Adventures in Homeschooling
Here I will share all things homeschool! I’ll be passing along favorite websites, fun field trip experiences, and reviews of our favorite books and curriculum. I hope you find it helpful and enjoyable! Blessings!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Schleich
I had never heard of Schleich before doing this review and to be honest I wasn’t particularly excited when I found out I was going to be receiving some of their figurines. Boy, was I surprised when we opened our shipment from Schleich! As I pulled out animal after animal, you would have thought it was Christmas for my 12, 10, and 8 year olds! They were in awe of the details etched in each figurine. They could truly appreciate how real they looked. Then I opened up the catalog that was included. I next heard a chorus of oohs and aahs and shouts of “I want that one!” and “I’ve got to get that one next!” And Schleich collectors were born...
My kids are not alone in their love and appreciation for these figurines. I love them too! They are incredibly high quality, not to mention durable - which is a must for a toy to survive in my house of four boys. The website claims they are made true-to-life which was confirmed by each exclamation of “Oh! Look at this!” from me and my
Friday, April 10, 2009
Beautifully Made
I was so delighted when I received my review package from Generations of Virtue. There were three books all tied together with a pretty pink ribbon. I knew right away this was something special! The books are titled Beautifully Made!, with volume 1, Approaching Womanhood; volume 2, Celebrating Womanhood; and volume 3, Wisdom From a Woman - Mother’s Guide.
These books are meant to assist girls and their mothers as they transition from being a girl to becoming a woman. With my daughter having just turned 10, I knew I needed to start talking to her about what would soon be happening to her body. I also knew I didn’t want to talk about things she isn’t ready to hear. I was so relieved to see that these books were just what I had in mind.
The first volume in the Beautifully Made! series , Approaching Womanhood, is written to the 8-12 year old girl who has not yet started her period. The book covers such topics as physical changes, body image and when and why to buy a bra.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Critical Thinking
The Critical Thinking Co. has won over 90 national awards for their various products, so I was delighted to receive Beginning Mathematical Reasoning for ages 3 and 4 to review. Unlike most preschool workbooks I’ve come across, this particular book is thoughtfully laid out and very well done. The beginning includes details on how to effectively use the book and offers helpful teaching suggestions. The skills and concepts in the book are presented using the spiral method, where topics are dealt with and then revisited later in more depth.
I really like how the concepts are presented. The methods are very creative and are done in ways I would not have thought of on my own. The pages are colorful but not distracting, and the activities per page are appropriate and not overwhelming. My two year old really enjoyed having a book that was all his own. However, most of the concepts in this book really are better suited for a 3 or 4 year old. We will definitely be using this fun
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Rocket Phonics
Wow! That was my initial reaction when I opened my box from Rocket Phonics. My previous experience with phonics programs consisted of a single text. No frills or extras. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw all of the goodies Rocket Phonics had sent me!
The kit I received consists of the following:
*2 Rocket Phonics volumes
*2 sets of Play & Read Cards
*rocket “peeker” (helps the child focus on one word at a time)
*bingo chips
*folder with extra bingo sheets and supplement word lists
*2 Treasure Hunt kits with prizes
Rocket Phonics was created by Dr. Stephen and Maureen Guffanti and their goal is to create readers who can not only read on their own, but who love reading. And to help children learn to love reading they have fashioned a program that is infused with fun and games. Rocket Phonics uses Bingo, Go Fish, Memory, treasure hunts and other fun ways to help young readers learn and get excited about reading.
Rocket Phonics utilizes
Monday, March 23, 2009
Alphabet Alley
If Alphabet Alley sounds familiar, I previously posted a review for two of their products in the Noah’s Ark line: the Go Fish card game and the Memory game. I was so excited to receive another product from this company that produces high quality Christian-themed toys. I certainly wasn’t disappointed when our magnetic playset arrived! It was of the highest quality and so much fun. Sadly, however, Alphabet Alley made the decision to remove all of their magnetic playsets from their toy line in order to continue testing them to ensure they meet with the new standards set forth by the CPSIA. I love to support a company with such integrity and trustworthiness, so I’m going to encourage you to visit the website at http://www.alphabetalley.com/default.asp and look at the other products they have to offer. With Easter fast approaching, items such as the Good News Sticker Set and the wooden Bible ABC Building Blocks would be the perfect addition to your child’s Easter basket!
Name: Kristin
Interests: Reading, crocheting, and learning to sew
Location: Deep in the heart of Texas!
Grace
Andrew
Mitchell
Max
