Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Carole P. Roman Books and Collections - Crew Review



Award-winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons and combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us. My family recently reviewed three products from the Carole P. Roman books and collections – Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump, If You Were Me and Lived in…Colonial America, and If You Were Me and Lived in…American West. Great readers for ages 7-12!
 
 

Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump is a story about Susannah Maya Logan. Her best friend, Lola, has invited her to sleepover; but she does not want to go. Susannah thinks the house is big and spooky, not to mention the ghost that is said to live there. Lola’s big brother, Kai, loves to tease Susannah with scary stories. As she goes through her day, she sees how people deal with things that scare them. Her sight-impaired friend, Macy, is terrified of unicorns. She sees a boy at a party who is frightened of clowns. Her teacher is afraid of getting a cold. Susannah realizes that everybody is scared of something. Susannah’s mother reminds her that her own home makes creaky noises at night, she has only grown used to the noise. Her mom reassures her that she’ll be there to pick her up, if she has any problems. Susannah must learn to confront her fears and not let her imagination prevent her from having fun.

 

If You Were Me and Lived in…Colonial America is a nonfiction book that allows the reader to discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like them. In the book, If You Were Me and Lived in Colonial America, you will learn what kind of foods mother would cook in a fireplace, you will recall the clothes you wore in the 15th century, you will learn about the new Protestant religion, you will experience traveling to a new land without persecution,  you will observe father building a new home, you will make friends with a native boy, and you will celebrate the first Thanksgiving. So, you will see how life in Colonial America could really be. Carole P. Roman also includes a short description of some people who influenced the colonies on the entire eastern seaboard – Ann Hutchinson, Peter Minuit, William Penn, Pocahontas, Captain John Smith, and Myles Standish.

 

If You Were Me and Lived in…American West is a nonfiction book that allows readers to discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like them. In the book, If You Were Me and Lived in the American West, you will learn what kind of foods were eaten on the Oregon Trail, you will recall the clothes you wore in the American West, you will experience crossing the Columbia River, you will observe father building a new home, you will live peacefully with your Indian neighbors, and you will learn some important rules. So, you will see how life in the American West could really be. Carole P. Roman also includes a short description of famous people from the American West – Annie Oakley, Daniel Boone, Geronimo, Red Cloud, Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark.

Visit the Crew Blog to read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about these three books, as well as other products from the Carole P. Roman books and collections.

 


Sunday, March 25, 2018

Big Thicket National Preserve



Do you have a child that loves being outdoors and exploring God’s creation? If so, I highly recommend a field trip to the Big Thicket National Preserve in Kountze, Texas.

At the visitor center, you can look through exhibits to see examples of the plants and animals that call Big Thicket their home. There is a video to watch that details and explains the early settlers’ way of life. There are miles of trails to explore that lead you through towering trees, cypress sloughs, and bogs of carnivorous plants.

During a recent visit, my 11-year-old completed the requirements of the Junior Ranger Program. Junior rangers explore, learn about and protect national parks around the country. Any person of any age can become a Junior Ranger and earn a badge!


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

A La Carte Products from Home School in the Woods - Crew Review



File folder games make learning fun! I recently had the privilege to review two hands-on A La Carte products from Home School in the Woods – Name That State and Get Your Kicks on Route 66.




 

What better way to get familiar with U.S. states and capitals than with a file folder game! The Name That State game is designed to help students recognize the states and match information to each state. The game cards provide the state name, capital city, as well as the date of admittance to the Union and region. Extra lines are provided on each game card, should you wish to add additional information, such as state symbols or motto. Name That State offers three game boards. One game board contains states with names. The second game board contains states with abbreviations. The third game board contains states that are blank. You will need to determine which game board you wish to play before you begin printing. You will need to print the game board on white paper and the game cards on colored stock paper. Your student will then be able to color the game board and paste the pages, facing each other, to each side of the file folder. Cut out the game cards and place them in a pile with the states facing up in the box located in the Gulf of Mexico. Using a hole punch, punch several dots, giving each player a pile, these are the markers. Name That State is for multiple players. Determine the order of players and follow the directions for play.

 

Get Your Kicks on Route 66 is a file folder game about the Industrial Revolution through the Great Depression. This file folder game uses game cards that focus on a variety of information and facts about the era that stretched across 70 years of American history. The game board follows Route 66 – an historic highway that spanned from Chicago to Los Angeles. It may take students a couple times to go though the game cards before the information sinks in; but if you start with a sub-set of the game cards and add in more game cards as students remember the information, you will see repetition helps the information to stick. Have fun traveling the road while answering questions from one of the most transformative periods in history! You will need to print the game board and the markers on white paper and the game cards on colored stock paper. Your student will be able to color the game board and paste the pages, facing each other, to each side of the file folder. Your student will also be able to color, cut and paste the markers. Cut out the game cards and place them in a pile in the box located Question Cards. Get Your Kicks on Route 66 is for two to six players. Determine the order of players and follow the directions for play.

File folder games are a great way to review information you’ve learned or perhaps learn a few new facts! Visit the Crew Blog to read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about these two file folder games, as well as other A La Carte products from Home School in the Woods.

 


Sunday, March 18, 2018

My Savior's Love



Historians have noted that the ancient Greeks expressed three levels of love: Eros – a “give me” kind of love; Philia – a “give and take” kind of love; and Agape – an “unconditional” kind of love. Our Savior’s love was agape love. He loved us so much he came to earth to die on a rugged cross for sinners, like you and me. And one day, we will see His face and fully know the meaning of this agape love.

“My Savior’s Love” was written by Charles H. Gabriel, the most popular and prolific gospel song writer of the 1910-1920 decade. This song first appeared in the hymnal titled Praises, published in 1905. Meditate on this melody –

 

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kids to Think - Crew Review



Parenting Made Practical offers practical ways for parents to stop lecturing and get their kids to own their behavior and responsibilities through their book and DVD – Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kids to Think. Every parent has lectured their kids at one time or another, usually in frustration and anger. How do you lecture your kids? Reminding? Threatening? Talking over your kids when they are talking? Nagging? Debating? Negotiating? Lecturing is just a polite way of yelling at your kids for not getting something done or for not doing it right.

When kids and teens choose to disobey their parent’s direction and instructions, parents revert to lecturing them. They think if they tell them what the right thing to do is just one more time, their kids will permanently change their behavior. When parents lecture their kids they are doing all the thinking for them. Kids are fine with their parents reminding them and thinking for them because then they don’t have to.

Joey and Carla Link are parent educators who are known for making parenting practical, thus the name Parenting Made Practical. With Joey’s sixteen years of pastoral experience in youth and family ministries plus twenty-five years as the Director of a non-profit ministry to families and Carla’s degree in social work, together they bring a unique blend of fresh teaching to parents. They share from personal experiences in their life as they give practical tools to motivate kids to take ownership of their responsibilities so you will no longer need to lecture them. Whether your kids are three to twenty-three, you will find this an indispensable guide to get your kids to think for themselves so you can stop thinking for them.

I enjoyed reading the book, Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kids to Think. While the truths are biblically based, the topics covered make this a helpful tool for any parent training their pre-adult children for future success in higher education. I, too, believe the number one reason parents are continually frustrated with their kids is they don’t want to give up the time it takes to train them. Sure, you are busy; but in fifteen years will you remember what you were busy with or will you be frustrated you don’t have a relationship with your now adult children? Think about it. Joey and Carla have developed a biblical standard to combat the most common parenting approach – lecturing. Their practical wisdom has been invaluable to me as I raise our three children.
 
 

The DVD, Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kidsto Think, is based on the book. The DVD is one in the “A Parent’s Night Out” series, a series of presentations designed to both encourage and equip parents to raise obedient, respectful and responsible children in today’s world.

If you would like to go through the book in a group, study questions for each chapter are available at no charge on the website www.parentingmadepractical.com. Parents can also get more teaching through blog posts along with recommended resources for all ages on the website.

My family reviewed Taming the Lecture Bug and Getting Your Kids to Think; but the Homeschool Review Crew reviewed different products, so be sure to visit the Crew Blog to learn more about the other products available from Parenting Made Practical.

 

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Learning Through Literature about Bees



Pollen is in the air and the bees are buzzing here in Southeast Texas. Bees are flying insects known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven recognized biological families. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants.

Bees live socially in colonies. They are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen as an energy source and for protein and other nutrients.  Bee pollination is important both ecologically and commercially; the decline in wild bees has increased the value of pollination by commercially managed hives of honey bees. Beekeeping has been practiced since ancient times to the present day, through primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, where beekeeping is far more common.

My Happy Homeschool recommends learning through literature about bees with the following books:

 

Explore My World: Honey Bees by Jill Esbaum

 

Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha

 

The Beekeeper’s Bible: Bees, Honey, Recipes & Other Home Uses by Richard A. Jones

Happy Homeschooling!


Sunday, March 4, 2018

Distance Learning



BJU Press Distance Learning brings video lessons and textbooks together to give you a complete curriculum that will meet your needs. Video lessons bring all the benefits of an experienced classroom teacher to your homeschool room with lessons full of engaging segments designed for your child. Textbooks support the video lessons, build understanding and critical thinking.

Both the video lessons and the textbooks are framed on a strong biblical worldview. Every lesson encourages your child to think carefully and biblically about the topics discussed. In addition to a strong biblical worldview, the video lessons and textbooks provide a sound education.

Distance Learning is helpful when

·         You have multiple children of different grade levels, and you don’t have the time to dedicate to teaching each child individually.

·         You are tackling subjects you find challenging.

·         You are looking for people you can trust to teach your children.

BJU Press Distance Learning offers complete grade kits or individual courses for Grades 1-12. K4 and K5 are available as complete grade kits only. The teachers have created lesson plans for each course to ensure that your child will have no gaps between kindergarten and high school.

I would be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding BJU Press Distance Learning. Our family has used the complete grade kits and individual courses; and we highly recommend BJU Press Distance Learning!