Silverdale Press was gracious enough to gift us with a download of their curriculum for Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers which is designed to be used with students ages 14-18. I immediately knew this course would be perfect for Emmalee, who has a deep interest in reading and is developing a love of writing as well. (She may very well take after her Mother!)

Persuasive Writing & Classical Rhetoric: Practicing the Habits of Great Writers is a 36 week program designed to be used as language arts for grades 9-12. Through the program, the student learns to look at writing through the writers eyes: to see what they see, think what they think, feel what they feel. The program breaks down works of literature so the student can better understand what they are learning and should be feeling from what they are reading and learning about.

The lesson book for this program is 235 pages in length. The consumable workbook is 202 pages. The reader is 111 pages and there is also a 68 page Answer Key. It is a full program to be used at any time in the High School years.

All files that I received were easily opened in PDF form and I was able to send these to Kindle so Emmalee could access them easily and read through. We had no issues with this. They were also easily printed for use at home. The best thing was that, I as a parent, was not needed for her to use and learn with this program! It’s that easy to use. Once I sent the files over, she was immediately able to get started.

The Rhetoric Reader was like any other, featuring short stories and selections from Famous authors, some which Emmalee immediately recognized and others which she has enjoyed learning about through the program. Each lesson centers around the works of a different person, expanding the students ideals and knowledge of Literature lesson by lesson. This was great for Emmalee as she loves to quote and learn about others.

The Lesson Book sets a 4 day schedule for the program. Students can do more or spread it out as needed. The directions are pretty specific but not overwhelming and neither is the amount of reading provided for the lessons themselves. There is a lot of impact and education shared in each of these lessons which is wonderful and something I truly did not expect.

The Workbook itself is simple enough. It encourages defining of new words learned in the lesson. It reflects on direct elements taught within the lessons. It’s not an extensive amount of work but it’s thorough and provides great reflection and thought about what the student is learning as they complete the lesson.

The Answer Key is provides insight on grading as well as some forms to follow. It is where the parent comes in and is used to help ensure the student is indeed learning. Answers are often short and extremely specific to what’s being taught. It doesn’t take a huge amount of time on the educators behalf, as the work is laid upon the student to read, learn and complete the assignments as scheduled.

Emmalee truly loves this program. She works at her own pace, as she does with everything but she’s had no trouble keeping up. We have sent the books to Kindle, as mentioned above so she can access them from the computer, tablet or Kindle Fire to read and complete the lessons. She’s had no problem following along and keeping the suggested pace of the program. Anything that she finds confusing, she comes to me about and we look over and discuss it. For the most part, she’s able to do everything herself which is wonderful.

This counts as a full years course for her and we will be looking into other courses available from Silverdale Press for future lessons as they become available. The cost for the course is $119.99 which is fair considering the extensive information taught within the pages of the curriculum and the amount of product we received.

You can find Silverdale Press online at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverdalePress/ Tag: @SilverdalePress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/silverdalepress Tag: @SilverdalePress
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/silverdalepress/

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Disclaimer:

As a Mom who has raised a struggling reader, I’m always looking for products that help advance my children in their reading skills and also can help other families with struggling readers. When I saw this review for MaxScholar, I was immediately interested in learning more about this program for both my children and to share with our friends as well. Their Reading Intervention Programs looked almost too good to be true!

MaxScholar’s Reading Intervention Programs were designed to help kids that struggle with reading skills. Kids who have ADHD, Dyslexia, learning disabilities and processing or sensory issues can benefit greatly from their program. The program itself is multi-sensory based and centralizes it’s style around the Orton-Gillingham Approach for learning. The program adapts to your child’s needs in reading, phonics and more and is easily accessed on any device such as a tablet or computer.

Writing is also included to help your struggling student increase their skills there as well. Learning to retell passages, write basic paragraphs and answer questions are important skills that every child should learn. This program helps you to make that happen.

This program includes Pre-K Phonics for your early readers, MaxPhonics for the next step in reading, MaxReading for that step above Phonics instruction, MaxWords to help increase your child’s understanding of language, MaxMusic which is a wonderful way to increase recognition and auditory skills, MaxVocab to help encourage a wider vocabulary for your child, MaxPlaces provides a chance to virtually explore the world, and MaxBios which introduces your student to many interesting personalities from both the past and the present.

The program is easy to set up. You sign up, log in and get started. There is a free trial available to give it a try before purchasing a subscription.

When you sign in, you are taken to your dashboard where you will find all the important information for using this program. Here you will be able to set up your students for using the program. You can also access reports on your children’s accomplished work, access and set up classes or groups, see your licensing for the program’s use, and download material related to what the program provides for your student’s learning. You can also print straight from the program as needed.

At the top of your screen you will find a link that says “MyMax” This will take you to the program page where you can access the same programs as your students. Here you can work through the program yourself and see what it’s like for your students. When the student’s log in this is the page they see and work through. As they begin the program, they complete a series of tests that question them and upon completion of these, they are placed in the appropriate learning point to help them learn and increase their skills. The program reviews skills as needed as well and adapts completely to the students needs.

Each program is unique and important to building reading skills. The programs are designed to work with any age from preschool to adult, so this program would also work wonderfully with an adult education program or someone older who struggles with reading, as well as with a younger student who is just learning to read.

For our review, I chose to set the program up for Laycie and Winston. These two are my struggling readers. Both have learned a great deal while working on this review and we will continue to use it after this post is done.

Win reads well but he’s always struggled with it. It’s definitely not his strong point and so I was very hopeful that this would be beneficial to him with learning. It has been and he’s enjoyed learning through using it. He loves computer programs and though this is educational, he’s still okay with it. I had him complete the series of tests, which was easily done. He got a bit bored with the length of the testing but he understood it was necessary to help the program place him where he was needing the most help. It didn’t take long and he was immediately able to get started, working specifically at the places the program suggested for him to complete.

Laycie is still learning to read and her seizure disorder sometimes makes that hard for her. She struggles with remembering due to her medication. She didn’t have a hard time working through the questions section for placement either. She is at a much lower level than her brother so her skills were definitely different. Once we had the test portion complete, the program was able to appropriately place her and she was able to get started as well.

If your student is struggling in reading, this program is a good one for you to try out. An Individual Software license is available for $279 per license which gives access to the entire program. There are other options available for purchase as well.

You can find MaxScholar online at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maxscholarllc?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaxScholarLLC/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxscholar/

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CSB Study Bible for WomenHolman Bibles

When I got this review, I was honestly looking for a Bible just like this one to study the Word of the Lord with. I’m never the greatest at choosing Bibles for myself. I’ve been pretty blessed by this review gig, to have been allowed to review some pretty amazing Bibles in the past but none have been for studying the Word. Usually, they are Bibles which include wonderful, deep devotions to inspire and encourage me.

The CSB Study Bible for Women is written specifically with us ladies in mind, to help encourage us to learn God’s Word, to focus upon the intentions and meaning behind the Word as we read it. This is a Christian Standard Bible and is universal in sharing God’s Word.

In the front of the Bible, you will find a presentation page, followed with a place to record important family information. Information like your Family Tree, the Ketubah or joining in Marriage, important family milestones that you may wish to note such as births, graduations or trips. There is also a page to note the Spiritual Mothers who have blessed and encourage you over the years of your life.

This section is followed by a Table of Contents like most Bibles. Then you will find an Introduction to the Bible and how to put it to use in order to learn more through the lessons shared within the pages. There is a section on How To Study the Bible which helps you learn how to properly learn the Word of God shared within these pages as well.

You will also find an encouraging article on The Christian Life which points you and encourages you in living the “right” way by following Christ. There’s a section on the Christian Standard Bible as well. What it is, how it’s different, what to expect when reading and using it. This is followed with some helpful charts about Transliteration, Weights and Measures, and Abbreviations used in the Bible.

Then the fun begins. The pages are beautifully designed and filled with colors of pink and teal. The beginning of the chapter features the Title surrounded by beautifully floral design. The bottom of the page features a timeline for you to follow as you read and learn. Word studies can be found throughout to further explore what you are reading and learning as well. There are questions and explanations, charts and so much more filling the pages to help you truly learn and become closer to God through this exploration of His Word.

This is a complete Bible, filled with many unexpected lessons, that fully concentrates on teaching you more about the things you may have already read and explored in reading the Bible previously. It is written for women, to help them relate better to what’s written and be encouraged by God’s Word.

The retail price for the CSB Study Bible for Women is $39.99 and can be purchased online or at a retailer near you. The Bible features a Cloth Over Board cover in light turquoise and sand. It also features a half book jacket designed in deep teal, featuring the same floral design found on the pages within the book. The pages are standard Bible paper, filled with color. There are two ribbons also featured for bookmarking as you read.

This is a lovely Bible that I have truly enjoyed exploring.

Join the giveaway at: https://www.blessedfreebies.com/csbwomensstudybible.html

About the Book

Title: The Wilderness Journey

Author: Misty M. Beller

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

He’s been sent to retrieve the new missionary… But she’s not at all who he expects to find.

Joseph Malcom has spent his life protecting those in need, but now that his sister is safely settled with her new family in the Canadian Rockies, his help is no longer required. That is, until he’s asked to safely retrieve the priest’s cousin to help minister to the local Indian tribe. But his passenger is not at all who he expects.

After the death of her mother, Monti Bergeron has nothing to keep her in Montreal. While the prospect of ministering to the Indians out West is daunting, she looks forward to assisting her beloved cousin in his mission work. The life of a nun may be just what she needs to heal her grief, serving her Heavenly Father and fellow mankind, especially if no more pesky suitors are around to ask for her hand in marriage. But the man who’s been sent to guide her through the mountains might make her second-guess her plans before she even begins.

As Monti settles into her ministry, Joseph finds his wandering feet drawn back to the Indian camp. Monti’s focus on God is more unsettling than he’d like to admit. Add to that her beauty which tests his willpower at every turn, and she’s made it crystal clear she doesn’t want a husband. But when his determination to keep distance between them puts Monti in danger, protecting her might require something Joseph might not be able to give.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Guest Post from Misty Beller

The Frontier Cook

I love to write frontier romance, where the challenges were tough and the people had to be even tougher. And one of the things I love to imagine is how my characters cooked during those days.

Can you imagine how hard it would be to cook over an open fire? Every. Single. Meal. Of course, it’s not like they had a lot of variety to work with. Once you learned how to make a decent stew or corn mush, you didn’t have much to worry about, right?

Yet, many of the frontier women became quite adept at cooking over their cabin’s hearth, or even over an open campfire. In my new book, This Wilderness Journey, Monti (the heroine) came from a middle-class home with a paid chef and never had to learn to cook at all, much less without the use of a wood stove (which is still so much harder than heating a hot-pocket in the microwave). After she burned the corn mush their first night on the trail through the Canadian wilderness, Joseph (the hero) taught her a few basic meals.

As I was researching some creative ways frontier women cooked in an open hearth, I discovered the wide use of puddings, mostly because of how easy they were to make. By wrapping the ingredients in a cloth or pudding bag, they could be dropped in a pot of boiling water and left until the ingredients had softened and expanded. An entire meal could be made with a few ingredients, a pudding cloth, and a pot of boiling water.

One of my favorite cooking scenes in This Wilderness Journey is the making of the Oatmeal Pudding. What do you think? Sound like something you’d like to try?

Blog Stops

Blog Stops
A Baker’s Perspective, June 7

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, June 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cd16/this-wilderness-journey-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review of This Wilderness Journey:

I love a good romance, that’s no secret. My love for them began as a teen, when I picked up one from the library. I could not put them down. The relationship, the feeling of love they give, the escape to another time and place is simply wonderful to me.

This Wilderness Journey is a Historical Romance set in the 1800’s Western Frontier. It tells the story of Joseph Malcom and Monti Bergeron.

Jacob is a pioneer who prides himself on helping others in need. He has a heart for caring. When asked to help get the Priest’s cousin to the local Indian Tribe, he steps forward to do his best but the cousin isn’t quite what he had expected when he agreed to the task.

Monti Bergeron has no reason to remain where she’s been. Her mother has passed away. She is no longer needed where she is and she feels a deep pull to serve. She’s iffy about her decision to minister to the Indians out West but she looks forward to sharing her ministry at the side of her dear cousin. Serving God is just what she needs.

She isn’t prepared for the man who God places in her life to get her to her destination though and the feeling is mutual for him as well. Even after he’s met his task of delivering her safely, Jacob can’t seem to move on. He’s drawn to Monti, her love for her ministry and God as well.

I truly enjoyed this book. Misty M. Beller is a wonderful author from my home state of South Carolina. A true Southern girl, she enjoys sharing her historical fiction stories with others, as much as she enjoys spending time with her family and horses. God’s love shines through her novels and truly through her as well.