Sorry for drawing this a day late! Crazy week! The winner, via random.org which chose comment #10, is Terri of Accidentally Homeschooling. Congratulations, Terri!
This giveaway is now closed.
JumpStart 3D Virtual World is an absolutely adorable, adventure based world where your kids can have fun, and learn while they're at it. Math, reading, and critical thinking skills are taught as your child plays. Already quite familiar with the Jumpstart name and reputation, I was quite excited to have the opportunity to not only review this product, but share a three month membership with one of my readers as a giveaway (directions for entering may be found towards the end of this post)!
As I was given a list of questions to guide this review, I thought it might be a fun change of pace to do a Q & A format. If you'd like to learn more about the specifics of what JumpStart has to offer, please click the link at the beginning of this post. They provide all the information you need to get started right there on their site. Q.How do your kids interact with the game?
A. My children are already quite familiar with virtual worlds and were able to jump right into playing without any help from me. I left them alone to do their thing and soon they were excited about helping a dragon hatch and exploring the new world. Originally I had only signed up my 8 and 10 year olds, but my 11 year old quickly asked for an account as well and was soon immersed in the Enchanted Sanctuary. This area proved to be a favorite among them all. Hatching dragons will do that to a kid. Hey, even this mom thought that was pretty cool.
Q.What is their favorite game or quest?
A. "I liked hatching the dragon. But I forgot to feed him every day." -Breanne, 11
"My favorite is Robo-a-go-go. Oh, and the dancing game in the arcade. And I like playing HideNSeek with my dragon." -Nicole, 10
"My favorite thing is the Scavenger Hunt. It's awesome. And Robo-ago-go is my favorite thing too." -Ryan, 8
Q.What is your take on kids using technology to learn?
A. I am a self professed Gamer Mom and have been dubbed the Gadget Queen by my friends, so it should come as no surprise to my readers that I am a huge fan of technology in the homeschool. My children enjoy games and online worlds as much as I do. Why not use this time to reinforce and develop their academics? But if this is not done in a creative, engaging, interactive and visual appealing (key words for me!) manner, it will soon give way to more exciting pursuits or be dubbed as simply "school". I am happy to report that the JumpStart 3D Virtual world meets all of my requirements. It is well done and well received by my family.
Q.Do you like the parent content, such as the JumpStart Blog?
A. The JumpStart Blog is the place to get the inside scoop on what's new and exciting in the JumpStart World. It would be a great way to get your kids interested in new developments and an excellent opportunity to interact and share your opinion, as there are polls and requests for input throughout.
I have to admit to having a crazy summer and not checking out this blog as much as I would have liked. Just from what I see now, I'm regretting this. There's a Design JumpStart's Next Mythie button that's calling to me, an update on a new hang-out spot, and the most adorable graphic of the most adorable little Pegasus. Seems like a great way to stay informed and get even more from your JumpStart membership.
What's a membership include? So glad you asked! Membership includes the online world and 4 downloadable games for up to 6 kids. It's priced at $7.99 a month, $74.99 a year, or $149.99 for a lifetime membership.
Interested in receiving a three month subscription for FREE?
Great, I have one to giveaway!
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Drawing will be held on Friday, September 10th.
*Disclosure: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.*
I found this song this morning and the chorus is exactly what I would say to my children. All of them, from youngest to oldest, these are the words from my heart that someone else wrote. ;-) I love you guys.
The Well-Guided High Schooler is a four year planner, designed to help you and your student stay on track during the high school years. Written to the student, it provides one place for all your high school plans and is meant to serve as both a planner and a record of work completed. It provides areas to track assignments, attendance, grades, etc.
The biggest surprise to me was the number of articles sprinkled throughout. These cover what you need to know for your college prep student, including information on the SAT/ACT, the college application process, grants and scholarships, yearly checklists, etc.
Although I am of a more relaxed homeschool mindset and encourage our children to attend college if needed for their life's pursuit, I appreciate having this information at my fingertips. When we first began homeschooling high school, we determined what was needed for both college prep and non college prep transcripts and have taught our children accordingly. It's nice to have this information handy for those who require it, and it's easy enough to skip over for those who do not.
Although I enjoy technology, for some reason I prefer paper planning. I need to sit with a pen (erasable!) and my planning book and physically write. It's what works for me. I like having the entire four years in one book that is small enough to curl up with. With this advantage comes the disadvantage of not always having enough space or exactly the forms I would like. So far, we've been able to tweak it and make it work. It's so pretty to look at though, sometimes it's hard for me to cross out a pre-printed word and write in my own or list more courses in tiny print to the side. But perhaps I shouldn't use the word "pretty"! Don't worry, it's still manly enough for my 15 year old son and I appreciate that it is enjoyable to look at and yet perfectly acceptable to either gender. ;-)
As this is designed for all four years of your student's high school journey, it is sold in four year increments depending on your student's graduation year. My son is beginning his sophomore year and so I chose the planner dated June 2009-July 2013. I filled in his course info and grades for his freshman year and we will go from there. Some subjects cover more than one year for us, so I just left the grade section blank if it was as yet incomplete. Again, a little tweak or two but that's what we do as homeschoolers!
I love all the options we have available to us as homeschoolers now. This would have been a wonderful tool to use with my two graduated students and I am happy to have discovered it in time to use with my younger kids. If you have kids heading into high school, you may want to check it out. If you're not quite there yet, they also have planners available for the younger grades!
The Well Guided High-Schooler is available in spiral bound softcover for $29.95 or in PDF format for $24.95.
*Disclosure: I received this planner at no cost, for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own. As always.*
The winner of the My Sweet Sunday Prize Pack is Jaime!
Please send your mailing information to HomeschoolReviewsandMore@yahoo.com, so that I may pass it on to the vendor.
This giveaway is now closed.
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls and Melissa Joan Hart are hosting a My Sweet Sunday Moment Contest to celebrate Sunday mornings and Melissa's new show, "Melissa & Joey". Just write a 200 word essay on why your family loves Sunday and would like more of them, and you could win a week in California!
As part of the celebration, MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury are providing me and one of my readers with a My Sweet Sunday Prize Pack. This includes a Pillsbury Doughboy Giggle Doll, blue silicon spatula, blue silicon pot holder, and dishcloths. Anyone who enters the main contest will receive a coupon for Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls.
We love Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls. In fact, they are part of our Christmas breakfast. I arrange the cinnamon rolls on a stoneware pizza pan in the shape of a tree (starting with one at the top and building a pyramid, then adding two to the bottom as a trunk) and then add sliced red and green maraschino cherries as ornaments. The glaze is drizzled across the "tree" as if it is garland. My kids love it!
If you'd like a chance to win the prize pack described above, simply follow the instructions below.
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Drawing will be held on Tuesday, August 31st.
*Disclosure:The prize pack, information, and giveaway have all been provided by General
Mills through MyBlogSpark. *
I am deep in the throes of lesson planning, not quite ready to let summer go, and I saw this on a friend's Facebook page. As many of us are getting ready to start a new year, and many are beginning their very first year, I thought I would share the grin.
I have awards! Scrumptious, yummy Bloggy awards, which I do not think this blog has ever seen. They're fun and encouraging and I appreciate being thought of by the bestowers of said awards. And I think I may have made that word up.
April, over at ElCloud Homeschool, has awarded me with the Sunshine Award!
Some days we blog and review and put our hearts out to whomever decides to read and we wonder if we're encouraging or helping anyone at all. It's nice to have someone acknowledge your existence in the huge Internet 'verse. These cute little awards are a great way for bloggers to express appreciation to each other. Thanks, guys!
As part of the Sunshine Award, I am to share 7 things with you all and then pass it on to 7 bloggers. For the Beautiful Blogger Award, I am to share 7 more things and then pass it on to no more than 15 bloggers. That's a lot of stuff about me and a lot of bloggers. We'll do the speed version.
About Me: 1. I have green eyes. 2. I bite my nails, I grow my nails, I bite my nails. Current status: bit. 3. I am currently drinking coffee from my much loved Shakespearean Insult Mug. 4. I should be lesson planning and am doing this instead. 5. I worry that the only thing I really do well as a mother is worry. 6. I'm Irish. Please, don't kiss me. 7. I'm super excited about the Narnia Unit Study we are working through this year. 8. We start school September 7th and typically follow the public school schedule. Ish. 9. I like steak. 10. I hate white walls. 11. I recently discovered that I prefer almond M&M's to peanut. Who knew. 12. Borders is my favorite hang out. 13. I want everyone to get along and be happy, my ulcer attests to the fact that this isn't how life works. 14. I hate goodbyes.
The Beautiful Blogger Award will also be given to my local fearless leaders, who do a great job with our support group and who are both really beautiful people- 1. Lizzie @ A Work In Progress 2. Terri @ Accidentally Homeschooling
"This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movements of small green pieces of paper, which is odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy." ~Douglas Adams
"I am having an out of money experience." ~Author Unknown
"The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings and not his cash." ~Author Unknown
We live in a society where it costs money to live and, although I love the Adams quote, I'm not quite sure how to change the green paper induced unhappiness without changing our economic system and yeah..can't see that happening. I know many homeschoolers are making due on one income and can frequently relate to the second quote. And I know the last quote is easier said than done, but is so very true.
How do all of these relate to homeschooling? As with any decision in life, cost comes into play. This week's Blog Cruise questions get right to the heart of the matter by asking;
How do you afford to homeschool?
What are some ways to save money on homeschooling supplies?
When you compare the cost of homeschooling to that of private schooling, it is positively cheap. With all of the fees being added to our local public schools (bus fee, extra curricular fee, etc.), public schooling is becoming almost as expensive as schooling them at home. And there are so many resources available today that I believe you can homeschool on any budget, if needed.
But how do we do it? For our specific family, we designate our tax return to homeschooling each year. As we have had a large amount of dependents to claim (thatis changing as they grow up!) and a modest income, this has worked well for us. It means not using it for a new couch or catching up on bills or taking that vacation, but this is our priority. This is probably not an option for those in other countries, but it works well for us.
The second question is more relate-able to everyone. Homeschooling can be as expensive or as cheap as you need it to be. I like having the option to use what I think is best for my family, and will spend more for a product that works better for us, but I know that I could homeschool "on the cheap" if necessary. Some of the following ideas I already use frequently (shopping discounts, used, etc.), some I have learned from friends, but hopefully there will be something here of use to you!
Homeschool Buyers Co-Op
(It's free to join! And by negotiating for a group rate, homeschoolers can save quite a bit. I love Homeschool Buyers Co-Op and have been very happy with my purchases through them. If you are interested in joining and you click through the button on the left sidebar, I will receive Smartpoints. Which would be cool.)
These are just a few ways my friends and I save money in homeschooling. I'm sure there are many more great ideas and sites to check out and would love it if you would share in the comments section! In this economy, we need all the help we can get. You can also check out more responses to these questions, when the Blog Cruise posts on Tuesday.
I like to write and I like teaching my kids to write, but I don't like to rely on formal instruction. I prefer teaching them to write by writing. Profound idea, I know. This method may require greater use of a proof reader (my proof reader friend is very gracious when it comes to my many mistakes), but I believe it also allows for a better expression of creativity (like using the word like three times in the first sentence. Ha!). It's just my personal philosophy, take it or leave it.
One of my goals for the coming school year is to provide opportunities for "real" writing, as opposed to only school assignments, so I was excited to receive an email from WriteGuide.com, asking me to share their new literary magazine for homeschool students. The Homeschool Literary Quarterly will be an online magazine, whose aim "is to promote original, quality literature composed by homeschool families". They are currently looking for submissions of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, hoping for a first edition to be released this Christmas. I'm excited about the possibilities and happy to share them with you! Please do let me know if your children submit anything and are featured. I'd love to read their work.
*Disclosure: I receive no benefit from sharing this news with you, but thought you may be interested, and find disclosures to be quite fun to write when I have nothing to disclose. You may now go back to your previous programming.*
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2010)
***Special thanks to Audra Jennings Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Travis Thrasher is an author of diverse talents with more than twelve published novels including romance, suspense, adventure, and supernatural horror tales. At the core of each of his stories lie flawed characters in search of redemption. Thrasher weaves hope within all of his tales, and he loves surprising his readers with amazing plot twists and unexpected variety in his writing. Travis lives with his wife and daughter in a suburb of Chicago. Solitary is his first young adult novel.
List Price: $14.99
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (August 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434764214
ISBN-13: 978-1434764218
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
1 . Half a Person
She’s beautiful.
She stands behind two other girls, one a goth coated in black and the other a blonde with wild hair and an even wilder smile. She’s waiting, looking off the other way, but I’ve already memorized her face.
I’ve never seen such a gorgeous girl in my life.
“You really like them?”
The goth girl is the one talking; maybe she’s the leader of their pack. I’ve noticed them twice already today because of her, the one standing behind. The beautiful girl from my second-period English class, the one with the short skirt and long legs and endless brown hair, the one I can’t stop thinking about. She’s hard not to notice.
“Yeah, they’re one of my favorites,” I say.
We’re talking about my T-shirt. It’s my first day at this school, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think carefully about what I was going to wear. It’s about making a statement. I would have bet that 99 percent of the seven hundred kids at this high school wouldn’t know what Strangeways, Here We Come refers to.
Guess I found the other 1 percent.
I was killing time after lunch by wandering aimlessly when the threesome stopped me. Goth Girl didn’t even say hi; she just pointed at the murky photograph of a face on my shirt and asked where I got it. She made it sound like I stole it.
In a way, I did.
“You’re not from around here, are you?” Goth Girl asks. Her sparkling blue eyes are almost hidden by her dark eyeliner.
“Did the shirt give it away?”
“Nobody in this school listens to The Smiths.”
I can tell her that I stole the shirt, or in a sense borrowed it, butthen she’d ask me from where.
I don’t want to tell her I found it in a drawer in the house we’re staying at. A cabin that belongs to my uncle. A cabin that used to belong to my uncle when he was around.
“I just moved here from a suburb of Chicago.”
“What suburb?” the blonde asks.
“Libertyville. Ever hear of it?”
“No.”
I see the beauty shift her gaze around to see who’s watching. Which is surprising, because most attractive girls don’t have to do that. They know that they’re being watched.
This is different. Her glance is more suspicious. Or anxious.
“What’s your name?”
“Chris Buckley.”
“Good taste in music, Chris,” Goth Girl says. “I’m Poe. This is Rachel. And she’s Jocelyn.”
That’s right. Her name’s Jocelyn. I remember now from class.
“What else do you like?”
“I got a wide taste in music.”
“Do you like country?” Poe asks.
“No, not really.”
“Good. I can’t stand it. Nobody who wears a T-shirt like that would ever like country.”
“I like country,” Rachel says.
“Don’t admit it. So why’d you move here?”
“Parents got a divorce. My mom decided to move, and I came with her.”
“Did you have a choice?”
“Not really. But if I had I would’ve chosen to move with her.”
“Why here?”
“Some of our family lives in Solitary. Or used to. I have a couple relatives in the area.” I choose not to say anything about Uncle Robert. “My mother grew up around here.”
“That sucks,” Poe says.
“Solitary is a strange town,” Rachel says with a grin that doesn’t seem to ever go away. “Anybody tell you that?”
I shake my head.
“Joss lives here; we don’t,” Poe says. “I’m in Groveton; Rach lives on the border to South Carolina. Joss tries to hide out at our places because Solitary fits its name.”
Jocelyn looks like she’s late for something, her body language screaming that she wants to leave this conversation she’s not a part of. She still hasn’t acknowledged me.
“What year are you guys?”
“Juniors. I’m from New York—can’t you tell? Rachel is from Colorado, and Jocelyn grew up here, though she wants to get out as soon as she can. You can join our club if you like.”
Part of me wonders if I’d have to wear eyeliner and lipstick.
“Club?”
“The misfits. The outcasts. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Not sure if I want to join that.”
“You think you fit in?”
“No,” I say.
“Good. We’ll take you. You fit with us. Plus … you’re cute.”
Poe and her friends walk away.
Jocelyn finally glances at me and smiles the saddest smile I’ve ever seen.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified.
I might look cool and nonchalant and act cool and nonchalant, but inside I’m quaking.
I spent the first sixteen years of my life around the same people, going to the same school, living in the same town with the same two parents.
Now everything is different.
The students who pass me are nameless, faceless, expressionless. We are part of a herd that jumps to life like Pavlov’s dog at the sound of the bell, which really is a low drone that sounds like it comes from some really bad sci-fi movie. It’s hard to keep the cool and nonchalant thing going while staring in confusion at my school map. I probably look pathetic.
I dig out the computer printout of my class list and look at it again. I swear there’s not a room called C305.
I must be looking pathetic, because she comes up to me and asks if I’m lost.
Jocelyn can actually talk.
“Yeah, kinda.”
“Where are you going?”
“Some room—C305. Does that even exist?”
“Of course it does. I’m actually heading there right now.” There’s an attitude in her voice, as if she’s ready for a fight even if one’s not coming.
“History?”
She nods.
“Second class together,” I say, which elicits a polite and slightly annoyed smile.
She explains to me how the rooms are organized, with C stuck between A and B for some crazy reason. But I don’t really hear the words she’s saying. I look at her and wonder if she can see me blushing. Other kids are staring at me now for the first time today. They look at Jocelyn and look at me—curious, critical, cutting. I wonder if I’m imagining it.
After a minute of this, I stare off a kid who looks like I threw manure in his face.
“Not the friendliest bunch of people, are they?” I ask.
“People here don’t like outsiders.”
“They didn’t even notice me until now.”
She nods and looks away, as if this is her fault. Her hair, so thick and straight, shimmers all the way past her shoulders. I could stare at her all day long.
“Glad you’re in some of my classes.”
“I’m sure you are,” she says.
We reach the room.
“Well, thanks.”
“No problem.”
She says it the way an upperclassmen might answer a freshman. Or an older sister, her bratty brother. I want to say something witty, but nothing comes to mind.
I’m sure I’m not the first guy she’s left speechless.
Every class I’m introduced to seems more and more unimpressed.
“This is Christopher Buckley from Chicago, Illinois,” the teachers say, in case anybody doesn’t know where Chicago is.
In case anybody wonders who the new breathing slab of human is, stuck in the middle of the room.
A redheaded girl with a giant nose stares at me, then glances at my shirt as if I have food smeared all over it. She rolls her eyes and then looks away.
Glancing down at my shirt makes me think of a song by The Smiths, “Half a Person.”
That’s how I feel.
I’ve never been the most popular kid in school. I’m a soccer player in a football world. My parents never had an abundance of money. I’m not overly good looking or overly smart or overly anything, to be honest. Just decent looking and decent at sports and decent at school. But decent doesn’t get you far. Most of the time you need to be the best at one thing and stick to it.
I think about this as I notice more unfamiliar faces. A kid who looks like he hasn’t bathed for a week. An oily-faced girl who looks miserable. A guy with tattoos who isn’t even pretending to listen.
I never really fit in back in Libertyville, so how in the world am I going to fit in here?
Two more years of high school.
I don’t want to think about it.
As the teacher drones on about American history and I reflect on my own history, my eyes find her.
I see her glancing my way.
For a long moment, neither of us look away.
For that long moment, it’s just the two of us in the room.
Her glance is strong and tough. It’s almost as if she’s telling me to remain the same, as if she’s saying, Don’t let them get you down.
Suddenly, I have this amazingly crazy thought: I’m glad I’m here.
I have to fight to get out of the room to catch up to Jocelyn.
I’ve had forty minutes to think of exactly what I want to say, but by the time I catch up to her, all that comes out is “hey.”
She nods.
Those eyes cripple me. I’m not trying to sound cheesy—they do. They bind my tongue.
For an awkward sixty seconds, the longest minute of my sixteen years, I walk the hallway beside her. We reach the girls’ room, and she opens the door and goes inside. I stand there for a second, wondering
if I should wait for her, then feeling stupid and ridiculous, wondering why I’m turning into a head of lettuce around a stranger I just met.
But I know exactly why.
As I head down the hallway, toward some other room with some other teacher unveiling some other plan to educate us, I feel someone grab my arm.
“You don’t want to mess with that.”
I wonder if I heard him right. Did he say that or her?
I turn and see a short kid with messy brown hair and a pimply face. I gotta be honest—it’s been a while since I’d seen a kid with this many pimples. Doctors have things you can do for that. The word pus comes to mind.
“Mess with what?”
“Jocelyn. If I were you, I wouldn’t entertain such thoughts.”
Who is this kid, and what’s he talking about?
And what teenager says, “I wouldn’t entertain such thoughts”?
“What thoughts would those be?”
“Don’t be a wise guy.”
Pimple Boy sounds like the wise guy, with a weaselly voice that seems like it’s going to deliver a punch line any second.
“What are you talking about?”
“Look, I’m just warning you. I’ve seen it happen before. I’m nobody, okay, and nobodies can get away with some things. And you look like a decent guy, so I’m just telling you.”
“Telling me what?”
“Not to take a fancy with the lady.”
Did he just say that in an accent that sounded British, or is it my imagination?
“I was just walking with her down the hallway.”
“Yeah. Okay. Then I’ll see you later.”
“Wait. Hold on,” I say. “Is she taken or something?”
“Yeah. She’s spoken for. And has been for sometime.”
Pimple Boy says this the way he might tell me that my mother is dying.
It’s bizarre.
And a bit spooky.
I realize that Harrington County High in Solitary, North Carolina, is a long way away from Libertyville.
I think about what the odd kid just told me.
This is probably bad.
Because one thing in my life has been a constant. You can ask my mother or father, and they’d agree.
I don’t like being told what to do.
My Thoughts: In the AfterWords of the book, the author states that he pitched the series as "part Pretty in Pink, part scary movie". If you read the first chapter, sampled above, you'll get the feel for the first part. I wish they'd given you the Preface to sample as well, because that sets you right down in the midst of scary movie territory. And that's what hooked me immediately.
The setting of Solitary brings to mind a Stephen King creepiness. Thrashers narrative is stark, the setting not described in detailed, the characters introduced by their behavior and dialogue. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Chris, a sixteen year old who has just moved into town due to his parents divorce. Solitary is his mom's hometown, although she hasn't been there since she was a child (if she had, she may never have moved back). As Chris searches for answers he may regret knowing, we journey with him on his discovery of true love- and true fear.
I really liked this book. There was a spot toward the middle where I wished it would pick up speed, but I really enjoyed the read. As a wannabe writer, it's encouraging to see books getting published that don't fit neatly into the formulaic boxes of what one would consider Christian fiction. This was described to me as YA Christian Horror and I wanted to see how that was done. I wouldn't call it horror, but definitely on the creepier side. And the Christianity was well woven into the story and plot and not at all preachy. Everything wasn't tied up in a neat little bow at the end and I appreciated that. It was real and it was dark and it was creepy, but it left you with that thread of hope that makes you keep going in life- and want to keep reading this series. Which I do. (Since I have to wait for the next book in The Solitary Tales, I ordered another of his books yesterday. I may have found a new author I enjoy!) .
One note of caution: I would recommend this book for older Young Adults, the main characters age and up. As it does have the feel of a John Hughes movie in some ways, decide as a parent if your child is ready for the teenage love aspect. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with my fifteen year old reading this, but he's still somewhat innocent in that respect (at least, I think he is!). It is rather funny that my caution has to do with the romance over the creep factor, but there you have it.
*Disclosure: This book was provided to me at no cost through B&B Media and FIRST Wild Card Tours, for review purposes.*
GE is Me is the winner! Wow, you had a lot of competition. ;-)
This giveaway is now closed.
Download N Go studies by Amanda Bennett are one week mini unit studies for grades K-4. They arrive in your inbox in e-book format, chock full of links and printables and ideas for a fun and educational week. Lapbooking instruction is also included, allowing your child to create a keepsake to document learning.
After hearing the buzz on these studies for the past few months, I was happy to have the chance to check one out myself through LitFuse. It is rather funny that these are products sold through The Old Schoolhouse, I am a member of TOS Crew, and yet I am reviewing this through another company. Love it.
Summer Sensations is 108 pages of colorful, visually appealing ideas for the study of summer. Main topics include;
Day 1: What is Summer?
Day 2: Science Secrets of Summer
Day 3: People and Places of Summer
Day 4: Time for Tips and Treasures of Summer
Day 5: Goodies and Surprises of Summer
Within these main ideas, you and your children will study seasons, sunrise and sunset, nature, fireflies, poetry, constellations, hemisphere, snow cones, monsoons, birds,trees, ice cream, Georgie O'Keefe, and more. Although it is very well geared to the younger age group it is designed for, I was pleasantly surprised about all that is covered in this one week- and yet, without being overwhelming in any way.
I find myself wishing my kids were younger, as I only have one still in this age range. One week unit studies are an incredible idea and the execution of this incredible idea is well done and easy to use. For those who enjoy a more structured, text or workbook based learning- this is a wonderful break in the routine. For those, like me, who already enjoy unit studies and lapbooking- this would fit right in and be a delight. They have many topics available, the latest one I heard generating a lot of excitement is chocolate (Yum!), and purchasing options that allow you to save by buying bundles.
You also have the chance to get one for free right here! One commenter will win a copy of Download N Go Summer Sensations. All you have to do is follow the instructions below.
The Blog Cruise is back for this new session of the TOS Crew! Each week, there will be a new homeschool related question and members of the TOS Crew will share their thoughts and opinions. I really enjoy participating in this and plan to as often as my schedule allows. The first question for this session is;
"What advice do you have for those considering homeschooling or just starting out?"
Wow. That's a big question, actually two big questions!
For those considering homeschooling I would first encourage you that you cannot discover all the answers to everything you wonder, fear, or are curious about before you start. You will not find the perfect curriculum or detailed instructions on how to have the perfect family. If anyone tells you this is possible, they are lying. Or naive. Or both.
That said, I would encourage you to research homeschooling. Research your options, philosophies, learning styles, curricula, etc. (If interested, see my article in TOS' free digital magazine, Your Guide to Examining Curriculum). Talk to other homeschoolers, as many different "flavors" of people as you can find. Read homeschooling books (Todd Wilson's are great, as are Barbara Edtl Shelton's and Diana Waring's). If you're a Christian, prayer is a huge part. Commit yourself to really discovering what homeschooling is all about. Don't just dabble, dive in and spend some time acclimating yourself.
To those who are just getting started, I repeat all of the above and then add- relax. Research and then Relax. I know, I know, it's weird. But find out as much as you can, try out what appeals to you and seems like it may fit your family, and then relax. You don't have to plan out all twelve years today. Enjoy the time with your children, because I can attest to the fact that they grow up much too quickly and before you know it, you are no longer planning their schoolwork but their weddings. Yikes.
You need to discover your own vision, what's ultimately important to you for your children. For me, it is all about relationships and knowing how to learn. There was so much more I wanted to do and learn with my two oldest but our time is up for homeschooling. I have to be content with the fact that I know these two life lessons were accomplished. I don't look back and regret not doing more math worksheets or science experiments. For me, it's all about the time spent learning together- whether through games or projects or reading aloud. You must determine what's vital to you, focus on that, and then relax about what "everyone else is doing".
You'll be an "expert" before you know it. You won't feel like one. At least, I never have. But spend a couple of years homeschooling and you'll find yourself answering questions like these, encouraging new homeschoolers that they can do it and do it well, sharing the books and products you have discovered and fallen in love with, maybe even blogging about the process. It's all new and scary now, but it won't stay that way. Jump in, learn with your kids, enjoy your family. That's the beauty of homeschooling.
Summary: "Brenna of Gowrys has grown up in hiding-hunted by the O'Byrne clan, who fear her mother's dying prophecy, and by her own kinsmen, who expect her to lead them against their oppressors. But Brenna is a gifted healer, not a witch or a warrior queen. So she lives alone in the wilderness with only her pet wolf for company. When she rescues a stranger badly wounded from an ambush, she believes he may be the answer to her deep loneliness. Healing him comes as easy as loving him. But can their love overcome years of bitterness and hatred?"
Author: "Linda Windsor is the best-selling, award-winning author of 29 novels in both the CBA and ABA markets, with an estimated million books in print. A former professional musician, Linda speaks often (and sometimes sings) for writing and/or faith seminars. Her recent work includes the early Celtic Fires of Gleannmara trilogy.Website: www.lindawindsor.com"
My Thoughts: I tend to go in stages with my reading choices, spurts of one genre over another, rather than reading across the genres at any given time. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction (outside of read alouds with the kids) or romance in quite awhile, but something about this book drew me in and I wanted to give it a try. I am really glad that I did, as it is a very well written, interesting take on sixth century Scotland. I've never read anything quite like it, combining Arthurian legend with Celtic Christian church history. The author does a great job of working the superstitions of the time into the narrative and really giving the reader a good feel for the time period. I'm not a fan of books that excel at the setting but don't deliver on the story. This is not that kind of book. The story is there and sucked me in from the beginning. I read this 351 page book in one day, and enjoyed every second.
The first third of the book reads like the historical romances I remember from years ago. There is a familiarity to the structure of the plot and the give and take between the main characters. Desire is quite strongly hinted at but not described in any detail. The romance serves to set the stage for the rest of the story, which is full of intrigue and betrayal.
Upon finishing the book, I wanted more. As this is the first in a series, that longing will at some point be fulfilled (Wow, just checked. Not until next summer!). It was like an interesting mix of Liz Curtis Higgs, Jude Deveraux, and Frank Peretti. And it worked. Very, very well. Highly recommended.
Healer by Linda Windsor is available from David C. Cook or your favorite online or local bookstore.
Watch the Book Trailer:
*Disclosure:This book was provided at no cost through B&B Media, for review purposes.*
I may be a homeschooling mom of seven, but that doesn't mean I'm only about the books and school supplies. Unpolished toenails seem naked to me (mine are currently blue). A cute pair of shoes can be as yummy as a good book. And my idea of a no makeup day is only wearing mascara and lip gloss. As a Bzz Agent, I have the opportunity to try and then share products that other mom's may be interested in as well.
This time, I received LashBlast Fusion mascara from Cover Girl. I had already heard of LashBlast from my oldest daughter, it's her favorite and she frequently recommends it. I was stuck on my own brand and hadn't yet branched out to try something new and thought, now's the time.
I love it! The brush separates the lashes and keeps them from becoming all clumpy or looking like some insect is hatching from your eyeball. The color is good and it doesn't seem to fade or smear as quickly as other mascaras I have tried. I'm a satisfied customer who will be a returning customer. And I have coupons! If you are local and would like a coupon, let me know. I'm willing to share.
*Disclosure: This product was provided at no cost through Bzz Agent, for review purposes. all opinions are my own.*
I blame my friend, Lizzie. She knows my nickname is The Gadget Queen and she knew I would drool over her new Nook when she placed it ever so innocently (snort) in my hands. It just so happened that I had recently sold a few homeschooling items I no longer needed and was in decision mode over what to purchase for school. I asked Lizzie for help in decision making (rationalizing, excuses...you know the drill) and she lovingly pointed out the many e-books I had for review last year and how an e-reader would be soooo helpful in my reviewing. Thanks, knew I could count on you. That's what friends are for, right?
So I found myself in my local Barnes & Noble, buying a Nook from a young guy with tape on his glasses. Does it get any better? Yeah, well, it did when I began loading yummy books on to my new gadget. I discovered B&N offers several FREE choices, with a new one offered each Friday. You can also download your own e-books, which is what sold me on the Nook.
Eager to try out my Nook, I rewarded myself with pure pleasure reading in the form of the latest Goldy Schulz catering murder mystery, Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson. I have read the entire series over the years, with this being number fifteen, I believe. This series is just fun and centers around a middle aged caterer who seems to have a knack for discovering dead bodies, solving murders, and cooking. Recipes are included, drooled over, and never attempted by me. Maybe someday.
This makes book 32/52 for the 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge. Except, it doesn't, because I still have a few weeks to catch up on. But I am confident that won't be a problem. Especially with my new toy calling out to me to read it. Read me, Seymour. Er...yeah, not my name. Which reminds me, I need a name for my Nook. Seriously, there is a place on your Nook for it's name. Mine is currently blank. My friend's is My Precious. I need something equally as clever. Any suggestions?
*Disclosure: I received nothing for this post, used my very own hard earned cash, and am rambling at no one's bequest but my own. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and nobody else would want to lay claim to them anyway. ;-)*
I have been MIA for several days due to Vacation Bible School here at our church. It's my favorite week of the summer but it takes over life for that time period! I spent the weekend reading and resting and managed to finish two books- Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson and Healer by Linda Windsor. Healer will be reviewed this weekend. Fatally Flaky was for pure pleasure and may or may not show up here. If it does, it will be for the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge.
This morning I was off to a friend's house for high school homeschool chat and then was called home early because my 8 year old is running a temp. After settling him down with Jr. Tylenol and a glass of water, I was finally able to check email and discovered two from a Dr. Mike Keas (Professor of the History and Philosophy of Science at The College of the Southwestern), regarding my review of True U. In my review, I stated that it would seem Dr. Myers was a theistic evolutionist. Dr. Keas writes;
"Dr. Meyer is not a theistic evolutionist. As a leading member of the intelligent design community, he thinks that Darwinism only explains very trivial change (not the origin of major new kinds of life). Thus the effort to reconcile Christianity with Darwinian evolution is pointless, he would maintain."
"Note also this, by one of Meyer's closest colleagues: Dr. Dembski. Meyer agrees with this forthcoming book. Christian Darwinism: Why Theistic Evolution Fails As Science and Theology (Broadman and Holman, November 2011), mathematician Dembski and journalist O’Leary address a powerful new trend to accommodate Christianity with atheist materialism, via acceptance of Darwinian (“survival of the fittest”) evolution.
I have updated my review to include his notes and appreciate him taking the time to set me straight! I found the True U series to be quite fascinating and am glad to have correct information regarding Dr. Meyers.
Just wanted to update everyone on that, as well as share why it's been a tad quieter around these parts. Summer is too quickly coming to an end and we're enjoying every second we have left!
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Krista Ocier of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Brandilyn and Amberly Collins are a mother/daughter team from northern California.
Brandilyn Collins, known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense, is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Coral Moon, Crimson Eve, Eyes of Elisha, and other novels.
Amberly Collins is a college student in Long Beach, California, majoring in marketing. She’s active in her Alphi Phi sorority and dotes on her Yorkie puppy, Bear.
Here's a video about the first book in the Rayne Series:
Product Details:
List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (May 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031071933X
ISBN-13: 978-0310719335
Press the browse button to view the first chapter:
My Thoughts: Somehow, when I requested this book for review, I missed that is was the third in a series. I realized this quickly while reading the first chapter, as it was obvious there was a lot of history and background with which I was unfamiliar. I'm sure it would have been even better if I had read this in the correct order, but by the end of the chapter it no longer mattered. The action had begun and I was drawn into the story right there and stayed interested until the final chapter.
I discovered the first in the series as a free digital download on Barnes & Noble and it is now awaiting me on my new Nook. I look forward to getting to know Shaley and Rayne better, even if it's in the wrong order.
“We don’t expect infants and toddlers to develop at the same rate or to do things in exactly the same way, so why do we transport all of our vital, lively distinctly different children to uniform environments, teach them all in one way, expect them to progress at the same pace, and call them below average if they don’t?” ~ Taken from Chapter One, Discover Your Child’s Learning Style.
One of the great aspects of homeschooling is the ability to fit the schooling to the child. Understanding your child’s learning style can be a lot of help in determining just exactly how to do that. Although not written specifically to homeschoolers, Discover Your Child’s Learning Styleby Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson is my favorite book to use during this process. The authors not only cover the learning styles, but also the externals such as lighting, time of day, and noise factors that affect your child’s ability to learn. They do this with the motivation of helping you help your child learn. There is no right or wrong, no best way of learning, but it is individualized to the child. Chapter Two’s title sums it up- Success for Every Child.
Please visit The Curriculum Choice to read the rest of this review, Click HERE.
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers's cutting-edge skills are about to be pushed to the limit when a young woman is found brutally murdered in Washington DC. Her killers continue a spree of perfect crimes in the Northeast, but with nothing to link them to each other, Agent Bowers faces his most difficult case yet--even as his personal life begins to crumble around him. The Bishop is a gripping, adrenaline-laced story for readers who are tired of timid thrillers. Strap on your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride."
My Thoughts: Last summer, I reviewed Steven James third book in The Bowers Files series. The Knight was a great book, but I mentioned that it took me a bit to get interested in the story. Not so with his latest offering, The Bishop. I started this book at 7 pm, thinking I would read for an hour while waiting for my husband to get home from work. I read until 1am, only stopping then because my eyes would no longer cooperate and stay open! The next morning, I picked it back up and didn't put it down again until that afternoon, when the last page was read.
This was an excellent, thought provoking story. Not only was it a great thriller, but it was a thriller for the intelligent reader. There are no easy answers here, no cliches, but rather deep issues that cause you to want to stop and think, even as you want to fly through the book to find out what happens. Topics such as neuroscience, metacognition, free will vs. uncontrollable instinct, and bioethics are all contained seamlessly within a gripping story. The character of Tessa, who questions and investigates much in life, is quirky and smart and wonderfully written. Her relationship with her stepfather is realistic and well done. This time, I really felt the characters and lived in the story.
Although they don't ever get overly descriptive and move into the gore, it doesn't take much to fill in the details of the brutal murders. The "not for the timid" warning is justified. Personally, I like that the gruesomeness and evil is not glossed over or sanitized. Murder, especially the type serial killers tend to enjoy, is gruesome and evil. While I don't need to read every gory detail, I also don't need it prettied up for me. Steven James did a great job walking that line.
The Bishop can be purchased from Revell Books, or at your favorite online or local bookstore.
*Disclosure: I received this book from Revell at no cost, for review purposes.*
Basically I am a woman, wife and mom of 7 (9-20), major geek to my non geeky friends, minor geek to my geeky friends (Wait...I went to a con in cosplay. I don't think I can call myself a minor geek to anyone anymore). I have been homeschooling for 16 years. I cannot tell a lie and that can be a blessing or a curse. I am a night owl and hate mornings. I am a coffee snob. I am a gamer Mom. I am a cat person. I am a blogger!
1= Not a Fan
2= It's Okay
3= I Like It
4= I Love It
5= The Best
Disclosure
I receive many of the products at no cost for review purposes. I promise to not allow that to influence my reviews, but to always give my fair and honest opinion in the nicest way possible. 'Cause that's the kinda girl I am.
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