Too Much Technology?

     My husband loves technology. He has a laptop computer, that is about 4 years old and a smartphone that he has had about 8 months now. He also has a GPS unit and has had hand held PDA’s that his phone has now replaced.

       I used to leave all things technological to him. That has changed in recent years. Matt has dragged me into his love computers and gadgets. I have become the happy recipient of his love of technology. I have more gadgets than he does now. It started with him buying me a laptop about 4 years ago. He also bought me an I-pod Nano. I was quite happy with these two gadgets. I love my i-Pod, I use it almost on a daily basis. I love my laptop as well.  I have learned to use it well. I have also grown used to having a computer all my own.  The next gadget he gave me was a smart phone. That is way too much fun. I call it my mini-computer, that just happens to make phone calls.  Then, because I love to read, he bought me a NookColor. That little gadget is quite fun. And for Christmas what did I get, a new laptop computer. This came about because I had a computer crash in November and while it was able to be fully restored, the expert we took it to said it was on its way out. Wow is the new computer fun. Fast, easy to use.

     I use my technology daily. I e-mail. I blog. I Facebook.  I download and listen to podcasts on i-Tunes. My kids do a lot of school on the computer. They play games. They watch Latin videos. They type papers and e-mail them to me.

     All this technology has come with a price though. No, not necessarily a monetary price, although that is a consideration. The price that I am thinking of is that I have been dragged into knowing quite a bit about technology now. I used to go to Matt whenever I had a computer problem. Now, he just tells me to figure it out. If I am having trouble with my i-pod, he says he is “i-pod illiterate” and I have to fix it myself. When I have computer problems, he only advises me now, not take it and fix it for me like he used to. And now with my new computer, I have had to get it set up completely on my own. I have had to install all the virus protection, cleaners, and programs all on my own. I had to figure out how to put on a program, and then pull the information off of a separate drive he has set up for back ups, so I don’t lose any data. It has been fun, but challenging. I am stretching my brain and learning new things and even been able to help others along the way. There are times I want to throw up my hands and say to Matt, “Please just do it for me!” But I persevere, soldier on and learn to do it myself.

     But, I still wonder at times. Do I have too much technology?

The World’s Greatest Stories

     We received a wonderful CD to review. The World’s Greatest Stories CD is simply the Bible read word for word. The genius is in the reading. It is not just simply reading, but it is  dramatized by George W. Sarris. The dramatization is what makes this CD  engaging and entertaining.

     George W. Sarris is an accomplished actor, narrator and spokesman. He began telling Bible stories in 1985. He has performed many one-man shows since then. There are currently six volumes of Mr. Sarris’s The World’s Greatest Stories CDs.  We reviewed Volume 1 – The Prophets.

     We found the CD to be easy to listen to and understand. I loved that the stories were word for word re-telling's, nothing added nor taken away. What a great, easy to implement way of increasing Bible literacy.  We reviewed the NIV version, but a KJV version is also available. The CD’s sell for $7.95 each and are available at The World’s Greatest Stories website. 

 

     The available volumes include these chapters

• Volume 1 – The Prophets with readings from Daniel chapters 3, 5, 6, 1 Kings 17-18, and The complete book of Jonah
• Volume 2- The Life of Christ with The Real Story of Christmas, taken from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus, from Matthew 3-4. The Healing of the Blind Man from John 9-10, Things Jesus said and did from Luke 18-19, and The Real Story of Easter from John 18-20.
• Volume 3 – Beginnings with In the Beginning from Genesis 1-4.  A Lame man in Lystra from Acts 14. A Jailer in Philippi from Acts 16. The complete book of Ruth. The Raising of Lazarus from John 11-12.
• Voume 4 – Joshua and Esther  This includes the Battle of Jericho from Joshua 1-6 and The complete book of Esther.
• Volume 5 –Joseph and his Brothers. This volume comes from the book of Genesis chapters 37-50
• Volume 6 – Defeating Giants. This is David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17. Naaman the Leper from II Kings 5. Micaiah the Prophet and Jehoshaphat the King from II Chronicles 18-20. The Sacrifice of Isaac from Genesis 21-22 and finally Gideon and His 300 men from Judges 6-8.

     I think the best way to sum up what we thought of The World’s Greatest Stories CDs is to write a quote from Ben the first time he popped the CD in and listened. When it was over, I asked him how he liked it. He replied, “ It was very good, I listened to it all and wished there was more.”

     I was not the only one to review The World’s Greatest Stories.  Visit the Crew Blog to read what my Crew Mates thought of this CD.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received The World’s Greatest Stories, volume 1 CD for free , in exchange for my honest review of their product.

I See Cards --Fractazmic

The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have Learning Fractions!

 

     Fractazmic makes learning fractions and equivalent fractions fun.It is designed for 1st through 8th grades, but is fun for all ages.  I was skeptical the first time we played it, but thanks to the cute little pictures on the cards, found that the game was easy to learn to play. While it may have been easy to learn , it was challenging enough to be fun to play. Sarah (14) and Ben (10) and I (mom) were the ones who played the game the most. The more we played, the better we got at looking at the fraction numbers and not having to rely on the pictures quite so much.  My kids found that this made a great game to play during lunch or snack time.

     Each “suit” on the cards is based on a different fraction. There are the Sixteenth’s suit (red in color) a Twelfth’s suit (blue in color) and a Tenth’s suit (green) in color.  Within each colored suit, the cards can be combined multiple ways to make a “hand” equaling 1.  Our family had a great time playing this game, and you can be sure that when someone announced they had made a “whole”, their cards were thoroughly checked out to make sure they didn’t miss count.

     The ClarkClan evaluation is that this is a cute, simple to learn, fun educational game. The same company that produces the Fractazmic Cards also produces other card games. Pyramath is an award winning math game using all the basic concepts: add, subtract, multiply and divide, in a comprehensive, interactive game. Prime Bomb is another math related game reinforcing, prime, multiplication and factoring.

     Visit Fractazmic.com to read more about the game and be able to order it. The game is $6.95 for the 60 card deck. To get a feel for the game you can play a speed version of the game at Fractazmic speed version. Playing online also gives you a chance to win a free deck.

     Visit the Crew Blog to be able to read what my Crew Mates thought of this game. Check out to see if they enjoyed playing as much as we did.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received Fractazmic game for free  from I See Cards, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Beautiful Desert Morning

Today was a beautiful, cold, morning across the desert. The snow from yesterday was mostly melted, but the temperature was about 22 degrees.  During my walk this morning, I reached the point where you look out across the Tularosa Basin to the Organ Mountains. The sun just touching the mountains and turning them beautiful shades of purple was gorgeous. The picture, which was taken by my phone, does not quite do the scene justice.

 

Pitsco Education

 

Medieval Machines Pack

• Trebuchet Kit
• Catapult Kit
• Mass Plates
• Siege Machines book
• $21.95
• Age Range: Intermediate-Middle School
• Available from Pitsco Education

Product Description (from Pitsco Website)

From The Lord of the Rings to Night at the Museum, we are fascinated by these medieval devices. Now, use that interest to teach basic math, science, and problem-solving skills. With this pack, your child learns about catapults and trebuchets through hands-on activities that cover three areas:

• Science: Tension versus torsion, elasticity, gravity and levers, and force and motion
• Math: Metric conversion, calculating averages, and prediction
• Experiments: Mass versus distance, testing rubber bands, targeting, and more

They will discover the history of medieval siege machines as well as the concepts required to build and use them.

 

ClarkClan Product Thoughts

      Each of these siege machines are made of basswood sheets with laser cut parts. You punch the pieces out and then glue them together according to the instructions. The instructions written step by step with pictures for clarity. These were not difficult to put together, but they were not easy either. Matthew (18) and Sarah  (14) put together the catapult. Dad, Sarah, and Ben (10) put together the trebuchet. With the catapult the only real difficulty came when Matthew snapped the top of the trigger. This was fixed with a little super glue and has not seemed to affect the performance.  Dad and Sarah had a little trouble with one part of the trebuchet, but a step back and re-reading of the instructions made things clear.

      The real fun came when we used the siege machines! Sarah, Ben and Rebekah (8) all had fun when we tested the machines. First, we read the history in the Siege Machines  book. Then we launched into the experiments. One day we tested the catapult and the next we tested the trebuchet. The Siege Machines book has well laid out experiments.

      Our first experiment with the catapult was Mass vs. Distance. We weighed out three balls of clay, each with a different mass. Then we launched each ball three times and recorded the distances. Then we had to convert our English measurements into Metric measurements. The next experiment had us calculating and graphing averages. We also tested different rubber band sizes, as well as the temperature of the rubber bands.

     With the trebuchet we practiced prediction skills. We tested our ability to predict outcomes by trying to hit a target. We were able to talk about Newton’s third law of motion and transfer of energy.

     Each experiment was easy to accomplish and I appreciated the charts and graphs included in the book to fill out as a record of what they did. My kids discovered that the catapult was more accurate than the trebuchet. The trebuchet was finicky and had to be set up just so to be able to fire properly.

     Along with the experiments provided, my kids had a lot of fun experimenting on their own. Even though the safety instructions say to only use clay, my kids ended up trying Lego men. Then they got out our blocks and built castles to see what they could knock over with a ball of clay. I have seen them spend hours on the floor with these little machines, trying first one way then another.

     This was a winner with our family. I liked the well thought out, easy to accomplish experiments. Then I liked that the machines have been sturdy enough to have the kids play with them and try their own ideas. 

     Pitsco Education offers a wide variety of  learning activities.  Visit their website to find experiments in aerospace, dragsters and race cars, engineering, robotics, structures and many topics.

There were many other Crew Members who tested out the Siege Machines along with us. Visit the Crew Blog and read what they thought about these little medieval weapons.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received the Medieval Machines pack for free  from Pitsco Education, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Loki–The Crazy Dog

 

   About 4 years ago we adopted a dog named Loki. Loki is a Golden Retriever/Husky mix who is now 51/2 years old. He is a wonderful dog, loves all people, great with kids, always ready to play. But he has one flaw, he jumps (climbs)  fences and then runs. 

     I was not worried when we moved to this house, it has a cinder block fence. In the four months we have lived in this house, we had no problems. Loki loves the backyard. Because of a doggy door he can come in and go out as he pleases. He will spend hours outside laying in the sun, running around and just doing doggy things.

     Then came the day after Thanksgiving. Matthew and Sarah were walking home and the dog apparently was in the backyard and heard them walking up. Yep, it happened. He climbed the wooden gate and up and over he went.  Now that he knows he can do it, he has climbed it every time he is alone in the backyard.

     I am very sad by this. We have had to shut the dog door. We have been making sure that somebody is outside with him every time he goes out.  The next time Matt has some time off work, we are going to see what we can do to raise the gate to see if we can stop him.   Crazy dog! Why can’t you just stay in the yard?

Time Timer

 

About the Product

     The Time Timer is a timer designed to show the passage of time in a visual, concrete manner. As time counts down, the red goes away. A quick glance shows how long is left, even for kids who can’t tell time yet.

     The Time Timer was developed by Jan Rogers as she searched for a way for her inquisitive four year old to understand the concept of time. Since its conception the Time Timer has found many different applications beyond just teaching young children. 

     Educators have used the Time Timer in the classroom with great effect. Teachers can teach the concept of time or train their students to use their time wisely using the Time Timer. Tracking the duration of activities is simple, just a quick glance can show how much longer before time is up.   Special Education teachers have also used the Time Timer to give guidance for individuals with ADD, ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Dyslexia.  

     Business’s have used the Time Timer to help keep meetings running smoothly and on time. It can help a presenter keep their presentations on target as they can see at a glance how much time they have left. Adults with time management issues can keep one at their desks to help keep them on track.

    In normal everyday life the Time Timer can help parents keep track of things like TV watching time. Setting this on the top of the piano can keep practice time on track. It can be set to show how much longer till dinner, or till dad comes home from work. Then kids can look at the timer and know the answer without having to ask “is it time yet?” again and again.

Product Specifications

Sizes:  The Time Timer is available in 3 different sizes. 3”, 8” and 12”.  The 3” inch size is portable and has an attached cover that doubles as a stand.  The 8” and 12” models are free standing or can be wall mounted. All three models have an optional audible signal.

Other products: Using the same concept as the original timers, Time Timer offers other products as well. Watches offer all the benefits of the Time Timer on your wrist. iPhone and iPod Touch Apps are available. Time Timer software lets you install a Time Timer on your computer which can “float” above other applications to help you manage your computer time.

Pricing:

• 3” – $30.00
• 8” – $35.00
• 12” – $40.00
• Watches – $40.00
• iPhone and iPod Touch App – $1.99
• Time Timer Software – $24.00

All products are available from www.timetimer.com. 

ClarkClan Experience

Likes:

     The Time Timer has been a wonderful asset to our school day. We have been a timer using family for quite a few years now. I discovered years ago that Rebekah, who is  8, responds very well to the use of a timer instead of mom telling her when time is up. It just seems to be a concrete way for her random thoughts mind to know when time is up. 

     We use the Time Timer for many, many different activities. We use it to count down how much time is left until school work will start. I require 30 minutes of silent reading daily. The Time Timer has been wonderful for this time. I can set Rebekah up in her reading spot with the timer right beside her. No more getting up to see “how much time is left”. She can just glance over to check.

     I also use it as a motivator to finish her task. I will set the timer for 30 minutes, then tell her to start her math worksheet. She will then work to “beat the clock”. When she is finished, she is allowed the time that is left on the timer for free time. We have had great success in helping Rebekah focus on a task when it becomes a challenge. A worksheet that can take her up to 45 minutes, when no motivation is given, becomes a 10 –15 minutes process when she is being timed. 

     I like that the timer makes no ticking noises during operation. It is silent while it is counting down. This is a huge plus for us, because Rebekah is easily distracted by noises, especially repetitive sounds like a normal timer makes. She can become almost frantic with a regular tic,tic, tic of a dial timer, so to have this battery operated quiet timer was wonderful.

    I also liked the portability of the timer. We reviewed the 3” timer and I liked that it  could move around wherever it was needed.  Because of the cover on the 3” model it is also easy to put in my purse and take when we are at piano lessons and finishing school work while waiting. 

    I am also very interested in the Time Timer software. I am thinking about ordering this for our computers. Not only will it help Rebekah, but every member of the family will benefit.

Dislikes:

     I only had one small complaint with the Time Timer. The audible alarm is very quiet. While I appreciate not having a loud, jarring ring, the two beeps were very soft and we occasionally missed them.  Rebekah would at times not hear the beep, and then be a little upset that she worked past the time needed.

     I was not the only one to review Time Timer products. Read what other members thought of the physical timer as well as the iPad app on the Crew Blog.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received a 3” Time Timer for free  from Timer Timer, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Just Like Dad

     Since Matt retired from the military he has been enjoying his new found facial hair freedom. He has grown various beard and mustache types. The type he is sporting now is shaped like a U. I keep telling him it makes him look like he has a permanent frown. HIs employees at work told him one better than what I said. They told him he looked like Hulk Hogan.

    So for fun, Ben and I came up with this idea to add a mustache to Ben’s face. We put it on and then he walked out to his Dad, who saw it and laughed and smiled and posed for a picture.  A little tape and a sharpie can make a really cool mustache, if you can’t grow one of your own.

Guest Blogger

     I have a special privilege today. I am the guest blogger on the Molly Green, Econobusters blog. This was very exciting for me as I have never had this experience before. The topic was Frugal Breakfasts and you can find the post here Frugal Breakfast Food.  Thank you to Molly Green and Econobusters for allowing me to have this experience.

     If you have never checked out the Econobusters blog, make sure to poke around when you visit. There are many, many frugal ideas that you can implement in your own home to help you save money.  I also enjoy subscribing to Molly’s Money Saving Digest. This online digest focuses on a different area each month in which to save money. This month the Digest is called Molly Saves in the Laundry Room. Laundry can quickly become overwhelming, and I enjoyed reading this months digest with all the tips.

VocabCafe

 

    VocabCafe from College Prep Genius has come up with a way to make learning SAT level vocabulary painless and entertaining.  Learning your vocabulary can be as simple as reading a book. Each full length chapter books features 300 vocabulary words chosen to encourage the development of language skills.

     Vocabulary words are sprinkled throughout the book. Each word is printed in bold type to alert you to the fact it is a vocabulary word. Then on the bottom of the page, that word is printed just like a dictionary entry. The vocabulary word, a pronunciation key, part of speech, and definition. No stopping the flow of reading to look up an unfamiliar word in the dictionary. For review, at the end of each chapter is a word review and a complete index of words is included in the back.

     There are four titles in the VocabCafe series. I.M. for Murder,  Planet Exile, and  The $ummer of $aint Nick are written by Josh Burk. Operation High School is written by Judah Burk.  The books are aimed for a high school age range, although some middle schoolers may enjoy them.   The author states that although the books have no occult, sexual themes, violence etc. parents may want to read the books first to determine appropriateness for their families.

     The books are available from College Prep Genius. Each book is available for $12.95 or the entire four book set is $38.85.

ClarkClan Thoughts

     I had Sarah, who is 14, read these for the review. I read one of the books completely and skimmed the others to see how they worked.  Sarah enjoyed learning vocabulary in this manner. She said she really liked having the definitions on the same page as the word. She says she hates to stop reading to look up a word, so having them defined immediately was a plus.  She also said learning vocabulary through a story instead of just a list of words made more sense to her.

     I enjoyed the book I read, but at times it felt a little “clunky”. Sometimes, trying to fit that many upper level vocabulary words in  made the story line slightly cumbersome. Also, in the Planet Exile book, I was a bit taken aback when the same word was used twice in the same paragraph. This was done to show the two meanings of the word, but it was awkward for me.

    My father and brother-in-law looked at these books with me as well. My dad was a teacher for 20 years and my brother-in-law is attending college in his “spare” time. They were both impressed by the idea of learning vocabulary though a story instead of just memorizing word lists and definitions.

     I was not the only one of my Crew Mates to review VocabCafe books. Other Crew Mates reviewed a SAT Prep Course also available from College Prep Genius.  Visit the Crew blog to read the reviews for both these products.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received four VocabCafe books  for free  from College Prep Genius, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Keyboard Town Pals

• Keyboard Town Pals typing program
• Ages 7-12
• Web based or CD Rom $30
• Order online at Keyboard Town Pals
• Additional resources also available  at Keyboard Town Pals

          Teach your child to type in an hour! Sounds too good to be true, but Keyboard Town Pals can accomplish this goal. Keyboard Town Pals uses the “PALS” system to teach typing. PALS is an acronym for Purposeful, Associative, Learning, System. The PALS system works on the principle that two objects seen or heard together will link together in our minds.

     Keyboard Town Pals combines a puppet with a specific letter on the keyboard. Memory techniques improve retention and cues stimulate all ways of learning, visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Puppets, music and humor, combine to achieve the Keyboard Town Pals goal of teaching typing in an hour.

     One of the keys to the Keyboard Town Pals system is the de-activation of the backspace and delete keys. Their philosophy is that the backspace and delete keys cause kids to stop the flow of typing and then have to re-orient their fingers on the keyboard. Mistakes are a part of learning, so no correcting is how kids learn.

     Other features are: No surveillance, No competition, No pressure, No timed tests.  Keyboard Town Pals is suitable for all learning types, including kids with learning difficulties.  Learning moves along at the child’s pace. It is designed to be taught in two 30 minutes sessions. If desired all 8 lessons are also available as stand alone lessons  6-7 minutes long. 

ClarkClan Thoughts

     Rebekah (8) is the one who primarily tried out this program. She loved it. Rebekah likes puppets, so this program intrigued her from the start.  I sat her at the table with a set of headphones to minimize distractions. The program recommends two 30 minute sessions, but Rebekah enjoyed the first 30 minutes so much, she immediately went on to the next 30 minutes.

     Rebekah has had previous typing experience, so I cannot say if this program taught her how to type in an hour. But I can say that  this program captured her attention enough to reinforce her typing skills. I was not sure how the no back space or delete would work, but after watching Rebekah, I decided it was a good aspect of the program.  Because she knew she couldn’t correct her mistakes, she was free to type without ever lifting her fingers off and away from the correct hand position. 

  I have a 10 year old son, Ben, who watched Rebekah  and wanted to try the program himself. Ben did not enjoy it near as much. He was not as enamored with the puppets and songs as Rebekah. It was just not the right program for him, but he is at the upper end of the age range. I think, the puppets and songs appeal to younger ages.

     Want to read what others thought of Keyboard Town Pals? Visit the TOS Crew Blog to read what my Crew Mates thought about the program.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received a web based trial of Keyboard Town Pals for free  from Keyboard Town Pals, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Bower Books–The Person I Marry

• The Person I Marry, Things I’ll Think About Before (and After) Saying “I Do”
• written by Gary Bower
• Illustrated by Jan Bower
• Hardcover, 32 pages
• $11.99
• Available from Bower Family Books

     “It’s the ‘Who’ not ‘What’  that makes a great wedding”. This is a quote from the first page of a book written and illustrated to teach children what to look for in a lifelong marriage partner. Written in verse, The Person I Marry explores the qualities that make for an enduring marriage.

    Qualities such as kindness, hardworking, trustworthy, and patience are explored in depth. Beautiful illustrations capture the quality being described wonderfully. Each illustration features a young boy and young girl. I like how no two children look the same. To me, these children fulfill the beginning of the book that talk about how externals do not make a great marriage, but inward characteristics are the most important.

     This book was a challenge to me as I read it. I originally thought, “this is too perfect,” that we were teaching our children to look for a fairy tale prince or princess. One who was “too good to be true”. But then I found myself thinking about the qualities talked about  and wondering if I was living up to them. Do I not complain when the rain comes? Do I fully lend support to my husband to share his burdens? 

     My attitude changed  the third time I read this book to my 8 and 10 year old, with the 14 year old listening. By reading about the excellent qualities to look for in a future spouse, my children can work now on being the type of person they would like to marry.  Learning to be hardworking, trustworthy, or kind themselves ,will help them learn to recognize those high qualities in the one to whom they will  give their heart.  This book gives them a starting point to think about what makes a good mate.

     The video below gives a preview of the book, The Person I Marry.

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

     The Person I Marry is part of the Bright Futures Books collection from Bower Family Books.  It was awarded the 2010 Book of the Year by the Christian Small Publisher Association.  Bower Family Books also publishes a variety of other book including a Thinking of Others series, and Little Lovable Board Books.

     I was not the only Crew Member to review The Person I Marry. Visit the Crew Blog to read what my Crew Mates had to say about the book as well.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received a download copy of The Person I Marry for free from Bower Family Books, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Memoria Press–First Form Latin

• First Form Latin
• by Cheryl Lowe
• Published by Memoria Press
• 5th grade through High School
• First Form Latin plus DVD’s and flashcards – $115

     First Form Latin is a beginning Latin program suitable for 5th grade through High School. It is equivalent to a full year of High School foreign language.  It is a “grammar first” series focused on the trivium model of teaching grammar. The program goal is to teach grammar systematically which helps with retention and understanding of the language.

     First Form Latin is designed for the student and teacher who has no previous Latin experience. It features a student text with 34 two-page lessons as well as a workbook with 4-6 pages of exercises per lesson.  The teacher manual is a gem with the student text inset and answers in color. The teacher manual also has scripted oral recitations and grammar chalk talks. Pronunciation helps and vocabulary are also included.

     This course has a wide age range. It is written for students from about 5th grade that have had previous Latin experience as well as older students with no Latin experience.

     The First Form Latin set that we received for review included many items to make the program successful. In our package we had  a 1.) Student Text 2.) Workbook 3.) Teacher Manual 4.) Teacher Manual Workbook and Test Key 5.)  Quizzes and tests book 6.) DVD’s of all lessons 7.) Pronunciation CD 7.) flashcards.  The program is also available without the DVD’s and flashcards for a cost of $55.00.

ClarkClan Thoughts

          First Form Latin has been a hit with Sarah .  One of Sarah’s favorite parts of the program is the Latin Workbook. She has said multiple times to me how much she enjoys the workbook. I can see evidence of that since she is only missing 1 maybe two items when I check her workbook pages. She says she also enjoys the DVD’s. She says the person doing the teaching on the DVD is funny and makes the DVD interesting to watch.  Sarah is the kind of student that prefers to work on her own. First Form Latin is perfect for her. It needs minimal involvement from mom. I check her workbook pages, I will watch the DVD with her and then  let her run with the lesson.  Each day she brings me the workbook to correct.  I also administer the tests and help if she has questions. The teacher books are very thorough, so if she needs help I can easily find the answer.

     I think that if you have had previous Latin experience you could teach very well with the teacher’s manuals without the DVD’s. In my case, I loved having the DVD’s to teach the subject. I do not speak Latin, nor have I ever studied it. Having the DVD’s to hear how the language is supposed to sound was an excellent help. 

    After having finished the first few lessons, we are impressed with this Latin program. Sarah is really enjoying it and learning the vocabulary included in each lesson. I think she likes it because the text is not overwhelming and the workbook covers many different aspects without being too repetitive.

    Visit the Memoria Press website to review sample pages of First Form Latin . Memoria Press also offers an Unconditional Guarantee with a full refund for 60 days. 

    Memoria Press has many different products available. They are a family run company that produces classical Christian education materials for homeschools and private schools. They offer classical curriculum for grades K-12.

     We were not the only family to review First Form Latin. There were many other Crew Mates who reviewed the program as well. Visit the Crew Blog and read what they thought about the program.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received First Form Latin for free from Memoria Press , in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Everyday Education–Excellence in Literature

Excellence in Literature

Reading and Writing Through the Classics

Introduction to Literature

by Janice Campbell

Age Range: 8th grade and up

Published by: Everyday Education

Available for $27.00 for e-book or  $29.00 + $4.95 shipping for print book

 

     Reading and Writing Through the Classics,  Introduction to Literature, is  the first in the series of Excellence in Literature. It is a college preparatory literature and composition course.  Students will practice close literary analysis using various focus works and context readings. They will begin to understand the process of writing and be able to analyze written works. They will  also learn the process of writing an essay.

     There are  9 units contained within Introduction to Literature. Each unit is 4 weeks long, for a total of 36 weeks. It is a year long high school level course. An Honors Track is also included. Each chapter is written directly to the student. A “Formats and Models” chapter is included so the student can see concrete examples of what the assignments should look like. Students are provided a grading rubric so they can self-correct their writing before turning it in to the parent. A parent then uses the grading rubric to consistently and fairly grade their student. MLA format is taught for all papers.

  According to the Everyday Education website, the course covers:

• Unit 1: Short Stories by-
  • Sarah Orne Jewett: A White Heron
  • Edgar Allen Poe: The Purloined Letter (This one is not scary, if you're concerned about that.)
  • Guy de Maupassant: The Diamond Necklace
  • O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief
  • Eudora Welty: A Worn Path
  • James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

  Unit 2: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
  Honors: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

  Unit 3: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
  Honors: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

  Unit 4: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
  Honors: Shirley or Villette by Charlotte Brontë

  Unit 5: Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
  Honors: Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot

  Unit 6: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
  Honors: Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

  Unit 7: Animal Farm by George Orwell
  Honors: 1984 by George Orwell

  Unit 8: The Tempest by William Shakespeare
  Honors: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

  Unit 9: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
  Honors: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

Note: Books listed in the table of contents above are focus texts only. Context readings are assigned within each unit.

 

ClarkClan Thoughts

     Sarah (14) has been working through this course. I have been very impressed with the caliber of work that she has produced so far. She enjoys the short stories and book she has read in the first two units. I like that the work is tailored to her, I just need to grade it after she is done. The grading rubric for parents is a tremendous help. I can objectively go through her papers, looking for certain elements and structure. This is very helpful, especially in giving her feedback to improve her writing.

     This is a very thorough course that has intrigued me. I love the idea of literary analysis, but had not known how to teach it. This solves that problem. I like the idea of Sarah learning how analyze what she is reading, putting it into the proper context and exploring in depth plot, characterization, setting and all other things that make a piece of literature great.

    Sarah enjoys Introduction to Literature. I think her enjoyment is pivotal to the success of the course. She likes the way the assignments are broken down into different weeks. Most importantly, she is enjoying what she is reading. You can tell by her writing papers that she enjoys what she had read.  The book she is working on now, Around the World in 80 Days, she has read before, but I know she is getting more out of the book because of the analysis she is required to do. When I asked Sarah what her favorite part of the course was she said, “The Formats and Models section is great. I can quickly look up what I am supposed to include  and how I am to style each paper.”

     Reading and Writing Through the Classics,  Introduction to Literature is the first course in the Excellence in Literature series. There are five books available in the series. This will take you from 8th grade through high school. Visit the Everyday Education website to read more about the different products that are offered.

     There were many other TOS Homeschool Crew members who reviewed this product. Visit the Crew Blog and read what they thought of the writing course.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received Excellence in Literature, Introduction to Literature for free from Everyday Education, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

Frugal Friday Night Fun

             In our house, on a Friday night it seems that everyone has something fun to do except the two younger ones. So for their Friday night fun, we have a Frugal Friday Movie Night.  This time we made it a movie/play dough night.

     It started with the making of homemade play dough. Both Ben and Rebekah collaborated in making the play dough. We used one of our favorite craft books called The Ultimate book of Kid Concoctions and made a fruity play dough using cherry powdered drink mix. 

     Then we spread an old plastic table cloth on the living room floor. We pulled out the cookie cutters and rolling pins and let them have at it. We also put on a favorite movie, 101 Dalmatians (the cartoon version).

     These frugal Friday movie nights happen about two times a month.  Both Ben and Rebekah like to do something while they are watching TV. Some Fridays we pull out the drawing supplies, sometimes it is Legos or blocks. This time the play dough was a huge hit. They watched the movie, made many cookies, snowballs, pizzas and even a flip-flop.

Ben is Ten!

Ben celebrated his 10th birthday this week! He celebrated with his Grandma and Grandpa, Great-Grandma, Mom, Dad, 2 sisters and his brother. He requested pumpkin pie for his birthday cake. I think he had a wonderful day.

Marshall Publishing–George Washington Carver

     Marshall Publishing & Promotions, Inc. is a company that produces media suitable for the entire family. They are known for their Award –winning AS SEEN ON TV videos such as Lots & Lots of Trains, and Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks. Their goal is to produce quality programs to watch today and remember for a lifetime.

     I was sent the DVD George Washington Carver His Life and His Work.  We have watched this DVD twice now and enjoyed both times. This DVD tells the life story of George Washington Carver. The videography shows the beauty of the countryside and exactly where George Washington Carver lived, worked and played. It is narrated beginning with quotes from Carver and others who knew him well. The narration follows Carvers life from his birth until his death.

     I knew the name of George Washington Carver, and knew that he discovered many uses for peanuts but not much else.  This 30 minute DVD taught me much about this amazing man. From overcoming slavery and near death as a child to scientific achievements, I was enthralled with learning about his life.

     The DVD George Washington Carver His Life and His Work is available from Marshall Publishing and Promotions, Inc. for  $19.95. As a special Homeschool discount, they are offering a 15% discount off the normal price, which will bring the price down to $16.95 (plus shipping and handling). Just use the code TOSC1 at checkout. To order call 888-300-3455 between 9am and 7pm CST or visit the website at www.marshallpub.com.

     The TOS Homeschool Crew was given the opportunity to review two videos by Marshall Publishing and Promotions, Inc. Reviews of the  George Washington Carver DVD, and Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips DVD combined with Lots & Lots of Fire Trucks & Firefighters book are available on the TOS Crew Blog.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received George Washington Carver – His Life and Work DVD for free from Marshall Publishing, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

NorthStar Games–Say Anything

 

• Say Anything Family Edition
• Ages 8+
• 3-6 Players
• Available from Amazon for $13.85. Also available at local retailers. Click here to find one near you.

   Game Overview

     The fun begins with the choosing of which color board to write on. Then, Rebekah, the youngest,  is given the “state-of-the-art SELECT-0-MATIC 6000”.  This means that she is the judge. She picks a question and reads it out loud to all players. As quick as they can, the players write an answer on their card and place it on the table. Rebekah looks over the answers and using the “state–of-the-art SELECT-O-MATIC 6000” secretly selects which one she likes the best. Now, all the players get to put their two tokens on which answer they think Rebekah picked. You can put both your tokens on one card, or if you are not sure split them between two cards. After all tokens are put down, Rebekah shows which card she selected and points are scored. Then the next player is passed the “state-of–the-art SELECT-O-MATIC 6000”.

ClarkClan Game Thoughts and Recommendation

     Our family LOVED playing Say Anything. Over and over again, Ben and Rebekah would say, “Can we play Say Anything?”  I even woke up one morning to find them playing a version they made up for just the two of them. 

     The favorite piece to the game was the “state-of-the-art SELECT-O-MATIC 6000. This little round disc with the plastic spinner quickly became a favorite just because of the name. We had a great time hamming it up with the selector.  The hardest part of the game for our family, was waiting until the judge picked an answer before we all threw our tokens on our favorite answers.

     Great family game is the overall consensus from the ClarkClan. Just when you think you know what the judge will pick, they will surprise you. Great discussions occur over why someone picked the answer they did or why someone wrote the answer they did.

     Visit the NorthStar website to see all their game offerings. Wits and Wagers is another fun game by this company. You can read my review of that game here.

     I am not the only one to review Say Anything Family. Many of my Crew Mates also played this game and have given their thoughts on it. Visit the Crew Blog to read those blogs.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received Say Anything Family Edition for free from NorthStar Games, in exchange for my honest review of their product.

NorthStar Games–Wits and Wagers Family

• Wits and Wagers Family
• Ages 8+
• 3-10 players

     “In feet, how tall is the world’s largest IMAX movie screen?” 

     Quick, write your best guess (always a number) on your mini white board and place it face down on the table. When all answers are in, turn the boards over and sort them from smallest to largest. Then the fun really begins. Is your answer correct, or does someone else’s answer look better? Place your “Meeples” on the answer you think is correct. Not sure? Then split your “Meeples” up among two cards. How many points did you score? Find out when the answer is read.

     We are a family of game players. Card games, board games you name it, we play it. Wits and Wagers Family has been a great addition to our game library. With various ages playing, this game does a great job at giving everyone a level playing field. Wits and Wagers Family  is always exciting and fresh each time we play it.  The questions are over a wide range of topics, some the kids know, some mom and dad know, and some nobody has a clue. We laugh the most over the questions nobody knows, because some of the wildest guesses occur. 

      

     The kids enjoyed all aspects of this game. Before the game starts they like  picking their white board and decorating the back. Deciding on whose guess to place your “Meeples” usually involves a great deal of laughter and discussion. 

     I asked each kid what they liked best about Wits and Wagers Family.

Sarah:  “I liked the obscure number facts.”

Ben:  “I liked everything about the game.”

Rebekah: “I liked the reading, the guessing, and when you put on the ‘Meeples’. Putting on the ‘Meeples’ is fun.”

Recommendation

     The ClarkClan would recommend this game. It is great for all ages to play together. The age recommendation is 8 and up. I think younger kids could play, especially if they partner up with someone older.

     Wits and Wagers Family is a North Star Game. You can visit the North Star Game website to find out more about not only Wits and Wagers Family, but a variety of games they offer.

     As of now, Wits and Wagers Family is available from Amazon for $15.23 as well as other online retailers. Click here to find a retail store near you where this game is available.

     Many of my Crew Mates also reviewed the Wits and Wagers Family game. Visit the Crew Blog to read what they thought of the game.

As an Independent contractor for The Old Schoolhouse and member of TOS Homeschool Crew I received Wits and Wagers Family for free from North Star Games, in exchange for my honest review of their product.