TOS Crew

What Homeschooling Is Like For Us {Homeschooling} {Epilepsy Awareness}

April 18, 2017 by Dana

5 Days of Homeschooling with Epilepsy and Other Issues:

What Homeschooling Is Like For Us

One of the BEST things about Homeschooling is that you can make it work for you! You don’t need to follow anyone else’s schedule. You don’t need to do Public School at Home. You simply do what’s best for you and your family.

Homeschooling for us varies throughout the year. Because our schedule is usually crazy with appointments at different times of the day, we have had to learn to adapt things to fit around this. We homeschool year round, which means when the public school kids are at home, we’re usually still having school.

We’re also pretty eclectic educationally which fits right in with the Homeschool Review Crew since we never know ahead which vendors we will be selected to review and which we won’t. We’ve been blessed to be selected for many wonderful items over the years while being a part of the crew and these items have easily been adapted to fit our homeschooling because of our personal style.

We also tend to use materials that allow us to work together as a family instead of individually which can take a ton of time. Things like Apologia for science, unit studies by Amanda Bennett, Apologia for Biblical Studies and Story of the World for history have helped us to have a well-rounded educational experience while allowing us to adapt to the challenges our health issues present.

Unit studies have been a huge blessing because it allows us to often work through subjects of interest instead of following a more formal plan. Many field trips end out our studies to give that hands-on experience my children crave. This is just a fun bonus for all of us.

As you’ve probably guessed, we don’t follow a strict schedule. I feel that learning is most important, not meeting a timeline that my children may not necessarily be ready for. I enjoy watching their little faces when they truly learn something that speaks loudly to their hearts. This is the method we’ve used for years and greatly enjoy following.

This is just a small glimpse into our homeschooling life. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and look forward to sharing more with you! Next up is Homeschooling On The Down Days.

Blessings,
Dana Lambert-Hodge

This post is a part of the 5 Days of Homeschool… Blog Hop from
the Homeschool Review Crew!

5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017

B is for Blogging {Blogging Through The Alphabet}

May 6, 2014 by Dana

B is for Blogging

I’m a blogger. That’s just what I do. I love blogging. I enjoy sharing with others and using this creative outlet to speak my mind.

I began blogging in 2009 simply as a way to express myself. I wanted to share with others about our life. I wanted to find a way to write again, which I hadn’t been doing a lot of simply because I had very little time. Blogging gave me a reason to write.

I began reviewing not long after I started blogging. I started with book reviews. It was a great way to get free books and share with others about what I was reading. Those are two things I greatly enjoy.

I began working as a reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse about 4 years ago. Being a homeschooler, TOS was a huge part of my life. The materials gifted through the amazing online parties thrown occasionally by Gena Suarez were impressive and Gena herself is an amazing woman to look up to. The things Gena does for the homeschooling community and the genuine love of others that she has was a huge inspiration to me. Gena is the main reason I wanted to become a TOS reviewer.

The first year I applied, I did not finish my trial. I gave up and I honestly regretted not joining up. Every time I saw a TOS review for that next year, I mentally kicked myself for not following through with my tryout and joining the review team.

When the next TOS try-out came along, I applied again and I made it all the way through. I am so glad I did. The crew has been a great blessing to me and our family. I have enjoyed reviewing and blogging while working on the Schoolhouse Review Team.

Writing is a huge part of my life. Blogging allows me to write and get out how I feel. I use blogging to express myself, to share my feelings, to share great products with others and to learn more about myself in unexpected ways. There is just so much to it.

Over the last 5 years, I have greatly enjoyed this blog. I plan to continue to blog for as long as possible and I look forward to sharing with each of you our ups and downs, our happiness and tears and all the things along the way. I hope you enjoy our blog as well.

So tell me, if you blog, why do you do it? Share your stories! I look forward to reading them.

KinderBach {Crew Review}

February 27, 2014 by Dana

KinderBach is a program designed to allow music via piano lessons into the a simple home setting. Designed for younger children around ages 3-7, KinderBach makes learning music fun. This simple, low cost program is easy to use by everyone.

The KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner is a complete piano music curriculum. Parental involvement in the program depends on your child’s ability to learn. Children who are able to view the videos on their own will need less involvement from a parent than those who are younger and less skilled in learning.

Since this is a full curriculum, it includes video instruction to show children how to use the piano through online lessons. It also includes worksheets to be completed which bring the lessons offline and into their daily life for practice and learning without a computer. A piano is also needed to provide correct instruction on playing this wonderful instrument.

The KinderBach curriculum contains 7 complete levels, each covering different aspects of Piano lessons. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic are also covered as children work through their lessons while using this program. Learning to read symbols, decoding, learning to identify right and left, coordination, control, as well as rhythm and sequencing are all learned throughout the lessons provided through using KinderBach for music lessons.

The video lessons used in KinderBach are short but fun. They capture the child’s attention while teaching them important skills. They also help to build fine motor function as children follow along and practice what they are learning in the program.

The worksheets that are used to bring the program off the computer and into real life for the child are also fun, while at the same time they provide a solid learning foundation to help the child further the skills learned online while watching the lesson videos. These worksheets give the child concrete evidence of learning and help encourage building their musical skills, helping them to gain confidence in their lessons as they learn.

KinderBach offers a free trial of their award winning program for the first few lessons which can be located directly on their website. There is also a NO RISK 30 day Money Back Guarantee for this program.

Though we used the KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner for home, there is also a Classroom version perfect for co-ops and schools to use. KinderBach is for use with children who are ages 3-7 as I mentioned above. My Laycie was the perfect age for using it at 5 years old.

We have been using KinderBach in our home for about 2 years now and we still love it. Laycie began using it when she just turned 4 – she turns 6 in April and has been using it off and on. Emma has also used the program and helped Laycie with some of the lessons. Both girls enjoy the adorable characters and the simple instructions provided through the program very much. This is something we use several times a week, allowing them to work at their own pace during lessons but it’s not something that we push for learning. It’s just a really fun program that we keep coming back to as an extracurricular activity for all of us.

I’m kind of anxious for Jackson to become old enough to use it. At 17 months, he enjoys watching the videos as well but he’s a little too young yet to gain anything from the other parts of the program. He isn’t old enough to know how to use the piano or remember key placement or count timing. Laycie on the other hand loves doing all of those things and has really enjoyed learning them.

A membership to the KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner is available for one year for a special limited time price of $95.88. It’s normally priced at $130 per year for the program.

A membership to the KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner gives you access to over 240 sessions in lessons by computer, iPad, and more. You will also receive access to the lesson PDF’s to print and use at home. Teacher’s Corner is included with this membership, allowing you access to the Audio MP3’s for each lesson and all materials for Levels 1-6 of the KinderBach program. Downloads for the lesson story books, song books and coloring pages are also included with your one year membership to KinderBach. This complete curriculum package provides you with everything needed for one year of learning Piano and Music from KinderBach.

You can find and follow KinderBach in the following places online:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kinderbach

Facebook for Teachers: www.facebook.com/classroomkinderbach

Twitter: @KinderBach

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/KinderBach/

YouTube: KinderBach Preschool Piano

For more reviews of KinderBach, please click the banner below.

French Essentials {Crew Review}

November 13, 2013 by Dana

Looking for a quality French program to use at home? Need something simple but thorough to teach French to your children? Planning a trip to France and need to learn the language? Look no further than French Essentials.

French Essentials was created to be an adaptable French language program. Designed to be used with children in grades 2 and up, this program is perfect for everyone! French Essentials is a complete French program that is easy to use.

The website states that if a student completes one module per year beginning in Grade 3, they will complete the course during their senior year. So as you can tell, this program is extremely adaptable and lessons can be completed as needed by you and your child. Lessons for younger students will, of course, take more time than those for older students and younger students will require more parental assistance than the older students will need.

French Essentials is designed to be used both on and off line with students. Modules are expected to be downloaded to print off the worksheets necessary for the lessons. There are currently 5 modules. Module 1 contains 20 lessons, the student workbook, keys and a module checklist. Module 2 contains 25 lessons, workbook, keys and checklist as well. Module 3 contains 15 lessons along with the workbook, keys and checklist. Module 3 also includes a Pronunciation Workout as well. Module 4 contains 16 lessons, the student workbook, keys, checklist, Pronunciation Workout and also includes Video Scripts to use. Module 5 contains 15 lessons. The first 5 lessons contain the lesson workbook and key to use while learning.

The lessons begin with the pronunciation of the French Alphabet and moves forward from there. Lessons are thorough but not too intense, packing just the right amount of learning within them. Each lesson contains several exercises to complete and can be done in a day or more as needed. They are completely adjustable to your personal schedule.

Each module includes links to everything that is needed within the lesson. So sounds play right as you need them within the program simply by clicking on the microphones to activate them. The sound bites are created by French speakers so the correct pronunciation is best learned. Online exercises can also be reached by logging into your account online to connect to the necessary module per lesson.

There are also links to learn about the French culture included with the lesson plan. These are available by clicking on “culture” in the Student Area. These extra little tidbits bring to life the lessons you are learning as your work through the program. They are a fun bonus to help your child better connect with the French culture.

We were able to fit this program in as needed during our days. When we found an extra moment, we worked on a module. Since the modules were printable, I simply printed out what I needed to and use the kids computers to complete the sounds and videos that went along with the lessons. All three children worked together on these lessons with ease. This was a refresher course for me as I took two years of French Foreign Language as a course in High School but I desperately needed the brush up!

French Essentials can be purchased in individual modules or as a full set, your choice. Each individual module costs $69.95 and each purchase is available for 90 days. The French Essentials full package for the year can be purchased for $149.95. This includes the lesson downloads, sound bites and videos used during the lessons.

To read more reviews of French Essentials, please click on the banner below!

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IXL {Crew Review}

November 8, 2013 by Dana

IXL is a well-known name in Homeschooling and education. What began as a Comprehensive Math program has expanded to include Language Arts as well. This amazing program can be used to supplement any math or language program available.

IXL provides thorough instruction and practice of important skills in both Math and Language Arts. The program is designed to be set up to meet State Standards but can also be used to simply supplement extra practice in subjects or units as needed. Covering grades K-12 in Math instruction and grades 2-4 in Language Arts, with future plans to expand, this program provides just the right amount of supplementation at home.

The formatting of the program is set to basically allow children to read through the problem then choose an answer through A, B or C options. This allows a child to process and answer quickly when using the program. Children can work on, above or below grade level as needed and parent/teacher options allow this to be set per child as needed.

There is audio available for math skills in the younger grades, which is helpful for students who may struggle with reading skills. An iPad app is available as well for extra math practice. Students can work either by grade level or by topic as needed. Working by topic allows the student to work strictly on Addition or Estimation or Algebra as needed, wherever the student needs the extra help.

Language Arts is set up similarly to Math, allowing the student to work on grade level or by topic. So if your student needs extra practice with Sentences or Nouns and Pronouns, you can simply choose that topic to start them on.

In parent mode, you can set up each child’s account through the Profiles and Settings options. I was able to set up a parent account and one account for each of my older children. I input their names and chose a picture to fit them so they can tell who is who. These are fun little images to help them distinguish their personal accounts. I can also opt to set a secret word for each of them to log in with or to leave the account without a word in this section.

Through my parent account, I can check the progress of each student. I can print reports of their progress, as well. I am able to view awards for each student’s progress to see how well they are doing in their work. I can also view my state standards to see how well my children match up to their grade levels and their educational knowledge through the program.

We’ve used IXL for several years off and on now. It’s a program that I have personally enjoyed though it’s not always been appealing to my children. However, it’s a wonderful program to have them use as a go to just to cover review lessons quickly and gauge their personal progress.

The style and set up of the program lessons remind me of the Standardized Testing that I used to take yearly in public school. It’s pretty much presented as a problem with fill in the blank answers, or online choices in the place of fill in the blank. This isn’t necessarily a problem but it doesn’t completely mesh with our homeschooling style. My children are extremely hands-on and prefer to watch a video on a math lesson or to actually work out a lesson using blocks or some kind of manipulative over choosing the correct answer from a group of answers.

This program would be amazing for students who are preparing for testing in their state. In our state, testing is not mandatory, so it definitely doesn’t benefit us there. It would also be a great program for a family who wishes to meet their state’s standards or to stay aligned with the public school’s standards for education.

My children enjoy being able to see their accomplishments through the Awards in the program. They also enjoy seeing the information they’ve covered in lessons, and I enjoy that as well. It’s also nice to be able to print off the areas they have covered and passed thoroughly so I can see what we need to work on next. This allows me to bypass parts of lessons that my children aren’t struggling with and concentrate on those areas they are struggling with.

IXL is available by subscription for $9.95 for Math only, $9.95 for Language Arts only, or $15.95 monthly for both. A years subscription of $79 is available for either Math or Language Arts or $129.00 for both subjects for the year. Additional subscriptions for each child are $2 a month per child, or $20 per year per child.

To read more reviews of IXL, please click the banner below!

Carole P. Roman: If You Were Me And Lived In… {Crew Review}

November 6, 2013 by Dana

Carole P. Roman is an award winning author who began writing books on a dare from her son. Her love of writing children’s literature shines through in each book she creates. In the series “If You Were Me And Live In…” Carole’s love of exploring mixes with her interest in the world around us and comes together to teach children about other’s in the world.

For this review, the team received four books from her series “If You Were Me And Lived In…”. Each book is written the same but features different characters and information specific to the area it concentrates upon. Children are sure to learn interesting facts and specifics through these books which provide introductions to cultures around the world.

This series can be read and presented in any order, going along great with any study you may be doing on a culture or read together with the other books in the series as a geography/culture study. Each book begins with a drawing of the country and it’s capital. The next photo shows where the country is located on a globe drawing. Then we begin learning a little about the capital itself. As you follow through you learn specifics of the culture, like the words for Momma and Daddy, what kind of money is used to purchase items in the country and how people live there. At the end of a each book is a pronunciation guide to help you speak the language taught within the book.

Each book is 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 in size. Each book contains a softcover and is approximately 20-30 pages in length. Each of the books also features large text for easy reading.

This series includes If You Were Me And Lived In… Mexico… A Child’s Introduction to Cultures Around the World. This particular book discusses Mexico and it’s culture, teaching that the Peso is used as money and that Mexico is located below the United States on a globe in South America.

Next comes If You Were Me And Lived In… South Korea. Through this book we learn that Seoul is the capital of South Korea. It is the largest city in South Korea and was built on the banks of the Han River. As a child, you would call your father Appa.

Following South Korea is If You Were Me And Lived In… France. France is one of my personal favorites. It is located in the Western Europe. It’s capital, Paris, is nicknamed the “La Ville-Lumiere” or “City of Light”. You would celebrate Bastille Day with fireworks and parades much like we in America celebrate the Fourth of July, only this day is celebrated on the Fourteenth of July.

Last in the series is If You Were Me And Lived In… Norway. In Norway, you pay for items using kroner. Skiing would be a favorite pastime, along with Ice Fishing. Your school is called a skole. This book on Norway has not yet been released but will soon be available for purchase.

Each of the books in this series are unique. They each teach facts specific to the region being covered. They would make a wonderful addition to any geography course or just to have in a home library to read like we chose to in our home.

In addition to the books in our package, we were sent two pencils featuring flags of different countries and a small bouncy ball containing a flag inside. We also received a small passport to follow along in our travels which was a nice addition to the lessons already provided within the stories themselves.

You can purchase the If You Were Me And Lived In… series online at Carole P. Roman’s website. Each book is available for $8.99 in paperback or $.99 in Kindle format via Amazon pricing at the time of this review. These books can be used with any age child but are written more for the Early Elementary age: 4 and up, in my opinion.

To read more about the If You Were Me And Lived In… series, please click on the banner below!