Happy New Year! 2020

I’m a couple of days early, but, Happy New Year! We’re busy this Christmas break, but I want to wish everyone a healthy, happy 2020. Enjoy the last bits of this holiday season!

Christmas Morning Box

This is a great idea that I saw floating around Facebook. It’s a Christmas morning box. It’s filled with batteries, scissors, screwdrivers, trash bags, and anything else you think you might need for the present opening chaos that typically ensues. There’s still time to put one together!

Home is the Important Part

I love this quote by Todd Wilson. It's so true. Education is more than academics. Character is just as, if not more important for our children to develop. I am so grateful for the opportunity that homeschooling has provided in teaching my daughters about the importance of knowing and standing up for our values. Learning at home has, without a doubt, strengthened our relationship. Facts and figures may get forgotten, but I'm confident that we'll remember these days with gratitude.

A Hidden Treasure

We were late in getting our Christmas decorations up this year. Usually, we tackle the task over Thanksgiving weekend, but we’ve been particularly busy this year. Anyway, after a short back and forth over whether to bother putting up outside lights, we decided to do it. Our youngest insisted, lol. As we were stringing lights over the shrubs, we came across one of the nests that a robin made a home in our yard this past summer. That might seem inconsequential by itself, but she added a bright purple ribbon to her little abode. What a precious little sight that was. I don’t know if she’ll be back next summer, or if she’ll reuse the nest at all, but we’re leaving it there as a bright reminder of the promise of summer. Can’t wait to see you again, my little friends!

A Christmas Study

This idea isn’t mine, I saw it online, but it’s a wonderful way to lead up to Christmas. Today is December 1st, so we started reading the gospel of Luke. The book has 24 chapters, and we’ll read one chapter every day, with  the last reading on Christmas Eve. Most years, I feel like I get caught up on the frenzy of the season, which causes me to overlook the real reason for the celebration. This is a simple way to take time every day to pause and reflect. Care to join us?

Things that make you go hmm...

My daughters and I were shopping and came across this sign. Bananas by the each anyone? Lol!

LitWits - A Crew Review

Well, this is it, my last Crew review of the year, and we're going out on a high note. Literature is a favorite subject of mine, and I'm especially fond of children's classics. As a homeschooling mom, I love sharing old and new favorites with my daughters. Happily, my girls are just as enthusiastic about books as I am. The only downside to discovering a new read is when we get to the last page. We never want a good story to end. Sometimes, the girls and I talk about what life would be like if we lived a life like the characters in a favorite book. What if we could experience what they experienced? Well, while that isn't possible, we can certainly make a sort of study that provides a glimpse of the time period, culture, events and more, thanks to LitWits . They provided us with several of their LitWits Kits to use and review.

We were offered 4 different kits. We chose:
All of a Kind Family
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Tom Sawyer

I'm so excited about our selections! For this review, we worked through our favorite of favorites, so far at least, All of a Kind Family. These kits were created as a part of experiential workshops that the founders would present, providing a multi sensory experience for students. Each kit provides suggestions for hands on activities that will relate to a specific book. In any given kit you'll get ideas for:

- Items relevant to the time period of the book for prop boxes
- Traditional music from the time period of the book to listen to
- Foods to make and eat that are relevant to the book, culture, time period of the book
- Traditional games to play
- Puzzles to complete
- Art projects
- Skits

These kits were designed for group use, so you may need to adjust certain activities to make them work for individual or small group use. Then again, if you have a large family, or use these in a co-op setting, they might be just right as is. I completed activities with my 14 year old, and we did just fine. These are probably more suited to a younger age of students, maybe elementary up to 8th grade. So, my daughter was definitely on the older side for these, but you know what? When you love certain pieces of literature, it's fun to include a hands on experience that stretches the learning, no matter the age. So there, lol.

When you purchase a kit, you get a pdf that has approximately 30-40 pages of activities. In addition to the pdf, you then also have access to the web page of that kit for the lifetime of the company. Nice. The pdf's are well organized, and are divided into the following sections:
- Welcome
- Overview
- Prop ideas
- Hands on fun
- Book bites, which is a food activity, so you can "taste the story"
- Takeaways - this might be a study of events of the time, the culture, political climate, etc.
- Handouts - vocabulary, creative writing
- Learning links - provides additional resources for further study
- Copyright information
What is NOT included is the book for each kit. You will need to purchase that separately, or check it out from the library.

Mama has the girls find a button as they clean.

In the book, Papa has a cup with the name FATHER on it. This is the closest thing we have, ha!

So, as I said, All of a Kind Family is an absolute favorite for me and our daughters. Our copy of the book is well worn. We used a few of the suggested ideas, and then added a cooking activity. Backing up for a second, the book is about a young Jewish family in the early 1900's. They are made up of Mama, Papa, and their daughters, Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte, and Gertie. It's a lovely story of their life on the East side of New York City. As many stories of the time, it's a sweet, slow paced story that any age can enjoy, nothing graphic or objectionable.

A favorite chapter in All of a Kind Family.

Some old fashioned candy tasting.

My daughter's favorite part of the book is when the daughters visit the candy store. They describe the many candies that they might choose to buy, and it's always been fun to think about what an old fashioned candy store would look like. So, we chose one activity where we collected some old time-y candy, and displayed it in some little liners to enjoy while we read. I only wish I could have found a little scoop to use with them to serve.

Letting the Challah rise before baking.

Pretty! And so good!

The family is Jewish, so there are ideas for traditional objects and foods to collect and study. There was a photo of Challah bread, and we decided to make our own loaf. C loved that, as she is the budding chef in the family. I think she did a very nice job with the braiding, too. It was really good!

We will be continuing with the other kits this Fall and Winter. In fact, I'm going to make them our Literature curriculum. I'm just going to add a few more complex studies, and include some writing exercises. Here are some of the activities that we're looking forward to trying in each of the other kits we have:

- Anne of Green Gables
We'll make a "gaudy" slate pencil for sure, since we like crafty projects, as well as the collaging, which I love to do! We'll try our hand at a homemade angel food cake too. Since I want to make this a major part of the curriculum, we'll be using the worksheets, which includes a breakdown of the story, and some creative writing and essay work.

Mmm, angel food cake  as we study Anne of Green Gables.

-Little Women
I listed this second, but we'll likely do this before Anne of Green Gables. It looks like we'll be in time to see the new movie version that comes out soon, although I'll have them read the book first, which I think is always better than film versions. I like the props suggested in this kit for a pretty tablescape. We'll also try our hand at sketching, and perhaps some watercolors too.  I also love the idea of writing to soldiers to encourage them, so that's on the schedule too. We'll include the worksheets and writing as with the others.

What a pretty tablescape for Little Women. 

- Tom Sawyer
Like I did with the other kits, I love the prop table for this book. There is a book cover to make where students make a whitewashed fence that looks like a fun project. I think we'll also need to make Aunt Becky's wedding cake. Again, we'll include the academic handouts to round out our study.

Make an ink stained book like the one in Tom Sawyer.

I am so excited about these kits! They are a great way to inspire a love for books, hopefully even for reluctant readers. The multi learning approach offers activities for every learning style. Families with children that span various ages will be able to use this with everyone. I can't say enough about how we enjoy these, and I hope you'll consider them for your school and/or co-op.

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Thinkwell - 6th to 8th Grade Math (Pre-Algebra) - A Crew Review

I need to start this post off with a little confession...I really wasn't excited about this review. Did I say (or type, actually) that out loud? You see, the thing is, this write up is about a Math resource, and well, my daughters and I just aren't in love with the subject.  For the first six years, we had a fairly smooth ride. The material clicked for the most part, and the struggles were minimal. Then we hit Pre-Algebra. Bam. It was like a brick wall popped up out of nowhere. We tried a variety of products, curriculum, and supplements. There was a degree of success, but still much struggle. So maybe you can understand why the thought of adding another program to our studies didn't put me over the moon. And then, along came Thinkwell , who provided us with 12 months of access to their 6th to 8th Grade Math , more specifically,  their 8th Grade Pre-Algebra Online Course online course to use and review. Would this finally be "the one" ? Well, read on and see how it went for us.

A little information.

Getting started is easy. Follow the prompts to set up your account, and begin. This review is about Math, but they also offer other subjects. The program provides an easy to follow schedule, just click and go.  The Pre-Algebra course is a 12 month subscription that covers everything you need to know and would find in any school class. The lessons are done with videos (about 5-10 minutes long), and follow up with questions and review. There are printable notes and worksheets for your convenience and extra study. There is also a printable workbook that uses the same material presented by the teacher. This may help those that like the videos, but also benefit from later study. Lessons are automatically graded as well.

The schedule of topics makes it easy to follow.

The lessons are well organized.

In my student years, I had my share of Math teachers, some good, some bad. One particularly bad one actually told me I was a loser when I had trouble mastering an Algebra concept. Yep, a loser. Not surprisingly, I did poorly in his class. Fortunately, I had some other teachers who were marvelous, encouraging every effort and success. As you might expect, those experiences affected the way that I present the subject to my daughters. I want them to want to learn.

The instructor for the 6th-8th Grade Math/ Pre-Algebra is Edward Burger. He is an award winning professor with an impressive resume that can be read on the Thinkwell website. He has had great reviews from his students, and after using this course, I see why. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but Math teachers can be, well, a little weird and unapproachable. Some have the Math knowledge, but are not able to translate that information in a way that students can understand. Mr., or Professor, Burger is not that way at all.  He has an approachable manner about him, and explains concepts very well. My 14 year old daughter was immediately thrilled to have an instructor who communicated the lessons so effectively.

Instructor Edward Burger

This quickly became the curriculum that we, and more specifically, my 14 year old, has been searching for. What does she particularly appreciate about the teaching? During the video lessons, the screen is split so that you can not only see the instructor's face as he lectures, but also watch him as he works through problems on the whiteboard. One of the things that has always frustrated us in various programs is that the teacher will demonstrate a concept, but uses an easy problem. When the practice time comes around, the tricky and difficult questions are given, tripping us up. In this course however, both easy and difficult examples are provided, hurray! In addition, when the problems are automatically corrected as you answer, an explanation also is displayed with the answer, which is especially helpful when an answer is wrong. This constant review has been fantastic, and my daughter raves about this course. She actually worked through 12 lessons in the first 2 days of using Thinkwell.

Notes are available to print if desired.

Printable worksheets.

The screen shows not only the instructor, but the work as he demonstrates the problems.

At the end of my first paragraph I asked the question, "Did we like the program?" I answer with a resounding YES! My daughter has made it clear in no uncertain terms that Thinkwell is the Math course that she wants to use from now on. With the results that we've experienced this far, I'm in complete agreement. From a struggling Math student turned homeschool mom, try it and see for yourself.

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Happy Smonday!

No, you didn't read that wrong, it says Smonday. I know plenty of folks get that Sunday night anxiety. Not me though. I actually like Mondays, generally speaking. I'm a creature of habit, and I love my routine. What about you? Do you love or dislike Mondays?

God's Mail Volume 3 - A Crew Review

Let's face it, life is hard at times. We face of host of problems and circumstances common to people. It might be illness, depression, relational, or financial in nature. If you are a person of faith, you probably use those times as a catalyst for prayer. Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive a direct answer back from the Lord? Well, in a way, we can, through the Bible, His Word. It comforts us, exhorts us, directs us. Ron Hardin is a Christian who struggled in his teen years. He made some poor decisions that lead him into drugs, gang activity, and more. By the grace of God, he found his way back to the Lord, and decided to use his experiences as a way to show others the hope that can be found in God. He did this by starting God's Mail , and writing a book called God's Mail Volume 3 , which he graciously provided for us to read and review.

This is a paperback book, approximately standard notebook sized, with a glossy, cardstock type cover. I like the image on the front cover, which is a dove holding a letter in its beak. Very peaceful looking. 96 poems make up these 221 pages, with each page containing a series of Scripture verses on the left page, and a short poem on the right page. Each page also has a black and white, kind of shadowy illustration as the background for the text.

The first ten pages are endorsements from various folks close to the author, and include a short introductory blurb about each. I found this a little unusual, as this information is usually in the back of the book, and we don't typically see that kind of thing. Perhaps he wanted to make sure that there support didn't get lost at the end. I do have to mention though, that there appears to be a typo at the front. A page is called "Forward", but I believe it's supposed to say "Foreword". 

The poems themselves cover a range of topics including personal sin, singleness, having babies out of wedlock, sadness, and more. Most of the poems are short and no longer than a paragraph, although a few take up the page. They can be read in about 10 minutes or so. If you take the time to read the Scriptures as well, you can use it as a devotion. The subject matter in certain texts can be raw, so this is not necessarily a read for the whole family. Those who are and/or have struggled with life events featured can find hope and encouragement within this book.

So, what do I think? Well, it's not really a family book per say. I like the Scripture on every page. I can see this as a book to have available in churches and counseling centers. Troubled teens come to my mind as I read this. It could be helpful to that age group, particularly ones that have found themselves straying. As for general family use and devotion, perhaps not so much. At any rate, click on the links, and have a look.

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Author Mattie Richardson/Appaloosy Books - A Crew Review

Ok, can I just lament the fact that it's getting increasingly more difficult to find a book series? We are a family of book lovers. My daughters take their trips to the library very seriously, and a visit to the book store is something akin to a day at an amusement park. No honestly, I mean it. We looove books. My youngest daughter, who is 14 years old, has been on the hunt for a new, engaging read for some time now. It's been a bit frustrating, because there's so much inappropriate material on the market, and my girl has stopped reading one or more books because she doesn't want to put that in her mind. Happily for us, and my daughter specifically, Author Mattie Richardson/Appaloosy Books provided us with the four books of  the Mattie Richardson's Horses in History Series to read and review. These are written for ages 8-14 years old. 

This series is interesting to me for several reasons. Mattie Richardson is a former homeschooler, yay! I love to see other homeschoolers excelling. I was also impressed  that she was only 13 years old when she wrote the book,  Appaloosy, and 16 years old when she published it! How about that? 

There are books that are a bit mediocre, and then there are those that pop, and grab your attention. The latter have something different, a fresh perspective, the wow factor. This series of books provides the "wow" in a couple of ways. Each book is a stand alone story, that focuses on a specific time in history. They are fictional, but written with the historical practices and events of certain time periods in mind. At the end of each book, there is a section that provides a history lesson of sorts for the time that the book focused on, including photos, dates, and definitions.
Another interesting feature of these stories is that they are told from the horse's point of view. I bet that in the many westerns that you may have watched or read about, you haven't considered what events might look like from that perspective!

The books range in length from roughly 60 pages to 145+. They work well for both individual reading, and as a read aloud. While there are exciting points throughout, there is nothing graphic or offensive. Families of all ages can all enjoy these together.

Blast from the past section at the back of the books.

Signed copies!

When we received the books, my 14 year old began flipping through them and was happy to see that author Mattie Richardson herself had signed them. She, my daughter that is, quickly found herself absorbed in each story. After reading them, she thought that the suggested age range was appropriate, and said that younger readers in particular would do especially well with Appaloosy, and Dusty's Trail, as they were the shorter of the four. As a fun little aside, as we read Appaloosy, we were struck by the fact that the main characters reminded us so much of her best friend, down to specific descriptions, which I won't mention for the sake of privacy. But I know that her mom will read this, and she'll know exactly what we're talking about!

An illustration- fun fact: the illustrator was only 13 yrs. old!

Now then, a little information about the books:

Appaloosy tells the story of an Appaloosa stallion named Storm, who belongs to the Nez Perce tribe. Storm is a free spirit who is more than a little particular about who he allows to ride him. He is given to White Feather, a young brave who wins Storm over with his gentle nature. When war breaks out, Storm is captured by the White Men, and he begins a journey that has some rocky paths before he finds another gentle soul in a young girl named Faith.

Dusty's Trail leaps right into the thrill and danger of The Pony Express. Dusty is what is known as a Cow Horse, not what would typically be found in a horse worthy of The Pony Express. In fact, Dusty is skittish and somewhat lazy, at least that's what his owner, the young boy called Levi claims. But he's also fast, very fast, and he gets a reputation for being a legendary horse. He knows his weaknesses, but the challenge comes when they are attacked by the Paiute tribe and Levi is captured. Will he have the courage to do what he has to do?

Golden Sunrise will take you back to Texas, to the Alamo and the fight for Texan independence from Mexico. Our featured horse is a Golden Palomino mare called Cheyenne. Jared is her kind owner. But there isn't peace in that turbulent time, and with his friend Reuben, they set off for war. This story had a sad moment for me as we neared the end, but it does end with a hopeful, if bittersweet note. I apologize for the vagueness, but I hate to give away important details that would ruin the plot. All in all, it's a sweet story.

Day and Night will bring you into the struggles of the Civil War. This book is interesting and to me, is reminiscent of North and South, remember that one? Tucker and Shiloh are two ( Morgan) horses and brothers that while together at first, are separated at the start of the Civil War. Tucker is a horse for the U.S. Mounted Infantry, and Shiloh is a horse in the Confederate Volunteer Cavalry. So you know there's going to be more than a little tension. As the story moves along, the chapters take turns telling each horse's perspective. Working with opposite sides of the war, they've been separated. As the war progresses, will their family ties hold them together? This book tackles a terrible time in U.S. History, but still manages to eke out a hopeful ending, for both the horses, and their human counterparts.

So, I like this series, perhaps even more than I expected. There are some moments that are not sunshine and flowers, but with the subject matter, it isn't surprising. Yet the themes are handled with sensitivity, and the more intense details are not portrayed with gore. I would be comfortable sharing any and all of these books with the children in my circle, and beyond.

Enrichment Guide.

Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension.

 For those that would like to extend the learning beyond the books there is an enrichment guide for the book Day and Night, available in pdf and/or print. More guides for the others are coming in the future. The guide has activities divided into 8 parts that have a recommended schedule of 8-10 weeks. In the guide you'll find:

- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- History
- A Soldier's Life
- Craft/Game
- Geography
- Horses and History
- Creating your Own Stories

Color your horse, create your own story.

My daughter is still reading through day and Night, and we haven't used the guide yet. But, I like what I see, and we'll be using at least a few of them soon! Now, go check out this series!

Author Mattie Richardson.

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Ok, is this November, or January?! Not only have we already had accumulating snow, we’re expecting 2-5 inches tonight. Ugh. Winter arrived early, and looks like it’s going to be a long, cold, and snowy one. I guess part of tomorrow’s P.E. is going to include shoveling. Well, I’m off to bed, and I’ll be dreaming of Spring!

Homeschool P.E.

I love having trees in our yard, but when Fall arrives, oh boy...the leaves! I feel like we’ve been raking for weeks. Then we had a quirky Halloween snowstorm, which put a temporary hold on the yard cleanup. It’s all melted now, and we’ll be back at it this week. Fortunately, I don’t have to go it alone because raking means homeschool P.E.! I’ve got my daughters working with me :) Haha, why not? It’s good for all of us, fresh air and exercise. But I really hope those trees will drop the last of those leaves already! How are you incorporating P.E. in your schedule this week?