{Mosaic Reviews} Homeschool Programming

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"  If you were to ask either of my oldest boys these days, one of their first answers would be, "...a computer programmer like daddy!"

We were given the opportunity to try out Homeschool Programming, a computer science curriculum targeted for kids and teens in 4th - 12th grades.  I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for our boys to experience first hand the type of work their dad does every day.

Homeschool Programming was created by homeschooling parents with degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering who saw a need for computer science classes within the upper elementary to high school range.  The courses are completed on the student's {or family's} computer and students only need to have basic computer skills to begin their class.  Students can work through the material at their own pace and are able to learn independently.

The suggested course of study includes instruction in Visual Basic and web design for younger students and C# and Java for high school students. 

Each course has instructional lessons, activities to practice concepts learned in the lessons and their solutions, supplemental instructional documents, tests and answer keys, and free technical support.

So, how did our family use Homeschool Programming? 

First, let me tell you that I think computers hate me.  No, really.  I have some of the silliest problems and I feel helpless to solve them on my own.  I get by with limited knowledge and understanding of all technical stuff and it frustrates me that I don't know more.  My husband is great at humoring my computer illiteracy and usually with the swipe of his finger, problems are resolved.  I really felt like he was the one who should be guiding our boys along as they used Homeschool Programming.  Seriously, he supports our family doing this very thing...

But, as it turns out, I worked with them and it was a good thing.  Really good. 

We received KidCoder: Beginning Web Design as a downloadable product for the purpose of this review though customers receive hard copies of the student text and an installation CD.  My husband helped me get each item downloaded to our desktop so the boys and I could easily find the files every time we needed them.  I read through the first several lessons and completed the corresponding activities on my own before introducing it to my boys to get a feel for the program.  I had thought they could be independent with using this program but after looking it over, I decided it would be best for me to read the lessons with them, then let them complete the activities without my help.

The lessons are chock full of information.  They are written simply enough for upper elementary children to understand along with cartoon visuals and boxes to highlight important points.  Technical terms are used and are given easy to understand explanations.  I was concerned that my 4th and 6th graders would not read slowly or carefully enough to understand the information which is why I read the lessons with them.  I personally had to re-read parts of the lesson for the terms and ideas to sink in.  This is not an issue with Homeschool Programming or the way the information is presented.  It has everything to do with me.  I realize that I set myself up for failure at times because I don't try to understand computer related topics.  I'd rather just let my husband or someone else fix it for me.  Thankfully, my boys must have inherited my husband's brain for computer science because they didn't seem to have any trouble understanding what was being read to them. 

The boys were able to easily complete the activities corresponding to each lesson and are well on their way to creating a website!  In fact, they have really enjoyed learning about web design.  We are planning to complete the remaining lessons as part of our school plan this fall and move to advanced web design in our second semester.

Though my boys have learned a great deal, I feel like I have benefited the most from Homeschool Programming at this point.  I have a better understanding how to work with my blog and can look at the HTML code without feeling completely lost when I have a problem.  I am excited to continue studying with my boys, growing in my confidence around computers, and becoming more proficient in creating and understanding web design.

So, is Homeschool Programming only beneficial for a family who homeschools?  Or only for the targeted age range?  Absolutely not!  I believe that a wide variety of individuals, both in homeschool and public or private schools, both young and old, could gain valuable knowledge and hands-on practice from these courses!

If you are interested in purchasing Homeschool Programming or in viewing additional courses, please visit their website.

Check out additional Homeschool Programming reviews by my Mosaic Reviews team members!!!

   



{Mosaic Reviews} The Classical Historian: Medieval History Memory Game

 Typically, we are not much of a game playing family.  When we do play games, we always comment on the fun we had or that we should play more often because it's a great activity for family time.  Our children, like ourselves, have varied opinions about playing games.  One son loves to play games and is always asking someone to join him.  One kiddo really dislikes games because he thinks he always loses.  We require him to play at least one round because it's good for developing character...especially when he loses.  Grin.  Our other children don't seem to have a strong opinion either way but almost always join in for fun. 

 

We were given the opportunity to review a memory game created by The Classical Historian.  This company creates products to teach students history through age appropriate activities.  The memory games are designed for children ages 3 and older and teach chronology, geography, and historical image recognition.  Our memory game covered Medieval History but there are additional memory games covering different time periods.

    

 

The game comes packaged nicely in a sturdy, colorful box with game pieces that need to be punched out.  The game pieces are made of thick, glossy cardboard with high quality images.  Each card shows an image and text naming the image.   

 

 

Instructions are included to play this 64-card memory game in two ways. 

 

The first way to play involves matching images in the same style as the classic children's version of memory...placing cards picture side down and taking turns flipping over two at a time to find a match. 

 

The second way to play is to place the cards in the correct category - Europe, The Americas, Far East, and Arabia.  The player who categorizes the cards most quickly is the winner.  It is important to note that you must keep the paper instructions for the key to which images go in each of the four categories.  I was concerned that we might lose the instructions, therefore the answer key, so I taped it to the inside of the box lid.

  

 

 My boys, ages 9 and 10, played the second version of this game by categorizing the pictures under the correct heading.  I didn't time them when they played the game.  I was curious to see how many cards they would place in the correct category since we had studied the Middle Ages this past school year.  They did quite well!  Now that they are familiar with the categories and images, I think it will be fun to time each of them.  Maybe a little brotherly competition?! 

 

I attempted to have my 3 year old and 6 year old play the memory version of this game, but it was hard to get them interested.  In part, I think it was because I used all the cards for the game...that's 64 cards!  They were overwhelmed.  Next time, I will choose about half of the cards to play the game. 

 

While I didn't play the game as intended with the younger children, we enjoyed looking through the game pieces and pointing out things that we found interesting about the images.  Doing this activity has value in itself as an avenue to expose the children to topics, people, places, and artwork we will encounter again in the future. 

  

 

Overall, I really like the idea behind this memory game series because they have value for the whole family.  They have a simple enough strategy to allow little ones to play and are stimulating enough for older children and adults to learn and review.  The approach to learning is a fun and non-direct instructional time...your kids might not even realize they are learning about history while playing!  I always appreciate activities like this because they seem less "schoolish" to my kids.  Because of that, they are usually quick to jump right in and get involved.  We did enjoy playing this game together!

 

If you are interested in purchasing this game or learning about other products published by The Classical Historian, please visit their website!

 



 



{Mosaic Reviews} How Do We Know God is Really There?

I thought it would be interesting to ask my kids this question individually without hearing each other's responses...

 

Elijah, age 10: "The Bible tells me about God.  God answers my prayers.  I feel his protection and presence."

 

Luke, age 9: "God talks to me through prayer.  The Bible tells me about Him.  I feel his love and protection."

 

Isaac, age 6: "I just believe.  I feel God with me, like if I'm scared, I can just pray."

 

Sadie, age 3: "My Sunday School teacher tells me about God.  Mommy prays with me."

 

 

We were given an opportunity to read How Do We Know God is Really There?, a picture book written by Melissa Cain Travis and published by Apologia.  In this book, we meet a boy, Thomas, and his father who enjoy spending time together before bedtime in their backyard tree house.  It is a special time where they catch up on the events of their days.  Often Thomas's dad brings along his telescope and they search for planets and stars. 

 

One night, after stargazing, Thomas asks his dad how we can know God is out there.  He questions whether or not there is proof that God exists.  Thomas's dad answers his questions by talking about the findings of Edwin Hubble in regard to the galaxies of the universe. Using scientific fact, he guides Thomas to realize the truth and proof of God's existence through a question and answer style of conversation.  Thomas's dad tells him that the more he learns about the universe, the more evidence he'll have to believe in our Creator God.

 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."  Psalm 19:1

 

 

I appreciated the conversational tone of this book.  Thomas's dad wasn't simply telling Thomas what to believe, but was guiding their discussion by challenging him to think and discover the answer about God's existence on his own.

 

The words spoken by Thomas's dad are somewhat sophisticated as an adult would speak and Thomas answers as a child would - in simple words that younger children can understand.  They go back and forth with Thomas's dad stating a fact or making a point, then Thomas restating it more simply.  This type of conversation allows young readers to understand the logic behind the scientific evidence.  It helps this mama understand as well!  He, he!!!

 

Beyond the content, the book appears to be quite well made with a hardcover and thick, semi-glossy pages.  The font is easy to read and each page has colorful illustrations that especially enhance the scientific portions of the text. 

 

I would love to see more books of this nature in the future - taking some of the "big" questions and answering them one by one in separate picture books. 

 

If you are interested in purchasing this book, reading a sample from the book, or learning about other materials by Apologia, please visit their website for pricing and other information!



 

{Mosaic Reviews} Waterproof Bible

Every once in a while, I am introduced to something that is so unique it just knocks my socks off...or maybe in this case, I should say it floats my boat!  The Waterproof Bible by Bardin Marsee Publishing is spectacular!

 

 

I honestly didn't know what to expect of this Bible before receiving it.  I couldn't imagine how it would be made or how it could possibly be waterproof.  But I knew I was excited.  And so were my boys.  When I mentioned that I would be receiving the Waterproof Bible and the little I knew about it, my three oldest boys asked if I would give the Bible to them.  They were sold before even seeing it!

The gentlemen that created the Waterproof Bible have a passion for being in God's creation and years of experience and adventure in the great outdoors but neither of them had a good solution for taking God's Word with them.  One took inexpensive Bibles along on trips knowing that they would be ruined by the end of his trip.  The other just didn't take a Bible with him at all.  They longed for a solution...  Together they created the Waterproof Bible. 

 

We had a chance to speak with Bobby from Bardin Marsee Publishing and he said of the Waterproof Bible that we can "take God's Word anywhere with worry free confidence that it will stand the test of time..."  As their motto says, you can "Be Inspired.  Anywhere."

 

 The Waterproof Bible is made of synthetic paper and thread that is stain and tear resistant.  The Bible is sewn together in sections and then sewn as a block before also being secured with waterproof glue.  The synthetic paper allows the text to be ultra clear and readable.  The pages of the Bible stretch and it would take a great deal of stretching before tearing.  I stretched one of the back pages in the "notes" section and it didn't tear on me.  That spot is a little stretched out but it held up to the pressure I put on it.

 





 

The synthetic pages can be highlighted without worry of your markings washing off or smearing!  It is recommended that you use dry highlighters which are a cross between a crayon and a colored pencil.  I didn't happen to have a dry highlighter, so I just used a colored pencil.  It seemed to work just fine!   

 



 

The Waterproof Bible comes in several popular versions: KJV, NKJV, ESV, NLT, and the 2011 NIV.  Another option allows you to choose either the complete Old and New Testament Bible or just the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.

 

The complete OT and NT Bible is about 6" x 9" with a one inch spine while the NT with Psalms and Proverbs is pocket sized about 4" x 7" weighing less than a pound.  Perfect for camping, hiking, taking along on your fishing trip.

 

The Waterproof Bible comes with three cover options - blue, pink or camouflage.  Can you guess which cover my boys were hoping for?  They said, "Anything but pink!"  Ha, ha!!!

 

I really wanted to put this Bible to the test and one day we had a terrific rain storm.  All. day. long.  It felt wrong to be so excited leave our Waterproof Bible out on the patio table, but that's what we did.  My boys kept careful watch and kept asking if it was time to bring it in yet.  Nope!  It needs to stay outside for a long time to get a good thorough soaking.

Do you see how that water just bubbles up?!  Pretty awesome! 

 

When we finally brought the Bible back inside, we shook it off over the sink and dried the outside with a towel.  I fanned the pages and some drops of water flew out.  And that was it.  Dry.  Amazing!

 

Later on, the boys took our Bible out to their "fort" in our woods.  It was muddy.  The Bible got muddy.  The boys got muddy.  What cleaned up the most quickly?  The Bible.  A damp cloth wiped all traces of mud off the pages. 

 

The Waterproof Bible is one of the neatest products I've seen in a long time!  My boys are begging me to buy them each their own camouflage Bible to use for all their outdoor adventures - camping, fishing, and hiking.  (So, don't tell them they'll each be receiving one for Christmas with their names imprinted on the cover.  Shhhh!!!) 

 

As our family is trying to incorporate more outdoor activities into our lifestyle, I am confident this Bible will be a staple in our supplies.  I am just that totally excited about it!  And years from now, as my guys cross off one of their biggest dreams from their bucket lists - hiking the Appalachian Trail with their dad - I am confident their Waterproof Bibles will truly have stood the test of time ready to be pulled from their pack for a morning sunrise meeting with their Creator.

 



 

 If you are interesting in purchasing your own Waterproof Bible or other accessories, please visit the fine folks at Bardin Marsee Publishing.  You can even customize your Bible covers.  You won't be disappointed!

 

 

{Mosaic Reviews} Ooka Island

In our home, our kids don't spend a lot of time on the computer yet.  Our oldest boys spend a little time learning keyboarding skills, typing writing assignments, playing educational games, and looking up Lego sets.  There is always a bit of fussing when the older boys get to "play" on the computer and the younger ones don't have a chance. 

 

Well, the tables definitely turned when we were reviewing Ooka Island, a learn to read game adventure.  Isaac (age 7) and Sadie (age 3) had a chance to try out this exciting program.  In fact, as you can see, everyone was quite interested!  Even our cat, Hwin...he, he!

 

 

So, what is Ooka Island?

 

Ooka Island is a guided learn to read adventure geared for children ages 3-7 based on years of literacy research by Dr. Kay MacPhee both from a professional and personal level. 

 

Ooka Island incorporates science based reading methods using the Eye/Ear Reading Method where children use both visual and auditory skills to improve their literacy.  The Eye/Ear Method helps children obtain mastery skills in five important areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

 

Ooka Island is an adaptive learn to read program.  Using the READirect algorithm, the program adapts to each child's strengths and weaknesses allowing them to make steady progress forward or repeat skills where they struggle.  When a child is playing Ooka Island, if they master a skill, READirect will move them forward in the game.  If they need more practice in a certain area, READirect will adjust for their needs and give more opportunities to practice those skills moving toward mastery. 

 



 

When we first set up our accounts, Sadie and Isaac were able to create their own character that looked like themselves.  The characters in Ooka Island are colorful, cute, and sometimes funny and surprising!  The character's voices were clear to understand and easy on the ears.

 

Sadie began Ooka Island at the very beginning level of play because she is three and that fit her skill level perfectly.  Because Isaac has growing reading skills, we were able to complete the Ooka Compass Reading Assessment that provided a variety of activities to assess his reading level and place him at a more accurate level of the game.  This is a wonderful aspect of Ooka Island!  Isaac didn't spend any time wading through unnecessary steps to get him to a place where he was actually learning and building new literacy skills.  From the very first time Isaac played the game, he was being challenged!

 

Ooka Island moves players through the Learning Flow Cycle which contains three parts. 

 

In Part 1: Guided Play, children work through skill building activities focused on phonemic awareness and phonics.  Sadie and Isaac loved playing these games.  I think this was their favorite part of the whole Ooka Island adventure.  I'm not sure I would have been able to convince Isaac, my first grader, that he was actually "doing school" while playing the games!  Ooka Island was a great way to reinforce our homeschool phonics lessons in a brand new way!

When children enter Part 2: e-Reader of the Learning Flow Cycle, they are transported to the Popcorn Library where they are presented with a leveled reader, again based on their individual skills.  This part focuses on concept of word, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.  While absolutely necessary, Isaac struggled with keeping a good attitude in this step.  This felt more like "school" to him and he just wanted to play the games.  But I encouraged him along reminding him that once he was finished with this part, he would unlock the next step - free play!  Sadie, on the other hand, really enjoyed this section and I don't think she saw it as anything other than another game to play.

Part 3: Free Play gives players a chance to play just for fun, read books from the Popcorn Library, or play activities that continue with their skill building and mastery.  Both Sadie and Isaac loved visiting the Mist Mart where they could select new costumes and clothing for their game characters.  I definitely heard the most giggling at this stage!

I think it is important to note, too, that no matter where you stop playing your game, Ooka Island remembers that spot and brings you right back to where you ended.  I think this eliminates the frustration of feeling like you're not making progress.

 

I was able to track each child's progress through Ooka Island's online progress reports via The Ooka Lighthouse which included The Report Card (a snapshot of progress), Reading Comprehension Report, Accuracy Analysis, Book Progress, and Red Line/Blue Line Trends (to show a reading break through).

 

On a fun note, I appreciated being able to send each of my children encouraging messages from the CHEEReader each time they logged in to play.  Both Sadie and Isaac would get so excited and say, "Mama, you sent me a message!" 

 

Sadie and Isaac really enjoyed playing Ooka Island!  At times, I'm not sure who was logged in as the player and they worked together at the games.  I know Isaac felt a sense of pride that he could help "teach" Sadie her letters and sounds  building his confidence.  In the seven hours Sadie was logged in to play, I have seen improvement in her ability to recognize and correctly name the alphabet and a few sounds that she didn't already know.  Isaac is making leaps and bounds in his reading skills and I'm confident that Ooka Island has helped him move closer toward becoming a fluent reader. 

 

Ooka Island is OOKARIFIC!!!



If you're interested in Ooka Island for your family, be sure to check their website for pricing and a variety of other resources available for you (sing along songs, activity pages, motivational tools, and so on).

And here's a bonus just for you from the good people at Ooka Island...a 30% discount on your purchase!!!  Just follow the link!!!

{Mosaic Reviews} Spanish for You!

Teach my kiddos Spanish?!  Eeks!  I'm not sure I could do that...at least that is what I thought before being introduced to Spanish for You!.

 

 

Spanish for You! is a theme based approach to language learning for grades 3-8.  It combines vocabulary, pronunciation, syntax, verb conjugation, and grammar throughout its lessons giving students the opportunity to combine these components early on in their study to begin communicating in Spanish.  The author implements a spiral teaching method so students are reviewing older material while learning new material.  Each theme based package is designed so students can work at their own pace yet families can combine experienced and inexperienced Spanish speakers together for teaching times.  The lesson plans are written to allow families to combine multiple ages together as well making this an excellent choice for busy mamas and students of all ages.

 

I received the digital Estaciones package that included an e-book, lesson guide, flashcards, worksheets, and two audio files.  Having never learned Spanish, I had no clue what Estaciones even meant until I received my package...ha, ha!  I was excited to find out we would be learning about the seasons!

 

Being a hands-on person, I immediately printed out the necessary pages from the e-book and lesson guide to start our studies.  It was still necessary to refer back to the digital and audio files to complete our lessons, but the author has made a great effort to organize those files in a way that is easy to navigate and find exactly what you need for your lesson in a timely manner.   

 

 

The lesson plans are designed for an entire school year for grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, but you can teach the same lesson to all of your children and have them complete the activities/worksheets for their specific grade.  We used the lessons plans for grades 3-4 combining four of my children ages 3 yrs. old up to my 10 yr. old.  Each week plans for four days of instruction giving you a variety of activities and suggestions to enhance your language learning.  You can find a variety of additional games, activities, and worksheets on the Spanish for You! website as well. I found the lesson plans to be easy to follow and implement with my children.  I appreciate the fact that this curriculum is flexible for my family's needs and schedule allowing to us to spend more time on one day, repeated days if necessary, or move along more quickly if we are learning the concepts at a faster rate.

 

One aspect of this program that I found absolutely essential are the audio files.  We spent the most time with these as my kids were fascinated with listening to and repeating the words and phrases modeled for us.  One audio file is a non-native Spanish speaker while the other audio file is a native Spanish speaker.  My children and I snuggled up close on the couch while listening to the audio files and followed along with the printed vocabulary pages.

 

 Each package comes with flashcards to accompany the vocabulary in the lessons.  We enjoyed coloring the simple hand drawn images and using them to practice what we were learning.

 

Do you want to guess our most repeated phrases we learned this spring??? 

 

"Hace frio" meaning "It's cold." (Insert frowny face!)

 

and

 

"Hace mal tiempo" meaning "It's bad weather."  (Insert double frowny face!!!) 

 

Oh well, that's spring in NY!  Ha, ha!  I'm happy to say that the sun has finally been shining and warming us up allowing us to use the phrase "Hace buen tiempo!!!" meaning "It's nice weather!!!" 

 

Spanish for You! is an affordable, flexible language learning curriculum that allows families to learn together (including the mamas!) and start communicating in simple terms right from the very beginning.  The author has done an excellent job creating a program that is easy to use and implement even with the busiest of schedules. 

 

If you are interested in learning more about Spanish for You!, please visit their website and check out their products.  You will find an excellent option for your language learning!

 

{Mosaic Reviews} The Ultimate Homeschool Planner

I like to be organized.  I don't like clutter or messes which is kinda funny if you were looking around my house right now because it's pretty messy.  Ha, ha!  However, there really are only a few things that I feel like I have well organized.  One of those things is my homeschool "recording sheets" for our daily schoolwork. 

 

In the past six years of homeschooling my children, I've tried a variety of recording methods.  It is very important for me to keep close track of our work because our state has some pretty strict regulations about the information we need to report to our school district on each student yearly and quarterly.

 

I've found, in the past few years, that my best option was to create my own "recording sheets" in a Word document so I could customize it very specifically for each of my children.  I have been so completely sold on only using my own sheets and haven't even considered checking out any other products on the market.  

 

 

I was given the opportunity to review The Ultimate Homeschool Planner by Debra Bell.  To be honest, I sat on it for a few weeks, kind-of unsure how to use it because I liked my own recording method so much.  Besides that, I have a dated daily planner for keeping track of appointments, extracurricular activities, play dates, and so on.  Plus, I have my blog planner to help me stay organized with my Mosaic Reviews responsibilities.  Having so many planners to use left me somewhat paralyzed.

 

I finally decided that I needed to just go for it and start using The Ultimate Homeschool Planner to record our daily homeschool work.  I also needed to let go of my silly perfectionistic thinking that all my recording sheets for this year wouldn't match...seriously, sometimes I annoy myself! 

 

 

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner really is more than simply a planner - it is a planning system that allows you to keep track of a variety of aspects of yours and your student's lives.  When used in conjunction with the student and teen planners, it is designed to help you "count your blessings, encourage independence, and record your progress."  This system helps you to teach and encourage your children to accept greater responsibility and independence for their homeschool journeys.

 

The Mom's Planner has so many neat components:

(1) a yearly calendar up to 2016. 

(2) a user's guide with instructions for how to use the planners together

(3) a one-year planning guide

(4) setting family priorities

(5) a student goal setter

(6) undated monthly planning pages

(7) undated weekly planning pages

(8) Monday morning tutorials and Friday afternoon reviews

 

Each week's planning actually contains four pages.  The first two pages allow you to place the focus of your homeschool back to the Lord.  My husband and I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to teach our children according to God's Word and to develop their character to line up with God's Word.  These first two pages are the most exciting piece of these planners for me personally.  Too often, my goal is to simply get down to the business of teaching and learning the three R's and sadly, I overlook this gift of time all day, every day to be very purposeful in training my children in the ways of the Lord.  

 

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner will cause you to stop and think about your:

(1) Bible Plan

(2) Battle Plan with a fighter verse

(3) Prayers

(4) Hospitality/Outreach

(5) Memorable Moments and Achievements

(6) Evidences of Grace - God's mercy, faithfulness, protection, and provision

 

The next two pages of the week's planning allow you to plan for up to six children for Monday through Saturday (with Sunday being recognized in the first two weekly planning pages).  I recorded a few projects and "to-do's" for myself and kept track of my school aged children's completed work, extra activities, field trips, etc.  I imagine when it comes time to write my quarterly reports for my school district, this method of having each boy's work on one page will make the report writing move along more quickly.  I am all for making that necessary process easier!

 

 

The Student Planner is the second aspect of the planning system I had a chance to review.  My fifth grade son was completely on board with using it.  He got right down to business filling out the "All About Me" pages.  

 

The Student Planner has many useful parts:

(1) undated monthly pages

(2) undated weekly pages with check boxes for done and approved work

(3) a check box for daily quiet time

(4) grade keeping

(5) reading list

(6) a reference section with a variety of useful facts/information

(7) year at a glance up to 2015

(8) fun stickers to mark important events like appointments, birthdays, tests, etc.

(9) a Study Smart Student Toolkit

 

 

 

As it turns out, it was a lot more challenging to keep my son interested in using this planner without my direct input all the time.  I realize I haven't created an environment where he needs to keep track of his own assignments.  For our basic subject areas he knows to complete the next lesson or the next few pages, etc. and then I check his work.  Once his assignment has been completed and checked, I have held the sole responsibility for recording his schoolwork in my planner.

 

The biggest lesson I learned from using The Student Planner is that I need to create opportunities to help my son develop more independence and responsibility with his schoolwork.  You can bet that we will be working on this and continuing to utilize The Student Planner.

I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to try out this planner.  I really liked the layout of the four weekly planning pages.  I was able to easily record each boy's daily work.  Even though this planner is completely different than my beloved (ha, ha!) homemade recording sheets, I could see this planner working for me long term.  One big thing I realized is that I really should spend more time planning ahead - yearly planning and setting of goals, compiling lists of resources, and monthly planning. 

 

I would prefer to have the option of ordering a three-hole punched copy rather than having the planner spiral bound.  I keep my homemade recording sheets in a binder along with correspondence from my school district, individual plans of instruction and dates for submission of quarterly reports, fliers about field trips, syllabi's from our homeschool co-op, etc.  Because this planner is spiral bound, I still need to have a separate binder to keep my other important papers together.  That being said, I could honestly see myself combining my daily planner, my blog planner, and this planner month by month in one three-ring binder and having great success in keeping my life well organized.

 

If you are interested in purchasing The Ultimate Homeschool Planner, The Student Planner, or The Teen Planner, please visit Apologia for pricing and other great products.

 



{Mosaic Reviews} We Choose Virtues

One of the biggest benefits I find as a homeschool mama is the ability to work on character training as life rolls along at its usual pace.  And, to be completely honest, I'm not just talking about my kids' character development.  I have not "arrived" nor do I expect to any time ever, so my lovies and I work on our character development together.  I always take a step back when I hear my own negative attitudes or words being repeated by my children.  Yikes!  That's eye opening, for sure!

 

As a result, I am always open to new ideas for helping to shape our character.  I, like many others, prefer to call this shaping "heart training." It is very important to me that our character training is linked with God's Word for we learn in the Bible that what comes out of our mouths flows from what is in our hearts (Matthew 15:19, Luke 6:45, Proverbs 4:23 to name a few verses).  I want my life and the lives of my children to honor God above all else so we use God's Word as our guidebook for life. 

 

Recently, I was introduced We Choose Virtues, a character training program designed to be fun, catchy, and simple to use that makes a positive impact in kid's lives.  There are twelve virtues taught that fall under the three main categories: Obey, Be Kind, Be A Helper. 

 

The "Obey" virtues are: Obedient, Attentive, Self-Controlled, and Honest.

 

The "Be Kind" virtues are: Kind, Forgiving, Patient, and Gentle.

 

The "Be A Helper" virtues are: Helpful, Perseverant, Diligent, and Content.

 

 

I received the Virtue Flashcards shown above.  Each virtue has an adorable cartoon kid from VirtueVille and short story associated with that character quality.  These flashcards teach each virtue by using the phrases "I am..." followed by its catchphrase explaining the virtue in simple to understand words.  The flip side of each card also teaches the antonym of each virtue "I am not..." or "I don't..." along with a Bible verse connecting the character quality to God's Word!

 

For example, the "I am Helpful" card has the sweet boy, Hat Matt, on the front of the card.  The catchphrase says, "I find things that need to be done and I do them."  Helpful's antonym is "I am NOT...selfish, lazy, or unwilling to serve and I don't have to be asked."  The Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 4:9, "Two people are better than one.  They can help each other in everything they do." 

 

I really appreciate the way these cards are laid out with several different ways to explain and illustrate each virtue.  With the variety of simple to understand words, it has been easy to teach the virtues to my three year old all the way up to my ten year old.  Coincidentally, four of my children fall exactly into the We Choose Virtues target age range.  Pretty perfect fit!

 

 

One interesting and helpful aspect of We Choose Virtues is the Family Character Assessment.  This assessment allows each family member to grade themselves on a scale of one to ten for each virtue...one being that you really struggle with this virtue, ten being that you have a good handle on this virtue.  I had one of my sons fill this assessment out and it's interesting to see where he placed himself on the scale.  I agree with him on some areas but not on others.  I plan to use this with each of my children and myself, then go over it with them individually.  I am curious to see how my husband would evaluate me on each virtue...  The point of this assessment is to see where each person needs individual attention, training, and goal setting in regard to each virtue.

  

 

 Another aspect of We Choose Virtues that I liked was the list of Memory Verses and Bible Heroes.  We were able to read about a Bible hero that displayed the character qualities we focused on during the review period.  Again, this meets my goal of tying our heart training to the truth from God's Word!

 

My three and six year olds enjoyed the Coloring Pages of each sweet kid from VirtueVille.  My two older boys were not attracted to the cute kids or coloring pages but they certainly benefited from the content we discussed.  I am considering purchasing the Coloring Book in order to have the stories that tell about each adorable kid and help to explain their catchy names - Kind Kettle Gretel, Content Cake Jake, Forgiving Feather Heather, etc.  Because we didn't know the background stories of each VirtueVille kid, we didn't focus on their names, but notice that each kid's name begins with the same letter as their virtue making it easier to remember the virtues you are working on developing. 

 

As an alternative to the coloring book, the Parenting Cards also explain each Virtue Kid's story and character quality along with the basic information from the flashcards as well as helpful tips, what to do after saying "Sorry," and so on...

 

We Choose Virtues is jammed packed with valuable character training for kids of all ages.  The materials are visually appealing, strong in Biblically based content, and easy to implement in whatever way works for your family.  As an added bonus, you can purchase a kit that contains the essential elements or pick and choose the most valuable items to meet your family's needs!

 

Please visit We Choose Virtues for more information about the people behind the company and all their great products.  If you decide to make a purchase for your family, please take advantage of these discounts codes!  Any purchase you make can receive 15% off by entering VIRTUE15 at checkout.  If you decide to purchase the Homeschool Kit during the month of April, you can receive a 20% discount by entering HOME20 at checkout!

 

You can also find We Choose Virtues on Facebook and Pinterest!

 



{Mosaic Reviews} FamilyMint

"Mom, can I buy this Lego kit?" 

 

"Umm, I don't know.  Didn't you just buy another Lego kit?  Do you have any money left?" 

 

"I don't know, but now I really want this one!"

 

 

Sound familiar?!  This is a conversation I was having on a regular basis with my two oldest boys.  I'd find myself annoyed that they were constantly asking to buy more Legos.  Not that I have anything against Legos.  In fact, I think Legos are terrific!  But, oh my, it seemed that they were relentlessly intent on spending every penny in their piggy banks. 

 

So, when I was given the opportunity to review FamilyMint, a money management program designed for kids aged 10 and up, I jumped at the chance! 

 

I received the Money Management Certification Workbook in the mail and a subscription to the online application.  I knew from my first quick glance at the workbook that this would be a great resource to help teach our boys the basic principles of money management.

 

 

We started with the hands-on workbook which is a tool you can use exclusively without the need for the online application.  But more on that later...  The workbook is fun and easy to use providing simple explanations of main concepts, vocabulary, and my boys' favorite, fun money facts.  Older teens could potentially work through the book independently while the younger crowd would benefit from working alongside a parent. 

 

 

Through the workbook chapters, my boys were able to learn how to:

(1) Track their money by recording income and expenses, learning how to write checks and deposit slips, and keeping a register

(2) Set SMART goals based on their personal desires and make them manageable and achievable

(3) Create a budget to accomplish the goals they set

(4) Earn interest to watch their savings grow



 

Our boys do not receive a regular allowance, but to maximize their experience with FamilyMint we thought of a few ways they could earn money on a weekly basis.  Our caveat to receiving their allowance was that they had to give a weekly tithe back to the the Lord (10% of each week's earnings), and choose one charity to donate to at the end of the program (whatever amount they felt good about). 

 

I found it interesting, as the boys were creating their budgets and goals, how much they struggled to "make ends meet" trying to balance their desire for things vs. savings vs. the charitable donations we required of them.  Besides learning principles of money management, the boys are developing character qualities that will define who they are for the rest of their lives.  This combination is priceless.

 

 

Once we completed the workbook pages, we gathered the boy's money banks (mason jars!) and set up their secure online accounts.  As I stated before, FamilyMint can be used without the online application but I believe parents would be doing a disservice to their children by not using this part of the program given today's culture of online banking and bill payments along with debit card use.  I found the online application to be necessary and relevant as our boys rarely see my husband or me using cash or checks.

 

The online application was extremely easy to set up and use.  It is essentially an electronic version of the workbook.  After a few times walking the boys through the steps for signing in and managing their accounts, they were able to use it independently.  On "Pay Day," I had the difficult task of determining who called "dibs" to use the computer first.  Grin!

 

 

Along with the online application, we decided to use the "envelope system" explained in the workbook within their money jars to further reinforce the concepts learned and keep their money separated between general savings and each goal.

 

As a reviewer, we had the opportunity to participate in a conference call with one of the creators of FamilyMint.  During that call, Mr. Masterson said of their product, this "tool is the middleman" letting parents off the hook from always saying "no" to their children about how they spend their money.  The answer and responsibility now lies in the child's hands.

 

This is true!  Since beginning FamilyMint, do you know how many times I've been asked if we could go to the store and buy a Lego kit? 

 

Zero.

 

Can I get a hallelujah???!!!

 

The boys each have goals to buy a Lego kit, and they know how many weeks it will take them to reach their goal.  There is no longer any need to ask me about it! 

 

The boys have completely enjoyed FamilyMint and as a parent, I feel confident that we are setting them up for financial success both now and in the future.  Without a doubt, we will use FamilyMint with each of our children as they reach the appropriate age.   

 

If you are interested in purchasing FamilyMint for your family, please visit their website where you will find several options to meet your family's needs.