Heritage Homestead and Homeschool Academy

Review: We Choose Virtues

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Our family recently had the fun opportunity to review products from We Choose Virtues.

We received Virtue Clue Cards, a downloadable Teacher’s Handbook, a downloadable coloring book, Core Values Behavior Chart and Bible Verses, and a family character assessment.

Using the visual aid of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, We Choose Virtues teaches children to become virtuous in several different areas. The cards say, “I am. . .” rather than “I will be,” or “I want to be.” For example, one of the cards says, “I am self controlled – I make myself do the right thing. I am NOT wild, rowdy, disorderly, and I don’t expect others to control me.”

The Family Character Assessment allows parents and children to see what areas they need work on in regards to virtue and character, and it can also help set goals for future behavior.

The Teacher’s Handbook, Core Value Behaviors Chart, and Bible Verses are all great resources to help the parent and child reinforce good character and behaviors. This program is also designed to work well in a classroom setting. The coloring book is a fun bonus to reinforce what is being learned.

Here’s how we used We Choose Virtues: I let T-Rex and Hummingbird choose one card per week. That particular card and virtue listed on the card was what we would work on for the entire week. I would then print out the corresponding coloring page, and all week we would work on activities that reinforced the particular virtue. I even found some family friendly movies in my Feature Films for Families collection that focused on the same virtue we were practicing for a given week.

Prices for We Choose Virtues products range from $0 for free downloads to a little over $200 for deluxe classroom kits. Church kits are also available. You can find more information on ordering by visiting the We Choose Virtues online Store.

Bottom line: For our family, this is a thoroughly enjoyable product and a way to teach our kids to have character. We like it and we will continue using it in our home.

Other Crew members had the opportunity to review We Choose Virtues. To read about their experiences, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received free products from We Choose Virtues for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: A Mile in His Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

From the director of “Angels in the Outfield,” A Mile in His Shoes is a compelling, inspirational movie about baseball coach Arthur “Murph” Murphy (Dean Cain), whose search for new talent leads him to Mickey (Luke Schroder), a young farmboy with an incredible pitching arm who happens to have Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. This movie is based on the book The Legend of Mickey Tussler.

Mickey’s parents are at first reluctant to allow Mickey to join the team, due to his disability. But Murph convinces them to give Mickey a chance to try, and the results are astounding.

This story of faith, friendship, and rising above challenges is a wonderfully told, entertaining, family movie.

Our entire family enjoyed A Mile in His Shoes. First, for obvious reasons, having a son on the autism spectrum, it was nice to see a movie that celebrated what people with autism can do, as opposed to focusing on the social deficits many deal with.

Although Mickey was wonderfully and realistically portrayed by Luke Schroder, Mickey’s autism wasn’t the focus of the movie, and our family appreciated that. Mickey’s meltdowns weren’t as explosive as the real meltdowns our family has experienced, but we didn’t need to see that on television, anyway. I thought it was nice that the autism and the meltdowns weren’t the focus of the movie.

This movie had me laughing and crying. It’s very poignant in places, especially the parts dealing with Murph’s loss of his son, and the friendship and caring that develops between him and Mickey, and certain members of the team.

A Mile in His Shoes contains no profanity – although there are a couple of times that profanity is “implied” – for example, there’s one scene where Murph is arguing with the umpire and says something is “bullsh.”

There is mild violence in the movie, when Mickey is beaten up by some fellow baseball players, but nothing is too graphic. The movie is rated PG for mild thematic elements.

There are lots of things I love about this movie, but one of my favorites is the focus on faith and God. Mickey’s trust in God, and his matter-of-fact faith is a beautiful thing to watch, especially as he shares it with Murph.

In our family’s opinion, A Mile in His Shoes is one of the best we’ve seen yet, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to review it. It’s wonderful!

Would you like a chance to win a copy of this great movie? Just leave a comment on this post, and on January 30, I’ll draw a winner at random. The folks at Propeller will then mail you a copy direct from their office!

You can find more information about A Mile in His Shoes at several places:

Website

Facebook

Youtube

Dove Foundation Review

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 it on 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 accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Maestro Classics “The Story of Swan Lake”

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:06:00 +0000

With the help of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Classics tells stories in music. Our family recently had the opportunity to review “The Story of Swan Lake.” This CD is geared toward children ages 6 – 12, especially those who are interested in ballet or dance. However, even my kids who aren’t particularly interested in ballet or dance loved this set!

The CD our family received to review is an educational treasure trove of the story of Swan Lake, the story of Tchaikovsky’s Life (the composer of the Swan Lake Ballet), a different take on the music called “Speed Metal Swan,” in which Joe Stump plays shred (heavy metal) guitar. Rocker, my rock and metal guitarist, LOVED that version on the CD!

The CD also includes a sing-along to “Tchaikovsky Wrote a Great Ballet,” facts about the music, and a fun preparation for the student to perform the song to music. An included 24-page program booklet is full of educational facts about Tchaikovsky, the song, the story, the composer/conductor of Stories in Music, the producer, the narrator (who is absolutely fantastic in his storytelling), Joe Stump, acoustic and electric guitar, the role of major and minor in music, and an arrangement and words for “Tchaikovsky Wrote a Great Ballet.”

The booklet also includes fun activities such as dot-to-dot, a maze, and crossword puzzle.

Every person and part of this CD and booklet are absolutely flawless and fantastic! This is such an easy way to learn about music, composers, and classic stories. The classical music, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, was soothing and relaxing, and Speed Metal Swan, performed by Joe Stump, was invigorating and fun to listen to. All narrators and story tellers did a wonderful job.

In addition to this wonderful package, Maestro Classics also offers FREE homeschool music curriculum for all of their CDs. You can find those here.

There are several more Maestro Classics that cover stories such as Peter and the Wolf, Casey at the Bat, and many others. Each CD and program booklet costs $16.98, and $9.98 for MP3 download, and can be ordered on the Maestro Classics website.

You can also find out more by visiting Maestro Classics Facebook Page, or their Twitter Page.

Several other Crew members had the opportunity to review Maestro Classics. You can read their reviews by visiting the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free CD and booklet from Maestro Classics, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Z Guides to the Movies: Kit Kittredge

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:57:00 +0000

We love movies here at Heritage Homeschool. Recently, Hummingbird has taken a keen interest in the American Girl books and movies. We were thrilled to have a chance to review Zeezok’s Z-Guide to the Movies: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.

The Kit Kittredge Z-Guide is a 35-page e-book that is geared toward elementary and middle school. It covers topics that are presented in the movie, such as: The Great Depression, Journalism, Family Unity, Prejudice, and Hobo Life.

The Guide begins with a synopsis of the movie and movie review questions, then delves into super fun learning activities like researching the Great Depression, learning Hobo signs (and creating one’s own secret signs and language with friends), a Depression runway “fashion show,” where the child makes sketches and/or Power Point presentations of what was worn, and materials used to make clothing during the Depression.

I love the “Who Am I?” questions that students have to figure out the character, based on clues in the question. The Z-Guide is extremely educational, while incorporating fun into learning. Activity 8 covers Literary Devices: Ironic Foreshadowing, or Foreshadowing Irony.

Tough topics such as pride and prejudice in the 30’s are covered in this great Z-Guide. Students will even learn about filmmaker’s art and dramatic license. Family discussion questions and an answer key round out this excellent educational complement to a good movie.

Our family LOVES the Z-Guides, and at the affordable price of $12.99 (and up for accompanying DVDs, etc.) per downloadable Z-Guide, it’s easy to find space for a good guide to many movies.

Z-Guides come for many movies and different school levels. Last year, our family reviewed the high school level Z-Guide for One Night With the King, and it was fantastic!!! You can find all the Z-Guides at the Zeezok website. Another good thing about the Z-Guides, is you can find most of the movies needed for them through Netflix.

Several other Crew members had the opportunity to review various Z-Guides. To read their reviews, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free Z-Guide to the movies for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: Toydle Forts

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:06:00 +0000

Robert Brownfield, father and kid-at-heart, is the creator of Toydle Forts. When one of his children’s expensive toys broke shortly after purchase, Mr. Brownfield sought to create a sturdy toy. You can read his story here.

Our family recently had the wonderful opportunity to review a Toydle Fort. This wonderful creation of PVC pipe, wooden blocks, and clips (for your own blankets) has no instructions or blueprint – you and your child’s imagination is the blueprint!

If you get a Toydle fort, you will need lots of room. We live in a small place, and the fort took up a big portion of our tiny living room. But, it was so fun! It was so easy to assemble. We made a cottage type fort with three different “rooms” for the kids. We placed pink, flowery sheets on Hummingbird’s “room,” and T-Rex’s “room” was decked out with sports themed sheets and blankets.

I wish my camera wasn’t broken – I missed out on lots of great pictures of the hours of fun we had with this fort. The fort is so easy to set up and tear down. The pieces can be stored in a sturdy bag (included) under a bed or in a closet, so it doesn’t take up a lot of room when it’s in storage. We break out the Toydle Fort often, and we have made lots of fun fort creations.

The Toydle Fort is so versatile, too. When we don’t want to take up a lot of room, we can build a small fort, or “cottage,” and it’s just as fun as the full fort. I can’t wait to take this outside to play this summer (it isn’t recommended that the fort be left out for long periods of time, and especially not in wet weather.)

This is an example of what we received to review. It was truly a blessing to receive this fort. We are having so much fun with it, and we’re looking forward to many more great play times.

The Toydle Fort cost $149. If you have lots of space, you can get an even bigger fort, the BIG Toydle Fort, for $229.99. For ordering information, please visit the Toydle website.

You can also find out more about Toydle by visiting their blog.

Bottom line: We love, love, love the Toydle Fort! It’s durable, fun, and a great way to encourage use of the imagination.

Some other lucky Crew members had the opportunity to review the Toydle Fort. You can read about their experiences by visiting the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free Toydle Fort for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: The World’s Greatest Stories

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:35:00 +0000

The World’s Greatest Stories are dramatized Bible stories, word for word, on CD. But they are so much more than just stories. For children like Hummingbird, who struggles with reading, and for T-Rex, who sometimes has difficulty understanding language, these CDs are a wonderful way for them to learn more of the Bible.

Once, at a church, I saw a dramatic storyteller who told a story from the Bible. I was captivated. Such a method of teaching God’s word is so effective.

Our family had the opportunity to review Volume 1, the Prophets, from the NIV (KJV is also available for those who wish to use that version). It tells the following stories: The Blazing Furnace;The Handwriting on the Wall; Daniel in the Lions’ Den; Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, The Prophecy of Jonah.

This CD is word for word from the NIV, told by professional actor, narrator, and spokesman George W. Sarris, also includes music and sound effects. These stories have excellent sound quality, and even more excellent content. My two younger children were captivated! I was captivated!

I like the paragraph on the CD’s inset that explains what the Bible is and why it is so important. I feel it’s important to read that to my children before they listen to the CD, so they understand they are hearing the Word of God.

These CDs are perfect for playing in the car or around the house, any time I want my kids to learn from the Bible. They have a much easier time memorizing Bible passages this way, than by traditional methods of learning words in the Bible.

I also enjoyed the Sample CD, short selections from each of the stories, presented in KJV and NIV, which also presents word for word from the Bible. This is a great set of CDs.

Volume 1, which I reviewed, covers the Prophets. Following volumes are:

Volume 2 – The Life of Christ

Volume 3 – Beginnings

Volume 4 – Joshua and Esther

Volume 5 – Joseph and His Brothers

Volume 6 – Defeating Giants

These volumes cost $7.95 per CD (or cassette tape) – very reasonable. I definitely plan on completing my collection as I am able! (I personally think these CDs would make a great Christmas gift.) They can be ordered on the World’s Greatest Stories website, or by calling 1-888-STORIES.

Several Crew members had the opportunity to review a CD from World’s Greatest Stories. To read their reviews, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received two free CDs from World's Greatest Stories for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

Review: Vintage Remedies

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:30:00 +0000

I had heard of Vintage Remedies before getting the opportunity to review Vintage Remedies for Kids by Jessie Hawkins. I was so excited to receive the book, which is a collection of tips and instructions for healthy living, geared towards children ages 2 – 6. I was pleasantly surprised and also happy to receive a complimentary book by Jessie Hawkins, The Kitchen Herbal.

We love, love, love these books! Although this book (Vintage Remedies for Kids) is geared toward T-Rex, Hummingbird snatched it up, and could not wait to try the tips and recipes this 201-page book contains.

I love the format of Vintage Remedies for Kids. With each lesson, there’s a Parent Section to familiarize the parent with what will be covered, then a Read to Me section, in which the parent reads to the child. The valuable information in the Read to Me section is presented in simple language the child can easily understand. There’s a Question and Answer Section in which the child and parent discuss the lesson.

Our favorite section is the Projects section, in which the child and parent can put into practice what they’ve just learned. This section features great projects like recipes, growing your own food, staying well, watching butterflies, nature walks, and recipes for natural cleaners. (And this is just a small sample of what’s in this book!)

We have definitely cleared a permanent space on our bookshelf for Vintage Remedies for Kids, although I highly doubt it’ll stay on the shelf long, we’ll be using it so much.

Although I didn’t have to review The Kitchen Herbal, I would like to mention what a great book it is, also. This book has become a handbook for me when it comes to learning how to grow and use my own herbs for food and health. Eighteen traditional culinary herbs are covered in this book, and the recipes are AMAZING!

I can’t say enough good things about these two books. Vintage Remedies is definitely high on my radar of resources for natural health.

Jessie Hawkins has several other works, which you can find on the Vintage Remedies website. You can also see more on Facebook. And, you can even watch helpful videos on YouTube.

The book I reviewed costs $25, and you can download free coloring sheets for The Kitchen Herbal on the website.

Other Crew Members had the opportunity to review the book I did, plus Vintage Remedies for Guys (ages 7 – 13), and Vintage Remedies for Girls (ages 7 – 13). To find out what they thought, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received, for free, Vintage Remedies for Kids, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: I See Cards Fractazmic Card Game

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Fractazmic is a fun way to work on those fractions. It’s a card game that has three different colored “suits”: tenths, twelfths, and sixteenths. Players try to make one or more “hands” by adding the fractions together within a colored suit.

Hummingbird, Mr. Steady, and I played this entertaining card game. After the first time Mr. Steady played, he said, “Make sure you give this a good review. It’s fantastic.”

I agree - it really is fantastic. Playing Fractazmic has been a great way for Hummingbird to practice addition of fractions. She’s having so much fun she doesn’t even realize she’s learning.

Fractazmic costs $6.95 for the 60-card deck. To learn more ways to play, or for ordering information, please visit the Fractazmic website.

We really enjoy this great card game, and we’ll be using it lots more in our homeschool.

Other Crew members had the opportunity to review Fractazmic. To read their views, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free set of Fractazmic cards for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: Pitsco Education

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Now is a really bad time for my camera to be broken. I have missed out on tons of great pictures of my kids having fun while building the Catapult and Trebuchet we received to review from Pitsco.

Pitsco Education is an American company that offers fun, hands-on educational resources that focus on science, math, experiments, and history. This great company is headed by a homeschooling father. Everything is manufactured in Pitsco’s facility in Kansas.

Our family received the Medieval Machines Pack. This pack consists of: a Trebuchet Kit, a Catapult Kit, Siege Machines Book, and counterweights for the Trebuchet. We also received a package of Klean Clay, which is sold separately, to make projectiles for the kits.

We assembled the Trebuchet first. Rocker, my science and math wiz, dove right into the project. For three days, he worked on the Trebuchet after school. T-Rex and Hummingbird looked on, interested, and they helped with several things (holding pieces in place, handing Rocker materials, etc.)

It was a great experience to see my kids bonding over the construction of this machine. The most fun part was when Rocker finished the Trebuchet. He, Hummingbird, and T-Rex made little clay “stones” and had a great time hurling them across the living room.

The next project was the Catapult. It didn’t take Rocker as long to assemble this one, because he put it together over Thanksgiving break. Once the catapult was assembled, the “war” was on! T-Rex and Hummingbird were on one side of the living room with the Trebuchet, and Rocker was on the other with the Catapult.

I’m still finding clay behind the furniture. It was great fun watching the clay projectiles fly back and forth in the living room, the kids’ “battlefield.” Sport even got caught in the crossfire a couple of times, so all four of the kids were involved in the fun of these medieval machines.

The machines are the perfect size to set on tables or dressers when they are not in use.

Not only was I extremely impressed with the machines themselves, but I also enjoyed the Siege Machines book, which is a wealth of information and resources that gives student and teacher lessons in history, science, math, and experiments.

The 32-page book also provides National Standards from three national education organizations: National Science Teachers Association, International Technology Education Association, and National Council of Teachers of Math. The book covers standards for grades 5 – 12.

I was amazed when I learned the affordable price for the great package I received: $21.95, with the Klean Clay sold separately. For all the fun and education our family received from these kits, that price is extremely fair and reasonable.

To build the kits, you will need some basic household items: super glue, scissors, a ruler, etc.

One thing to keep in mind is that these kits are educational aids and are not intended for extremely rough play. T-Rex got a little overzealous and broke a piece of the Catapult, but we easily super glued it back on, and the machine is fine.

These kits are great for homeschool and public school. I highly recommend checking out Pitsco Education to see their educational resources and kits.

Several other Crew members also had the opportunity to review the Medieval Machines Pack. To find out what they think about Pitsco Education, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free Medieval Machines Pack and Klean Clay from Pitsco Education, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: Artistic Pursuits

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:41:00 +0000

Artistic Pursuits is an award-winning creative curriculum that teaches art appreciation, artistic techniques, art and artist history, and much more to students from preschool to high school.

Our family recently had the opportunity to review K – 3 Book One: An Introduction to the Visual Arts. I used this curriculum with T-Rex, my kindergartner.

An Introduction to the Visual Arts is an 88-page book that presents art to the teacher and child in an interesting, interactive way. I was extremely impressed with the layout of the curriculum, which is designed to involve parent and child, while giving the child the opportunity to work independently later in the lesson.

I loved the breathtaking works of art featured in the book, and by Lesson One, I was hooked. I like how the curriculum encourages the child to look at the art in different ways, and find different aspects of the work.

T-Rex tried some of the exercises, but with his fine motor issues, we’ve had to tweak some of the exercises a bit. I’m really proud of his effort, and of his work. I wish my camera wasn’t broken so I could show you some photos of his work.

I would certainly use Artistic Pursuits to teach my children art, and I will consider using the curriculum with Hummingbird later in the school year.

The book I reviewed costs roughly $45, and if I’m looking for a high quality art curriculum, I consider the price worth it for Artistic Pursuits. My first impression of this great curriculum has definitely been a positive experience.

If you’d like to learn more about Artistic Pursuits, you can see a sample lesson here.

Fellow Crew mates had the opportunity to review Artistic Pursuits at different grade levels, and different books. You can find their reviews by visiting the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free copy of Artistic Pursuits’ Grades K-3 Book One: An Introduction to the Visual Arts for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Toydle Forts - Amazing Giveaway on TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Toydle, the brainchild of Robert Brownfield, president of Worry Free Manufacturing in Boise, ID, is a family owned company that offers high quality forts for fun in construction and play.

Toydle Forts are made in the USA, with impeccable care, in Boise, by American workers. Each product comes with a full guarantee. The suggested age range is 3 to 10, but lots of older kids would love this as well!

A Toydle Fort would make a perfect gift for that special someone this holiday season. At $149, you will get a high quality toy with a guarantee. That’s something that consumers do not often find with the overpriced, sub-par toys we spend hundreds of dollars on at the retail stores.

When you buy a Toydle Fort, you support an American, family owned, small business.

Here’s what you will get with your Toydle Fort (assembly required):

The clips will hold blankets in place, so your kids can always change the look of their fort (a plus if you have boys and girls with different tastes in “decorating.”) There are no instructions – you or your child’s imagination is the blueprint.

And just think, having a Toydle fort will free up your kitchen table, couch cushions, and chairs that are often used for fort “building.” The kids can have their own place to play, and you can get your furniture back.

Like what you see? How about a chance at winning one of THREE Toydle Forts that will be given away at the TOS Homeschool Crew blog! Hop on over to the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to see how you can be part of this incredible giveaway!

NOTE: This contest is open to residents of the United States ONLY. TOS Staff and TOS Crew Members (and their families) are not eligible to enter this contest.

I received a free Toydle Fort for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. All links were valid at time of posting.

Review: Great Commission Language–The Easy Spanish Junior Level

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Great Commission Languages is an award winning company that helps homeschoolers teach and learn languages with ease.

I recently had the opportunity to review The Easy Spanish! Junior Level, for grades K to 3. I reviewed the 171 page teacher/student workbook, and two Enhanced Audio CDs (with printable activity sheets) with storyline and vocabulary, as presented by the adorable dog, Paco, and some of his human friends.

T-Rex and I used The Easy Spanish! and we loved it! At first, I was concerned that T-Rex wasn’t quite ready for an introduction to Spanish, but he had a great time listening to Paco and his friends as they pronounced new words. T-Rex was able to easily mimic the pronunciation, and he even grasped the concept of what some of those words mean.

As an old dog learning new tricks, I found The Easy Spanish! to be just what it claims to be – easy. Of all the Spanish programs I have tried to use, The Easy Spanish! seems to be the best fit for me – and for T-Rex.

I like this program, and I plan to continue using it for myself and for T-Rex.

The package I reviewed retails for $69.95. Great Commission Languages offers many other resources for learning a new language, including French.

Several Crew mates reviewed Junior Spanish, and French. To read about their experiences, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received free curriculum from Great Commission Languages for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at time of posting.

Review: The Reading Game

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

The Reading Game is a learn-to-read program wrapped into a fun matching card game. The game consists of six illustrated story books (Skunk, Snake, Bear, Penguins, Unicorn, and Zebra), and corresponding matching card games. Each game is played in five stages, each of which teaches five new words.

Two players, the student and teacher, or tutor, plays the game. The teacher reads the correct level book, then teacher and student play the matching game with the corresponding cards.

In the stories, punctuation and uppercase letters are not used, so as not to confuse the student with squiggles and dots. The author has written the stories with distinct line endings, indicating pauses.

Once T-Rex completes stage six (the last set of words from The Skunk Book) The Reading Game, he will have a vocabulary of thirty words. With each subsequent book/game, he will learn thirty more words until he has a reading vocabulary of 180 words. Twenty-three of the twenty-five most common English words, and forty-two of the fifty most common English words are on that 180 word list.

T-Rex and I are currently in the first book, Skunk, and in the first set of corresponding cards (not, is, cat, can, me). I read the book to T-Rex, then when we play the matching game, when one of us gets a match, we say the word 5-10 times as T-Rex looks at the card.

Two weeks ago, we were told T-Rex has dyslexia. Mr. Steady and I were completely shocked. We had no idea. But, looking back, the diagnosis makes complete sense.

We have a team of people that work with T-Rex, and with us to help us best meet his special needs. When Mr. Steady and I first learned of the dyslexia, our first question was, “How can we help our son?”

I showed the specialist The Reading Game. He looked through it, nodded, and said, “This is perfect for him. This is exactly how he should be learning to read.”

I’m really pleased with what I’m seeing with T-Rex in terms of progress. He recognizes whether the words are same and different, and he has learned the word not.

Another thing I like about The Reading Game is almost anyone can be trained to use it. Mr. Steady, the older kids, and I all play the game with T-Rex.

I strongly feel that this game came into our lives at the perfect time. God knew we would need this game in weeks and months to come, and I am so thankful our family has been able to review this game.

Although T-Rex’s progress may seem slow to others, the important point is he’s actually making progress, and that means everything to Mr. Steady and me. I don’t care how long it takes – we will be using The Reading Game to help T-Rex learn to read. It has been a godsend and a true blessing for our family and for T-Rex.

The Reading Game retails for $24.95 US, and $27.95 Canada, and can be ordered through The Reading Game website. Teachers/tutors can also download a printable class recording sheet to help keep track of individual student’s progress.

Other TOS Homeschool Crew members had the opportunity to review The Reading Game. To find out about their experiences, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

I received a free Reading Game for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

Review: Time Timer

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:43:00 +0000

Because we have a child on the autism spectrum, timers have become an integral part of the daily routine of our family.

Every day, we use timers with T-Rex to signal a change in activity, so he doesn’t become too agitated when a change comes. We give him so many minutes, explain to him that when the timer dings it is time to change activities (head to the bathtub, turn off the television, go to bed, etc.)

We also use timers to help him learn new skills, such as dressing himself. We’ll set the timer for so many minutes, and turn it into a game, saying something like, “Can you put on your shoes before the timer beeps?” Dressing himself, and other self-care activities becomes a race against the timer. We’ve found this method to be very effective for our boy.

I love our digital timers, so when I first saw the Time Timer, I wasn’t sure I’d like it much.

Now, I can’t imagine using anything else! I love this timer! When I first began to use this with T-Rex, it really helped him to have a visual, watching the red slowly disappear, and knowing that he would soon have to change activities when the red’s all gone.

The timer, which runs on one AA batteries, is extremely simple to use. It goes up to sixty minutes, and you simply turn the red area to the number of minutes you want to cover. The red will slowly tick away with the minutes, giving the child a visual as to how much time is left in a certain activity.

This has been especially effective for T-Rex, who also has dyslexia, and cannot yet read numbers on a digital timer. Another thing about the Time Timer that I love is its quieter beep, which doesn’t startle T-Rex and make him cover his ears.

Although this works extremely well for my son who has special needs, I think the Time Timer could also be used for any child or family member.

I use it to help get me motivated to write. If I have a deadline, but I’m just not in the mood to write, I’ll set the Time Timer for 30 minutes. I have to write during that time, and if I’m just not feeling it by the end of the 30 minute period, I quit for the morning and come back to my work a little later.

I like having a visual to tell me how much longer I have to write, and if the creative juices do get flowing, the quiet beep doesn’t distract me from my writing.

I am so impressed with the simple effectiveness of the Time Timer. Now, I can’t imagine using anything else! Of course, I still have to use my digital timers for things like Hummingbird’s timed reading assignments, so I can time her to the second, but for everything else, and especially for T-Rex, I now use the Time Timer.

Time Timer costs range from $30 to $40, depending on size, and comes in several different sizes. Orders over $50 receive free shipping. Time Timer even comes in a watch size, like you see on the wrist of the child in the above photo.

I love my Time Timer! It is definitely one of the most useful and one of my favorite review items so far this year. There is one minor problem I have had that I feel I should mention: sometimes the battery is a little difficult to insert and remove. Other than that minor issue, the Time Timer has been a perfect fit for our family!

Other Crew members had the opportunity to review Time Timer. To read about their experiences, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

I received a free Time Timer for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

Review: College Prep Genius

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:16:00 +0000

I received College Prep Genius: The No Brainer Way to SAT Success, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of posting.

I can’t believe Rocker is going to graduate high school this year. I blinked, and my first baby is now a young man. Although he hasn’t yet settled on a college, or whether he’s going to go immediately after graduation, one thing is certain: he wants to be prepared.

I recently had the opportunity to review College Prep Genius: the NO Brainer Way to SAT Success.

This 4-DVD, 12 lesson set came with a workbook and instruction book and covers things like: test taking techniques, revealed SAT traps, college interview secrets, 300 “must know” math terms, scholarship search websites, how to write a high scoring essay, and much more.

Rocker hasn’t taken the SAT yet, so we can’t really gauge any results in that area, but he definitely feels more prepared for the test. I have watched the DVDs with him, and looked through the workbook and instruction book, and I feel this is a well organized, helpful program that’s worth looking into, especially if a child needs scholarship help based on SAT scores.

Another thing I like about College Prep Genius is that they offer a free Scholarship E-Newsletter. That’s always helpful to know what’s available, especially for families like us that will have to rely on scholarships to send our children to college.

At the very least, I think College Prep Genius is worth considering if your college bound student (teen or adult) needs help preparing for the SAT. It’s a great fit for our family, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Rocker does on his SAT.

College Prep Genius costs $99 for the complete set, and can be ordered by visiting the College Prep Genius website.

Other Crew members reviewed College Prep Genius. You can read their reviews by visiting the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

Review: Bower Books: The Person I Marry

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:40:00 +0000

I received a free e-book, The Person I Marry, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Person I Marry is an absolutely endearing book, well written for younger children (and even older children, teens, adults, couples, and singles.) It reinforces everything parents want their children to look for in a mate.

Written in rhyme, The Person I Marry paints a beautiful picture of what boys and girls should seek when they grow up and look for a spouse.

Hummingbird and I loved the brilliant artwork and the true words in this beautiful book. I think it would make a great addition to any child’s library.

Gary and Jan Bower, authors of The Person I Marry, have written other books of similar quality and beauty. You can see their many wonderful products on the Bower Books Website.

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

The Person I Marry received the 2010 Christian Small Publisher Association Book of the Year Award. It certainly receives an award in my library of great books for my children. I even showed it to Rocker and Sport, my teenagers, because I think the message is perfect for children, teens, and adults.

The hardback version retails for $11.99. Other Crew members had the opportunity to review this wonderful book. To check out their thoughts on The Person I Marry and Bower Books, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Review: Thomas Kinkade presents The Christmas Lodge

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:21:00 +0000

In The Christmas Lodge, past and future collide as Mary and Jack, childhood friends, unexpectedly reunite when Mary finds herself at the lodge where she and her family spent time in the mountains when she was a child.

Even though the lodge is dilapidated, Mary determines to help Jack restore it to its former glory. With a little help from her grandfather, some guidance from her grandmother in heaven, and a lot of faith, Mary not only helps Jack restore the Christmas Lodge, but she finds new love.

My favorite part of this movie is the frequent references to God and Jesus. This is a clean, uplifting, family-friendly movie that’s great for those of us who are saps for a good romance.

The Christmas Lodge is a perfect feel-good holiday movie for ladies (and gents – Mr. Steady watched it with me) who love a good, clean Christmas romance story. My girls, ages 11 and 15, also enjoyed it.

It’s out in stores now (only $10 at Wal-Mart). There is no violence, no cursing, and no gratuitous love scenes. Just a good story. Some people may have a problem with Mary receiving guidance from her grandmother who is in heaven, depending upon one’s beliefs.

Our family enjoyed watching The Christmas Lodge. It’s a wholesome story about faith, renewal, and learning to love.

Review: Memoria Press, First Form Latin

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

I received free curriculum from Memoria Press, First Form Latin, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

When I found out I would be reviewing First Form Latin from Memoria Press, I was excited. I thought I would get a book, maybe two, I was so thankful for the generosity of the publisher when complete curriculum arrived in my mailbox.

Hummingbird has recently taken an interest in Latin, so we were excited to dive right in. The Teacher Manual is extremely self explanatory and simple to use, the lesson DVDs are easy to follow, and the teacher manual has many ideas for lesson enhancement such as games.

The lessons are written for a class, but we didn’t have a hard time adapting them for our one student, Hummingbird. The course is designed for teachers with or without a Latin background, which is good for me, because I have very little experience with Latin. I loved the DVD lessons, which really helped me, as I could mostly oversee, facilitate, and learn the lessons myself as I helped Hummingbird.

The full set of First Form Latin costs $115. For this price, you will get: Student Text; Workbook; two Teacher Manuals; Quizzes and Tests; CD; DVDs, and Flashcards. Believe me, this is a complete curriculum! If you don’t want the DVDs and Flashcards, you can get the other items in a set for $55.

Memoria Press has lots of other items for your homeschool, including more advanced Latin courses; Reading; Classical Rhetoric; complete grade level curricula for K – 6th grade, and more.

This is a quality program, and if your homeschool uses the classical method of learning, you may find Memoria Press to be a good fit for your family.

Other TOS Homeschool Crew members had the opportunity to review either First Form Latin or First Start Reading. To check out their thoughts on the products, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Review: Excellence in Literature: Reading and Writing Through the Classics

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:22:00 +0000

I received a free e-book, Excellence in Literature: Reading and Writing Through the Classics, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

Excellence in Literature, from Everyday Education, is a literature series that introduces the student to “literary reading,” that is, it sparks the student’s interest in the “how” and “why” of a story (how the author made it happen, why the story makes them feel a certain way.)

Using the “Great Books,” Excellence in Literature takes the student on an exciting adventure in opening his or her eyes to a wonderful world in which the words come to life beyond the “what” of a story.

Excellence In Literature (EIL) prepares a student to read and write analytically. Some materials needed for this course: a three-ring binder, page protectors (optional), tabbed dividers (optional), dictionary, thesaurus, sticky notes, etc. You will also need the books for each unit, but most are easily found at your local library, and in my case, many are in my personal library.

EIL is a college prep course for grades 8 - 12 that can be tweaked for junior high and middle school students, but this was way too advanced for Hummingbird, even with a little tweaking.

However, I went ahead and worked on a unit myself, and it is fabulous! This will be a perfect fit for Hummingbird in a few years, and I can’t wait until she is ready for this.

Although this is a college prep course, I think parents who want to broaden their children’s love and capacity for reading whether they go to college or not, would find no better course than EIL.

I worked on Unit 4, which at the beginning, covered Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and Villette by the same author. I was amazed at the expanse of context resources available to the student, from poetry; to music; to information about the author’s life.

The student will find this throughout the course, no matter what focus text is being used. I got much more out of this one unit than I did in three years of public high school.

This is an absolutely amazing literature course, and I feel so very blessed to have had the opportunity to review it. As I stated earlier, I can’t wait until Hummingbird is ready for this course. We are going to have so much fun doing this together.

EIL costs $29 + $4.95 Priority Mail Shipping for the print version, and $27 with instant access for the e-book. Everyday Education also offers many other quality educational resources for homeschooling through high school.

Other TOS Homeschool Crew members had the opportunity to review EIL. To check out their thoughts about it, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Review: George Washington Carver: His Life and His Work, Marshall Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:50:00 +0000

I received a free DVD from Marshall Publishing for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting

“Measure me not by the heights to which I have climbed, but the depth from which I have come” – G.W. Carver

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing a DVD by Marshall Publishing, called George Washington Carver – His Life and His Work.

This 30-minute DVD is an educational and inspirational treasure that the kids, Mr. Steady, and I have watched numerous times. It begins with beautiful nature scenery and soothing classical music, then transitions into a segment of inspirational quotes by Mr. Carver.

Then, a realistic narrator (as George Washington Carver) tells the impressive man’s story. The DVD is full of real photos, video clips of Mr. Carver, and even sound bites of Mr. Carver’s voice.

It covers the history of the man, and the science behind his discoveries. I learned more from this 30-minute DVD than I learned in all my years in school. And this information is presented in a way that is extremely interesting to the viewer.

All I can say about this video is. . . incredible! It is so interesting and educational, and so well produced.

For parents with young, sensitive children, there are some brief, intensely sad parts of this story that deals with racial tensions, and the lynching of a young black man.

I personally did not mind my children hearing about this, because it is part of our country’s history, and it gave Mr. Steady and me an opportunity to speak to Hummingbird about the scourge of racism, and to remind our children how we are all created by God, and loved by Him, regardless of color or nationality.

And, in my opinion, my children can never stand against injustice if they are unaware of it and of the history behind it. But, I understand that some children may be too young or unable to process such information, which is why I mentioned it so the individual parent can make the decision about this DVD.

This DVD has found a permanent place in the Heritage Homestead library. Marshall Publishing also makes several other DVDs, which Mr. Steady and I are considering adding to our library. Some of the DVDs that have caught our interest are: Lincoln at Gettysburg, The Historic Expedition of Lewis and Clark, The Oregon Trail and the Pony Express, America in the 1880s, and The Complete History of America’s Railroads.

All these DVDs and the others, including the one we reviewed, have the Family Approved and Parent’s Choice Approved seals of approval.

George Washington Carver – His Life and His Work normally costs $19.95. But, for a limited time, my friends and readers can get a 15% discount, for a price of $16.95, plus shipping and handling. Enter the coupon code at checkout: TOSC1, for Item #KVFD-106. You can order on the website, or by calling 888-300-3455.

Marshall Publishing also generously sent me a book/DVD combo called Lots and Lots of Fire Trucks to review. You can find that review here.

Fellow Crew members also had the opportunity to review these items. To read about their thoughts and experiences, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Review: Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks–Marshall Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:48:00 +0000

I received a free DVD and book, Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks, from Marshall Publishing, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

Marshall Publishing is a producer and distributor of high quality educational DVDs, books, and audio CDs for all age groups and learning categories. The company has the Family Approved and Parents’ Choice seals of approval on their products.

Due to the generosity of this company, I had the opportunity to review a DVD and book, Lots and Lots of Fire Trucks, and a DVD, George Washington Carver: His Life and His Work (you can find my review of that here.)

Lots and Lots of Fire Trucks Songs & Safety Tips DVD is a 30 minute DVD full of fire safety tips, lots of fire equipment, action, and songs to reinforce the fire safety tips.

The DVD is divided into two sections: the menu allows instructors to use a Classroom Section for use by Fire Safety Personnel or Teachers in School, and parents. This section allows a short, 12-minute program. The second menu allows users to play all or select any of the segments, which include:

LOTS AND LOTS OF FIRE TRUCKS

CALL 911

FIREMAN JIM’S SAFETY TIPS

STOP, DROP, AND ROLL

YOUR HOME SAFETY PLAN

IT’S AN EMERGENCY

HEROES BRAVE AND TALL

GREAT BIG FIRE TRUCKS

FIRE TRUCKS IN ACTION

Here at the Homestead, we have Fire Safety month every October and April. We go over the basics of fire safety, change the batteries in the smoke detector, and make sure the kids remember what they have learned about fire safety. Throughout the year, we also have random fire drills.

Since October is our family’s Fire Safety Awareness Month, this DVD fit in perfectly with what we were doing, especially since a lot of this is still very new to T-Rex.

He could not sit still through the entire DVD, but he did watch a segment or two at a time. He looked so cute as he imitated “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” Hummingbird watched a few segments of the DVD, but she enjoyed the book much more.

Fire Trucks and Firefighters is an absolutely amazing, full color, 123-page treasure full of photos, history, fire fighting facts and basics, fire fighter commandments and codes, and many more interesting facts pertaining to all things firefighting.

I personally think this book would be a great gift for a firefighting enthusiast. It’s really nice. Hummingbird, Mr. Steady, and I enjoyed going over the history and facts contained in the book. T-Rex loved the full color photos of fire trucks and equipment.

The DVD/Book set normally retails for $49.90, but Marshall Publishing is offering a huge discount for my friends and readers. You can get the DVD/Book combo for just $19.95, plus shipping and handling (that’s normally the individual cost of the book).

Enter the coupon code: TOSF1 at the checkout to get the special price on this combo, item #MPP-FTBD. You can order by calling toll free at 888-300-3455, or order online.

Other Crew members had the opportunity to review this, and the George Washington Carver DVD. To see what they thought of these great products, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Review: Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:43:00 +0000

I received a free copy of Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards, for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

“There are zombies among us. Liars. Hypocrites. Men, women, and children who attend church because it’s what they are supposed to do. Just going through the motions. . . people who are disconnected from the Spirit of God – who are spreading a virus of passivity, or worse. No one is completely immune. Zombies can live. But they will have to fight. Fight for their lives.” (From the back cover of Zombie Church)

For several years now, people have been leaving churches in droves. Many who stay do so out of a sense of duty. The life of Christ, if it ever resided within the people or within the walls of the church, slowly seeps away, and a numbness sets in. The zombies have taken over. The church is sick and in desperate need of the life of God.

Complacency and a “what’s-in-it-for-me” gospel has invaded the churches of America. Tyler Edwards boldly calls the bride of Christ to wake up, and renew our passion and zeal for the King of Kings.

This is the premise of Tyler Edwards’ first book, Zombie Church. Following are some of my favorite quotes from this wake up call to the body of Christ:

“Passion has been replaced with cowardice and reason.”

“How much does your church resemble the early church in Acts?”

“I’m alive to day because a church community that had life offered me acceptance as I was.”

“The darkness that we see is not an indication of the strength of our enemy; it is a result of our own inaction.”

“Few people are crueler than a Christian who disagrees with your theology.”

“More than just a building, the church is a community dedicated to doing the work of God on earth.”

“The church is ever, only, always about Jesus.”

“God is not getting His list of who will be saved from church rosters.”

“Sometimes we make following Jesus so complicated when really it is very simple.”

“We need to let the old church go and become something new.”

“There are lots of things that love can do, but in the end love always does something.”

For the most part, Zombie Church is spot-on when it comes to the problem with most churches today. This book is a clarion call to God’s people, but don’t be mistaken. Tyler Edwards doesn’t “church bash” here. He simply, succinctly states what the problem is with most modern churches and Who the cure for that problem is.

The only part of this book I disagree with is Mr. Edward’s suggestion that one must be part of a church in order to “make it” in these last days. I have not been “in church” (although I regularly fellowship with other believers anywhere the Lord leads my family and me – and this sometimes includes church buildings) for over seven years.

Mr. Edwards uses the example of a lone animal away from the herd – how it is easy picking for the wolves. I think many of our regular church attending friends often view Mr. Steady and I as this lone animal.

What I have discovered through these last seven years of not having my name attached to a denomination or church roster is, although storms rage around me, although I stumble at times, and although life has never been and never will be perfect, I am closer to the Lord than ever.

Why? Because even better than being part of the “herd” is the fact that I am safely, securely in the arms of the Shepherd Himself. And He is truly all we want, and need. There is a freedom in following the Shepherd, and spending so much time with Him that I am learning to hear His voice apart from the background noise of the rigors of religion and church business.

I’m not against church, nor am I against people attending church. And I completely agree with Mr. Edwards when he says that the church must radically change and become what Jesus Christ intended her to be before she can exude the life of Christ and bring any change upon this earth.

My point of disagreement is that until we all personally know and truly follow the Source, the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, it doesn’t matter if we’re part of a “flock” or not, no matter how strong or close to Jesus that church may actually be or appear to be.

Overall, this is an excellent book that serves as a wonderful wake-up to the church of Jesus Christ, and to all who believe in Him. I will read it again. My husband also read the book, and he agrees with my review. He also loves the book, and it has become part of our library of favorites.

I reviewed Zombie Church through the Litfuse Publicity group. For more reviews of Zombie Church, please visit the Litfuse Publicity website.

Review: Always Icecream

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

I received a free online subscription to Always Icecream for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

Always Icecream is a learning website for girls ages 7 – 12, although those ages can vary, depending upon developmental levels of certain girls . Girls can play educational games, perform “real world” tasks (such as playing piano and typing) and earn “scoops” of ice cream for points to “buy” items from the “pet store,” build and decorate houses, and all kinds of fun activities.

The website is secure, and parents can have their own account, while maintaining constant access to their girls’ accounts. The avatars are modestly dressed and age appropriate. Parents have the option of disabling chats with other members of the site, and every forum is heavily monitored by the site’s Administrators, who have years of experience in education and social websites, and who also have young children of their own.

We generally use online sites as rewards and “sometimes” pastimes for our kids, so that is how we approached Always Icecream with Hummingbird. I created my own account, and helped her create hers.

Hummingbird’s favorite part of the website, by far, is Pet World, a place where girls can use their scoops to “buy” eggs, which will then hatch into pets. Hummingbird has a dog, a cat, a penguin, a bunny, and a teddy bear. This game teaches responsibility as the girls have to care for their pet, by feeding, loving, and buying things for the pet from the “store.”

If the pets aren’t checked regularly, they become sad, and the page will tell you whether they are hungry or need attention. Sadly, the past couple of weeks, I have been battling a respiratory illness, and I haven’t been able to help Hummingbird check her pets – so they are probably very sad right now.

Hummingbird worries about her Always Icecream “pets” like she would a living pet. I like how the game teaches responsibility by showing girls what the pets need and how to get it.

I enjoyed watching Hummingbird play the educational games, also. The Bible game and typing were her favorites, and there are lots of other games for the girls to play. Levels of difficulty vary.

Always Icecream Administrators strive to keep the site free of evolutionary content, and advertising. I like this about the site. It’s good to see Hummingbird on a site on which I can safely trust the content.

A subscription to Always Icecream costs $4.99 for a monthly subscription, and $29.99 per year. A lifetime membership is also available, and the parent account is free.

We enjoy this website, and I will continue to use it for rewards for Hummingbird, since the Administrators have generously provided a lifetime membership in exchange for our review. It’s a nifty website, and I feel perfectly fine about Hummingbird learning and playing on Always Icecream.

Other TOS Homeschool Crew members have had the opportunity to review Always Icecream. To read about their thoughts and experiences, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

Review: Visual Latin

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:40:00 +0000

I received a free DVD, Lessons 1 – 10, from Visual Latin for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

When I tell people that Hummingbird is learning Latin and LOVING it, I’m greeted with skepticism. But, these people have never seen Visual Latin.

Visual Latin is a comprehensive DVD program, complete with PDF printables, website support, and a Word of the Day on Facebook.

The course is geared toward ages 9 and up. It has been perfect for Hummingbird, my 5th grader. Mr. Steady and I are very impressed with this program. Whenever it is time for Hummingbird’s lessons, Mr. Steady and I will stop what we’re doing and watch the DVD with her.

After watching the DVD one day, Mr. Steady asked me in all seriousness, “Does this guy teach other languages?” (We’re interested in learning other languages.) Yeah, the DVDs are that good. And, Compass Cinema, the company under which Visual Latin is produced, has several projects in the works. You can see a list of their projects here.

Dwane, the “star” of the Visual Latin videos, presents the lessons in an approachable, simple, and lighthearted way, while delving in to the “meat” of the lesson. I have never seen language taught quite this way, and it really works for our family and learning styles.

Hummingbird laughs while she’s learning, which is a big plus for all of us (learning is not always fun for our Hummingbird). She turned to me one day during her lesson and said, “Mommy, this man is so funny.”

Another thing I like about these DVDs is the fact that Dwane is very matter-of-fact about his faith in Jesus Christ, and he seamlessly weaves this throughout the lessons.

Our family absolutely loves these DVDs, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to have reviewed Lessons 1 – 10. Visual Latin and Compass Cinema are high on our list of possibilities when it comes to choosing an educational program.

Prices for Visual Latin can run the gamut from $0 to $115, depending on which packages you are interested in. The Lessons 1 – 10 DVD costs $25 and can be ordered online at the Compass Store. You can also watch a free, full lesson online.

If you go to the Visual Latin homepage, you can also find links for 4 free intro lessons and 2 full lessons. While you’re there don’t forget to get a link to the VL Word of the Day Facebook page.

Other TOS Homeschool Crew members reviewed Visual Latin. Please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read about their thoughts and experiences.

Review: SCRUBLE Cube

noreply@blogger.com (ToKnowHim) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:14:00 +0000

I received a free SCRUBLE Cube for the purpose of review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All links were valid at the time of this posting.

What is a SCRUBLE Cube? Well, it’s a nifty game cube with 96 letter pegs, a score pad and a sand timer. Players form words on the cube using letter pegs of different values. The letter pegs rotate – allowing for easier pattern recognition. The 3D word game is designed for ages 8 and up, and for 1 to 4 players.

When SCRUBLE Cube first arrived at our homestead, Rocker and Sport were the first ones to try it out. They played for about a half hour, then they were done. They never picked it up again. However, Mr. Steady, Hummingbird, and T-Rex are another story.

Mr. Steady and Hummingbird have spent hours playing SCRUBLE Cube. They LOVE this game! An added bonus of SCRUBLE Cube is it has helped Hummingbird with spelling, an area in which she struggles. We have also used SCRUBLE Cube to help T-Rex with letter recognition.

SCRUBLE Cube is an award winning game, and it has definitely won the approval of Mr. Steady and Hummingbird. When I told Mr. Steady I was writing the review, he said, “Be sure to mention what an awesome game this is.”

SCRUBLE Cube costs $24.95 and can be ordered online.

Other TOS Homeschool Crew members had the opportunity to review SCRUBLE Cube. To read their thoughts about SCRUBLE Cube, please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.