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TOS Review

Knowledge Quest Time Maps {Crew Review}

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Time Maps is an interactive geography program created by Knowledge Quest.  For years, people have asked Knowledge Quest to create a digital product that would allow children to view maps as they change over time.  With Time Maps, Knowledge Quest takes this request much further. 
This digital product allows the student or teacher to view a map in progression by changing the time period, selecting specifics such as population, changes in civilization, climate, land formation and more.  This allows the student to see how the world has changed over time making the learning experience more engaging.  Changes are made in your timing so that students get the full idea of how things change in relation to their studies at the time.
Time Maps also touches upon important events in history, providing information on expeditions, important people, important events and important items that relate to that time period such as ships, and much more.  Questions are provided to help build upon the information being learned or can be turned off so as not to interfere with the lessons taught.  Maps can be created in color to help aid the student in learning allowing them to view specific areas in comparison without confusion.
We used this product with our regular homeschooling curriculum.  We had been using an older version of Time Maps, along with Knowledge Quest’s previous print version of it’s maps in our history curriculum for the past several years.  This new updated digital version of Time Maps was impressive in it’s advancements and changes.  It was simple and fun to use for both me and my children and it was able to be integrated into our curriculum fairly easily.  
Time Maps can be purchased as a boxed set or by regions.  Each set includes a full set of interactive maps for the region purchased.  The boxed set includes all available map collections in one product.  Time Maps are available online through the Knowledge Quest website for $9.95 per unit or for $44.95 for the entire collection.  In my honest opinion, at $44.95 it’s fairly hard to beat in price and well worth the money spent.
For more reviews on this product please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog!
*Disclaimer – This product was provided to me free in exchange for review by Knowledge Quest and The Schoolhouse Review Crew for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.



Christian Keyboarding {Crew Review}

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For this review, I received a copy of Keyboarding for the Christian School, the Elementary Version in Large Font as an eBook.  Though an eBook, I was immediately attracted to the adorable cover of this book and so were my children.  We loaded it onto our iPad and began using it as soon as we found time to schedule it in.

The book is written for students in grades K-5 but even my 4 year old was willing to test it out.  The lessons aren’t too hard, yet they are challenging enough at the same time.  The Large Print of this book allows students to easily follow the lessons as they learn to use a keyboard while using the computer.

I remember keyboarding class in school as one of my favorite subjects.  My kids enjoyed keyboarding as much as I did when I was in school.  I have searched for a while for a simple, yet thorough program to use with them in order to ensure they are using the correct techniques on the computer.  This program is it!!

When students finish lessons in the Elementary book, they are able to advance to the older student’s version created for grades 6 and up.  There is also a course available to teach creating Tables and another for creating Columns in Word.  All books are affordably priced.

The best thing about this curriculum is that it is biblically based, building a sound foundation on scripture as students work through the courses.  Lessons are printable or as I mentioned above, can be easily downloaded onto an iPad or similar device to use without printing since the eBooks are created to be used with a Word program on a computer.  Even parents can benefit from the lessons, practicing themselves and learning the word of God along the way.  If you would prefer a bound book over an eBook for this curriculum, they are also available for purchase through the website.

Keyboarding for the Christian School, Elementary Version in Large Print or Regular Print eBook is available online for $12.95.  It can be used with multiple students in grades K-5.  It is the Christian Small Publisher’s Exclusive E-Book winner for 2012!  If you order now, you can use the code SUMMER2012 to receive 20% off the purchase price.  This code is good until August 29, 2012.

For more reviews of this product, please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog!

*Disclaimer – This product was provided to me for free in exchange for my opinion in a blog post by Christian Keyboarding and the Schoolhouse Review Crew.


Apologia’s Who Is My Neighbor? {Crew Review}

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I think everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE Apologia’s curriculum.  When I began learning about homeschooling in 2004 when my son was only 4 years old, I attended a class on How to Homeschool.  One of the top recommended curriculums at the time was Apologia.  At the time, it was a relatively new curriculum but it quickly rose to the top of the list thanks to it’s Christian approach to learning.
Today, Apologia still meets the same standards for curriculum that it began with many years ago.  Apologia strives for excellence in learning with a Christian approach provided throughout all of it’s curriculum choices.  If you are looking for a secular curriculum, Apologia is definitely not it, but if you’re looking for a biblical based curriculum that provides a structured and fun approach to learning then Apologia is the curriculum for you!
The What We Believe series continues this style of learning, providing a structured base for Biblical Worldview study for ages 6 – 14.  Biblical Worldview allows children to take a look at the world around them, presenting daily truths against God’s word so that children learn to discern the truth of the Word instead of the deception the world tends to present.  Each of the What We Believe books represents a different aspect of the world and our children’s view of it.
Currently there are three available volumes of the What We Believe Series with the fourth and final volume expected to be released sometime this year.  The volumes are as follows:
Volume 1: Who is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)
Biblical Worldview of God and Truth
Volume 2: Who Am I? (And What Am I doing Here?)
Biblical Worldview of Self-Image
Volume 4: What On Earth Can I Do?
Biblical Worldview of Stewardship 
(Not yet released as of July 18, 2012 – the time of this review)
Each volume is created so that it can stand alone with a complete course of study, much like the science curriculum provided by Apologia but the courses are most effective if taught in order since each volume builds upon the last with a minimum of repeated material.  The explanation provided by Apologia is this:
You must first know God to know yourself.  You must understand who you are and how to be more like Jesus before you can serve others.  You must understand a servants role and how this relates to you in order to learn how to work together to care for others and the Earth in order to bring the message of Salvation to the world and use the gifts God has given you to bring God Glory.
Each book will take anywhere from 4 – 9 months to work through depending on the schedule you choose to use and the age of your children.  Lessons are created to follow a students pace so that it can be customized to your child.  Some lessons will go quickly while others take more time for a child to work through and digest.  
Lesson preparation is fairly simple.  Older children can complete the series on their own, while younger children will need to follow along with an adults help.  Some of the book’s activities do require the parent’s help but many can be completed with minimal input from the teacher/parent.  As always, Apologia provides additional activities on their book extra’s site.  In order to access these you will need to follow the instructions and enter the password provided in the textbooks introduction.
Book extra’s include Teacher Helps for the lessons, blank notebooking pages, and the printable House of Truth graphics for use with the course.  Teacher Helps include lesson overviews, lesson objectives, lesson vocabulary, memory verses, activities for the lessons, child-directed discussion questions and a reading list for deeper study of the course themes, people and places discussed within the text.
Additional products that can be purchased for use with the series are a notebooking journal and a coloring book for younger kids to keep them involved while using the courses.  An audio soundtrack is provided for volumes 1 and 2 of the series but is not yet available for volumes 3 and 4.  These additional products are not necessary for completion of this course though and are simply fun extras provided for teaching the course.
I know I have spent a lot of time discussing the complete course for this series above but for this particular review, I was provide materials for Volume 3: Who Is My Neighbor?  Needless to say, I was extremely excited to receive this product as my children and I have been using this series for a while now.  We really love all of our Apologia curriculum and books.  So we were all very excited when the Apologia box finally arrived!
Inside we found the Who Is My Neighbor? textbook, the Who Is My Neighbor? Notebooking Journal and the Who Is My Neighbor? coloring book.  I am honestly thrilled that Apologia created the additional coloring book for this series since it allows me to include my 4 year old into our studies by providing her with a simple coloring sheet with the lessons biblical verse included right on the page to do while the older kids work on the coursework.  The older kids enjoy the coloring pages too!
The textbook begins with the Table of Contents, followed by a textbook introduction of How to Use This Book describing notebooking, lesson structure, lesson plans and why you should teach Biblical Worldview in your studies.  This section is thorough but short allowing you to jump right into the study with Lesson 1.  Each lesson builds upon the last, providing The Big Idea (lesson summary), a biblical verse relating to the lesson, plenty of colorful stories and photos, questions to keep your children thinking, vocabulary for the lesson, and much more.  A prayer is also provided at the end of each lesson to help encourage a stronger relationship of faith and with God.
The Notebooking Journal provides activities related to the book.  An additional and more thorough lesson plan is presented to be used with the textbook and journal together.  Colorful pages for questions, words to know, the Hide It In My Heart bible verses, stories, fun games and more are provided in the journal.
This series and it’s accessories are available on Apologia’s website. The Who is My Neighbor? textbook is available for $39.  The Who is My Neighbor? Notebooking Journal is available for $24.  The Who Is My Neighbor? Coloring book is available for $8.  Audio cd’s for the first two volumes of the series is available for $19 but audio is NOT available for The Who Is My Neighbor book at this time.
For more reviews of this product from Apologia, please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog!
*Disclaimer – This product and it’s addition accessories was provided to me by Apologia Educational Ministries and by the Schoolhouse Review Crew for free in exchange for my honest opinion in a blog post on my website.


Professor B Math {Crew Review}

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Any homeschooling Mom knows that Math can be one tough subject to teach but Professor B Math does it’s best to make Math easy to teach and easy to learn.  Professor B Math is an interactive Math program, created to help educators create a strong foundation for students.  It’s structured to provide a math education that teaches math as a flowing and connected story as a process.
Professor B Math provides truth in Math too, showing students a less complicated system of learning math facts and problem solving.  This allows for a more thorough understanding of math and it’s concepts.  It also helps to expand the students mental capacity while learning math.
Professor B Math is for students in grades Pre-K through 8th.  It helps provide a thorough math education through simplifying mathematical methods and facts.  You can purchase Professor B Math products online through the website by individual book, from addition all the way to Algebra.
You can also purchase a membership to their e-Learning program on the website in three levels: Level I – Pre-k through 2nd and remediation of older learners, Level II – 3rd through 5th and remediation of older learners, and Level III – 6th through 8th and remediation of older learners.  Professor B provides a placement test so that you don’t waste money where it isn’t need and can place your child at the correct mathematical level in the e-Learning program.  You can purchase one level of Math for $20 a month, add an additional level for another $15 a month and a third level for another additional $10 a month.  Or you can purchase 3 years of use for this program for $100 by calling Professor B Math at 678-765-6655.  There is also a free trial available by calling for those who would like to try out the program before purchasing.
Each level of e-Learning provides you with an Instant Master Teacher workbook and answer key, video’s to help teach the lessons with you as the narrator, as well as a completion certificate.  Because you are the teacher, Professor B does not provide sound with the lesson videos.  The workbook contains the student lessons and printable worksheets for student usage as they learn the lessons.  The exercises are simple, yet fun.  Student concepts are slowed down in comparison to other math curriculums, yet they do throw in a few exercises that challenge the student at the same time.
I found this program to be fairly good.  It seemed a bit remedial and in workbook style educationally but was honestly a great edition to our homeschooling curriculum.  I will most likely continue to use this program as a beginning math for my pre-k’er and also as extra practice for my older students as I found it helpful for all in some way or another.
You can read more reviews of this program on the SchoolHouse Review Crew blog!



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*Disclaimer: A subscription for this product was provided to me free by Professor B Math and the TOS SchoolHouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest opinion in a review.


Creation Illustrated {Crew Review}

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 19 Years Strong as the Leading Bible-based Nature Journal


Readers call it, “The Christian answer to National Geographic” — EVERY ISSUE A KEEPSAKE! (from www.CreationIllustrated.com)


     Creation Illustrated is a magazine provided by the wonderful Tom and Jennifer Ish, as a private, non-profit, non-denominationally owned ministry.  Through their ministry and magazine they share the love of God’s Creations and His Biblical Truths.  Creation Illustrated strives to provide a balance of physical, mental and spiritual enrichment with each edition printed.  


From the Creation Illustrated Blog:


Mission Statement:
Our purpose is to share the wonders of God’s creation. By revealing fresh insights of His infinite wisdom, gentle touch, undeniable justice, redeeming love, and flawless design, pure truth shall bring renewed peace. Each part of this publication is offered as a reprieve from the daily rigors of life so that all can look to the future with unbridled gratitude and hope.



     For this review, I was sent a full year subscription of four magazines to look through and use with my family.  The magazine is printed four times a year in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter months.  Each edition includes beautiful images of God’s extraordinary creations, facts about each creation shared, biblical insights and verses throughout and much, much more.  The pages are glossy and filled with color to show the beauty of God’s world.  Providing a non-denominational take on God’s creations, Creation Illustrated is a magazine that can be used with almost any Christian religion without interfering with the beliefs provided by that denomination.
   


     This magazine was an exciting addition for our homeschooling.  My children greatly enjoyed browsing the photos and discussing the images inside.  I personally read through the articles and shared them by reading aloud throughout the review time period.  Each magazine provided insight into different aspects of God’s creations and gave thought from His viewpoint on these animals and places.  My children also enjoyed having these wonderful magazines on hand to go through as they wanted to.



     A subscription to Creation Illustrated is available online through the website for:
                                     One Year, Four Issues: $19.95
                                     Two Years, Eight Issues: $37.95
                                     Three Years, Twelve Issues: $53.95



      Gift subscriptions are also available through the Creation Illustrated website:                      
                                            www.creationillustrated.com





     For more reviews of Creation Illustrated, please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog!!

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*Disclaimer – This subscription of four Creation Illustrated Magazine was provided to me by Creation Illustrated and The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew for free in exchange for my honest opinions in a blog review.

DIVE Into Your Imagination – Who Live In the Sea? {Crew Review}

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Who Lives In The Sea? is a part of the Dive Into Your Imagination series from Annie Crawley.  Ms. Crawley has traveled the world as an underwater photographer, dive instructor and boat captain for more than 15 years and has brought her life at sea to video for all to enjoy.  “I want to share the beauty and wonder of the REAL world.  Come experience the oceans with me!” Ms. Crawley says.
In Who Lives In The Sea? students and parents alike learn more about the ocean and how it works.  You can swim with dolphins, seals and sea lions.  You can see whale sharks as the super big fish they are.  You learn about turtles, the dinosaurs of the sea and about baby bird’s families.
Also included in this video are The Ocean Song, the Ocean Alphabet and a special feature called “Helping Your Kids Love the Water”.  My children greatly enjoyed viewing this video and learning more about life in the Sea which is a huge part of our own day to day life, living on the Coast of the United States.  The images and animals shared throughout the video are amazing and beautiful.  It is one of the BEST videos we have been asked to view.  We are extremely thankful to Ms. Crawley for creating this wonderful video series to use in our homeschooling.
Dive Into Your Imagination’s series includes: Who Lives In The Sea?, What Makes a Fish a Fish? and Dive Into Diversity.  You can purchase each video for $19.95 a piece on Ms. Crawley’s website: www.diveintoyourimagination.com.  Separate Educational guides are available for this set of DVD’s.  The guide set is available for $299 per printed set, or $69.95 for single PDF file per video.
For more reviews of Dive Into Your Imagination, please visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew blog!
*Disclaimer – This video was provided to me free for review by Annie Crawley and the TOS Homeschool Review Crew in exchange for my honest opinion in review of this product.  


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