Homeschool In The Woods - TOS Product Review

I have to admit, I'm not a good lapbook momma. I mean to be... I love the idea of all these cool little folds and creases and hidden treasures in carefully-constructed pockets. But when the day gets rollin' for me, I'm usually behind already on schedule, and often we just dive in and do the "necessary" topical assignments, and I forsake the opportunity to get hands-on with our study and review in this really cool way.

Many homeschool moms are well-familiar with lapbooking, but it's worth explaining. Sort of a hybrid of scrapbooking, you typically use a file folder (alternative folds are optional) and fill it with small packets and pockets, fan-folds and accordions, little flip books and revolving paper-fastener-creations, which contain little snippets of information about the chosen subject.

We had the chance to review Homeschool In the Woods' New Testament lapbook, and instead of trying to "add it on top" of all we are already doing, I decided to just take a week and make this our primary project, along with our math and science studies.

Rather than opt to have each child do their own, the "big kids" are working in pairs. I'm excited about the teamwork as well as the chance to work on small motor skills (11 year old still needs work in this area). As they cut and color individual projects (one example is the basket filled with fruits of the spirt, with the correlating scriptures glued on the backs), they read the material it contains. Next, they place each assembled component into a large ziploc. At week's end, they will assemble the project, reviewing the concepts as they go. Finally, they'll "present" their projects to friends and family to firm up their knowledge.

For us, this is a great way to take a little break from the regular schedule and re-focus on God's word. I like the product a lot, and as a multiple grade teacher, I love that it's got components for all levels. If I only had one, I think this would be a fun project to do together! In fact, I am thinking of purchasing their artists activity pack for this summer, and as an aid to "hitting" some of the figures more in-depth than we did during the year.

A little about Homeschool In the Woods:

"It is our heartfelt prayer that children develop a love of learning that will not end when they are finished with "school." We at Home School in the Woods have a passion for supporting the education of our children, specifically in understanding God's providence through history." Homeschool In the Woods provides activity packs, timeline notebooks and figures, some digital and some printed, and available as downloads or on CD (products vary). Cost averages $20 per product, with the timeline binder (looks beautiful online) available for around $38.

From one mom to another: If lapbooking isn't your typical curriculum, give it a go. But try dropping everything else you can for a week so you can really dive into it and not rush.

...and another math book makes him happy.

E. loves his math. Reading is okay, if his siblings are doing it with him, or if he's reading "just for fun." But math, that will be a willing assignment on any given day, especially with this new book - it's bright and shiny and filled with a ton of new "projects!"
This book comes for our review from Critical Thinking Press. Here is a quote from their website:

We design critical thinking into reading, writing, math, science and history lessons so students carefully analyze what they are learning. Deeper analysis produces deeper understanding, which results in better grades and higher test scores. Over time, students who practice critical thinking learn to apply it throughout their education and life.

We do not teach through drill and memorization or teach to the tests—we empower the mind! Our goals are higher grades, top test scores, and problem solving skills to meet all of life’s challenges. The Critical Thinking Company is recommended by Mensa, Learning Magazine, The Well Trained Mind, Dr. Toy, Creative Child Magazine, and used by Sylvan Learning Centers, Club Z In-Home Tutoring, leading U.S. public schools, and gifted & talented programs in 57 countries throughout the world. We guarantee better grades and higher test scores—or your money back. Lofty goals and high praise!

For my non-homeschooling friends, this site is rich with resources for all learners, as well as traditional school teachers and parents.

I found this book to be a visual delight. I would not use it as a primary math curriculum, as it does not seem to be laid out in this way, but it is a neat supplemental material, and easy to grab one topic to work on.

My only criticism: (and some would consider this a "plus") the pages are not removable. I would like to pick-and-choose pages for E. to work on and save the rest for Littlest, but instead, we'll have to just save the whole book. This will bug my slightly-obsessive-in-small-areas self!

update: An email from a friend: Two words: EXACTO KNIFE!! When E is done with the math book, use an exacto knife to easily cut out the pages from the spine that he doesn’t use to save them for Isaac. Wow, what a great idea! I am TOTALLY doing this!

Schleich Action Figures

Oh, wow, did we ever get an exciting delivery last week! Have you ever seen the animal figures made by Schleich? We received some to review for the TOS Crew! Here in town, I know you can buy these at Michael's. I also know you can buy them at some Ace Hardware stores - and I know this for a funny reason. A few days after we received our box of cool animals to play with, we came home to three HUGE, VERY HEAVY boxes on our front porch. Inside were literally hundreds of bubble-wrapped animals. I was pretty sure we weren't meant to review all of these (you only need so many realistic crocodiles) so we called and discovered we had received a shipment meant for a store in New York! Alas, my little E cried big tears at having to send the figures on their merry way - for we have bonded with our Schleich figures. The kids (ALL OF THEM!) love these - whether it's little Blue making the animal sounds (a great interactive time with siblings!) or E, who pronounced it "very, very mean," that we didn't get to keep all three cases, or the big ones who just like to handle them and read the neat little flyers that come with them.
If you're studying animals, or just needing some neat interactive toys, these are sturdy, just-right-sized, and very life-like!
This little piggy loves his new friends!


And oh, my lands, you have to visit their site! It's fun and lively and itself interactive! You can't believe all the other types of figures they create - check out the medieval ones!

Review: Molly's Money-Saving Digest

It's on the news, it's in conversation, and it's peppering many of my friends' and family's conversations. Even for those who are not feeling the "pinch" in our economy, the idea of being responsible with the resources God's given us is not new. There is, however, a new monthly e-book called Molly's Money-Saving Digest that addresses the concerns on everyone's mind!

The e-book (if you're new to this concept, this is a book that's published digitally; you download it to your computer to read) is like a magazine, chock-full of tips and encouraging helps in the money-saving journey.

This issue brings me right back to my days of sitting in the Dave Ramsey classes - it introduces and encourages the concept of paying down debt by using a "snowball" principle and creating an emergency fund. It also features an interesting interview with famed unit study author Amanda Bennett, on the topic of "Parenting that Pays." This is parenting with the goal to "encourage resourcefulness in our kids, and inspire an entrepreneurial spirit." Amanda shares her own testimony of raising kids who went on to build their own businesses and become very successful at them, along with worthy ideas on encouraging our own children to do so.

The digest also offers articles on repurposing (a crafty and artsy bulletin board project) and Making Money From Home (this was of interest to me as I've recently begun building my own photography business!). Included are features on women who have developed successful business opportunities from home.

Other regular articles include Reader Writer-In and Goal-Setter Spotlight, with highlights an inspirational success story from someone who has set, and achieved, a major financial goal.

At $4.95 per downloadable issue, it's probably more than I'd spend personally, but for someone who's looking for some great tips, helpful web links, and encouraging articles, Molly's Money-Saving Digest is a good read.

Molly's Money-Saving Digest can be purchased through The Old Schoolhouse Store here.

Rocket Phonics -TOS Homeschool Product Reciew

Rocket Phonics is a program designed to teach - well - phonics - to your student! We have been using this with our E., who's six. The kit came with a set of review cards for sounds to learn ("Play and Read Cards,"}, along with ideas to use the cards not just for review, but for games. There are also a "treasure hunt," and bonus activities and supplements emailed with receipt of the kit. It also includes the two volumes of books to work through for reading success.

Rocket Phonics is designed by a medical doctor and former English teacher husband-wife team, who are homeschooling parents of a grown daugther, and they created the program "to eliminate confusion in learning to read." The guidebooks contain a step-by-step guide to learning to read, complete with color coded word and sound cues, and full-color pictures on each page. According to their website, Rocket Phonics, in an independent study, outperformed other phonics programs 4-to-1. They also feature an endorsement from John Taylor Gatto.

I think especially for a first-time teaching parent, this program could be a hit. Not having taught reading outside the homeschool-specific programs I have used, there were a couple of word cues I found confusing; I'm not sure if they were different only to what I have used, but may be common in other programs. (For example, the sound card for long-vowel-a pictures an ape and says "ay (ape)" with a picture of an ape, and s-sound as in treasure has a card with "zh (treasure)" with a picture of a chest. To me this is confusing as it creates an alternate spelling the child will now have to process in addition to the real spelling.)

I do appreciate the bright colors, and the books are well made with a spiral binding, and if I were beginning again with my first, this is a program I would research further. Cost would be a factor for us; with substantially valued bonus items, the program is around $160.

Insight Technical Education

Not too long ago, we received a product called "Advanced Complete-A-Sketch" from Insight Technical Education. Complete-A-Sketch is a digital product that allows you to print out a detailed drawing of a technical item. Students then complete the partially-illustrated item to develop dexterity, focus, and artistic skill.

From their site: "There are many art courses available for children. Complete-A-Sketch is different from all of them. The unique approach of Complete-A-Sketch allowed me to teach my children to draw what they see. I think of technical art as a practical art. It allows the artist to clearly present their ideas to others. As the old saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."

I am intrigued by a product so foreign to any I've tried; it's neat to discover a curriculum that seems completely unique within the homeschool market. More than a basic art program, this line of products encourages students to explore technical drawing as a possible entrance into drafting or accounting careers. I also appreciate that the product is not age-designated - all ages of children who are able to complete the drawings can benefit from it. There is also a program available called "Vision-Dexterity-Focus" created specifically for challenged learners, as well as advanced drafting and graphic design products.

Both Brian Jr. and Joshua enjoyed the drawings they've completed. For your technically-minded student, this could be a very useful product. It's billed as promoting self-motivation... you know I'm all about any learning tool that does that!

Help for teaching mommas...

Imagine if you were just beginning your homeschool journey. (With a little Providence, some of you reading right now are!) What if you had a sort of mentor-mom; someone to hold your hand, and walk alongside you in your journey? What if there was a resource that could show you shortcuts and tips to enrich your homeschool experience, for you and your kids?
Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest has created just such a resource, called Homeschooling ABCs. It's available online, and it is an entire series of "lessons" with bonus curriculum gifts for beginning homeschool parents.

To be honest, when I received this item, I sort of felt I'd simply be reviewing it for "newbies." I found, though, that there were tons of tips I can incorporate, even after some 8 years "in the trenches." Some of the topics covered include organization of your supplies, scheduling, teaching multiple ages, and acquiring the right curriculum for your family. A unique feature of this program is that it is written as a series of emails that you will receive on a timed schedule, complete with "homework" to complete to help you move forward to creating your ideal home learning environment. The cost is reasonable - $10 per month for 6 months, and Knowledge Quest offers a 100% money back guarantee for the first 60 days of class. Check it out!

Oh, boy, here we go...

always wanted to learn Latin. isn't that a good reason to teach the "bigs"? actually, we are going to study it for greater language grasp, to improve our spelling, and to widen the opportunities if they want to study other languages. wasn't i a happy little bird when this arrived as a product to review for our journey with the TOS Crew?!

on another note (sort of), it's been a really awesome couple of weeks back to school. i think the gang was ready to be done with our "break" and back to our routine. there's nothing in the world sweeter than curling up on a giant beanbag next to a few of my little people and reading together. i think it might be even cooler (okay, didn't i just say that was impossible?) when they're engrossed in their own books. it's a Marco Polo week... joshie says, "mom, this guy was kind of wierd!" and there you have it.

Alphabet Alley

A sweet little game we received from a company called Alphabet Alley. This is perfect for my "bigs" to play with Ethan and, soon, Isaac, too!

"Alphabet Alley is a faith-based company that produces high quality toys for the early childhood market. We use all original graphics to illustrate solid values in a fun and entertaining way. Children choose Alphabet Alley products because they are fun! Parents, teachers and schools choose Alphabet Alley products for their educational, motivational and spiritual values," says their web intro.

Their toys are sweet and old-fashioned, and could be simple, easy conversation-starters for little people and their grown-ups.
We received both the Two by Two matching game and the
Noah's Ark Go Fish card game. Both were sturdy and had cute illustrations.

In a time when it's all too easy to find objectionable philosophy tucked into every little corner of our children's world, it's neat to find a company that has such lofty goals, and to find products that focus on "whatsoever is true..." even for the littlest set. The online store also offers neat stacking wooden blocks puzzles, and magnet sets with Bible story character illustrations. If you're looking for a little something extra for your little ones, and you're tired of mass-marketed secular character offerings, check out Alphabet Alley!