Family Fun Time!

My family was so excited when we found out we were going to be allowed to review "Wits & Wagers Family." We have played the original "Wits and Wagers" game at grandma's house, and loved it; but, not all of our children were able to play because the questions were a little above their ability. The family edition contains questions that can be easy or challenging, a great assortment. The instructions and rules are very easy to follow. Our 10-year old dd read the instructions and rules and explained them to us.
As stated on the website:
Wits & Wagers Family simplifies the rules and scoring system of the popular Wits & Wagers. Now families and kids can get into the Wits & Wagers action! First, every player writes down a guess to a fun question. Then players try to score points by choosing which guess is closest to the right answer without going over. That is it!
The game features 300 new family-friendly questions. And even better than that, Wits & Wagers Family includes Meeples-- fun, cute, human shaped wooden pieces that the players use to select which answers they think are correct. Meeples have been a hallmark in European style strategy games for years, but this is the first time they have made an appearance in a party game.
So check out Wits & Wagers Family, the game that combines laughter and learning in a way that all ages can enjoy together!
What could be a better Christmas gift than something to bring the entire family together! We have had a blast with this game and I'm sure it will become a classic. We have six children ranging in age from 11 (now) - 21 and all of them have enjoyed this game. If you have older children, you may want to look into the regular "Wits and Wagers" game too.
Wits and Wagers Family retails for $19.99. As of this morning it appears to be sold out through the shopping cart link. To check for availability click here and then click on the shopping cart on the right hand side next to the game. You may want to check your local retailers. This would make an excellent Christmas gift.

To read what other TOS reviewers have to say about "Wits and Wagers Family" click here.

**Except for being sent a copy of the "Wits and Wagers Family" game to try, I have not been compensated in any way by TOS or NorthStar Games.**

ALEKS Web-Based Instruction

I have been able to use, and let my children use, ALEKS web-based instructional system. It has been a bit of a chore for us to find time to use the system right now. Most of the trouble with usage has just been because of a very busy end of semester schedule. The ALEKS company has been gracious enough to extend the usage of their system for two additional months and I am so greatful! My children have really enjoyed the parts of the program they have tried. I have children ranging from 5th grade - 12th grade using the program, so we have tried a little bit of everything in the system. For me, one of the most useful features is the beginning assessment. This assessment gave me a great picture of where each of my children needed additional math help. I also love the feature that allows the students to move on when they master a skill. Take a look at some details of the program straight from the ALEKS web site:
What is ALEKS?

Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system that uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS offers truly individualized instruction that meets the student at her learning level and instructs her on the exact topics that she is most ready to learn. As a result, no two students will experience the same learning path while working in ALEKS.
ALEKS can provide you with the instruction and support that you need to homeschool your children in mathematics for grades 3-12. With a comprehensive course library ranging from elementary school math to complex subjects such as PreCalculus, ALEKS acts much like a human tutor to help take the stress off of homeschooling parents.

ALEKS offers highly-targeted, individualized instruction from virtually any computer with Internet access, making it a comprehensive and mobile education solution for your children. A subscription to ALEKS offers access to all courses and your child may take as many courses as needed during their subscription period.

ALEKS is a Research-Based Online Program:

Complete Curriculum Solution for Math with Access to Full Course Library
No Textbook Required
Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Student Knowledge
Assessment and Individualized Learning for Grades 3-12
Master Account Includes Quizzing and Automated Reports to Monitor Learning Progress
Unlimited Online Access - PC and Mac Compatible
QuickTables - Complimentary Math Fact Mastery Program for Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction

ALEKS has been used successfully by homeschoolers, as well as by millions of students at schools and educational institutions throughout the world. Additionally, some ALEKS course products are American Council on Education (ACE) credit-recommended, meaning that your student may be eligible for college credit at participating colleges.

Student Account










Assessment: Students begin in ALEKS by taking an individualized, adaptive assessment to determine what they already know and what they are ready to learn next.

MyPie: The ALEKS Pie summarizes a student's current knowledge and offers topics that the student is ready to learn next. The darkened portion of each pie slice represents the topics that the student has mastered and the lighter portion represents what the student has yet to learn.


Input Tools: ALEKS provides a free response environment and sophisticated input tools that avoid multiple-choice and require students to demonstrate content mastery.
Learning Mode: The Learning Mode provides students with practice problems, and offers explanations of topics and procedures as needed. Once a student has demonstrated mastery in the Learning Mode, the topic is added to the ALEKS Pie, and new material that the student is now ready to learn becomes available.
Explanations: When a student is working on a particular problem, she can access an explanation of that problem by clicking on the "Explain" button. The explanation typically provides a step-by-step solution, with commentary. In some cases, an alternative or more detailed explanation is also available.
Feedback: Students receive immediate feedback and, in some cases, suggestions for correcting mistakes.
Worksheets: Students have the ability to print out 16-question worksheets for additional practice or review. These worksheets are uniquely generated based on the student's current knowledge.
ALEKS QuickTables: QuickTables is a research-based, math fact mastery program for multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.

Interactive Games: Provide additional review and built-in rewards.
Master Account Homepage: Easily manage all student accounts, monitor student progress, view customized resources, and more.
Attendance Report: Track student time spent in ALEKS per day, the topics attempted, and the topics mastered and added to the ALEKS Pie.
Student Progress Report: Track student progress made throughout the course. The blue bar represents the percent of course material that the student has mastered during an ALEKS assessment; the green bar represents the percent of new topics the student has mastered in Learning Mode since the last assessment; and the yellow bar represents the percent of topics the student has yet to learn in order to complete the course.
Quiz Results: Quizzes are automatically graded and the results are available to both the parent and student immediately. View a detailed quiz results sample report (PDF).
Pricing Information:
A subscription to ALEKS is
$19.95 per student, per month, or
only $99.95 every 6 months, or
only $179.95 every 12 months.
To see what other TOS Reviewers have to say about ALEKS go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783474/.
**Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this review by ALEKS or TOS. The opinions expressed are my own.**

Fractions Made Simple

Master Innovations Master Fractions came to me at just the right time! I have a fifth grader who has been struggling with fractions. She understood dividing things into parts, but really struggles with equivalent fractions and mixed numbers. Using a combination of the Master Fractions overlays and the Master Fractions Workbook has given her a lot more confidence in working with fractions. She can work very independently with this system. I'm going to be keeping the overlays handy for a long time. They are very sturdy and are a great visual reminder of equivalent fractions. Master Innovations is not only about Master Fractions, but this was the only one of their products I was privileged to use for the past several weeks. Some of the features of the Master Fractions system include:
•The Master Fraction (2) , divides geometric shapes into halves, quarters,eighths, and sixteenths.
•The Master Fraction (3), clearly illustrates thirds, sixths, and twelftths.
•The Master Fraction (5), also dividing geometric shapes, clearly illustrates fifths, tenths, and twentieths.
Fraction, Decimal, Percent, Equivalents are printed on the back of each of the three units.

The Master Fraction (2/3/5), with their transparent overlays make fractions easy to see and understand. Students of all ages quickly grasp the concepts of equivalency, reducing, improper, proper, adding, subtracting common and uncommon denominators, mixed numbers, and more! The geometric shapes, bright colors, and "easy turn" overlays make this a favorite of teachers and students alike.

After using the Master Fraction set, students will have a further comprehension of:
•Equivalent Fractions
•Reducing
•Common / Uncommon Denominators
•Adding / Subtraction
•Proper / Improper
•Mixed Numbers
Master Fractions is not a complete math curriculum but rather is a supplement to your existing curriculum. It is recommended for students in 1st-4th grades, but I have been using it for remediation with my 5th grade daughter. This has been a real confidence builder for her because some of the work was very easy for her, but it became increasingly difficult and she was able to do it. At $17.95 for the overlays and $15.95 for the workbook (you can copy for your own children), this is a bargain for the struggling math student or the beginning math student. We have really enjoyed this! For more information go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783420/.
** I have not been compensated by TOS or Master Innovations in any way. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.**

Satisfy Your Inner Librarian

"Book Collector Connect - Catalog and share your book collection online. Automatic book details and cover images, just scan ISBN barcodes or enter authors & titles."

After using this software for a month, I would have to say it is really easy to install and use. This is an ideal program for the family with a lot of books or for someone who loves to loan books to friends. Some of the features of collecterz.com are:Manage and browse your collection online, from any PC or Mac - just go to the Connect website using your favorite browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, you choose), and log in to your account. No software downloads needed.

Check your collection while on the road, from any mobile device. Open the specially designed mobile Connect website on your mobile phone to check which books you own. Use it in the book store and prevent duplicate purchases.

At $19.95 / year, the collecterz.com software is quite a bargain for the book collector. I can't count the number of times I have duplicated the purchase of a book because I couldn't remember what I had at home. I would definitely recommend the additional purchase of a hand held scanner. With this software you can opt to enter the ISBN codes manually or scan the codes. Obviously it is much faster to be able to scan the codes into the computer. Collecterz.com is a great program for homeschool families. You can organize curriculum products as well as your personal library. For more information on collecterz.com go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783319/

*The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated by TOS or Collectorz.com in any way.**

Illuminations by Bright Ideas Press

Illuminations is the newest product product put out by Bright Ideas Press. Illuminations is a user-friendly downloadable product. It is designed as to be used with Mystery of History or All American History. The program is a type-in .pdf which allows for the user to adjust assignments as needed. There are two levels of Illuminations -- Grades 3-8 and High School. Within the levels there are three different years, each year corresponding to a different period of history. Currently, Year 1 (covering Ancient History), Year 2 (covering Early Church and the Middle Ages), and the first semester of Year 3 (covering the Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of the Nations) are available for purchase. The second semester of Year 3 will be available soon. The books necessary for following each plan are available through many bookstores, libraries, and curriculum distributors. The prices vary, but most of the full year programs are in the $240 price range.

I tried both levels of Illuminations with my children. I have to admit, the ability to have my children studying the same topics did simplify my homeschooling. I did have to add in my own math curriculum. I do not own either MOH or All American History; and, because of the design of the program I was able to substitute the world history and geography curriculum that I do have with very little effort. All that was needed was for me to type in the assignments as I changed them. I have been so intrigued by this program that I am seriously considering changing over to it completely with my kids. It really simplifies my lesson planning to have the basic outline already done for me. I also love being able to print out the assignment grids for my high school age children. All in all I think this is a good product. To read more reviews about Illuminations, go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783393/http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783393/

**I have not been compensated by TOS or Bright Ideas Press in any way for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.**

The Write Foundation Writing Curriculum

As a mom with a very strong English grammar and writing background, I was excited to sample the writing curriculum by The Write Foundation. I have had the opportunity to use all three levels of their curriculum for the past month. My children are reluctant writers, as a general rule; however, they have been inspired to become more fluent writers through the use of this curriculum. My youngest daughter, especially, has discovered a love for writing and has begun writing her own book.
From a teaching standpoint, I wasn't completely sure about the best way to utilize this curriculum in a homeschool setting. The curriculum is designed more for a co-op setting. After some studying and a little tweaking, I adapted the lessons to suit the needs of my children. The lessons were not difficult nor were they time consuming. The lessons were easier to adapt and use as I adjusted to the curriculum. By the time I was working with the third level, the lessons were fairly effortless on my part yet challenging to my children.
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. (from http://www.thewritefoundation.org/10_About.html)
The pricing structure for the curriculum ranges from $65-$100, depending on what you order. Each level is a complete curriculum including teacher's materials with lesson plans, student worksheets, and additional c.d. resources. There are three levels to the program.
Suggested Age Levels
Level 1: Sentence to Paragraph Writing Ages 11 – 13
Level 2: Paragraph Writing Ages 12 – 15
Level 3: Essay Writing Ages 14 – 17

Information about pricing for each level can be found at http://www.thewritefoundation.org/24_OrderInfo.html.

I would recommend this program for homeschoolers who are struggling with writing at any level. The basic information is useful for initial writing instruction as well as reinforcement and review. To read other reviews about the products from The Write Foundation, go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783366/.
*Disclaimer: I received no compensation from TOS or The Write Foundation in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.**

"Accounting for a Non-Accounting Person!"

I'll have to admit, I am a totally non-accounting person. I don't even like to have to balance a checkbook. The entire concept of debit and credit from an accounting standpoint has never made sense to me. So, I when I received a copy of Professor in a Box: Financial Accounting, I was leery. My oldest daughter is a senior this year, and she needs to take economics next semester. I have enough understanding of some economic theory to teach her, but I really don't have any background in accounting -- so I have felt inadequately prepared for her study of economics. After examining Financial Accounting and trying out some of the lessons, I have changed my thinking completely. Michael Licata has done a tremendous job of presenting a daunting subject in an easy-to-understand format. This is a c.d. driven course. For $99 you receive all student instructional c.d.'s, which include lectures, problems, solutions to the problems, key concepts, and printable slides, and an instructor c.d. containing lesson plans, quizzes, tests, solutions to the quizzes and tests, and the Excel documents needed for all of the lessons. There is no additional textbook required. The course can be studied as either a full college course or an abbreviated high school course. The course includes twenty-eight lessons. Each lesson, including homework, is estimated to take approximately three hours to complete. The lessons are very easy to follow and the c.d. format is extremely user-friendly. The available print options allow you to give your student hard copies of anything they need in hand from the program. This program gives a thorough study of financial accounting and can prepare your child for the CLEP test in Accounting.

About the author:
Michael P. Licata, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Accountancy in the Villanova School of Business2 at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Professor Licata has taught the financial accounting course dozens of times in his 24 plus years as a Professor at Villanova University. He has also taught the financial accounting course for 4 years (as a graduate student) at Northeastern University, Texas A & M University, and Harvard University. The past eight years Professor Licata has specialized in teaching 100% distance learning courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Throughout his career students have consistently rated Professor Licata among the best teachers in his department and in his college at Villanova University according to the Course and Teacher Surveys (CATS) at Villanova University.

The courses available through Professor in a Box currently are:
Financial Accounting
Financial Accounting: Study Guide
Principles of Marketing
Entrepreneurship
I noticed on the website that they are currently running an online special. If you purchase Financial Accounting at $99.95, you can pre-order Principles of Marketing for only $89.95.This is a great deal. Most textbooks for accounting or marketing classes cost well over $100.
I am exited to get to use this with my daughter and with my other children when they are old enough. I love the c.d. study. It is so convenient and much less bulky than a traditional textbook. Several of my kids are quite entrepreneurial, so I am really thinking about trying out the marketing and entrepreneurship courses as well. I think this accounting course would even benefit adults, like myself, who are challenged in the area of accounting.
For more information about Financial Accounting, pay a visit to their website at: http://www.professorinabox.com/index.php. To read additional reviews of this product go to:http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783255/.
**Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way by TOS, The Homeschool Crew, or Professor in a Box in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.**

Keeping Our Family Safe

For the most part, the Internet can be a rewarding place for kids, teens, and adults, but the potential risks to privacy and personal safety are real. While surfing the Web, your children may stumble upon disturbing information or images, or they may innocently accept or share files that could expose your family to identity theft or computer viruses. They may encounter cyberbullies who try to embarrass or intimidate them. Even worse, your children may unknowingly communicate with child predators, who use the Internet to befriend vulnerable children by pretending to be another child or a trustworthy adult and then try to persuade them to meet in person.Being aware of the risks and engaging with your children about safety are the most important things you can do to keep your family safer online.

"PGKey (http://www.pgkey.com/) was created and endorsed by a team that includes Internet security specialists, law enforcement, educators, parenting experts and family psychologists to give you the first complete Internet safety solution. PG Key gives you everything you need to keep your children and teens safe online and be alerted and informed when dangers do come up – all with one simple, plug in device."

PGKey places the control of Internet security in the hands of parents in one easy step. Plug it in and go! Take a look at some of the reasoning behind the development of PGKey:
Strong and effective parenting is the most critical part of any strategy to deal with these challenges. They have designed PG Key to be the all in one technical product for this purpose.
Simply plugging PG Key into a child’s or teen’s computer allows parents to follow the advice so often given by law enforcement and parenting experts: 1) Control when and how long the computer is used, 2) Properly setup your system with filters and web site blocking, 3) Create the “over their shoulder” environment that encourages kids to act the same way “on line” as they do in every other part of their life.
Simply put - PG Key does NOT replace parenting with technology - It ENABLES parenting with technology.

Here are some of the features of PGKey, straight from their website:
Access Control
Control computer use by inserting or unplugging PG Key.
Time Allowance
Decide the amount of time the computer can be used daily.
Content Filtering
Eliminate unwanted results from innocent searches.
Site Blocking
Block sites you decide are inappropriate.
Activity Tracking
Review all activity on the PC with a DVD-like interface.
Activity Notifications
Be informed via text message or e-mail of any flagged activity.
Chat and E-mail Logging
See both sides of chat and e-mail conversations.
Computer Configuration
Properly configure all users of the protected PC.
User Name and Password Logging
Keep track of user names and passwords.
Inappropriate Activity Evidence
Use video recording to show obvious or suspected inappropriate activity.

From my own experience, PGKey is easy to install and use. It is so simple that even a "techno-challenged" person like can understand and use it. We have always followed the policy of keeping computers out in the open, and we have always locked our computers to prevent unauthorized usage, but PGKey adds many more layers to the security when my children are on the Internet. I would highly recommend PGKey for any family desiring the safest possible Internet experience for their children. Just like any computer "gadget," you do need to spend a little time becoming familiar with the features and setting up parameters. The minuscule amount of time spent in learning the system is inconsequential to the amount of peace of mind you have in knowing everything your child does on the protected computer. Our families are definitely worth it!

For other reviews of PGKey see: http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783233/

**The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I received no compensation from TOS or PGKey in exchange for this review.**

Let's Take a Trip!

As a science "nut," I was thrilled to be able to examine Digital Frog International's field trip series DVD. **I have not been compensated in any way by Digital Frog International or TOS. The opinions expressed below are solely mine.**

When I received this DVD, I was unfamiliar with the company itself. From the name listed I assumed the DVD I would be viewing would be a virtual frog dissection. Digital Frog International does have a virtual frog dissection, but they are about much more than this.

What exactly is Digital Frog International?

(from the Digital Frog International website: http://www.digitalfrog.com/products/index.html
We are an innovative, enthusiastic, software company, dedicated to creating high-quality educational, multimedia CD-ROMs with an ecological focus. Our corporate headquarters is a converted barn surrounded by frogs, dogs and bogs in rural Ontario, Canada.

Our focus is on biology and ecology. Our goal is to make a difference to the way people view the natural world. Our computer-based learning tools encourage a lifelong interest in, and respect for, the world around us. We believe that people cannot care about a world they do not understand. To this end, our products present accurate, detailed information in an interesting and engaging way.

I received the Digital Field Trip Series. This DVD series is beautifully mastered and delightfully informative. The DVD contains three virtual field trips. Here is a screen shot of the field trip to "The Rainforest." Notice the vibrant colors. The DVD program is interactive and very user-friendly. How many children and parents can actually visit The Rainforest in person? Very few, I would venture to say. This DVD is as close to the actual visit as you could get. The material would be a fabulous add in to a study of geographic regions or a science study of different ecosystems.
"Experience the tropical rainforest of Belize with 28 virtual reality posts from deep in the forest and even up in the canopy. Other topics covered include rainforest types and mechanisms, an interactive dependency web game and a botany primer."

The Wetlands is another field trip on this DVD. Through this interactive DVD you feel like you are in the field observing an actual wetland. The video is fascinating and the graphics are clear and informative. Children of all ages will enjoy these videos.
"Explore wetland ecology with a virtual field trip to a wetland in southern Ontario. Includes wetland types, bog formation, plus detailed sections on photosynthesis, food chains and webs and nutrient cycles."
Our final destination was the Desert. Again, the video and graphics are absolutely stunning and a wealth of information is presented.
Five deserts of the southwestern U.S.—from the saguaro cacti of the Sonoran to the sand dunes of Death Valley—are brought to life in our biggest field trip ever. Try your hand at building your own desert, learn about landscape formation and in-depth sections on adaptations and homeostasis.

Pricing Information:

Save more than 20% off individual prices .
The Digital Field Trip Series costs only slightly more than two individual field trips. Lab packs and site licenses, as well as both single educational and home versions, are available from prices as low as $99. See our price list for details.

The Digital Field Trip Series, as well as many other products such as the virtual frog dissection, are available from the Digital Frog International website. http://www.digitalfrog.com/products/digital-field-trip-series-dvd.html

At first glance, the entire series does seem a little pricey; however, there would be no way the average family could actually take field trips to discover, explore, and study these three regions for anywhere near the individual license price.

I have enjoyed learning about Digital Frog's virtual field trips and will be incorporating these into our World Geography studies this year.

To read other reviews about Digital Frog go to: http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783186/

Enjoy your trip!

Cranberries and Cream Tote is Here!!

Carry your heart for homeschooling everywhere you go with the FREE TOS Magazine Homeschooling with Heart tote bag.

It's their Cranberries & Cream edition--how cute for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It's yours free with a $19.95 two-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. The subs in this sale start with the Winter Issue, BUT they are going to give you the Fall Issue free (mailing in October), plus their new E-Book: Cranberry Christmas.

This two-year deal is only good through midnight on Saturday, October 2. Then, the offer goes to a one-year subscription from Sunday through Wednesday.

The sooner you get your free Homeschooling with Heart tote bag, the better!

To purchase your bag, follow this link:
http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=460&products_id=18232

A Breath of Fresh Air

**Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way by Salem Ridge Press or TOS in exchange for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.**
For the past month I have had the privilege of reading three selections from Salem Ridge Press. Salem Ridge Press is an outstanding company which takes old books and republishes them. The books are scrutinized carefully to insure they adhere to the high values and standards of Salem Ridge Press. This is an excerpt directly from their website, by Daniel Mills, the founder and owner of Salem Ridge Press:

The underlying philosophy of Salem Ridge Press is found in the Bible: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8)." Daniel firmly believes that what we read matters and what we take into our minds is a major factor in forming our ideas and character. His goal is to be a blessing to others by providing reading material that fits the qualifications outlined in the Bible. While not every title that Salem Ridge Press publishes is explicitly Christian, all of our titles have strong moral values and encourage positive character.

My family read Dearer than Life, The Captives, and The Sign Above the Door. Not all of my children are avid readers, so at first it was a bit of a chore to have them reading the books. However, once they got "into" the stories they were completely engaged and unable to put the books down. Around our house the highest praise a book can receive is children begging to read for "just 5 more minutes," and that is what happened with these stories. The stories are all completely appropriate and able to be used in any style of curriculum. They are all living books which makes them very appropriate for a Charlotte Mason style curriculum. They can be used for read alouds or for independent reading. The books are very reasonably priced at $14.95 for soft cover and $24.95 for hard cover (although not all titles are available as hard cover). The books are available for purchase through the Salem Ridge Press website, http://www.salemridgepress.com/index.html. Here is a closer look at the three books we have read. The first two are part of the Emma Leslie Church History Series. The third is part of the world history group.

Story Synopsis
Arriving home from a meeting of Parliament in London, Sir Hugh Middleton is shocked to learn that a neighboring monastery has laid claim to one of his fields. Sir Hugh steadfastly refuses to yield his property, and further offends the monastery by sending his younger son, Stephen, to study under Dr. John Wycliffe. At the same time, Sir Hugh sends his elder son, Harry, to serve as an attendant to the powerful Duke of Lancaster. As Wycliffe seeks to share the Word of God with the common people, Stephen and Harry and their sisters help spread the truth, but what will it cost them in the dangerous day in which they live?

Story Setting: England in 1366 - 1384 A.D.
Notable People and Events: Wycliffe, Richard II, English Translation of the Bible ; Originally published in 1885; 255 pages; For Ages 12 – Adult

Story Synopsis
The Druid priests are as cold and cruel as the forest spirits they claim to represent, and Guntra, the chief of her tribe of Britons, must make a desperate deal with them to protect those she loves. Unaware of Guntra’s struggles, Jugurtha, her son, longs to drive the hated Roman conquerors from the land. When he encounters the Christian Centurion, Marcinius, Jugurtha mocks the idea of a God of love and kindness, but there comes a day when he is in need of love and kindness for himself and his beloved little sister. Will he allow Marcinius to help him? And will the gospel of Jesus Christ ever penetrate the brutal religion of the proud Britons?

Story Setting: Roman England in 66 - 67 A.D.
Notable People and Events: Druids, Roman Centurions
Originally published in 1873; 169 pages; For Ages 12 – Adult

Story Synopsis
Young Prince Martiesen is ruler of the land of Goshen in Egypt, where the Hebrews live. Eight plagues have already come upon Egypt and now Martiesen has been forced by Pharaoh to further increase the burden of the Hebrews. Martiesen, however, is in love with the beautiful Hebrew maiden, Elisheba, whom he is forbidden by Egyptian law to marry. As the nation despairs, the other nobles turn to Martiesen for leadership, but before he can decide what to do, Elisheba is kidnapped by the evil Peshala and terrifying darkness falls over the land. An exciting tale woven around the events of the Exodus from the Egyptian perspective!


Story Setting: Egypt/The First Passover ~ 1500 B.C.
Originally published in 1912; 307 pages; For Ages 12 – Adult
We have thoroughly enjoyed reading each of these selections and look forward to reading more. To read more reviews of Salem Ridge Press products you can go to: http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783028/
Happy reading!!!

We are loving vocabulary!!!

I was so excited when I found out I would get to try New Monic Book's SAT Word Power Vocabulary Cartoons! I have a strong background in English, and I love to study words, but my children have not inherited this trait. On the contrary, vocabulary study is actually akin to drudgery among my children (my boys especially). When I received the book I couldn't put it down. It is so much fun to read. The big test, however, came when I assigned it to my tenth grade son to use for his vocabulary studies this year. His reaction shocked me! He loves the book! And, most importantly, he is retaining what he is learning. I am seeing him use words from the cartoons in his writing and he is actually using them correctly. Let me explain a little about how this book works.
Each page reads like a cartoon. And each page describes a different word. The words are arranged alphabetically. The entries depict the word to be studied, the phonetic pronunciation of the word, the definition of the word, a mnemonic device to help remember the word (the association link word), a cartoon picture depicting the word with a mnemonic caption, and the word used correctly in sentences. After ten word cartoon pages there is a brief review. I use the review as a little quiz. So far my son has scored 100% on all of them.

There are two editions of the vocabulary cartoons so far. New Monic's website (http://www.vocabularycartoons.com/home/) even has other products available that I think would be really fun to use. Their books are available on c.d., there are teacher products available such as blackline masters, and there are elementary versions of the vocabulary cartoon books.
The vocabulary cartoon book makes learning vocabulary so much fun that kids don't realize they are learning. I highly recommend using this vocabulary program either as a stand alone curriculum for vocabulary or to supplement whatever curriculum you are currently using. For students who are going to be taking the SAT exam this book is a must have! It is tremendously easier to remember the multitude of vocabulary words a student needs to know by using mnemonic devices. I have really enjoyed using Vocabulary Cartoons and will continue to use it. I can't wait to get the second book! SAT Word Power retails for $12.95. It contains 294 pages of vocabulary cartoons and reviews. It is quite a bargain for all of the words you can learn! Get ready for some giggles as your kids read!
To read other reviews about SAT Word Power Vocabulary Cartoons, you can go to http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783022/.
Disclaimer: I have received no compensation by TOS or its affiliates in exchange for this review. The opinions stated are my own.

Math help is on the way!!!

Teaching math is not for the faint at heart! I have been teaching for a lot of years, I won't mention how many because it makes me feel really old, and I have found that the one subject that usually petrifies parents is math. I, unfortunately for my children, am a math geek. So, I was skeptical when I was asked to try out "America's Math Teacher" computer based math tutorial. **I was not given any compensation for this review. It reflects my opinions, not the opinions of TOS. Well, skeptical as I was when I first received this program, I dove in and tried it out with my kids.

I will mention from the outset that the online program is very new and is not without glitches. Rick, the owner, is very good about correcting issues as they come to his attention. So, if you do use the program and run in to a problem, contact him politely and bring the problem to his attention and he will correct is as soon as he can. It is still a work in progress.

The online program is designed to provide math tutoring, or supplementation, to children who are at a pre-algebra/algebra readiness stage up to children studying algebra. Basic math skills such as fraction concepts, decimals, percents, and statistics are included in the Basic and Advanced Math sections. Concepts move into equation solving and other algebraic skills in the Pre-algebra and Algebra sections

The worksheets provided in each area are downloadable and are well-written. My kids really don't like showing their work in math, so they were thrilled to have math worksheets that they could work on scratch paper or in their heads and just write the answers! I would like for all of the worksheets for one subject to be located in a single file so I wouldn't have to go through all of the individual downloads, but that is my personal preference. The worksheets supplement the online video lessons. A fun feature of the program is the speed drills sections. I love this because I am really big on fast mental math!

The online video lessons are very informative. They are fairly easy to follow, for an older child, but they do move quickly. So, be prepared to stop, rewind, and play over sections several times.

There is an evaluation section available which contains online quizzes over different concepts. I know there have been some glitches in this sections, but they are being corrected.

I would recommend this program for anyone whose children need extra help getting ready for and studying Algebra. I don't think it would work as a stand alone math curriculum. It would be a good supplement. There are a few free items on the site that you can check out so you can "try before you buy." I would do that for sure.

The cost seems a bit steep, at first. But, there are hours and hours of video lessons and hundreds of worksheets available. Your $195 membership would definitely pay for itself if you really took advantage of all the features of the program. You can see the program at: http://www.americasmathteacher.com/

To read other reviews about the program, go here: http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783008/

Homeschooling Is a Labor of Love

We know how seriously homeschooling parents take their conviction to
homeschool. Our “Labor of Love” subscription sale is a celebration of
the commitment to homeschool, and we want everyone in your group to
know about the sale. We are offering a one-year print subscription for
just $7.95 or a one-year plus current issue print subscription for
only $12.95!

From August 31 through midnight PDT on September 15, the members of
your homeschool group can take advantage of our crazy prices! We want
everyone to benefit from this great value and that means we have to
spread the word. August 30 at midnight it starts, and it will end on
September 15 at midnight.

We only have 5000 of these subscriptions available;— once they'’re gone,
they’'re gone. The sale could end before midnight on September 15 if we
reach 5000.

Here is the main part of the message to send out, after you have
shared a little about your experience with TOS:

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is extending an extraordinary
subscription offer to homeschool families. Receive a one-year print
subscription for just $7.95 or a one-year plus current issue
subscription for $12.95. One-year subscriptions start with the winter
issue. The one-year plus current issue starts with the fall issue.
Only 5000 of these special subscriptions are available from August 31
through midnight on September 15. Once the 5000 are gone, they'’re gone!
Hurry and grab this crazy price today!

http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/homeschool/Labor-of-Love.htm

The End to Our Spelling Frustration!

I don't know about you, but calling out spelling words for multiple children is one of those tasks I would rather do without. I have six children. I was doing a little calculating the other night and figured I was calling out spelling words at least 360 times over the course of a school year. Now, if each list takes around 10 minutes, that means I was spending 3,600 minutes or 60 hours of our precious school time calling out spelling words. I was a little skeptical when I was asked to review Spelling City. I really was reluctant to let a computer take over this area. What I discovered through using the program changed my attitude entirely.

Spelling City is very affordable, first of all. A family can purchase a subscription for a year for around $25. There is also a free membership option. With that option you do not have access to the record keeping areas of the program and there are a few games you will not have access to. I would recommend trying the free option for a few weeks to see how you like it, then go on and purchase the premium membership. The membership is well worth the cost.

I used Spelling City with two of my children. One is a fifth grader and the other an eighth grader. I really wanted to check out the games to see if they were too juvenile for the eighth grader. Miraculously, he enjoyed them immensely as did my fifth grader. I was using the premium membership. The initial set up was very easy. I am not techno-savvy at all, so I really appreciate when a vendor takes pains to make setting up a program very user-friendly. I used the teacher options to set up my children in my grade book and assigned each of them their own personal log in and password. Then, each week I simply set up their spelling lists in the program. In retrospect, if I had really been on the ball, I would have set up all of their lists for the year at once. That way we just would have chosen the list each week. There are a lot of spelling curricula already set up in the Spelling City program. My curriculum was not, but entering the words was really easy. My children enjoyed being able to log themselves in when it was time to practice spelling. They would actually beg me to let them play their spelling games. There are lots of different options for games. They range from simply spelling the words, to identifying the correct word for a sentence, to writing sentences and paragraphs that are original. I was really impressed that the program wasn't simply a robotic "call out the words" program. If the students use the program regularly, they not only learn to spell the words but also learn the meanings of the words through context and usage. The premium membership does track their progress and even shows what they have been playing.

I can't say enough good things about Spelling City! We have thoroughly enjoyed using it. I didn't receive any compensation for this review. I was allowed to use the program for two months as a part of the Homeschool Crew. I highly recommend Spelling City. For more information about Spelling City, check out their website: http://www.spellingcity.com/. I hope your family enjoys it as much as we have. This is one program I am going to continue using. I am signing up for the premium membership today!

To see more reviews on this product as well as other Time4learning products go here: http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/782954/

TOS Schoolhouse Expo

It's back to homeschool time and registration is open for the online Schoolhouse Expo, October 4-8. It's five days of top homeschool speakers, fellowship, and fun door prizes.

Save $5 per ticket! Register between August 16 and midnight August 22, and you'll pay only $19.99. Plus you'll receive over $200 in free E-Books.

You'll be inspired by speakers including: Zan Tyler, Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright,Carol Barnier, Diana Waring, Todd Wilson, Davis Carman, Kim Kautzer, Lee Binz, and many more!

A special teen track is planned--the entire family will definitely want to listen to these special sessions. We've also planned a special focus on a topic that touches every homeschool--writing. Plus, an array of other topics that will inform and inspire you throughout your homeschooling years.

Don't forget, MP3 copies of each session comes with your LIVE event ticket.

Two special preconference shows on August 24 and September 21 with Dr.
Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright, and Kim Kautzer!

Register starting 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16.

The theme this fall is "Celebrate Homeschooling!" We're going to celebrate the unique blessings of homeschooling, the beginning of another school year, our families, and the freedom to tailor our children's education to best meet their needs.

If you cannot make the Live event, then the October Expo To Go is just your ticket! You'll reserve MP3s from all of the workshops. This week only, pay just $14.95!

You can visit either of these links to get more information.
http://www.SchoolhouseExpo.com
or
http://bit.ly/aWHFiL

**I am receiving a free ticket to the expo in exchange for this advertisement.**

The 2010-2011 TOS Schoolhouse Planner is a Lifesaver!

The 2010-2011 TOS Schoolhouse Planner gives you the resources you need to reacquaint yourself with homeschool organization. I have been working this planner as a member of their homeschool crew. Here are some things I have learned when working with this planner.
The Re’s of organization with the Schoolhouse Planner:
1. Realize the beauty of an all-inclusive planner. The 2010-2011 planner contains over 600 pages of monthly unit planning, homeschool forms and calendars, and household forms.
2. Reduce the amount of writing you have to do. The 2010-2011 planner has been created so that the pages are type-in pages. You can print blank pages and fill them in by hand or type-in and print the pages. You control the amount of writing you do.
3. Record pertinent school and household information and only print the pages you need. Your planner is as personalized as you make it.
4. Recipes are fabulous and are listed by relation to each monthly unit. Gluten-free recipes are included.
5. Reclaim valuable time by knowing where information is at a glance. Used correctly, the 2010-2011 planner will work for you and give you an indispensable resource.
6. Refresh your homeschool studies by using the monthly unit plans. Units are thematic and are beautifully put together. The units are incredibly thorough and include resource links.
7. Relax and enjoy the beauty of organized homeschool and household records.
8. Remodel your current system by using the myriad of forms provided. Personalize your planner to fit your needs.
9. Recognize that everyone is different. Your planner will not be the same as someone else’s planner. The ease of the 2010-2011 planner is the ability to individualize the planner.
10. Reacquaint yourself with organization. Enjoy the over 600 pages of forms and useful pages to help you plan and implement your homeschooling year. There are pages included for Bible study, journaling, book reports, and more. I love the lists of presidents, the miracles of Jesus, Greek and Latin roots, and daily Bible reading. There are even pages included to help your child learn how to write different types of letters.

All in all, the 2010-2011 Schoolhouse Planner is a completely thorough resource which can be personalized for any household or homeschool. The dated calendar pages go through 2013, and non-dated calendar pages are included so you can use your planner beyond 2013. However, as beautiful as this year’s planner is, you will want to update your planner every year so you won’t miss out on the new unit studies and recipes! At only $39 you will quickly recoup your costs!

**I am not being compensated by TOS for this advertisement. I did receive a copy of the planner to use in order to write this. This advertisement is part of a contest for the TOS Homeschool Crew.**

Free Webinar Opportunity

I want to take just a second and let you know about the free webinar opportunities offered through TOS. They are awesome. I am going to have the privilege of being the pre-show speaker for their webinar on August 5. I am speaking on "Incorporating a Christian Worldview into your Science Studies." Sign up and attend if you can. Here is the link:

http://homeschoolblogger.com/webinar/can-a-christian-teach-%e2%80%9creal-science%e2%80%9d-in-the-homeschool/

TOS Travel Kits E-Book Review

The first product I have been privileged to review this season is the TOS Travel Kits e-book. This is a ninety-three page full color e-book chock full of valuable information for any and every family that has ever traveled. This book is intended for use by parents / adults in charge of travel, but I could also see it being useful for older teens serving as trip nannies or sitters. Basically this book gives the reader step-by-step directions for making creative and fun kits to make travel more enjoyable. Needs for pre-schoolers all the way up to adults are addressed. The author shows many different creative ways to present and wrap the travel kits. One of my favorite ideas is to wrap all of the travel gift items in different wrapping paper and number them. The packages are then opened in order, one package every thirty minutes (or whatever interval you chose) for the duration of the trip. I can really see this coming in handy with children. I would love to wrap a small snack in a package, then a puzzle or game, then something like a jump rope to use at a rest stop, then a book to read, etc. I think it sounds like so much fun!

I appreciated the numerous illustrations in the e-book. They are very clear and colorful. I will have to tell you, though, because of the high color illustrations, I would not print this e-book. I used it straight from my computer. Adobe Reader is required to view. But, viewing on the computer didn’t compromise the quality of this beautifully done e-book. The pictures make me want to go plan a trip and make every one of the travel kits for the trip. Unfortunately, we didn’t plan any major road trips as a family this year. My husband and I, however, are on a little getaway for just the two of us. As you are reading this blog, we should be in the air on our way home from Chicago. Before our trip I put together a little travel kit just for us. After all, grown-ups enjoy treats too! Because of all of the weird airline rules, I made our travel kit in a simple zip-lock bag. I included some candy treats for both of us, some nutritious snacks, some tissues, mouthwash (sample size), antibacterial wipes, and a deck of cards. This travel kit was a little more practical than fun. I am taking a mission trip to Idaho / Montana in a few weeks. We are only taking a small group and I think making travel kits for all the participants would be a great project for our women’s ministry to undertake. They could include fun items like cards and puzzle books, practical items like snacks and first aid supplies, and most importantly cards to each of the participants assuring them of prayers during the trip.

TOS outdid themselves with this e-book. At $12.45, you will greatly recoup your cost in the information you receive. To order this, or any of the other fabulous e-books offered by TOS, go to http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php.
Enjoy!