REVIEW: Alethia Writing Magazine for Christian Teens

Alethia Writing Magazine
Price:  $26 year
Ages:  13-19
Website:  HERE!
I say: Nice for writing teens!

Alethia Writing Magazine Fall 2011 edition was received for review without monetary compensation in exchange for my opinions as part of the TOS CREW. My opinions are my own.

We got a full color beautiful magazine of quality production from the USPS. I gave this magazine to my writing daughter who said, "This is nice!" And so we began pouring through it.  Inside you will find well written short stories and poetry from teenagers who are writing with a Christian worldview point. This is so refreshing! There is encouragement for writing teens as well in a Writer's Challenge with a biblical proverb and a picture of which the teen can chose to write either a poem or a story that shows the proverb as true. This edition's proverb is Proverbs 11:8.  Submission deadline is Oct 15, 2011 to submit to writealeithia@gmail.com~be sure to put "Writer's Challenge Fall 2011" in the subject line.  Also include which challenge!

Also this mag has little advertising which is refreshing to see so that teens are not over stimulated but rather articles concerning authors and illustrators. I loved seeing the art work of other teens and reading their works!

Wanna see a previous issue?  Here ya GO!

You can subscribe to Aleghia Writing Magazine Creativity for Christian Teens by clicking HERE. Subscription is quarterly.  We liked this for our writing daughter~she liked it too!

Go HERE to read what the Crew is says!
Blessings,
SisterT

Homeschooling: END OF THE YEAR~WRAP UP~

Our daughter's sense of humor
and a pic from a biology lab!

Many of you know we began online virtual academy this semester as part of our drive to secure diplomas for my high schoolers and begin our college experiences.  Wow~looking back what a ride it's been! AND WOWSY WOW WOW! How exciting it has been to see my children exhibit such incredible strengths.  Oh, the challenges have been many, but in all the process I've seen some TREMENDOUS GROWTH and SKILLS exhibited with them BOTH!

Without going into too much detail, I was really nervous about their abilities having homeschooled them BOTH since K and 1st grade...and well, the proof showed itself in a neat way this semester. Our daughter looks like she is going to be all As if not for a VERY HIGH B if this last test doesn't measure up to her expectations! Our son pulled his OWN 'fat out of the fire' by AT THE LAST HOUR, I'm afraid~earning 1A, 4Bs and 1C...imagine that!?  I have two very different learners, and so their 'styles' have really been so evident~daughter is a hard worker who is skilled but not confident~tenacious worker...doesn't GIVE UP or IN...keeps on going despite odds...Son, quite different: Only willing to do just so much...Wants goals and steps and to do JUST THAT...  Anyway, these kids are opposites in so many ways but also great kids...Once it looked like some Cs~more than he'd like, my son kicked it into high gear~or higher gear-I should say.  Now the results is good, but the process was so stressful...I began calling them both the "cardiac kids" b/c just the wait could give one a heart attack LOL!! But today @5PM is the END of this semester...totally...I'll be boxing up their curriculum tomorrow~although I'd like to ask to keep one of the math books so my son can review and make SURE he knows this stuff as he has the PART 2 NEXT YEAR to do...make sense?? LOL...Okay~that's our wrap up...

I really wasn't sure I was going to be pleased with a virtual academy setting for my kids~something about being in control of WHAT AND WHEN we do school as the first would be a concern over the content. Let me assure you that teenagers IF they attend colleges and universities will face worse 'doctrines' belief systems than what I've observed with our virtual academy curriculum...and at what point are they going to face THE WORLD anyway? I believe that after a child is grounded in the faith that it's a good thing to allow them to reason and learn what the other things are out there while I am still here to help...they're gonna face it anyway~which is better: on their own totally or still with parents and supports?  We chose to go for it now.  I know it's a concern. I'm not trying to convince anyone other than to say that I wish I had known HOW GOOD virtual academy would be as we would have done this YEARS ago...

Thanks for checking on us~TIMES ARE A CHANGING!  The Lord is good and I am so thrilled as He has blessed us~Let me know what's up with you and your thoughts ;-))
Hugs
SisterT

REVIEW: Apologia's What We Believe: Biblical Worldview of God and Truth Vol 1: Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)

Who Is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?)
by John Hay and David Webb
Hardcover 252 pages 
Website                       
Ages:  Children 6-14 (possibly expanded ages)

Price: $39

I say: Fantastic beautiful resource!

I received What We Believe Biblical Worldview of God and Truth Vol 1: Who is God? (And Can I Really Know Him?) by John Hay and David Webb as part of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine CREW review program in exchange for my honest opinions without monetary compensation.  My views are my own.

 The Bible is one subject a family can't study enough~and having good resources are essential. I mean, the Bible is like a locked box ~a treasure chest full of wonderful things from and about God, but unless we can understand His Word, the benefits will illude us.  Since my kids were very small, we always undertook serious Bible study and memorization.  As they've grown that study has increased in depth and I love this study from Apologia.  You won't be disappointed with a solid study for your home~all your grade school through middle school children.  This study talks to the child, we like it for that and while are a bit older than the stated age, they were able to benefit from its pages.  I definitely think a family could use this resource for olders and younger children as well~with a few modifications.  Aren't we homeschoolers very versatile?

Here's the details:

Conversational easy to read text
Multiple age range
Learn at your own pace
Sequential and builds on ideas
10 Lessons~approx 2 wks each one!
Independent for older students and group with youngers
Primarily NIV but also NLT and International Children's Bible used
Notebooking segment presented in the lessons (Binder useful.)
Additional teaching resources: FREE on website! (AWESOME resources!!)

The 10 lessons are broken down into segments:

• The Big Idea:  Intro and overview of what was previously covered~
• What You Will Do:  Learning objectives~
• Short Story:  Fictional story that makes the concepts come alive!
• Think About It:  Questions to reinforce key ideas and truths~
• Words You Need to Know:  Vocabulary words concerning the concepts~
• Hide It in Your Heart: Memory verses~
• Integrated Learning: Articles of interdisciplinary topics related to the short stories~
• What Should I Do?  Highlights specific character traits/moral virtues taught~
• Prayer:  A prayer to focus on the particular trait of God's attribute in the lesson~
• Worldveiw Study:  Introduces worldviews as they relate to the study~
• House of Truth:  A figurative construct of the nature of God built one step at a time throughout the studies~ based on an actual model that shows God's nature as a block by block to firmly put the person of God in a child's mind as offered @ www.summit.org. 

Included is a suggested Lesson Plan in order to use the study guide to the fullest along with a list of needed materials for additional activities as they are presented.  The study promises that nearly all of the materials are simple household items! whoot! I had no trouble, but just a flip through can keep you on target as you plan each week!

I could never say enough good things about Apologia products for homeschooling!  We have used quite a few over the years~LOVE the science and NOW the Bible curriculum as well~

Each lessons begins with a question that will center the lesson to be covered with large easy to read print and colorful but not kidsy graphics and pictures.  This study is definitely multi-aged and a good resource for the homeschool, home study purposes!  I also believe it would add to church studies for multiple age classes~I've taught many of these throughout the years.

Getting the extra resources and helps are easy. There is a website with a password listed in the text for additional resources~INVALUABLE!  I like that these helps are not downloaded to my computer. I recently LOST everything on my computer due to a virus, and I like that I can always access these resources from the web.  The graphics are in gray scale which saves me time when I print them from having to convert each one to save ink~GREAT MOVE! Also they are sophisticated looking. I suggest for the youngest in the home that this is really not appropriate for younger than first or second grade in most of the activities~but I will say that with a little bit of thinking, such as have the youngest illustrate the information for their notebook while older children are capable of doing these nice resources.  Young children has such a short attention span that too much will really be just that for them! Short and sweet~the story portions would appeal perhaps as well as the illustrations if this study is used for family study with all ages!

PLUG for Notebooking~If you haven't tried notebooking learning, this is really a great way to have a child compile information and have a tangible resource for review, study and even for concept reinforcement. This method of study teaches organization too~I have done this FOR YEARS with my kids and now that they are teens it's a natural habit...all you need is a three ring binder and either a whole punch or page protectors. I always invested in protectors as it kept their work very neat and orderly.  Page protectors would be one of my greatest expenses in addition to curriculum in homeschooling...but oh so worth it! We liked the 3 ring binders with clear front pocket so we could create our own cover depending upon the subject...Just sayn..Have you tried notebooking? What do you think? If not, what do you use?

Head HERE to read what the CREW says!
Let me know, do you love Apologia? Have you ever used it?? This is awesome!

CHANGE~A New Method For Our Homeschool

We'll soon complete 10 years at home together homeschooling our two, and it was becoming evident it is time for a change. This past few weeks, I interviewed my kids about their opinions regarding homeschooling~to hear some of their truth~what they think~their dreams, goals and ambitions~AND fears. My kids have worried about not being prepared.  I've worried about them NOT being prepared. I've studied and read all the stuff out there~I've shared much of it here~I've talked to other parents about their homeschool graduates~I have DONE my homework...but I could never EVER wrap my mind around that in the end~WHAT I DID or DO will be enough. I'm no teacher~well, SisterT isn't half bad as a teacher, but I certainly don't know it all~(despite those who *might* say otherwise that I THINK I DO...LOL)...and fear not only HAD them, it was nipping at my heels too...(READ what they told me~ HERE!)

Read more about the new schoolroom HERE!

We've made a change. It's a big change. And I am so excited! In fact during the orientation of the online process, I began to cry...no more is the burden totally mine...I share it with an online academy~We BeGiN on Monday~wooot!  Not only am I thrilled, but so are my teenagers who are so excited too! We've reworked some space here in the house and materials began arriving TODAY~

Soooooooooooo what's in store NOW for SisterT? Well, I'm still homeschooling but with MORE support than I dreamed~and the freedom is going to beeeeeeeeeee soooooooo nice!

Yes, they are still home. Yes, we are still family and the bonds are present and growing...YES~I have wonderful kids and BELIEVE in HOME EDUCATION~but in our 9th hr, I needed to be SURE that our education we were giving was going to DO WHAT A SOLID education needs to do~

Thank You, Lord!
He has blessed us~

Look for posts concerning our NEW journey in homeschooling~Virtual Academy! Thanks so much for stopping by and I plan to share about upcoming Drama Club tryout happening in less than 48 hrs~BOTH kiddos are trying out~WOOT! Production this spring is Charlotte's Webb~

Let me know if you have these same thoughts and how you are coping with it~What are your plans for your high schoolers to get them diplomas?  Is a GED equivalent in your estimation? Ring in~Thanks for stopping by and caring enough to drop me a shout-out~HUGS!!

Homeschooler ROCKS~Sooo Does Homeschooling!

Crewmate, Lori's son is the drummer in this cool band~CK IT OUT~

Revamping and Remodeling~Methods and House

It was failing to work.  Really.  In fact, it was becoming more and more work, and I was beginning to wonder IF we were gonna make it.  Seriously wonder IF my kids were going to graduate high school b/c they were struggling, and so was I.  But WHAT to do?  Quit?  Take time off?  Go at it harder? CHANGE?  Revamp?  Options loomed in my head for days, weeks...and all the while I was hearing that inner voice say that I have to act and do something BIG.  I'm not one for change, much.  Sister really doesn't like that word because it usually puts me in a mindset if not in a complete state of being uncomfortable for a while, at least...BUT change that will come as a matter of revamping is perhaps just what we need~NEED.  I do not believe this coming change is a WANT, but a true and definite need.

Worry can take on a life of it's own that can reek havoc with the mind, body and spirit.  Oh this is no fun! I just had to make some decisions NOW before it was 'too late!' Sooo I began some research.  I began with TRUTH~I knew that our current methods of homeschooling were taking us down a path that was at the very least, stressful.  STRESS-FILLED would be a better word~so in looking for truth, again I needed to HEAR my children.  What were their long-term goals and dreams? Where are THEY PLANNING to go in life?  These are no longer 'little people' who Mama has to guide, protect and shield~They're like race horses chomping at the gate of life and AM I THE GATE holding them in?  Some self examination reveals that I am fearful for them~like most any Mom is this day and time, but I am even more willing to be there for them as they navigate new and strange waters~and why not NOW? Navigating newness while they have support is much better than when they are out on their own with so much to push through and adapt to~

Sooo in that research, I came to believe that because my daughter particularly is so worried and consumed, really with negative thoughts concerning being homeschooled, I needed to look deeper. I WELL remember the age of 16 and how actually MATURE this age is above the other stages in growth~so I want to listen closely and HEAR just what she is saying to me.  Do I stop homeschooling altogether and put them in public or private school or what?  HOW can I help her with her nagging fears of inadequacy?  Her particular goals are VERY high, so I want to make sure they are a place we can head in the next phase, that we adequately planned and plodded to accomplish what we need to now, so that those dreams of a bright future are a reality...but how?

SisterT is working on some dual/virtual schooling for them~that will ultimately provide high school diplomas just as real as if they attended a public or private school FOR THEM~in fact, I can deny it all day long, but unless they go right into university or community college after homeschooling, their homeschool diploma that I might issue may not be as credible (in some circles) as one that is 'recognized.' Jobs are hard to get right now in our economy, and I know that no employer with a choice over so many is going to necessarily look at all the pluses in a  kiddo who well~call it a nagging fear, but I believe I am hearing the voice of the Lord~yeah, it's radical.  AND in the past, I was well satisfied that I am doing what is needful~but WHY do I have this nagging voice? Is it evil or the Lord?  Well, in restructuring some of what we are doing, it will provide for all the goals and dreams~AND satisfies the recurring voice, but MOST IMPORTANT~my child will find herself...himself...in this experience?  I hope so~I'm still HERE~we're still homeschooling, but it is taking on a new dimension~we are going to operate more like a traditional classroom so that there is some confidence built~

I have really worried that somehow these changes were not going to be all positive~but I am giving them to the Lord as we believe we are following His will for our lives~it's a learning curve for sure!

In this new adventure, we needed desktop space~hence a room redo~oh my! It's not that the room didn't need this done, but just a matter of timing~oh that precious element in life~TIME!

Here are some pics of what we began with and where we're going~oh it's been a nasty mess...but remember we live in a repo'd ole house that was inhabitable that we're rehabing~HOPING to paint by next wkend~
The first four are befores and the rest are the process~

Sooo, HOW are you doing this cold blustery January? Hanging? Revampn'??

Review: The Write Foundation Sentence to Paragraph Writing AND Essay Writing

The Write Foundation
Level 1~Sentence to Paragraph (Lessons 1-15)
Level 3~Essay Writing (Lessons 1-15)
The Write FoundationAges:  11-13 /  14-17
Price: $100 30 lessons OR Lessons 1-15 or 15-30 $65 each.  Student worksheets: One set are included in the curriculum, but additional sets are $25 for year or $15 per 15 lessons.
I say:  Good!

Writing IS my most challenging subject to teach for various reasons, and the subjectivity of grading and knowing just how to break the process down has been a daunting task for me.  I've really struggled in knowing HOW to take both my writers where they need to go.  When I got the information I was reviewing The Write Foundation, it's as if God smiled upon me.  I was so excited, and began researching the curriculum to decide which level to chose to best suit my writers.  I have two VARIED writers.  One who takes to it like a fish to water and the other like a fish OUT OF the water~I made a call to Rebecca Celsor who spent time hearing all about my writers and offered me encouragement as well as her personal insights and guidance over choosing the proper levels.  This is why you see two complete levels.  It was her opinion that my children would both be best served by the different levels.  I give Mrs. Celsor a HUGE thumbs up for taking her time (over an hour!) and effort to assure that we got just what we needed in the first place.  It was her sincere desire that we find what would really and truly WORK for us~she certainly didn't have to offer two sets of her curriculum for this reviewer to work through! I do believe that this is a peak into the kind of honest and caring customer service her clients will receive.  She was a wealth of information and insights~SHE KNOWS her stuff!  For me, it was invaluable! Short days our call, I got an email from her husband (This is a homeschool family who have used these materials that Mrs. Celsor created and has taught for quite a few years at home with her own children and in their local homeschool co-op setting) who gave me the shipping information with tracking information.  When my sealed nicely cardboard box arrived, my materials were beautiful having received Sentence Level 1 and Essay Level 3 levels complete with additional student worksheet sets! They also arrived in a timely manner from the receipt of that email.

In short order I began looking them over. Now, you have to realize that I am a little challenged where teaching writing is concerned.  While I've learned to write some, I certainly have no idea how to adequately teach it~AND so this blessing having arrived was mine to read and study so I could offer it up to my children.

I began studying and even made a trip to Office Depot to purchase the needed supplies.  Included is a supply list which includes:
Three ring binder (one for each student)
Highlighters (yellow, blue, orange, pink, green,...multiple colors)
Page dividers

Suggested in the curriculum: Mind Benders (Critical Thinking Co) puzzle logic building skills workbooks~I ordered this via our local curriculum store.
Notebook paper
Computer with word processing program (essential to have student type papers for MLA format)
I purchased page protectors and ring tabs to protect our pages. NOT on the list, but useful for us~who wants pages coming out?? LOL!! (I KNOW my kids and me..we definitely use these!)

I was ready to go! I felt really confident...but then as I began reading, a little anxiety hit because I was unable to totally follow the directions that I needed to share with my children and also what I needed to know as I presented the materials.  I began to research further and even went to the website where a sample lesson is available to note that it didn't help me.  I made a call and spoke at length to Mrs. Celsor's daughter this time who walked me through the processes and took notes of my input and observations.  I found this contact very helpful~so it was then that I went forward and began teaching each level.

As I've worked through the materials, on occasion I found myself researching  definitions for items like "participles" and some of the types of poetry so that I could not just have them do the exercises, but because I DIDN'T KNOW or even understand, I had to find this information first in another source.  Another area of difficulty is that this curriculum is really designed for a co-op  setting with a once a week teaching structure where children go home to do daily lessons.  Well, daily lessons works great for us, and in all actuality, we really did do it daily, it's just that I had to really figure out how to meter it out in order to meet our needs.  Maybe it's me, but I had a little trouble, but the lessons themselves are simple and very incremental. There are copies of teacher presentations sheets which are essentially what the student will need to do so you can show them by examples for a few and then let them try to master the concept. I REALLY like the simplistic incremental aspect of these materials! I needed something that would take us by each little step.  There are check sheets for the writing and a "NO LIST" which I love! These check sheets really put some easily identifiable self regulation  into my kid's own hands and will best prepare them for their university careers!

While I had some difficulty within the curriculum, first I KNOW that I can call upon the developer to help me~THIS IN INVALUABLE! AND that it's really thorough in it's sequential presentations of the process of writing.  I intend to continue The Write Foundation with my son who IS the reluctant writer and who will need this kind of curriculum to teach the basics.

Here's some insights from the website:

Many writing curricula focus on the different types of writing, such as creative writing, story writing, poetry writing, persuasive writing, argumentative writing, informative writing, descriptive writing, book writing, fiction writing, novel writing, but the basic foundation of writing is assumed. The Write Foundation begins with the writing process, how a student formulates a topic, then a thesis, then supporting points, and by incremental teaching drills in the basics. In most grammatical subjects, we have found that failure is almost totally because the basics have not been learned. 

The Write Foundation writing curriculum is a result of 8 years of successfully teaching homeschooled students in a one-day-per-week co-op setting. It has been adapted for a homeschool and used by numerous homeschooling parents to give their own children the tools of how to quickly organize and write an  essay with excellence.

Join the discussion or ask questions with the NEW yahoo group!

If you are like me and have kids who need the basics of writing whatever the level in a sequential and incremental way, you will not be disappointed, and the customer care is absolutely GREAT!

Check out what the CREW says...

LIKE to win prizes? I have a contest to win a FITNESS BALL as part of the Progresso Healthier You Prize Pack~ENDS 11:59 TONIGHT!!
I received The Write Foundation's Level 1 Sentence to Paragraph Writing (Lessons 1-15) and Level 3 Essay Writing (Lessons 1-15) as part of the Old Schoolhouse Crew for review purposes.  My opinions are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Review: Professor in a Box (Financial Accounting)

Financial Accounting

Professor in a Box~College Level Courses For Homeschooling

Price: $99.99

Ages: High School/Adult
Website:  HERE!
Facebook Fan Page!
I say: Advanced and thorough!

Kids that wanna be euntrepreneurs will need to understand their money so well and know how to keep up with it.  Accounting is such a necessary skill, and Professor in a Box offers a high school level accounting that makes a wonderful elective to add to your child's course work for the year.  Our daughter has been independently working her way through the lessons, about one per two weeks, and she says it's a very thorough course.  She finds the lecture to be well done with slides and information that is useful and she continues to work on it.  I know her goal is to one day own a business. This is such a great course.  It covers the basics and will give you a year at the 36 wk schedule or if you do like my kiddo you can stretch it out.  Of course you can go faster for a more condensed course!

Financial Accounting is a web based Flash driven DVD course where there is no textbook or workbook. The student watches the DVD and learns the material from there.  It's easy!  Included is a DVD with handouts as discussed in the course for printing.  Each lecture takes about 30-40 minutes, is incremental and well done.  Basic math skills are the only prerequisite.

From the web:

Learn financial accounting in four simple steps:
Watch the lectures.
Do the problems.
Check the solutions.
Take the exams.

Complete financial accounting course featuring narrated lectures taught by a college professor and homeschool dad - Dr. Michael P. Licata, Ph.D.
Featuring content coverage for the new CLEP Financial Accounting Exam.

This is a wonderful course, and Professor in a Box is offering also two new courses~one up for spring 2011!!

You can also get one on  Principles of Marketing and the one coming is on Entrepreneurship~you can pre-order for $89.99!

I received the Financial Accounting Course from Professor in a Box as part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew and my opinions are my own.  I received no monetary compensation.

Check out what the Crew says: HERE!

Review: Digital Frog~The Digital Field Trip Series (Wetlands/Rainforest/Desert)

The Digital Field Trip Series

Digital Frog

Website!

AGES:  11and up

Cost: $125 HERE! (individual Home license is $60)
My take: I like it!

I received The Digital Field Trip Series from Digital Frog as part of The Old Schoolhouse Crew for review purposes for my honest review of this product with no monetary compensation.

Do you wanna hop around the world in an afternoon to visit some eco systems that without your own jet would be totally impossible?  With the click of a button your child can visit a wetland, a rain forest, and a desert habitats and learn all sorts of things about them interactively. You can also download pdf worksheets~soo cool!

This is a one DVD compilation of some interesting facts and interactive activities to learn about these places in our world.  You can join the Frogger Club and get demos on all three field trips to ck them out further HERE!  Each study can be purchased separately on in the set. 

System Requirements:
The DVD can be used on PC or Mac systems.
Minimum System Requirements
Macintosh—G3 300 , MAC OSX 10.3.9 or later, 30 MB MB of available RAM.
PC—Pentium II with Windows 2000, XP or Vista, 32 MB RAM (64 recommended).
You will need QuickTime on your computer and will be prompted to download it if you don't already have it.
Printer/Paper (for the worksheet extensions.) 


The Wetlands~Check out Cloud Lake's wetlands in  Algonquin Park, Canada!   In GA we have wetlands that are federally protected and you can't built or disturb them. It's been interesting learning about them via this DVD field trip.

You can explore and learn about bogs, their mechanism and how they are endangered.  There are several kinds which you learn about as well!  All the words are defined in this system and if you want to know their pronunciation you can click on the Say It Button on the definition box and it will do that~older struggling readers will like this because it will help them navigate the written information. A younger child will definitely need to be helped with the reading as there are some pretty big words and concepts.  You can help your younger child accomplish this~and for older kids(Jr/Sr high) it's a great study!

Virtually at a click you visit the bogs and wetlands~it's fun! It's a total of 80 screens that tell how wetlands work and what plants and animals live there, how they interact with each other through videos, exercises and hyperlinks along with text throughout the program that gives the information.  Also there is a Quick Tour feature to show you how to navigate it all!  A cool feature is Fast Finder and if you want to search for a specific thing, then type F and the navigation box will come up~easy!

The Rainforest is also included on this 3 program DVD set.  You can navigate to the Field Trip or explore the rainforest via the Study the Rainforest where you can see Animal Characteristics, Plant Characteristics or Dependency Web.  This is so fun!  Also you can get into the endangered Rainforests as well as the Mechanisms of the Rainforest.  Mechanism subtopics include: Rainforest Strata, Tree Fall Gaps, Succession and Seasonality and more...there's loads to see and do on this study. 

The Desert is the last of the series and is so cool...no sounds on this one~guess the desert is a quiet place! But in all the format is the same and there is so much to see and do! 

Digital Frog offers several DVD interactive lesson programs such as The Digital Frog 2.5 which is a interactive VIRTUAL dissection program to learn these components as one might in a biology class.  Click HERE to learn more about it!  I honestly hope to get this for high school biology next year! It looks great!

ScienceMatrix: Cell Structure and Function is offered as another interactive learning too that looks very cool.  You can get  this demo  HERE too! I wish I had had this when I took A&P in college a couple of yrs ago! Wow!

I Say:  Overall Digital Frog's The Digital Field Trip Series is a great deal for those wishing to study these habitats without the travel expense and details.  I can see it used in many ways to enhance studies or as a stand alone for a more tactile learner who loves the computer~Reading is definitely a needed skills so it's  a win for the older kids~the attention to detail and scientific info is not little kid looking~OLDERS will love it!
Check out what the Crew says HERE!

REVIEW: Entrusted With Arrows (Christian documentary by MovieMakers)

Entrusted With Arrows:

Entrepreneurial Homeschool Fathers
MovieMakers DVD
AGE: Adults

Price: $19.99   HERE
I say: This is first rate! 

I received a free preview of Entrusted With Arrows and no other compensation for my review. My opinions are my own.

In the End...What's It Gonna Be?

Do you ever wonder what's going to happen to your kids when they grow up?  Do you think about life choices and how it's going to be~in their future?

Entrusted With Arrows showcases some Dads who have made an incredible choice~come home and ACTIVELY participate with the rearing of their children.  Wow~what a concept for a loving Christian Dad to show his children the ways of the Lord, first hand!

There's some pretty strong evidence shown from the Southern Baptist Convention, which I happen to be familiar with regarding the stats of what happens when kids grow up~it's alarming actually!  Kids are leaving the church, folks! If you haven't left yourself, you already know this...if you work with young people in the church or with children in the church, you know this as well~kids are getting harder and harder to reach for Christ~to teach about God and how to live in a Biblical way~sooo while it might not be for everyone, WHY NOT?  Why wouldn't Christian parents want their children to fully understand, love and serve God?  Is there too great a sacrifice to be made?

For some, homeschooling just might seem like a drudgery and burden~oh yes, it can be~no doubt on a bad day, and don't we all have those?  But, is it not the role of the Father to teach his children through his own efforts and role?  Coming home to work from home is a unique position these Dads have been called and allowed.  God has blessed them.

I think this is a wonderful resource for families~It's a call to becoming the Father and spiritual leader God has called men to become.  Every home and church family needs to see this!

In the end, end of homeschooling or other schooling, what is it going to be for your child? Will YOU become your their greatest influence? God help us all to be the Moms and Dads that will please Him~and help us raise our children for Him!



Check out Entrusted With Arrows!  It's a current semi-finalist at San Antonio Christian Film Festival!

FREE: Check out Homeschooling Hearts and Minds' MATH Post

Here's a few math sites for you to choose from~Thanks Midwest Mama!
Homeschooling Hearts and Minds

FREE: Homeschooling eZine (Clickschooling)

Homefires.com You can sign up for her eZine and check out a BUNCH of free resources.  Diane Flynn Keith is the Author of Carschooling! Check out this cool site! She has freebies when you sign up for her eZine!

GiveAway: Birthday Bash~Before FIAR and Wrtiting Strands I

Homeschooling Hearts and Minds is celebrating BIG TIME! Go join the fun!! (ENDS 8/31)

GiveAway: Mrs. Mandy's Geography Study

Mrs. Mandy is hosting (ENDS 9/29)

Passing Along a GREAT Article on TEENS~

Marcia Summerville wrote Tapestry of Grace curriculum and her hub is with HSLDA~what wonderful encouragement for shepherding our teens HERE!

GiveAway: Whole Picture Game

Living Sola Gratia is hosting this giveAway.  (ENDS 7/24)

FREE: eBook: 101 Internet Safety Tips for Kids

Head over to Homeschool Freebie of the Day to get this nice eBook when you sign up for the RSS feed.  When you do this you will receive an email each Monday morning outlining the week's FREE resources for educating your child so you can plan to download them as you will. HOW COOL IS THIS?? WOW!

FREE: PreAlgebra ONLINE Course

I am loving this~ FREE IS GREAT! We are going to USE this one~HERE!

FREE: Math Newsletters and More

Head over to meet MathMammoth~She sends out a FREE newsletter with helpful tips :AND More!

FREEbie: Sample of TEACH MAGAZINE

Here's a link to get a sample of Teach Magazine HERE!