Rowan Forest Homeschool

Homeschool Lesson Plans Made Easy - The Secrets of Learning - Focus Your Attention

2013-06-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

Secret Two: Focus on the Ideal

You get more of what you focus on.

For anyone who has been in a kindergarten class, it is clear that what you focus on increases. If you tell someone to stop running, you will be repeating yourself over and over again. If you tell a child to stay away from the toys, other children will instantly be drawn toward them. If you ask a girl to stop talking, you'll be telling most of the girls and boys to stop talking. Whatever you pay attention to, you will see it over and over again. Though this is obvious in a kindergarten class, this exists everywhere, we just may not be aware of it.

Focus on the positive.

If you notice a student sitting quietly and say something about it, like magic the other students will start to find their seats. If you want a student to stop slouching, make a comment about another student who is sitting up straight. If you want your class to stop daydreaming, comment on a student who is faithfully reading. Change your focus from the stressful, negative things to the ideal, positive things. It takes effort, but it does pay off. Even young swimming instructors are taught to give three positives comments before giving one piece of constructive criticism. You'll not only see a change in behaviour, but you will also improve the esteem and morale of the class.

Students Forest Homeschooling

Be specific with your feedback.

As you find yourself being more positive, but sure to be specific with your comments. Saying "good job" or "awesome work" could apply to any student in any class and may not hit home with your student. You may notice the clear line design on a student's artwork. You may comment on how well a student makes use of prepositional phrases and conjunctions in a story about an evergreen forest. You may pick up on the fact that a ball player steps with the opposite foot when throwing. This is the type of specific feedback that will really help a student. Knowing exactly what to keep doing will encourage a student. Knowing exactly how to improve or correct something doable will help a student. Being positive and genuine is a sign of a great educator.

Teach students to self-check.

Although it feels good to have students come to you for guidance and encouragement, it feels even better to teach them independence. When you teach students to self-check, you give them the opportunity to develop their own learning. You can check to see if a word is a noun by asking yourself, "Does it complete the phrase 'the ______'?" You can check to see if you subtracted correctly by doing backwards addition. A student can learn important mistakes that were made while writing a practice test by checking the answers with a key. Feedback is most effective if it is specific and instant (or as soon as possible). It is also powerful if it comes from within. Empower students by giving them the ability to understand and shape their own learning.

Showcase their achievements.

Students love to be recognized. Putting work up on the fridge is a way to say, "Good job." The more students feel their work is noticed by others, the better they feel about their accomplishments. Posting work on a bulletin board allows others to see their work. Spreading the news about your students gives them a sense of community. Giving the chance to teach someone else gives them a sense of worth. Think of the student's work being like a seed. When it is done in a scribbler and hidden inside a desk, it won't grow. Letting their work be out in the eyes of people who support and believe in a student will help it grow into something amazing. When working with students, give them the opportunity to be great.

Darren Michalczuk is the founder of the Brick School. He is an experienced classroom teacher who has developed many programs and resources for math, language and music. The Brick School offers quality educational posters, programs and worksheets online for elementary language arts, math and music. Materials are designed to promote effective learning strategies in an easy to understand, straight-forward format. They offer both practical solutions to learning problems and leading edge technology and techniques. It reaches both struggling students and those who need extra challenges in class.With the latest software and leading edge learning strategies, our materials are paving the way for learning. User-friendly porgrams give students instant feedback while they practice important basic skills. Lessons and study guides also include proven learning strategies and memories techniques. Please visit our website.

By Darren Michalczuk

How to Plan Successful Homeschool Field Trips

2013-06-04T00:15:00.001-07:00

Field trips allow children of all grade levels to get away from the classroom to learn in more exciting environments. Public and private schools plan a few trips throughout the year to supplement classroom lessons, but you have an advantage as a homeschooling family. You can plan more field trips throughout the year and tailor them to the interests and struggles of your child.

If your child struggles to understand a lesson, a field trip may provide a fresh perspective that helps them understand certain concepts. If your child has a passion for a particular subject, regular field trips will help them explore that subject in new ways. These trips allow children to escape the daily routine and venture out into the world, but they also give you fresh ideas for lesson plans, experiments, and classroom projects.

These trips are essential to the learning process, but they are also a lot of fun. It is one thing to read a book or do a project on a small scale at home. It is another thing entirely to see what those books are talking about in the real world and see those projects at work on a larger scale.

Teacher Forest Homeschooling

Trip Selection and Planning

Every trip you take should correlate to a lesson you are currently teaching. Research all cities within a reasonable distance from your home and make a list of all museums, state and national parks, aquariums, and galleries that may apply to your child's studies now or in the future. As you develop new lesson plans for your child, add to this list.

Once you find a field trip idea that you want to pursue, the planning process begins:

1. Plan lessons to be covered prior to the trip. This will introduce your child to basic information they need to fully comprehend what they see on the field trip.

2. Plan an activity to be completed during the field trip or generate a list of questions for your child to answer during the trip. This keeps your child focused on what you want them to learn.

3. Plan follow-up lessons to recap everything your child has learned in the classroom and on the trip.

Keep It Simple

Field trips do not have to be elaborate outings. A hike through a national forest and a picnic is one simple idea that can coordinate with a variety of lessons for all age groups if properly planned.

For instance, it may be important to select the most appropriate entrance into the national forest. There may be a reception center, museum, educational trail, or another feature only found at one area of the forest. It may also be important to visit at a particular time of year to coordinate with particular lessons.

Avoid cramming too much activity into one outing. It is better for your child to fully explore one location than to briefly visit three or four locations. Create activities that make the trip more entertaining. For instance, your child may go on a scavenger hunt when you visit a museum. You may have to visit the museum ahead of time, but you can make a list of items to be found in the museum and allow your child to check off the list during the field trip. Your follow-up lesson may hit on the importance of each item on the list.

Teacher Forest Homeschooling

Share Your Ideas... and Win!

Share your most successful homeschool field trips for a chance to win an Amazon gift card. You receive one entry into the gift card contest just for sharing the details of a field trip you have planned for your child. Share up to four pictures of your field trip and you will earn one additional contest entry per picture.

By Carol A Henderson

21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit {Deseret Book Review and GIVEAWAY!}

2013-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

“As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles,” counsels Elder Richard G. Scott. “Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.”
In this exciting book, Elder Scott offers 21 principles distilled from his life experiences. These “concentrated truths” will help you understand more fully how to be guided by the Spirit. Elder Scott's brief explanations open the way for your own discovery and exploration.
“I bear witness that Jesus Christ knows you personally,” Elder Scott writes. “He will provide answers to every difficult problem in your life as you trust Him and do all you can to understand and apply His doctrine and strive to live by the Spirit.” 21 Principles will be a valuable tool in that quest.

As we seek for spiritual knowledge and growth we are searching for principles to guide us alone our way. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles calls these principles "concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances." Elder Scott has put forth tremendous effort to gather all of the principles he has learned and provide them for our personal study... He continues, "Principles are anchors of safety...They will help you have confidence in new and unfamiliar circumstances. They will provide you protection in life's storms of adversity." We can reach worthy goals and objectives when we stick closely to correct principles and this book can provide a starting point in your personal scripture study! There are, obviously, 21 Principles of study each with scriptural truth, historical background, personal stories, and how to follow this principle in todays world. One of the best parts? Each chapter ends with a real awesome "you can do this" pep talk! Not to be missed: The Conclusion. It is Elder Scott's testimony - don't skip this part! It is humbling and motivating.

I enjoyed Elder Scott's book immensely and I think you will too! Read it as a novel...or read it as a topical scripture study. This book is a valuable source of spiritual learning. 21 Principles currently retails as a hardback at Deseret Book for $15.29 and as a Bookshelf eBook for $9.99. You can also get the combo for $20.28.

Don't forget you can download the Bookshelf App completely free (and get several free eBooks to get you started!)

I had the thought that this might make an excellent Father's Day Gift! Just saying... ;)

Now! Thanks to Deseret Book, I get an opportunity to giveaway a 2nd copy to a lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment below. Don't forget to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win! Good luck! Entries close at midnight, May 31st. I will draw the winners name using random.org.

My Home School Grades {Mosaic Review}

2013-05-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

I haven't had plans to track grades for Kayley anytime soon so when we were given the opportunity to review a program through Mosaic Reviews called My Home School Grades my first thoughts were, "I'll never use this..." I was pleasantly surprised when logging into this program I discovered that it is so much more than grade tracking! My Home School Grades is a new program founded in 2012 by homeschool dad John Echols and homeschool grad Jordan Shute. My Home School Grades provides the user a much needed place to gather all the information for your families homeschool in one easy-to-use database. Not only does it track grades, it tracks classes, lessons, labs, units, activities and creates a report card/transcript!

Let me tell you all about My Home School Grades:

After logging in to the program you have an option to Add Students. I added both Maggie and Kayley....

Clicking on your student pulls up their info where you can add classes or activities.

Adding a class is simple. Here I input summer school classes for Kayley. I haven't really figured out how to assign "credits" but since we are in 2nd grade I didn't feel that was essential right now. This will be much more important for High School age students. You have the option to input grades by clicking on the single grade tab...

or lesson plans by clicking on the lesson plans tab...

Once you have input your courses you can edit them to assign grades, change lesson plans, etc...

My Homes School Grades also offer a place to assign activities:

I input Kayley's swimming lessons as an athletic summer activity...which counts as school!

What is really great about this program is you can print a transcript/report card of what you did through the year. Whether you will be sending a child to college and need this for admissions or your child is like mine, 2nd grade...this is a great tool for your portfolio and allows you to keep track of activities and lessons completed throughout the year.

My Home School Grades is easy to use and really keeps all your homeschool activities organized! I will continue using it throughout the summer and see how I like it more long-term. I am a very disorganized individual and I like that this encourages me to do a better job of tracking my daughters activities.

My Home School Grades is $49.99 for a Life Time Membership!

Are you interested??
You can learn more about My Home School Grades, sign up for a free 14 day trial, or watch the "How-to" Videos to discover more about My Home School Grades.

My fellow team mates reviewed My Home School Grades too, you can read their reviews at mosaicreviews.com!

Homeless....

2013-05-15T06:40:00.000-07:00

Well, we are officially homeless now. We closed on our house last Friday. While we wait for our next house to close (not until June 13th) we will be bouncing around a little staying with friends. We are doing ok but all of us are feeling a little homesick. We miss our own space and our own beds. Kayley's came apart nicely and we are debating on whether we will be able to get it into our new house? (It is about 1/2 the size of our old house).

We filled those PODS to the brim. Ended up with 3 of them and really needed 4! Careful when opening the POD, items may have shifted during take-off. LOL.

In the meantime we've been trying to make an adventure of things, enjoying spending time together (aka we are bored to death)....

We went out to eat the other night and they had this awesome soda machine.

And we've hit Bass Pro and looked at the fish.

We will be bouncing one more time before we close on our house

and my internet access is sporadic. We are ready to be settled! whew!

Waterproof Bible {Mosaic Review}

2013-05-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

I have seen a lot of "water resistant" products but this is by far, the first time, I have ever seen a waterproof book. Oh, not just any book - The Bible! Now you can take your Bible with you anywhere you go! Camping? Do it! The Beach? YES! The bathtub?? Why not? I have to admit that I was completely intrigued by this Bible and Kayley, age 6, treated it like a science experiment! Thanks Mosaic Reviews and Bardin Marsee Publishing for letting us enjoy this fabulous Waterproof Bible!

The Waterproof Bible is a project from the creative genius of Bobby & Anna. Their desire to create a way to take the word of God with them wherever they went prompted them to find a way to create a Bible that is durable and weatherproof allowing you to be inspired anywhere and anytime. The Waterproof Bible is 100% tree free and made from synthetic, recyclable, materials.

For this review we received the King James Version of the Waterproof Bible that included the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs only. Some unique features include:

• Stain Resistant • Ultra Clear Text • Ideal for Gear Bag or Backpack, Tote Bag or Purse • Dry Highlight • Write and Underline with no bleed thru So, once we were aware of all of its unique features we put it to the test. Since the pages and cover have the feel of one of those "Tyvek" envelopes I was pretty sure it was going to do well. I could tell just by feeling it that it was a tough book! 1. Stain resistant? Check! We threw this baby in a mud puddle, took it inside and washed it off with NO problems. 2. Highlight? Yes, but it washed off. Hence the need for this handy Dry Highlighter that Bardin Marsee sells in their store for $3.25. I didn't get to review the highlighter but it claims that it will NOT wash off. (It comes in 4 different colors). 3. Write and Underline with no bleed thru. Check! I discovered that it is actually challenging to write on the Tyvek-type pages with a regular pen. Bardin Marsee recommends the Fisher Space Pen. I bet this would work better than my cheap ball-point. The Fisher Space Pen you can write standing on your head and apparently has a shelf-life of 100 years. Wow! It retails for $16 - $24 dollars but a small price to pay if you never have to buy a pen again! 4. We also discovered that the Waterproof Bible does not really float very well but once it has been submerged you can pull it out of the water and it dries very fast. The water just beads up and rolls off! 5. I was too chicken to really test its durability by trying to tear a page or the cover so I cannot really vouch for how well it will not rip, etc. Sorry - I just couldn't bring myself to actually do something like that to the Bible on purpose! The Waterproof Bible gives you the freedom to take God's Word with you anywhere you go! Take it to the beach, camping, fishing, mission trips, exercising, and so much more! I, personally, will be storing our Bible in our 72 Hour Emergency Kits! It is a 100% Worry Free Bible! The Waterproof Bible is 376 pages and measures about 4 1/4" x 7". Retail price for the one we reviewed, The Waterproof Bible New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs is $24.95.

Interested in owning your own copy? There is a large selection of types and styles of the Waterproof Bible ranging in price from $24.95 to $44.95.

Several of my fellow Mosaic Reviews team members also reviewed the Waterproof Bible, to read their thoughts visit MosaicReviews.com!

The Beginning of Better Days {Deseret Book Blog Tour}

2013-05-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

How important are women in the restored church of Jesus Christ? We learn something about the answer to the question from a simple historic fact: In 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith took time to attend several meetings of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo and give personal instruction to the women there. He did this at a time of great personal turmoil, when persecutions were raging and his responsibilities were heavy. He did it at a time when society barely acknowledged women as having any kind of status at all. On six separate occasions, he taught the women personally about their privileges, their opportunities, their obligations, and the blessings the Lord had in store for them in His kingdom.
The Beginning of Better Days includes Joseph Smith's six timeless sermons to the women of Nauvoo, along with personal essays from Sheri Dew and Virginia H. Pearce that help us better understand the sermons and their relevance for Latter-day Saint women today. "We have attempted to share a little about our own processes of discovery regarding the sermons," writes the authors. "This is what worked for us. What works for you may be similar — or it may be completely different. The important thing is to dig in."

Are you looking for the perfect mothers day gift? I know! Mothers Day is right around the corner on May 12th!

This new book, The Beginning of Better Days is a compilation of six of Joseph Smith's instructions and talks directed to the women of the church at Relief Society Meetings with personal narratives and insights written by Sheri Dew and Virginia H. Pearce.

At DeseretBook.com this book currently retails in hardcover for $17.09 or as a Bookshelf eBook for $10.99.

Don't forget you can download Deseret Bookshelf on your eReader completely free and when you do you get 8 free eBook downloads plus the Scriptures!

I received The Beginning of Better Days free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Deseret Book!!

Ooka Island {Mosaic Review}

2013-05-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that it is about time for Maggie to begin reading! At our house we try really hard to make learning fun and Maggie has been anxious for an opportunity to play on the computer so we were thrilled with an opportunity to review Ooka Island!

Ooka Island is an early reading adventure for kids age Pre-K to Second Grade. Ooka Island is a 3D, downloadable, adventure that sets your child on the path to reading. Using an Eye/Ear & Read Direct Method for early literacy, for homeschool families, this can be a full Language Arts curriculum...for parents this program is a fun and interactive way to boost phonics and learn reading skills while having fun playing computer games like the "big kids!"

You follow Auntie Kay and her pal Zobot in the blimp as you work your way around the island building on phonics skills! During your adventure you become a hero as you rescue Ooka Elves from the Flying Pigs! (Also known as "Fligs")

Logging in on Ooka Island is so easy! The main login screen shows your avatar, and the login password is a picture recognition password. Perfect for prereaders to be able to log into this program independently!

Zobot guides you to your next destination. You click on his screen to go to your adventure.

The Cave of Sounds... You are riding through the mine car at the bottom of the cave of sounds...click when you hear the appropriate sound to move ahead!

This is Maggies favorite! The Clumsy Wacky Moving Company spilled the contents of their truck into the water! Save the items by identifying the sound...before it all goes over the waterfall!

Rescue the books from underwater to add them to the Popcorn Library in the Submarine listening activity...

Then read them together with your pal Zobot....

and answer interactive comprehension questions!

Next, visit the Cake Factory to help the Ooka Elves decorate the cakes using your listening skills to hear the appropriate word blend...

Then, play at the Bubble Troubly fountain! Retrieve sounds from the bubbly fountain and put them in Auntie Kays basket!

Practice the alphabet as you climb to the top of Alphabet Mountain. Enjoy a fast moving skateboard ride, complete with tricks, all the way back down!

While learning you follow Zobot around the island but you earn free play time as well! During your free play time Zobot will follow YOU around the island where you can choose your own adventure! Visit the pencil playground and go down the slide! Listen to the Ooka Juke Box and change your clothes and a whole lot more!

As you travel the island you were earning mist and unlocking items that you could buy in the mist mart!

In the Parent Menu visit the Ooka Lighthouse where you can print report cards, reports, assessments and so forth.

We really enjoyed Ooka Island. It was fun and really interactive. It is the the only computer game I have seen where it involves sound recognition in addition to other basic phonics skills. The independent log-in for prereaders is really helpful. Using this type of log in allows Maggie to click on the icon in my toolbar and log in completely independently. The graphics were great and the program, while big, didn't slow down my computer.

Visit the website to take a video tour, learn about the Ooka Island method of learning, view activity pages or workbooks that complement Ooka reading lessons, or listen to music samples.

Are you interested in purchasing Ooka Island? A great thing about Ooka Island - It is affordable!

Also, thank you so much to Ooka Island for offering my readers an additional 30% off. Yes, that is in addition to the already discounted 37% annual savings! In order to get the additional 30% off you will need to purchase through this link: http://offers.ookaisland.com/inblog?purl=ieBuc

Many of my friends from Mosaic Reviews reviewed Ooka Island as well, to read their reviews visit mosaicreviews.com!

LDS Living: Best of Mothers {LDS Living Freebie!}

2013-05-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this? Right now you can download LDS Living Best of Mothers free for your Deseret Bookshelf app! This eBook is a compilation of the best of the LDS Living articles on Motherhood. Prepare to be uplifted! I know I am!

Just in time for Mother's Day - give yourself a treat of inspiring and encouraging stories free! Download your copy from Deseret Book and have great {Mothers} day!

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach....{Book Review & Giveaway!}

2013-05-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Wow. You've heard the story of Jonah and the Whale. You know the one. The story goes: Jonah gets swallowed by a whale after he tries to run away from God. You see, he didn't want to go spread the gospel in Nineveh. After 3 days in the belly of the whale he is spewed out on the beach where he changes his mind & heart and heads to Nineveh! Well...this is a Jonah story unlike any you have ever heard!

How funny is this? It had me laughing out loud!

The story of Jonah, as told by the whale, in the book, Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in my Stomach and I Think I'm Going to Throw Up by Troy Schmidt. Recommended for ages 4 to 8, this hilarious story tells the traditional biblical account from a very interesting and creative perspective. Illustrated by Cory Jones the pictures are outrageously cute! This is a short and colorful book that teaches a lesson in the importance of Biblical obedience.

Bonus features include a Parent Connection section that recommends two memory verses, further reading, thinking questions and a "Do" section that really gets the child into the story. Perfect companion to the Bible story, bedtime or school time!

We loved this book and can't wait to read the others in the series: Hey God, I'm Having an Awful Vacation in Egypt Thanks to Moses! and Hey God, Can You Stop the Rain so I Can Get Off of Noah's Smelly Ark? No really, those are the titles. LOL!

Learn more about this series by visiting:

Website: http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/books/products.asp?p=9781433679643

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/troyschmidt and https://www.facebook.com/bhpublishing?fref=ts

Twitter: @troyeschmidt

Would you like to win a copy? I have a chance to share one copy with a Swinging On Small Hinges Reader! Drawing ends May 7th at midnight. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention iton my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordancewith the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

An Uncommon Life: Years of Preparation by Lee Tom Perry {Deseret Book Review}

2013-04-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

A few blog postings ago I mentioned that I haven't read much by way of biographies. No reason in particular I suppose, I just haven't. When Deseret Book offered me the opportunity to review two of them I couldn't resist! I enjoyed the Eliza R. Snow biography a lot and this one about apostle L. Tom Perry is just as good!!

Elder L. Tom Perry, a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is fond of describing himself as being "as common as dirt." Yet his life is uncommon by any standard. After spending most of his early years in his hometown of Logan, Utah, and additional years on a mission and in the military, young Tom Perry launched a twenty-year professional career that took him from his first job as an internal auditor in Boise, Idaho, to executive positions in retailing on the west and east coasts of the United States. Soon after his fiftieth birthday, he was surprised to be called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve. Not long afterward, President Spencer W. Kimball extended to Elder Perry the call to join the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Perry has now served for forty years as a General Authority.

Written to commemorate his 90th birthday, this biography is written by Elder L. Tom Perry's son Lee Tom Perry. In the book he says, "My father has given me little direction about his biography, but he has made one request - it should have a purpose. In other words, it ought to teach something to everyone who reads it." Don't worry Elder Perry, it does!

Following L. Tom Perry's life from birth to present we are blessed to see how his life experiences have shaped the amazing man that he is today. Did you know he was in the Marine corps? How cool is that? Did you know his first name is Lowell? And, seriously, his smile is contagious don't you think?? Through all of his life he has maintained a positive attitude and by taking this peek into his life we can learn valuable lessons. He is such a faith-filled man and he shows you through his example how to draw closer to God and live a better life by giving service to others.

I have enjoyed reading about Elder Perry's life and by far the pictures are my favorite part! You can read an excerpt or if you would like to purchase a copy of An Uncommon Life by Lee Tom Perry you can find it at DeseretBook.com in hardback for $31.49 or as a Bookshelf eBook for $13.99.

Don't forget the Deseret Book Bookshelf eBook app is free and when you download you get 8 free LDS eBooks plus the Scriptures!

Disclaimer: I received An Uncommon Life free of charge from Deseret Book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my very own. Thanks so much DB.com!!

Far World by J. Scott Savage {Deseret Book Review}

2013-04-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

Do you like to read fantasy? It's never been my favorite genre but the last several times I have been offered an opportunity to review something like this from Deseret Book, I've jumped at the chance! I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this series so much and I think you might like it too. So it is my pleasure to tell you a bit about Far World!

Far World is an intriguing series written by J. Scott Savage and it follows the adventures of a boy named Marcus and his friend Kyja. Written in the spirit of Fablehaven this fantasy series finds the 2 teenagers battling against evil forces that are beyond this realm. In a place where magic spells, charms and potions are the norm they meet up with some interesting characters in a place called Far World. In this alternate world Marcus and Kyja are gathering the mythical Elementals so they can open a "portal" between both worlds. I don't want to give too much away, but here is a short synopsis of the series so far.

Book 1: Water Keep

This first book introduces you to the main characters. Marcus is wheel-chair bound but dreams of a life outside of his crippling circumstances. When Kyja pulls him into her world he discovers that she suffers from a handicap of her own. In a world where magic prevails she has none. Together the two join forces to face "the Dark Circle."

Book 2: Land Keep

In book 2 Marcus and Kyja must travel to Land Keep to find the Augur Well, an oracle that is protected by perilous traps and trials. The Dark Circle gets close and Marcus and Kyja are faced with temptations...

Book 3: Air Keep

In book 3 Marcus and Kyja continue their journey to find Air Elementals. The Dark Circle continues to grow in power and the teens wonder who they can trust. Oh...and of course you are left hanging! We only have only been to 3 of the elements keeps! LOL.

If you are a fan of fantasy you will enjoy this series. Although the books are clean (no cursing, there is a kiss though) I would really recommend it for ages teen+ as some of the material wouldn't be enjoyable for younger kids.

Right now all 3 books are available in all different types (hardcover, softcover, eBooks and Audio downloads) at DeseretBook.com.

Check them out HERE.

Learn more about J. Scott Savage by visiting his website at http://www.jscottsavage.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer: I received Far World free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my very own. Thank you Deseret Book!!

Spanish For You - Fiestas {Mosaic Review}

2013-04-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

We love it when we get a chance to try something unordinary in our homeschool day. We have tried doing Spanish in the past and we always seem to lose interest in the inexpensive little workbooks that you get from the bookstore but do not want to pay a lot of money for a true Spanish "curriculum." We were hesitant to try another Spanish program just because we haven't had much success with it in the past but we were willing to try again when we were offered a chance through the Mosaic Reviews team to try a program called Spanish for You!

Spanish for You! was written by Debbie Annett as a way to bring the joy of learning Spanish to every family at an affordable price. Debbie studied in Seville, Spain and holds a masters degree in curriculum & instruction from Northern Illinois University. You can learn more about her on the about the author page.

We received the Fiestas eBook download, .pdf files that included the student materials, Lesson Guide and .mp3 downloads of the audio files.

Right away I could tell that Spanish for You! is different that the generic workbooks we were used to using. The Lesson Guide is broken up by weeks, with 4 days of lessons per week. Of course this is totally flexible, you do not need to do this program 4 days a week in order for it to work. In fact, we moved through very slowly doing only 2 lessons each week. Each day the lesson guide gives you your tasks to complete with your student. For example, each daily lesson includes something like, read the lesson in the student guide and listen to the corresponding audio. Do the worksheet. Play the suggested game and/or practice ideas. Study from the flashcards for review. Sing a song. It really is that simple and easy to use.

Here are some other great features:

-Spanish for You! is thematic. We received Fiestas and are learning about party themes, holidays and special occasions. They also have seasons and travel. Studying Spanish thematically is really fun! It makes it more interesting and gives it a unit-study feel. The great thing about the thematic approach is that there are no "levels" to this program. You can start where you are and still use this program!

-Spanish for You! encompasses a variety of ages. 3rd - 8th grade can study the same topics together. It isn't often that you will find a program that lets your kids in variable ages work together like this. Oh, and I should add...we are using this for my daughter who is 6 (2nd grade). I would say this program can easily be adapted to younger children.

- Spanish for You! is inexpensive. Other than generic workbooks from the store we couldn't afford some of the fancier Spanish programs. It is not in the budget for us to spend hundreds of dollars on a computer/audio based foreign language program.

-The lessons are bite sized. Perfect for my daughter who loses interest in long lessons. Lessons for grades 3-4 run for 30 weeks while lessons for grades 5-8 run for 24 weeks.

-The materials are fabulous. The flashcards are black and white and can be colored in by your child if you like. There are 2 audios, the first is the materials read by the author, the 2nd is the book read by a native Spanish speaker.

Spanish for You! - Fiestas retails for $39.95 for each grade level package or $64.95 for the entire grade 3 - 8 package.

The Teacher Lesson Plans for Grade 3-4 are $14.95 or for Grades 5-8 are $12.95 for .pdf download.

The Spanish for You! website also offers some great extras like free curriculum activities and games, free mini-lessons and free downloadable worksheets. For more information you could also check out the FAQ pages or the Spanish for You! blog!

We enjoyed using Spanish for You! and I know that my Mosaic Reviews team members did too. To read their reviews visit the Mosaic Reviews website! Thanks for stopping by! Adios!

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

2013-04-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

I am a big Mary Connealy fan and I have read nearly all of her books. This new series, Trouble in Texas debuts with Book 1: Swept Away!

Ruthy MacNeil is travelling by wagon train with an adoptive family that treats her like a servant. While Ruthy would love to escape this horrid family she has no where to go until the unthinkable happens. While crossing a swollen river Ruthy, and her entire family, is swept away. Awaking confused and in pain, Ruthy is rescued by handsome Luke Stone. Luke is bent on revenge. On a mission to reclaim the property that has been stolen from his family he doesn't have time to take Ruthie back up river to find her family. Her only hope is to let Luke drop her off at the next town and she can make her way from there. Finding herself thrown into Lukes plans, Ruthy begins to tug at Lukes heart and he begins to realize that revenge may not be the most important thing in his life anymore.

I enjoyed Swept Away but I have to tell you: In this story, Ruthie and Luke were not my biggest concern after we meet two other characters: Dare and Glynna. I was a lot more concerned about what would happen to them than I was with Ruthie and Luke. Hey, guess what? Of course Mary Connealy leaves you hanging at the end! LOL. If you want to know what happens to Dare and Glynna, you will have to hold out (impatiently like me!) for Book 2.

Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

Eliza: The Life and Faith of Eliza R. Snow {Deseret Book Review}

2013-04-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Eliza R. Snow is one of the most revered women in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We hear stories of her faith and strength, and we sing her beloved hymns. She was fondly known as "Zion's Poetess" and also as "Presidentess," because of her leadership of Relief Society and her role in forming and directing organizations for young women and children. She has remained a legend for generations of Latter-day Saints, but we know less about her "variegated life," as she described it—the personal joys and sorrows brought about by unfolding events in the young Church of which she was a part.

This intimate look at Eliza R. Snow, by authors Karen Lynn Davidson and Jill Mulvay Derr, reveals a more private side of this extraordinary woman. She emerges as a bright young poet in Ohio, a new convert to the restored Church, a seamstress, and a sharer in the persecutions and hardships of the early Saints. We see a member of the households of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, a dedicated temple worker, and a traveling Relief Society president with a zeal for teaching the gospel.

I have read very few biographies. I'm not sure why I haven't because I am always interested in learning about people in history. When I had a chance to review The Life and Faith of Eliza R. Snow by Karen Lynn Davidson and Jim Mulvay Derr I was excited! As a Latter-day Saint I have heard a lot about Eliza R. Snow but couldn't exactly pin point why or recall what I had heard about her.

Eliza R. Snow is probably best known for the popular hymn "O My Father" and her role in the early Relief Society organization but by studying her life and her writings I gained insight into one of the best known Mormon pioneer women and discovered that she did so much more! Filled with photographs, paintings and her original poems, both published and unpublished, this book is inspiring. Eliza R. Snow's writings share what it is like to lose a loved one, celebrate friendship, suffer hardships, deal with injustice, encourage patriotism and especially gain a strong testimony of our Heavenly Father. I had no idea that she has written so many amazing poems (over 500 according to the author).

The book walks you through Eliza's early life including her touching conversion story. Through each chapter you can follow the growth and expansion of the church and the ultimate arrival in the great Salt Lake Valley with the early Saints. Each milestone is documented beautifully through Eliza R. Snows descriptive poetry.

I really enjoyed learning about Eliza R. Snow
and I bet you would like it too.

You can currently purchase a hard copy of The Life and Faith of Eliza R. Snow at DeseretBook.com for $25.19. It is also available as a Bookshelf eBook for only $15.99.

Don't forget, the Deseret Bookshelf eBook app is FREE for iPad, iPhone & Android devices!

Disclaimer: I received The Life and Faith of Eliza R. Snow free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Deseret Book!!

A Miracle & Murphy's Law x5

2013-04-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

I'm overdue for an update but its been challenging. We've had a couple of, what could only be classified as, miracles and a ton of, what is definitely considered by me to be, Murphy's Law instances. I'll get started:

Murphy's Law #1. My computer died, or at least had a near-death experience. After taking it into an Apple dealer (since I sadly discovered I couldn't fix it myself) I learned that my iPhoto library went corrupt/kaput and is gone. No, really.... The last 5 years worth of pictures...Poof. In the words of the infamous Pete The Cat, "Did I cry? Goodness no! Pictures come and pictures go..." Hence the NO pictures on this blog update. I don't have time to stress about it now because...

A Miracle. We decided that since James was now working full time in Marshfield we needed to consider trying to sell our home. We all know that the market stinks and selling seemed unlikely but we really felt impressed to do it. So we listed our house on a Monday and had an offer by Thursday. We have to be out the 1st week of May. Wow!

Murphy's Law #2. If anything could make selling our house more complicated it is the exciting home inspection. A handful of things need to be fixed before we can move so I'm under a lot of stress to get somebody in to take care of all of these things so we can make the transition smooth for our new buyers.

Murphy's Law #3. There are only 2 places for rent in Marshfield and they are both the kinds of places where you would NOT want to take off your shoes. Ick! We have affectionately nicknamed the duplex we looked at the "Poo-plex." Because it really stunk!

Murphy's Law #4. We looked to buy a house but the house that we loved got an offer on it 12 hours before we had a chance to submit ours.

Murphy's Law #5. That was the only house I even liked. Now we are going to have to settle and buy something we don't really like, rent the poo-plex, or live in a bus in the Walmart parking lot.

And there you have it. The update. ;)

Apologia Planners {Mosaic Review}

2013-04-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a relatively disorganized person in general but when it comes to keeping track of appointments and such I have always, always used some kind of calendar. In college it kept me from losing track of due dates, while in the military it kept me on time for appointments, and now as a homeschooling mom it keeps me from losing track of swim lessons, dental cleanings, chores, assignments and so much more! I have tried out many different planners of different types and I am always happy to try out one more. Thanks to Debra Bell at Apologia I had a chance to review the Ultimate Homeschool Planner along with the Ultimate Daily Planner for Students. Trust me, it was no hardship to review such great products!

First, let me tell you about the Ultimate Homeschool Planner. To start, it is a lot more than just a calendar. This planner is a comprehensive planning system that manages your household, your homeschool, and so much more. Check out the table of contents:

The first several pages include detailed pages that show you the myriad ways you can use this planner. A one-year planning grid helps you plan out your entire year at a single glance. Everything from summer camps, vacations, birthdays and holidays all in one easy-to-use place.
The Student Goal Setter pages are perfect for helping your children to set Character and Academic goals for the year. There is room for 6 students. Pages also allow you to jot down family priorities, resource lists that you plan to use with each child for the academic year. The back includes a high school planning guide as well as teaching tips, reading lists, and field trip record sheet.

The calendar pages are blank which I love. This allows you to fill in your own month and dates allowing you to start anywhere in the year using this planner. The weekly planning pages start with a Lord's Day plan. This is where you can write down notes from church or your scripture study and refer back to it through out the week.

Included in each weekly plan is a section for recording memorable moments, achievements and evidences of God's grace.

Of course, a homeschool planner would not be complete without a section for tracking each student and their assignments.

This planner is fabulous. It is so easy to use. A couple other features that I really like: The cover is a heavy duty plastic. It is durable and wipe-off-able. There is a nice pocket on the inside of the front and back cover that is handy for storing papers. The planner is full size pages (8.5" x11")

The biggest drawbacks for me on this planner are that there are no tabs or bookmarks. So when looking for the current month or current weekly planning pages it was taking me a while to shuffle through them. I have some sticky tabs that I put in myself and it is working just fine. Also, if you live in a area that requires you to take attendance or keep track of hours there are no forms to help you with that. You will have to find a place to write that in somewhere yourself. All in all, this is a great resource!

You can download a sample of the planning pages and check them out!

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner retails for $28.00.

Now, on to the Ultimate Student Planner!

If you have upper elementary age to junior high-ish students this planner may be a great fit for your kids! It gives your kids independence in scheduling and planning their own school day as well as an easy way for you to keep tabs on what they are working on! This planner includes an "all about me" section, personal goals tracker, a study-smart toolkit, grade grid, reading list and activities log, timelines of U.S. and world history, maps, science/grammar resources, Greek/Latin roots, measurements and well, I could go on and on. This planner is a full study guide!

Oh, I love the active lifestyle log in the back! This helps your student meet the requirements for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. Cool!

Of course this planner wouldn't be complete without the monthly planning pages (that you fill in yourself so, like the Ultimate Homeschool Planner, you can pick this up and begin using it any month of the year.)

The most essential component to this planner would be the weekly assignments pages....

Don't you love this? A bubble to mark off "quiet time" (we have quiet time daily at our house!) and a box to mark "done" and "approved."

A couple of other great features: This has the plastic sturdy cover, is a smaller size (perfect for backpacks about 6.5" by 8.5") and has the moveable bookmark that is also a ruler!

The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students retails for $19.00. Download a sample to get a better look!

I am enjoying my Ultimate Daily Planner and my friends did too, read their thoughts at Mosaic Reviews!

We Choose Virtues {Mosaic Review}

2013-03-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since I started using We Choose Virtues in my home. What started out as a product review has become a regular part of our school days. I was originally blessed last January to review the Virtue Clue Cards, teacher guide, coloring book and family assessment...which then led to me purchasing the Virtue Poster...which led to the investment in the Parent Cards...and now, thanks to the Mosaic Review Team, I get a chance to review the Virtue Flash Cards and Butterfly Award!

I have used several programs in the past that focus on character qualities, many with mixed results, some with pretty good results but I wanted something simple. I wanted something colorful. I wanted something very kid-friendly. BUT. Most of all, I wanted something that WORKED and worked really well.

I'm here to tell you, We Choose Virtues works really, really well.

But, don't just take it from me, in this video, my 6 year old daughter, Kayley, will give you an intro to We Choose Virtues and she will tell you what she likes about it.

What is We Choose Virtues?
We Choose Virtues was created by Heather McMillan, a preschool teacher and children's pastor, that has a deep love for children. It concerned her how often she came across children whose lack of self control, honesty and perseverance was almost debilitating. She wanted to create a way for these kids to succeed in life using skills that come from good character and watch them reach their personal potential. It was because of this gap in character education that Heather decided to create the loveable & colorful characters, their corresponding virtue and the memorizable catch-phrases!

How does We Choose Virtues work?
We Choose Virtues is a character development tool recommended for early childhood through elementary age children. After introducing the first virtue and demonstrating them (you can start anywhere, but it is recommended that you start with the Top 3: Obey, Be Kind and Be A Helper) help your children memorize the cute catchphrases, learn the antonyms, and then watch for opportunities to see the virtue (or it's opposite) in action! My kids pick up the catch phrases pretty quickly even Maggie who is only 3!

Each Virtue comes with its own colorful character and catch phrase. The cards are small (5.5" x 4.25"), easy to use and come with a Bible verse that provides scriptural guidance for that virtue (a secular version is also available). The coloring book is a .pdf download that offers a cute coloring page for each character.

How am I using this product in my home?
Last year we took the Family Character Assessment and decided to start learning Obedience with Oboe Joe! The Teachers Handbook gives several ideas on the best ways to introduce the virtue and catch-phrases. You can color the character you are studying in the coloring book. We work on one virtue at a time until we have memorized the catch-phrase. We have since keep our current character and our most recent character on display...and moved on to our next character quality once we really know and understand what the catch-phrase is all about. We are currently working on "I am Self-Controlled" and just wrapped up "I am Attentive." We LOVE the catchy phrase that keeps the kids accountable for their actions!

How much does it cost?
Virtue Flash Cards are $14.99
Teachers Handbook is available as an instant download for $5.00
Coloring Book is $3.00
Family Character Assessment is FREE!

There are some great package deals available including a complete Homeschool Kit for $98.99 or a Family Kit for $69.99.

Shop We Choose Virtues at http://we-choose-virtues.myshopify.com/collections/all.

Here is a good deal too!
You can get 20% off the purchase of a complete Homeschool Kit (expires April 30th, 2013) using code HOME20
or
save 15% off your entire order using code VIRTUE15

We are loving We Choose Virtues and will continue to use it indefinitely! Would you like to read more reviews about We Choose Virtues? You can find them on the Mosaic Reviews page!

The Power of Starting Something Stupid {Deseret Book Review}

2013-03-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

"Let me whisper a secret directly into your ear: If someone thinks that your ideas are stupid...welcome to the Club. You're in the company of the worlds leading innovators, change agents, thought leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs...."

In The Power of Starting Something Stupid, Richie Norton redefines stupid as we know it, demonstrating that life-changing ideas are often tragically mislabeled stupid. What if the key to success, creativity, and fulfillment in your life lies in the potential of those stupid ideas? This deeply inspiring book will teach you:
How to crush fear, make dreams happen, and live without regret.
How to overcome obstacles such as lack of time, lack of education, or lack of money.
The 5 actions of the New Smart to achieve authentic success.

No more excuses. Learn how to start something stupid — the smartest thing you can do. Drawing on years of research, including hundreds of face-to-face interviews and some of the world's greatest success stories past and present, Richie shows you how stupid is the New Smart — the common denominator for success, creativity, and innovation in business and life.

When I think of all the famous people who invented something great, I am blinded by their success. It is not until author Richie Norton starts pointing out in his book that most great ideas started out as what others labeled as "stupid." Wait a second! I began to really understand that brilliance is often mislabeled! Think about these ideas that were labeled stupid: the telephone, the car, the radio, putting a man on the moon, etc.

In The Power of Starting Something Stupid, Norton is going to walk you through how to get over the worry of your stupid idea and make your dreams a reality. Whether you want to start your own business or just live a life with a sense of accomplishment, this book can help you find success using the following steps:
1. Crush Fear
2. End Pride
3. Overcome Procrastination
4. Be Authentic
5. Serve, Thank, Ask, Receive, Trust
6. Leverage Existing Resources

Each step is carefully broken down helping the reader understand each point, what they can do about it, and a challenge to change your thought process. Filled with real-life examples from CEOs who had "stupid" ideas that became reality, inspirational quotes and logical graphics this book is a good read for anyone who wants to live their life intentionally and without regret.

You can read the first two chapters free online from LDS Living...

I have enjoyed this book. Are you interested in owning a copy too?

The Power of Starting Something Stupid retails at Deseret Book for $22.49 in hardcover. It is also available as a Deseret Bookshelf eBook for $24.99 or as an audiobook mp3 download for $20.99.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy of The Power of Starting Something Stupid from Deseret Book/ Shadow Mountain free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own! Thank you!!

Little Angels Prayers for Everyday {Review & Giveaway}

2013-03-11T05:19:00.000-07:00

What if soothing the worries of a small child

was as easy as teaching them how to pray?

In this book by Roma Downey, Little Angels Prayers for Every Day offers 50 simple rhyming prayers that cover a young child's worries and every day living. A nice board book that is perfect for chubby little fingers to handle on their own and even better for mom or dad to read to their precious toddler. Prayers for morning and sleeping, meal blessing, comfort when afraid, and prayers of thanksgiving. Bible verses are dotted through out its colorful pages. Illustrated by Lisa Reed this book is full of charming little characters and sweet pictures.

This book is a perfect way to gently introduce your little one to prayer and help them see that anytime is a good time to talk to their Father in Heaven.

My 3 year old daughter LOVES books and she is always happy with any book that she can "read" on her own. We have really enjoyed this little rhyming book and I think you will too! To learn more about Roma Downey's Little Angels series check out the links below...

Website: http://www.idealsbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IdealsBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealRomaDowney

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0k6mqA8jAo

I'm excited that I have an opportunity to give away a copy to one of my readers as well! To enter, use the rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends Friday, March 15th at midnight. Good luck!

The Story of the World Vol 1

2013-03-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

Finding the perfect history curriculum has been nearly impossible. We worked through Core A and part of Core B in Sonlight...which we LOVED...but it just wasn't bulky enough. The reading was very light and choppy and while we really, really like reading "living books" for history I didn't feel like we were really getting a whole lot of out it. We wanted more... I really love a Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling and I didn't want to lose the living books aspect and be cornered into using a textbook.

So, I scored a relatively cheap copy of Tapestry of Grace Year 1(which I just know we will LOVE later) but it was super overkill for my 6 year old. It still uses living books - which is awesome! It is considered the classical method of homeschooling (which was also super appealing to me!) in that it repeats a 4 year cycle of history 3 times. Another really great thing about Tapestry is that it can be used for all levels of kids. I was sold on this idea until I realized that I'm probably not going to have a LOT of kids to homeschool. I'll be lucky if we are ever blessed to adopt just 1 more... but I digress.

Anyway, several of my friends recommended The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer so I thought I would give this a try. I am so happy we did because we really really like it. The Story of the World is recommended for elementary ages but can be easily used up through grade 8ish.

I bought the Student Reader & The Story of the World, Activity Book which gives guidelines on how to read through the material, questions to ask, narrative ideas, craft projects, mapping and notebooking ideas, additional history books to read, literature suggestions, audio books and so on. The back half of the book is student pages that you could either photocopy or tear out for your child.

I'm not a fan of tearing things out of my book or cranking the book open to make copies so I opted for something a LOT easier. I went to peacehillpress.com and for a small fee you can purchase a .pdf download of the student pages. So, I did that, saved them on a jump drive (created a snazzy cover using powerpoint) and took them into Staples to have them printed and spiral bound into a handy-dandy workbook.

The Story of the World recommends 4 main books as your "spine" materials. The Usborne Book of World History I have found is the BEST resource so far for the younger ages followed by the The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History . The other 2 books are, in my opinion, really best for older elementary kids as they have a LOT of reading and tiny print. (Kayley is 6) Honestly, the books start to repeat themselves and you read the same info over and over again anyway, so really just one or maybe two of the books would be plenty I think. Some of these books are out of print and I paid too much for that white Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World (save your money). The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia is the 3rd ed. (Susan Wise Bauer recommends the 1st ed.) but it is still compatible with the readings... I've enjoyed reading it a lot personally, (self-study is good!) but I haven't used it with Kayley, it would be boring at her age, in my opinion.

We are really enjoying the hands on aspect of history with this program! I am seeing school cross over into play! Here Kayley is pulling her poor baby dolls brains out through her nose with a "hook". She has her natron and spices ready to go...

Poor mummified baby.

All wrapped up in toilet paper (we had to improvise) complete with her "gold mask" and her lovely golden paper "sarcophagus."

The finished product complete with hieroglyphics!

We also had a great time making our own ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets out of clay!

The books have a lot of great recommended reading as well. She intertwines both history books with great literature selections. I really love that Susan Wise Bauer has mixed the best of the Classical Method while retaining the living books approach! Even better, most of them are found at my library!

If you decide to use Story of the World I have to recommend this book that is available through Simply Charlotte Mason called Boy of the Pyramids. It's been out of print for a while so it is not in the SOTW recommended reading, but it is reprinted through SCM's website and you can also buy it as an eBook. It is so good and a GREAT living history approach to learning about Ancient Egypt!

So, there you have it. We are so satisfied with our history curriculum now that we will definitely be using all 4 volumes. Thanks for reading!

The Inventor's Secret {Deseret Book Review}

2013-03-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don't read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn't around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar. Welcome to Cragbridge Hall, the most advanced and prestigious school in the world.

Twins Abby and Derick Cragbridge are excited as new students to use their famed grandfather's inventions that make Cragbridge Hall so incredible. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, the twins must follow a mysterious trail of clues left by their grandfather. They must find out where their family is, learn who they can trust, and discover what secrets are hidden within Cragbridge Hall.

Abby and Derick soon realize they are caught in a race with a fierce adversary to discover their grandfather's greatest secret — a dangerous discovery that could alter both history and reality.

Abby and Derek recieve the opportunity to go to Cragbridge Hall, the most distinguished school in the world. You have to be impressively smart and talented to go to Cragbridge! Derek fits in right away, but Abby feels guilty. She had received a rejection notice and then mysteriously received an acceptance notice one week later. She knows that her grandfather Oscar Cragbridge...THE Cragbridge of Cragbridge Hall, pulled strings to allow her to attend. Abby is, after all, very ordinary and Cragbridge Hall is anything but ordinary. Their grandfather's inventions are what have made Cragbridge so prestigious. The children are stunned to use avatars to become animals and "the bridge" to see history unfold right before their eyes!

Their excitement at Cragbridge is short lived however when they learn that their grandfather and their parents have been mysteriously kidnapped. Following clues the children race to rescue their parents and grandfather and discover that they are in a race against time against a dangerous adversary!

This book captivated me from the very first. Author Chad Morris' writing style is very smooth and has a nice flow. Each chapter left you hanging and I just kept thinking, "ok, I'll read just one more chapter...ok, maybe 2 more chapters." Recommended for middle grades (3-7) or ages 8-12.

The Inventor's Secret currently retails at Deseret Book for $15.29 in hardback or as a Deseret Bookshelf eBook for $9.99.

Learn more about Chad Morris, The Inventor's Secret and Cragbridge Hall by visiting
http://www.cragbridgehall.com/

Disclaimer: I received The Inventor's Secret free of charge from Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain Publishing free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Deseret Book!!!!

Home School Daze

2013-03-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

We've been staying pretty busy with our regular "school daze." Maggie has learned some great skills, one of which is using the computer! (Don't you love Maggie's squinkey eyed smile??)

Kayley has been finding all kids of strange places to do her school work, she is fond of the floor.

She enjoys doing schoolwork on the marker board too...

(yes, that is triple digit subtraction - she's a smartie)

We've been having a ton of fun at Classical Conversations too!

Maggie has learned how to sort and do patterns.

And we fight pretty often over Mommy's iPad which is loaded with educational apps!

We've been staying pretty busy!

I hope you enjoyed a this glimpse into our homeschool daze!

Seed Starting by Gary Emmett {Mosaic Review}

2013-03-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

I know nothing about gardening. I'm not kidding. I have a "black thumb." Along those lines though, I've really been feeling like I need to learn how to do grow my own goodies, if only for my peace of mind in knowing that I can be self-reliant if I needed to. So, when it comes to figuring out how to get started I felt like I would need a book to tell me what book to read in order to even think about getting started. I don't think they even make books like that?...but I do know that author Gary Emmett has written a perfect book for beginning (scared) gardeners like me!

In the book Seed Starting, Gary Emmett walks you through everything from planning (which includes starting a garden journal -brilliant!), buying seeds (with hyperlinks to reputable places to purchase good quality seeds), storing seeds, when to start your seeds, what type of soil is best, equipment for starting seeds, simple container gardening, light sources, watering, labeling and a lot more. This book is written in a comfortable, conversational tone leaving even the most hesitant gardener to feel empowered!

Seed Starting retails on Amazon right now as a Kindle Book for $2.99.

If you are interested in reading additional reviews click the Mosaic button to get a medley of perspectives!

Disclaimer: I received Seed Starting free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Little House That Stood DVD Review & [GIVEAWAY]

2013-03-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, so seriously, who doesn't like the Veggie Tales? When my kids would go into our local Christian bookstore, a Veggie Tales book was always playing in the Toy section. Instead of spending time playing with the toy train or the puppets they would usually sit down and "veg" in front of the Veggies! We have enjoyed viewing several videos and I was pretty excited for the opportunity to review this brand new Veggie Tales movie, The Little House That Stood.

This episode of Veggie Tales is based on the parable of the wise man and the foolish as found in the New Testament and the fairytale of The Three Little Pigs. Bob the tomato builds with wood, Larry with hay and Mr Lunt with bricks. When three little pigs arrive in town interested in building new houses they meet the three builders and learn the importance of building on a solid foundation by following the guidelines outlined in the Master Builders Handbook. Each pig chose a different builder and the outcome has variable results as the rains came down, the floods came up and the "Huffin'Puff Dam" was tested by the overflowing waters of "Wolf River." Which house will remain standing on a firm foundation and which house will end up washed away??

The music from the Veggie's is always fun and catchy, the animation is so cute...my daughter wonders how those "veggie-guys" carry their stuff with NO arms. Hahaha! Really, you can't go wrong with a Veggie Tales movie. This DVD also includes the short "The Good Egg of Gooseville?" based on a retelling of the classic Humpty Dumpty, bonus features that include commentary, behind the scenes, history of Mother Goose, sing-along songs, and a discussion guide.

To learn more about the Veggie Tales and The Little House That Stood check out the following links:
Website: http://veggietales.com/littlehouse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veggietales

Twitter: https://twitter.com/veggietales

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K65sINFgro&list=UUhddokv0fxIN3BS-KZpxFfA&index=2

I'm so excited that I can offer a copy of this DVD to one of my readers! To enter use the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends March 8th at midnight. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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