Hamelin Stoop Series - Crew Review

I have been reading the first two books in the Hamelin Stoop Series from 12 Gates Publishing. I received both Hamelin Stoop: The Eagle, The Cave, and the Footbridge (Book 1) and Hamelin Stoop: The Lost Princess and the Jewel of Periluna (Book 2); along with a Discussion Guide for each book. The books are available at all major online book retailers and as audio books on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.

In book one, the trackers wanted the mother and father, but they had been given very clear orders to make sure they got the baby. The parents devise a plan to save their baby. The young father races to the edge of a cliff and throws the blue blanket and its contents over the Little Cliffs. He is on his knees with his head buried in his hands as the trackers grab him and demand answers. The young mother leaves her baby boy in a tomato box on the porch of a children’s home. The only visible word on the damaged note from his mother was “Hamelin” so the staff named the baby Hamelin Stoop. Hamelin grew up wanting to discover his true identity and his parents who, unknown to him, left him to escape capture by other worldly trackers. When the children’s home forgets his eighth birthday, he sneaks away at night. Along the way, Hamelin encounters the Great Eagle, who leads him through a mysterious cave, where he must encounter his fears and cross a dangerous footbridge before he can begin a journey into the Atrium of the Worlds.

In book two, Hamelin finally makes it across the footbridge only to discover that his quest to find his parents and learn his true identity will not be quickly done. The Great Eagle leads him through the dangerous Waters of Death and Life into the land of Gloaming, where Hamelin must help two new friends find a kidnapped princess and recover a stolen jewel, tasks for which they have special gifts that must not be misused: a scarf of sight, shoes of speed, and a sword of death. But these quests are only part of the larger story, where Chimera uses Hamelin to seize the kingdoms on both sides of the Atrium of the Worlds.

The books are written for adolescents, and the connections to Christian principles are found in underlying themes about good and evil, courage and fear, choices and consequences, destiny and free will.  Robert Sloan, author of the Hamelin Stoop Series quotes “Fantasy shapes the mind through imaginative people, creatures, and events. It stirs the heart. It raises questions of good and evil, and it forces the reader to think and engage with big issues.” Sloan introduces multiple plot threads that remain dangling, and he raises more questions than he answers – left open to explore in future volumes in the series. Readers will find themselves eagerly anticipating the next volume in the series.

The Discussion Guide is a great companion to each book. It provides thought provoking questions, an activity, and a crossword puzzle. Here is an example –

Visit the Crew Blog to read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about the Hamelin Stoop Series from 12 Gate Publishing.

Homeschool Collection {April Edition}

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Homeschool Collection. Time to grab a cup of your favorite beverage and fill up on encouragement from our homeschool bloggers.

Yvie @ Homeschool On the Range shares

·         Six Basic Freezer Cooking Recipes for those Busy Day! 

·         Teaching Science with Nick & Tesla 

·         Packing Lists for Your Family Road Trip 

·         Using the Good & the Beautiful Curriculum with Upper Grades Students 

Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag shares

·         Exploring Hobbies on a Time and Money Budget 

·         50+ Reasons to be Thankful for Homeschool

Abby @ Making Room 4 One More shares

·         Summer Business Brainstorm for Teens Printable 

·         Trello for High School Project Management 

·         FREE Repetition Punch Cards 

·         9 Benefits to Homeschooling High School 

Annette @ A Net in Time shares

·         Holland Lops 

·         Submarines of WW1 

·         Teaching Highschool with Outside Courses 

·         Fitting in the Basics in the midst of busyness 

Lisa @ Maggie’s Milk shares

·         The Bowl Game: Where Your Kids Create the Rules 

·         5 Simple ABC Games with Homemade Letter Cards 

Kristen @ A Mom’s Quest to Teach shares

·         Animals: Raccoons – The Masked Nocturnal Animal 

·         Animals: Bats – the Myths and the Crafts 

·         O is for Ornithology 

·         Z is for Zoo 

Destiny @ Some May Call It Destiny shares 

·        Five Play Based Learning Ideas for Preschoolers

Susan @ My Happy Homeschool shares 

·        How You Can Start a Low-Key Co-op –

Monique @ Early Learning Mom shares

·         Homeschooling On A Budget: Why We Buy Books Used & A Book Haul 

·         Raising Bookworms: What We Read in March 2019 

·         Doman Parent in Hiding 

·         Raising Bookworms: What We Read in February 2019 

Texas HOME Educators - May Newsletter

Calendar of Events

May 03 Co-op Classes & Musical Theater Performance

May 10 Ballet Classes

May 24 Ballet Classes  

Co-op Classes

09:00 Service Scouts – please bring a breakfast dish and drink for our annual achievement awards.

10:00 Musical Theater – this is our dress rehearsal and the program will be that evening at 7:00 p.m.

Ballet Classes

Ballet III needs to arrive at 9:00 a.m. for warm-up, and all other classes need to arrive by 9:30 a.m. to run through the group numbers, and then through their class numbers. Students need to wear class attire (please put ballet shoes on at the studio, do not wear them outside). We will share the recital announcement in May and encourage you to share through text and Facebook to invite family and friends.

May 3 – Tuition is due.

June 7 – Student’s presentation of Dancing Through Frozen.

He Lives

He lives! Matthew 28:6 reads "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." The world has set apart one day, Easter Sunday, to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior; but we as Christian celebrate His resurrection every day of our lives. Determine to greet everyone in such a way that they will know unmistakably that Jesus is alive and living in your life. Carry this musical truth with you as you go -

Summer Summit

You are invited to attend the Summer Summit on August 3, 2019 at Midway Baptist Church, 4512 Ellis Drive, Kountze, TX 77625. The four sessions of the Summer Summit are faith, friendships, food, and fun. These four f's are the ingredients for a happy homeschool mom.

09:00 Check-In & Summit Shoppe
10:00 FAITH
11:30 FRIENDSHIPS
12:00 FOOD & Summit Shoppe
01:00 FUN
02:00 Door Prizes & Summit Shoppe

FAITH - A short time of reviewing what God has to say about issues closest to a mother's heart can do wonders to fill up an exhausted mom. Two mini-sessions are planned just for you. Susan Reed will share "The Balance Between Homeschooling and Homemaking" and then Kayla Buckner will share "Plan, Prep, Prosper".

FRIENDSHIPS - Friendships strengthen us to be better wives and mothers. As any mom can attest, we tend to get so focused on others that we neglect ourselves; and that's not good for anyone. We need to be with other homeschool moms - for that occasional grown-up conversation. A time to encourage one another and learn from each other's challenges. During this session, your questions will set in motion the "gift of gab".

FOOD - There's something about a get-together with food that nourishes a mother's heart as well as her body. A luncheon will be served with chicken salad on crossaint, potato soup, cookie, and iced tea.

FUN - Fun is the final, and in my opinion the most important session. Proverbs 17:22 says, "a merry heart doeth good like medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." The Bible seems to suggest that laughter is a good antidote for the blues. Therefore, fun is a critical component for a successful Summer Summit.

SUMMIT SHOPPE - Do you have curriculum for sell? Do you have a home-based business? Display and sell as a vendor in our Summit Shoppe! Cost is only $20 for a table and booth space. 

Attendees can expect to find a room filled with deals on curriculum and resources. The publishers and companies listed below can be found in the Summit Shoppe. This list will expand as more vendors register.

• BJU Press offering convention discounts again: 25% off all products, 50% off of 6 or more distance learning classes (with books), and of course, free shipping!
• Chalk Couture
• Tupperware
• Apologia

DOOR PRIZES - Our door prize table is always a hit and huge blessing! If you would like to donate a door prize for FREE advertisement in the program, please contact Susan Reed at susanmreed22@gmail.com.

TAKE HOME TOTES - Each mom in attendance will receive a take-home-tote! If you would like to donate a promotional item or product for the totes, please contact Susan Reed at susanmreed22@gmail.com.

We would like to thank the many publishers and companies for donating a promotional item or product - BJU Press, IEW, Progeny Press, Memoria Press, My Father's World, Tabbies, Sub Zero, Glue Dots, Notgrass History, Christian Liberty Press, Practical Homeschooling, Teaching Textbooks, Beautiful Feet Books, and Lee Products Coampany! 

CHILDCARE - Childcare will be provided; but children must bring a sack lunch. Please tell us ages in the "comment" section during checkout, so we will be prepared with activities. Cost is only $5 for each family.

Register by July 27, 2019 to attend the Summer Summit and join moms like you to celebrate the homeschool journey together! Registration includes summit shoppe, luncheon, participation in all sessions, door prizes, and a take-home-tote filled with materials and resources to help and encourage the homeschool mom. We do not offer refunds, just as you had purchased a ticket for a concert or sporting event. However, you may transfer your registration to one other person. If you wish to transfer your registration to another person, please email susanmreed22@gmail.com with the transferee name and contact information.

George Washington - Crew Review

Our family enjoys learning about history through literature; and YWAM Publishing helps us do that with their Heroes of History series and Unit Study Guide. The book George Washington – TruePatriot tells of a man who changed the course of history.

The book begins with the early childhood years of George Washington. Here we see the impact his brother Lawrence had on him growing up, as well as the impact of losing his father at a young age. We see that George Washington loved adventure; and this played a role into him wanting to be a surveyor. The story continues to share how he met Martha, a woman he knew he wanted to spend more time with, and within a week George was making plans to ask Martha Custis to be his wife. They were married on January 6, 1759 and she remained faithful by his side throughout the remainder of his life. The book progresses into how George Washington was drawn into the war, how he became Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and how he eventually became the first President of the United States. This indispensable American served the struggling nation when its survival and form hung in balance.

The books in the Heroes of History series can also be used in unit study. In fact, YWAM Publishing offers the George Washington: A Unit Study Curriculum Guide to accompany the book. It provides the homeschool parent with ways to use the book as a vehicle for teaching or reinforcing various curriculum areas, including creative writing, drama, movie critiquing, reading comprehension, essay writing, as well as, history and geography concepts. The activities in this unit study are reflective of a wide range of learning styles, designed for both group and individual study, and suitable for a range of grade levels and abilities.

As you may know, this is not my first review for YWAM Publishing. I have also reviewed Laura Ingalls Wilder and Ben Carson from the Heroes of History series. Our family is very familiar with the Heroes of History series and have a number of these books in our homeschool library. I have asked my older girls on several occasions to select one of these books to write their own book review. They simply read one chapter each day, Monday through Thursday, and take chapter notes on index cards to use these note cards to help them write their review.

You do not need a textbook to teach history. You can use the Heroes in History series and teach history through literature. These books are very informative and written in a unique way that it’s like reading a storybook. Our family has enjoyed reading about George Washington, a man whose life not only had a huge impact on history, but also, a man who was used by God to make a difference in the world.

Visit the Crew Blogto read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about this book George Washington – True Patriot, as well as other products from YWAM Publishing.

Primary Immunodeficiency Awareness Month

April is National Primary Immunodeficiency Awareness Month. Primary immunodeficiency diseases are a group of more than 300 rare, chronic disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or functions improperly. While not contagious, these diseases are caused by hereditary or genetic defects. Some types affect a single part of the immune system; others may affect one or more components of the system. In medical school, many doctors learn the saying, "when you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras," and are taught to focus on the likeliest possibilities when making a diagnosis, not the unusual ones. However, sometimes physicians need to look for a zebra. People with primary immunodeficiency diseases are the zebras of the medical world.

Before diagnosis, life was not easy, my daughter saw so many doctors and was in the hospital so many times because she was always sick. Isabelle got so sick, her pediatrician referred us to immunology; but sad to say, this first specialist did not perform all the tests needed to confirm a diagnosis. Then my daughter started having more seizures due to the sicknesses and her epilepsy specialist referred us to a different immunology specialist for a second opinion. I took my daughter to see Dr. Susan Pacheco and she performed all the tests needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Isabelle was diagnosed with CVID in 2013. I was overwhelmed, but hopeful at the same time. My daughter started immunoglobulin therapy right away. The term "immunoglobulin" refers to the fraction of blood plasma that contains immunoglobulins, or antibodies. Theses immunoglobulins (Ig) in the plasma are IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE. Individuals who are unable to produce adequate amounts of Ig or antibodies, such as my daughter, benefit from replacement therapy with Ig.

It is important to understand that the Ig that is given partly replaces what the body should be making, but it does not stimulate the patient's own immune system to make more Ig. Since Ig only replaces the missing end product, but does not correct the patient's defect in antibody production, Ig replacement is usually necessary for the patient's lifetime. In addition, the Ig only provides temporary protection. Most antibodies, whether produced by the patient's own immune system or given in the form of Ig replacement, are used up or "metabolized" by the body and must be constantly replenished.

Isabelle's Ig replacement therapy is administered subcutaneously (SCIG) weekly. SCIG is injected slowly, directly under the skin. This treatment plan has improved my daughter's health and quality of life. Yes, she still gets sick, but she is now able to recover within two weeks, not two months.

All individuals diagnosed with a primary immunodeficiency have overcome different obstacles in their lives. Isabelle is only one zebra in the medical world; but she is a strong, brave, little zebra!

Think Zebra!

Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood - Crew Review

I love literature and want my students to enjoy learning grammar so I was thrilled to receive the second book of Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood from Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). This is not a traditional grammar program. Instead, as you and your students enjoy reading a sentence or two of this classic tale each day, students will hunt for and correct errors in daily passages that cumulatively tell the story.

The book provides 33 weeks of grammar instruction and practice. Each week is broken down into four days; but if you are using it with an older student, the book might be completed in a semester by doubling up the weeks. Over the course of the year, students will review the basic parts of speech and learn how to identify clauses and phrases, which will prepare them to learn the many punctuation rules needed in composition. Fix It! Grammar teaches through three methods: Learn It, Fix It, and Rewrite It.

The first day of each week is a teaching day. Read through the “Learn It” section of the student book and then show them what to do using the Day 1 passage. This will show your student what they will be looking for that week and for weeks to come. Use this time to show your student how to make editing marks and grammar notations. The student book provides grammar cards for review.

The “Fix It” section encourages students to immediately apply new grammar knowledge in context, aiding in the transfer of grammar skills into their own writing. Read the instructions for the week with your student. Use the abbreviations at the top of the page along with the grammar cards to help you remember how to mark the passage. Students may do some of the lesson on their own, or it can be done together. Your students will likely miss many of the fixes and markings as they work throughout the program, but use these moments to stress that “a mistake is an opportunity to learn”.

Students will need a spiral notebook to complete the “Rewrite It” section. After marking and correcting the passage, students copy the corrected passage into their notebook.  At the end of the course, students will have a handwritten copy of the complete story. For your convenience, the corrected passage rewrite is printed in the Teacher’s Manual at the end of each week.

Because every book in Fix It! Grammar is foundational to the book after it, Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) recommends that all students begin with the first book: The Nose Tree. Each book includes advanced concepts, so even if your student knows much of the material, you can still begin with the first book and plan to move through it at a faster pace while adding the advanced concepts as your student is ready for them. However, if you think your student has already mastered some off the concepts, you can use the placement test to determine where to start.

Students can learn so much from the classic tale of Robin Hood; but even more through editing sentences in an ongoing story that teaches grammar and trains students to become self editors. Visit the Crew Blog to read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about Fix It! Grammar: Robin Hood, as well as other products from Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW).