Kinder Cottage Publishing Review

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In our homeschool, we lean heavily towards a literature-rich approach. We limit screen time to 30 minutes per day. We fill our days with time spent outside and lots of reading. So I was very glad to review How Peter Rabbit Went to Sea and Peter Rabbit Goes A-Visiting from Kinder Cottage Publishing.

These are small, hardback books and cost ony $4 each. They are part of a series of 10.

Kinder Cottage Peter Rabbit Series

Ten little books that will give you hours and hours of reading pleasure with your children

These books were originally written by Duff Graham for the Henry Altemus company over 90 yrs ago and are in the public domain. They contain vintage illustrations and the language has been updated for the modern reader (bicycle instead of velocipede, for instance). However, the sentences are well constructed and the vocabulary is rich. This is the number one reason you should read these books to your children.

They are meant for ages 3-9. The little ones will love looking at the pictures while listening, while an older child could actually read these books out loud or to himself.

They both have 64 pages, with an illustration on every spread. Peter Rabbit Goes A-Visiting is shorter than the other book mentioned above by simply having less words on the page. So on a day when I feel tired, I reach for this less wordy book.

Peter, “as all good little children know,” is a naughty little rabbit who lives with his Mother and his sisters: Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-tail. Cotton-tail is very fond of Peter and she always takes his side, asking Mother to spare him from discipline whenever he misbehaves.

How Peter Rabbit Went to Sea contains the story of the naughty little rabbit who got into trouble because he disobeyed his mother yet again. She specifically told him not to go to the brook, but, sure enough, he decided playing Pirate was exactly what he wanted to do for the afternoon. His sisters asked him not to look for trouble, but he did.

How Peter Rabbit Went To Sea book cover

He built himself a little boat and then sailed on the brook, which flowed into the sea. Peter thus met a whale, a shark, a seagull and several other creatures who completely scare him. By the time he got back home, he tells his Mother he never wants to play Pirate again. She does not punish him. She was a wise mom, who understood natural consequences will discipline and teach more than parent-imposed punishment.

I took this book with us to the Gatlinburg Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park because I knew we would play by the river. I wanted the kids to experience the story in similar surroundings.

Boy and girl sitting on rocks and reading by the river

My children reading How Peter Rabbit Went to Sea on the river bank in the National Park

In Peter Rabbit Goes A-Visiting, Peter gets to experience some serious adventures as he veers off his mission to hang out with Jack the Jumper instead. When Peter had to fetch medicine for Flopsy, who had a toothache, he ran into Jack, who invited Peter to go to a party with him.

Peter Rabbit Goes A-Visiting book cover

Peter took a moment to consider what to do. I told my children that’s called the valley of decision. Many times in life they will find themselves in a situation where they know they must do something, but they feel like doing something else. That’s when they will come up with an excuse to avoid the call of duty – or somebody else will provide that excuse, as was the case of Peter and Jack.

The number two reason to read them is because they contain lessons about obedience and the consequences of disobedience. I have read these books to my children several times already and every time I feel inspired to stop in a different spot and point something out.

There is an illustration where Mother Rabbit is spanking Peter Rabbit with a rather thick stick. There is also a night when Peter goes to bed without supper, as a form of discipline. Modern day parents might not choose to discipline their children in these ways and I want to let my readers know about it in advance.

Even if you do not use such drastic measures to get your children’s attention, you can still use these illustrations as a means to inform them of what other children go through or used to go through.

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Karen Whiting Books – A Review

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This post is a review of five books by Karen Whiting:

1. Nature Girl – A Guide to Caring for God’s Creation

This book is the Christian answer to the going green movement publications which stem out of New Age principles and progressive political agenda. Rebecca White co-authors with her mom, Karen Whiting. The book opens up with the ABCs of going green and the corresponding chapter that deals with it. For instance, Q is for Quiet yourself, sit outside, and listen to the sounds of nature (Chapter 1). One does not have to read the book in order. Just pick a topic you are curious or passionate about, look up the chapter and go.

Nature Girl book cover

Karen delivers timeless principles in a friendly and relaxed way. In Chapter 1, for instance, “Be You and Be Beautiful,” she says, “No amount of makeup brightens your face like the flash of a great smile!”

But this book is more than just a collection of theoretical advice. It contains activities (how to create recycled jewelry, how to plan a spa day with friends, how to team up to clean up a park), recipes (from whole-wheat doggie treats to kale chips and carrot-zucchini muffins), science experiments (oil spill cleanup) and games (animal signs scavenger hunt).

 

2. Time – Practical Direction and Tips for Women on Making the Most of God’s Precious Gift of Time

I don’t know about you, but I am a planner. Time is holy, in my opinion. It’s probably the most important gift God has given us and I do not take it for granted. I have read so many time management books, but I can never get enough of them. When I read Karen’s book on time, I knew I found a gem I can recommend to others. Why? Because, unlike other books I have recommended here about getting organized and planning your time better, this one comes from a biblical perspective.

SOSTime

As such, “Time” helps a Christian woman bring her workload to the Lord. Not only are the burdens left at His feet, but the assurance is there that He will help you prioritize and, ultimately, accomplish His will. From ways to schedule your day, to gracious ways of saying “no” when asked to take on one more responsibility, this book is filled with godly advice.

Even though it is a small book, the words and principles shared are deep. I found myself re-reading the same sentence over and over again. I wanted to make sure I really got the whole meaning behind the words. This book would make a great gift to any graduate. Also, homeschooling moms or any moms, for that matter.

 

3. My Mini Dream Room – Create the Mini Bedroom of Your Dreams

This book is part devotional and part craft projects. It is intended for tween girls, but my six-year-old son really got into this project. It’s not surprising to me because he has been building with LEGO bricks for two years now. He likes everything small. He and I built the hanging flower pot, the shelf, the books for the book shelf, and then the skateboard.

Mini Room Cover

We skipped over several pieces of furniture because we did not have the necessary materials. But I put them on a shopping list and next time I go to the craft store I will be sure to equip us so we can finish this room. My four-year-old daughter was pleased to make a hanging basket and some of the books on the shelf.

I like the design of the book – very feminine. I also enjoyed the truths shared in the book (God made you special in every detail, for instance) and the parallels Karen draws between a mini-bedroom and our lives. You know all those distorted beliefs we have about ourselves? Here’s a book that sets the record straight about your identity in a gentle, non-preachy way. So either get your daughter started right, or help her correct these distorted beliefs with this practical, fun and faith-filled book.

 

4. The One-Year My Princess Devotions – Preschool Edition

This book will help you create many memories with your sweet daughter. What is sweeter and more innocent than a preschool age little girl? I am in awe every day at the things my daughter says and does. This book has helped me carve out time just for her. I usually do devotions with both my children, but I read somewhere that it would be a good idea to take time with each child individually. I don’t always know what to say or how to lead her mind in the paths of righteousness. So this book serves me as a guide to work from.

Princess Devotions for Preschoolers

Also, if you are looking for a Christian alternative to Disney princesses, this book will help you. The two princesses on the cover are Elizabeth (the brunette) and Lily (the blonde). If you email Karen about it, she will send you templates so you can make puppets of the two princesses. That way, you and your daughter can have even more fun playing and learning together. Also, she has prayer cards, a princess memory game and even a coloring page.

My daughter and I have played with the cards and it’s really neat to see her reactions when she finally gets a pair of cards guessed right. The games are a great way for me to relax and connect with my daughter as peers, as fellow game players.

 

5. 102 Wiggly Bible Rhymes and Rhythms – Bible Learning Activities for Yong Children

Co-authored with Mary Rose Pearson, this book is a collection of teaching activities for small children. Children learn best by playing and we all know how much little ones enjoy playing with their hands and fingers. Whenever we memorize Scripture, we have hand motions and finger plays to help us. So I know this will come in handy whether you run a Sabbath/Sunday School class or do regular devotionals at home with your children.

Wiggle Bible Rhymes Karen Whiting

Repetition and multi-sensory learning are methods used in this book and we know they work. There are brief instructions on how to introduce a new song or activity, if you should need some guidance.

Personally, I really enjoyed the Relaxer Rhymes. There are three of them and I have almost all of them memorized. We are not very formal in our homeschool, but sometimes I do need their full attention. These rhymes that help them relax, calm down and sit down quietly are perfect.

 

You can connect with Karen Whiting by visiting her website.

I received a free copy of each product above in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. The Amazon links above are affiliate links. All opinions I have expressed here are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.


Maestro Classics Review

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An integral part of our homeschool, car schooling includes listening to music, stories, audio books or audio drama in the car, on the way to appointments and classes outside the home. Recent additions to our car school curriculum, My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel are produced by Maestro Classics.

The conductor, his wife and one of their sons all worked on producing this story CD, alongside famous musicians and narrators. When it comes to CDs for children, I am rather picky. So many of them feature rhythms that make the kids want to shake their behinds.

If you, like me, would like to train your children’s musical taste buds to appreciate classical music, you will want to check out this series. The stories keep their attention while the classical music is woven throughout the CD. The CDs expose their minds to vocabulary, concepts and stories beyond just classical music.

Maestro Classics Review
I read Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel to my children about a year ago. When I brought out the CD out, they did not know what to think. Was it a movie? No. Where can they see pictures? No pictures. We just listen to the story. But why is there music? The music threw them off.

I persevered.

After a few paragraphs, they got into it. So much so, that they asked to hear it over and over again. They like to dig like Mary Ann, faster and faster, as the story progresses and the music picks up.

Children watching a documentary about steam shovels

My children watching a short documentary about steam shovels

After listening to it four times, over a few days, my son started saying things like, “I really like the music, mama.” Bull’s-eye!

The CD booklet has several activities which enhance the learning process: a puzzle, a maze, a mirror word game, etc. My son loved finding out the words. It’s the first time he solved a cross-word puzzle, so this is one for the books.

My Name is Handel: The Story of Water Music was a bit harder to introduce to my children. I was surprised, because they like listening to Handel’s Messiah. I was expecting them to perk up at the mention of Handel’s name. But, again, I worked with their reluctance and gently asked them to listen to it.

Maestro Classics Review
My daughter is four and loves princesses, so when she heard them mention a king, she started paying attention. Isn’t that always the case? We must link new information to their existing database of knowledge. Then, when they see a connection, they are more willing to work with the new concept.

I think the story is really cute, how Handel, ever the showman, managed to weasel himself back into the king’s heart with Water Music. The more modern story about Handel’s living in England (I won’t give it away, you will have to get the CD and enjoy it firsthand) is even more intriguing. I never knew about that other theory.

Children watching animated explanations about the Panama Canal operations

Watching animated explanations about the Panama Canal operations

All this to say I, too, learned a lot from listening to it, besides enjoying the music.

Their website also produces free curriculum guides as companions for their CD series. Definitely worth looking into. You might have to adapt some of the activities based on your children’s ages and philosophy of education, of course. But you have a whole FREE unit study for each CD, with history, art, music, geography, science, language arts, and math.

The CDs cost $16.98 for the CD (plus shipping) and $9.98 for the MP3 download. Considering their quality and how much learning you get out of them, I think they are reasonably priced. I have always said that our children’s education is worth every penny.

The ideal age range for Mike Mulligan is 4+, while the ideal range for Handel is 5+. I can see how my four-year-old lags behind in appreciating them. My six-year-old got into Mike Mulligan after some coaxing, but now he loves it.

In order to stir more interest into My Name is Handel and Water Music, I did some of the activities suggested and the kids enjoyed playing with water and boats, guessing what will sink and what will float, and looking at pictures of royalty. We learned about the Panama Canal, the Industrial Revolution and the steam engine. My son, a budding engineer, loved every moment of it. We colored pictures of a steam shovel.

If you are looking for classical music for children, look no further. This CD series will help your kids appreciate classical music and learn so much more besides.

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Media Talk 101 Review

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As a member of The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew, I recently had the opportunity to watch Captivated, a documentary about the plugged-in world we are living in, produced by Media Talk 101, a small company dedicated to informing the public about the dangers of a lifestyle that takes a bit too much advantage of the digital age.

From the very beginning, I was impressed with how professionally the documentary was put together. The script is well written, too. The producers brought in a series of leaders in modern Christianity, as well as medical doctors and family therapists, to analyze the proliferation of screens in our lives and its effect on relationships.

This DVD costs $16.95.  The shipping is free. If you wanted to order a second one for sharing, it’s only $5. If you have teens, they should definitely watch it with you. I have small children and I did not show it to them. If you have middle school age children, it’s your decision. The movie has been approved for all ages.

I liked the images of the film’s creator in Times Square – the epitome of our fast lifestyle – in the beginning and at the end of the documentary and how they tie the message together.

Another telling image is that of a man on his cell phone in the middle of a corn field. “Where can I go to flee from your presence?” exclaimed David toward God. That might as well be our cry towards screens, which surround us no matter where we go.

The documentary begins with a bit of history and it zooms in on the advent of the telegraph. It was a significant moment in human history because, for the first time, the message could travel faster than the messenger. For the first time, people could be connected remotely without needing to walk, ride a horse, a car, or a train.

I met my husband online, so I was delighted to hear that people met vicariously as early as 1890. “Wired Love,” a love novel from that era, was inspired by a true story. Two people who met via Morse code finally met in person. Since they could not really communicate with each other and it all seemed awkward, they walked in two separate rooms and he proposed via the telegraph. How romantic, right?

The documentary is divided in five parts: Media Consumption, Content, Captivity, Battleground, and Freedom.

Want some startling stats? Today, we have more TVs than children in our homes. In some homes, there are more TVs than people in the home. American children spend over 53 hours per week in front of a screen.

Captivated Movie Review

We wonder why our youth seems so passive and unmotivated. All that screen time tricks the brain into thinking you have done something, when, in fact, you have just wasted your time and accomplished nothing.

The youth seem to think they can multi-task. That they can study while watching TV and monitoring their cell phones which, besides text messages, alerts them instantly of any social media updates. Experts agree that nobody can multi-task.

This life spent plugged into some sort of virtual reality is slowly but surely changing the definition of what it means to be a human.

The documentary recommends a series of books for further study: “Distracted” by Maggie Jackson, “The Dumbest Generation” by Mark Bauerlein, “Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postman – among others. I thought the word “amuse” spoke volumes: amuse = a + muse, where a = not and muse = think. So next time you go to an amusement park, think again. I have never liked amusement parks and now I know why.

The documentary introduces the idea of a media fast. You know how Jesus mentioned there are some type of demons that can only leave us alone with praying and fasting? I believe that is true for the mind, as well. You try to go on a day media fast and you will see how hard it is not to reach for the cell phone or the iPad. Try a week or a month. Are you already coming up with excuses describing how legitimate your need is to log into your Facebook or email account? There’s your answer.

“Captivated” lists the physical downsides of technology: obesity, sleep interruption, hearing problems, eye strain, carpal-tunnel syndrome, just to name a few. What is alarming though is the reality that media addiction is worse than a drug addiction.

The documentary also shows a case study from a school where the parents complained their children had ADD. The principal said, “It is your decision as parents to put your children on medication. But, before you do, please take a month and do the following:

  • give your children three nutritious meals a day
  • put them in bed by 9pm
  • limit their screen time to 30 minutes per week
  • have them play outside one hour per day
  • have them play outside three hours on weekends

Then come back and tell me what you have found out.”

The parents agreed and, at the end of the experiment, came back to the principal to report that their children did not have ADD symptoms anymore.

Captivated Movie Review

The documentary also shows Shepherd’s Hill Academy, a residential facility where teens go to overcome their media addiction, which has made them out of control. Their testimonies were touching. I used to work in a similar place and it brought back memories.

Parents need help discerning what kind of content to put in front of their children, if they decide on allowing screen time at all. We are so bent these days on not censoring anything, that we have forgotten the Bible teaches we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.

Let me paraphrase another great quote from the documentary. They said television was a vast wasteland in 1961. Well, if that is true, television now is a toxic dump. These are words from television executives and people involved in the Parents Television Council.

Ever wondered who is behind the uber-useful website PluggedIn.com (run by Focus on the Family), where you can read reviews on pop culture products from a biblical perspective? I did. Well, his name is Bob Waliszewski and he appears on “Captivated.” He encourages parents to remember that it is OK to deny ourselves and our children. We are called to take up our crosses and follow Him.

The documentary manages to present our challenge as Christians and parents today without being too preachy. I thoroughly agree with the message of this documentary. We limit our children’s screen time to 30 minutes per day. But here are some things they could do better:

  • the documentary should be heavily edited for length; do we really need to spend 107 minutes in front of a screen which tells us about the evils of sitting in front of screens? That’s an irony which will not escape those who oppose the message. My husband gave up on it after about 45 minutes. We did not show it to our young children.
  • the families portrayed in the documentary have six or more children; that’s unusual to those of us who are not of the “quiverful” persuasion; it can be a turn-off to the mainstream American family.
  • the ladies on the documentary wear very long skirts; I understand conservative circles will watch this DVD and may have paid for the making of this DVD, but mainstream Americans do not dress that way. They might feel as if they have stepped into some kind of back country compound bordering a cult sub-culture.
  • if you propose we turn off the screens, please give us more ideas about what to do with ourselves, besides reading the Bible, foraging, playing an instrument and learning new skills. Not everybody is excited about foraging and the documentary spends a good ten minutes presenting this family’s new found passion. Not everybody is musically inclined. Not everybody can read the Bible for an hour at a time. As for new skills, when one has small children, online courses are the golden ticket but oops, that’s more screen time.

For sure, as parents, we need discernment in every aspect of our parenting ministry to our children. Media is a huge one and “Captivated” will help you focus and find some solutions for your particular situation.

For all their bashing of social media, the producers have accounts there:

Facebook  httpss://www.facebook.com/CaptivatedTheMovie
Twitter @CaptivatedMovie

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KinderBach.com Review

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In our homeschool, music and art do not get categorized as “electives.” On the contrary. So I was very keen on giving KinderBach piano lessons to my children when the opportunity came up, through the Review Crew.

Kinderbach Review
To be specific, I have been using the The KinderBach Online Piano Lesson Membership with Teacher Corner. Let me explain. Kinderbach is an online curriculum with piano lessons for children ages 3-7. For a limited time, the yearly subscription is $95.88 per year. That’s only $7.99 per month.

Your young students watch short videos which present piano and music theory instruction. At different points, you will have to pause the video so that they have time to finish their crafts or get their rhythm instruments ready or get into position in front of the piano.

My son, 6, started taking violin lessons a few months ago. My daughter, 3, would really like to play an instrument, too. She does not want to get left behind. These online piano lessons for young children give her just enough exposure to music theory and practice to satisfy her curiosity.

My children doing their Kinderbach.com lesson with rhythm instruments, crayons and coloring pages

My children doing their KinderBach.com lesson with rhythm instruments, crayons and coloring pages

We have a piano, but a small keyboard will suffice. You should, however, have a fast internet connection, crayons, card stock, printer paper and a good printer. All the books and worksheets are PDFs and you print them as you go.

No internet connection at home? No problem. You can also get this program on DVDs. If you travel, you can download the KinderBach App. How convenient is that?

The curriculum contains six levels, each with 10 weeks. Each week features five short videos: an introduction and four lessons. Each video is about three minutes long. An occasional video will be double that.

One full lesson, according to the lesson plans they give you, should take about 20 minutes, but I have found that it takes even less for us, probably because I only have two students. So if you do one lesson a week, you should comfortably finish the first three levels in one school year.

My children can do three lessons in one sitting though. I actually have to stop them and direct them to our next activity. They really enjoy KinderBach and get engrossed in it.

Once, I was talking to my husband and the children were doing their KinderBach lesson nearby. When Ms. Karri, the piano teacher on the video, gave them the cue, they grabbed their rhythm instruments and started playing. It was surreal to see my children “perform” at somebody else’s direction. My husband and I had one of those feel-good parenting moments.

I think it’s great that you can start your child at whatever level they are on. I started mine with the very first lesson, even though I taught them some piano last year. I just wanted to make sure we would not miss anything.

Early music lessons help a child in so many ways. The question is not, “Should I teach my children an instrument?” The question is, “Which instrument?” Then, one must consider the cost of regular instrument lessons, plus leaving home, logistics with one’s other children and the cost of gas. By the time you factor all this in, KinderBach becomes one convenient bargain alternative.

Kinderbach Review
KinderBach lessons are fun. They introduce your young children to several animal friends who, in turn, show them piano basics. There are coloring sheets, crafts to make, songs to learn, rhythm instruments to tap and quick videos to watch. Young children look forward to KinderBach lessons because they enjoy them.

Some of you may be thinking, “I thought you believed in delayed academics. Dr. Moore warned against burning children out with practicing an instrument too young.” Let me just say this… When it comes to introducing children to music, there are many ways to do it, some more gentle than others. KinderBach falls in the very gentle category.

As I said above, children who take KinderBach piano lessons color, cut, paste, and play with rhythm instruments. They stand up with the high notes and they squat down with the low notes. They make friends with all these cute characters who teach them musical notes or rhythm (like the beat bugs). They sing “Twinkle, Twinkle” and “Start Light, Start Bright.” I cannot stress this enough: KinderBach is a very gentle introduction to music theory and piano lessons.

Kinderbach Review
For me, it was a little too gentle at first. I thought, “Can we please get past Dodi (the donkey) and his house (which sits between the two black keys)?” I know. I’m a bit on the serious side.

But then, I noticed how much my young children were enjoying it. They needed a point of reference on the piano for the pattern of two black keys and three black keys. They appreciated the animals and their fun names.

I took four years of piano in middle school, but one does not need any prior knowledge to teach with this preschool piano curriculum. KinderBach will give you lesson plans, lesson aids, short videos and MP3 files you can play and sing to through the classes.

You can make this as formal or as informal as you want to. The lesson plans will tell you exactly what to do and how. Or, you can simply play the videos for the children to watch and print out strictly the coloring page or craft for that particular lesson. That’s what I did. It gave me some freedom to get some things done while they were busy tutoring themselves through the videos. Not a bad deal at all.

Kinderbach Review
I cannot say enough about Ms. Karri, the founder of KinderBach and the teacher on the videos. She has a really great presence for small children. You know how teachers of small children can overdo it sometimes? She is just right. Not too silly, not too serious. When she says, “Would you play with me?” my daughter replies, “Yes!”

With their free trial offer, you can try it in your homeschool and see if it fits. They will give you two weeks’ worth of lessons and worksheets. You cannot go wrong.

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Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers Review and Giveaway

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Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers is a part of my birthday month giveaway extravaganza. To enter, please sign up for email updates on the right menu.

This curriculum serves me well because I don’t really like teaching science. But having a well-organized, well-structured textbook with simple activities listed by age, helps a lot.

Sugar and salt containers

In one of the activities illustrating taste, one shows salt and sugar to students, asking them to identify them only by sight, feel or smell. Impossible, right? Once you allow them to engage their sense of taste, they get the answer.

Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers by Susan Kilbride contains 20 lessons, 10 for ages 4-7 and 10 for ages 8-13. The last chapter provides answers to tests and worksheets.

A homeschooling parent, Ms. Kilbride wanted to write a book that made science easy to teach for homeschooling parents. She also wanted to make learning science fun. She has succeeded.

Not only can you teach students of different ages at the same time, but you can do so regardless of your educational background. Personally, I need all the help I can get when it comes to teaching science. So I need a science curriculum which says, “point out to your students that…” and “tell your students that…” I know some homeschooling moms who don’t like scripted textbooks, but I don’t mind them at all.

Even though teaching science is still teaching science, Ms. Kilbride’s book makes it fun and easy. Get it now or sign up for email updates on the right, to be entered into the birthday month extravaganza. Your homeschool science classes can only get better with this curriculum.


Home Art Studio DVDs Review and Giveaway

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Home Art Studio DVDs for grades K-6th is a part of my birthday month giveaway extravaganza. Homeschooling can get a little rough around this time of the year. So I think a lot of homeschoolers should be interested in a curriculum that keeps the kids happily making art while mom can catch up on her work around the house. No textbooks required, no busy work, no power struggles.

Sculpey cinnamon buns and plate

We made cinnamon buns on a plate out of Sculpey, a clay one bakes in the oven before painting

But this award-winning art curriculum is more than just something to do to get over the winter blahs. During the school year, homeschool students can tackle one session a week and create different art projects in different media. Through painting, sculpting, drawing and coloring, children can express themselves while learning different techniques and even a bit of art history.

Home Art Studio DVDs K-5th plus holiday DVD

One lucky winner will receive all six grades plus the holiday DVD of this homeschool art curriculum

We have done five lessons so far from the Kindergarten set and our only problem is that once we get started, we don’t know when to stop. From a winter landscape to Van Gogh’s sunflowers, to a happy sun and sculpted cinnamon rolls on a plate, we had fun. That’s what it’s all about, right?

Van Gogh's Sunflowers, one of the projects on Home Art Studio DVD for Kindergarten

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, one of the projects on Home Art Studio DVD for Kindergarten, as created by one of my children

I really like art but I would not know where to start and how to teach it. This DVD set does all the work for me and in a professional manner, too. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am with Ms. Volin’s relaxed, inviting teaching style.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the kindergarten curriculum. I only recommend curriculum we use in our homeschool. To enter the giveaway, please sign up for our quarterly e-newsletter on the right hand menu by March 1.


Katie Meets the Impressionists Review

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(This post contains affiliate links, i.e. you purchase great products at no additional cost to you and I receive a small percentage of their price. For my full disclosure policy, click here.)

Homeschooling moms tend to be curious, life-long learners because teachers must be willing to learn constantly. Personally, I love studying new things. I almost feel selfish at times for all the fun I have learning and reading and preparing my lesson plans for the following day. Take, for instance, art appreciation.

Recently, I came across a series of art books for kids, featuring Katie, a little girl who goes to the art museum and can enter and exit paintings as needed. James Mayhew, a graduate of Maidstone College of Art, wrote at least a dozen of these books, from what I can gather, and I want all of them! Do I sound like the nerdy kid from “The Polar Express” movie, when they passed by the toy store window?

We bought two titles to get started on our collection: “Katie Meets the Impressionists” and “Katie and the Spanish Princess.” My children asked me to read each of them twice the first time we cracked them open. That night, they asked daddy to read them again.

Auguste Renoir (French, 1841 - 1919 ), A Girl with a Watering Can, 1876, oil on canvas, Chester Dale Collection

My three-year-old recognized this painting. We have seen it before in “A Year in Art.” It was the first confirmation I received that my art education efforts are paying off.

In “Katie Meets the Impressionists,” our heroine meets Jean, Claude Monet’s son, as well as the Girl with the Watering Can, the girl on “Her First Evening Out,” and lots of Blue Dancers – all mesmerizing characters in famous paintings by Monet, Renoir and Degas.

I was very proud of my three-year-old daughter who reacted as soon as she saw the Girl with the Watering Can – “She’s the girl from that other book!” My daughter recognized the girl in the painting because we have been using “A Year in Art” for our tea time and this painting is featured in there.

Charlotte Mason advocated exposure to art. Most educators believe in the refining influence of art education. “Katie Meets the Impressionists” provides a gentle introduction to or an exciting continuation of art appreciation.

For the French names or words in the book, a Google search like “Degas pronunciation” helps.

Your own copy of this book, which you can show your children again and again, will create great homeschooling memories.

Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop

Lego Education Simple Machines Pack Review

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Last March, I decided to invest in a LEGO Education set for my son, who loves building with LEGO bricks. The Simple Machines Pack for homeschool seemed like the most basic set and a good place to start. It did not disappoint.

It presents four sets of simple machines: gears, wheels and axles, levers and pulleys. The target audience is students in grades one through three, but my son was not even in kindergarten in spring and he had no trouble building.

Of course, he needed guidance. At times, it seemed the concepts went over his head, so I did not insist on the theory. I let him building and play with his creations. He really enjoyed predicting outcomes and then testing to see if he was right or wrong.

I could follow the lesson plans easily, even though I am not mechanically inclined. The binder contains the same information as the CD-ROM, but I would highly recommend you get both, for your convenience.

Wheels and Axles, the second lesson of simple machines in this activity pack, showed my son how to build a go-cart and a wheelbarrow.

Levers provided further fun learning, with models like a catapult and a railroad crossing gate.

Finally, the fourth simple machines: pulleys. This complex model on the left is called crazy floors. On the right, my daughter is enjoying her go-cart.

We have since bought the Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack for our son, so the Simple Machines set has become my daughter’s set by default. She cannot build yet all by herself, as she is only three.

She enjoys watching me build these models for her. I tell her what I need and she helps by handing me the right bricks and plates – great exercise for reviewing colors and numbers in both Romanian and English.

I highly recommend both these sets for your homeschool and, if your children are small, I would definitely start with the Simple Machines Pack first to test the waters. For more LEGO projects, click here.


SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review

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SchoolhouseTeachers.com is the best thing for homeschool since sliced bread. The yearly membership option is the way to go if you want to save money – yours for only $139 for the entire family. There are so many courses to go through. You don’t want to be limited by time as you would be if you invested in this educational opportunity only one month at a time.

If you want a co-op experience, by all means take your children to a brick-and-mortar co-op in your area. We tried it and loved it, but we had to give it up after one semester because of the drive (50 minutes one way).

My children were five and two at the time. We chose only three courses per child because it would have been too much to stay there the whole day, for five courses each. It was tough to wake them up early once a week, too. Over time, the ride wore them down. I got worn out, too.

So, needless to say, I am pretty excited about SchoolhouseTeachers.com, where I can access more than 50 courses for the same amount of money, no alarm clock and no commute. Online learning rocks.

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These courses are for all school ages, from preschoolers to highschoolers, and there is plenty in there just for mom – like convention recordings (I listened to one by Heidi St. John), planners (right there I saved at least $40 on a planner for me and one for my son who is in kindergarten) and e-books (149 of them by the end of the year).

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Since my son does math on a first grade level and reads on a third grade level, while his official grade is kindergarten, it’s nice to have a buffet of courses on different levels. This allows for a customized education – one of the main advantages of homeschooling.

As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I receive a free membership for a year and let me just say this: my homeschool experience has already improved in only ten days of taking advantage of this online learning source.

We accessed preschool activities and crafts from the pre-K/elementary tab by clicking on Homegrown Preschool and Schoolhouse Preschool. I’ll be really honest and tell you that after reading through some of these activities I felt discouraged because making cinnamon-scented ornaments, glittery peppermint playdough or minty green goop seems overwhelming to me.

I would rather cuddle up with my children with a stack of books. I read to them for an hour straight and we only pause for water breaks. But then, I know they really enjoy crafts, so where is the balance?

Luckily for me, the preschool section contains lots of crafts and activities that fit my position on the arts-and-crafts spectrum, like Stained Glass Canvass or Painting Sunflowers.

As I looked through the Elementary Student Planner, I found a cute song in the geography section about the seven continents. I was not planning to teach my children the continents this year. But guess what? They know them because we sang this song a couple of times, in front of a world map, for the past few days.

Then, there’s the Charlotte Mason section – 16 weeks worth of how-to articles and free resources to implement a Charlotte Mason education in your home. I so look forward to systematically going through it starting on January 1.

I have already skimmed through it and found a great blog post from Ambleside Online about establishing the routine of tea time. Slowing down at 3:30 pm to brew herbal tea and smear jam on scones goes against most of the grains in my body, except the one that says, “Take time to enjoy your children.”

I have a strong tendency toward Classical Education, which is why I am happy to see there are courses in Classical History and Classical Archaeology. However, I love the Charlotte Mason approach, too and was looking to create a moment in the day when I do not interact with my children while keeping in mind specific goals. I think I just found it, through tea time.

Sure, we open A Year in Art and look at two or three paintings, according to their interest. And yes, we open the atlas so they know where Louveciennes or Delft are – locations mentioned in the paintings.

But other than that, we sit there and put something sweet and warm in our tummies and talk. I let them open the conversation and bring up whatever topic they want to talk about. I have already found out some things about my children of which I was not aware. And that’s the main reason I homeschool my children – to enjoy them, to get to know them, and to give them the best of me – however much or little it represents.

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