FLASH CARD FUN with EVAN-MOOR

 I just finished up another amazing year homeschooling Batman.   One of the reasons why our year has gone so smoothly is because I use Evan-Moor curriculum.  Math, science, geography, history pockets, vocabulary, grammar....you name it!   I really like that it is core-curriculum that is easily organized and user friendly.   Batman likes it and I'm committed to using their products for years to come.   

I introduced Evan-Moor Learning Line Flashcards to Batman a few months ago and we've had so much fun with them.   These flashcards are great for ages 4-7 and target reading, math, and other learning concepts.   Each pack of flashcards contains 56 sturdy, full-color cards including an activity card to show you different ways to use them.   

Learning Line flashcards include free access to Evan-Moor's online timed tests and interactive activities to add another dimension to flashcard practice.   They even have a wide selection of Learning Line activity books that correspond to the flashcards.

  Just $4.99 each for ages 4-7!

Here are some fun ways I use flashcards with Batman and also his buddy Tiny Terror:

 This is the very first day I ever introduced Batman to multiplication.  He totally got it!   He worked for over an hour with his flashcards as he grouped his manipulatives.  He loved it and continues to work on learning his multiplication facts each week.  Not bad for a first grader!

 Batman wanted to be timed to see how many flashcards he could get right in one minute.   He loves games like this!

 For every right answer, Batman got to stack a block.  When he was done he tried to shoot it with his nerf gun.  It's a boy thing!

Flashcards are a good way to give mommies a break when you need a few minutes away from teaching!

Here is Richie's friend, Tiny Terror using the Color and Shape cards.    He's matching some color manipulatives to his color coded flashcards and also saying the name of the color.  Tiny Terror is only 19 months old and is doing great!

I recommend these flashcards as a wonderful learning tool for your child.   These are great to use in the car, waiting in line at the store, and for a change in your classroom routine.  I love that each card is in color and that the cards are very durable.

I received a copy of the above mentioned product to help facilitate the writing of a frank and honest review.   A positive review is not guaranteed.  All opinions are my own.  Your results and opinion may vary.

MY HOME SCHOOL GRADES-A Mosaic Review

 I'm just finishing up my second year of homeschooling my son "Batman".    I've spent countless hours researching everything that has to do with homeschooling.  That is except, how to properly track grades and activities.
I was so happy to have been given the opportunity by Mosaic Reviews to learn about this process using My Home School Grades.    Now I can get a jump start on documenting results the easiest way I know how.

A solid transcript is key to success and further advancement.   This service manages grades and activities for every child in your family.  It provides your child with a professional and official college ready transcript.

I have to say that this is a super easy program to use.  Simply login and follow the easy to use prompts.   The first thing you do is go to the section "Add a student".   This is where you insert your child's name along with an optional profile picture. 

Next, simply add the title of each specific class, credit hours, school year, length of the class, and grade level.  You can even code if the class was an ap/honors class.   Don't see the specific curriculum offered that you want to add?   Simply request MHSG to add it and they will.  Grades can be entered as a letter, number, or fraction. 

One area that I especially liked was that you can also document "activities" in each transcript.   If your child has participated in music for example, then this is the place to notate it.   Don't see your particular activity from the drop down menu?   Simply contact MHSG's and they will add it for you.

  MHSG's can be accessed by any laptop, smartphone, or tablet.

Now you're just one click away from an official looking transcript.

My Home School Grades is offering everyone a free 14 day trial.  If you love it as much as I do then you'll want to join fast!  A lifetime family membership is just $49.99!

Hands On Math with K'NEX

Batman loves math and anything that requires building.   I came upon this really cool kit K'NEX Education-Elementary Math and Geometry a few months ago on amazon.  I thought it would be a perfect accompany to our math lessons.  Batman thinks it's a treat to build things for school work.  We ended up working on this kit for two solid hours!    I was able to solidly teach new concepts to Batman that he grasped quite clearly.

   This set allows children to build, investigate, and explore math and geometry concepts in a 2-D and 3-D world.  There is a teacher's guide that covers key terms and vocabulary.   There are also 142 K'NEX parts and enough parts to build 38 lessons.   The possibilities are endless.   I loved that  each lesson offered a series of questions to ask the student.

Here is Batman building a 3-D rectangular prism.  Today we talked about lines & angles, triangles, squares, rectangles and learned what a quadrilaterals is.   We then moved on to 2-D and 3-D shapes and had fun building every type of example.   Here are a few questions I asked Batman:

1.  How many faces on each shape?

2.  How many edges on each shape?

3.  How many vertices does each shape have?

We have much more to do with this kit.  I can see us using this to discuss fractions, symmetry, congruency, angles, and so much more.

LOVE!

This review is based on my own personal opinion.  I wasn't asked nor compensated by K'NEX in anyway to do this review.

WATERPROOF BIBLE

Have you ever heard of such a thing?  I hadn't but I was excited to get a copy of my new Waterproof Bible by Bardin and Marsee Publishing to check out.   When I first received the bible I sat down and frankly was in awe over how the pages felt.  They were lightweight, smooth, and 100% plastic.  I showed my husband the Bible and he thought that it was the coolest thing and perfect for him since he travels at times with job.   He immediately asked if he could have it.   

FEATURES:

*New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs

*Extremely Durable Synthetic Pages

*100% Worry Free

*100% Rip proof

*Stain Resistant

*Ultra  Clear Text

*Ability to write and underline using pencil, dry highlighter, and ball point pens

*No bleed thru

*Ideal for traveling, backpacks, tote bags, or purses

*Durable

*Multiple Designs and Versions

Perfect for traveling, camping, missions, fishing, lounging, and more.   You can have 100% confidence that your Bible will withstand anything.

It is available in five popular versions.

*English Standard Version (ESV)

*King James Version (KJV)

*New King James Version (NKJV)

*New International Version (NIV)

*New Living Translation (NLT)

Each version is available as a full Bible for $44.95 or as a new Testament with Psalms and Proverbs for $24.95.   There are three different cover options:  pink & brown, blue wave, and sportsman camouflage.

Now to the test...

I took the bible outside, wet it, and threw dirt on it.   

I let it sit one hour in a sink full of water. 

I simple let the Bible air dry and came back to my beautiful Bible in perfect condition.

This is such a perfect Bible for everyone!   Anyone, even your children, can enjoy reading this.  Now you can take your bible anywhere, anytime and don't have to worry that it will be damaged in anyway!  Love this!!!

The Etiquette Factory

The Etiquette Factory 

for Mosaic Reviews

As a member of Mosaic Reviews I was given the opportunity to review Etiquette for Beginners by The Etiquette Factory.   This program is created by a fellow homeschool mom, Monica Irvine (a.k.a. Ms. Mary Manners) who is a certified etiquette instructor.  The Etiquette Factory is a 3-level approach to teaching proper manners.    Starting with the basics like good hygiene to going on a job interview as a teen, children will learn etiquette in a simple, fun way.

Level 1- Etiquette for Beginners

This program is for children from preschool to fourth grade.   It's a 12-week course that covers topics including table manners, good hygiene, being a guest, and a clean mouth.   This is a program that only takes a few minutes each day to implement.   Parents get a Teacher's Manual that clearly reviews the etiquette skill to be covered.   Each week your child will focus on one etiquette skill by watching a dvd lesson with Ms. Mary Manners .   Then they will hear a great story that further illustrates the etiquette skill.   Next, children have fun as they sing and dance using the Jukebox DVD.   The songs are really fun and your child will love them.  Statistics show children learn more when singing, rhyming, and chanting so this cd is a sure hit.   At the end of the program for the week, children will "Make a Special Treat".   These treats are simply a way celebrate their accomplishment of finishing a week of etiquette training.

A  great addition to the program is teaching children their table manners with the instructional placemats.   Sold in a set of four, these laminated placemats are colorful and teach exactly how to set a table using the diagram.  Helpful table manner hints are also written on the placemats such as "remember to thank the cook".

There are also two other levels for your child to master as they get older.  

Level 2: Etiquette Intermediate 4th grade and up

Level 3:  Etiquette Masters for Teens

Buy all three levels for $99.95.

PROS

*I thought the program was extremely easy to use.  The Teacher's Manual was clear and it took very little time and effort to implement the topic of the week.

*My son "Batman" loved the songs and really had fun with it.

*The placemats are awesome!  Batman loves to set the table correctly each day.

*My son six year old has definitely learned from this program.

CONS

*The Beginner Combo is $69.95 which I felt to be a bit steep in price.

*The "Make a Special Treat"  food item almost always involved a sugary treat with ingredients like m&m's, fruit roll-ups, sprinkles, and candy toppings.   I would've liked to see healthier food choices to give.

Spanish for You! Estaciones

A Mosaic Reviews Product Review for Grades 3-8

Spanish for You! by Debbie Annett

Facebook

I was given the opportunity to review Spanish for You! by Debbie Annett.   My son "Batman" is a very accomplished six year old is a bit young for this program but I wanted to give it a shot.  He knows his numbers and a few words in spanish.  I thought if anything I would just take things a bit slower then the recommended 30 week course.

The Spanish for You! curriculum is available in either celebration or seasonal themes.    I was given the Estaciones theme which is the seasonal package.  These can be used for a home or classroom type setting for grades 3-8.   A "travel" theme will be introduced in June of 2013.

All Spanish for You! packages come with the following:

*Soft cover book or e-book (currently only trial packages)

*24-30 week for grades you need (24 weeks for G5-6 & 30 weeks for G3-4)

(pdf download)

*Self-checking worksheets (pdf download)

*Audio files of entire book (MP3 download)

*Flashcards/activity pictures (pdf download)

*Teacher lesson plans must be purchased separately

View sample pages!

Theme packages are available from $39.95 (grades 3-4, 5-6, or 7-8 to just $64.95 for grades 3-8.   There is a money back guarantee if you aren't happy with the program.

I received everything I needed to proceed via download from Debbie at Spanish for You!   Note:  I didn't receive anything in hard copy like you would if purchased.   The lesson guide suggests spending 10-30 minutes a day with your child on a lesson.  Each week is broken down by day with simple instructions on what to do.   The children start the program each day using flashcards that are simply drawn and easy to use.  Students can then listen to the downloadable audio files to learn the correct pronunciation of a word.  They then work on new vocabulary.   This is a good time to use the self-checking worksheets to review themselves.  There are optional games and activities to use to further learning and I found that to help reinforcing what Batman had just learned.

When I first started the program we did it about 10 minutes a day.   We definitely worked on it for the recommended four day schedule.  A few days here and there we were able to a bit more.  Some days, not so much.   I took my cue from Batman on just how into it he was for the day.  The lessons are pretty easy and fun.  I really liked how ours was corresponded to the seasons which made it that much easier to teach.   I found that simply reviewing key words throughout the day helped a lot.

Here is a picture of Batman reading one of his worksheets to me.

PROS

*This is a simple, no fuss program.  It's easy to use and the lesson plans are easy to understand and implement.

*The audio is a great resource and one to definitely incorporate to your lesson.

*Do at your pace.

*Price-very affordable!

*I love downloadable items!

CONS

*It's done all in black and white which to me is a pro and a con.  I love big, glossy pictures because they engage a reader more.   I had my son though color in his worksheets and flashcards and he had fun doing that.   

Check out these valuable links!

Pricing

Free Worksheets

Free Mini Lessons

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner

a planning system designed by Debra Bell

I was recently given the opportunity to review The Ultimate Homeschooler Planner ($28) and the The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students (19.99) by Debra Bell and published by Apologia.   These came at the perfect time since for a few weeks prior I was going crazy keeping track of all of my homeschool commitments and other obligations.  I had no written organization plan and I felt disorganized and spent much time double checking what I had to do each week.  

"Order brings peace" is a traditional saying attributed to St. Augustine.  I tend to agree with his logic whole heartedly.   This planner will not only help us survive our call to homeschool, but will allow us to "thrive in the pleasure of God's calling in your life".   This product was designed to be easy to use and will help us in our homeschooling journey.    This planner focuses us not only on lesson planning but wants us to be constantly aware of God's presence while homeschooling.

When I first got my planner in the mail I got excited because it's just beautiful.   I love anything floral and feminine and I knew this was something I would use.  Now that I've been using it, I can most certainly say that "I LOVE IT",  Here is what this planner comes with:

*Can be used from 2013-2016

*How to Use Guide

*Yearly Planning Retreat

*Monthly Planning Sessions

*Weekly Planning Sessions

*Monday Morning Tutorial and Friday Afternoon Reviews

*One Year Planning Grid

*Student Goal Setter

*Pre-planning Guide

*Monthly Planner (you fill in the dates)

*Weekly Planner

*Records

*Teaching Tips

*High School Planning Guide

*Year in Review

*Notes

At the start of each month I simply fill out the dates in the box provided.  I then break down our weeks on the separate planning forms.   I'm able to document our bible plan, outreach, notes, supplies, appointments, etc.   Each week there are thoughtful prayers and verses written on the calendar that gave me moments of quiet reflection that I found very enjoyable.

 I love how there is a section each called "Motivating the Reluctant Learner" and "Checklist for Raising an Independent Learner".  Both are filled with great tips and feedback.  The reading list and field tip log are great additions so I could easily document extra items that we did.   The handy pocket folders in the front and back made keeping my "extra" paper easily organized.

 I was also asked to review The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students ($19.99).  This is a perfect planner specially for 4th-8th graders and will help foster their independence.   My son "Batman" instantly started to fill our the "All About Me" section and took pride in keeping his new organizer neat.  In addition, this planner allowed students to learn about:

*Writing in assignments each day

*Document Reading Lists

*Timeline of U.S. and World History

*Map of U.S. including Capitals and Time Zones

*World Map

*Scientific Method

*Multiplication

*Measurements

*Fractions

*Capitalization, Punctuation

*Writing Guidelines

*Greek and Latin Roots

My son actually made it a point each day to write in his homework or logged a book that he had read.  We both did our planners at the same time.  That made us both accountable.

Overall, I enjoyed both planners and found easy to use.   When I first saw the asking price I admit I was hesitant in the fact that I wouldn't ever spend that much money on a planner.   Now that I've used both of these, I can easily say that this is money well spent out of our homeschool budget.   I feel more at ease and less stressed being led by God in my homeschooling journey.     

   

WE CHOOSE VIRTUES (A Mosaic Review)

Virtue:  A virtue is a positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being.

As a member of the Mosaic Review Team, I was asked to review We Choose Virtues.   Heather McMillan created this product because she simply loved her children and wanted them to reach their full potential.  She thought that children needed to be inspired by simple, positive communication, and by consistent instruction.  Parents and teachers needed an effective language with which to communicate these instructions.

Our first step in this program was to take the Family Character Assessment that is a free PDF download.   My husband and I sat down to each take our test.   I also helped my six year old son by explaining each question.  This took a bit of time but in the end all three of us could plainly see what character traits we needed to work on.

There are twelve character traits in this program.  They include:

Attentive, Content, Diligent, Forgiving, Gentle, Helpful, Honest, Kind, Obedient, Patient, Perseverant, Self-Controlled

We each picked one character trait that we needed to improve on from the Virtual Flashcards".   My son "Batman" needed to work on the character card "diligent".   On the front of the card is a "Virtual Kid" and his friend called Chuck and Duck and the words "I am Diligent".   On the flip side it showed what diligent means.  "I start fast, work hard and finish strong.  I am NOT...slow to get started or lazy and I  don't quit early".  Our cards were the King James version but they are also available in NIV, or a secular version with no bible verse.   Our card read: Proverbs 13:4  The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of 

the diligent shall be made fat.

We spent about 15 minutes discussing what diligent means, and ways that Batman could be better in being diligent in his life.  Batman also was able to color a special coloring page based on this word that I got from the Kids of VirtueVille Coloring Pages which is a PDF download for $3.00.

I found that using the Parenting Cards ($34.99)  were a great support.  These are full color, illustrated cards that are loaded with helpful hints on introducing and demonstrating all 12 Virtues. 

Front and back of the parenting card.

This program takes about 10 minutes a day to review.  Each time I saw Batman being "diligent" I made sure to recognize his positive "virtue".   At times he needed a quick reminder to be more diligent.  I simply said the words "Chuck and Duck".  These were the "Virtual Kids" on the front of our learning card.   Batman quickly got the message and corrected his behavior.  This program is perfect for pre-k through elementary age kids. It was recommended that one card be used per week. 

I was extremely pleased to see that all members of my family made positive growth using this program.  It was easy to use, the cards were vibrant and fun, and overall we enjoyed it a lot.   We continue to use We Choose Virtues as a family so we can better ourselves and take personal pride in our behavior.

We Choose Virtues is giving my followers a wonderful discount.   Buy the Homeschool Kit ($98.99) and get 20% off using coupon code HOME20 by April 30.  Save 15% off on all other orders using code VIRTUE15 with no expiration date.