Schoolhouse Crew Review~Reading Kingdom

 

 As part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I was delighted to find out we were going to review Reading Kingdom again.  This is a wonderful online program for parents and teachers that teaches children to read and write up to a 3rd grade level.  The suggested age range is 4-10 but can be used by anyone not yet at the 3rd grade reading level.  Reading Kingdom is easy to use, and fun for children too! 

 

Reading Kingdom was created by Dr. Marion Blank, a world renowned expert on literacy.  Her program is the only program to incorporate elements of whole language and phonics, plus additional skills for reading and writing success without requiring memorizing complicated rules.  These six skills taught are:

*Sequencing

*Motor Skills

*Sounds

*Meaning

*Grammar

*Comprehension

Click here to learn more about the program and why Reading Kingdom works.

 

My son Chad is 10 years old and has Dyslexia.  He is at about a 2nd grade level in his reading.  What is really great about Reading Kingdom is that your child is given a skills assessment and then placed at the level they need to be at.  The program adjusts to your child's skill level and where he/she needs to be.  This aspect of the program makes me feel good about how he is progressing, I know he is learning what he needs to.  Chad enjoys Reading Kingdom-he is learning but still having fun.  The activities are fun for kids, while they learn!  We used Reading Kingdom four to five days a week. 

For such a great program, it is affordable too.  You can start with a Free 30 Day Trial. After that, Reading Kingdom is $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year (20% savings over monthly).  Additional children on your account are 50% off.  There are supplemental products available as well at the Reading Kingdom Store. 

Be sure to visit the Reading Kingdom Website for lots of valuable information and resources.  If you have a new or struggling reader, this is the program for you!

 

                 

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Notgrass Company: Draw to Learn

The Notgrass Company was started as a family business in 1999 by Ray and Charlene Notgrass.  Their homeschool curriculum is easy to use and Bible-based.  I was sent Draw To Learn Proverbs to review, along with access to the e-book versions of the other four Draw To Learn books.  The purpose of this series is to help children internalize truths from God's Word.  It is a combination of art and Bible Study.  The five Draw to Learn books available are Proverbs, Psalms, Paul, Acts, and The Life of Jesus.  There are directions in each book on how to expand it into a unit study if you wish.


There are 150 lessons in each book, enough for an entire year's curriculum.  Each lesson has a scripture to read and think about, and instructions for drawing a picture related to the scripture.  I loved the concept of this book/curriculum.  My son Chad loves to draw, and he really liked a lot of the drawings that were suggested.  We did a lesson every weekday, and took our time reflecting on the scripture and then drawing.  Here is one of Chad's drawings (for Proverbs 3:17-18).

The physical copy of the Draw to Learn books is $14.95.  It is spiral-bound and consumable.  The e-books are $9.95 and you can make as many copies as you wish.  With only one child, I prefer the physical copy, but the e-book would be a good choice for multiple children.  Since this book can be used with any age, it would be nice to do together as a family!  I definitely recommend this series, and check out all the great products available at the Notgrass website. 


       

Molly Crew Review~Couponing Made Simple

The Molly Crew is part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, and focuses more on books and products for the home.  As part of the Molly Crew, I was given the opportunity to review the book Couponing Made Simple, written by Christi The Coupon Coach.  I love saving money and using coupons, so I was excited to read this book!

First, let me share my experience with couponing. My Mom used coupons when I was little, so when I got married that's what I did.  The difference is my Mom just used coupons-she didn't check what was the better deal, or what was on sale that week.  Therefore, she didn't have big savings from coupons. For years I've matched coupons with the weekly ads.  Then about five or so years ago, I discovered stacking coupons and what a huge savings that can be.  I'm not an extreme couponer, but I consistently get at least 35%-65% off our shopping receipts (but sometimes much more!).  Lately, with lots of craziness in our household, I've not been as diligent as I should be and our finances reflect that.  Reading Christi's book was just the boost I needed to get going again!

Christi wrote this book to help real families save real money.  This isn't going to make you an extreme couponer like on the TV show.  Think about it- if a family of four that spends $700 per month on food saves 60%, that is over $5000 per year saved!  Even 30% savings would save them approximately $2500 per year-that's a lot of money!

In Couponing Made Simple, the author goes through her system step-by-step. She also covers many other topics, such as where to find your coupons, couponing ethics, and lots of helpful tips.  There are many black and white pictures in the book, which are helpful.  Her two main rules are: Buy on Sale and Stack Coupons!

As an experienced couponer, I wasn't sure if I would learn anything new from Christi's book.  Well, I sure did!  Besides renewing my excitement over couponing, there were tips she gave that were new to me.  One of them was weighing pre-packaged items, such as bags of potatoes or apples, to get the most for your money.  What a great idea! A huge help is Christi's favorite online coupon sites on her website.  These sites will help you find the best deals!

My method of couponing is the binder method, and Christi uses the box/file system.  I've decided to try out her method, as sometimes the binder seems really cumbersome.  So far, the jury is still out on which system I like better.  I'm going to stick with Christi's method a little longer before I make my decision. 

This is a picture from my biggest savings to date: 99%!! The retail price on the products was $83.87, and I paid $0.99!!  We were stocked up on hair products for quite a while!

Couponing Made Simple is available for only $18.00 for paperback and just $4.99 for Kindle.  Visit http://christithecouponcoach.com to purchase and learn even more from Christi. Christi's wealth of knowledge is useful for brand-new couponers, experienced couponers, and everyone in between!




   

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Christianity Cove

Christianity Cove is a leading supplier for Sunday School and Children's Church materials.  "Christianity Cove is your one-stop-shop for free Sunday School lessons, Bible games, crafts, skits and activities for Children's Church. Our blog features hundreds of fresh, fun, and creative ideas for helping your students understand the Bible and relate it to their own lives. We are firm believers that Children's Ministry does NOT have to be expensive or complicated. Just as Jesus could make an easy lesson from a nearby fig tree or a few seedlings by the roadside, our budget conscious lessons and activities make good use of what’s around us — either in the church storage closet, the garage at home, or the nearest dollar store. "

Members of the TOS Crew were able to review a variety of products available.  The materials are easily adaptable for home use.  I reviewed The 10 Commandments Activity Kit and The Lord's Prayer Lesson Pack.

My son Chad, 10, knows about the Ten Commandments but doesn't know them by heart.  The downloadable activity kit is full of activities, games, crafts, snacks, and worksheets to reinforce learning about the Ten commandments.  The regular price is $47, but currently there is an early bird special for just $27 for the first 250 who order.

The Lord's Prayer Lesson Pack came just at the right time.  For a few weeks, we had randomly been reciting The Lord's Prayer at dinnertime because it occurred to me that Chad didn't know it.  It is something that was recited regularly at both my husband's and my churches as children, so we had it memorized,  but is not recited at our church.  The downloadable Pack comes with activities, games, snacks, crafts, and worksheets.  The regular price is $39.99, but there is currently an earlybird special for the first 250 orders for only $19.99.

What I Thought: These two downloadable Activity Packs were a great fit for us. Chad learned so much (and retained so much) about the Ten Commandments and The Lord's Prayer. We would pick what we were in the mood for (craft, activity, etc.) every few days.  The crafts and activities are easy to do with items you probably already have at home, but are easy to find cheaply.  One of Chad's favorites was Fishing for Commandments(although it doesn't look like his favorite by the weird look on his face!):

I can see that these would be great products for Sunday School use.  As for the prices, they are a bit high for me and my family's budget, but would be inexpensive for church use.  They are great products though, so maybe budgeting ahead for them would work for families on a tight budget.  I suggest checking out Christianity Cove and seeing for yourself all they have to offer!

     

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Paperless Home Organization

Some of us at the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been reviewing e-books from The Simplified Pantry.  We received three e-books: Simplified Dinners, Simplified Dinners: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free, and Paperless Home Organization.  I've spent time reading through all three, but for this review I'm going to focus on Paperless Home Organization.

Why am I focusing on Paperless Home Organization, you might ask?  Because I need help. Badly.  I'm a list maker, and I like to have things written down.  So, you will find many scraps of paper throughout my house with lists.  One of the problems with that method is that they get lost, written on, used to make paper airplanes, chewed by the dog, etc.  You get the point.

I'm also not the most technical person, and I recently got my very own shiny laptop! No more excuses!  This review opportunity came along at just the right time!!  In Paperless Home Organization, the author teaches you how to create a Digital Home Management Binder.  She gives advice on the benefits of going paperless and staying organized.  Ms. Winckler likes to keep things simple, and I appreciate that!  Here are the main tools of her system:
*Gmail
*Google Calendar
*Evernote
*Remember the Milk

To be honest, I'd never heard of Evernote or Remember the Milk.  She goes through, step by step, how to set up these accounts and make them work together, for  your benefit.  I must admit, I was very overwhelmed with all the information at first.  After reading through Paperless Home Organization once, it was handy to have the Appendixes, which included a Quick Start Reference.  There are many samples throughout the book, which I found extremely helpful.

So, how did I do?  Well, I've implemented all of the tools, and I'm getting more comfortable with them.  I think it is going to take me a little while to be fully utilizing everything to its/my full potential.  These tools just have so many great features in them, and being not very computer-savvy, I'm on the slow side.  But I  already see how helpful it is/will be having my home organized digitally.  I've definitely embraced digital home organization, and I'm excited for the day (hopefully soon) when this is all easy every day routine for me.

Paperless Home Organization is available for only $3.99 for Kindle or PDF.  Simplified Dinners (both original and gluten/dairy free) is just $12.99.  Through June 3rd, if you use the code TOS2013 at checkout for any of the e-books, you will get 30% off!!!!

To learn more about Mystie Winckler, she blogs at http://www.simplyconvivial.com/, and her website is http://www.simplifiedpantry.com/.  If you'd like to read more reviews of these ebooks, click this banner:

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Scaredy Cat Reading System Express

For the past several weeks, Chad and I have been reviewing Joyce Herzog's product Scaredy Cat Reading System Express.  Joyce Herzog offers many educational and Christian products, as well as educational services. Her Scaredy Cat Reading System is a mastery-based Phonics program that can be used for all students, even those with learning difficulties.

Chad is dyslexic and struggles with reading.  This past year he has improved quite a bit, but is still a few years behind.  I am always happy to try new programs with him, so that he can find what makes sense to him.  Joyce's reading program has three different levels you can purchase, and then the SCRS Express, which we tried, has all three levels condensed for the more advanced learner. This Express level would also be great if you feel your child may have some gaps and needs to brush up on the rules in reading.  I thought with Chad's age, the Express system would be the best choice for him.  Included in SCRS Express is:
*Teacher training section
*Two multi-use boardgames
*All the stories, word lists, and sentence lists
* The story of Lettermaster mini
*Using Lettermaster as a teaching tool
*SCRS Rules Songs CD

SCRS Express is available for $30 at Joyce Herzog's store.  Download a sample of the SCRS Express here.

The teacher training section has suggestions of different ways to teach the material, ideas for games and use of the word lists.  The Story of Lettermaster is a fun way to get kids to learn rules of letters and spelling.  Chad thought it was very entertaining.  There is also a DVD version you can purchase.  Chad's favorite part of the SCRS Express was playing the board games.  We would take turns choosing a word from the word list, and if the other person spelled it correctly they would roll the dice and move forward.  Here he is in the middle of a game:  

Overall, we both liked this program.  It was very flexible.  We spent about 30-45 minutes 3-4 times a week using it.The teacher training section took a few times of reading over before I felt ready to start the program-it has a lot of information in it!  The only part of the program Chad did  not like was the song CD-we just have a small handheld CD player, and the songs sounded muffled and hard to hear. I'm not sure if it was the CD or our player. Chad has definitely mastered words he did not have mastered before, and I see an improvement in his reading.  This summer, we are going to continue with the SCRS Express program.

Be sure to check out Joyce Herzog's website to see all it has to offer!  Click to read more reviews on the products from Joyce Herzog that the TOS Crew reviewed.

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Spanish for You-Fiestas!

Over the past month, Chad (10) and I have been reviewing Spanish for You!, a unique Spanish program for kids in grades 3-8.  What is unique about this program is that instead of teaching Spanish in levels, it is taught in themes.  I chose the Fiestas (celebrations) theme, which includes lessons on:

*The Birthday Party
*Day of the Dead
*Carnival
*Holy Week
*April Fair

Currently available are the Fiestas (Celebrations) theme and the Estaciones (Seasons) theme, with a third theme coming soon!

Spanish for You! was created by Debbie Annett, who has been a Spanish teacher for many years.  She created this curriculum to teach students to speak, read, and write Spanish with a knowledge of how the language works for better fluency.

The themed packages can be used over an entire school year, but are very flexible. You can make the curriculum last at whatever pace is best for your children. Included in the Fiestas package, for $64.95 is a soft cover book or e-book, downloadable lesson plans for all grades, downloadable worksheets, audio files of the entire book, and flashcard/activity downloads.  You can also purchase specific grade packages ( grades 3/4, 5/6, or 7/8) for just $39.95.  Click here for a product sample.

We used our Fiestas materials 3-4 times per week, for about 20-30 minutes each time.  This was just about right for Chad, who can get distracted easily.  As far as the book and worksheets, he did need a lot of help with those as he is at about a 2nd grade reading level due to his dyslexia.

What did we think?  Overall, I really like Spanish for You!  It is a great idea to have themes that span over multiple grades, so you can use it easily for homeschooling different ages together.  I had a hard time at first getting  all the materials figured out-there is a lot to this program, which makes it a good deal for the price!   Once I sorted through everything and got going, things went smoothly.  I like the flexibility of this program.  Chad's favorite part was the audio files.  We've used a few other Spanish programs and this one is the best audio by far.  The speaker's voice was clear and paced well.  Chad knows many words and phrases now, and he was more motivated to learn just because of the Fiestas theme! We will continue on with our Fiestas curriculum!

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Papa's Pearls

I recently had the pleasure to review Papa's Pearls by Diane Flynn Keith.  I was already familiar with Ms. Keith through her popular websites www.carschooling.com, www.clickschooling.com, www.universalpreschool.com, and www.homefires.com.  She is a specialist in alternative education-if you homeschool, you've heard of Diane Flynn Keith!

Papa's Pearls: A Father's Gift of Love and Wisdom to His Children and Grandchildren is the story of Ms. Keith's own father,  whom she lovingly called 'Papa'.  It tells the story of how he lived as a depression-era street kid, not always making the right decisions, and became a self-made success in business and family life. Papa was a nurturing and loving Father and Grandfather, who always shared his practical advice with his family.  Some of these 'pearls' of wisdom were as simple as 'Get it in writing!'.  Others were deeper advice on how to treat others, such as 'You don't kick someone when they're down, you give 'em a hand up.' Some of Papa's gems of wisdom were downright funny-one of my favorites was 'Keep a Foxy Pocket'. A Foxy Pocket was extra money stashed away, like a fox in the wild will take an egg it has stolen from a duck's nest and bury it to enjoy later.

You can purchase your own autographed copy of Papa's Pearls directly from the author for only $14.97 plus shipping.  Click here to purchase.

Reading Papa's Pearls brought back wonderful memories of my Grandfather, who passed away over ten years ago.  He loved his children and grandchildren so much, and we felt that love.  Ms. Keith's father was the same way.  This book was a reminder to me to appreciate my family and show them love.  I am a new grandma, and I want my grandson to look back and know his YiaYia (grandma in Greek) loved him more than anything.  I also hope he learns some life lessons from me that will help him someday.

Click to read more reviews of Papa's Pearls from the Schoolhouse Review Crew.

Schoolhouse Crew Review~Abraham's Journey

Right around President's Day, I received the book Abraham's Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream to review through the TOS Schoolhouse Review Crew.  This was perfect timing-along with the holiday, Chad had just completed a big research report on Abraham Lincoln for school.

Abraham's Journey was created by Robert and Kathleen Basmadjian of Inspiring the American Dream.  It is available for $14.99 at their website.  You can also find out more about the authors there.

Abraham's Journey's target audience is 7-12 year olds, but all ages could enjoy reading or listening to this book.  The story is about a boy named Abraham, whose parents have lost their jobs right before Christmas. Abraham is convinced he can do something to 'save Christmas' for his family, so he texts his friends from his Smartphone for ideas.  Suddenly, Abraham Lincoln comes through his Smartphone to guide him on his journey.  They encounter many successful Americans from the past and present, all with a message for young Abraham.  They encourage him to follow his dream-The American Dream.  I don't want to spoil the ending for you, so I'll stop with the storyline there.

The story itself is 30 pages long, with each page full of colorful illustrations. The book is a large paperback.  At the back of the book are some helpful tools: a Definition of Terms and Character Biographies.

What Did We Think? As Chad (10) is at about a 1st/2nd grade reading level due to his Dyslexia, I read Abraham's Journey aloud to him.  It would have been too difficult for him now, but I expect in a few years he would be fine to read it on his own.  He loved the illustrations and wanted to spend a lot of time on each page studying them.  He enjoyed the story overall.  Personally, I thought it was a good story and love the concept of encouraging kids to reach for the American Dream.  The only drawbacks to me were that I try to steer Chad away from Cell phones and Social Media, both elements of the story.  As he gets older, though, I know he is being exposed to these things more and more so I used it as a teaching opportunity (After which I was asked when he can get his own cellphone-ugh).

 I felt the best part of Abraham's Journey was discussing The American Dream with my son.  The American Dream is defined in the Definition of Terms as "-the ideal that the American system of self-government allows for any and all  individuals to pursue and achieve a fulfilling and successful life."  With his learning disabilities and his older brother's Aspergers,  I feel this statement is so very important for him embrace and believe.

Schoolhouse Crew Review~College Common Sense

Over the past month, I've been reviewing a product called Going to College and Paying for It by College Common Sense. This program was created by Denise Ames, who has been a Financial Aid Consultant for over ten years. It can be used with elementary through high school ages, because-guess what???- even kids as young as six can get scholarships!!! Wish I had known that about twelve years ago!

 Alyssa, eighteen years old, is a senior in high school.  She plans to go to the local community college for the first few years.  Because of that, we haven't done much in the way of applying for colleges and scholarships. I knew there was financial aid and that we'd apply for it. I knew there were scholarships but hadn't looked into them yet. I had no idea what a big mistake I have been making by not doing anything!  College Common Sense opened my eyes!

Going to College and Paying for It is available as a DVD and workbook for $50 plus $5 shipping and handling, or for $25 you can get one-year access to the same program online, with a downloadable workbook.  I was given the online access.  Here's whats included in the program:

There are six videos (about 15-20 minutes each) and corresponding workbook sections.  The topics are:
*The Big Picture
*How Financial Aid Works
*All About the Free Money
*The System that Works
*You in the Process
*Pull it all Together

There are also weekly lessons plans and a monthly newsletter available at the College Common Sense Website that are very helpful.

How did we use the program?  I watched the videos first and read the workbook section, making notes and highlighting things I wanted to point out to Alyssa. Then I would watch them with her.  I feel this was the best way to get through the material.  Alyssa is responsible for her binder (explained in the lessons), of course with some supervision from Mom.

What did we think of the program?  It was a huge help for both of us.  I must admit, some of the information can be overwhelming, but it is necessary.  Alyssa thought the videos were a bit dry and old-fashioned, but they got the necessary points across.  The most helpful lessons for us were How Financial Aid Works and All About the Free Money.  I'm discouraged that we didn't know about this program last year, or years before, but better late than never.  We are in HIGH gear now!  Going to College and Paying for It was a big eye-opener that we desperately needed!  Thanks Denise Ames and College Common Sense!

Schoolhouse Crew Review~God's Great Covenant OT1

Teaching my kids about the Bible is something I take seriously.  It's important to find good, quality, biblically sound materials to enhance their learning.  Classical Academic Press is a company that I trust and use when I  need quality educational materials that are in line with what I believe.  

As part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received these products from Classical Academic Press' God's Great Covenant: Old Testament 1, A Bible Course for Children:
God's Great Covenant Old Testament 1 Student Book $22.95
God's Great Covenant Old Testament 1 Teacher Book $24.95
God's Great Covenant Old Testament 1 Audio Files $9.95

God's Great Covenant Student Book, written by Claire A. Larsen,  is a large softcover book written at a 2nd grade level, and can be modified for older and younger students.  It covers the Bible chronologically from Genesis to Ruth.  There are 32 chapters, suggested to be completed one per week for the school year.  There are five themed units:
1. In the Beginning...God's Power (Genesis 1-11)
2. By the Patriarchs...God's Promises (Genesis 12-50)
3. Out of Egypt...God's Redemption (Exodus 1-34)
4. Through the Wilderness...God's Provision (Exodus -Deuteronomy)
5. In the Promised Land...God's Faithfulness (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Job)

Each chapter within the units has a theme, memory verse, stories, questions to answer, review worksheets, quizzes, puzzles, and more.  There are cute black and white illustrations throughout the book, and Appendixes and maps at the back of the book with a lot of helpful information.

The Teacher's Edition was so helpful. It has everything included in the Student Book with answers, plus additional facts and Children's Catechism questions.  The audio files are an MP3 download of the readings featured in God's Great Covenant: OT1.  This is a nice option to take a break from Mom or the child reading the stories.  Sample pages of each book and a suggested teaching schedule are available on the product pages.

Also available for purchase is the Old Testament Timeline and Map set for $36.95.  I did not review this, but can imagine it would be a great addition to the books. To save some money (aren't we all looking to do that these days??) consider purchasing the God's Great Covenant Old Testament One Bundle, which includes everything mentioned above (Timelines and Map Set too!) for only $79.95! This is nearly 15% savings.

What did Chad (age 10) and I think about this curriculum?  We love it, and I highly recommend it.  I had reviewed the New Testament 1 books last year and was so impressed, so I knew this would be a winner.  The stories are engaging and keep Chad's attention, and he loves the puzzles.  He really likes the cute black and white illustrations, and likes to use his colored pencils to give them color while I read the stories.  Even though Chad is in 4th grade, he is reading at an early 2nd grade level.  So, I do most of the reading.  In a few years when he is a stronger reader, I would like him to go through this book again on his own.  The Teacher's Edition is a gem-so full of facts, and I love the Catechism Questions.  The Appendixes are very helpful as well.  I especially liked Appendix D, which explains the Ten Commandments in a way kids can understand.  We are so pleased with God's Great Covenant OT1 that it is now our Bible Curriculum for the year!  I'm planning on purchasing the Old Testament 2 book next year.

You can find additional support at CAP's Facebook Page and their Student Support Site.  For more reviews of this product, click the Schoolhouse Crew banner below:



*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.