A Slice of Homeschool Pie

What Students and Parents Are Saying About My Homeschool Spanish Classes

2017-06-29T22:03:00.000-04:00

Read what some parents and students are saying about my Spanish classes.

PARENTS:

"The Spanish class that Clara Stacko offers is wonderful. She worked one on one with my son to assure his success. I was impressed with how quickly he was able to translate full sentences after only a few months. Clara does a great job of incorporating fun games into the class, as well as an end of year fiesta! I highly recommend her Spanish class." ~Laura

"My son took two years of Spanish under Clara’s instruction. He has come away with a deeper understanding of the Spanish language and of languages in general. Clara made the classes interesting and my son looked forward to going. The games that they played cemented what he had learned and the restaurant experience at the end of each year was just icing on the cake. Thank you Clara!" ~Julie

"Clara Stacko's Spanish class was fantastic!! My kids enjoyed it and are using Spanish at home all the time. She made it fun and they never felt pressured or stressed. They always looked forward to going. I recommend it highly." ~Dawn

STUDENTS:

"I love Mrs. Stacko! She is a good teacher and pushed me to do well. I love the games and the big dinner at the Spanish restaurant! I can't wait for her next class." ~Christopher

"I think this Spanish class is very informational. I learned a lot of words. Mrs. Stacko made it very fun!! Every few weeks we would have contests. At the end of the year we went to a Mexican restaurant. That was very fun since we got to order in Spanish. I highly recommend you try this class. It would be worth it!" ~Trace

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The Story Travelers Bible (Review)

2017-05-12T17:20:00.001-04:00

The Story Travelers Bible was written by Tracey Madder and illustrated by Tim Crecelius. The story begins with three children, Lana, Griffin, and Munch, who take a special bus journey through 85 Bible stories. Before getting on the bus, Lana admits that when she reads the Bible she tends to skip certain stories while Griffin shares that he doesn't read the Bible. Through their journey, not only do Lana, Griffin, and Munch learn about the Bible, but so will your young children. Although The Story Travelers Bible is recommended for children ages 4 - 8 years old, I am confident children as young as two would enjoy it as a read-aloud.

When I first began flipping through the pages, the first thing that stood out to me was how striking the illustrations were. Children will enjoy the vibrant colors throughout the book as each image coincides with each story.

There are many things about this Bible that both children and parents will enjoy. The stories are engaging and written in a manner which will be easily understood by your child. The information shared in each story is just the right amount to hold a child's attention without losing any of the important details.

Other worthwhile features include:

Suggested Bible memory verses

Interesting information about the countries in which the stories took place, including some fun facts.

Questions posed to help children think more about the story and how it relates to their lives. This offers both parents and children a wonderful opportunity to discuss these topics together.

Directing children to verses directly from the Bible that they can read in order to learn more about each story.

A transportation theme children who enjoy playing with toy cars, or any other transportation related toy will enjoy. There are roads, stoplights, and traffic signs throughout the book.

There are certain books that I will not part with and this is one of them. I look forward to reading this someday with my future grandchildren. I can picture it already, cuddling with my little ones as they learn all about our wonderful God.

Cost: $16.99

Hardcover: 368 pages

Interested in Writing and Publishing Blog Posts But Don't Have a Blog?

2016-08-29T15:50:00.004-04:00

Submissions

Have you ever wanted to write a blog post/article pertaining to the subject of homeschooling or education and have it published, but do not have your own blog in which to do so?

Now you can submit your article to A Slice of Homeschool Pie for publication consideration. I will read, edit, add images, upload/post, and share your article among various social media websites for only $30.00.

All posts have to be approved by me and cannot include any vulgarity or inappropriate information. If I approve your article, I will send you an email. Once I receive payment via Paypal, I will provide you with a publication date.

Note: Articles that read like advertisements, if approved, will cost $50.00.

Email me at clara@asliceofhomeschoolpie.com.

Searching for a Spanish Curriculum? Check out Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids (Review)

2016-04-01T11:22:00.002-04:00

It’s that time of the season, the time when homeschool parents begin researching homeschool curriculum in order to prepare for the next school year. Are you one of those parents? I am. Researching curriculum is one of my favorite things to do as a homeschool parent. I love the excitement of discovering a new book, software, etc. That is how I felt when I learned about Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids, a program used to teach Spanish to students as young as preschool through upper elementary age. Adults and older students can also benefit from this program.

My students have been enjoying these videos since we began our Spanish lessons this past fall. Every week they anxiously await to watch the next episode. (Although we are watching them weekly, you can choose to watch them every day.) What most impresses me about these videos is how they have helped my students’ retain what they have learned from each episode. Because this curriculum uses the immersion approach, combined with the acting and visual scenes, it helps the students learn Spanish words and phrases quickly.

The episodes are professionally filmed and enjoyable to watch. Lessons are short which helps keep the children interested. Especially helpful are the reviews provided at the beginning of each lesson which help to solidify the students’ learning.

Although I received a free subscription to the online version of this program for a limited time in order to review it, I am so impressed with Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids that I have decided to purchase the DVDs so that I can continue to use them with my students.

If you’re searching for a program that will help teach your students Spanish, take a look at Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids. You can watch samples of some of their lessons when visiting their website, and you can even try out a trial subscription. I encourage you to do so. It’s well worth it!

You can read my original review about this program here.

If after perusing the program you decide to purchase it, I would appreciate it if you would use my affiliate link found at the top of this page. (It helps me maintain this blog.)

Gracias!

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids Spanish (Review)

2016-01-09T16:28:00.000-05:00

One of the best ways to learn a foreign language is by being immersed in that language. I remember when my nephew was a young boy of about 4 or 5 years old, the only language he knew was English. After spending a year or two in Puerto Rico, I was amazed at how well he could speak Spanish. I hope that someday my children will have the opportunity to spend some time in a Spanish-speaking country where they, too, can be immersed in the Spanish language. In the meantime, I am happy to have found a program, Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids, which teaches Spanish using an immersion approach.

Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids teaches Spanish to children ages 3 and up. Parents can also learn alongside their children. Each video depicts three brothers going about their day. Only child actors are used ranging from elementary through high school age. The skits are presented in a fun, humorous manner, and the videos were professionally created. Each video averages about five minutes.

These videos can either be purchased as DVDs or as an online subscription. For this review, I was provided with an online subscription.

The videos were created with a flight theme and as students watch the videos they are taken on a “flight” to various Spanish-speaking countries such as Lima, Peru, or Bogota, Colombia. You can use these opportunities to incorporate a short geography lesson by having the students locate these countries on a map. While on their flight they watch the lessons as their “in-flight movie.”

What I like about this program:

The only language spoken is Spanish, hence the immersion approach.

In addition to using speech, the program uses labels and texts to help teach the words and its spelling. Below is an example. On the book you see the label “Libro.” Even before you hear the word, you can guess that libro means book.

Students are encouraged to learn at a slow pace. They watch one lesson a couple of times before moving on to the next one. (As I am using this for a class, the students watch one lesson a week which is why the next reason I like this program is so important.)

It includes an abundant amount of repetition and review throughout each lesson in order to help children remember their vocabulary.

The skits make my students laugh which makes the videos enjoyable to watch. Also, the humor and the inflections used throughout the videos helps the students remember the words and their meanings. For example, in one of the “in flight movies,” one of the boys is trying to get his brother to come down to eat breakfast so he calls out, desayuno (breakfast), extending each syllable in the word as he says it, so it sounds like deee-saaaa-yuuuu-nooo. Whenever my son hears the word desayuno, he jokingly says it in that same manner. (I can actually hear it in my mind as I type this.)

My students look forward to learning Spanish. It’s amazing how much they have learned from each segment.

Students captivated by Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids video

Two workbooks are available to help reinforce what they have learned. These workbooks include fill-in-the blank questions, crossword puzzles, word searches, and some information pertaining to some Spanish-speaking countries.

Visit Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids to watch a sample of an episode. While there, you can sign up for a free 48-hour trial. The first episode will teach vocabulary such as:

Desayuno

¿Dónde esta?

Gracias

De nada

Hola

Manzana

The videos always begin with a short review of the words covered in a previous lesson. You can watch some more samples here.

Cost:

Online subscription which includes the 2-day free trial, a Teacher’s Guide, access to their online workbook, and few video games:

One-month: $14.00/month

Three-month: $39.99 every 3 months

Six-month: $69.99 every 6 months

One-year: $89.99 every year

Customers also have the option of purchasing their DVDs:

Individual DVDs: $23.99 each. (There are 3 volumes available.) You may purchase all three volumes for $63.99.

You can also buy the Beginner Spanish Set which includes all three videos, flashcards, 3 workbooks, and a sticker set to go along with the first volume. Cost: $144.00.

If your children like playing games, you may want to purchase their Dice Off game. Cost: $35.96.

Check out their Facebook page.

Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids is a great way to offer your students an introduction to the Spanish language.

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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Homeschool Mama Wonders, "Am I Coddling My Students?"

2015-09-16T17:44:00.000-04:00

The other day I found myself asking this question, "Do I coddle my students when it comes to their academic work?" Have you ever asked yourself this question? A couple of recent situations in our homeschool have made me ask this of myself.

I have read several blog posts or articles in the past in which the authors have suggested various methods to use in helping children accomplish their schoolwork successfully. I have used some of their advice with both of my children. For example, if my children (when younger) became frustrated over their math, I would have them stop and either take a break, or leave it until the next day to complete. I still believe that this method is great to use with younger children, but at what age should this method no longer be used?

Last week I introduced my youngest son to one of his new Language Arts curriculum. His assignment for the day was to write five short sentences. Well, just getting him to write one sentence was a challenge among the, "It's too hard. I can't do this." complaints. In order to get at least some of it completed, I relented and told him he could write two sentences and then complete the rest of his assignment the next day. Obviously, my main reason for doing this was to save my own sanity, not his. (Can anyone relate?)

That evening I explained to my husband what had happened that day. He told me that he disagreed with the way I had handled the situation. He felt that there wasn't any reason why our son couldn't write five short sentences. I knew he was right. I told him how I just hadn't wanted to deal with the "tantrum." The next morning my husband, the principal, spoke to our student and explained how things were to continue from this point forward. Today my son wrote all five sentences. There was still some complaining, but it stopped after he was reminded that I would have to let his "principal" know if he continued with his behavior. He proved what I had known in my heart, he was capable of writing those sentences.

My oldest son will be taking an English class this year which we realized after his first day of attendance is going to be a challenging (almost college level) course. Needless to say, my son was not happy about this because up until now, each of his school subjects have not been overly time consuming. I found myself wondering if maybe I was pushing him too hard by requiring that he attend this class.

I decided to pray about my decision and soon afterwards this thought came to my mind. As a teen I attended a public high school. I remember having all sorts of school work to complete and sometimes it even meant having to give up my weekends in order to get the work finished. I even worked a part-time job at the age of 16 which I kept until I graduated. If I was able to accomplish this, why shouldn't I expect my son to be able to do the same? Had I forgotten what one is capable of doing when it came to academics? By considering pulling my son out of this English class, would I be coddling my oldest son in the same way I had coddled my youngest son the week before?

It is important to me that I guide my children in building up their character, and that they learn to meet challenges head on, and realize that they can succeed if they give it their best. I want them to know that life isn't always going to be easy and that things aren't always going to go the way they would prefer them to go. They need to know that someday their place of employment may require that they work over a weekend, thus having to sacrifice their free time. If they don't learn these things now while they are still children, what kind of men will they grow up to be?

As a homeschool mama, I have to admit that sometimes I have a difficult time finding the right balance between tweaking things (coddling?) to help my children succeed, and offering them the right amount of challenge to help them grow academically, and in character. Even after all of my years of homeschooling, I'm still learning things myself.

What are your thoughts on this subject? How does one find that healthy balance? I would really enjoy having some conversations about this. Leave me a comment below, or come over to my Facebook page and chat with me there.

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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photo credit: Big hug via photopin (license)

Friendly Chemistry - Review

2015-08-25T20:27:00.001-04:00

The word chemistry has a way of sending cold chills down my spine, or at least it used to until I found Friendly Chemistry.

I spent a good portion of my summer researching through various chemistry curriculum. Friendly Chemistry stood out to me because of its title. I wondered how chemistry could ever be "friendly". I was so intrigued that I read the two volume Teacher's Edition from cover to cover in just a handful of weeks. Below, I'd like to share with you my review of this high school chemistry course which can be used by both Christian and Secular families alike.

The Authors' Background (From Their Website):

This book was written by Joey and Lisa Hajda. Joey has a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine and a master's degree in secondary and higher education, curriculum, and instruction. He has taught science courses at the middle and high school levels for over 20 years, as well as at the local community college level.

Lisa has a bachelor's degree in veterinary science, a master's degree in elementary curriculum and instruction, and completed her coursework towards her doctorate in education.

What You Need to Teach the Course:

Teacher's Edition Volumes 1 and 2: This curriculum was written to be used in a group setting, but it can also be used independently. The Teacher's Edition includes:

Teaching tips for each lesson (There are a total of 32 lessons)
Instructions for the games/activities
Directions for the lab activities
The reading material that is included in the student edition, including lesson worksheets
Tests

Student Edition - Because Friendly Chemistry is not as bulky as most other chemistry books, it is not intimidating. It also includes lesson worksheets.

Manipulative Set - Comes in the form of a book which has to be cut apart.

Annotated Solutions

DVDs (optional) - I watched Disk 1 - Lessons 1-6 - Video included various graphics as the author read from the book. I didn't feel these added much value to the curriculum.

Labs:

Labs are done using mostly household materials. A supplies list is included in the Teacher Edition Volume 2 book. They have also put together YouTube videos which show you how to do the experiments and the activities.

If you prefer using more common chemistry lab materials, I suggest purchasing a separate lab kit. (At this time, Friendly Chemistry does not offer lab kits.)

Games:

The games and activities included in this curriculum not only help to add an element of fun to a subject that most students find difficult, but it also helps visual and kinesthetic learners better grasp the concepts being taught. Although these are geared towards a co-op type setting, there are some activities that can be done with just the teacher and the student.

You don't have to do the activities in order to use this curriculum.

Manipulatives:

It includes a Doo-Wop Board which is used as a study aid to help teach the concept of electron orbitals. Don't know what these are? Don't worry; the Doo-Wop board does an excellent job of helping one understand this concept.

Also, included are some flash cards, and Compound Intensity and Doo -Wop Mania cards (both of these are games). Since these cards are printed on regular paper, the author recommends that they be laminated.

Topics Covered Within This Course:

Atomic Theory
Trends of the Periodic Table of Elements
Quantum Mechanics (Electron Arrangements)
Ion Formation
Compound Formation - Bonding
Avogadro's Number and the Mole
Calculation of Formula Weights and Percent Composition
Empirical Formulas
Writing and Classifying Chemical Reactions
Balancing Chemical Equations
Stoichiometry
Solutions and Molarity
Gas Laws

Watch the video below in which Joey Hajda answers some of the most frequently asked questions about this program.

Friendly Chemistry is written in an easy-to-understand manner. I picked a topic in the Friendly Chemistry book and then read about the same topic in another chemistry book. What I found was that I completely understood the wordiness of the second book due to the fact that I had first read about it in Friendly Chemistry. I actually did this several times. I was so pleased about this because I thought I would never be able to understand this subject.

Although Friendly Chemistry is a full high school curriculum, it is not as rigorous as other chemistry courses. For a student like my son, who is interested in the engineering field, I'm afraid that this course may not include all of the information he needs to learn in order to prepare him for college chemistry due to the fact that when I compared Friendly Chemistry to other popular chemistry curriculums, there were several topics found in the other books that were not included in Friendly Chemistry, such as the law of thermodynamics. However, I do feel that Friendly Chemistry is an excellent curriculum to help him understand the basic concepts. Because of this, I have decided to use Friendly Chemistry as a supplement, and will later use it with my other student when he enters the 7th or 8th grade.

My son really likes Friendly Chemistry. He appreciates the fact that it is easy to understand, isn't as thick as his previous science curriculums, and includes games to help him remember and grasp the concepts he is learning about.

If your student is not interested in going to college, or is interested in a field that does not require college chemistry, then I highly recommend Friendly Chemistry. I also recommend it as an excellent junior high curriculum or to be used within a co-op environment.

In conclusion, some of the things that I most liked about Friendly Chemistry were its ability to take away my apprehension towards chemistry and the authors' ability to make chemistry understandable. Also, I appreciated their quick responses to my questions.

Costs:

Teacher's Edition 1: $24.99

Teacher's Edition 2: $24.99

Student Textbook: $49.99

Student Workbook: $29.99 (Purchase if teaching more than one student.)

Manipulative Booklet: $9.99

Annotated Solutions Manual (Although optional, I would suggest it). $9.99

Test Bank (pdf) (Optional) - Allows you to print tests straight from your computer: $8.99

DVDs: $14.99 Each

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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Fun Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students - Guest Post

2015-08-11T21:25:00.001-04:00

A question that people who are unfamiliar with homeschooling often ask is if there is really much of a distinction between holidays and school days if you are being homeschooled. Doesn’t every day feel like a holiday? After all, study plans are not as rigid and structured as they are at regular schools. The answer is that the way children are homeschooled varies and yes, they are more flexible. But to completely slack off from studies during summer holidays will be as much of a step back for children being homeschooled as it is to children who attend regular school.

"Our new homeschool room” by prayingmother is licensed under CC BY 2.0

It is amazing how easily kids forget what they have learnt in school during summer vacations. This means precious amount of time is spent reviewing the previous lessons before proceeding with the new ones. Worksheets are a great way to help kids practice what they have learnt but summer learning does not have to stop there. They can learn various skills with fun activities and expand their knowledge.

Build a Game

This summer, playing online games may not be such a bad thing. There are many educational games for kidsthat can replace worksheets. It need not stop there. Kids can be encouraged to play simpler games and then work with apps and tutorials to understand how these games function. In other words, these games can be seen as a gateway to teaching coding to young children.

What kids can learn: educational content in games, coding and logical thinking

Patch of Herbs

What’s summer without some greenery and flowers? Flowers or vegetables can be difficult to tend to. However, children can get started with a little herb garden. They can learn about the benefits of herbs and how to grow them. Taking care of their garden will teach them responsibility. A place that receives sunlight for at least five to six hours a day is a good place to plant the herbs. You can also plant them in small containers and keep them near a window that receives sunlight. Herbs that can be grown are parsley, rosemary, basil, thyme, mint and sage. All you need is seeds or the plants, fertilizer, and potting soil. Children can write the names of the herbs on index cards to recognize the herb.

What kids can learn: processes involved in growing plants, types of herbs, responsibility

“Preschool Veggie Picking Field Trip” by Peter & Joyce Grace is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Summer Comic

Instead of traditional journaling, kids can start creating a comic of their summer vacations. Encourage them to pick the highlight for a day and draw a single panel each day to track how their holidays were spent. Another way to journal is with a ‘photograph a day’ project. Children can pick an object or event to photograph each day. This will allow them to observe what is around them more closely. If they feel unsure about what to shoot, creating a theme will help. For example, ‘Summer Flavors’ can be everything that stands for summer, from ice creams to a hammock. The theme can also be less abstract but that may not motivate kids to make connections that are less obvious.

What kids can learn: creative thinking, observational skills

“researching and taking notes” by Jimmie is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Tour Guide

If you are planning a vacation, turn that into an activity that will teach children how to research the place and collect relevant information. Ask them to create a booklet about the place you will be visiting that covers the history, interesting places to see, and other cultural details. Once you are back, they can write a little piece about the place as an experience instead of just facts.

What kids can learn: culture, history, how to research online, gathering information and writing

With a calendar packed with fun learning activities, summer will be a breeze! What do you have on your agenda?

Author Bio:

Corinne Jacob is a wannabe writer who is convinced that kids learn best when they’re having fun. She is constantly on the lookout for new and exciting ways to make learning an enjoyable experience. Corinne loves all things that scream out un-schooling, alternative education and holistic learning.

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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Learn Math Fast System Review - How It Was Able to Teach My High School Student What Other Math Curricula Couldn't

2015-07-15T16:25:00.001-04:00

In the fall of 2014, we switched my high school son’s math program. As we were finishing up the school year, he told me that he was struggling with math. My son who had previously received A type grades in math had not only dropped his grade by two levels, but his confidence in his math skills as well.

Since I had experience using Volume I of the Learn Math Fast System curriculum with my youngest (you can read my review about it here), and having been really impressed with it, I decided to try it with my oldest. Because my son hopes to get into the mechanical engineering field someday, I wanted a math program that would help him understand math, in this case Algebra.

This summer I had him begin the Learn Math Fast System Volume III, Pre-Algebra book as a refresher and to get him used to J.K. Mergens’ (the book's author) method of teaching. In addition, I wanted to make sure that we covered any gaps he may have had from using his previous math programs.

Volume III includes 25 lessons covering topics such as, “solving for x, ratios, proportions, exponents, square roots, terms, expressions, like terms, order of operations, distributive property of multiplication, graphs, linear equations, the y-intercept, and the slope formula.” All of the solutions to the problems are found at the end of the book.

My son had difficulty understanding how to do the slope formula problems with his old math program, but after using the Learn Math Fast System book he was able to do these types of problems without any difficulties. Also, since the lessons were short, he was able to finish the book within about a four week period (doing two lessons a day).

Next week my son will be completing Volume V of the Learn Math Fast System book which covers “Algebra I with a special focus on quadratic equations and formulas.” It includes 36 lessons, 7 chapter review tests, and a final test. Topics in this book include: “terminology, absolute value, terms with exponents, simplifying expressions, multiplying and dividing terms with exponents, square roots, cube roots, Laws of Algebra, multiplying polynomials, factoring polynomials, factoring out a common factor, prime factorization, quadratic equations, a perfect square, completing the square, quadratic formula, and intro to functions.”

Most of the lessons could be completed in less than an hour, which allowed him to go through two lessons a day. If the lesson was long, he would only do one lesson. Some of the review tests I would have him complete in one day, others I would allow him to take two days to complete.

According to the information on the curriculum's website, this book can be completed within a three to four month period. I would estimate that it has taken my son about three months to finish this book. (His last few lessons will be completed next week.)

I am happy to report that not only did his grade increase to an A, but his confidence in math is back again!

The Learn Math Fast System books have by far been my favorite math curriculum for the following reasons:

· It provides step-by-step instructions on how to do the problems and includes a good amount of examples.

· It is written in an easy-to-understand manner.

· There aren’t hundreds of problems needing to be completed.

· I can email (or call) J.K., the author, with any questions and receive a response within 24 hours.

· The subject can be learned in half the time it would take with other math programs.

· The high school student can complete this curriculum independently.

My son will be moving on to Volume VI, Algebra 2, as I prefer to have him continue with Algebra while it’s still fresh in his mind and then he will move on to Pre-Geometry (Volume IV) and Geometry (Volume VII).

If you are looking for a math curriculum for your student written in an easy-to-understand manner, then I highly recommend you try any of the Learn Math Fast System books.

By the way, if you’d like to try this curriculum use the code SLICE to get $5.00 off your order (expires 12/31/15).

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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Spanish Level I Online Course - Fall of 2015

2015-05-04T20:54:00.002-04:00

This fall I will be offering a Spanish Level I course for students in Grades 8 – 12 (Students in 7^th grade may also participate if they have taken a prior Spanish course.)

This course will be taught online in a group setting using Google+ Hangouts. In order to participate, students must have a Google+ account and a scanner. Students will be required to scan their homework assignments and email them to me. All tests and quizzes will be emailed to the students. Students will receive a Certificate of Completion award at the completion of the full course.

My Background: Being born in Puerto Rico, my native language is Spanish. I have taught Elementary and High School Spanish to homeschooled students for a total of 4 years and have also assisted as a translator in several business environments. I have a B.S. in Business Management and have been a homeschool parent for the past 10 years.

Course Description: The main objectives of this course are to help students develop effective communication skills in Spanish through the elementary development of the four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), while focusing on aspects of everyday life in Spanish-speaking nations. Students learn the elements of Spanish through a gradual presentation of grammar that guides them to formulate rules inductively.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to conjugate verbs in the present tense. They will learn numbers from 0-100, along with the alphabet, and be able to speak in simple sentences as well as communicate using vocabulary related to: greetings, food/drink, days/months, weather/seasons, family members, school, activities, colors, body parts, greetings, telling time, professions, household items, and pastimes. At the end of this course, students will receive one course credit and be prepared to continue into any Spanish Level II course.

Cost: $7.50/class hour. Each class will be held once a week and will be 2 hours in length.

Class Size: Maximum of 9 students. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Payment: A non-refundable deposit of $60/student is required to register for the class and should be paid to me via Paypal by July 24. If you register for the class by paying for the entire course by 7/24/15, you will receive a 5% discount, making the total for the course $384.75. Payment must be received via PayPal by 7/24/15 in order to receive your discount. I will provide you with an email address. There will be no refunds once payment has been received. A student will be able to participate in the class only after payment has been received. You can choose to pay the cost in full or in three installments as follows:

Regular Rate:

September 30, 2015: $115

December 1, 2015: $115

March 8, 2016: $115

When: Tuesdays starting October 6.

Class Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Text Book: Spanish is Fun Book 1 (Softcover): $19

Workbook: Spanish is Fun Book 1 Companion Workbook: $9

Spanish/English Dictionary (recommended)

You can order these books and learn more about them by visiting this link: http://www.perfectionlearning.com/spanish-is-fun(Note: Their delivery time is 10 to 14 days.)

Additional Information: Students will have to spend at least 30 minutes each day at home practicing their Spanish and completing their daily assignments. They should have a spiral notebook for note taking. Each class will be archived so that students can refer back to the class recording if needed. Students who miss a class will be required to watch the archived recording so as not to fall behind in class. If a student misses a class, he/she is responsible to watch the video and turn in their assignments by the due date given. Grading and Evaluation: 40% Tests, 30% Quizzes, 20% Homework, 10% Class Participation

You can email me at clara@asliceofhomeschoolpie.com if you have any questions.

Class Dates Are As Follows:

2015

Oct. 6

Oct. 13

Oct. 20

Oct. 27

Nov. 3

Nov. 10

Nov. 17

Nov. 24 - No class

Dec. 1

Dec. 8

Dec. 15

Dec. 22 or Dec. 29 – No class

2016
Jan. 5
Jan. 12
Jan. 19
Jan. 26
Feb. 2
Feb. 9
Feb. 16
Feb. 23
Mar. 1 –No class
Mar. 8
Mar. 15
Mar. 22 – No Class
Mar. 29
Apr. 5
Apr. 12
Apr. 19
Apr. 26
May 3
May 10 – Last class

To celebrate the completion of the Spanish I course, my students and I had a delicious Mexican meal together. This gave the students an opportunity to put their new Spanish speaking skills into practice.

Testimonials:

"I really enjoyed Mrs. Stacko's Spanish class. She was very understanding and patient. I really felt at ease while learning and stumbling through a new language. I'd recommend to any of my friends to take Mrs. Stacko's Spanish class." ~Joy (Spanish I)

"I have to say, I did not expect learning Spanish to be so easy! It wasn't overly complicated and it was very well taught. We covered a lot in this course, but at no point was it overwhelming. I enjoyed this course a lot more than I would've ever thought I would. I learned a lot from it!" ~Andrew (Spanish I)

"My daughter has had the privilege of participating in Clara Stacko's Spanish class for two years. My husband and I are so impressed with how far our daughter has progressed in those two years! Not only does she know a lot of words in Spanish, she actually understands the language and how to correctly speak in Spanish. Best of all, Clara makes the learning process fun so that our daughter looks forward to class and has never once complained about the homework or the class itself. Clara has developed in her a true love of the Spanish language and a desire to fully learn and comprehend it. I am so thankful that Clara decided to offer these Spanish classes and that we chose to take lessons through her rather than use the Rosetta Stone program I had previously purchased. I believe there are numerous benefits to learning a foreign language from someone who speaks it fluently.

By the way, Mackenzie is speaking in Spanish ALL THE TIME!!!! I may have to take it soon, too!" ~Janelle (Parent)

"Spanish has not come easy to me these past couple of years, but Mrs. Stacko's class has really given me a better understanding of the language. I can speak and understand Spanish so much better now!" ~Adam (Spanish I)

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Photo Credit: Charlottes Photo Gallery via Compfight cc

Diary of A Homeschool Parent - The High School Years - Guidance Counselor and Transcripts

2015-04-08T22:56:00.000-04:00

I have been a homeschool parent for the past 10 years. In May my oldest son will finish his first year of high school lessons, and this past winter I added a new title to my homeschool resume. This new title is Guidance Counselor. Having absolutely no past experience in this regard, I find this new position challenging.

For those of you who have not yet started down this road called the high school years, I thought I'd share my journey with you in a new series of posts which will read more like a diary. My hope is that by reading my "entries," it will assist you in preparing for this phase of your homeschooling career, or if you're already driving down this path, that we will be able to come alongside each other in order to help steer one another in the right direction.

Ninth grade has been a pretty uncomplicated year. I would say that the most time consuming part on my end was trying to find the right curriculum for my son. We ended up choosing My Father's World and believe this was a great choice for us.

I know many parents stress out over the subject of transcripts. Compared to the responsibilities that come with being your child's guidance counselor, putting a transcript together is a lot less complicated than you may think. You can find many examples by performing a web search using keywords such as, "homeschool transcript samples." Below are some websites to help get you started:

Donna Young

Regent University - You will find a downloadable transcript at the bottom of their page. This one was created using an Excel spreadsheet which includes formulas which will perform all of your GPA calculations.

HSLDA

In my next entry we'll talk about all of those darn acronyms. Don't know what I'm talking about? You soon will. In the meantime, if you have used a transcript sample from a particular website, feel free to share the link in the comments section.

Those of you that have also earned the title of Guidance Counselor, what do you feel is (or was) the most difficult aspect of this job? Share below under the comments section or come and discuss with me on Facebook.

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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A Homeschool Mom's Deep, Dark Secret

2014-10-16T23:06:00.001-04:00

I believe that most people who know me probably think that I have it all together as a homeschool parent. My house is pretty organized (on most occasions), I am a strong cheerleader for the homeschooling movement, I lead a homeschool support group, and my children are performing academically well. However, what people may not know is that I have a deep, dark secret, one that I feel lead to share.

Are you ready?

Often I fantasize seeing myself walking my youngest son out our front door, watching him step inside a school bus, and waving good-bye to him as the bus pulls away.

Being a homeschool parent is not always an easy job, especially when working with a strong-willed child.

Can anyone relate?

My youngest son is argumentative, stubborn, and persistent. This is the child that has brought me to my knees before my Lord. He is also the child that has filled my heart with joy whenever he runs to me with a big hug, blown me away with his sharp wit, and taught me what generosity looks like.

However, being his teacher is sometimes so difficult that in my anger I have found myself threatening to send him to public school.

So what keeps me going? Why do I continue to homeschool this child?

The simple answer, because I love him.

The other reason, ironically, is because of his argumentative, stubborn, and persistent personality. I believe that learning at home will provide him with the best opportunity for success. No other teacher will have the one ingredient necessary to teach my son, and that ingredient is love, the love that I have for him.

There are days that go very well, and those are the days that help keep me going.

Having him at home allows us to have conversations throughout the day. It offers us the freedom to pray together and provides me with the opportunity to better understand my out-of-the-box son.

Also, every day is full of hope.

I am certain that on occasion I will continue to have the same fantasy. However, my hope is that one day it will be replaced with a new reality, one in which my son grows up to be the young man God intends him to be. In the meantime, I will continue to rely on God to help me through this stage of our homeschooling journey.

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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Excelerate Spanish - A Homeschool Spanish Curriculum (Review)

2014-09-29T22:40:00.002-04:00

I first learned about Excelerate Spanish through an article I read in the 2014 annual print book of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. What captured my attention was that Excelerate Spanish used a method of teaching foreign language that was new to me, Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS).

According to the article:

"TPRS curricula begin with the most commonly used words in a language and teach those words in different structures, in a variety of ways: actions and motions, asking students questions, and changing the questions up with humor and high interest to keep the students using the language. Grammar is used in every lesson but is taught through meaning, not through separation of the elements of grammar." (Source: Foreign Language in Your School: From the Traditional to the Revolutionary by Marji McIlvaine)

As mentioned in its name, TPRS also incorporates storytelling. When using this method in teaching a foreign language it captures the student's attention and increases his ability to retain what he has learned.

I was provided with the Excelerate Spanish Lesson Book, Workbook, Answer Key, and a DVD with Lessons 1-6 for the purpose of this review.

Excelerate Spanish was written by Caryn Powell Hommel, who taught 10 years of foreign language in a public school setting before homeschooling her children. After finding that the "traditional" method of teaching Spanish to her children was not working, Caryn took it upon herself to learn everything she could about TPR (Total Physical Response - which requires students to act out words/phrases) and TPRS.

After using these methods to teach other homeschool students and seeing their success at being able to speak in paragraphs after one hour of exposure, Caryn realized that, "TPR is indispensable when it comes to acquisition and retention." Also, stories had the power, "for loosing tongues and pressing towards proficiency."

Let me explain how the program works. First of all, you do not need to know the language in order to use Excelerate Spanish. On the DVDs, Caryn teaches all of the lessons. This is one of the benefits of this program. I feel that it is imperative that a student is able to view how the words are being formed in order to help him with his own pronunciation, and the DVDs provide this opportunity.

You have the flexibility of deciding how often you want your child to watch the lessons. Caryn includes a suggested schedule as follows:

Day One - Watch the lesson video and TPR (do gestures for) the main vocabulary and action series at least once. Complete one or more workbook activities.

Day Two - Watch and TPR main vocabulary and action series (from day one) PLUS the skit portion. Read the lectura (the reading/story) in the text and answer the questions.

Day Three - Complete the remaining workbook activities. Reread the lectura in the text.

Day Four - Watch the video once more if you need to. Try the homework, project, and review ideas.

Day Five - Take a quiz or test if desired.

I'd like to share with you how we use the program, but before I do, I think it's important for you to know that I am fluent in Spanish. However, my eight-year-old son doesn't want to learn Spanish and therefore, resists my teaching him. Because Excelerate Spanish uses a fun method of teaching the language, in addition to the added benefit of "mom" not being the teacher, I felt this would be an excellent program to use with him.

We use the program four days a week for about 15 minutes each time. I love the amount of repetition that is included throughout the program allowing my son plenty of opportunities to practice the vocabulary words and/or phrases. The motions are easy to learn. The ones he found silly and refused to mimic we replaced with our own motions which still allowed him to learn the words. I do the motions alongside my son. If I notice that he doesn't remember a motion for a particular word or phrase, I rewind the DVD to the part he missed and allow him to try again.

The stories are silly, but in a fun way. Also, in the DVD you will see students of all ages.

If your student is older, he should be able to follow the suggested schedule included in the book. The lessons are about 45 minutes in length.

From our experience thus far, adding hand and body motions to the words definitely helps him remember the words. The stories seem to help him learn phrases quickly. Sometimes when we're playing I try to incorporate some of the words he has learned. For example I may say, "The gusano (worm) is going to get you!" Then he will say, "The autobus (bus) is going to get you."

When you watch the first lesson it may seem a bit overwhelming because of the abundant amount of vocabulary taught and the fact that Caryn will ask you to show her the words (as she says the words in Spanish very quickly) using the motions she just taught you. However, as I mentioned before, she uses a lot of repetition, and what may seem overwhelming at first, through added exposure you will soon find doable. My eight-year-old son did not speak any Spanish, and after four weeks, with only 15 minutes of exposure, 4 days a week, he's able to speak several words.

Some of the fun activities included in the workbook are crossword puzzles, word searches, cryptograms, instructions on putting together a mini-book, matching exercises, and fill in the blanks.

I am looking forward to seeing my son's progress as we continue with Excelerate Spanish.

If you're searching for a homeschool Spanish curriculum, I suggest you look into this program. The cost of the curriculum is $139.00 and comes with an unconditional money-back guarantee. It includes 4 DVDs with 24 video lessons, a lesson book, a workbook, and an answer key. (You may also purchase each item separately.)

To learn more about Excelerate Spanish, watch the video found here.

Recommended for ages 7 to adult.

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Under Drake's Flag (Audio Theater) by Heirloom Audio Productions (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

2014-09-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am very eager to share this review with you! If you and your family enjoy audio dramas as much as my family does, then you will be excited to learn about Heirloom Audio Productions' Christian audio drama, Under Drake's Flag. This story was written by author G.A. Henty, who is well known for his historical adventure stories. My children and I were delighted to add this to our collection.

Under Drake's Flag is an enthralling story about a boy named Ned Hawkshaw who embarks on an exciting adventure which offers him the opportunity to set sail with one of the most admired sea captains of his time, Sir Francis Drake. This sixteenth-century teenager experiences first-hand the struggle between Great Britain and Spain for preeminence over the high seas. You will be kept in suspense as you listen to Ned as he fights off a shark attack. You will also find yourself asking questions such as, "Will he survive the shipwreck? Is he going to get through these battles? How is he going to handle the Spanish Inquisition?"

You can listen to a 60-second summary of the story by visiting Heirloom Audio Production's website.

When we first began listening to the story, my youngest son, who is an avid fan of Adventures in Odyssey, excitedly pointed out, "Mom, that's the same music as Adventures in Odyssey!" The reason for this is that the music composed for Under Drake's Flag was written by John Campbell who has also composed music for Lamplighter Theater, Focus on the Family Radio Theater, and Adventures in Odyssey.

John Campbell is a very talented composer. The music in Under Drake's Flag helped stir up various emotions within us during each scene, therefore, helping us lose ourselves within the story. Both the music and the sounds during the action scenes were pretty intense. The actors were very good as well. My family and I felt like we were watching a "movie" because it was easy to envision the scenes in our minds.

Included with the CDs is a short study-guide. Each set of questions has three parts: Listening Well, Thinking Further, and Defining Words. It ends with three brief Bible studies: Godly Character, True Manhood, and Confessing Christ. On the back of the study guide is a brief biography about Sir Francis Drake and a bibliography about G.A. Henty. They also include a website which you can visit in order to download a free 28-page study guide consisting of more questions and a book list you can use to learn more about Sir Francis Drake.

This production is recommended for ages 6 to adult. My 13 and 8-year-old sons really enjoyed it, as did I. Once we were done listening to it, I went back to Heirloom Audio Productions' website to see if they offered more audio drama productions, because I was very interested in purchasing more of their stories, but sadly, Under Drake's Flag is the only one available at this time. I hope they are working on the next one! (Update: I was just informed that Heirloom Audio Productions is scheduled to release a new audio drama in the fall (early November is the projected date)! It is called In Freedom's Cause, the story behind the life and legacy of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. To learn more about this production, visit In Freedom's Cause and their Facebook page.)

The cost of the 2-CD set, providing two hours of entertainment, at the time of this post is $29.95 plus $6.95 S&H. This is a great price because along with the CDs, you will also receive an MP3 downloadable version (valued at $20.00), the complete Under Drake's Flag 30-page E-study guide and Discussion Starter, an Under Drake's Flag Soundtrack MP3 download, and a printable copy of Drake's prayer. They have three other offers which you can view here.

Connect with Heirloom Audio Productions Under Drake's Flag on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UnderDrakesFlag

To read what other Crew members thought about Under Drake's Flag audio theater, please click on the banner below.

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Are Your Students Afraid of Public Speaking?

2014-09-04T17:48:00.000-04:00

Even though communication skills are vital to their success, many students (and most parents!) are still terrified of public speaking

Let us help. Join us for the

Communicators for Christ Conference

Through this two day integrated communication and leadership training conference hosted by the Institute for Cultural Communicators (ICC), we'll help students overcome their hesitation to effectively engage audiences of all sizes. Our activities, workshops, and exercises provide a safe and encouraging environment where everyone has a chance to succeed, regardless of their public speaking experience. This allows them to see past their fears to a greater mission of impacting those around them - one person at a time.

Hear what parents and students are saying about the conference: CFC 2014 - Growth. (2:07 min.)

The Communicators for Christ Conference is for students ages 6-18 years old. It will be held on

October 17-18, 2014

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

1 Mt. Zion Circle, Oakwood, OH 44146

A free "Prepare the Future Reception" will be held for adults on Friday, 3:45 - 6:00 p.m., identifies the challenges our students face and how ICC is training to provide the skills they will need to face them.

Our "Go Beyond" evening program is also free and open to anyone in the community. It is sure to entertain the whole family!

For more information and locations across the country visit CFC Conference Tour 2014.

(Tuition is waived for parents and educators with registered students.)

Make sure you share this information with others, and bring a friend!

Conference Pricing
Schedule
Registration

Meals and Host Housing are available for your convenience.

For more information please contact:
Karen Miller
Great Lakes Area Coordinator
Karen@ICCinc.org

Visit ICC to learn more about this organization.

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Encourage Your Students to Write by Sharing This List of Writing Contests With Them

2014-08-28T22:56:00.000-04:00

Want to encourage your students to write? One excellent motivator is having them enter a writing contest.

You can perform your own Internet search for current writing contests, however, I have already done some of the work for you to help you get started. When doing your own search, use a phrase such as, "writing contests 2014 (or 2015) for middle school (or high school)".

Before spending too much time reading about a particular contest, make sure to look for a deadline date. If you've missed the deadline, make a note of the contest in your calendar or a notebook for the following year. Also, bookmark the website.

Make sure to to look for the list of prizes. Some offer a monetary prize, others offer plaques and/or certificates.

Most contests are free, but there are some which charge a fee. You'll want to concentrate on the free ones, unless the prizes are worth the fee.

I've compiled a list of a number of free contests that are being offered for various grade levels. Share it with your students to see which one(s) sparks their interests.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards - "Teens in grades 7 through 12, from public, private, or home schools, can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for their chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Submissions will begin on September 15, 2014.

AdmissionHook.com - "This is an essay contest, and our goal is to collect sample essays to help future students learn how to write a winning essay as well as to provide scholarship money for needy students." Grades 9-12, college, or graduate students. Deadline: September 15, 2014.

Creative Communication - Students can write on any appropriate subject (no pro-violence, pro-drugs, etc.) Grades 4-12. Deadline: October 15, 2014 and February 17, 2015.

VFW Patriot's Pen - "The Patriot's Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories." The theme for 2013-2014 is "Why I Appreciate America's Veterans." Deadline: November 1, 2014.

NinjaEssays - "The purpose of this essay writing contest is to inspire writers from all around the world to showcase their creative and critical thinking skills." Student is to choose from one of the seven topics listed on the website. Deadline: November 1, 2014.

New Voices Young Writers - "This competition is an opportunity to educate young writers on the ePublishing world, as well as the variety and versatility of eBooks. It urges up-and-coming authors to spread their wings, offering the possibility of turning dreams into reality." Ages 11-18. Entries for this contest will be accepted November 1, 2014 through December 20, 2014.

American Foreign Service Association - "The AFSA High School Essay Contest is an opportunity for high school students to research international issues in hopes of inspiring and empowering the next generation of Foreign Service workers." Grades: 9-12. Essay contest topic will be posted in November, 2014.

Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) - Theme: Why I Am Proud to be an American. Grades 7-12. Deadline: December, 2014.

The Writing Conference, Inc. - "Sponsors writing contests in poetry, narration, and exposition for elementary, junior high/middle school and high school students. First place winners in each category receive a plaque; second and third place winners receive certificates. All are given an invitation to have their writing published in The Writer's Slate, an on-line journal published by The Writing Conference, Inc." Deadline: January 8, 2015.

Pets Add Life Children's Poetry Contest - "Kids simply write a poem about their pet and the joys they bring and post it online." Grades 3-8. Deadline: January 31, 2015.

Humane Education Network - A Voice for Animals - "Prizes will be awarded to high school students whose essays best promote the humane treatment of animals." Ages 15-18. Opens January, 2015. Deadline: March, 2015.

Olive Garden's Pasta Tales - Grades 1-12. Deadline: March 22, 2015. (You will have to check their website in January, 2015, for updates.)

TeachingWithContests.com - "The purpose of Teaching with Contests is to assist educators in finding contests that can be used in the classroom to motivate students. We are here for the student and the teacher not the promotion of products or company public relations. Our goal is to select contests and programs whose primary goal is education and secondarily business/product promotion." Ages 6-18.

These are just a few of the many contests that are available to your students. I hope they will have fun with these (and win)!

I know your time is precious, so any comment you share below will be greatly valued.

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photo credit: Audringje via photopin cc

The Eternal Argument (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

2014-07-30T13:55:00.001-04:00

As a homeschool parent, two of the subjects I most enjoy teaching my children include history and literature. When I visited Analytical Grammar's website and read about their book titled The Eternal Argument, I was fascinated by the book's description.

Have you ever asked yourself why students are made to read the books they read, the classics in particular?

As both a student and a teacher this question has crossed my mind on several occasions.

The Eternal Argument was written by Robin Finley, a prior 8th grade teacher who taught language arts for 34 years. In her book, she goes about proving her thesis which is that we have been having one large argument with each other for several thousand years. By understanding what this argument is, it will better equip us in understanding our culture and its literature. She does this by providing us with a framework or a "lens" for approaching each piece of literature.

"Once you have the ideas in The Eternal Argument clear in your mind, you'll never look at literature, or even some world events, in quite the same way again. Now I know that sounds like a very boastful prediction to make, but I can tell you that, since that fateful day when I was first exposed to these ideas, I gazed at the world, its literature, its history, and its current - often agonizing - events, from an entirely different perspective."

The reason I share the above quote from Robin's book is because after having read the book for myself, I must say that I completely understand and agree with the above paragraph. My view of a story will never be the same; it will never be "just a story". Now I know not only what questions to ask myself, but how to guide my students in helping them dig into the story behind the story.

This book is recommended for students in Grades 8 and up. I first began reading it out loud with my 13-year-old son. Unfortunately, the beginning was a bit too wordy for him and he quickly lost interest. Although the beginning didn't capture my interest right away, I continued to read it because the subject itself was of the utmost interest to me.

Here's the one main thing that I felt made this book so worthwhile - the author included within each chapter a synopsis of a book she felt was significant and illustrated the point of that particular chapter. This is what helped cement the information contained within each chapter and make it completely understandable to me.

You can read some samples of the chapters by visiting this link: The Eternal Argument.

I believe any teacher of history or literature should include this book as part of their library. The author did a fantastic job of describing the periods between the Middle Ages through Modernism. Chapter 9 through Chapter 12 were my favorite chapters of this book. It is within these chapters that Robin gave a thorough description of what happened during each of these historical periods. As a side note, each chapter ends with some discussion questions.

Within the book the author illustrates, what she named, a "literary platform" to help us understand the "legs" that make up western literature. These legs consist of Greek & Roman Mythology, King James Version of the Bible (You'd be surprised how many biblical sayings we use.), and the Aurthurian Legend. She explains which of these two are the main foundational supports of our literature and also represent the different sides of the Eternal Argument.

The book ends with:

"Stuff You Need to Know to Teach This Stuff" which includes literary vocabulary, the five elements of a plot, the five conflicts in literature, and other subjects.

"Now Let's Apply All This to Books We've Discussed" which is written to the teacher.

"Because It's All About Me...What Do I Think" where the author shares her personal thoughts pertaining to each chapter.

After having completed this book, I now know why we are encouraged to read classic books. It makes sense.

It is my opinion that all high school students should also read this book. It will give them the framework they will need in order to understand not only the why they are reading what they're reading, but the how to go about understanding it in its full depth.

Cost: $24.95

Follow Analytical Grammar on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/analyticalgrammar and Twitter: http://twitter.com/AnalyticalGram

Crew members reviewed other products by Analytical Grammar including: Analytical Grammar, Jr. Analytical Grammar, and Beyond the Book Report. You can read these reviews by clicking on the banner below.

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Go Science DVDs (Series 2) By Library and Educational Services (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

2014-06-26T10:59:00.002-04:00

My children and I recently had the opportunity to watch a couple of Go Science DVD's (Series 2) by Library and Educational Services.

The first one we watched was Volume 2 which was broken up into two topics: Life Science and Weather.

Life Science included:

Flashlight-Animal Eyes
Animal Skulls
Bobby Pins
What Are You Looking At?
How Much Do Your Lungs Hold?
Eating Nails for Breakfast
Naked Egg

Weather included:

Fire Tornado
Ping Pong Cannon
Liquid Nitrogen Cloud
Cloud in a Bottle
Garbage Can Vortex

We also watched Volume 7 which included Engineering/Design and Flight

Engineering/Design included:

How Much Will It Hold
Leaning Tower of Lyra
Nail Balance
Trebuchet
Centrifuge
Walking on Eggs
Bed of Nails - Small

The DVDs are recommended for ages 4-12. My oldest son, age 13, did watch some of the videos but thought the experiments were too simple, so I would stick with the ages recommended. The cost of each video is $8.97.

About the DVDs

The Go Science DVDs include brief segments (lasting an average of less than 10 minutes) of various science experiments. They are done by teacher Ben Roy in front of a group of students. He uses the students to help with each experiment.

The experiments do not have to be watched in any kind of order.

These DVDs are Christian based and all end with a biblical lesson.

Our Thoughts

Below are the reasons I enjoyed these DVDs:

The segments were short and entertaining
Ben Roy seemed to really connect with the students and you can see this in the DVDs
The manner in which Ben tied the experiments with a biblical life lesson was well done
There were a good amount of experiments
A lot of the experiments shown could be done at home

As much as I enjoyed the science segments, my children however, did not. As I mentioned before, my 13-year-old thought the experiments were too simple. (This may not have been the case had he watched some of their other volumes).

My youngest didn't appreciate that every experiment ended with a biblical lesson. He felt that because they were experiments they should have dealt strictly with science. Maybe he would have enjoyed it more if the biblical topics would have been interspersed among some of the experiments instead of all of them.

Here's a sample video from their Volume 1 DVD- Sound:

To read reviews about the other Go Science DVD volumes (there are 7 of them), click on the banner below.

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New York City Through the Eyes of a Lens

2014-06-08T14:45:00.001-04:00

One World Trade Center (also known as the Freedom Tower)

One World Trade Center is the lead building of the new World Trade Center complex. It is 105-stories high and is the tallest building in the United States due to its radio antenna which helps it reach 1,776 feet.

Transportation Hub

Once completed the Transportation Hub will be located between World Trade Center 1 and 2.

Twin Memorial Pool

Bronze parapets surrounding each Memorial pool with the names of those that died on 9/11 and during the WTC bombing in '93

To learn more about the memorial, you can visit 9/11 Memorial.

FDNY Memorial Wall Story

This is a memorial to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. To learn more about this wall, visit FDNY Memorial Wall.

Statue of Liberty

View of Manhattan from the Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty

Times Square

Central Park

Subway

Other places we visited include the 3-story Toys-R-Us store which is located at Times Square, and the Lego store, located near Rockefeller Center.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn located on Pearl Street. It was a nice hotel and their breakfasts were delicious! Parking was $20 a day.

We had a great time in New York City and if you have never been there, I highly recommend you add it to your bucket list. I want to leave you with this one tip, when buying from a vendor, make sure you ask the vendor how much their food is prior to placing your order. We learned this the hard way after paying $50 for 8 hot dogs and 2 bottles of water.

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What on Earth Can I Do? by Apologia Educational Ministries (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

2014-05-30T11:36:00.001-04:00

I have always been interested in the products offered by Apologia Educational Ministries. I was recently given the opportunity to review their hardback book What on Earth Can I Do?, which is Volume 4 of their Biblical Worldview series. I was also given their optional resources which include: What on Earth Can I Do Notebooking Journal, What on Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal, and their What on Earth Can I Do? Coloring Book.
The hardback book is recommended for children in Grades 1 - 6. I used it with both my 2nd and 7th grade children. The optional notebooking journals were a great addition as each spiral-bound book included questions that were geared towards the different ages of my children.When you open the book, one of the first things you'll see after the Table of Contents is a section titled, How to Use This Book. Apologia did an excellent job of explaining how the book is intended to be used, describing the lesson structure, and including a lesson plan. They also included a link to their course website which offers you additional resources. Each page offers colorful pictures and illustrations.Although their lesson plan is based on a schedule of three weeks per lesson, two days per week, it is designed to be flexible, so as a family you may choose to put together your own schedule. This is what we did for our family. Because some sections were long, we sometimes divided them up into two days. Although this means it will take us longer to finish the book, I believe it helps my children stay better focused on the lessons if I keep them short. The information is so valuable that I don't want them missing out on any of it.My 8-year-old had a difficult time staying interested during certain sections of the reading because of their length, so I had him color as I continued to read to my 13-year-old. I was very glad to have the coloring book for this reason.

I liked that the pages coincided with what we were reading about, however, I did allow him to color the pages of the paperback that most interested him even if we had not yet read that section.

The book is divided up into the following lessons:Lesson 1: Your Story or God's Story?Lesson 2: Who Put You in Charge?Lesson 3: Will You Be Found Faithful?Lesson 4: Where Is Your Treasure?Lesson 5: Where Does Your Time Go?Lesson 6: Whose Life Is It Anyway?Lesson 7: Why Isn't It Easy Being Green?Lesson 8: What Will Happen When the Master Returns?I believe just reading through the lesson titles alone gives you a great picture of what this book is about. Each lesson is broken up even further by offering several key components:The Big Idea: Offers an introduction to the main topic of the lesson and a brief overview of what the students have learned thus far.What You Will Do: Explains the learning objectives for that lesson.Short Story: Includes worldview stories featuring characters about the same age as our children. It also integrates concepts taught in the lesson.Think About It: Thought- provoking questions to allow you to measure your student's understanding of the concepts taught.Words You Need to Know: A list of vocabulary words.Hide It in Your Heart: Bible memory verses.Integrated Learning: Includes interdisciplinary topics related to the main text.What Should I Do?: Highlights godly character traits for the student to demonstrate in response to what they have learned.Prayer: Each lessons ends with prayer.Parable of Jesus: Shares stories that are adapted from Jesus' parables.Going Deeper: Offers discussion questions pertaining to the parables.House of Truth: Four of the lessons include this section. It is intended to be a hands-on memory aid.The notebooks include questions, fill in the blanks sheets, word searches, crossword puzzles, instructions to create mini-books, a list of resources, and the Junior notebook also includes coloring pages.Because I have always used the Charlotte Mason method of teaching, I did not require my children to write out their responses to the questions in the notebook. Instead we used the notebooks to guide us in further discussions about each lesson. I used the Junior Notebook with my 2nd grader and the Notebooking Journal with my 7th grader.When teaching my children the Word of God, I never want it to become something that my they find tedious and having to write about what they learned at their ages would have made them turn away from the curriculum. If my oldest son had been at the high school grade level, I would have had him fill in the notebook. In my opinion, this book can easily be used with high school students. However, although it is recommended for children as young as Grade 1, I believe it would be better suited for children in the upper elementary levels due to the length of the lessons. The lessons taught in What on Earth Can I Do? is so valuable that I have decided to continue using it with my older son, but because I want my younger son to be able to understand the information in its entirety, I have decided to wait until he is older (maybe 4th grade) before continuing it with him. You can view a sample of a page of the book and its Table of Contents by visiting their website.I highly recommend this book. The other three titles in this series include:Vol. 1 Who Is God (And Can I Really Know Him?)Vol. 2 Who Am I (And What Am I Doing Here?)Vol. 3 Who Is My Neighbor (And Why Does He Need Me?)These books do not have to be read in any kind of order.Costs:What on Earth Can I Do? (hardback book): $39.00Notebooking Journal: $24.00Junior Notebooking Journal: $24.00Coloring Book: $8.00Connect with Apologia through these social media sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apologiaworldTwitter - https://twitter.com/apologiaworldGoogle+ - https://plus.google.com/105053356034237782125/postsPinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/apologia/Have you used this curriculum? If so, I would love to know your thoughts. Please share them under the comments section below.To read other Crew members' reviews, click on the link below.

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Guess Where I'll Be Going Soon

2014-05-24T18:51:00.000-04:00

My family and I will soon be going to New York City. Being that I have siblings who live in New York, I have been there on several occasions, however this time we will be going as tourists. Have you ever been to New York City?

Some of the places we plan on visiting is the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, The Museum of Natural History, the 9/11 Memorial, Times Square, Central Park, and Toys-R-Us (They have a large indoor Ferris Wheel that we just have to see.). I'm sure there will be other things we'll see as time allows.

Is there any other place that you feel are a "must see" while I'm there? If so, please share under comments below.

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How to Open Lines of Communication With Your Child in a Creative Manner

2014-05-18T14:04:00.000-04:00

Until recently, I have not used a writing curriculum for my oldest child, except for last year when I wrote an Essentials in Writing Review. When my oldest son was younger he would shed tears over writing which quickly moved me to look for a better way to offer him writing opportunities. I wanted him to enjoy writing, and if I couldn't get him to enjoy it, I wanted to at least make it more meaningful for him.

Several years ago I decided to start a Thoughts Journal. I wanted this to be something that would become a keepsake for him.

Not only has this journal served as a tool for his writing, but it has also opened up a creative line of communication between us. The goal was for us to write in this journal once a week at a minimum as explained in my first entry:

"In this book, I'd like us to ask and answer questions back and forth. I would like for us to do this once a week. It will go like this. I will ask you a question which you will write an answer to, and then you will write a question which I will answer in writing. My first question is..."

This Thought Journal is so much more than a "writing assignment." It is a keepsake.

As my son looks back and reads through it, it will remind him of the topics that were important to him as a child. It will also allow him to revisit my words of wisdom.

Using a journal as a means of communication has permitted me to have a glimpse into my son's thoughts which include his concerns, situations or people which are important to him, and moments when he desires more time with me.

For a period of about six months, we had forgotten about this book due to our busy schedules. A couple of days ago my son handed me the journal and said, "Mom, we haven't done this in a while." I opened it and read what he wrote:

"I enjoy when we spend time together, haven't done this in a while. I love you Mom, so much! What do you hope we do for the summer?"

Now that my son is a teen, I am even more grateful for this venue we have created. This is a very important stage in his life and I pray that the Thought Journal will continue to provide us with one more open line of communication between us.

What about you? Do you think this is something you'd like to do with your child?

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The Gift of Motherhood

2014-05-11T06:34:00.000-04:00

I am so blessed and thankful for the gift of motherhood. As I watch my children grow in size and in character, I thank and praise God for His work in them. My oldest son, who if asked by a girl to dance, will never say no so as "to make her feel good," who isn't embarrassed to have his mom take photos of him at his first teen semi-formal dance, who can confidently give his mom a hug and kiss in front of all of his peers, and who is growing up into a fine, young man.

My youngest who has a giving heart and enjoys bringing humor into people's lives, and who isn't afraid to stand up for Jesus (or anything else of importance to him, for that matter).

Thank you God for choosing me to be the mother of these two amazing boys.

And to all of you moms, whether biological or in spirit, I want to wish you a:

Fabulous Mother's Day!

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photo credit: ramuntxo32 via photopin cc

What Do You Do With A Child That Can't Sit Still?

2014-05-01T19:20:00.000-04:00

You Let Him Dance!

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What Is One of the Most Difficult Aspects About Homeschooling? My Answer May Surprise You.

2014-04-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

When you ask a homeschool parent what he/she feels is one of the most difficult aspects about homeschooling you may receive responses such as:

"Choosing the right curriculum."

"Teaching ______ (fill in the blank with a subject)."

"Staying organized."

"Trying to get everything completed."

Let me share with you what my response to this question is:

"Finding a balance between staying home and participating in outside school activities."

This has been one of our busiest school years, busy in the sense that we have somewhere to go almost every day.

I find it comical when people think that homeschool children sit at home everyday without any socialization opportunities at their disposal.

The exact opposite is true. Homeschool students sometimes have too many socialization events in their lives.

Look at our family's schedule as an example.

Monday - Science Club
Tuesday - Science Lab and ICC (A communications and leadership program)
Wednesday - Ballroom Dance Class
Thursday - Piano Lessons and 4H Club
Friday - Spanish Class (which I teach from home)

I wish I could say that our school year will look different in the fall, but I already know 3 days out of the week will entail us having to go somewhere.

Spending more time at home than outside of the home is not always an easy thing to do. In addition, finding the right balance can sometimes be equally as difficult.

What about you? What would your response to this question be? Do any of you find yourself in a similar situation?

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