Luv'N Lambert Life

Mental Health, Homeschooling, Epilepsy and More

Watchman Pictures: Princess Cut {Crew Review}

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Watchman Pictures provided us with a copy of their movie, Princess Cut.  This is a beautiful movie that families really should watch and enjoy together.  It’s approximately 97 minutes in length and just overall one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.
Princess Cut shares the story of Grace and her family, The Andersons.  It’s a young woman’s journey to respect God and find love in today’s world.  Today we are often pushed to do things we otherwise would not.  Things like kissing before we are ready, becoming intimate, living together before marriage.  Things that often lead to heartbreak.
Princess Cut focuses on saving yourself for marriage and developing yourself in the meantime while you wait on God to provide for your life and marriage.  Through the movie, you see Grace get her heartbroken by the guy she thought was right for her.  She then meets Jared, a cocky young man who thinks he knows best and tries to push Grace into a deeper, physical relationship.  Grace faces feelings of regret and feeling she’s let her family and God down through the pressure her relationship with Jared provides. 
But God has a plan for Grace and her future.  Grace meets the new doctor in town, a true man of God who seeks a relationship with her by gaining her parents blessing before moving forward.  Clint has nothing but respect for Grace and her beliefs.  He allows God to lead them, allowing God to show them if marriage is for them or not and allowing them to remain friends if their relationship doesn’t work out.
There are other twists and turns along the way.  Clint’s ex-girlfriend comes in to win him back.  The Anderson family’s farm is having challenges.  The family faces some obstacles themselves.  But through it all there faith in God shines. 
This is one movie you must add to your home collection so you can watch it again and again.  I promise you’ll love it as much as my family has.  There’s so many lessons to glean from the movie itself.  It’s just a beautiful movie overall.
Set in NC, this movie made me miss our previous home.  The beauty of the Farms are undeniable.  The scenery is gorgeous and only adds to the enjoyment of the movie overall.
And if you’re looking for a way to teach your children how to go about finding true love, this movie can be a wonderful help with that.  So encouraging to not see a beautiful girl having an advanced relationship that should be saved for her husband.  Such a wonderful lesson for young women and men alike.
You can purchase Princess Cut from Watchman Pictures for $9.99.
You Can Find Watchman Pictures and Princess Cut Online:
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/PrincessCutFilm  Tag: @PrincessCutFilm
Instagram: https://instagram.com/paulmungernc  Tag: @paulmungernc
Read More Reviews:

Princess Cut {Watchman Pictures Reviews}

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Memoria Press: Traditional Spelling I {Crew Review}

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Many years ago, when I began with the Homeschool Review Crew, I was introduced to Memoria Press.  I remember receiving that package and being a little intimidated and overwhelmed by the product we received as that first time user of this curriculum.  I didn’t know what to expect or what I was even doing.  But the setup of Memoria Press made educating with their materials super easy. 
When this review came up, we were given several things to choose from so that choice is always tough.  This time, I decided to go with something specifically for Laycie.  I chose Traditional Spelling I.  This is a phonetic approach to learning to spell.  It is intended for Grades 1-2 and those learning to spell.  There is also a Traditional Spelling II for students in grades 2-3 as they finish this course.
Laycie is a very hands-on, auditory learner.  Things that rhyme or are musical just make more sense to her.  Seeing it on paper bores her out of her mind.  She thrives on fun and excitement.  Even though, Traditional Spelling I is a little more formal that we usually use, it’s been a great introduction to formal education for her, yet still fun enough to keep her wanting to continue learning with it.

What We Received:

Each of these work together to create a full spelling curriculum for your child.

Classical Phonics: A Child’s Guide to Word Mastery by Cheryl Lowe

This little book is a wonder of itself.  We have used it for years now as an introduction to phonics so I was happy to see it included for this program.  It’s a great way to get your child started with learning the ABC’s and then spelling.  It relates words to things your child can understand.  It’s simple in format so that it engages your child but doesn’t overwhelm them. 
This book is broken into four parts and eight total units, with an appendix at the end.  Part one covers short-vowel words.  Part two covers  long-vowel words.  Part 3 covers 10 More Vowel Sounds.  Part 4 is about Advanced Phonics.  The appendix covers phonics rules and spelling, common words and offers suggestions for teachers.  It’s a complex book that covers so much within the pages.

Traditional Spelling I Student Book

This is the student workbook.  It comes with spiral binding so it can lay flat as you use it.  It is 146 pages with 34 lessons included, as well as a dictionary in the back.  Throughout you fill find Phonic Focus tips.  There are spelling lists that build as you go through the lessons.  Each lesson contains 10 words.
Each lesson is formatted so the student is writing the words and learning to define the differences in the words.  Lessons are around 4 pages long.  They also encourage reading and sentence development through the use of the program.  Dictation is another included element for each lesson. 
The dictionary in the back of the book is easy to read and follow.  It contains the words that are taught throughout the lessons in the book.  The words are broken down by letter.  They do not include breaking down the words for speech or their parts of speech, only the word itself with the definition.
The format is the same throughout the book for each lesson.  It is very easy for your student and you to follow and each page flows into the other.  You could set this up as one page a day for your student or have your student work through two pages on one day and two on another.  The book is designed for one student to use. 

Traditional Spelling I Teacher Manual

This is the Teacher’s Guide Manual for the program.  It includes 34 lessons, a dictionary and appendix for the teacher.  It is 179 pages in length and comes with a spiral binding that lays flat. 
After the Table of Contents, there is a general overview of the lessons.  This section explains how to prepare for the lessons.  How to set up your lessons through the week.  It suggests a 5 day plan with definitions and word study on day one.  Phonics Flashcards and worksheet suggestions for Day 2 and 3.  Dictation on day 4.  And a final test on day 5.  This is followed by a sample lesson plan to give you an idea of how to utilize this curriculum and make it work best.
Lesson 1 begins as an actual lesson plan, providing an introduction for you to use with your students if you choose, then jumping right into the lesson itself.  There are fun suggestions throughout that also help you to further develop this curriculum for your student.  Things like writing words on strips for sentences or writing the words with letters missing to find the missing sounds in the words.  There are many, many ideas provided throughout the book for that.
The dictionary in the back is set up just like the on in the student guide.  It’s divided by letter.  There’s no breakdown of the word or suggestion of part of speech.  It simply gives the word and the definition used by the lesson itself. 
The teacher’s guide does include an Appendix in the back that contains a spelling test form, spelling review games, spelling rules reference sheets, common English contractions, phonics overview, and a colorful letters key.  This is designed to help you to build better spelling skills for your student in the simplest way possible.  It is very easy to use.
The spelling test is simple.  It allows space for name and date.  This is followed by space for the 10 words from each lesson.  And a space at the bottom for sentence dictation and copywork. 
The Spelling Review Games contains an area for individual games and group games.  Things like ABC order, sentence writing, tracing, using scrabble for spelling, playing concentration with words, connect the dots and so much more are provided.  Such fun ways to learn to spell.
The spelling rules sheets are designed in larger font so that you can use it in a classroom setting with your student.  Rules like 1-1-1 and the drop rule are covered here.  Many others as well.
The phonics overview is a review provided for the teacher themselves.  It helps you recall what the sounds are, how to say them correctly, and what are vowels and consonants.  Phonograms and more are included in this section of the appendix.  It’s just a great gathering of a multitude of things related to spelling and reading as well.
There is a short guide to the Phonics Rules and Spelling Rules as well that is located in the Appendix.  These are followed by the Colorful Letters Key which lists all the words for each lesson and breaks them down phonetically for you.  This key shows short and long vowels with color, silent letters and helps with speech.

Spelling Practice Sheets for use with Traditional Spelling I 

This is a 37 page practice work book that includes a practice sheet for each lesson in the program.  It is thin like a coloring book and designed in black and white which is easy to see and follow.  Each page has a lesson header, features the adorable Owl used throughout the program, and has a place for the students name.  This is followed by the list of words for the student to practice writing.  This is a wonderful addition for the program.

Phonics Flashcards

This is a HUGE stack of flashcards just for phonics.  They are well designed and sturdy.  They are each in black and white which makes them less distracting and easy to learn with.  Clear with a large font for lessons.

How We Used It

Of course, we were not able to complete this program during the review period but we were able to get a great feel for it.  You can tweak the program to fit you and your student but it’s really designed to be followed as is and it’s really easy to do that.  We began the program with a review of the phonics book provided which took about a week for us since we’ve used the book previously.
I simply followed along the program as it directed with Laycie.  We played games to learn.  We did the simple and easy worksheets.  This was really easy for her.  We created songs with the words that she sings daily now.  The flashcards were fun for her too.  She likes using those with her baby brother as well.
We did not do everything suggested in the book but we did work through most of the suggestions.  Some days she was just too distracted to follow what we were doing.  Other days, she was focused and able to stay the course.  This is a challenge in her learning but this course actually helped because it wasn’t too intensive for us to follow or pick back up as we went along.

Where You Can Find Traditional Spelling I from Memoria Press:




You can find Memoria Press Online at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MemoriaPress  Tag: @MemoriaPress
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memoriapress/  Tag: @memoriapress
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/O/+Memoriapress1  Tag: +Memoriapress1

Read More Reviews:

Spelling, Music Appreciation & Latin {Memoria Press Reviews}

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Homeschool Diploma {Crew Review}

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Here is something I bet many of you did not know about Homeschoolers: You can graduate and you can issue a full diploma to your student.  Homeschool Diploma can help you make this happen.  They provide you with everything you need for your Homeschool Grad.  They offer a full package with Cap, Gown, Tassel and Personalized Diploma.  We were also able to receive a copy of the standard diploma, a Laminated Wallet Diploma, and a Pre-Stamped Diploma Cover as well. 
It is hard for me to believe that we are at the point of Graduation already but my 17 year old is almost grown.  It’s hard on a Momma’s heart to see the years pass so quickly by.  As homeschoolers, we don’t do things like Public Schoolers most days but I did want him to have something to commemorate this experience as well as a real diploma to show he did his schooling through the years.
This child has been such a joy to raise and love.  I want nothing but the best for him and that included for his Cap, Gown, Tassel and Diploma.  Homeschool Diploma was more than we could ever have wished for.
You order online with ease through their professionally designed website.  The process is very easy.  There are so many choices to make as you decide what you want for your Cap, Gown, Tassel and Personalized Diploma package.

Personalized Diploma

First, let’s talk about the Personalized Diploma.  I was able to choose between a smaller, standard sized diploma and the larger size.  In the beginning, I chose the smaller size but after designing I asked to switch to the larger format.  This was easily done, even after submitting, by emailing the company right away.  They were happy to change it for us.

They also offer a Standard Diploma that does not come with all these bells and whistles but is just as nice as the Personalized Diploma.

There are so many options to choose from for your diploma.  First, you’ll need to choose a School Name to represent your Homeschool.  Some states require a school name while others do not.  Our state does not so we decided to create a new one.  It took a few days but our family finally decided upon Ocean Mountain Academy.  We chose this because my children have been educated from the Ocean to the Mountains during our time homeschooling.  For us, it means a lot.
There are many elements to the process of creating the diploma.  You can choose to make a standard school diploma that looks much like a Public School diploma.  You can choose to develop a diploma that contains many elements that point towards your child having been homeschooled in the phrasing.  For us, I chose to create a Christian based diploma that represents our style of education, as well as our hopes for the future.
My son’s diploma says:
With thanks to God and acknowledgement of his enabling grace,
we joyfully present
NAME
With this diploma.  It is the culmination of twelve years of home education,
a milestone at which we recognize his many accomplishments, and evidence
that he has fulfilled all requirements for graduation. 
It is followed with the date we have chosen for his graduation which has not happened yet.
Additionally, I was able to choose a Bible verse or a quote to add to our diploma. 
I chose a Bible verse:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11
I was able to choose between having  two names listed as the signature line like a Public School diploma or to list one name and the date.  There were several options for this. I chose to list Instructor on the left and the Date on the right since I have been the main educator throughout my children’s lives.
In between these, I was able to choose a seal.  There were also several options for this from embossing, a foil seal and a colorful foiled seal.  Different seals were available and I chose the one I felt represented us best.  I chose a gold and blue seal with a cross and crown in the middle that states Soli Deo Gloria: To God Alone Be The Glory.  You can also choose an Honors foil seal.
I love my son’s diploma and can hardly wait to create my daughters because this process was simple and fun.  Additionally, I was able to order a second diploma in case something happens to the original, as well as a Laminated Wallet Diploma.  The second diploma is formatted exactly as the first.

Pre-Stamped Diploma Cover

Our Personalized Diploma also came with a Pre-Stamped Diploma Cover.  I was a little disappointed that the cover was limited on color options but I’m happy with it in the end.  I choose a solid black cover for my son’s diploma.  
The Diploma cover also come with multiple options to choose from.  I choose to place a replica of the seal on the diploma on the cover. This replica is simply gold embossing that fits the style of the rest of the embossing on the cover.
I also had our School Name, Ocean Mountain Academy added to the cover and my son’s full name is written at the bottom right corner.  I love how beautifully this turned out.  It truly stands out and is beautiful.

Cap, Gown and Tassel

The next step in the diploma process was choosing our Cap, Gown and Tassel.  I knew immediately, if it was available, we wanted purple.  Purple is my son’s favorite color, it’s my daughter’s favorite color and it’s the color for Epilepsy.  Purple means a great deal to our family. 
 I’m thankful that Purple was indeed one of the color options.  I chose a length I felt would work for my son and hit submit.  The selection process for this was just as easy as the rest.
The Tassel also had many options available.  We could choose various colors, or even two colors.  I asked the kids what they wanted for their graduation tassel and together they chose purple only.  We were also able to chose between a silver and a gold 2018 charm.  They chose silver.

Other Options Available

There are so many options available at Homeschool Diploma.  You can order a class ring.  You can order additional graduation jewelry.  You can order mugs, shirts, picture frames.  Almost anything that you can order for a public school homeschooler, you will find on Homeschool Diploma’s website.  Honors accessories are also available to be purchased.

Kindergarten and 8th Grade Graduation Options:

You can find Homeschool Diploma online at:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/homescldiploma  Tag: @homeschldiploma
Read More Reviews by Clicking The Banner Below:

Kindergarten Graduation and Junior High Diploma for your Homeschool {Homeschool Diploma Reviews}

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