Memorial Day

Memorial Day is here.  I'd like to personally THANK all those who are serving, who have served, and those who have lost a loved one serving in the military.

We forget that the military families deserve the honor today as well.  These wives, husbands, and children have sacrificed a great deal for us too.  These people had to go on living their day to day lives while their spouses or parents are overseas protecting lives.  I thank you.

This picture below has been all over the internet for years.  I don't know this brave woman, but I feel for her.  Every time I see this picture, I feel tears in my eyes and my heart strings tugging.  I cannot imagine the pain, emptiness and heartache she must feel.  I thank HER as well, for HER sacrifice for MY freedom!

Schoolhouse Library amazing offer!

 http://schoolhouseteachers.com/2013/04/schoolhouse-library/

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is offering more than 175 e-books and audio books for your homeschooling needs for a one time purchase of $25.00!   

Here are a few of the 25 topics offered -

• Art and Crafts
• Bible
• Economics
• Electives
• Encouragement
• Geography
• Government
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Reading
• Organization (with several planners)
• Nature Study
• Special Needs

Hurry, click HERE now and check it out! 

Click the box below to see what the Crew Review Team had to say about the product reviews this year; what worked and what didn't!

Can the sun heal our bodies?

I was in a very serious car accident 3 years ago.  I broke 12 bones, punctured a lung, and jammed my upper spine into the back of my skull.  Yes, pretty serious.  God protected me from being hurt worse and he has healed my bones, lung, etc.  I am writing this because I wanted to share how his creation, the sun, helped in my healing process.

Heating pads, I was told, are not good for broken bones, at least not all the time.  It did however make them feel better.  So I decided to go sit outside on the deck in the swing my husband bought for me.  I placed pillows around me so my bones were secure.  I sat there, prayed and let the sun heal my bones.  The warmth of the sun somehow made them less painful, it comforted me (since being cold hurt really bad) and it calmed me. 

I sat out there many days and just prayed.  God and I spend a lot of time together that year.  He has placed so many things in our path to help heal us and keep us healthy we just don't see those things sometimes when we are involved with this thing called life.  The sun is a great natural healing item that God has placed here for us. So lets embrace the sun that our Lord God has given us to enjoy.....not just for light.

I thank GOD for my healing and I thank GOD for giving me the SUN to help.

Science, Naturally! TOS Review

 

http://sciencenaturally.com/

I received for review,

One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! 

from Science, Naturally!

Price:  $9.95

180 page paperback

Recommended for ages 8-12.

What Is This? -

This is a book of 65 mysteries written by a father daughter team.  They wrote this for your child to use their critical thinking skills & science to solve the them. They also wrote "65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math!".  They call them brainteasers, and they sure are!

For example, this one below is called "True Colors".  You read this page to your child and then he or she tries to solve the mystery.  The mysteries are one minute long and on one page. 

 

After the child uses his or her critical thinking skills & science knowledge, then you turn the page to read the conclusion.  This is how my 10 year old son and I used the book.  We used this several days per week and solved 4-5 mysteries each day. 

What I thought -

This is awesome!  My son loved trying to figure out each mystery as I read.  Some of them really made us think back to our science lessons and apply that to help us figure out the mystery.  He kept wanting to do more and more of these.  Even if there was a few here and there he didn't figure out, they were still teaching him some awesome science facts!

This is definitely a fun way to teach & learn science!  We enjoyed this so much!  We give this 2 thumbs up!

30% OFF Planner Bundles from HEDUA!

http://hedua.com/

Do you have your Planners yet for the upcoming 2013-2014 homeschool year?  If not, now is the time to get them!  HEDUA is offering 30% OFF!

There are several to pick from-

- Busy Mom Package (On The Go Planner, Wall Calendar and 1 yr. Subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine) http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/busy-mom-package.html

 

- Large Family Bundle (Two (2) Family Homeschool Planners, Wall Calendar and 1 yr. Subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine) 
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/large-family-bundle.html

 

- Student Teacher Bundle (Student Planner (your choice of style), Well Planned Day Planner and 1 yr. subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine) 
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/student-teacher-bundle.html

 

- Organized Family Bundle (Family Homeschool Planner, Wall Calendar and 1 yr. Subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine)  
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/organzied-family-bundle.html

 

- For You and a Friend Bundle (2 Well Planned Day Planners, 2 Wall Calendars and Two (2) 1-Year Subscriptions to Home Educating Family Magazine)  
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/wpd-friend-bundle.html

 

- On the Go For You and a Friend Bundle (2 On the Go Planners, 2 Wall Calendars and Two (2) 1-Year Subscriptions to Home Educating Family Magazine)  
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/otg-friend-bundle.html

 

- College Prep Bundle (High School 4 Year Planner, On the Go Planner and 1 yr. Subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine) 
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/college-prep-bundle.html

 

- Graduate Bundle (College/University Planner, On the Go Planner, 1 yr. Subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine) 
http://hedua.com/cart/index.php/graduate-bundle.html

College Prep Genius TOS Review

http://www.collegeprepgenius.com/

I received High School Prep Genius 

from College Prep Genius for review.

Price: $29.95
440 page paperback. 
Recommended for students in 7'th grade and up who plan to attend college & for their parents.

What Is This? -

This book is written for the student to give them the preparation they will need for college.  The preparation consists of effective study skills, organization, planning their future, studying for important entrance exams, etc.  They also cover tips on applying for colleges and paying for it.   

The first 88 pages contain a large introduction section before the chapters begin.  This tells how you and your student will use the book.  In this section, they also offer several sample forms that you will need in planning your child's future.  

Here are a few of those forms:
 
*   Graduation Checklist
*   Recommended Plan (RHSP) 
             & Distinguished Achievement Plan (DAP)
*   A three-tier guide to high school
*   Test prep examination inventory

They also offer a sample resume for the student!

There are eighteen chapters (440 pages) in this paperback.  


The chapters are for the student to read either with a parent or on their own (depending on how the parents want the reading done).  

At the end of each chapter there are a few activities for the student to do.  This gets the student to think about some things discussed in the chapter and to get them to think deeper about their future. 





There are a few questions for them to answer as well.  Some relate to the students character and virtues.









 
There is also a section for parents at the end of each chapter along with some homework.

  

This book will answer all the questions you have about high school as well as what to do for prep for college.  Things like transcripts, college interviews, and required tests.  There are also some web links provided for additional information.


How we used the book-

I read through the introduction pages and the first chapter, then had my 10'th grader read the first chapter.   We went through the questions together and discussed what was in that chapter.  Then I read the 'Guide for Parents' and did the homework assigned.  We read 1 chapter per week which took about 1 hour per week for us.

  
What I Thought -

I found this book to be quite helpful.  I was already familiar with transcripts, but this gave me a few ideas to incorporate with my transcript I have already been working on.  

I found the web links to be quite helpful as well.

The parent homework assignments were quite easy.  So don't panic!  No one likes homework, but these were painless.  For example, one of the Parent Homework assignments were to teach your child the difference between good food choices, ok food choices, and poor food choices.   When they are off at college, they'll need to start making these decisions for themselves and they'll need to know why the good food choices are important.  These are some of the things I think we forget about teaching our teens.  For me, I get so caught up in pushing the academics that I forget to make sure of some of the important things like food choices that will help him study and maintain a healthy lifestyle.   

I would recommend this to any parent & child who is in high school (or getting ready to enter) planing on applying and attending any college.  Even if you are unsure if your child is interested in college, this book can help you with the steps to better your child's future.  Your child may not want to go to college now, but what if 5 years after graduation they decide they want to attend?  This book will allow you to have already made the necessary steps to be ready when that time comes.  If they decide to not go to college?  This book still can help improve their SAT scores which may land them that awesome job!

What is a Mother?

A Mother isn't just a woman who gives birth.  A Mother is a woman who put others before herself.  Someone who would lay her life down for her children.  Someone who has compassion, love, tenderness and kindness.  


Here is what God's Word says about a Mother:

Proverbs 31:26-27
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

 Matthew 12:48-50
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

So according to God's Word, not only are we to be kind and watch over our household, but we are brother, sisters, and mother's in Christ.  We don't have to give birth to a child to be their Mother.  How wonderful that God gave us this great responsibility and trusts us enough to fulfill it.

There are so many children that do not have parents in this world.  Some get adopted, some don't.  But I know for sure that WE ALL NEED MOTHERS.

So I pray that those who do not have a Mother, that God would bring them someone in their life that would be a Mother to them.  Whether that means adoption or not, I pray that someone steps in for these children in need.  Someone who will be that Mother that will put them before herself, who will have compassion, show tenderness, kindness.......and love. 

 

Spanish for You! TOS Review

http://www.spanish-for-you.net/

I received the physical book, 'Spanish for You! Estaciones' 

from Spanish for You!

Recommended for grades 3-8. 

Price:

Estaciones Curriculum Package $64.95 
Fiestas Curriculum Package $64.95 
Books are shipped First Class Mail
PayPal is also accepted.
 

Packages come with the following included:

*soft cover book or e-book (trial pkgs).  Book contains 42 pages and 5 lessons.

*24 week lesson guide for grades 5-8 / 30 week lesson guide for grades 3-4.

*self-checking worksheets (pdf)

*audio files of the whole book (MP3 download)

*flashcard / activity pictures (pdf)   

*BONUS audio of native speaker of whole book (MP3 download) 

Note:  Teacher lesson plans are sold separately and are not included in the packages.  They come in pdf format only and are only needed for 'class use'.  They have only one available at this time and it's for the Fiestas package.  Click HERE  and scroll to bottom of linked page to view more information. 


What Is This?-

The Estaciones is one full year of Spanish curriculum.  It is taught to all ages at the same time and by theme.  Here are the different themes to choose from.  (I was sent the Estaciones for review so my review will consist of this package / theme only.)

There are printable worksheets.....

lesson guides (for each grade level).......

  
and flashcards.

A section of the lesson guide is read to the student, and then you listen to the audio with the student while following along in the book.  The flashcards & worksheets are printed out and used after the lesson guide.  In the book, there are games and activities to do as well.  


How We Used The Product-

We used this product several times per week.  (It is recommended 4 days per week.)  I would read the lesson to my 10 year old and then we would listen to the audio of that lesson.  We chose to make our own flashcards.  (The picture above is the flashcards that you can print if desired.)

I would have the calendar month in a stack for him to place in order.  Once he had them in order, he would read them off for me in Spanish.  Another game we played was mixing the cards up and asking him (in english) to pull out the month of June for example.  He would then have to find 'junio' and hand it to me, each time saying the month in spanish that I asked for.  We did this with the days of the week as well.

We also would ask each other about the weather in spanish.  I would ask him how the weather is today and he would answer by saying, "Hace sol" (which means "it's sunny").  We had fun doing this every morning.


What I Thought-

I liked how the program introduced things with pictures.  My son is very visual and he learns best with hands-on approach.  It was challenging to him to pull out the card I asked for in the stack.  That is his favorite game we played.  The book is very simple as far as the pictures and display.  The pictures are drawn by a child, which I thought was great!  They were simple and some were funny. 

However, I felt that there is a bit too much information in each lesson.  For example, lesson one not only teaches the months, but it teaches the days of the week, weather conditions and verbs.  There are only 5 lessons for a whole years course.  I just thought that if the lessons were split up into several shorter ones it may have been easier to retain.  For example: if lesson one had only the days of the week - lesson two, just the months....etc.  But in all fairness, you could spend as much time as needed on each lesson.   So adding more lessons would just be my personal preference.  Learning so much in one lesson was a bit overwhelming to my son (and myself) so from them on we just took our time and made it through not worrying about the how long it took us.  This course is designed for a whole year, so taking several weeks or a month on one lesson would probably be the norm.  The layout didn't interfere with learning the language.  I am just more of a visual person myself and I feel it would've been a bit easier for us if the lessons were more spread out into more lessons.

Overall, I would recommend this to someone who wants to learn or teach spanish to themselves or their children.  

Homeschooling reward

God has rewarded me with the ability to homeschool my children.  I am getting ready to close my 9'th year of homeschooling.  I am looking forward to a summer break, besides my TOS curriculum reviews, but I always look forward to the next schoolyear.  I cannot believe that I'll be starting my 10'th year of homeschooling this fall!  It seems like it was yesterday that all the little ones were around the table with their ABC pages and the littlest one with the pacifier in his mouth and crayons in his little hand.

If you are looking to homeschool, or just thinking about it, I encourage and challenge you to do so.  I won't bluff and tell you it's easy.  I won't tell you that every day will be amazing.  I won't tell you that you will be relaxed and lively every day.  I won't tell you that every day will be an ah-ha moment.  But what I will tell you is that it is so REWARDING and you will never regret the investment you've made into your children!  Yes, you might end up in the bathroom in tears (like I have a time or two) on some days because you feel like you aren't getting through. But you ARE getting through to them!

We teach our children everyday .... yes, even if they go to a private or public school.  They watch us, learn from us and copy us daily.  So homeschooling is just  teaching their academics and all aspects of life combined.

Again, God has rewarded me with these children.  It's my job to give them the best of everything that I can possibly give.  For me, that includes their education.

I am proud of my boys, all three of them.  They are turning into bright, respectful young men of God.  This is my homeschooling reward.

Even though I expect the best that they possibly can give daily, it is not their good academics or good deeds that will give them the kingdom inheritance.  It is their love and following of Christ.