Our Homeschool Reviews

Apologia: Who Am I? Review

2012-02-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Our children are bombarded on a daily basis with competing messages. Every song, movie, book, TV show, blog, and game is full of ideas—ideas about God, people, truth, morality, beauty, identity, faith, and more. Not all of these ideas are true. Some are wrong, some are deceptive, and some are outright destructive. It is more important than ever that young children be equipped to discern among competing ideas and stand in the truth. This is why Apologia has teamed with Summit Ministries to bring you the "What We Believe" Series.

The "What We Believe" Series is an outstanding way to teach your child the essential beliefs of the Christian faith, but it’s so much more! With this student-directed, Bible-based curriculum, your children will learn how to use Scripture as a lens through which to view the world around them—to see everything the way God sees it—and know the truth.

Last year I was given the wonderful opportunity to review the first book in the series, Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? This year I am blessed again in receiving the second book in the series, Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here?

This book introduces children to the basic truths of the Christian faith. It is broken down into eight lessons. Each lesson is then broken down into smaller, more manageable topics and stories. The authors have included a helpful section in the Introduction on how to use the book, with a section on how to include notebooking, and a detailed description on the lesson structure. They have also included a very helpful sample lesson plan, which is based on a schedule of three weeks per lesson, two days per week. Here you can view all of Lesson Five.

Included with the purchase of this book are optional, FREE online teacher helps and downloadable files that include:

* Key themes and lesson objectives

* Vocabulary words and memory verses

* Suggested activities for use with the lesson

* Child-directed discussion questions for each topic covered

* Lists of Bible stories and references that address the key themes

* Recommended reading list for deeper study

* Notebooking Pages

I'm also excited to tell you about the Notebooking Journal that goes along with the text!! You can see a sample here, along with the detailed lesson plans. The Notebooking Journal is amazing and will really get the student thinking about what they read. Yes, there are questions to answer and words to define, but there are also poems to write, pictures to draw, prayers to pray, praises to give, and activities to complete. This Notebooking Journal not only compliments the text, but brings so much more value to it!

I also received the Audio CD, which is the full audio version of the book and the Coloring Book, which follows along with the stories.

My Thoughts: I absolutely LOVE the "What We Believe" Series by Apologia and Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here? is no exception! This hard cover book is put together so well with beautiful pictures and stories that really touch the heart of the reader. It is recommended for ages 6 to 14, and although younger children can work on it with their parents, I think it would be most beneficial for older children, who can read it and complete the assignments on their own.

I also like that they include a sample lesson plan, and the program is flexible to you can follow it or go at your own pace.

Find Out More: Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here? is available on Apologia's website for $39. The Notebooking Journal is $24, Audio CD is $19, and the Coloring Book is $8. It is an investment, but one well worth it!

My Crewmates are also reviewing the Apologia: Who Am I? And What Am I Doing Here?, so you can check out what they think HERE.

Disclosure: This product was given to Our Homeschool Reviews for free for review purposes, and I do not have to return the products to the vendor. I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.

Thrifty Thursday

2012-02-16T08:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Thrifty Thursday! Below are the deals for today. If you find something I've missed, please leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day
Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop
American Sign Language University
Cool Math 4 Kids

Freely Educate
FREE Gardening Site

CurrClick Freebie
Element Detectives Webquest

Art Projects for Kids
How to Draw a Teddy Bear

Free Homeschool Lessons at Kahn Academy
Kahn Academy has over 2,000 educational videos on subject from math to history. ALL FREE! And if you use Singapore Math, you will be excited to learn that they are starting with Grade 3a, Unit 1 and will (eventually) do all of the lectures in the Singapore Math curriculum!! Just scroll down to "S".

My Memories Suite Deal
Use code STMMMS99585 to get $10 off the purchase of the software AND a $10 coupon for the My Memories Store (a $20 value)! Also get a FREE Digital Kit!!

FREE Sample Roundup
For anything I missed, you can get your FREE sample roundup from Deal Seeking Mom!

Chalk Pastels

2012-02-15T11:36:00.000-05:00

I mentioned a couple days ago that Funny Bunny has been working on a couple of art projects to enter into our local Agricultural Fair's Art Show. Below are some of her chalk pastel drawings. She is trying to decide which bird she likes better...maybe you can help her choose!

You can find the tutorials for both over at Hodgepodge.

Wordless Wednesday: ♥

2012-02-15T09:02:00.000-05:00

To: Daddy

Love, Funny Bunny

P90X Week 7

2012-02-14T10:08:00.000-05:00

Today is our 7th week {day 44} of P90X!!

The good:

* Total of 4lbs lost {that's 1 more lb since last time I posted}
* More inches lost
* Fit in a new pair of jeans that have been hanging in my closet

The bad:

* We missed three workouts last week
* Over the weekend I ate more junk food than expected

I was nervous about stepping on the scale this morning because of all the junk food I ate over the weekend. Stunned {and excited} to see one more pound lost!

Last night we tried the P90X Cardio dvd for the first time. It is a mixture of moves from many of the other dvds and incorporates core, yoga, and cardio. It started slow with yoga {can I just say right now how much I don't like yoga} but ended strong with some hard cardio!

So, today Valentine's Day, and I'm sure at some point this week I will consume chocolate and other goodies, but our plan is to just keep going.

I'll post another update in two weeks so I hope you will join me. If you are working on getting fit, I would love to hear about what you are doing.

Cooper and Me and the Military Review and Giveaway!

2012-02-13T18:26:00.001-05:00

Meet Trooper, Cooper’s best friend, and learn how he was adopted by Gracie and Joe and their parents, who both serve in the military. Find out how this family stays close despite being separated.

A must-read during patriotic holidays and for anyone with friends and family in the military, this book helps children know, that even when loved ones aren’t with us, they still love us and think about us.

Cooper and Me and the Military is an cute book which was illustrated by mother-daughter team, Monique and Alexa Peters.

A talented young artist and writer, Alexa wanted to give back to others in a meaningful way through her art. Starting at a very young age, Alexa created illustrated stories about her daily experiences, and from the pages of her sketchbooks came the idea for her first book, Cooper and Me.

Funny Bunny's Review:

It's a hot summers day. When Cooper goes to the park, who does he meet but his best friend Trooper and his owners' kids, Gracie and Joe? Their parents serve in the military, and when they find Trooper, the military dog is injured and needs a home. They go back to Gracie and Joe with Trooper, but they soon leave for work again. How can they stay together when they're so far apart?

I like this book because it is a really good story and a happy ending.

Find out More: You can find out more about Cooper and Me online. Cooper and Me and the Military sells for $12.99.

--------------------------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY!!

So, here's how to enter to win a copy of Cooper and Me and the Military! For each comment, you will get one (1) entry.

1. Leave a comment telling me why you would like to win

2. Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect

3. Subscribe to my blog by email through Feedburner

4. Like Our Homeschool Reviews on Facebook

5. Like Cooper and Me on Facebook

6. Follow me on Twitter @OurHSReviews

7. Follow Cooper and Me on Twitter

8. Post about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook

9. Tweet about this giveaway up to once a day: I entered to #win #cooper_and_me @OurHSReviews http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/cooper-and-me-and-military-review-and.html #Giveaway ends 2/27

**Remember to please leave a separate comment for each entry**

Contest ends on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 11:59 EST. The winner will be chosen by Random.org. This contest is open to U.S. residents who are 18 or older. If I am unable to reach the winner by email within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you (either an email address in your comment or on your profile). The winner's name will be obtained and publicly announced. The number of eligible entries determines the odds of winning. No purchase is necessary to win and this contest is void where prohibited by law.

Disclosure: This product was given to Our Homeschool Reviews for free for review purposes, and I do not have to return the products to the vendor. I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.

miscellany monday

2012-02-13T12:54:00.000-05:00

~one~

the last time i posted a miscellany monday (in jan) we were out in the yard gardening on a beautifully warm day. today we woke up to temperatures in the 20's. brrrrr!

~two~

funny bunny has been working on some art projects this past week, which i'll be sharing in a later post. she wants to enter them into a local argricultural fair art show. last year she entered one painting and received a blue ribbon and a few dollars so her goal this year is to enter several. so far she has completed four.

~three~

i have my very first thrity-one party booked for the end of this month!!! although sales have been really good since i started in oct, it was hard to book a party during the busy holiday season. a good friend of mine is hosting the party and i am so excited {doing excited dance}!!

~four~

since the beginning of jan, we have been trimming our expenses and watching our budget. we have tried to cut out all unneccesary expenses, like eating out, which was a large part of our budget. i called several of our service providers and was able to get some of our bills lowered for six months to a year. one bill was cut in half! did you know you can call your service providers and ask about specials currently running?

~five~

valentine's day is tomorrow and i haven't even thought about it. i need to run out sometime today to get something for funny bunny! we don't have any special plans tomorrow, other than funny bunny taking some cards into dance class, and doing some crafts at home. i'll probably make her a special breakfast too. thursday her cbs group will have a valentine's day party at the park after class. :)

~six~

friday we are taking a field trip to legoland!! there are supposed to be over 400 people going in our homeschool group and we all have to meet at the front of the park between 9:00 and 10:00am to get our tickets. should be interesting...lol!

Aleks Review

2012-02-08T16:41:00.000-05:00

Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system.

When I first heard of this program and visited their website, I was not sure what to think. There are no colorful characters jumping around and no animated games to play. I was worried that Funny Bunny would not be interested in it. And to tell you the truth, it looked a bit complicated to me. But before I give you my assessment, let me tell you a little about it.

ALEKS is available for a variety of subjects and courses in K-12, Higher Education, Continuing Education, Homeschool, and Independent Use.

For homeschoolers, ALEKS can provide instruction and support in math for grades 3-12 and is accessible from any computer with Internet access. ALEKS includes:

* Complete Curriculum for Math with Full Course Library
* No Textbook Required
* Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Student Knowledge
* Assessment and Individualized Learning for Grades 3-12
* Master Account - Monitor and Direct Learning Progress
* Unlimited Online Access - PC & Mac Compatible

Once the student account is set up and they become familiar with the system, an assessment that includes about 30 questions is given.

Following the assessment, the student receives a report in a color-coded pie chart. Each slice corresponds to a particular area of the course, such as fractions. The darker portion of each slice represents the topics that the student has mastered and the lighter portion represents what the student has yet to learn.

The Pie describes the student's current knowledge of the subject and makes recommendations for further study. Each slice of the pie may be opened to produce a list of the concepts on which the student can choose to work.

Above is Funny Bunny's Pie Chart. This is a great tool because we can clearly see what she has mastered and completed and what she still needs to work on. For a third-grader, I think she is right where she should be.

By clicking on a topic suggested in the pie chart, the student goes into the Learning Mode. The Learning Mode provides practice problems and offers explanations of concepts and procedures. Once a student has demonstrated mastery in the Learning Mode, the item is added to the Pie, and new topics become available.

The student will receive immediate feedback in the Learning Mode and, in some cases, suggestions for correcting mistakes.

And for a little fun, ALEKS offers something called Quick Tables. Students are tested on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and are awarded games to play as the progress.

All student progress can be monitored in the Master Account. The blue bar below represents the percent of course material that the student has mastered during the assessment; the green bar shows the percent of new topics the student has mastered in Learning Mode since the last assessment; and the yellow bar represents the percent of topics the student has yet to learn.

You can also edit student accounts, request a new student assessment, view a detailed progress report, track time spent, topics attempted and mastered, and create quizzes.

My Thoughts: I think ALEKS is a very comprehensive math program. Each time Funny Bunny logs in, she is taken directly to her Pie and completes the next piece of her choice. If she does not understand something right away, she has the option to have the program explain it to her. When she answers the problems she gets immediate feedback. I'm surprised that she has not complained about it being boring since most online learning programs she has used have colorful, animated characters and games, but I only have her complete a little each day, so she does not mind it.

I love the reporting feature and have more information than I will ever need. I can see what she has worked on, for how long, what she missed, what she completed correctly, and more. I can give her quizzes and even generate worksheets.

The only thing that would keep me from continuing with this program is the price. It is pretty steep for just one child, so it would have to fit into your budget, especially if you have a larger family.

Thoughts of an 8-Year Old: I like ALEKS and use it a little every day for math. You get a Pie after taking a math test. Then you pick something like addition or subtraction and then pick something like Adding Double Digits and you do it. You also have Addition, Subtraction Multiplication, and Division tables.

Find Out More: You can find out more online at ALEKS. Sign up for a special two-month FREE Trial to see if it is a good fit for your family. Subscription to ALEKS for an individual student is $19.99/month, $99.95 for 6 months, or $179.95 for 12 months. They also offer a family discount program.

My Crewmates are also reviewing the ALEKS, so you can check out what they think HERE.

Wordless Wednesday: Bonding

2012-02-08T02:00:00.001-05:00

Math Rider Review

2012-02-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

If you have a child who struggles in math, finding a fun math facts game like Math Rider may give them the help that they need.

MathRider helps children practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division from 1 to 12, as they ride their horse on noble quests through the magical MathLands.

Each operation contains four quests ranging from easy to master. Although the quests are the same across all four operations, the rewards are not, and they are animated according to how well the rider answered the questions.

MathRider Features:

* Game Intelligence: The game keeps track of what your child has missed and what they haven't. They won't continue to be asked math facts they know, but instead they will be asked those facts they need to work on. The speed of the rider is also automatically adjusted depending on how fast or slow they answer questions.

* Entertaining. There is an interesting story and quests that must be completed that take place in a land of fantasy. As the rider continues the quests on their horse, Shadow, they enter new and different lands.

* Easy Game Play. All your child needs to do is key in the correct answer to the equation and press ‘Enter’. The game does the rest. Sound effects, animation, riding speed and so on are automatically controlled and adjusted. In this way, your child can fully focus on practising their math while still enjoying a highly entertaining game.

* Record Keeping and Statistics. It is amazing to see the statistics that the game keeps track of. The riding results show the results of every question that was asked in the ride as a series of color coded vertical bars. Green indicates quick (or quicker than before) answers, whereas yellow and red indicates that the question did not get answered as well as before.

Every question that is answered during a quest is recorded in the database. Based on all these questions, the ‘My Statistics’ screen shows a visual presentation of a rider’s current strengths and weaknesses.

If you are a rider, here you can assess your strengths and weaknesses and prepare for your next ride. If you are a parent you can see what your rider needs assistance with.

My Thoughts: We used MathRider last year when Funny Bunny was memorizing her addition and subtraction facts and now she is working on her speed and accuracy of her multiplication facts. MathRider has been a great help with both and I know we will use it for division later in the year as well.

Thoughts of an 8-Year Old: Math Rider is super duper fun!!! It's a great program and I love it. It's so cool; every time you do a new quest you get to watch a 'Quest Story'. There are 30 questions in each round. The better you do, the more you progress to wherever you're going. You can even practice your skills with up to 100 questions! I absolutely LUV it!

Find Out More: MathRider is available as an instant download for $37 (the price will increase to $47 on February 15th so act quick).

The game is designed for children between the ages of 6 and 12. Although it is not a multi-player game, it can be played by up to 8 players (each purchase allows you to install MathRider up to three times, including on different computers in your family home.). Each person creates their own rider and chooses their own adventures. You can then compare the performance of all players on the High Score screen.

MathRider is backed by a 30-day, 100% money back guarantee and you can try a 7-day FREE trial before you buy. You can also like them on Facebook and get a coupon code for $5 off!

My Crewmates are also reviewing the MathRider, so you can check out what they think HERE.

Menu Plan Monday - February 6

2012-02-06T10:38:00.001-05:00

We are still plugging away at P90X. Yesterday, with all the Superbowl festivities, was a bad food day! :( Now we need to get back on track! Here is our dinner menu for the week.

Shrimp and Pasta
Chicken Pita Pizza
Chicken Noodle Soup
Tofu and Vegetable Stir Fry
Vegetable and Bean Soup

Breakfasts are still egg whites and oatmeal or grits everyday and lunches are a mix of frozen meals or leftovers.

This week I am planning on finding some new meals on the Beachbody/P90X website so we can get some variety.

What recipes do you have for the week? For more recipes or to link up, click the picture at the top.

Celestial Almanack Review

2012-02-03T16:33:00.000-05:00

If you are a lot like our family, you love to gaze at the stars. We live in a pretty well lit area so most nights it is hard to make out much of anything, but every so often the light is just right, and the sky is amazing! We'll grab the blanket, lay on the driveway, and stare in excitement!

But if you are a lot like our family, you also have a hard time picking out the stars, constellations, and planets. We'll stare for what seems like forever, second guessing the images we see, get frustrated, and go inside...lol!

Classical Astronomy's monthly Celestial Almanack is your illustrated guide to learning the night sky, from Fourth Day Press. February's edition marks only the second in this first volume.

In February, some things you will learn include:

* The Sun moving higher in the noon sky, and rising and setting farther to the north, and how this relates to the days growing longer.

* The constellation Orion dominating the evening skies, and how it can be used for finding 35 constellations.

* Jupiter and Venus drawing closer this month, approaching a spectacular conjunction in March.

But that is not all! Do you know why we have a leap year? Why and how the calendar was developed?

Over the next six months, the Celestial Almanack will be promoting three very rare sky events for 2012:

* The Jupiter-Venus conjunction on March 15 (once every 24 yrs)
* The annular solar eclipse on May 20 (once every 18 yrs)
* The transit of Venus on June 5 (last one until 2117!)

My Thoughts: As an adult, I enjoyed reading through the entire February Almanack. I learned many new things and am excited to take it outside and get started. Funny Bunny is just 8 years old so I plan to highlight the parts to discuss with her and save the rest for when she is older and can study it on her own. There are many parts I think she will enjoy and I know she will be excited to get outside and research the night sky!

Find Out More: You can find out more online about the February Celestial Almanack. It is only $3 for a PDF version. January's edition is on sale for only $2 and both have 5-star reviews. You can also get more information at Classical Astronomy.

My Crewmates are also reviewing the Celestial Almanack, so you can check out what they think HERE.

Thrifty Thursday

2012-02-02T08:44:00.001-05:00

Happy Thrifty Thursday! Below are the deals for today. If you find something I've missed, please leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day
Rolf and the Viking's Bow
Unit Studies Galore

Freely Educate
Free Quilting Course

CurrClick Freebie
Superbowl Mini Helper

Art Projects for Kids
Valentine LOVE Card

Free Homeschool Lessons at Kahn Academy
Kahn Academy has over 2,000 educational videos on subject from math to history. ALL FREE! And if you use Singapore Math, you will be excited to learn that they are starting with Grade 3a, Unit 1 and will (eventually) do all of the lectures in the Singapore Math curriculum!! Just scroll down to "S".

My Memories Suite Deal
Use code STMMMS99585 to get $10 off the purchase of the software AND a $10 coupon for the My Memories Store (a $20 value)! Also get a FREE Digital Kit!!

FREE Sample Roundup
For anything I missed, you can get your FREE sample roundup from Deal Seeking Mom!

Mr. Chewy Review

2012-02-01T12:20:00.000-05:00

If you have read my blog for any amount of time you probably know that we have an adorable Miniature Schnauzer named Maisy. We got Maisy when she was only 8 weeks old and Funny Bunny was around a year and a half. Maisy is most definitely a member of the family and we try to take her wherever we go.

Look at that adorable face!!

We have always spoiled Maisy with fun toys and treats, and we buy those, along with her food, at a nearby pet store. Recently though, I was given the opportunity to shop online at Mr. Chewy. If you have never heard of Mr. Chewy, they deliver pet happiness by conveniently shipping 70+ brands of pet food and stuff (for free!) while ensuring at-risk animals' lives are improved across the planet.

What's even better is, that instead of having to drive to the store every couple of weeks, Mr.Chewy makes setting up a delivery schedule simple. You set the time frame and quantities. You can pause, cancel, or change any part of your schedule and there's no charge to set up your schedule and they never charge a membership fee.

Most customers receive their orders within 3-5 days of placing them and if you order $49 or more, you get free 1-2 day shipping.

We buy Eukanuba brand dog food and I was happy to see that they carried a large selection of it. I purchased two bags of food and a couple bags of treats. The price for the 20lb bag was about the same price of the smaller bag I normally buy locally, so it was a much better deal!

My package arrived by Fed-Ex exactly 24-hours from the time I placed my order. I was amazed at how quickly it got there.

Find Out More: You can find out more online at Mr. Chewy and on Facebook. They also have a great donation program! If you order from MrChewy.com using my code CTHE2475, you'll get 10% off your first order, plus they'll donate $10 to one of three amazing animal charities listed on their site! It's a win-win!

And I love their return policy: Mr. Chewy wants you to be delighted, enchanted, blown away, jubilant, thrilled, ecstatic, tickled pink, euphoric, overjoyed, pleasantly surprised, elated, flying high, excited, and definitely over the moon about your experience with us. Mr. Chewy's policy is simple. If you're not 100% totally, completely, and unconditionally satisfied for any reason whatsoever, return it! We'll happily accept packages within 365 days of the sale date and we'll give you a complete refund. Oh ya, we'll also pay for the return shipping. All we ask is that the product is not used or expired, is in the same condition you received it and is in the original box and/or packaging.

Disclosure: This product was given to Our Homeschool Reviews for free for review purposes, and I do not have to return the products to the vendor. I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Catalog

2012-02-01T02:00:00.008-05:00

New Spring Catalog Starts Today!!

http://www.mythirtyone.com/103425/

P90X Week 5

2012-01-31T10:10:00.001-05:00

Today is our 5th week {day 30} of P90X!! I seriously can't believe that we have made it this far! Below are some of my highlights.

* Total of 3lbs lost
* 1/2 inch to 2 inches lost from each area
* Can fit better in my clothes
* Feel better

Here's what I need to work on

* Eat more protein, less starchy carbs, and less fat

Overall I think we have done well. We have only missed a couple workouts, and for the most part our eating is good. We need to add more protein to our meals and reduce the fat intake a little. After looking at our meals, we adjusted three of our dinners this week.

Dinner 1: We added shrimp to our spaghetti for protein
Dinner 2: Pork chops and sweet potato instead of burgers
Dinner 3: Tofu stir fry instead of steak stir fry

Last week was a "recovery week" in our workouts. We focused on stretching, yoga, and core. I'm not sure how much we actually "recovered" because these workouts were just as hard. Working our core was especially hard...and between that and the yoga, I have bruised something in my middle back. At least it feels like a bruise, to the left of the middle part of my spine. Hoping it will fade over time.

This week we are back to lifting weights and cardio. Yesterday we completed a new workout which included...um... one-arm push ups...lol! Yeah, that didn't quite happen for me. ;) It was HARD and we are both back to being very sore...but it's a good sore.

I'll post another update in two weeks so I hope you will join me. If you are working on getting fit, I would love to hear about what you are doing.

Thrifty Thursday

2012-01-26T08:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Thrifty Thursday! Below are the deals for today. If you find something I've missed, please leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you!

Homeschool Freebie of the Day
The American Boy's Book of Bugs, Butterflies, and Beetles
How to Study Nature in Elementary Schools
John James Audubon: The Bird Artist Audio

CurrClick Freebie
Olaf Tryggvason Biography Workbook (12 and up)

Art Projects for Kids
How to Draw a Rose

Hodgepodge
Chickadee: A Chalk Pastels Tutorial

TOS: Favorite Apps
Visit Homeschool Crew Blogs to find their favorite apps!

Joann's
Use code gpa28 to get free shipping on any purchase.

My Memories Suite Deal
Use code STMMMS99585 to get $10 off the purchase of the software AND a $10 coupon for the My Memories Store (a $20 value)! Also get a FREE Digital Kit!!

FREE Sample Roundup
For anything I missed, you can get your FREE sample roundup from Deal Seeking Mom!

101 Bible Adventures Book Review

2012-01-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

101 Bible Adventures offers kids a high-energy, adventure-filled approach to reading, interacting with, and learning life lessons from the Scriptures. It takes 101 favorite adventure-filled stories from the New Living Translation and puts them into one amazing book. Each Bible story has a brief overview so kids can get a bird's-eye view of the story, a key verse that sums up its meaning, and a Read and Learn application section that challenges kids to make their faith active. 101 Bible Adventures gives kids a great way to explore the Scriptures while highlighting concepts such as building good character; the importance of having good role models; and themes such as forgiveness, love, and God's wonderful plan for our lives.

My Thoughts: This book is great if you would like to focus on a particular story from the Bible {you have 101 to choose from}. The stories are in the New Living Translation so they are easy for children to read and understand. In addition to a brief overview and key verse, each story also has a cute cartoon to go along with it, which is one of the things that Funny Bunny enjoyed the most. I especially like that there is an box at the end of each story so the children can apply what they learned.

Thoughts of an 8-Year Old: What I like best about 101 Bible Adventures are the silly pictures and captions.

Find Out More: 101 Bible Adventures is set to release in February 2012. You can find out more information at Tyndale House Publishers. The prices is listed as $12.99 and is for ages 7 and up.

Disclosure: This product was given to Our Homeschool Reviews for free for review purposes, and I do not have to return the products to the vendor. I have received no compensation from it and all opinions and experiences within this review are my own.

Wordless Wednesday: Matthew 3:16-17

2012-01-25T08:39:00.000-05:00

How to Fit "The Arts" in School

2012-01-24T17:26:00.001-05:00

Susan at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds is hosting a Virtual Curriculum Fair for January. Each Monday a new theme will be introduced that concentrates on a field of study.

Jan 2 - Playing with Words: the Language Arts
Jan 9 - Discovering Patterns: Math, Logic, and Science
Jan 16 - Exploring Our World: Social Studies and more Science
Jan 23 - Seeking Beauty: the Arts
Jan 30 - The Nuts & Bolts: Pulling it all Together

Our Homeschool Reviews will be one of the many blogs participating {about 30 all together}!! Although I am a day late, I'm still going to be joining in and today I'll be talking about Art!

Sometimes I find it very hard to incorporate The Arts into our homeschool day. There are so many other things that HAVE to get accomplished, anything extra just gets brushed to the side.

Art

Funny Bunny LOVES to draw, so I pretty much let her draw whenever she wants to. I don't correct anything that she draws and I always praise her work. We have, however, used a few programs and/or books that teaching drawing.

Artistic Pursuits is a program we are currently using. I have written a review on it that you can read more about here. Students learn technical skills while creating original works of art. Book One at each level provides an overview of drawing, covering the elements of art and composition and Book Two provides an overview of color theory and composition.

We also use the Draw and Write Through History and Draw Write Now books.

Funny Bunny likes how these show the process of how to draw things, but she doesn't neccesarily like to go step by step. We have several.

Dance

Well, we have this one covered with ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical each week.

Music

Funny Bunny has been taking piano lessons for two years now. She's been working in Alfred's Basic All-in-One Course books. She started with Book 1 and is about halfway through Book 5.

We bought a used electric piano about a year ago and she loves to practice each day, without me having to make her.

Poetry

Poetry is included with our Heart of Dakota curriculum. She learns a new poem each week that goes along with the history topic that week.

Homemaking

Funny Bunny is taking a Jr. Homemaker's class where she has learned beginning crochet, sewing, baking, and now cake decorating.

** All participants in this Virtual Curriculum Fair will be posted below as they link up!! **

Memory Making by Christine @ Crunchy Country Catholic
Learning Art at Our House by Jessica @ Modest Mama
history, up close by Jennifer @ a glimpse of our life
Fitting in the Arts When Homeschooling by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day in Our World
Appreciating the Arts by Cindy Horton @ Fenced in Family
Beauty in Homeschooling? by Cindy @ For One Another
Heart of Dakota- The Fine Details- Part 4 Poetry & Bible by Lynn @ Ladybug
The Art of Art by Brenda Emmett @ Garden of Learning
The Beauty of the Arts - Where Does It Fit? by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Learning and Art Library by Angie @ Petra School
Seeking Beauty: The Arts and Everything that Brings Beauty to Our World by Christa
How to Fit "The Arts" in School by Christine @ Our Homeschool Reviews

Favorite Educational Apps

2012-01-23T11:44:00.000-05:00

I received an iPad from hubby over a year ago as a gift, but quickly realized I would be the one person in the house to use it the least.

Of course, Funny Bunny uses it the most, playing the many apps we have downloaded for her.

So what are some of our favorites?

Stack the States
As cheap as I am, I did fork over the $0.99 to purchase this one. Funny Bunny loves it and has learned all her states and where they are located by playing this fun game.

Stack the Countries
She is still using the trial version, but since she mastered the states, she enjoys playing this one. I may buy her the full version as a surprise. ;)

GoSkyWatch Planetarium
Fun to take outside at night, lay on the ground, hold it up, and have it point out what you are looking at

Tangram
Great puzzles

Flashnote Derby
I reviewed this one here. Good practice for those learning their music notes.

Doodle Buddy and Whiteboard
Two of Funny Bunny's favorite drawing apps

Mathomatix
Cute geometry games for ages 4 and up

BrainPOP Featured Movie
They play a new educational movie each day. We both love BrainPOP!!

I could seriously be here all day listing all the apps we enjoy and I can't wait to read the posts from the other blogs participating to get some more ideas!

Menu Plan Monday - Jan 23

2012-01-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

I haven't participated in a Menu Plan Monday for a few months now, so thought I would join in today and list our meals for the week. We are trying to eat protein at each meal, so you will see a lot of meat this week. :)

Monday - Burgers in the broiler with a vegetable side. I just add a little salt and pepper to some lean ground beef patties. Funny Bunny especially likes them!

Tuesday - Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry

Wednesday - ??

Thursday - Healthy Chicken Enchiladas

Friday - Pasta and Rolls

Saturday - ??

Sunday - Vegetable and Bean Soup

What recipes do you have for the week? For more recipes or to link up, click the picture at the top.

miscellany monday

2012-01-23T09:20:00.001-05:00

~one~

since friday the weather has been beautiful! funny bunny and I worked in the garden picking weeds and watering and trimming plants. maisy enjoyed the sun.

~two~

today funny bunny has her jr. homemaker's class and they will be learning how to ice a cake. fun!!!

~three~

this week is busy with doctor and dentist appointments. blahh!

~four~

one thing for funny bunny to look forward to this weekend is going to birthday parties for two of her friends! she is very excited!

~five~

a verse that is speaking to me a lot the past couple weeks:

luke 12:22-34

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Frugal Friday

2012-01-20T14:54:00.000-05:00

I was out of the house all day yesterday so I didn't get to post any Thrifty Thursday deals but I've seen some great things today that I want to pass along.

Homeschool Freebie of the Day ~ Several Audio Dramatizations
Little Women
One of the 28th by G.A. Henty
David Copperfield
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

CurrClick Freebie
Winter Matching Cards

Freely Educate
Free Children's Library
Free Spelling Words Curriculum

Art Projects for Kids
Falling Away Drawing

15 {Free} Online Science Resources
Posted at Heart of the Matter

FREE Valentine's Day Card {TODAY ONLY}
Get a FREE Valentine’s Day Card from Tiny Prints

FREE Barista Prima K Cup Sample
Like them on Facebook for your Free sample

FREE Sample Roundup
For anything I missed, you can get your FREE sample roundup from Deal Seeking Mom!

Weekly Wrap-Up: Third Grade #17

2012-01-20T12:58:00.001-05:00

This week we finished Unit 18 ~ Robert Fulton and the First Steamboat in our Heart of Dakota book, Bigger Hearts for His Glory.

Reading

We are still reading the same three books, and although Funny Bunny is only supposed to only read a chapter a day in Toliver's Secret, she loved it so much she finished it today. I think we have a book about Daniel Boone that I may slip in for next week since she finished early. :)

Read Aloud: Concord Cunningham: The Scripture Sleuth
Independent: Toliver's Secret
Science: One Small Square: Woods

Science

Learning about how plants and funguses grow differently and have different purposes, as does everything in the woods.

Dance / Piano

Funny Bunny is still taking four dance classes a week, along with 30 minutes of piano. She is enjoying them all {although ballet is not her favorite anymore because they have to stretch so much...it's almost like actual work...lol!}

She has a piano recital in two weeks that she is excited about. Her and her teacher will be playing two songs together. I have only heard them play together through a closed door, so I am really looking forward to the recital!

Community Bible Study

We are still participating in CBS each week and studying Luke. The women in the program are great, especially the teachers, and the children in the classes so sweet! They all get together so nicely and I love to see them grow together, both in friendships and in Christ.

{She loves drawing pictures for each lesson}

Nature

We found this little guy {or gal} on the inside of our screen today. Funny Bunny saved him and placed him on one of our trees. The weather here has been changing daily, some days have been close to freezing and others, like today, have been gorgeous. The high today is in the low 70's and we are enjoying it with the windows open.

So how was your week? Thanks for joining Our Homeschool Reviews and for more Weekly Wrap-Up, this week I am linked up with Kris over at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.