Archive for interactive
5 Days of Artistic Expression 001
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What is Artistic Expression?
The dictionary defines artistic as showing skill or excellence in execution; naturally gifted with creative skills. Another definition says – showing imaginative skill in arrangement. I can accept showing imaginative or creative skills in an arrangement, but even the remarkable, Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, and architect, Michelangelo Buonarroti did not claim to be naturally gifted or excellent in his execution. He said, “If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all.”
Ideal Face by Michelangelo
Expression is an act, process, or instance of representing, or conveying in a medium – art, music, words; movement. I like the word conveying; so, the process of conveying information or emotion through art, music, words; movement. “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ~ Edgar Degas (French Impressionist painter, sculptor & draughtsman.)
There are so many mediums available, I believe everyone can be artistically expressive, in one way or another. Drawing, Sketching, Coloring, Painting, Composing or Writing comes easily to mind. Photography, Videos, Music, Dance and Choreography, Scrapbooking, Storytelling and Cooking, are all outlets for artistic expression. Don’t limit yourself or your child. Artistic expression can also be squashed at a young age and never be recovered. Vincent van Gogh, Post-Impressionist painter, said, “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
Why promote artistic expression?
Art education teaches children to be creative and innovative. It can increase cognitive and social development, and boost self-esteem. Most art skills require observation and reflection. These skills translate into problem solving skills for math, writing, and science. “Math is not just about numbers, formulas and logic, math is also about structure, symmetry, shape and beauty,” says University of Colorado math professor Carla Farsi. “Conversely, art is not only about emotion, color and aesthetics, but also about rhythm, patterns and problem solving.”
Children learn best when both sides of their brains are engaged. The reading, writing, math, and science activities are centered in the left hemisphere of the brain. The right hemisphere is responsible for imagination. The right side is artistically dominant. Activities that cross over, stimulating both hemispheres, promote participatory and interactive learning. The more faculties involved, the more likely a child is to retain what he’s learned. Albert Einstein, German theoretical physicist, said, “I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.”
E=mc[squared]
How do I teach artistic expression?
“A child’s attitude toward everything is an artist’s attitude.” ~ Willa Cather, American author
Encourage the act of creating art! Supply visual, auditory, and physical motivators; prompts, but give your students the freedom to express themselves without parameters. “Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to create,” believes Nicole Malebranche (French rationalist philosopher; theologian.)
Drawing is one of the first ways a child learns to express himself, and with encouragement he wants to continue to learn. Coloring outside the lines is art! Coloring the dog red, or the rainbow brown, is art! French Romantic painter, Eugene Delacroix said, “The source of genius is imagination alone, the refinement of the senses that sees what others do not see, or sees them differently.” “No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.” ~ Oscar Wilde (Irish poet, playwright and novelist.)
We recreate our world from our own experience and understanding of life. It’s not about perfection! The most famous artist of the 20th Century, Pablo Picasso, is quoted as saying, “The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?
L’Accordeoniste, Cubist painting, by Picasso
I did not teach my children art history, or present the works of The Master’s, until they were much older. I didn’t want them being influenced by or comparing their work to another’s technique. In their early years, I gave them little instruction – how to hold a brush, how to create perspective; how to use empty space, etc. I did not teach them how to draw, nor did I dictate what was to be drawn. If they wrote a song, I didn’t correct it because the bridge was seemingly in the wrong place. Every poem written didn’t have to rhyme or fit a traditional Japanese-style haiku form, or any other form, for that matter. “No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.” ~ Edward Hopper (American realist painter & printmaker.)
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I cultivate artistic expression with five basic steps.
Composition – placing together -
The musician, by placing notes together -
The writer, by placing words together -
The artist, by placing images or movements together.
Imagination – visualizing in your mind -
What do you see around you?
How do you reconstruct what you see?
Observation – focusing on the details -
Paying attention to people, animals, structures, colors and textures -
Using all five senses – seeing, tasting, smelling, touching, and hearing.
Communication – imparting your view, insight, feelings -
Telling a story with your art work.
Recognition – showing the artist’s work – building confidence -
Display in a hallway gallery or on the refrigerator -
Print a book -
Make a recording or video.
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“Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to start where he was.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, and philosopher.
Blessings,
*Hop over to the Crew Blog, for more encouragement, ministry, information, and pure fun! Just click the graphic below and follow the link…
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate you.
Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Maintaining Biblical Standards
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t read every book that my older children read, now. When they were younger I did. Still, I am mindful of what they’re reading, what music they’re listening to, what movies they’re watching, and who their friends are. I know their friends by name. I trust my children, at this age, to make wise choices, following the standards we’ve set, in their reading material, music, viewing habits, and relationships. They also keep themselves accountable. I can pick up the current book they’re reading, borrow their MP3 player at any time, go to the movies with them, or sit in on one of their gatherings.
There are organizations, and companies that assist me, as a parent, in maintaining the Biblical standards that my husband and I set for our family. They’ve put the time and effort into watching, listening, or reading, and reviewing for me. Many of these are run by other parents, with similar standards, like Progeny Press.
Progeny Press was started in 1992, and is still family owned and operated. They present good literature, teaching good literary analysis, measuring all things in the light of Scripture. There are now more than 100 Study Guides available to instruct writers and readers in grades K – 12.
Study Guides can be found for Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School.
They can be purchased Book-bound, PDF on CD, or email with attached PDF file. The content is the same, no matter the form of delivery.
From $10.99 single guide to $27.99 book/CD set.
I have students using the Middle School Study Guide for The Cay, by Theodore Taylor -
“Eleven-year-old Phillip lives with his parents on an island off the coast of Venezuela in 1942, but when the Nazi’s begin torpedoing ships nearby, Phillip’s mother insists that he and she return to the United States. Their ship is torpedoed by a Nazi submarine long before they reach the U.S., however, and Phillip finds himself marooned on an island with an old, but strong, black deckhand named Timothy. But when Phillip goes blind from an injury, he slowly realizes how caring, wise, and resourceful Timothy really is, and the color of their skins is unimportant.”
AND other students using the High School Study Guide for The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis -
“Screwtape, an undersecretary in the Lowerarchy of Hell, has undertaken the guidance and tutelage of his nephew Wormwood, who has been assigned a human patient to secure for eternity. In a series of letters, Screwtape guides the young demon through the finer points of temptation, the weaknesses and foibles of human beings, and the disaster of his patient becoming a Christian. Though this certainly complicates things, the two infernal beings won’t let it stop them.
From this very skewed perspective, C. S. Lewis digs into the human nature, revealing some interesting, and sometimes embarrassing, tendencies. Touching on everything from sleeplessness to the “absurdity” of God’s love for humanity, Screwtape imparts his wicked wisdom to Wormwood. Though the mirror he holds up to humanity is warped and cracked, it is still painfully revealing. Wit and parody mask a very serious analysis of what makes humans tick; and though it may make readers smile, it will also make us squirm as Screwtape picks at the cracks in our facades.”
With each Study Guide, students need access to a good dictionary, a thesaurus, a Bible, and the internet or an encyclopedia.
It is suggested that the complete novel be read first. We didn’t know how we felt about this, as opposed to reading the book and the guide together from the beginning, but it actually makes the use of the Study Guide a little easier. I imagine the creators of the guides already knew this. After reading the story, the student works through the guide with the book as a constant reference.
Prereading activities are offered -
- Written report
- Map work
- Time line
- Vocabulary
- Art work
- Biography
Each Study Guide covers relative information -
- Story Synopsis
- About the Author
- Background/Setting
Did I mention that Progeny Press Study Guides for Literature are interactive for 4th – 12th grade? They can still be printed, if you like, but the student has the capability of placing answers directly on the PC and saving his work as he progresses. The parent/teacher is able to grade the work in the same manner, on the PC, and leave notes or comments. My children love it! Especially, my son, who would rather do nearly anything instead of writing. The Study Guides are designed so he can clearly work through the questions and vocabulary, give his attention to critical analysis, dig deeper and consider the issues portrayed in the story, while viewing each through a consistent Biblical standard. In his case, he can give complete answers, because his biggest obstacle is removed – he’s released from hand-writing and has the option to type. Amazing!
Optional activities include -
- Presentations
- Volunteer work
- Essays
- Research
- Interviews
- Brief report
- Word search
Final essays are provided and post reading activities are discretionary. High School credits are obtained 1/4 credit per Study Guide in 8 – 12 weeks.
(4) Completed Study Guides = (1) H.S. Credit
Click the graphic below to browse the Progeny Press Catalog.
If you would like more information, please, follow the links I’ve provided throughout this post. Progeny Press has a website that’s easy to navigate.
Also, read other reviews, from The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Review Crew members.
Comments or Questions? Go directly to the source -
Progeny Press
P. O. Box 100
Fall Creek, WI 54742
~
Toll Free 1.877.776.4369
or
Phone 715.877.9951 ext. 100
~
Email - progeny@progenypress.com
and
Follow on facebook
I have no doubt these will be the first of many Progeny Press Study Guides for Literature we’ll use. Let me know which guide you choose, and what you think of it.
Blessings,
A trial period of this product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for your comments.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
It’s a New Day!
Posted by: | CommentsWow, so much has changed since I began teaching my children at home, back in the dark ages, or so it seems some days. When we began homeschooling there were few companies that wrote or published curriculum geared toward the unique needs of educating at home. Now, not only are there several companies on board and promoting materials for homeschool use, but there are also online programs being created for this vast community. It’s a new day for home education!
K5 Learning is an outstanding, online reading and math enrichment program!
Click the K5 graphic above for Sample Lessons
Geared for Kindergarten through Grade 5, it is a student paced, individualized learning program, based on skill level, not grade level. Even in light of other online programs we have used, my children agreed that K5 Learning is consistently challenging, but not frustratingly impossible. I like it because it has repeated spoken instructions allowing even young students to work independently.
There are 1,500 reading tutorials with more than 3,000 activities, and over 1,200 math lessons and activities. These are not random. They are sequenced lessons that prompt continued mastery of the subject. Each session is a 5-10 minute tutorial, then practice, and quiz over new material.
Click graphic above for Math details
K5 Math is comprehensive. It covers – Numbers & Operations, Geometry, Measurement, Algebra, and Data Analysis. The Math Facts encourage “instant recall of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables. Unlike computerized drill programs, K5 Math Facts does not generate questions randomly. It records every response a child makes, continually analyses what facts your child has mastered or need further practice at, and generates questions based on that child’s needs. This makes K5 Math Facts far more efficient at teaching math facts than a typical drill program.”
Click Math Facts graphic above to view demo
The Reading Enrichment encompasses Reading Curriculum & Comprehension, Phonics and Phonemic Awareness, Sight Words, Vocabulary, and Spelling. K5 Spelling has a 150,00 word database, and “is far beyond your typical online spelling program.”
Additionally, K5 Learning keeps parent’s up-to-date with regular student progress reports.
per year – 1st child $199
additional child $129
per month – 1st child $25
additional child $15
K5 offers a 14-day FREE TRIAL that includes a reading assessment and a math assessment.
Click assessment graphic above for more information.
My crew mates have shared their opinions and you’ll find them by clicking the graphic below and following the link.
Comments or Questions?
phone - 888.281.2145
write -
K5 Learning
510-4438 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6R 4R8
or facebook
I’m excited about the new options for home educators and I think you will be, too! Please, follow the links I’ve provided and browse the K5 Learning website. Let me know what you think.
Blessings,
A trial period of this product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for your comments.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Eggsceptional Reading!
Posted by: | Comments“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ~ Dr. Seuss
In our house we read. I read to gain knowledge and for personal enjoyment. As a parent, I read to my children. My older children read for themselves but they are also encouraged, from a young age, to read to their younger siblings. I read to the family, chapters at a time, as a series, instead of watching TV. The younger children see us with books, they hear stories of adventure, courage, excitement, and mishap. They can sit in their bedroom and be in Africa on a safari, at the same time, or sit in the living room, together, and travel back in time to a Little House on the Prairie. All of this cultivates a desire in the young ones to want to read on their own.
Reading Eggs is an eggsceptional interactive, online reading program.
This program is developed by teachers, educational writers, animators, and web designers. It is built on a core curriculum of skills, using a sequential series of lessons. The focus of Reading Eggs is for children ages 4-7, with the addition of Eggspress geared for 7-13 years old. There are over 100 lessons available now, plus they continue to grow. The brand new Storylands opened March 2, 2012, with the first 20 lessons of Clinker Castle! My son agrees this is a big deal!
My youngest daughter loves Reading Eggs!
Map of lessons and eggs waiting to be hatched.
Her personalized, eggsploring avatar walks through Reading Eggs World as she works her way through lessons and quizzes. Upon completion of a set of lessons, she is rewarded. Special eggs hatch and reveal a new critter that is added to the zoo. The program is student-paced. If there is any difficulty understanding or retaining a lesson it can be repeated as many times as necessary, with no penalty or negative judgement.
Lesson activity – put the words in the correct order to form a sentence.
Songs, games, educational activities, and golden egg rewards, make for eggstra FUN!
Game time!
There is an Assessment Test available for each child. 40 questions, that will determine the best place to start your student. My son is happy being an Eggpress eggsplorer!
An Assessment Test question
He says the animation is eggscellent! The lessons are fun, but he is still challenged and he’s learning! There are many stories of fact and fiction that keep his attention. Just like his sister, he enjoys furnishing a house for his avatar, shopping, and generally playing in the Reading Eggs World.
An Eggspress comprehension test question.
I like the parent’s reports that I receive, keeping me up to date on their progress and accomplishments! I eggspect to use Reading Eggs for years, especially because they eggspect to continue to expand and improve.
~
Don’t just take my word for it. Follow the links I’ve provided throughout this post and investigate their website. You can also read other reviews by my crew mates, when you click the TOS graphic below.
And Reading Eggs offers a 14 day free trial!
~
$75.00 year
$49.95 6 months
$9.95 per month with the option to cancel anytime
~
Comments or Questions?
email – support@readingeggs.com
or
phone – 1.877.661.4898
~
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for sharing your comments.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Clever Dragons Discount!
Posted by: | CommentsClever Dragons launches it’s smart fun for boy’s only, today! My son has been waiting weeks for this, as I wrote in my review of a scoop of laughter, a scoop of learning, Always Icecream, for girl’s only!
I’ll be posting a review of this site, soon, but couldn’t wait to tell you that Clever Dragons is online and they are offering a discounted membership rate for a limited time only.
* Now through November 27th *
Launch Special Price
$39.99 for Lifetime Membership
No promo code needed.
Find Clever Dragons on facebook for the latest updates.
Blessings,
Clever Dragons, nor anyone affiliated with them, asked me to write this post. I received no compensation and any expressed opinions are my own.
Thanks for your comments. PK
An Adventure to Ooka Island
Posted by: | CommentsTechnology has not changed at our house at the same rate that it has generally, but, we use more of it than many households do, I’m sure.
I remember a time when we didn’t own a camera. One year, I wrote every detail I could think of to record our child’s 2nd birthday party. We didn’t have a camera and I didn’t want her to think we hadn’t had a party for her, because there were no pictures; so, I described everything! Eventually, we owned a Polaroid that developed instant pictures and a little 110 camera. We had to send our 110 film off in an envelope to get it developed and then got our pictures in the mail. Initially, 35mm disposable cameras were expensive, yet they cost less than investing in a real one. The first 35mm camera we were able to buy was all manual. You set the flash when you needed it, you advanced the film after a picture and rewound the film by hand and gave it to the developer. It was certainly not an SLR, but I thought it was a wonder! Over the years, we were able to upgrade to an automatic and I have some great pictures from those years. The Christmas after our youngest child was born we were given our first digital camera. You know how, usually, the first child in the family has the most pictures taken of them? Well, that’s not the case here. We have so many pictures of our youngest daughter! Everything new she did was documented with the cool camera that had the itty-bitty screen on the back. Now, a decent digital camera is reasonably priced and there are nearly half-a-dozen, owned by the teens and adults of our family. My younger children think you look at every picture after you take it, they don’t know any different.
I used to write out every quiz and test, in duplicate, because I didn’t have a copy machine. When our older children were our young students, they answered workbook questions on separate sheets of paper, so I could reuse the workbooks with their siblings. For the last few years, we’ve had a do-it-all printer/scanner/copier.
In years past it wasn’t even a thought to own a personal computer. It was way out of our budget. Now, not only do we own a PC, but we have high-speed internet access.
Remember the Walkman that played a cassette tape? One year, several of the children received personal CD players for Christmas. Last year the three youngest were given MP3′s.
There are cell phones everywhere! And it wasn’t that many years ago that there were only three television stations and you actually had to leave your house to rent a VHS movie. No HD, no DVD, no Blue-Ray and certainly not as many acronyms.
An older daughter has a Kindle and I recently bought a WebOS Touch Pad, for reading and school-on-the-go.
Our children know how to use each of these devices and more, usually before we do. The last two school years have seen a dramatic difference in how I teach, because I’ve had access to online curricula. I’m still working on finding a balance, but I don’t shy away from the use of technology, like I once might have done.
The fact is, some of my children are a generation apart. Things have changed. I have more options today than ever before, when it comes to their education. By no means are we on the cutting edge of technology, but we are trying to keep a steady pace.
Recently, my youngest daughter and I set out on a new adventure. Now, before I take a trip, I like to know something about my destination. I do a little research before I book a flight or a cruise. I read reviews, check out the best eateries and look for places that aren’t tourist traps.
I discovered an island that I hadn’t heard of before. So, we went to the logical place to check it out – You Tube. There are dozens of videos about it!
This one got us excited about beginning our Ooka Island Adventure!
Click graphic to view the Official Trailer.
Ooka Island is a virtual online world. A vibrant, energetic world created especially for ages 3 – 7 years, pre-K through 2nd grade.
Students style a personal avatar and set off on heroic quests. Along the way, they develop skills essential to prereading, reading and spelling. They learn to understand sounds, associate sounds with letters, blending and making words, all while mountain climbing, cave exploring, cake making and more.
This is an innovative program. There are 24 levels of purposeful, crazy-fun 3D games, led by a robot named Zobot! The players meet Auntie Kay, Ooka elves that need rescued and the mischievous Figgs. 20 minutes of school work, that they don’t have a clue they’re doing, and they earn 8 minutes of free time. They’re successes are rewarded with the option to play games or buy stuff for their avatar.
Click graphic to read “the Ooka Adventure for Parents.”
The ten Ooka Island game areas, are designed to build on each other, getting more difficult with each one. The entire system adapts to each individual child’s progress. It is a complete curriculum, using 85 interactive e-books, on three levels: Emergent, Beginning and Fluency. My daughter is quite fond of the Ooka books, because they seem rather Dr. Seuss-ish and are written for the child.
Take your child on an adventure to Ooka Island, there is a Parent’s Page where you can track their progress and play along. Together, you will motivate and teach him to be a fluent, lifelong reader.
There’s no risk with the 14-day Free Trial.
Click graphic for full pricing overview.
Use promo code: LAUNCHSPECIAL30 and save 30% on a monthly subscription.
To read other Ooka Island Adventures reviews, click the TOS Homeschool Review Crew graphic below.
Stay up-to-date with everything on the island by following Ooka on facebook. Browse the website: http://www.ookaisland.com and read Village Voices, the Ooka blog.
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
For Girls Only!
Posted by: | CommentsFinding one’s place in a big family can sometimes be difficult. Having something that belongs just to you or that didn’t belong to a sibling before you doesn’t happen often, but sometimes it’s nice. It’s a little affirmation that you are one-of-a-kind and not just part of the group. I look for ways to let my children know that I see them as individuals.
Our youngest daughter is the youngest of 11. She loves her position, but we’ve made it a point to let her know that she wasn’t an afterthought. She was/is wanted and she is an important part of our family. It would be easy for everything she owns – clothes, toys, books & games – to be a hand-me-down, much is, but not all. Truly, she probably wouldn’t even mind, but I would; so, when I recently had the opportunity to review an ad-free learning website, for girls only, I was just a wee-bit excited about the possibilities! I wasn’t disappointed.
Always Icecream is geared for girls, ages 7-12, and it looks like it was created just for them. It’s pink and fun, and frufru and fun, and cute & sweet and fun! Much to my youngest son’s dismay, the website for boys only hasn’t been completed, yet, but I hear it is in the works. If I’d allow it, he’d learn & play right alongside his sister, but since I haven’t, he can not wait for his site! Why have a site, for girls only? My guys and girls get along very well together. My guys are a little more sensitive, considerate and compassionate and my girls are comfortable catching bugs and fishing, because of their interaction with each other, but it’s not that way in every home or classroom.
- “Online games for girls are games that have been specifically designed to meet the interests and curiosity of girls. This gender-focus makes it possible that “girls can be girls” without the fear of being bothered by boys who tend to make fun of everything that girls consider “cute.”
- “Within the target age group of 7-12 years, children’s preferences and ways in which they can be motivated tend to be influenced by gender. Collaborative play (girls) versus competitive play (boys) and girls tend to be attracted by virtual goods that are “decorative”, such as clothes, versus “useful”, such as machines or armor.”
“Notwithstanding the differences in brain development and socialization, Always Icecream is adamantly opposed to stereotypes such as “girls are not interested in science or math.” The site challenges its young members to engage in learning activities across a broad spectrum of subjects:
Language Arts
Math (basic and advanced)
Science
Computer Skills
Geography
History
Foreign Languages
Music & Arts
and Religious Education
I asked my daughter for her opinion of Always Icecream. She said, and I quote:
“I love it! You get to make your own house and you get your own pet. It’s fun! The learning is still fun, too. I am learning, you know. There are so many activities, I can’t even tell you! I’m practicing typing and I’m learning my states. Want me to show you? I’m getting higher and higher in my math and I got all of the Bible questions right, last time, because we had just learned about two of them in Children’s Church! The pet world thingy-place is my favorite! The pets can play games and do stuff. You can buy them accessories, (yes, that’s her word. We are big Fancy Nancy fans, but I’ll save that for another time) like a necklace or a bow. You use your $coops to buy stuff. ($coops is the earned currency in the Always Icecream world.) You buy them food and feed them, like carrots for the rabbit, not bacon or dog bones, of course. You give them cuddles and love and their hearts go up! I already said it, I just love it!“
School time. Learning time.
Play time. Reward time.
Parental participation, behind the scenes, is encouraged. Parents sign-up to receive a progress report, once a week, and may choose a number of $coops to be rewarded for special in-real-life projects, chores or accomplishments. My kids are on a rotation to clean the cat’s litter box. Our youngest was rewarded $coops for doing it without having to be reminded. Granted, she would like to go to Dairy Queen in the future for real-world ice cream in exchange for a real-world chore, but since she usually only gets a “thank you” she thought getting $coops was actually “pretty cool.”
The girls earn $coops currency for completing their learning tasks, challenges, games & videos. They create a mini-me avatar and can switch her clothes, buy rooms for the house and purchase furniture, pets and more. My girl loved this!
There is also a social feature available, set up by the parent, that enables or not, the girls to “make friends” and communicate with one another safely through Always Icecream. Although we didn’t choose to activate this feature, I do appreciate the excellent safety measures that are in place for the girls. Click the graphic below for more information.
* $4.99 per month * $29.99 per year * $99.99 for a lifetime membership *Take a quick tour of the site and try out FREE GAMES before you buy. “Satisfaction guaranteed: Your daughter will have fun and learn relevant skills – or you get your money back!”
You’ll want to read more reviews by my crew mates and their girls. Click the TOS banner below to get the full $coop!
Contact:
email – feedback@always-icecream.com
or visit
Blessings to you and your girls,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Time for Learning!
Posted by: | Comments
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3
Time to wake up!
image credit – Alice Lucchin
Time to sleep!
image credit – ToniVC
Time to prepare a meal and time to eat. Time for Bible Study and a bubble bath. Time for a picnic. Time to visit the library. Time for date night, family game night, movie & popcorn. Time to do the dishes, mop the floor and walk the dog. Time to sort, wash, dry, fold and put away mountains of laundry! Time to multi-task and make the most of every moment. Time to be all I can be!
image credit – fdecomite
Time for teaching and Time for Learning.
Time4Learning is an online learning program. It’s web-based, which means there is no software to download, no CD’s to buy, and access is always available (from any PC with an internet connection.) Therefore, it is most convenient. Designed for grades Pre-K through 8th, as a complete curriculum or supplemental. Using animation, interactive activities and printable worksheets, Time4Learning builds a foundation in language arts, math, science (1st – 6th grade) and history (2nd – 7th grade.)
This is a comprehensive curriculum. Additional features include:
- 1,000+ multimedia lessons
- State standards-based
- Independent grade level settings for each subject
- Access to the grade above and below
- Time-stamping feature on lessons (for attendance)
- Online playground which rewards and motivates
- Automated grading and reporting for portfolio use
- …and much more!
Lessons are individually paced with the student’s ability, whether gifted, special needs, homeschool, test prep, summer bridge or remedial. Three grade levels, for each subject, are available at once, enabling the parent to customize the program according to the child’s needs. Unit assessments/progress reports are sent to a parent account and parents can personally change a child’s grade level, as they see fit.
My children are excited about using this program! The graphics are engaging and the content, while uncompromisingly educational, is entertaining! We do monitor the time spent on the playground games, and we have skipped over lesson content that we have found counter to our home teaching: lessons and activities that speak of gods, goddesses, idols, Halloween, mythical beings and aliens, wizards and witches, and more, according to the relevance to the lesson. “To each his own,” but if one has an awareness of what is being presented, one can make informed personal choices.
I found this simple to set up and I’ve appreciated the extras available to parents/teachers on the Time4Learning website:
- Parent’s Forum – support and discussion
- Lesson Plan’s – for download & print
- Hints & Help – to make the most of the program
- FAQ’s – questions and answers
A month of access to this program will cost you $19.95 for the first child you enroll and $14.95 for each additional child. *So much less expensive than paying for tutoring, but presently too expensive for our budget. I hope to see multiple-children-family-pricing in the future, to make this excellent program affordable to more homeschooling families.
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Still not sure if this is right for your family? Try a FREE, interactive lesson demo. Want 30 days FREE? Apply to review the Time 4 Learning program.
Questions or Comments:
Call – 954-771-0914
or
Email – support@Time4Learning.com
Time4Learning.com, facebook page
Blessings,
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Click graphic to find more Homeschool Crew Reviews.
*Contents and photographs of this blog are copyrighted; unless otherwise indicated, they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Thank you for your comments! I appreciate each one of them. PK
Remember class field trips?
Posted by: | CommentsI used to love going on class field trips, when I was in school. I had no idea, though, all of the pre-planning and preparation that went into it before the permission slip was even sent home for my mother’s signature.
As a home educator, the organization and planning of field trips is now my responsibility. Just to take this crew to the lake for a couple of hours, takes nearly 30 minutes to pack and then another half hour to unpack. Beach towels, life jackets, sunscreen, water bottles, volleyball, frisbee, snack, shovels, pails, sifter, blanket or chairs, etc. This is for swimming only; if there is any hiking or fishing planned, well… you can imagine. A day at the zoo… wow!
* Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
My children and I recently visited the Blue Creek Rainforest Reserve of Belize, Central America; Cloud Lake bog in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada and five deserts in the southwestern, USA.
* a waterbug
I didn’t pack a thing! No bug spray, because there were no mosquitoes. No sunscreen, because there was no overbearing sun or drenching humidity. No umbrella; no rain. No water bottles, because we didn’t get thirsty. No leeches or waterbugs to contend with; yet, we observed them up close and we watched a jaguar, without fear of being pounced upon!
*Blue Creek Rainforest Reserve
*Jaguar
*Leafcutter ant
Thanks to Digital Frog International, and their Digital Field Trips on DVD, we were able to explore 3 eco-systems from the comfort and ease of our home. Scientifically sound, virtual reality field trips to the rainforest, the wetlands, and the desert.
We walked the forest floor, climbed trees and sat atop the canopy. We waded through swamps and suffocating mud. We crossed the arid lands of the Sonoran Desert, the Painted Desert and Cattail Falls oasis in Big Bend National Park; the Black Rock Desert and even Death Valley. On our way, we learned about the organisms; plants and animals that inhabit each eco-system.
While in the rainforest we participated in an in depth exploration of botany, in the wetlands the in depth exploration was of photosynthesis, and in the desert, homeostasis and adaptations.
Digital Field Trips is science at it’s best!
- interactive software
- animation
- graphics
- illustrations
- stunning photographs
- videos
- detailed text
- narration
- integrated dictionary
- 360^ panoramas
- zoom
- ambient sound
- diagrams
- games
- worksheets
Home licensing for each, single disc is $60; the set of 3 is $125. School licensing is available. Visit the Digital Frog Shop online for products and pricing.
Try before you buy – download a free limited version at http://www.digitalfrog.com/club/demo_download.html
Call ~ 1-800-621-3764 (international)
1-(519)-766-1097 (local)
Fax ~ 1-(519)-767-9994
Each of my children found these field trips fascinating. My elementary age and pre-reader needed some assistance to navigate the terrain, but my middle school through high school found the trek easy, but fully engaging.
I have no doubt, we will travel with Digital Frog International, time and again.
They also have The Digital Frog 2.5, virtual frog dissection, anatomy & ecology and Science Matrix: Cell Structure & Function.
Many of my crew mates, from The Old Schoolhouse (R) Magazine Homeschool Review Crew, reviewed the 3 disc set, Digital Field Trips. Click below to read their reviews.
This product was given to me, free of charge, in exchange, for my honest review, as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. I receive no other compensation for my reviews on this blog. The opinions expressed are my own.
Blessings,
