2. June 2009 by Shannon.

This was my first time checking out a title from the WannaBe series… and WannaBe: CHEF was the perfect choice for our family!  My husband is an amateur chef, I am a food consultant, my 6 year old son has the cooking (well, baking anyhow) gene, and well.. the rest of the gang LOVES to eat!  LOL! 

The ebook is packed with theme based learning activities and lots of just for fun stuff.  Inspiring chef testimonials share the culinary passion with your children.  Included also is a well written chapter with a clear plan for becoming a chef themselves… including stressing the important of always pursuing higher education.  There are beautiful copywork pages, some facinating science experiments, colouring pages (for the younger set), and fun games like crossword puzzles and a “fill in the story” type review sheet. 

If you have a budding chef if your home, this might be the perfect mini introduction into what a life behind the scenes might be like if they decide to pursue that non-conventional career path.  It’d also be a great “unit study” break from regularly schedule programming - because after all, there really is a little budding chef in every child. LOL!

Blessings!

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22. May 2009 by Shannon.

Well, like most of the world right now, my husband and I are feeling the financial squeeze of the economy.  The other night we were actually sitting on the couch discussing the plausibility of putting out children into school just so that maybe I could get out to work and bring in a second income.  Our dream would be to live debt free, our reality is that in order to make ends meet and take care of the things we need to (such as home repairs, car maintenance, personal care like dentists, etc) we are sinking further and further into debt.  This situation is making us both very unhappy.  And I’m sure you all know, if Mama (or Papa for that matter) ain’t happy - ain’t NOBODY happy.  That certainly runs true in this house… when we are stressed I start seeing the kids demonstrate stress-related behaviours.

SOMETHING has to be done.  After some prayer and talk, we concluded that putting the kids in school just wasn’t an option.  Not only would it probably NOT decrease our debt load, but it would most surely add a great deal of stress to the family.  So, what to do?

I brought it up with a friend of mine, my wingless angel, my encourager… my best friend, Steph.  After promising to pray, she encouraged me to look into ways to use my talents at home to make a supplemental income.  Now, okay, I know the verse in First Thessalonians 4 v. 11 that tells me that my ambition should be to live a quiet life, mind my own business and to work with my hands.. but I’m afraid if God intended me to be one of those little Suzie Homemaker types, He forgot to put the creative gene in me to go with it.  I am the least crafty person I know… and I really mean that!  So she asked me, “what CAN you do?”.  Hmm… blog.  Read and blog.  That’s about it… oh, I can make a nice webpage if needed, but that just doesn’t bring in the money I’d like it too, and I find myself more often than not, working for free for this charitable organization or that friend.  Noble as that may be.. it’s definately not a money maker! *grin*

Anyhow, to make this very long story short, she asked me what I knew about PLR.  I said, “huh” (wow, intelligent response, eh? LOL).  Well, she laughed and sent me some links for more information… and the best part? It was all free!  Now I’m getting set up and I hope to keep everyone posted with fantastic updates… but for those of you still wondering what a PLR is… (which I’m just learning about now) here is some information:

How PLR content works is simple. You are given access by the original author to the source files for articles, ebooks, special reports, mini-courses, site graphics… and they are then yours to change, add to or use as is. You can put your name on them and sell them as your own or even give them away to build your list - a list you can use later on to share about your latest products available for sale.

Within a couple of hours you can put together your own info product and have it ready for sale. There is no easier way to create a steady stream of products. Think how quickly you can have an entire product line ready to go!  You can also use the PLR content to add more to your website, blog or newsletter. It’s instant content that you don’t have to spend hours writing - or hundreds of dollars outsourcing (paying someone else to do your writing for you).

Why not join me?  I’d love to have some other debt-free minded friends come on this journey alongside me… we could be an encouragement and a support to each other as we work towards living free and clear of the bondage of debt.  And if course make some extra money for books! LOL!  (C’mon, admit it, if you are reading my blog, chances are your a book-a-holic like me! LOL!)

Here are two links I’d like to share, both with an abundance of free information:

PLR Wholesalers

Minisite Profits Exposed!

Blessings!

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21. May 2009 by Shannon.

I feel so blessed!  I was privileged to be given the opportunity by Thomas Nelson Publishing to review a copy of the Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament Audio Bible… what a boost to my faith journey!  This dramatic presentation of the International Children Bible performed by an all-star cast (Cody Linley of Hannah Montana fame is the voice of Jesus!) is a tween/teen version of the Word of Promise New Testament production of the New King James Version of the Bible. 

The files are in mp3 format (over 23 hours of scripture!), so it’s easily transferable to your child’s portable mp3 player.  Also included is a behind the scenes DVD packed with testimonies of these inspiring young people - exciting and empowering to watch as they see their favourite “stars” sharing their faith walk. 

This soothing reading of the Word of God has been such a blessing for my teens as we shuttle off to this event and that place… a perfect “bored” time for the kids turned into an opportunity for my children to get to know their Heavenly Father on a very “cool” level.  My Bigs were not at all embarrassed to have it playing while their teen friends were in the car; in fact, I can’t say I ever remember a van full of teens being so quiet in my life! *grin*

Narrated by Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee of the movie production, The Lord of the Rings) and with book introductions by Max and Jenna Lucado, this audio Bible includes a pull out Planner for listening to the entire New Testament in just 40 days.  That sounds like an excellent “summer vacation idea” to me!  I know we’ll be listening to it again and again as we trek around on OUR summer camping and day trips!  Even thought it is intended for the tween-teen gang, my Littles (aged 4 and 6) loved listening to the production as well… but they are children who are used to listening to audio books, so I’m not sure if that’s a universal thing for the younger set - however, it is taken from the International Children’s Bible… so who knows?  Either way it’s a fantastic product and only $14.99 at Christian Book Depot! 

Blessings!

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1. May 2009 by Shannon.

All through this TOS Homeschool Review journey, I’ve had some highs and lows… like waves.  Some of my highs (favourites) were listed in the previous post, and I won’t bother to rehash which programs I felt challenged to review.  Memoria Press made the cut as one of my highs, without a question.  I’d put it probably in my top three, up there with Critical Thinking Press, and Clearwater Press’ One Year Novel… really!

It was such a high that when I received the box containing the Latina Christiana program and the Famous Men of the Middle Ages set, I opened it up right there at my van (which was a neat experience since I was with a very good friend at the time, and she practically drooled all over all the goodies inside!).  The quality of the books is exceptional… especially the Famous Men of the Middle Ages book.  I’d previously seen  another publishers’ version of this book, and the text is the same, but that’s where the similarities ended… this book is filled with gorgeous full colour illustrations, printed on fine quality paper and bought beautifully with a fantastic teacher’s guide as a companion book.  The set sells for 39.95 and includes the incredible Famous Men book and also a Teacher’s Guide with answer key.

Latina Christiana … I have to pause here and tell you a funny story (okay, it was a funny story for us, maybe you’ll just think we’re nerds… LOL!).  The first evening home with the Latina Christiana book, I wanted to see if I could make better heads and tails out of it than I could of the other latin curriculum we got to review this year, and on the very first section’s notes to the instructor was an article (or essay?) about the quirky aspects of learning latin… I got so excited because it all started to make some sense, so I said to my son, “hey, Ev, listen to this!” and proceeded to read that same introduction for the instructor… before I was done half the page, not only was my husband listening, but my 13 year old daughter had tuned in too (she had no interest in latin)… everyone was hanging on my ever word… just like we were reading some familiy novel or something… and when I was done, my son looked at me with a big grin and said, “Ahhhhhh NOW it’s starting to make more sense!”  Then I realise how nerdy we must all look, and closed the book in favour of us watching the nature documentary we were supposedly watching together.  *wink*

So… what do I think now of Latina Christiana?  I think my children are privileged to be learning their lessons in latin from such a sweet young woman (oh, we have the DVDs too… I HIGHLY recommend adding them to your order!  They act as an interactive teacher (to my assistant) in a language we knew nothing about - which has taken a great deal of the pressure off me).  I’m even planning on getting the Prima Latina course for my Littles for September… and maybe going on to First Form Latin with the Bigs.  The cost of the Text Set (which includes a pronunciation CD) is only 39.99$, but to get the whole DVD teaching set (including flashcards which, judging from the quality of everything else I received must also be excellent) it is 97.90$ - imagine, an incredible year long journey in latin for less than a hundred bucks! 

Why would I want my kids to learn latin?  I don’t know exactly, but I’ve heard that kids who study latin do better on standardized testing, that it builds critical thinking skills and well.. the OTHERS speak it… (hehe, we’re BIG Lost fans around here, and well, if for no other reason than it’s inspired my kids to consider physics, great literature and yes, even LATIN as Very Cool To Learn). *big grin*

Why not add a little Latin to your curriculum? 

Blessings!

PS.  This is the last of my Old Schoolhouse Reviews… at least as part of the Homeschool Review Crew.  I’ll be reviewing ebooks in the months to come… but I’ll also try to review some of my Bookshelf Favourites in my own homeschool library as well.  I’ve enjoyed reviewing so much this past year… and I pray that my reviews have blessed and inspired even a few homeschoolers in this incredible journey.   I really want to thank my fellow Crew Mates for the great times we had this year… I have been so abundantly blessed in meeting you all and look forward to many years of friendship to come… and also my best wishes for a safe and joyful journey to the New Crew who will be heading out of of the TOS Port in the months to come… keep your lifebelts close by and hold someone’s hand! :o)  It’s an exciting ride that you’ll never be sorry you took!

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23. April 2009 by Shannon.

Okay, several of my fellow crewmates on this the maiden voyage of the TOS Homeschool Crew have decided to post a Top Ten List of their personal favourites from the journey.  So.. here’s mine (in no particular order):

1. Clearwater Press’ One Year Adventure Novel
2. Critical Thinking Press
3. Bilingual Books (Spanish)
4. Homeschool ABCs
5. Memoria Press Latina Christiana (review to come next week)
6. Rocket Phonics
7. Salem Ridge Press
8. Crayola Art Studio (probably our favourite overall)
9. All About Spelling
10. Schleich Figurines

So.. that’s my Top Ten.  Several others almost made the cut… but I had to limit myself.  The kids helped me with my choices… after all, they were my acting guinea pigs, right? *grin*

Good luck to all those in next year’s Crew!  It’s been a blast!

Blessings!

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24. March 2009 by Shannon.

Okay… maybe not ALL science is UNfriendly despite my high school experiences (yes, I was indeedy that poor pathetic student who tried to blow up the science lab.. only in my case, it was that I started an OH SO small, COMPLETELY over-reacted to TEENIE TINY fire.. sheesh… it’s not like I KNEW that container couldn’t be left open… *sigh*).

*ahem!*

Yes, back to FRIENDLY sciences… Joey and Lisa Hajda has written a course called just that, “FRIENDLY Chemistry“. Why knew? With learning games, skits, stories, and of course EXPERIMENTS… Joey and Lisa have taken high school chemistry, a subject I absolutely fear, and made into something that is actually FUN, exciting (not that the fire in chem lab wasn’t… but this is a much less stressful exciting.. *grin*), and the most important thing… MEMORABLE.

The course consists of a Teacher’s binder and a Student binder (notebook), and a game board and some chips. There are “getting to know you” games suitable for introducing this to a co-op of homeschoolers (and even in your little homeschool setting, you might be surprised what you learn about your kids!), a sneaky sack game, and even a game to demonstrate the importance of clear communication (that can’t be bad, right?). By lesson 10 you are baking a cake to demonstrate “atomic radius” (okay, seriously? We never got to eat cake in chemistry when *I* was in school.. that might have changed the whole direction of my education *grin*) and in the next lesson, you are doing drama to learn chemistry! MAN! This is *not* your typical chemistry course!!!

The course is broken down into 32 lessons… perfect for a year long weekly co-op or even just a one year highschool chemistry credit for your homeschooled student. To get both the teacher (absolutely necessary for the chemistry challenged mom like me!) and student notebooks for $135 (includes free shipping to U.S. addresses), which might seem like a high-ish cost, but when you factor in the “painless” part.. this course is worth twice that… at least (and besides, these books are both huge, over three HUNDRED pages each!) And besides, where else are you gonna learn to teach chemistry using SMORES?!?! Sheesh.

So.. if you have a highschooler who simply needs a highschool credit in chemistry but is not “interested” in the subject as a career…. why not check out Friendly Chemistry. And while you are there, could you drop them a note and ask them to create a “painless” Biology course next?

Blessings!

ps, maybe that is the best part of homeschooling… getting to learn it all over again, and hopefully this time you *don’t* blow up the science lab.

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20. March 2009 by Shannon.

Well, I have decided I have a homeschool favourite.  You know those people who are die-hard Sonlighters, or hard core A Beka Bookers… well… I’m officially a Critical Thinking Presser. (There’s a new word! *grin*)

Once again, I was blessed by Critical Thinking Press with yet another one of their exceptional student workbooks.  This time it was Mathematical Reasoning Level A (Kindergarten)… what a fantastic find!  The book, of course is of excellent printing quality, and also meets their very high standards in the content quality department as well. 

From classifying to shape tracing, from number lines to simple logic problems… this book has it all.. everything to give your young student a critical mind when approaching the subject of mathematics.  It’s been a great cuddle on the couch book for us… I didn’t want to “ruin” the book, as I’d like to use it with Chaeli next year, so we do all the pages without a crayon (use our fingers for tracing, do the logic stuff orally, etc…) and I also got the book spiral bound (my local copy shop loves me, I think I personally keep them in the binding business! LOL! I spiral bind everything I can!)

Critical Thinking Press is my all time favourite homeschool supply company now… I have an order for this upcoming year that put more white hairs on my poor husband’s head when he saw it… I know, I know, I have to taper it a bit (I think I topped $350 on my first draft… working on paring it down, but it’s just so durned hard when the products are just so goooooooood, you know?).  I will probably try to sneak in a few of the “cut” books as the year goes on (shhhhhhh!), but I’m putting my foot down on Mathematical Reasoning.  I’m going to get the 4 year old book for Chaeli for next year and the grades 1 book for September and the next ones in following years… how can I not??

My only sad point was that the “by year” system ends after grade 3, when they have a single book to cover concepts from grades 4 through 8 in one book.  But I’m pretty sure I can find SOMEWHERE to spend more money with them when that happens… LOL!  Again, Shhhhhhhhh!

(two thumbs up!)

Blessings!

PS. HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!

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13. March 2009 by Shannon.

I was sent a copy of the Homeschool in the Woods New Testament Bible LapPack to review with my children… and I have to say, I am impressed!  The graphics, of course, are of the finest quality -  I’d expect nothing less of the creators of the Timeline Figures - and not only can you use them for the lapPack, but why not use them on your timeline as well, or in your notebook pages? 

but *ahem!*  back to my review…

Now, this isn’t your typical lapbook type kit, where you child cuts out a simple empty template and fills in his answer… I can’t even say they have to fill in *any* answers, this is more of a springboard lapbook kit that gives your child something to complete while maybe Mom is reading the corresponding Bible story, and then you are free to discuss and take the study to whatever level is appropriate for your student.  I printed off a couple of the simpler books, cut them out and threw them in ziplock baggies to bring to places where I have to keep little hands busy, like doctor’s offices and restaurants… that a few well chosen crayons and we’re good to go till the food comes (or the doctor is finished with Mommy! LOL!).  Super handy and no “work” involves, so there is no balking at the idea of “doing school” while out in the wide world.

But there are is also the New Testament News project to work on as well.. full of thought-provoking writing prompts and funy “ad copy” to create… it’ll get even the most pencil-allergic kid inspired.  Tabliod-style articles on such topics as Jesus tipping tables at the temple to Lost Ads for a “missing sheep” - it tickled my kids funny bones more than once!

(Hey, it even tickled Moms - “Disciples Hit The Road!” hehe… shouldn’t we all?)

The younger kids all liked the Armour of God poster (this is Kenzi’s… doesn’t she look funny?? LOL!) - Ev felt it was “beneath” him to make colouring posters… *sigh* what can I say, he’s a teen boy.  But overall, the quality and the DIRECTIONS are fantastic… the graphics are the best in the the business… bar none (sorry LnL and HOAC, I love ya both, but there’s no comparison!).

If you are looking for something to just open up further discussion, or to keep little hands busy during family Bible time… seriously consider the New Testament LapPack from Homeschool in the Woods… and if you are in the market for timeline figures, be sure to check them out there as well.. they are absolutely exceptional!

Blessings!

PS, They also have an Old Testament LapPack as well.. why not get both and start at the very beginning… (uhoh, I hear a song coming on! LOL!)

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12. March 2009 by Shannon.

Okay… yes, I know that today is “Th for Theology”… but I guess children’s theology counts too, right? *wink*

One2Believeis a toy company with a rather unique mission… their goal is to get Bible Action Figures into the hands of children everywhere.  If you give Barbies and Bratz dolls to your children and expect uplifting, godly play… well, don’t hold your breath.  Our children need good models, they need to see what we value, and if we put the Bible stories in their hands, well, it stands to reason that what you’ll get it a more biblical play.

I received the One2Believe Noah’s Ark set  (retails for $29.99)to review… WOW!  The kids (who as you know from reading my Schleich review) immediately gravitated towards the animals… the boat was forgotten, in fact, poor old Noah was left hangin’ out on the boat by himself on the island for at least a week before anyone noticed him *grin*.  However, with reading the little storybook (perfect for carrying around in a pocket, according to my 6 year old… ya, I gotta remember to check ALL pockets before doing the laundry! LOL!), the kids started putting the whole thing together.  Not that they didn’t know the Flood Story beforehand, but for this it helped them see the boat on the island and Noah keepin’ watch.  After that, well, I have heard the most interesting stories… like how the animals had to make bath soup in the ark (did you know that monkeys are made of cheese and if you shake them you can get cheese for your soup?  Or that Elephants don’t like pepper because it makes them sneeze?  Yup, this is one educational toy!).

I have to say though, I was a little disappointed in the quality for the ark construction at first… I was sure it’d be toast in an hour… but it’s survived many a bath-time and play time with no real signs of wear.  Guess it is tougher than it looks! The kids *did* ditch the top of the ark as it seemed tedious to them to keep taking it on and off… it’s more fun to just throw everyone inside and go with the bathwater flow… *wink*

I can honestly say that these toys have good play value… and I am definitely considering getting the One2Believe Nativity set for Christmas for my gang… so I guess it’s a thumbs up for this amazing BIBLE toy! 

Blessings!

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10. March 2009 by Shannon.

Hmmm… I was asked to review a new spelling program, SpellQuizzer, and this time they were really talking about a PROGRAM - as in a computer program!  With this program you can create customized spelling quizzes… meaning, you type in the word, record the corresponding audio clip (you saying the word… try it in a funny voice, or with a silly sentence) and then your child can practice his/her spelling tests on their own without needing mom to sit and dictate over and over (yay!).

Now, that being said, we don’t really use spelling lists in our home (my Bigs don’t do that kind of program and my Littles aren’t doing spelling quite yet), but I can definitely see how it would bless the socks off a more elementary/middle school student with weekly spelling lists to practice.  I’m excited to have it in my homeschool “toolbox” to use with my Littles as the years go on.

SpellQuizzeris only 29.95$, which includes program updates and several free down-loadable spelling lists (on such themes as Dolch sight words, Greek Mythology, Religious words, Frequently misspelled words, and more).  Since the word lists can be used by anyone in the house, the costs are definitely even lower per child, and since it’s not a time limited licence, it’s even lower when you figure out how many school years you can use it in… wow, talk about dollar value!

Still not convinced?  Well.. that’s fine, you can also download a 30-day free trial of the program to see if it’s a good fit for you! 

I don’t really see any negatives for this product… as it’s completely customizable for your child’s needs… what could be better than that?  The only thing I can say about it is that it’s not for everyone… as I know that not everyone handles spelling the “school” way.  But all in all I give SpellQuizzer the thumbs up!

Blessings!

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