TOS Review: Vocal Coach

When asked recently what she wants to do when she is older, Super Girl surprised me by saying she wants to be a Christian recording artist.  She has always loved music and singing, but she has never expressed an interest in sharing it with others in a professional manner.  This is definitely something she is drawn to currently, however, because she has expressed this desire to several people now.  The opportunity to use the Vocal Coach Singer program was one that I felt would benefit her and help her get a little closer to her dreams.

From the Vocal Coach website:

Chris & Carole Beatty, creators and founder of Vocal Coach, have taught and coached thousands of singers, young and old for over 40 years.

Vocal Coach is built on their passion for training the singers of today and tomorrow through their time-tested, million-selling products as well as in the Vocal Coach Voice Studio in Brentwood TN.

Vocal Coach Singer includes:

7 Training CDs:

• Getting Started
• Complete Breathing
• Complete Warm-Up
• Complete Tone
• Complete Expanding Your Range
• Complete Diction
• Complete Performance

4 Workout CDs:

• Daily Workout High Voice 1 & 2
• Daily Workout Medium/Low Voice 1 & 2

Plus these great educational tools:

• Guidebook – Full-size Instructional Guidebook to Ensure Success
• Printable Lead Sheets – each exercise in our course, plus track lists
• Personal Singer's Journal (Getting Started Journal & Workout Journal) to Track Your Progress
• Vocal Coach Song Evaluation – Evaluation form to enable you to make more intelligent song selections

The retail price for the CD version is $119.99.  However, we received the MP3 version, which retails for $99.99.  Frankly, I feel that it is worth it to pay the extra $20 for the hard copy, as there is still the book to print out, and because honestly, it was a little overwhelming.  I found it confusing, trying to figure out where to begin with all the files. It was a bit easier once I printed all the papers out and got them in order.  However, then Super Girl was stuck working on the exercises at the computer.  I tried to load them onto my Kindle Fire so that she could do them in private, but it doesn't like MP3s.  I kept wishing we had the CDs, since I was going to have to burn the files onto CDs anyhow.  

The exercises seem to be benefiting Super Girl.  She has not had the experience of being in school choir, which is where both Mr. Man and I learned proper singing techniques, as well as warm-ups.  She definitely plans to keep working through the materials.  Obviously, nothing is as good as one-on-one instruction and feed-back from a voice teacher.  However, I think that Vocal Coach Singer can definitely help the aspiring singer that cannot afford on-going singing lessons, or are not sure they are that serious about it.  Though, if your family is like ours, and your computers are all in "public" areas, you will probably want to get the CD version, so that the exercises may be done in private!

***Disclaimer:  I received Vocal Coach Singer in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Growing Up Wild

As part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I recently received a couple of DVDs from Growing Up Wild.  The Wild family is serving as missionaries in Papua, Indonesia.  They have four boys, and live in the jungle with the Wano people.  My children were very interested in the videos, as the older two boys seem to be about their age, and also because we have watched and enjoyed documentary series about indigenous peoples in Papua in the past.

The first DVD includes segments about the Wilds' house in the jungle and the houses of the Wano, a supply trip, and how the family uses the sun and water to provide a little bit of first-world comfort to their jungle home.  The segments mainly feature the boys and the Wano people, but are narrated by the parents.  My kids loved seeing the house the Wilds live in - especially the lego room!  I found myself wondering if I would get used to how open to the elements their house is, if I were to live in it.  I'm sure I would, but it would take some getting used to!

The other DVD we received was Volume 4, which features segments about the wildlife in the region, some aspects of Wano culture, and more about missionaries in general.  I think we were all a little surprised when the mom was talking about the older two boys' desire to have their noses pierced like the Wano children - and then they did it!  Granted, the mom made sure the boys really wanted to do it (she made them wait a year!), and it appears that several of the male missionaries have also done it.  However, I don't think any of us felt like we'd be able to do it ourselves!

The purpose of Growing Up Wild and desire of the Wild family is to "encourage children to impact the world for God's glory" - to spark a passion for reaching the people of the world in the next generation.  I love the way that the Wilds have tied these glimpses of their everyday life as missionaries into lessons that encourage children to really think about the world around them with a Biblical view.  There is an activity guide disc included with each volume, and each segment has a corresponding overview, set of scripture references, and activities suggested to really get more than just entertainment out of the videos.  My favorite part of the videos was the "at the end of the day" moment that wraps up each segment with a short devotional thought that ties the adventures from that segment in to a spiritual application.  

Growing Up Wild separately for $18.99, or you can purchase the whole set for $80.99.  I feel like these videos are worth the price - the videos are good quality, and children as well as adults will have their interest captured by this family of "wild" boys!



***Disclaimer:  I received two volumes of Growing Up Wild in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own. 

TOS Review: Your Child's Profession of Faith

The Schoolhouse Review Crew was given the opportunity to review works from Grace & Truth Books.  Given my choice of 10 titles, I chose Your Child's Profession of Faith.  You see, Super Girl has always had a great faith in and love for God.  On several occasions she has told us that she prayed "the sinner's prayer".  She has a strong relationship with Christ.  However, last summer, she asked me how she could be sure she is saved.  I had some heart-felt discussions with her, and I think I helped set her mind at ease.  However, I hoped this book would help, should the question arise again - whether from her, or another child.

Your Child's Profession of Faith is a good book, and one I will keep on my shelf.  However, it was not quite what I was hoping for.  I was looking for something that would help be a help in counseling children who are questioning the solidity of their faith.  Chapter 7, "The Manifestations of Faith", will definitely help with that.  However, most of the book before that has to do with the nature of children - "intellectual immaturity", "changeableness", and gullibility.  The book does stress the importance of cultivating a child's strong relationship with Christ over time, rather than the quick conversions that are sought in many childrens' ministry settings.  However, I felt that this section, as well as all the parts about making sure your child is truly ready to be baptized, were not what I was looking for.  The particular church I belong to does not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation, and therefore we do not normally practice it, which means those passages just don't apply to my situation.

I feel like Your Child's Profession of Faith is more a book for the parent who questions the validity of their child's faith, rather than the parent of a questioning child.  It is good, Bible-based advice, and straight-forward.  It wasn't quite what I was looking for, but still an excellent reminder to be careful with my childrens hearts, because "if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).

Your Child's Profession of Faith is available from Grace & Truth Books.  The price is $7.50 for a soft-cover edition, 119 pages.

***Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Your Child's Profession of Faith in exchange for my review through The Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Journeys of Faithfulness

Journeys of Faithfulness is a devotional book from Sarah Clarkson.  It is aimed at girls ages 12 and up, though I think if a girl is mature and thoughtful, it would be appropriate for girls as young as 10 (Super Girl is reading it at age 11).  The book is broken into four sections, each focusing on different women from the Bible:  Mary & Martha, Mary (Jesus' mother), Esther, and Ruth.  There are three chapters in each section, with each chapter containing a fictionalized narrative about the subject, a devotional reading, and a short Bible study (3 to 5 passages).  Both Super Girl and I have found the book easy and engaging to read, however, I keep wishing that there was a bit more to the actual Bible portion of the study.  Journeys of Faithfulness is definitely a topical study, rather than a biographical study.  None of the Bible passages are actually about the women the book focuses on, but rather look at character aspects the author wishes to stress from the lives of those women.

I really like Journeys of Faithfulness.  However, I feel that it is a little light for my taste.  I think it would be an excellent starting point for a girl to get into a more in-depth study of one of these women.  Or, maybe it is just right for introducing a young girl to Bible studies of this nature, because it is not too heavy, nor does it have a lot of "homework".  I just feel that, even for teenaged girls, there is a lot more to be learned from the actual Scriptures than is shared in this book.  I would love it if there were additional resources to go along with it, such as a more in-depth workbook.  As there is more focus on the fictional accounts and the devotional reading, rather than the Bible, I don't think I'd recommend this book as a part of a girl's homeschool curriculum.  It is decent and appropriate for extra-curricular reading, though.  I frankly think I'd treat the book more as historical fiction than a devotional or Bible study.

Journeys of Faithfulness is available from Apologia.  It is currently $13 for a soft-cover edition.

***Disclaimer:  I received a copy of Journeys of Faithfulness in exchange for my review through The Schoolhouse Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Music Together

Music Together is an early childhood music program that is based on much research and encourages young children and their adult loved ones to participate together in shared music-based experiences.  The first Music Together group was opened to the public in 1987.  The four tennants of the program are that 1) All children are musical, 2) All children can achieve basic music competence - learn to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm, 3) Participation and modeling of parents and other caregivers is essential to a child's musical growth, and 4) Growth is best achieved in a playful, musically rich, and non-performance-oriented learning environment.  For over a year I have had an interest in starting an early childhood music program at our church, so when I received these materials to review, I was thrilled!  Not many of the review items I receive are suitable for my 3 year old, let alone my almost 14 month old - I think this has been the first thing the baby has been able to do!

The package I received consisted of the Music Together Family Favorites Songbook for Teachers and the Family Favorites cd, which also had a small booklet in it.  I popped the cd into my computer, and my two little ones were bouncing and dancing almost immediately.  They loved the music, and I can honestly say there were only a couple that were not so high on my appreciation scale, which I think is pretty good for a disc aimed at small children!  There were even several songs that I found quite lovely - "She Sells Sea Shells" and "Spin and Stop", for example.  Many of the songs were written for the program, while a few are traditional songs from world cultures.  Only one is a traditional American "kids song" - "I've Been Working on the Railroad."  Interestingly enough, that was one of the ones I didn't like as much.

The Music Together Family Favorites Songbook for Teachers first gives an overview of the program, including a section on working with children with special needs.  Following that, there is printed music and words for each song, as well as activity suggestions for infants, preschoolers, and children with special needs.  A selection of rhythm instruments is suggested, such as shaker eggs and rhythm sticks.  I was able to find items around my house to work as substitutions - plastic Easter eggs filled with rice, wooden spoons, etc.  Playing with objects in a new way was part of the fun!  

Even if I don't ever use the Music Together program at church, I will surely keep using it with my little ones.  It was great to see them so engaged in the music and what we were doing together.  Little Miss is always disappointed when I tell her that I have to stop playing with her, but it helps that I let the music continue to play.  Music Together is a welcome addition to our day, and my preschooler loves anything that she considers to be her "schoolwork", so I make sure we do it while her older brother and sister are doing their own schoolwork.

The Music Together Family Favorites can be found at Music Together.  If you choose to purchase Family Favorites, don't forget that you save $5 when you buy the cd/songbook combo.  Also, use the coupon code "Schoolhouse" at checkout, and save another $2, making your total $37.95 for the set!


***Disclaimer:  I received the Music Together Family Favorites set in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Children In Church

My family has attended a "family integrated" church in the past, and while we greatly enjoyed the fellowship times outside of the church service (at least two a month), we found that our family was looking for more than just the Sunday service - the only formal instruction time this specific church offered.  As a homeschooling family, we wanted our children to be able to interact with other children in a Christian setting more often than what they were getting.  For us, it was not a matter of children in the service, but rather the lack of any instruction geared specifically toward them, such as a Sunday School class.

I was highly interested in reading Curt and Sandra Lovelace's new book, Children In Church, when the opportunity arose.  Having participated in the congregation I just described, and now working toward a ministry position in a denomination that definitely encourages childrens church, youth groups, and the like, I am curious as to how to combine the two successfully.  I have experienced occasions when a family comes for a visit, and they want their child to stay with them - either because they are uncomfortable sending their child off with strangers, or the child is shy and prefers to stay with mom and dad.  I was hoping to find in  Children In Church  a way to address this topic with future congregations, so that it is not an issue and these families are welcomed warmly.

I am greatly pleased with what I read in the chapters of this book!  I greatly appreciate that the Lovelaces devote a large portion of the book to the Biblical basis for children in the worship service and outlining their belief and understanding of God's Word on this topic.  I feel that the information will help me settle any future concerns that church members might have over children being in the service.  Now that I am finished, I feel equipped to assist a "traditional" church from my denomination in welcoming children into the service - most likely through a monthly family-style worship service, but more importantly, on those Sundays when we are blessed with visitors that need the comfort of staying together as a family. 

Throughout Children In Church, the Lovelaces give loads of helpful ideas and instruction on how to help children to be able to sit in a church service as well as actually get something out of it.  I have heard some of them before, but I love their idea of easing a child into taking notes over time through drawing a picture for them to color based on the sermon, then ending (when they are eventually ready) with them making their own notes.  The tone of the book is gentle, and encourages the reader to find what works for them and their family - and to keep trying, even if the first attempts feel unsuccessful.

Children In Church can be found at http://childreninchurch.com/order/ as an advance reader copy for $12.  The book focuses on parents with younger children, but I think that anyone that loves children would get something out of it.  In my opinion, it should be required reading for anyone involved in church leadership!

***Disclaimer:  I received a digital copy of Children in Church in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Reading Kingdom

When the opportunity arose to try out Reading Kingdom, I was interested to see if it was something that would work for Little Miss.  The minimum suggested age for the lessons is 4 years old, and she just turned 3 a few weeks ago.  I am by no means trying to push her into reading before she is ready, however, she does absolutely love books.  On the Reading Kingdom website I found the following criteria:

• to sit and do school like activities for 15 minutes at a time
• to express ideas in complete sentences
• to match shapes, and
• to use a computer mouse and keyboard (with adult assistance if required)

Little Miss does all these things.  Or, at least, I thought she did.  After I got the log-in information for the site, she sat on my lap and we did the assessment.  It was quickly obvious to me that she does not have the mouse skills necessary to do the lessons on her own.  We resorted to her pointing to the objects on the screen, and me clicking on them.  I didn't influence her at all - if she pointed to the wrong letter, I clicked the wrong letter.  After the assessment was done, the program moved Little Miss into the "Seeing Sequences" portion of the lessons, which look like this:

The "Seeing Sequences" portion will last about 2 weeks, according to the cute little owl mascot that leads you through the program.  Each lesson is meant to be able to be completed in one sitting, but you can pause or even stop a lesson if needed.  Here is where I got a bit confused.  There was no meter that I could see to show the parent how much of the lesson was left, and nothing came up to say that we had finished a lesson.  I stopped the program at what seemed to be a break in the lesson, and went to look at the Reader Report, which shows progress.  It shows Little Miss is 9% done with the "Seeing Sequences" level, but it doesn't say if she's finished a lesson or not.  I did discover, however, that there are optional training exercises for the mouse available through the Reader Report screen!  I believe I will have her work on those before we go any further in the program.

Reading Kingdom is designed to teach children ages 4 to 10 years to read up to a 3rd grade level.  It supposedly teaches all six skills necessary for reading and writing success, including sequencing, motor skills, phonics (phonemic awareness), meaning, grammar and reading comprehension.  The program can be used in conjunction with other reading curriculum or on its own.  It is web-based, so it can be accessed by logging in from any computer (well, any that has internet access!).  

Right now, I don't plan to put too much emphasis on  Reading Kingdom  with Little Miss.  She definitely enjoys it - she loved it when stars or smiley faces appeared when she got the right letters, and was delighted when the letters she got right made a word.  However, I feel like she definitely needs more practice with the mouse.  I also feel like the program could give a preschooler a little more time to respond before it offers hints or moves on.  Maybe Little Miss just needs a slightly longer attention span.  My thoughts right now are to have her do the mouse skills exercises, see how she does, and possibly wait until after Christmas to have her try the reading lessons again.  If she wants to play on the site, I will let her, but I will not force her to.

Reading Kingdom is available as a monthly subscription for $19.99.  If you choose to pay for a full year, it is $199.99.  Additional children are 50% off.  There is also a scholarship option, with details on the website's pricing page.

***Disclaimer:  I received a one year subscription to Reading Kingdom in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Notable Novelists

Notable Novelists is a fun and easy way to introduce your students to influential novelists of the 20th century.  The set of cards is the same size as a standard playing-card deck, so it is easy to keep in a purse, back pack, or the car.  The rules of the game are basically the same as "Go Fish", except you are trying to make sets of three - author card, library card, and bio card - rather than pairs.  We found the illustrations to be appealing caricatures, and my children liked just browsing through the deck and reading about the different writers.

Eighteen different authors are featured.  Unfortunately, many of them are ones I have not read myself, let alone introduced my children to.  While I am using this game to help my children become familiar with the names of the authors and their works, it has sparked a desire in myself to at least try out some of the books listed.  I know not all of them will be my cup of tea, but I am interested in seeing what made these writers the "greats" of recent times.

As I mentioned, Notable Novelists is easy to play - there were no frustrated participants here.  We were playing the game as soon as the cards were shuffled!  I think it would make an excellent game to play on the go, as the only necessary pieces are the cards, and most people will understand the rules immediately.  I would recommend this game for anyone who can play "Go Fish" and read well enough to be able to say the authors names - probably age 8 and up?

If you are looking for a great travel game, a unique stocking stuffer, or a small or educational gift to keep on hand, Notable Novelists may be just the thing for you!  It is available for $10.95.  I'm tempted to get a copy for my brother and his fiancee (they both have masters in library sciences) just for fun!

***Disclaimer:  I received this game in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Uncover Exciting History

In my opinion, Uncover Exciting History from Amy Puetz and Golden Prairie Press would be a great supplemental book to any American history curriculum.  It would also be a good starting point for a child who loves to research and dig deeper on their own.  Each chapter is fairly short and simple - easy for a younger child to understand if it is read aloud - and is followed by a mix of discussion and comprehension questions, as well as additional books and activities which would further reinforce the lesson.  This book would be a great resource for a student that likes to "notebook".

That said, I'm not sure how exciting a child would find these stories.  They don't seem very suspenseful or dramatic to me.  There also does not seem to be much detail.  The website suggests the book for ages 12 and up, but we found that they seemed to be more suited to younger children, starting around age 8.  By age 12, most children have heard these stories, and know the endings of them.  The language is fairly straight-forward.  However, I think that the "Digging Deeper" sections I mentioned would be great for ages 12 and up, with the chapters as a launch-pad for independent study.  

For our family, we quickly made our way through some of the chapters, but it honestly didn't capture our attention.  I plan to use some of the supplemental activities and book suggestions this year with my two 7th graders, but I don't see myself really using this book until my younger two are a little older - probably around 2nd or 3rd grade.

Uncover Exciting History is available from Golden Prairie Press at www.amypuetz.com.  The e-book is currently on sale for $11.96.  A print version and MP3 audio version are also available.

***Disclaimer:  I received an ebook copy of Uncover Exciting History in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers

Since my children were small, I have had a desire to make sure they know the old hymns that I grew up singing in church.  This desire came about because, unfortunately, so many churches have moved away from singing them on a regular basis, if at all.  I love modern praise and worship music, but I also have such a connection to those old hymns.  I often find myself tearing up when we do sing one at church - they have a warm, familiar feeling, like coming home.

In our early homeschooling days, I had grand plans to introduce my children to the hymns, one every week or two.  These plans didn't last long, and I'm sorry to say that those cds are gathering dust since my cd player broke.  Enter Christian Liberty Press's Mr. Pipes.  The history of the great hymns and hymn writers of the past are shared through the stories that Mr. Pipes shares with two American kids staying in a sleepy little English village.  

Most of the chapters of Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers focus on one or two specific hymn writers.  Two of them are about a group, such as "Women Hymn Writers."  I really love that the information is shared through storytelling.  The reader gets easily caught up in the story of the writers and the history behind the hymns without feeling bogged down by facts.  I love the kind of teaching where my children learn without even realizing it.  My kids love it when schoolwork doesn't feel like work!

My plan for this book for this school year is to spread it out, reading one chapter a week.  We will listen to a hymn by the featured writer, then read the chapter aloud together.  The language is easy but not simple, so I don't think it will feel like a burden to my reluctant reader.  After reading the chapter, we will listen to some more of the featured writer's hymns.  I plan to continue to play the hymns throughout the week, including them in our family devotion time as well as copy work.  The website says that these are geared toward 7th through 10th grade, but I think that it would work for older elementary kids as well.  I actually think that kids much older than 7th grade may find them too simple. 

Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers is available through Christian Liberty Press, one of my favorite homeschool curriculum companies.  The ebook version is $8.79, and the paper version is $9.89.  There are actually four books in the Mr. Pipes series, and I plan to use them all!

***Disclaimer:  I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Crew: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

I am excited about the latest review item I have in my possession.  Apologia was kind enough to send out a copy of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, along with a copy of their accompanying curriculum workbook.  My children have done Bible knowledge lessons since we started homeschooling, but we have not done a topical study together.  I think that 7th grade is a great age to introduce them to one - especially one designed to help them understand why we believe what we believe, and how that compares to the rest of the world.

There are basically 19 lessons in the workbook.  We are just starting out, because we are just starting our school year and I really wanted this to be a formal part of it.  I had plans to start earlier this month, but a few events altered those plans.  This is a Bible study the kids and I do together - we read through the selected passage from I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, then go through the lesson in the workbook.  I don't have the kids read the book on their own, though if they were older, I'd assign the selection to them then have a discussion time.  

I really like how the lessons are divided.  There are four main sections to each one.  I love, love, love that one of those sections has the student research for themselves the points discussed in I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.  Another section helps the student see how the things they're learning apply to their life and faith.  This study really has my children beginning to understand the why behind what they already strongly believe.  A child-like faith is awesome, but as my children begin to move into a more grown-up world, I want them to have more of a defense for their faith than just, "Because the Bible says so."  

One of the other features I like about this curriculum are the biographies of historical figures.  I couldn't find a list of these biographies, but there are two in each chapter.  Examples of some of these biographies are Carl Sagan, C. S. Lewis, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Friedrich Nietzsche.  I think it's really important to teach my children not only about the accomplishments of people in the past, but also what they believed, since that is usually the driving force behind great accomplishments.

I am eager to finish this study - not because I want to get it over with, but because I want to see what all three of us have learned by the end.  I'm full of anticipation over how my children will have grown through this course!

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and the companion curriculum can be purchased through Apologia.  The book sells for $16, and the workbook is $33.  

***Disclaimer:  I received a copy of these two books from Apologia in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: VocabularySpellingCity.com

Prior to this review, I had heard of Vocabulary Spelling City, and it was always with a good recommendation from another homeschooler.  I was given the opportunity to check it out for myself recently.  

One thing I found a little challenging with this review is that we weren't really doing any formal lessons at the time, so I didn't have spelling words for the kids to work on.  Fortunately, one of the features of Vocabulary Spelling City is that you can choose to enter your own lists, or choose from pre-made lists.  I chose to have Super Girl work on the list of state names.  She is a really good speller, and can spell most of them correctly the first time.  However, I felt that the practice wouldn't hurt, and I also thought that all the games and such would help make sure she knows all the state names.

After I chose a list for Super Girl, I was able to go in and choose how I wanted her to work on the words.  There are a variety of games to choose from, in which the student practices the words while having fun.  There are also several ways to teach and test the words.  I really love that you can even print out the spelling words as a handwriting practice sheet!  I chose to have Wonder Boy work on his handwriting while practicing the months of the year.  I know he should have them down pat at age 12, but his spelling is not good, to say the least.

Vocabulary Spelling City is available as an online subscription for $29.99 for up to 5 children for one year.  There are also many free areas of the website, if you want to "try before you buy."  Be sure to visit the "teaching resources" tab, which has loads of things to explore, such as language arts lessons.  Vocabulary Spelling City tracks your student's progress as they work through a word list.  If you have several children of differing ages, it's a great way to take a little off your plate and allow you to tend to other things and younger children while your older student does their spelling!  If you don't homeschool, Vocabulary Spelling City is still a great way to help ensure that your child does well on their weekly spelling tests!


***Disclaimer:  I was given a subscription to Vocabulary Spelling City in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: King Alfred's English

Lately I have been reading a book about the history of the English language.  Some of you might find this subject yawn-inducing.  Depending on the author, I might, too!  However, Laurie J. White, the author of King Alfred's English, did a wonderful job of writing a book that is both informative and interesting.  Once I started reading, I found myself finding little tidbits here and there which were new to me.  The author's tone is conversational, so that while the book is educational, you don't feel like you're reading a text book.

From the author's website, The Shorter Word:

Did you know?

•  The English were NOT the British. In fact, they fought each other…a lot. And still today, if you call an English person British, he might very well correct you even though he knows you probably won’t understand.

• You probably don’t pronounce the word “when” like your parents. When you say “when” and “win,” do these words sound the same? If you’re under 50, they probably do. If you’re older, you may still pronounce the sound of the “h” and the words sound slightly different. I still pronounce the “h,” do you?

• The Brothers Grimm compiled German fairy tales, but they were also famous philologists (and what IS a philologist?)

• There’s a law for the way languages change that backs up Intelligent Design.

• For over 300 years the official language of the English court was…French! Seriously. But the English were always fighting the French. That’s true. Find out why.

• There’s a reason we write “knight” but say “nite,” and you won’t believe how they used to pronounce it.

• It was once punishable by death to translate even portions of the Bible into English! Yikes!

• Recent scholarship has shown that at least 80% of the King James Bible is the translation work of just one man. Who was he?

Personally, I am younger than 50, but even though I do not (think) I pronounce the "h" in "when", the words "when" and "win" do not sound the same when I speak them, so the second point above is interesting to me.

My favorite part of the book is actually in the third chapter.  The author talks about how language actually points to intelligent design (i.e. God, the Creator) rather than backing up evolution.  I love that the author comes at the subject from a blatant Christian view point.  I frankly think we should be able to examine all subjects through the lens of faith in God and His Word, and I love it when I come across materials that support me in this endeavor.

King Alfred's English is appropriate for those at a middle school reading level or higher.  I personally have not found any portions that I felt were unsuitable for my older two children (7th grade, ages 11 and 12).  I think there is plenty to be gleaned from simply reading the book.  However, there is also free supplemental materials on the author's website, The Shorter Word, including "images, articles, videos, primary sources, and literature related to each chapter," as well as tests and worksheets.  I certainly plan on using the book in the future with my children, as I feel it would be an interesting take on not only the history of the English language, but also the history of England in general.

King Alfred's English is available through several different outlets.  It varies in price depending on retailer from $14.89 for a soft-cover version to $5.95 for the Kindle version.

***Disclaimer:  I received a copy of King Alfred's English for my Kindle in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Create Better Writers

Wonder Boy (age 12) was not good at constructing a paragraph before using How to Write a Paragraph from Create Better Writers.  We've tried a few writing curricula, yet the basics of how to structure a paragraph just didn't stick with him.  Perhaps because those other programs were trying to teach other things alongside, or maybe he just wasn't ready for it yet.  However, after the first day of trying How to Write a Paragraph, he was able to list the 5 parts of a paragraph with only a little prompting.  Now that we are finished, he can rattle the parts off in a few seconds!

How to Write a Paragraph has the student start out by writing a paragraph of their own choosing, without any further instruction from the teacher.  Whatever the student feels is a paragraph, that is what they write.  I struggled a little with this, because Wonder Boy didn't even know what a "paragraph" was after having taken the summer off.  I decided to show him a book, and point out the paragraphs.  That was my only commentary on the subject.  He surprised me by sticking to one main idea, and having more than two sentences.  However, he still needed a lot of work.

We worked through the e-book together, and Wonder Boy caught on quickly.  The method outlined in the e-book really seemed appealing to him and held his interest.  I didn't have to struggle to keep him focused, and I could tell he was actually retaining the information.  The whole experience really reinforced in me that he does better in some areas with one-on-one teaching, rather than having the book handed to him to study independently.  I think we'll be integrating more one-on-one time this school year as a result.  I'm also happy to say that Wonder Boy can now write a paragraph on his own, and the task doesn't seem daunting to him!

We took our time working through How to Write a Paragraph, and then some mild life events happened, so we have not moved on to How to Teach the Five-Paragraph Essay yet.  However, I anticipate favorable results with with that e-book, as well!  I plan to also use it with Super Girl, as she knows how to write a paragraph, but is perhaps not totally familiar with writing an essay.

Create Better Writers provided me with three e-books:  How to Write a Paragraph, How to Teach the Five-Paragraph Essay, and The Homeschool Writing Action Plan.  They range in price from $7.99 to $17.95.  If you have found that your children in 3rd grade and up are lacking in the basic writing skills, these books might be just what you're looking for!

***Disclaimer:  I received the above e-books in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: Zane Education

The idea behind Zane Education is that children learn and retain more from videos when there are subtitles or close captioning along with the video.  I was interested in this idea, as I know that when I am watching a movie but find I'm being distracted for some reason - sound quality, noise in the room, etc. - I find that turning on the captions helps me pay attention.

I was disappointed with Zane, however.  I found the videos to be dry, much like the filmstrips and educational videos I remember watching in school, and the picture quality is not any better.  In fact, the narration even sounded the same.  I found myself wondering if they had simply put captions to a warehouse of old videos from the 70s and 80s.  The kids said they were boring - and my son is one who prefers to learn through video!  I generally have no problem getting him to watch historical documentaries - but he only watched the Zane videos when I made him.  

The videos are shown in a very small box on the computer screen, and there seems to be no way to enlarge it.  At least a few of the videos we watched had issues with the captioning moving on before the narration - which defeats the purpose, in my opinion.  

That said, I did like that there was a quiz to go with each video, as well as links to a glossary, dictionary, encyclopedia, and thesaurus to the right of the video.  If a student wants to know the meaning of a word and can't figure it out from the video, they can pause it and click on those links.  

Zane Education also covers a wide range of topics - there are videos to reinforce most subjects a homeschooler might cover.  Art, biology, geography, health, history, library skills, literature, math, music, religion, science, and social studies are all there.  However, I found it disappointing that "health" seems to equate to "sex ed" and nothing else.  I also found the religion category very lacking, though I did appreciate the informative videos on other major world religions.  The videos are geared toward jr. high and up, though the website states that a few of the categories are appropriate for children as young as 6.  In my opinion, a child would have to be a very advanced reader at 6 years old for the whole idea of the captioning to be effective.  Otherwise, they will probably get frustrated by not being able to keep up with the words.  Also, I would only use these videos to reinforce what my children are learning, though the website suggests that they could be used on their own, as a homeschooler's only curriculum.

Online memberships to Zane Education vary in price, depending on level of access.  You may choose to only access the videos for a certain age or subject, or you can choose to access all of them.  Memberships are available per month or for 12 months.  Monthly memberships start at $5, and yearly memberships start at $98.89.

***Disclaimer:  I was given a membership to Zane Education in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.  

TOS Review: Lightning Lit

Lightning Lit from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources is a literature and composition curriculum ranging from 7th grade to 12th grade.  We had the opportunity to try out the 7th grade level, which covers works such as "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I chose to have Super Girl try it out, as she is my "reader".  The lessons seem to fit our style easily, which is mainly independent study.  The teacher/parent's main role is to look over writing assignments and other written work.  The Lightning Lit set came with three books - a teacher guide, a student guide, and a student workbook.Each chapter in the student guide corresponds to a written work, with the chapters building on each other.  Each chapter gives an introduction - mainly a short biography of the author, and some things to think about while the selection is being read.  The student then reads the selection, completing comprehension questions as they go.  There is a main lesson and a secondary lesson to be taken from each work, and then a section of the workbook to be completed.  There are several writing assignments given at the end of the chapter.

We honestly did not get further than part way through the second chapter, because The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is the subject matter, and it is a fairly lengthy book.  However, it seemed that Super Girl got a good grasp of the lessons from the first chapter ("Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"), and was able to complete the assignments on her own.  I like the idea of the student using the workbook before they start the writing assignments.  The worksheets utilize a variety of activities to reinforce the chapter's lessons.  Super Girl really felt confident when it was time to work on writing, which is not something I can say for other literature and composition programs we've tried.

Lightning Lit is available from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources.  The complete set, including curriculum and the literature covered, sells for $91.73 for the 7th grade level.  The curriculum books may also be purchased separately.   

 

***Disclaimer:  I received Lightning Lit in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.

TOS Review: IXL

IXL is a website designed to teach math skills from preschool through junior high (algebra).  I was able to create accounts for all three of the kids that are old enough to use it, and they've been using it as their math curriculum for a little while.

It was easy to set up our family account on the website and assign grade levels to my children.  I told the older two to work in the 6th grade level, and Little Miss worked in Pre-K.  They actually have access to all the levels, though.  When one of them clicks through their grade level, it shows a list of skills to be mastered - over 260 for 6th grade, and about 40 for Pre-K.  This is where I found the first thing I do not like about IXL - the child can skip around through the skills, possibly attempting things they are not ready for.  In my own personal experience, trying to do math problems that you don't have the foundational skills for just leads to a lot of frustration and issues with math in general.  Just say the word "math" to me, and my eyes tend to glaze over.  Also, one category does not have to be completed before they can move on.  The child can work a little in each one if they choose, not really mastering anything.

My older two children were assigned to work in IXL for at least 30 minutes at a time.  Conveniently, there is a timer on the side of the practice screen which lets the student know how long they have been working.  It also displays a running total of problems attempted, as well as the score.  If a question is answered incorrectly, the correct answer is displayed.  The student has the option of having the answer explained to them, or they can simply move on to the next question.  Children earn virtual medals and other rewards by answering questions correctly, practicing for certain amounts of times, and mastering skills.  Super Girl likes being able to choose different categories to work in based on her mood, and really liked that the questions are asked in several different ways in each section.

 

Little Miss has enjoyed answering questions, but at her age (not quite 3 years old), she has only worked on IXL a few times.  She did master the first skill (circles, triangles, and squares) within her first few minutes on the site.  However, she does not really have the computer skills necessary, and so any practicing she does must be with the assistance of someone else.  She really seems to enjoy the little rewards and such.

The other thing I was not crazy about in regards to the way the site works is that the children have access to all the levels at once (as I stated before).  I would prefer to be able to select a level for each child, and then adjust it as needed.  As the site sends me reports on how and what my children are doing in their math work, I can easily tell if they are in the appropriate level.   I do like that I can make sure they are finishing each area, rather than just doing a little here and there.  Over all, I'm glad that my children have IXL to not only keep them at grade level over the summer, but help them continue to advance during this period of lighter school work (that's right - we don't take a full-on break, but that's another post)!

IXL can be found at www.ixl.com.  Membership is available on a monthly basis for $9.95, or yearly for $79 for one child.  Each additional child is $20 on the yearly membership.

 
***Disclaimer:  I was given a 6 month membership to IXL for three of my children in exchange for my review through the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  All opinions are my own.