false and matching.

Here is a sample:

Click to enlarge

My children watched the movie of Johnny Tremain while answering their first activity worksheet. Every once in a while they would pause to fill in blanks, but for the most part they were able to fill in as they watched. They really enjoyed doing this. Some of these questions were fictional from the movie- others were historical facts.

Over the next few days we did several more Activity Sheets. Many of these require the students to access the internet or other text sources, which my kids thoroughly enjoyed as they like using the computer.

We really enjoyed using this e-guide and I plan to purchase some in the future. This is an easy way to immerse your students in the time period you are studying. The movie serves as a spring board to various events and topics during this time period. Zeezok offers many movie guides, as well as activity guides for composers, history, literature, and more.

Please check out the Zeezok website for this product and many more educational resources.

And be sure to check HERE for more reviews on other products of this company.

I was given a free Johnny Tremain e-guide in exchange for my truthful review. I was compensated in no other way.

Keeping Latin Alive!

2011-03-30T00:01:00.008-04:00

Publisher: Classical Academic Press

Ages: Jr. High- High School

I have been teaching my older two children Latin for the past five years. Why teach Latin? Many consider Latin to be a dead language- but indeed it is not.

Latin teaches English: Over half of our English words (the most difficult ones) come from Latin. Learn those Latin roots and you can decipher so many more English words.
Latin teaches grammar better than English (or other languages for that matter).
Latin prepares the student to study Romance languages like Spanish, Italian, French... these languages derive about 90% of their words from Latin.
Latin, like mathematics and music, teaches order and forms habits of the mind. It trains the student to pay attention to detail. Thought processes are complex.
The study of Latin is also a study of history- our history. One cannot study Latin without exploring classical history (which is crucial for understanding our own).
Students will be exposed to and have a better understanding for cultural literacy.
So many more reasons...

My family had the opportunity to set aside the Latin program we have been using to use and review Latin Alive! by Classical Academic Press. What an amazing program!
I received the Teacher's Edition, Student Text, and DVD/ CD Set taught by Karen Moore.

TEACHER'S EDITION & STUDENT TEXT:

322 pages
7 Units, 29 Chapters
Preface & Teacher Intro: Walk through and explanation of each section of the chapters. Tips and ideas of how to teach each section. Extremely helpful.
Each chapter contains: Great Seals or mottos containing Latin, Oral Practice, Written practice- reproducible worksheets included, Parsing and Labeling Sentences, Latin Passages- Most chapters include a Latin reading. Students will begin translating passages from Latin. These passages are inspired by Livy's history text, Reading Aides & Comprehension Questions, Unit Reviews, Assessments- 7 unit tests, Supplemental Lessons- authors include projects they have used personally in the classroom. Answers to student exercises.
Teacher's Edition contains Student Text with the above mentioned items.
Reference- The Teacher's Edition contains a Reference section listing helpful charts for vocabulary, declension charts, pronoun charts, tenses, etc. Helpful to have these charts all in one location.
See Chapter Samples

DVD/CD:

The DVD shows the author, Karen Moore, in front of a book shelf teaching the material. To her left is a white board that is only in view when she is presenting written material.

My children and I enjoy listening to Karen. She is an excellent teacher and it is obvious she has a great love and knowledge for her subject matter. We do not normally enjoy watching teachers via the computer- many have annoying habits or come across flat. Karen is not annoying, teaches at a moderate pace with some pauses, and is exciting. I would absolutely purchase these DVD's. They made learning so much more fun and being able to fast forward and pause are wonderful options.

The CD contains a male voice reading the chapter readings in Classical Latin. He has great voice quality and we completely enjoyed listening to these CD's.

WHAT I THINK:

This is a tremendous program! I plan to continue using it along with the text we have already been using, as my children are halfway through that text. I will purchase Latin Alive 2 for next year. I can't say enough about the videos- they really make learning much easier. I watch the video, with text and notebook in my lap, almost every night when my children go to bed. It has excited us even more about our Latin studies.
HERE you can see a sample video, samples of the texts, as well as several articles and a link to the author's blog.

A great benefit of this program is the ability to contact the author and have questions answered through a yahoo group. I truly believe this program is worth the affordable price! Check it out!!

Classical Academic Press also publishes Latin for Children and texts for Spanish, Greek, and French, logic, Bible and more.

Check out many more reviews of this product HERE

I was given the teacher's edition of Latin Alive, student text, and DVD/CD set in exchange for my truthful review. I received no other compensation.

Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him?

2011-03-15T00:00:00.013-04:00

Publisher: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.
Cost: $39.00
Audience: Target ages 6-14

Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? is the first volume in a soon to be IV volume series. Volume III will be released this year and volume IV in 2012.

I will start my review with the Physical Appearance and Layout of the book:

Hardback and extremely sturdy
Beautiful full color photos and drawings throughout
251 pgs.
Written to the student- can be read as a family or by the student alone
How To Use Section- gives ideas on how to use, note booking ideas- including several formatted note booking pages online.
See the Table of Contents

As you read through the book, each chapter will contain:

The Big Idea- Introduction to the new topic & a brief review of what has already been learned.
What You Will Do- Lesson Objectives
Short Story- A short story that reinforces the lesson being taught in a "real life" setting. These are often carried through several lessons.
Think About It- Thought provoking questions pertaining to lessons learned from the story.
Words To Know- Vocabulary to write into student notebooks
Hide It in Your Heart- Bible Memory
Integrated Learning- Ties the lesson concepts with other subjects such as science, art, math, history.
What Should I Do?- Highlights a specific character trait and applies it to the child's life.
Prayer- Each lesson ends with a prayer that draws child's attention to specific attributes of God. Prayers may be adapted to use as a family.
Worldview Study- Introduces the child to the idea of worldview and how people perceive the world around them based on their beliefs. This section leads the child to understand WHY he believes what he believes.
House of Truth- An optional hands on memory aid. This is a model kit that students can construct one step at a time as new concepts are learned. As they build the foundation, walls, and roof of the house- they see a concrete picture of their life in God's kingdom. For this volume they will complete the foundation and one wall.
Lesson Plans- Daily suggestions are given for completing each lesson within two weeks. There are 10 lessons.
See a Sample Lesson

"Christians are faced with at least two critical questions: 'How do we know what is true?' and 'How must we live our lives in relation to the truth we come to know?' This curriculum is designed to address questions like these."

"It is based on the biblical Christian worldview, which affirms that truth is absolute and knowable through the revelation of God."

What I Thought:

Beautifully made book- very professionally done- though a bit too large for holding and reading.
Incorporates many unique and interesting pieces of information and weaves them into the lessons.
Very well thought out
Age spread seems too stretched- my 12 and 13 year old children felt some of the stories were written for younger children- though my 7 yr. old enjoyed them. I can't imagine a 14 year old really enjoying the Short Stories so much.
The book contains many separate boxes and categories on most pages. Can be distracting to some.
Some sweeping statements (my pet peeve here). Example: For avoiding sin: "Then do as Jesus did and quote scripture to Satan. He will have no choice but to run away."
Overall I love the ideas and topics in this book. I do think it seems somewhat artificial to teach worldview through a text book.
I definitely think this hardcover text is worth the price. You will want the four volume set to last for many years.

Also available to supplement this text: Audio MP3 CD- $15.00, Notebooking Journal- $24.00, Coloring Book- $8.00

Apologia is a great source for Christian science curriculum from elementary through high school, as well as resource texts and online courses.

* Minor points of doctrinal difference have been avoided to focus on larger issues that make up our faith.
* Apologia Website contains many resources to use with the text. You will be given an access password upon purchase of the book.

I was given a free copy of: Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? in exchange for my truthful review. I received no other compensation.

Would you like to read many more reviews about this text? Go HERE

The Life of Christ~ Positive Action for Christ Review

2011-01-14T00:01:00.004-05:00

Product: The Life of Christ- From the Gospel of John
Company: Positive Action for Christ
Cost: Student Manual- $17.95
Teacher Manual- $41.95
Teacher Manual on DVD- $29.95
Age: Middle School- High School

When I was given The Life of Christ to use and review with my children I was grateful, as I have previously used and enjoyed other materials from Positive Action for Christ. I used some of their texts as a student in my private high school, and my husband has used them as a Bible teacher in Christian school. We have always been impressed with their products.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

Both the student text and teacher's manual are beautifully made- sturdy, perfectly bound, visually appealing
Student text has beautiful drawings and full color maps and illustrations

TEACHER'S MANUAL:

Heavy duty three ring notebook with beautiful cover
Tabs separating tests, quizzes, and appendix
Foreward: Overview, student work, tips, schedule, memory program
Contents and Recommended Reading Lists
Lessons: Complete student text with included answers to student work, added teacher's notes, lesson objectives, questions, charts
CD with transparencies
390 pages
35 Lessons- average one per week

STUDENT TEXT:

Beautifully bound, antiqued look cover and pages
Reading material and homework to be completed in advance
Added student research for each lesson
Full color charts, photos, illustrations
Workbook spaces for students to answer questions
Digging Deeper questions at the end of each chapter- optional
277 pgs.

WHAT I THINK:
This study is amazing! It is difficult to find a Bible program that is truly an in-depth study that brings together devotion, deep research, and personal application. This study does all three- and much more. We will continue this study for the remainder of the school year and I HIGHLY suggest you look into the other programs from Positive Action for Christ! My children, ages 12 and 13, have highly enjoyed using this text and have learned so much. This could be used as a private devotional (with some parental discussion involved) or as a Bible study for church or small groups.

Positive Action for Christ has products available from Kindergarten through high school, as well as church curriculum.
Currently I am eyeing Wise Up- Wisdom in Proverbs to use as a family devotional book during the summer months.

Want to read more reviews of this product and company? Check them out HERE

I received Life of Christ student & teacher's manual free in exchange for my truthful review.

Virtual Nerd- Math & Science Tutorial

2011-01-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

Virtual Nerd is a terrific, online tutorial program for math and science.

See Virtual Nerd for a 2 minute Introductory Video- then come back here for my review...

SOME FACTS:

Virtual Nerd currently offers Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Intro to Physics
Suggested for grades 7-12
Started in 2008 by Leo Shmuylovich (tutor with 10 yrs. experience) and Josh Salcman (accomplished product designer) Read about them HERE
Won 2010 Parent Tested Parent Approved award based on availability, functionality, value and appeal.
Coming soon: Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Physics w/ Trig, Chemistry, Biology
Algebra I has 450 tutorials for over 18 hours of video viewing and over 15,000 step by step graphics
Subscription cost: 1 Month = $49.00 (multiple month plans available)

Virtual Nerd makes use of a dynamic white board and a live teacher. My daughter (13 yrs. old taking Algebra I) and I were the two in our home who reviewed this product. We were both highly impressed! The female teacher is very clear, easy to understand, and has a pleasant speaking manner. She had no distracting elements about her presentations. We both enjoyed listening to her. (We also watched several with a male teacher and he was excellent as well).

The program is simple to use. You simply click on the subject link you would like- ours was Algebra I. You will then be given topic choices- each click you make narrows your choice down to YOUR specific question.

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Enter for Keyword Search or look through topics listed

You will be taken to a list of videos covering your desired topic

Click on details to see what topics are covered in the video- just to be sure

Click Play and watch the video

Here you can see the tutor teaching the chosen topic

You see the diagram/formula- top right

Below diagram you see the steps as she discusses them

Of course, you can pause or rewind as needed.

Once your video is over you are given suggestions for further videos to review.

A wonderful feature of the program is the addition of Textbook Search Capabilities. For Algebra I they currently work with Prentice Hall Algebra I, Holt Algebra I, and Glencol Algebra I.

I think Virtual Nerd is a unique and exceptional tutorial program! The site is easy to navigate and the tutorial videos are superb. I will be looking to use Virtual Nerd next year as my daughter begins 9th grade.

See the site for Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the Free Basic Plan or the $49.00 Premium Plan
Day Pass- $5.00
Week Pass- $19.00
FREE 2 hour trial
Sign up HERE

And be sure to check out more reviews of Virtual Nerd from The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew

I was given free access to Virtual Nerd's Premium Plan for several weeks in exchange for my truthful review.

Tiny Planets~ Exploring & Learning in Space

2010-12-17T00:08:00.003-05:00

Tiny Planets is a website that provides" award-winning educational entertainment set in space exploration and discovery, inspiring creativity and critical thinking in youth ages 4-12."

Follow the adventures of Bing and Bong, two adorable little aliens as they explore in space, traveling on their comfy, plush coach- which is loaded with special gadgets.

Aren't they cute??

Bong is on the left- Bing on the right

My oldest two children used to watch Bing and Bong on television back in the day and I knew it was no longer on television, so I was surprised when I was recently asked to review this website. I had no idea that such a site existed. It was fun to reintroduce my children to the characters. They didn't remember too much at first until I played the theme song.... it brought back memories for them...

You can check out The Tiny Planets Website, but I would like to give you a brief review/summary of what it is all about.

Tiny Planets has won two BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television) Awards- Interactive Best Entertainment Website and Best Children's Interactive
Chose to watch old episodes of Tiny Planets television episodes- created with Sesame Workshops with emphasis on science education and social & emotional development (& other learning goals).
My Tiny Planets- Virtual world community that combines social elements & gaming to create on engaging space exploration experience. Children create on avatar, solve galactic missions with Bing and Bong, play fast-paced mini-games, care for a planet, earn badges and more... This is where my children spent most of their time.
Tiny Planets Fun- Find brainy puzzles, coloring books, comics and more
Tiny Planets Books- Read books with pictures about Bing and Bong, their friends, and many of the planets you will explore in your space adventures. You can read to your child or they read on their own.
Tiny Planets Learning- is a place for parents, homeschoolers, and educators. It contains mini lesson plan & science experiments, as well as providing information on how every episode of the Tiny Planets television series maps to an early learning goal.
Tiny Planets Labs- This is a Playground for things to come. Tiny Planets is connected with EU University research projects, which keeps them up to date on technology. New games will be posted and tested here.

** Click on the names above to be taken directly to each site on the Tiny Planets Website**

MY THOUGHTS ON TINY PLANETS:

No scary content
No ads
No freedom to chat- kids choose from pre-set phrases in speech bubbles
No freedom to make up your own Cadet code name- means no inappropriate names
Easy to create a Cadet Account- Click on Create a Cadet in upper right hand

Obviously, the above listed items are good things.

I must say, there are some parts of Tiny Planets that are a bit silly to an adult. My kids, however, all loved and enjoyed using the site! My 13 year old daughter did not use the site nearly as much as her 12 and 7 year old brothers, but she enjoyed her time spent on the site. My boys completely enjoyed taking care of their planets- purchasing landscapes, choosing spaceships, purchasing pieces & lasers for their ships.... and, of course, playing the many games.

KEYS- Much of the site is free. BUT there are things you can only see and access with KEYS which must be purchased. KEYS will unlock more tv episodes, stories, and items to care for your planet.

The KEYS can be purchased in various amounts. It is 10 KEYS for $1.95, 25 KEYS for $3.95, and so forth. They can only be purchased by a parent using the Parent Account.

Most of the items my children came across required either 2 or 5 KEYS to access. For the purpose of this review my children were each given 25 KEYS. I would not have purchased KEYS otherwise.

Children also earn Stars for various reasons and can use Stars (free) to earn items.

You should know though the Tiny Planets site does contain some educational aspects, I personally felt the entertainment aspect was the stronger element. My kids honestly had a "blast" with this site!

I am not one who is willing to pay for items on websites, but my children have Wii and Nintendo.

If my children did NOT already have access to their own video games it may be something I would consider paying for. It may be something YOU would choose to pay for......

IN SUMMARY- I think Tiny Planets is a site worth checking out- remember much of the site is FREE. My children really have enjoyed their experience. Even my almost 3 year old enjoyed watching them play their games & watch episodes.

Watch an episode of Tiny Planets- Night Light, Sleep Tight

I was asked to review this site and give my honest opinion. My children each received 25 KEYS, but I was given no compensation for this review.

Read many other reviews of Tiny Planets from The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew

I'll Make a Wager with You....

2010-12-15T00:25:00.001-05:00

I'll make a wager with you.... that you will LOVE this game!

Can't seem to find that perfect family game that is TRULY for the WHOLE family? Often games are labeled for the whole family, but the youngest is left in confusion and frustration. NOT with this game! Well, don't get me wrong, your 3 year old may be a bit too young- but beyond that- everyone can play. And everyone will have fun!

When our box first arrived my children dug in and wanted to play right then. My daughter read the instructions so we would be ready to play after dinner with the whole family. She explained the directions to us and we got started.

The Main Idea

Play as individuals or divide into teams (3-10 players)

A question is asked
Every player (or team) writes an answer on the back of his card (sturdy, laminated cardboard) with a dry erase marker (provided).
Place your two Meeples (game pieces, one large on small) on an answer card. Not so sure your answer is right? Place one Meeple on your mom's answer card, and one on your sister's. (The large Meeple is worth more points than the smaller).
First to reach 15 points wins!

There is a bit more detail to the game, but trust me it is very fun.
My kids, especially the 7 year old, appreciated that he could still get points and win, even if he was not sure of the answers- simply by making the correct wager- and figuring who DID know the correct answer and placing his Meeple on it.

Oh, I forgot to mention ALL the answers are numbers. Yes, you heard me. When my daughter first told me this I thought, "This is going to be really dumb!" But, thankfully, I was wrong.

Here are a few sample questions:

How many Life Savors come in a standard roll?
On average, how many ants and termites does a giant anteater swallow each day?
In The Hobbit how many dwarves accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure?

The following are a few photos to give you a better idea how the game is played and what comes in the box:

Meet some of the Meeples

Question tray and score board

There are two questions per card. Use the top questions until you get through the deck,

then switch to the bottom question.

Each player writes an answer (it will be a number amount).

Cards are turned over to reveal answers.

Each player decides where to place his Meeples.

You can place them on different answers to increase your chances of getting points.

Get 1 point for guessing correctly (closest to answer- doesn't have to be exact)

2 points for placing your large Meeple on the correct answer

1 point for placing your small Meeple on the correct answer =

4 points possible

Having fun....

Read more about Wits and Wagers HERE

Read more about the Designers HERE

FROM THE WEBSITE

FREE PARTS REPLACEMENT

Don't let a lost or broken component stop you from playing.

If any of our game components should fail (or even be lost) within the first year of ownership,

we will deliver an identical or comparable replacement to your door free of charge!

Email us with the requested part along with mailing address

We will send out the part within two weeks.

My kids LOVED this game! I highly recommend this game for your family or others on your Christmas list!

TO PURCHASE: North Star Games (the producers) direct you to Target Website where it can be purchased for only $19.99. See ordering information HERE- click on the shopping cart by Wits & Wagers Family

READ WHAT OTHER REVIEWERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS GAME HERE

I was given a free board game of Wits and Wagers in exchange for my review

ALEKS- A Motivating Math Program!

2010-12-13T01:32:00.002-05:00

Aleks, which stands for Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces, is a web based artificially intelligent assessment and learning system like no other!

Just what makes Aleks so different from other online programs?

Aleks makes use of artificial intelligence to target gaps in student knowledge
Contains a cycle of assessment and learning
Assesses and instructs with standards-based content
Remediates gaps in student preparation
Adapts to individual instructions according to student and needs
Presents only those topics the student is ready to learn
Clear explanations and feedback
Monitors learning progress with automated reports
Toggles between English and Spanish (optional)
Unlimited online access from any computer
No minimum purchase- buy as few or as many subscriptions as needed
Ability to save unused subscription

After registering with Aleks you will be walked through a simple tutorial on how to use the program. You will then be given an assessment with about 15-30 math questions on a variety of topics (related to the course you have chosen). Based upon your answers to these questions you will be given a colored pie chart.

Like this

Each uniquely colored slice of the pie represents a particular area of the syllabus. The degree to which the darker color permeates the slice/area demonstrates how much material the student has mastered.

My two oldest children have been using this program for the past few weeks. My 13 year old daughter, who is taking Algebra I this year, has been using Aleks Algebra I. My 12 year old son has been using Aleks PreAlgebra.

Both of my children are immensely enjoying this program. Neither found it difficult to register, learn from the tutorial how to use the program, take their assessment test, or operate their programs from their pie charts. They like the choice they have in choosing what math concepts and topic they will work on that day. They have enjoyed seeing their pie slices fill in showing they are mastering the topics contained therein.

PROS OF ALEKS:

Many of them are listed above in what makes Aleks so unique.
Instructor Mode- enables educator to monitor student progress, view and change the standards applied in the assessment reports, carry out administrative tasks
Very hands on, visual program
No lengthy explanations UNLESS the student would like or needs them. This is perfect for students who just "want the facts mam" as well as those who need to read further explanation.
Motivating and positive- encouraging for students to "see" their knowledge growing. Walks them through the math objectively. No assumptions from the computer that the students is dumb, slow, or taking too long. There are no time frames.
Uses the computer... this is obviously a plus for most children love using the computer
You have the option to have produced FOR YOU- quizzes, worksheets, progress reports! Worksheets based on the students work! How awesome is that. These are generated for you, at your choosing, and can then be printed out. This is great for practicing with pencil and paper.
Easy to understand
Makes your child excited about math
Great for younger students as well as older- perfect for adults going back to school or wanting to learn on their own.

CONS:

The only thing I really see as a Con is if a person were to assume taking a course in Aleks would be enough for a high school credit. My own personal opinion is that it doesn't go "deep enough" into the math concepts to be considered a full credit. I do not know that that is Aleks' intention either. I do think it would be great as your only source for an adult needing to learn a topic such as Algebra though- or just brush up.

My children are enjoying this program and we will continue doing the rest of our free month review, thanks to Aleks for providing this for us in exchange for this truthful review. We have continued with our regular math curricula while spending about 15 minutes a day using Aleks. This has been perfect and my children look forward to using Aleks even after spending time on their math text. I think that says a lot about this program!

Aleks is reasonably priced and worth its cost!

$19.95 per student per month

$99.95 every 6 months

$179.95 every 12 months

Family discounts apply

See site for more subscription information

** Aleks has graciously offered a free one month subscription to Homeschool Readers of Light, Liberty, and Learning (new users) Please visit here All others can visit Aleks for a free 48 hour trial.

When you get an incorrect answer it will tell you.

Notice the box in the upper right- you click there for an explanation.

When you click on the explanation box you get an explanation and worked out solution to the problem.

Be sure to check out the Aleks Tour

Aleks offers math programs from Grade 3 through advanced math

I was given a one month free subscription for myself and my children in exchange for my review.

MINE IS JUST ONE OPINION- Be sure to check out OUR CREW REVIEWS HERE

Master the World of Angles!

2010-12-01T10:57:00.005-05:00

Master Innovations, LLC is a company started in 1998, with the intention of helping students learn and apply math in everyday life. Among their products are the Master Ruler, Master Fractions, Master Clock, and the Master Angle, which I was able to review.

Just what is Master Angle? Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will save my words...

Meet my 7 year old who is holding the Master Angle.

As you can see it is a clear, sturdy, plastic circle on which the degrees are marked.

Can you see the radius "dial"?

Along with the Master Angle, I received the Mastering the World of Angles Workbook. This workbook is 76 pages of activities, definitions, explanations, and drawings. You will cover every aspect of the angle with this great workbook. My 7 year old was not quite ready for many of the activities in the workbook yet, but we did several and enjoyed them. We look forward to progressing through the book as the school year progresses.

I really like the idea of a protractor that shows the entire 360 degrees so concretely- rather than the half type protractors.

Tracing the circumference and drawing an angle

Measuring angles around the house

The Master Angle, as well as all of the products from Master Innovations, meets NCTM and State standards. It is intended to supplement and can be used in conjunction with any current curricula. Its purpose is to:

Help students recognize basic geometric shapes and concepts, and their corresponding angles.
Discover, measure, and construct various angles.
Connect geometric concepts to real life application- I LOVE this about the workbook! It shows drawings of homes, etc. for children to connect to what they are learning.

You can see a videos of all the Master products HERE

** Master Angle- $5.95 VERY worth that low price!

** Mastering the World of Angles Workbook- $15.95- Again- VERY worth the price!

Two of my next purchases will be the Master Fractions and Master Ruler!

Be sure to visit their website for Scientific Research Studies, Teacher's Corner, and more.
I was given a Master Angle & Workbook in exchange for my honest review.

MY OPINION IS JUST ONE... CHECK our Crew site to read more reviews on this product

A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers

2010-11-22T03:01:00.005-05:00

* Bright Ideas Press

* Grades 4-8

* $34.95

We are a family that loves classical music. My daughter plays violin, my oldest son plays cello, and my two youngest boys will hopefully join them someday.

I was very excited when

Bright Ideas Press gave me a selection to chose from for my review. I did not hesitate to pick this full year curriculum! After using it with my children the past few weeks, I am so thankful for my choice!

I knew the moment I saw this book I would like it! It is a nicely made product and with 298 pages it is so much more comprehensive than I expected it to be.

Some Highlights of the Program:

Organized and Well Explained- Begins with "Dear Teachers" and an Introduction explaining EVERYTHING you need to know to implement this program, including a suggested daily schedule.
Note-taking Pages and Student Review Questions- fill in the blank note pages as you read
Composer Info Cards- students color, cut out, & glue composer photos onto an Information Card- filling in the blanks on the back.
Game Suggestions- including one to photocopy
Folderbook Directions
Suggested Music- web site suggestions for listening to specific composers & time periods
Coloring Pages
Timelines- photocopy and fill in composers, relationships, major historical events
Maps- photocopy and fill in
Glossary
Certificate of Completion

This program contains 32 lessons with each lesson being done over three days per week. Very doable and not at all overwhelming. It begins with an overview of Ancient music, music of the Middle Ages, and Music of the Renaissance. You then delve into the Baroque period, where you begin the study of individual composers. The first of which is Antonio Vivaldi.

Each composer study covers approximately two pages of reading and two pages of fill in the blank note taking pages. The child can write directly in the book or, if using the program with several children, you may photocopy these pages. (It would be quite a bit of photocopying so I suggest purchasing each child a book).

See sample pages HERE

This can also be ordered as a CD-Rom for $29.95

MY OPINION

I LOVE this curriculum!! There is not one negative thing I have to say. It is very well thought out and comprehensive without being dry. My two oldest children that did the program enjoyed it. My 13 yr. old daughter LOVED it, my 12 yr. old son LIKED it. They both really enjoyed the note taking- no passive listening with this program. As I stated previously we are a family who listens to classical music, but the internet choices they gave in the book often led us to more and more sites. We occasionally found ourselves spending well over an hour researching composer pieces or time period music/history online. It was fun! Even my 7 and 2.5 yr. olds would wander into the room to listen to the pieces (and see the youtube photos).

If you are looking for a composer or music appreciation study- I HIGHLY recommend this curriculum!

Bright Ideas Press has many other products for geography, history, maps, games, fine arts, science....

Be sure to see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about this WONDERFUL product HERE

I was given a free copy of this text in exchange for my honest review

The Write Foundation

2010-11-10T03:00:00.036-05:00

The Write Foundation is a writing program written by Rebecca Celsor after 8 years of successfully using her ideas teaching homeschooled students in a once a week co-op.

The following is from the Write Foundation website:

Many writing curricula focus on the different types of writing, such as creative writing, story writing, poetrywriting, persuasive writing, argumentative writing, informative writing, descriptive writing, book writing, fiction writing, novel writing, but the basic foundation of writing is assumed. The Write Foundation begins with the writing process, how a student formulates a topic, then a thesis, then supporting points, and by incremental teaching drills in the basics. In most grammatical subjects, we have found that failure is almost totally because the basics have not been learned.

THE PROGRAM HAS THREE BASIC LEVELS:

LEVEL 1- Sentence to Paragraph Writing: Suggested ages- 11-13
LEVEL 2- Paragraph Writing: Suggested ages 12-15
LEVEL 3- Essay Writing: Suggested ages 14-17

I was given a free copy of Level 2 Paragraph Writing in exchange for my truthful review.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

This program contains Step by Step Lesson Plans, Examples, Checklists, Grading System, and Worksheets.

Tells you exactly what you need to do- step by step
No difficult texts or literature passages
Good for reluctant writers
Good for parents who are reluctant writers- or reluctant teachers of writing
Does not beat rewriting into the ground
Includes some great checklists for unsure students
Teaches outlining- making an outline from a text, writing from that outline
Includes optional use of Mind Benders logic activities for children
Highlighter use makes this program perfect for visual & hands on learners

CONS:

Confusion- Though all the directions are laid out step by step, it was often hard to understand the explanations until I had read through them several times. I was often ready to pull my hair out trying to figure it all out. There is much flipping through the pages.
Poor Sentences/Grammar- I felt there were too many editorial problems in this program- in the teacher's instruction as well as the student work. It contained poorly worded sentences, misuse of commas, and poor writing material in general. I prefer my children to have modeled before them excellent writing material. It does not have to be from classic works. I think you can model simple, but excellently written material. I felt that in an effort to make the writing simple enough for even the most reluctant writer, the writing in this program lacked excellence.

SUMMARY

I love the idea of this program. I appreciate the simple steps to writing. I believe this program is best suited to the parent who does not feel confident in their ability to teach writing or who is teaching a VERY reluctant writer. If your child hates writing and does not know where to begin- this program may just be what you are looking for. It makes excellent use of highlighter marking for various parts of the outlining process, which would be ideal for the visual and kinesthetic learner.

The author of the program is readily available and very helpful in answering questions. (Another plus of this program).

My children working through the Mind Bender and outlining exercises

The Write Foundation- Ordering Information HERE

WHAT YOU GET For $100.00 + tax & shipping:

Spiral Instruction Manual Lessons 1-30- about 160 double sided pages
Student Worksheets- about 200 pages
Additional Resources CD

*This program can also be ordered separately by Lessons 1-15 for $65.00, and Lessons 16-30 for $65.00.

I'm simply one opinion. See what my fellow Crew members had to say about this product HERE

Young Hearts Longing For God

2010-10-15T00:01:00.005-04:00

As Christian parents we know the importance of our children reading God's word on their own. Thankfully my children do enjoy spending time reading the Bible- but they often have a difficult time figuring out where and what to read. We have tried several devotion type books over the years- some we have enjoyed- others were simply the same thing every day. My children really dislike the ones that have you find the same thing each time- such as finding a promise from God, etc.

We were recently given a free copy of Young Hearts Longing For God by Soli Deo Gloria Recources in exchange for my honest review. We received this in e-book form and were then able to print copies for two of my children.

My oldest two children, ages 13 and 11, used this devotional book for several weeks (they are continuing to use it).
Here is what we thought:

I encourage you to go HERE to see a sample page of this book.

WHAT WE LIKED:

Checklist- the very first thing is a checklist to mark & keep track of daily progress. We kept this attached to a clipboard since we had the printed e-book form. If you order, you will have the book.
Read the same passage daily- This book is a study of various Psalms. The first chapter covered was Psalm 8. The child is to read Psalm 8 daily for 5 days. Days 6 and 7 are for answering questions and journaling.
Questions- They were different every lesson! There was a similar format, such as using colored pencils to underline or circle particular things, but those things were different for each week. This made it much more interesting to my children.
Memorize- By the end of the first week my daughter mentioned to me she pretty much had Psalm 8 memorized simply from reading it daily. What a great benefit. Memorizing with little effort.

My kids really appreciated the checklist. They could easily see when they forgot to do their reading- which they did after dressing, chores, and breakfast. I never had to remind them (well, once for my son). They went right to their beds and did it.

My daughter did answer the questions the last two days of the week as scheduled. My son preferred to answer a question or two each day.

I asked if either of them got bored reading the same passage each day, and both said they actually preferred it this way. They were really getting to understand the chapters.

I also wondered if using the colored pencils to mark the passages would make them feel childish. They both enjoyed this part as well. It kept them active and involved.

This book sells for $16.00 and is labeled for use from 4th-8th grade. You could use it for younger than 4th. I would prefer something a bit deeper for an 8th grader, but it would be a nice, short devotion to get the morning started if you used a Bible study text at another time during the day.

You can purchase this book HERE, and be sure to check out their many other products. They offer products related to geography, history, science, and other resources.

I recommend this product and this company. I am hoping they will produce more Bible Study books in the future. I will be looking forward to purchasing from them.

To read what fellow reviewers of this product have to say about it- SEE HERE

Digital Frog International- The Digital Field Trip Series Review

2010-10-08T00:01:00.005-04:00

I was recently given the privilege of reviewing The Digital Field Trip Series CD-ROM from Digital Frog International. The following is my review.

"WE BELIEVE YOU CAN'T CARE ABOUT A WORLD YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND"

With this being the motto of Digital Frog International, they set out to create award winning educational natural science software. They started out in 1995 with their virtual frog dissection software (Digital Frog 2.5).

Their company produces high-quality educational multimedia CD-ROMs with an ecological focus. The following is their current product line:

Digital Frog 2.5
The Digital Field Trip to the Wetlands
The Digital Field Trip to the Rainforest
The Digital Field Trip to the Desert
The Digital Field Trip Series
ScienceMatrix: Cell Structure and Function

The company claims to help you LEARN:

L ure the user into the subject
E ncourage inquiry, exploration, and discovery
A ctively involve students in meaningful learning
R einforce with positive feedback
N ourish a lifelong love of the spirit

AND I PROMISE YOU- THEY DELIVER ON THEIR CLAIM!!!

We received the Digital Field Trip Series which includes a virtual field trip to the rainforest, desert, and wetlands. I cannot tell you how immensely my children enjoyed this product! They spent many hours over a period of days locked up in their bedroom watching and learning from this software.

Here two of my kids are watching the Rainforest CD-ROM

There are hundreds of photos to view, videos to watch, and sources to read.

Clicking on the photos often reveals more information- usually with a humorous tone.

Here you can see your main screen as you "walk" through the Rainforest on your field trip.

You click and drag your mouse as you explore, clicking on items as you find them to view more info.

You can see the route map along the bottom of the screen. You can use this to jump ahead.

When you are finished viewing and learning from the screen, you simply click the "Go Back" button.

This will take you back to the route map.

There is also a map that will show you EVERYTHING included on the Field Trip.

This is showing the Rainforest. You can jump to any of these sections.
(And each of these sections contains even MORE information)

This software works with Mac or Windows, and contains a WEALTH of information. If you are a homeschool teacher, public school teacher, or just a lover of science- you will LOVE this program. My children ate it up, and learned so much in the process!

I had a 5 hour trip out of state. I took my MacBook Pro and this CD-ROM along, and spent hours of the trip with my headphones on- enjoying the desert field trip. Of course, I had to share what I had learned about the burrowing dessert owl with my in-laws when I got there! (They live in the country and have their share of noisy owls in their woods).

You can purchase the Digital Field Trip Series for single educational use HERE for $199.00

You can also purchase for home use HERE for $125.00 or for $135.00 to be used on up to 3 computers.

There are also options for purchasing for homeschool groups.
The CD-ROM also contains printable worksheets.

My 7 yr. old would like to leave you with this message...

Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about this wonderful program!

Find out what others on the TOS HOMESCHOOL CREW think of this program.

I was given a free CD-ROM in exchange for my truthful review

The Peleg Chronicles~ Book One The Foundlings

2010-10-01T00:01:00.007-04:00

Normally, based on the author's writing style, I can tell if I will continue reading a new book or set it aside. This book was different.

(For a synopsis of the story click HERE)

At times I was a bit confused while reading the first few chapters. The author, Matthew Christian Harding, wrote with many fragments for effect but they tended to frustrate me. Some of the fragments did not make sense until I read a bit further and their meaning became clear. This is not a negative of the author- merely just a difference in taste and style. My 11 year old son became frustrated too and handed the book back to me.

About a third of the way through the book, the writing style seemed to change. The sentences and paragraphs were more developed as the plot thickened. I enjoyed the rest of the book more fully.

I will break my review into two categories- Writing Style & Content:

WRITING STYLE:
I addressed this somewhat in the previous paragraph. This book was not written in the style that I prefer. The beginning was a bit choppy with the fragments, and I felt the information was not explained or developed enough. This is simply my bias as a reader. Further into the book I felt the sentences were more developed, and I found the book more enjoyable.

My reaction to the author's writing style surprised me. Though his style was not what I prefer, I did not want to put the book down (once I got past the first few chapters). Matthew Christian Harding has a natural ability to draw you into his story. At times I really felt part of the adventure- almost as if I were holding my breath to see what would happen next. I really appreciated the way he tied the Scriptures into the story naturally. It was not a cheesy novel where the author threw in some verses in odd places to call it Christian. Nor, did the story give you the impression you were reading a Bible manual. It was naturally and beautifully woven in. This leads me to my next category.

CONTENT:
Once again, this book perplexed me. It had the beautiful use of Scriptural truth displayed by wholesome characters on one side, and the appalling behavior of ungodliness, portrayed in the acts of evil villains, on the other. These evil characters were bent on human sacrifice. While I appreciate Harding's use of evil to highlight the brightness of righteousness, I found some of the content to be unnerving (for children). I am not opposed to my children reading of evil. They have read Tolkien's The Hobbit, and my daughter has read The Trilogy. I feel one can show characters with moral virtue fording the evils of darkness without revealing so much of that darkness.

The book contained several incidents of drinking, getting drunk, and attempted human sacrifice. In once instance a priest, foaming at the mouth due to a drug he had taken prior to preforming a human sacrifice, falls to his knees throwing up at the feet of a statue.

I found the content and plot well thought out and highly compelling. Each reader must determine if the content is suitable for himself and his children. I think this book is different than most you will read. I like that about it. I believe the author has a true talent at storytelling. He certainly draws you in.

I believe this book is better suited to the older child/teen- simply due to its content.

I will tell you this is a two part saga. I am really curious to know what becomes of our courageous characters!

You can purchase book one from Zoe and Sozo Publishing for $11.95 (Terrific price for this beautifully covered book!)
You can also purchase Book Two for the same price.

Read more about the author HERE

In case you are wondering:

ZOE= Life
SOZO= save, deliver, protect

To read more reviews of this product from The Old Schoolhouse Crew click HERE

I was given a free copy of The Foundlings Book One of the Peleg Chronicles by Zoe and Sozo Publishing in exchange for my honest review of the product.

Salem Ridge Press~ A Review

2010-09-22T00:01:00.008-04:00

Salem Ridge Press, a company founded in 2005 by Daniel Mills, specializes in quality, classic children's books of the 1800 and 1900's. The company chooses books that teach godly character and high moral values. The books are printed on acid free, archival quality paper so you can enjoy them for years to come. In keeping with their company's desire to present quality books with a high moral tone, some books will contain minor changes. You will find no kissing or offensive language.

I was given three books from Salem Ridge Press to read in exchange for my truthful review. This review is not meant to be a book report of the three books I was given, rather it is meant to be a review of Salem Ridge Press based upon those book selections.

The following are the books I read:

Two of the above texts I read were in e-book form, the other (Dearer Than Life) was paper back. Dearer Than Life was beautifully bound- sturdy with nice binding. The physical books include historical notes, along with a list of important dates. Some books include timelines as well. There are several beautiful black and white pencil drawings throughout. What I appreciate so much about these books, is that Daniel Mills has included definitions of the more difficult, unfamiliar words on the bottoms of many pages. I want my children to read these excellent literary sources, and considering they often contain lesser known words, these definitions are a great aid. My 13 year old daughter is currently reading Dearer Than Life (and loving it!)- and she is very much appreciating the definitions.

I LOVE what this company stands for! I love the subjects, content, writing style, and physical quality of these books! I am absolutely planning to purchase from this company~ beginning with the Emma Leslie Church History Series. (Click HERE to read why Salem Ridge Press believes church history is so important.) After reading Dearer Than Life and The Captives, I feel as though Emma Lesle is now a dear friend! I honestly could not put these books- or the computer down. The Sign Above the Door by William W. Canfield was just as wonderfully written. (Though I would caution this book is for the older more mature, due to its content. It contains kidnapping and murder).

The books can be purchased in both hardback and paper back. The prices are very competitive with what you would expect to pay for them in a book store. BUT you will not find these wonderful classics in your local bookstore!
The prices run from $12.95-$26.95. Most of the softcover books are either $12.95 or $14.95. The hardcover run about $22.95 or $24.95. (Some are available only in soft cover).

My goal is to purchase each book, one by one. I found all three of the above books to be that wonderful. Please visit Salem Ridge Press. You can read the first chapter of each book online. I KNOW you will be impressed!

READ MORE REVIEWS FROM THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE CREW HERE

A New School Year Begins

2010-09-09T09:00:00.002-04:00

We started school two days ago. This was unusually late for us, but we decided to start when the Michigan public schools did. This is our tenth year homeschooling, so it is not new to us, but I was wondering how this year would go with a 2.5 yr. old in the mix. You know how 2.5 yr. olds can be. They do things like this when brother or sister leaves his/her plate of sour cream within reach......

So needless to say, I was a bit ~~terrified~~ concerned as to how this year was going to go. But the past three days have shown me it is going to be a much better year than I had hoped.

I love the summer and its freedom, but I look forward to the schedule of school- the books and learning, and the atmosphere it creates in our home.

Some photos of our first day of school:

The kids awake the first day of school to a special breakfast and some little surprises.

Andrew working on Abeka Letters and Sounds

Rachel doing Algebra

Samuel working on his pre-algebra

(I know he would love this picture from his sister's pink room)

A typical library visit for us.

However your kids are schooled, I hope you have a truly wonderful school year with many special memories.

MathTutorDVD.com- A Review

2010-09-08T00:01:00.065-04:00

Most people fear math. If you or your child are among them, please read the following reviews and be sure to check out the MathTutorDVD.com video series by Jason Gibson.

I was given a free DVD of both The Pre-Algebra Tutor Volume 1 as well as The Texas Instruments TI-83/TI-84 Calculator Tutor from MathTutorDVD.com in exchange for my truthful review. The following is my review of both DVD's.

I watched the entire Pre-Algebra Volume 1 DVD set, which is 5 hours of instruction on two DVD's. My children watched some of the series and worked through the problems with Jason on the video.

THE TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:

Real Numbers
The Number Line
Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To
Absolute Value and Adding Integers
Subtracting Integers
Multiplying Integers
Dividing Integers
Powers and Exponents
Order of Operations

You can view a few samples of the DVD HERE (scroll down).
I will list my Pros & Cons~ then share what my children thought.

PROS:

Mr. Gibson explains in GREAT detail! He assumes you come with no knowledge.
Simple, no crazy graphics or music~ just him and a white board.
Easy to follow. He speaks in a calm, easy to follow manner.
Good for kids who need more explanation and detail.
Shows many examples for EACH problem.
Constantly reassures the listener that math is NOT difficult~ just different.
Obviously being a DVD, you can pause, fast forward, etc.
It is obvious he knows math.

CONS:

Mr. Gibson explains in GREAT detail! Yes, you saw this above as a Pro. That is because it depends on the type of learner your child is.
You must wait for him to write everything~ unlike a computerized white board where it just appears.

WHAT MY CHILDREN SAID:

My children (grade 7 and 8) enjoyed the videos. They already knew the material covered, but could see the value of watching if the material were new or difficult to you. Both agreed Mr. Gibson explains so well, and uses so many examples that you can't help but learn the concept. I should mention my children are "to the point" kids. They really prefer to read the text on their own. Neither of them enjoy teaching videos. They tend to get frustrated when they know the material yet the teacher continues to explain it. This was their main complaint with the Pre-Algebra Tutor. (On a side note, they did mention the fact that he often smacks his lips, but who doesn't do some behavior such as this when speaking....) :)

OVERALL:
I think Mr. Gibson does an amazing job with a topic most people shy away from. You definitely will feel more confident about your math ability after completing one of his courses. I realize we are all different, but nothing about his mannerism annoyed me- which is often the case when I watch teaching videos. I did tend to think he explained some things in TOO much detail, but that might be perfect for your child.
I absolutely think the DVD is worth its price of $26.99.

EXCEPTIONAL DEAL:
Honestly, I had to read this twice when I received my DVD from Mr. Gibson. MathTutorDVD.com has an online subscription program. For $19.95 per month you can watch ALL the courses right on your computer! This means your younger child can watch Basic Math while an older child is watching Algebra I or perhaps Geometry! It really is an amazing deal.
READ ABOUT THE ONLINE PROGRAM HERE (THE PROGRAM INCLUDES DISCUSSION FORUMS AS WELL AS DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS!)

I encourage you to browse MathTutorDVD.com's website to see the Many selections available.

Click HERE if you would like to know more about Jason Gibson, the founder/teacher.

The Texas Instruments TI-83/TI-84 Calculator Tutor
I have never used a scientific calculator. Ever. That fact alone has disturbed me greatly as my daughter will be starting Algebra II next year. I can do Algebra. I am good at figuring out most things. But a scientific calculator? I really love to read, but NOT one of those calculator manuals!! No thank you!

I was given a precious jewel in the gift of this tutorial dvd! Please do yourself a favor and purchase this DVD! To be honest, watching this DVD made my daughter and I (8th grade) eager to purchase the Texas TI-84 calculator- just to practice along with the video!

Click HERE and scroll down to see a DVD sample.
What you see on the screen is a scientific calculator. A computerized arrow points out each area of the calculator as Mr. Gibson explains its function or detail. It is completely easy to follow along. Mr. Gibson speaks in a calm voice at a natural pace.

As I stated earlier, we do not have a scientific calculator, but what speaks volumes for this DVD is that my daughter and I were quite engrossed in simply watching as the calculator's functions were displayed and explained. If I had not been given this free copy in exchange for my review, I would without a doubt, purchase it!

Again, I love to read, but NOT manuals. They are always confusing, hard to follow, and really long. In fact, I recently purchased a Canon T2i dslr camera. The manual was so unclear I ordered a DVD to clear things up. I now understand the basics of my camera. And I now have the tool I need to understand our next big school purchase- that scientific calculator!

The total run time for this DVD is 8 hours.
List Price is $31.99 but if you order from Mathtutordvd.com you purchase for $26.99

Click HERE to read more reviews of this product from the Homeschool Crew.

Freedom Is Not For The Timid!

2010-06-15T22:28:00.011-04:00

"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid."
Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave."
Patrick Henry

"The future doesn't belong to the faint-hearted. It belongs to the brave."
Ronald Reagan

"The land of the free will cease to be when it's no longer the home of the brave."
Rick Gaber

"In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
Mark Twain

I'm Onboard the Homeschool Crew!

2010-06-14T00:24:00.000-04:00

I was recently informed I have been selected for the 2010-2011 Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew! I am both nervous and excited to begin this journey through unknown waters. I look forward to the chance to receive, use, and review homeschool products from various vendors. Homeschooling, education, and learning are my passions~ and this will be a terrific learning experience. I hope you will join me on this voyage by checking my blog frequently for my reviews. Now if you will excuse me, I must go find my lifejacket.....

Eternal Vigilance

2010-03-19T14:51:00.003-04:00

Some thoughts as the government is poised to take over yet more control of America.

"THOSE WHO EXPECT TO REAP THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM MUST, LIKE MEN, UNDERGO THE FATIGUE OF SUPPORTING IT."
Thomas Paine

"But you must remember, my fellow citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing. It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government."
Andrew Jackson

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin

"THE GREATEST TYRANNIES ARE ALWAYS PERPETRATED IN THE NAME OF THE NOBLEST CAUSES."
Thomas Paine

"Voting is no substitute for the eternal vigilance that every friend of freedom must demonstrate towards government. If our freedom is to survive, Americans must become far better informed of the dangers from Washington- regardless of who wins the Presidency."
James Bovard

"THE THINGS THAT WILL DESTROY AMERICA ARE PROSPERITY AT ANY PRICE, PEACE AT ANY PRICE, SAFETY FIRST INSTEAD OF DUTY FIRST, THE LOVE OF SOFT LIVING AND THE GET RICH QUICK THEORY OF LIFE."
Theodore Roosevelt

"The issue today is the same as it has been throughtout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite."
Thomas Jefferson

AND POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE FOR TODAY:

"THE TWO ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS AND GOVERNMENT, SO LET US TIE THE SECOND DOWN WITH THE CHAINS OF THE CONSTITUTION SO THE SECOND WILL NOT BECOME THE LEGALIZED VERSION OF THE FIRST."
Thomas Jefferson

Light, Liberty, and Learning

2010-03-17T12:21:00.004-04:00

LEARNING

"There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass
an examination, and finish with your education. The whole of life,
from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process
of learning." Jiddu Krishnamurti

"The wisest mind has something yet to learn."
George Santayana

One of the privileges I enjoy being a homeschool mom to my oldest three children is that I am always challenged to learn new things. As my children age, I look forward to each school year and the wealth of ideas, facts, and information we will face.
Learning is not something that takes place simply within the 4 walls of a classroom or institution. Regardless of ones age, he should still be learning, growing, expanding.

"Develop a passion for learning. If you do you will never cease
to grow." Anthony J D'Angelo

LIBERTY

"What spectacle can be more edifying or more reasonable than that of liberty and learning, each leaning on the other for their mutual support?"
James Madison

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization,
it expects what never was and never will be."
Thomas Jefferson

Liberty and learning go hand in hand. Whether one is referring to political liberty, Spiritual liberty, intellectual liberty...
The ignorant will always be susceptible to tyranny and oppression.

"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppression of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day."
Thomas Jefferson

LIGHT

Light is synonymous with truth. To have true learning and liberty one must have truth. Truth is an absolute that some men fear.

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
Plato

Many would rather find ease and comfort in the avoidance of a higher truth.

"Truth, like a light, blinds. Falsehood, on the contrary, is a beautiful twilight that enhances every object."
Albert Camus

"God is not a hypothesis derived from logical assumptions, but an immediate insight, self-evident as light. He is not something to be sought after in
the darkness with the light of reason. He IS the light."
Abraham Joshua Heschel

This blog will contain my thoughts and questions concerning these three areas: light, liberty and learning. I am a lover of quotes so you will see many.
I love to read a variety of non-fiction books. This will be my place to review
and evaluate them.

As a homeschool mom, I am always interested in exchanging ideas and curriculum reviews with others. So I will also include reviews of homeschool materials.

Please visit often and feel free to share your thoughts and questions regarding
LIGHT, LIBERTY, AND LEARNING.

And, OF COURSE, feel free to leave a great quote!!

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong."
Abraham Lincoln

VIRTUS TENTAMINE GAUDET
Strength rejoices in the challenge.