Archive for reading
Great Literature at Affordable Prices
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever discovered something new and then wondered how you lived without it before you found it?
I buy books. Yes, I have an outstanding local library and free access to thousands of books. But, it makes me giddy to find a book treasure at a yard sale, thrift shop or bargain basement, purchase it and bring it home to my library! I can browse for hours, looking through the crisp new books in Books-A-Million or the used book section of Goodwill. We use so many living books with our homeschool curriculum that my reason, for looking at any given book selection, is legitimized, or so I tell myself and my honey-of-a-husband.
My latest don’t-know-how-I-lived-without-it discovery is Homeschool Library Builder. Oh, my, seriously! How did I not know there is “a Christian family-run book business dedicated to providing great literature at affordable prices,” right at my fingertips, online?
Shop by Category:
Fiction ~
American Girls Collection
Great Illustrated Classics
Dear America Series
DK Eyewitness Books
The Middle Ages
The Young United States: 1783-1830
OR
Ambleside
Beautiful Feet
Five In A Row
Heart of Dakota
Sonlight
Tapestry of Grace
Preschool through High School and Adult
Africa
Asia
Australia
Europe
North America
Polar Regions
South America
INCLUDING
Vintage & Hard-to-Find Books ~
- Publisher’s remainder – New, never read condition
- Ex-library – Hard cover, very good condition
And hundreds more!
Membership is free, and not even necessary, but does have it’s benefits. As a member you can earn HSLB Book Points that can be used toward your future purchases. The more I (you) purchase = the more points I (you) earn. They also have a Share the Savings Program – every first time purchaser, who becomes a member and enters my (your) name as a referral, Homeschool Library Builder will award me (you) 45 Book Points. Cool!
I think you’ll really like this website! It’s an exceptional way to build your own library. Especially, during May 2012, when everything is 25% off their already low prices. “Fill your bookshelves without emptying your wallet!”
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Be sure to stop by The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew blog and read what my mates think of Homeschool Library Builder.
Comments or Questions?
Write -
Blessings,
Disclaimer* If I want to take advantage of it, I may receive an additional 10% off one order, 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 stopping by, reading and sharing your comment. 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.
Remarkable – writing with WORLD
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s simple enough, really. If it had never been written, it could never be read. So much would have been lost, from then to now, if it had not been written. If the truth is not written, today, we may not have it tomorrow. Writing well is much more than using correct grammar and vocabulary, and it is one of the greatest challenges a student will face. It allows us to clearly express our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. “Christians in particular should try to be the best communicators. They possess The Truth and need to articulate a Biblical worldview.” It is our job, as parents and educators, to teach our children how to write.
The publishers of God’s World News and WORLD magazine, together with education and media professionals, have developed an exciting *new writing curriculum. Write with WORLD is a two year writing curriculum geared for middle school. It adapts easily for grades 6 – 10.
Click graphic to view Sample Lesson
Year ONE and year TWO each consist of a non-consumable Student Text, a Teacher’s Edition – including the full student text, and an annual web site access pass. The curriculum is completed, and the books are ready for shipment this summer, 2012. The final dynamics of the web site are being polished, giving students access to the education and encouragement of journalists, photojournalists, essayists, editors, authors, and professors.
“Write with WORLD concentrates on developing young writers who can think and express their thoughts through writing. Students using Write with WORLD are connected to other writers – WORLD journalists, writer’s from God’s World News, celebrated writing professors, and student authors. Students will benefit from these writer’s advice. They will respond to timely and thoughtful assignments that encourage them to discuss ideas and language with teachers. The potential for publication will energize students, giving them purpose and audience.”
Each unit is broken down into smaller lessons. Stimulating assignments, many relevant to today, are given. Small steps and achievements are acknowledged, built upon, corrected and improved along the way. This is not a – here’s the writing prompt – write your paper – have it corrected for errors - get a grade, good or bad – learn the next set of writing rules – here’s the next writing prompt – curriculum. Many of the developers of Write with WORLD have sat through similar, boring classes; so, they recognized the pitfalls to avoid. Grammar, vocabulary, structure, essays, narratives and compositions are included, but it never seems forced on the student. The students develop critical reading skills, learning to detect worldview clues in writing, and learning to write from the point of their own worldview. This curriculum is more conversational and feels almost interactive. My own reluctant writer’s were encouraged by their steady, easy progression. As the parent/educator, I think it is a remarkable approach and I’m excited to see how it will impact my children!
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Write with WORLD, Full Curriculum, Year ONE or Year TWO can be purchased for $95 each.
or
Purchase both, Year ONE and Year TWO, Full Curriculum for $165.
Click graphic for more information to order.
~
Comments or Questions?
Write -
God’s World News
P.O. Box 20001
Asheville, NC 28802-8201
Email – mailbag@gwnews.com
or
Phone – 1.800.951.5437
~
You’ll find additional reviews, other opinions, and different perspectives when you follow the link included with the TOS graphic, below, and read what my crew mates have to say.
How well can you articulate your worldview?
Blessings,
Disclaimer* A copy 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.
Why History is Important
Posted by: | CommentsOf course, I took history classes in school. I even knew how to memorize names and dates, pass tests, and make good grades. A love of history was not instilled in me, it was just something I had to learn, to get the credit, to move on.
Of course, I’ve taught history. Well sort of. I admit, it hasn’t always seemed important and I haven’t always made time for it. I had reasoned that it’s not even one of the subjects tested for college entrance, how important could it be. I’ve had hints of it’s value, hearing lingering quotes like Edmund Burke’s,
“Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”
My older children and I have had more of an interest in the history of America, over the last few years, as they’ve reached voting age. We’ve dug into books about our founders and Constitutional law, or watched documentaries based on specific periods of time, looking for truth or the answer to a question. We’ve enjoyed sharing what we’ve learned, insights, and conversations.
Until recently, it didn’t occur to me that this is actually how some people teach and learn history. What a wonder! My younger children’s historical education will be vastly different than their older siblings, because Truth Quest History found its way to our home.
But that’s not even the most significant wonder about the TruthQuest History guides. The author, Michelle Miller, completely changed my outlook of history. Yes, as a Christian believer, maybe I should have seen it all along, but she made it clear to me, and now I can make it clear to my children. Learning our history, as mankind, should not just be man’s interaction with man, but man interacting with God. It is HIStory, because He is involved, and without Him there would be no history, because there would be nothing.
There are Christian based, chronological, World History guides available, written for grades 5 – 12, from Creation and The Ancients to the Present (2000.) American History only, is available for the 1st through 5th grades. I started with Age of Revolution: America/Europe, 1600-1800 and what I thought would be more than 300 daunting pages of history.
The author speaks to you, she doesn’t lecture on the topic she’s presenting. She’s conversational and witty. She comments on the story, and sets the stage for the time, people, events, and culture. Always connecting, and reconnecting the historical responses or reactions, the consequences or blessings, in light of one’s belief about God – whether true or untrue. TruthQuest History was written to teach “spiritual cause-and-effect lessons of history which teach Godly wisdom.”
Within the first chapter, I was struck by the truth of this paragraph:
“Don’t ever think spiritual matters are insignificant and only personal or you’ll miss the very hand of God in history! You’ll be blind to the deep beliefs which drive human action and you’ll think history is merely a boring record of famous people, deeds, and dates… History is really about what God is doing in the earth and that’s the most compelling story of all! History is about His truth, which is so powerful that it changes government, law, science, art, economics, literature, and the quality of life for people and their descendants…”
History is important! Throughout time we have all generally asked two questions – Who is God? and Who, then, is mankind? Michelle Miller points to these two questions, that she calls the Big 2 Beliefs, throughout history. Our answers to these questions influence our thoughts and actions, yesterday, today, and I expect, forever.
TruthQuest History is so much more than a curriculum with lists of living books. It does give us structure, but it also bends to that sweet flexibility that I crave. I’m reminded that the abundant resources listed are options for my discretion, not obligations. There is no set schedule of completion. We have the freedom to follow an interest, a particular person or event, much like we’ve done with unit studies, in the past.
A printed guide is $29.95 and each guide is now available in PDF format, for $24.95.
Contact -
TruthQuest History
P.O. Box 2128
Traverse City, MI 49685-2128
and
Online Discussion Loop
HistoryQuestors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
May crew mates have had the opportunity to review many of the guides and you’ll find their reviews by clicking the graphic below.
Blessings,
Penny
Disclaimer* A copy 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.
Perfectly Designed
Posted by: | CommentsOne of our favorite places to visit, as a family, is the zoo. Any zoo! We’ve gone to the zoo in other cities, as part of a vacation. We’ve visited the zoo at the end of a particular study, as a wrap-up, field trip. We’ve purchased a year-long, family membership, numerous times over the years, as a birthday present. In anticipation, we have several go-to animal guides, and animal stories that we read, and reference, before we head to the zoo. Recently, we added a brand new story!
Amazing Animals by Design is written by one of my TOS Crew mates, Debra Haagen, and has been published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises. It is the story of a family visiting a zoo. Often, no matter how many times we’ve been there, if it is estimated that it takes 3 hours to walk through a particular zoo, it will take our family five or six or even seven hours, because we talk and teach, soaking up God’s wonderful creation and design. In just 24 pages, that’s what Amazing Animals by Design does, too.
John and Sarah, the main characters of the story, go to the zoo with their parents. They see elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, a caracal, ostriches, and Barbary sheep. Every question they have is answered from the point of creation and intelligent design! This is a wonderful introduction for young children to the idea that we are all perfectly designed by God, to fulfill His purposes.
Amazing Animals by Design can be purchased as a bound book, for $8.99, or as an instant digital download, for $7.99. You can click and follow [John] to the bookstore, for purchasing information.
Click and follow [Sarah], and she’ll take you to Amazing Animals by Design on facebook. This is a great place to get to interact with the author!
Also, other TOS Homeschool Review Crew Members had the opportunity to read Amazing Animals by Design, and you can read their reviews by clicking the graphic below.
It’s a rainy day here, today. We won’t be visiting the zoo, but as soon as I sign off my daughter has asked that we read Amazing Animals by Design…again. So, that’s just what we’ll do, soaking in the wonder of God’s creation, and reinforcing how perfectly designed everything is, especially her!
Blessings,
Disclaimer* A digital copy 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.
Thank you ~
Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
Academic Success
Posted by: | CommentsI think we all want our children to achieve academic success. If we did poorly in school, we want our children to do better than we did, and if we did well, we still want better for their future.
Teaching phonemic awareness, building reading fluency, and strengthening comprehension starts a child on the road to academic success. The Reading for All Learners Program, featuring the Little Books, has more than 30 years of research behind it.
Click the graphic to view Product Previews
The company, Academic Success for All Learners, tags the books as – “Little Books making a big difference!” They have been used around the world for generations. You may have learned to read using these books. Many people actually recognize the readers as “I See Sam books.” I See Sam is the title of the first book, in the first skill set. There are 141 Little Books, in 8 color coded sets. The reading instruction correlates to core curriculum.
It is recommended that the books be read consecutively, in numerical order, because new sounds and words that are introduced build on the sounds, words, and skills previously mastered. Primarily written for Kindergarten through grade 3 or 4, they can also be used for struggling readers. A single lesson takes only 15 – 30 minutes, with no prior teaching experience needed.
The Reading for All Learners program is highly esteemed. If it were used consistently, as intended, I believe much of the illiteracy found in America, today, would be eradicated. The stories are enjoyable and interesting, and students want to read them.
Click the graphic to view Little Books Set 7
The www.iseesam.com website is easy to navigate. It’s also full of information and support:
<*><*>
Instructor Guide - making it possible for practically anyone to teach
<*><*>
Scope and Sequence – listing what is covered when
<*><*>
Flash Cards – words to learn, for each book
<*><*>
Progress Tracking - a chart for every set of books
<*><*>
Placement Assessment – testing, to help you determine where to begin
<*><*>
Little Book Anatomy – points out and explains the special features of a Little Book
<*><*>
And More…
Click the graphic to view Read to Succeed Gift Sets
After my son completed a Placement Assessment, I was directed to start him in the Little Books set 7. The routine is the same for each book. He should learn and review the sounds and words. Master the Sound Practice and Word Practice before reading the book. Then, read the story twice, making two mistakes or less by the second reading. The Learner’s Chart is provided for each set of Little Books. The student may color a picture or place a sticker over it, to track each book, in the set, that has been read successfully. Color matched certificates are available to celebrate the completion of a set!
Looking Back is a section designed to test retention and mastery. It usually occurs after every 5 or 6 books. Passing/Failing criteria is listed at the bottom of the reading page. If the student doesn’t pass, they are encouraged to reread the previous several books to hone their skills. If a Looking Back assessment is passed, the student moves on to the next book.
The constant, steady rhythm of this program works well for my son. So well, in fact, that I plan to have my daughter do the assessment, so I can gauge the best placement for her. It’s $30 for each set of books, but I can reuse any set, with any of my children, increasing the value of my investment. We’ll see whether or not this particular structure is good for her, too.
<*><*>
My crew mates used different sets of Little Books, and you can find their reviews by clicking the TOS graphic below.
Comments or Questions?
Email ~
read@iseesam.com
Call ~
435.755.7885
or Write ~
Academic Success For All Learners
131 North 1175 West #5
Logan, Utah 84321
<*><*>
Direction and Encouragement:
View ~
Read ~
Dr. Alan Hofmeister’s blog posts
@ Effective Instruction for All
and Follow on ~
In my opinion, everyone should have the opportunity to learn to read, and to read well, if they choose.
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.
Thank you 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.
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.
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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!
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$75.00 year
$49.95 6 months
$9.95 per month with the option to cancel anytime
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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.
What Will Your Child Believe?
Posted by: | CommentsFrom the time our children are born we teach them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. They grow knowing it, because they hear it often. When they’re a little older, they’re often amazed the first time we share The Scripture, from Psalm 139:13-16, with them, because they realize it’s not just momma and daddy, being momma & daddy and saying they are wonderful and unique, God said it.
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.”
The Bible is our touchstone. It is the measure by which the validity or merit of something can be evaluated. We view knowledge through The Bible. We believe it is the ultimate authority. We desire to live by faith in Christ Jesus and anchor our world-view in Him.
As our children become preteens and teenagers we challenge them to apply themselves to know why they believe what they believe. Yes, we want them to know The Truth, and to believe it, but it will not hold them fast if they don’t own it themselves. If you don’t know why you are waiting to have sex until after you’re married, inevitably you’ll find yourself in a situation of compromise. If you don’t know why you think a baby is a baby before it’s earthside, abortion is a possibility. If you don’t know why you believe in Jesus Christ as The Way, The Truth, and The Life, someone may come along and give you a good enough reason to think He isn’t.
What will my children believe when they stand on their own? What will your child believe when he’s 15?
Who Am I, And What Am I Doing Here?, by Apologia, gives you foundational truths to teach your children. You’ll know what they believe, and they’ll know why they believe it.
Written for ages 6-14; “based on the Biblical Christian worldview, which affirms that truth is absolute and knowable through the revelation of God. It affirms that knowledge of God is the beginning of wisdom and the key to understanding the world around us.” $39.
Comments or Questions?
Contact ~
Write
Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.
1106 Meridian Plaza, Suite 220/340
Anderson, IN 46016
Phone
888.524.4724
or
765.608.3280
biblicalworldview@apologia.com
Blessings,
Penny
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.
Much To Do About Spelling
Posted by: | CommentsI think I’ve told you, a couple of times, how much I love to read. I’ve shared with you my love of language, wanting to learn Spanish and Latin. I’ve always enjoyed writing, even diagramming sentences. I like the rhythm of words. The cadence of their syllables. I think spelling bees are wonderful!
Some of my children share my love of reading. Some of them write and develop story lines, fleshing out characters. They’ll watch The National Spelling Bee with me, amazed at the difficulty of some of the words given, but none of them actually enjoy spelling. I think it’s because they lack confidence in their ability to spell words correctly. They recognize a word when reading it, but cannot always spell it when using it in their writing. They know the meaning of a word, and can use it properly in a sentence, but inevitably will forget how to spell it. I’ll admit, this is no small frustration for me. We own more than one dictionary and have utilized spell check on the PC, even when something is being written by hand. Grumblings can sometimes be heard when one is sent to heft the cumbersome, intimidating dictionary off the shelf, to “find the word yourself,” and the computer is not always accessible; so, they often ask me how to spell a word. Even then, the usual response is, “spell the word, the way you think it is spelled, and then ask me if it’s correct.”
We’ve done vocabulary lists and spelling words for the week. Using rote and repetition. And, it’s a good thing I like words as much as I do, because we’ve been playing word games, like Scrabble and Boggle, for 30 years! Educational fun and reinforcement, you know. Yet, spellings escape them.
Last year, as a TOS Homeschool Review Crew Member, I reviewed what-is-now my favorite Reading Tool. See-N-Read was my introduction to CadenaSmith Enterprises, and it is “a truly effective intervention for reading.” This year, See-N-Spell arrived at my house, with much anticipation! It is a 40 page Spelling and Vocabulary Quick Reference Guide.
In alphabetical order, you’ll find more than 300 most commonly used vocabulary words and commonly misspelled words. Basically, if you know the first letter or couple of letters in a word, you can find it here, correctly spelled. Homophones (here – hear, there – their) are listed too (to – two), with a brief definition, so it’s easy to choose the correct one. Although, it is printed on heavy duty, semi-gloss paper, for repeated use, it is not a heavy, 2 inch thick, hard bound book. It’s an unassuming, easy-to-use booklet, that prompts my children to use it regularly. Dr. Sylvia Smith, the author, thought to include a section where you can write your own special interest words, words you might use fairly often, but waffle on when it comes time to spell. Guaranteed, or is it gauranteed? Sometimes, after we study it for several seconds it becomes even more muddled. Easier just to look it up in the See-N-Spell and move on in your creative or constructive writing.
“Writers typically possess a larger everyday spoken (social) language vocabulary than written academic language vocabulary.” The See-N-Spell – Spelling and Vocabulary Quick Reference Guide facilitates getting that larger vocabulary transferred easily to the written page. “The need for correct spelling and adequate vocabulary is not limited to English Literature and Composition courses…they are essential components of success in Social Studies, Science, and Math, as well as in the world of business.”
It’s our new go-to spelling guide! At $9.99 I think it’s a worthwhile investment, plus, I nearly forgot to tell you, you receive my favorite, document sized See-N-Read Reading Tool FREE, with each See-N-Spell booklet you order! Please, follow the links I’ve included in this post and visit their website for more information.
Comments or Questions?
phone ~ 630.236.5592
email ~ info@see-n-read.com
or write ~
CadenaSmith Enterprises
2533 Sutton Lane
Aurora, IL 60502-9461
As always, my wonderful Crew mates have written their own reviews of this product. If you click on the graphic below you’ll find them on The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew 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.
~ Thank you.
*Contents of this blog are copyrighted; they are the property of Knee Deep In Grace and may not be used without written permission.
