Homeschool Happenings: July 2018

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Mazie Passed Her Canine Good Citizenship!

We are so very proud of Mazie!!

So what does a dog have to do in order to pass the test?

Test 1: Accepting a Friendly Stranger. The dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach and speak to the handler (the dog owner) in a natural, everyday situation.
Test 2: Sit Politely for Petting. The dog will allow a friendly stranger to pet it while it is out with the handler.
Test 3: Appearance and Grooming. The dog will permit someone to check its ears and front feet, as a groomer or veterinarian would do.
Test 4: Out for a Walk (walking on a loose lead). Following the evaluator’s instructions, the dog will walk on a loose lead (with the handler/owner).
Test 5: Walking Through a Crowd. The dog will walk through a small crowd of pedestrians, passing in close proximity to at least three people.
Test 6: Sit and Down on Command and Stay in Place. The dog must demonstrate sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay.
Test 7: Coming When Called. The dog will come when called by the handler (from 10 feet away on leash).
Test 8: Reaction to Another Dog. The dog will behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries.
Test 9: Reaction to Distractions. The evaluator will select and present two distractions such as dropping a chair, etc.
Test 10: Supervised Separation. This test demonstrates that your dog can be left with a trusted person. The evaluator will hold your dog’s leash while you go out of sight for three minutes.

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Smart Kidz Radio ~ A Review

Smart Kidz Radio is the newest edition to the Smart Kidz Media line-up. Smart Kidz Radio is an educational radio station just for kids. It can be accessed on your internet browser or via Smart Kidz Radio App. What makes the site even better is it is FREE!

So what does Smart Kidz Radio have to offer:

Free 24/7 live streaming of songs and stories
For a small On Demand Membership Plan you will have access to 100's of more songs and stories ( to come soon)

Live Stream Radio

Song Request Page

Story Podcast List

Cinderella

From our time listening to Smart Kidz Radio it seems that it is geared for kiddos around 7 and under. This is just my opinion. The station is geared for kiddos around ages 2-10. In my opinion I think that the 7 and above crowd is pushing it a bit. With that said, all of the songs promote positive morals and character traits. I would definitely recommend it for younger kiddos wanting their very own commercial free radio station, that is free of negative or bad content.

Some of the topics talked about in the music are:

kindness
communication
how we are all different
controlling our emotions
our unique qualities
routine
solving problems
taking care of ourselves
education
being helpful

Overall, I think that Smart Kidz Radio is a good concept. It wasn't a good fit for our family. My youngest child is 10 and she said that everything was too babyish. With that said, I think those with younger kiddos would find this to be a great source of entertainment for their little ones.

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartkidzmediainc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smartkidzmedia

Monday, July 23, 2018

Some of my Summer Reads

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Progeny Press ~ A Review

My 5th grade daughter has been reading The Scavengers and using The Scavengers - eGuide from Progeny Press over the past weeks. The Scavenger by Michael S. Gilleland is geared for grades 5-8. The intention is for the student to read the book while working through the eGuide over a course of an 8-10 week period. For this review I received the downloadable eGuide. I purchased the book on my own. The eGuide is 73 pages in length. I printed out the eGuide. You can also use the downloadable study guide in Adobe Acrobat Reader interactive PDF format that will allow the student to interact with the eGuide, working directly on the computer.

What exactly is included in the eGuide?

Author Background
Note to Instructor
Book Synopsis
Idea's for Pre-reading Activities
Chapter Vocabulary
Chapter Comprehension Questions
Thinking About the Story Analysis and Critical Thinking
Digging Deeper Questions
Optional Activities
Crossword Puzzles
Additional Resources

What is The Scavengers about?

My daughter said, "The story's main character is Maggie who lives in the OutBubble with her family. Maggie decides to call herself, Ford Falcon after a car she finds and claims as her own. Her family lives in the wild. Some people live in Bubble Cities but they do not. Her parents decided that they did not want to be a part of the UnderBubble. People live UnderBubble or OutBubble. UnderBubble people are protected and OutBubble people are not. OutBubble people have to fend for themselves. Ford Falcon and her family has to dig through trash to survive. There is a lot of mystery about what goes on around the Bubble Cities. URCorn is bad and cannot be eaten by OutBubble people. There is a third kind of people that are kind of weird. They are called Grey Devils. They will do anything for this corn! They also love what is called PartsWash which is what is used to clean machine parts. There are lots of other weird creatures in the OuterBubble. One day her family goes missing and Ford Falcon gets very scared. She knows that she has to be brave and confront the people of the UnderBubble!"

Since my daughter was on the younger side for this eGuide I decided to do most of it with her aloud. We talked through the comprehension questions. The vocabulary section was a very practical section for her. This by far was the most valuable section for her. I really liked the variety of activities that Progeny Press used to teach vocabulary. In Chapters 1-8 they ask the students to choose from three words and decide which word has the closest meaning to the vocabulary word listed. In Chapters 9-16 students are given the vocabulary word from the text in the book and then are asked to give a synonym and antonym for each vocabulary word. In Chapters 17-24 students match the vocabulary words with the definition. In Chapters 25-34 students again read the vocabulary as it is used in the book. They are then asked to write their own definition of the word and then they are asked to look up the definition in a dictionary. In Chapters 35-45 students choose words from a box and write sentences demonstrating their understanding of its meaning. In Chapters 46-53 students are asked to chose a word or phrase that is closest to the meaning of the vocabulary word underlined. And in Chapters 54-59 students read a sentence and answer a question.

The eGuide covers so many elements throughout the book that are critical for students understanding of literature such as:

foreshadowing
Alliteration
Repetition
Flashback
Simile and Metaphor
Proverb
Onomatopoeia
Cliffhanger

I love how Scripture is woven into the eGuides.

Student's are continually asked to Dig Deep and think more critically about what is going on in the book. Instead of just reading the book at face value they are asked to really think about what they are reading and dissect it. They are asked to think about what is really going on with the characters and their situations. I love that by the time the students have read the given book they haven't just READ THE BOOK they have studied the book.

I am all for reading books for leisure but I do feel that it is important that students learn how to really study and dissect a book.

I absolutely love Progeny Press and their collection of eGuides. There are eGuides available for Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School. I would highly recommend eGuides.

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media

Facebook: https://facebook.com/progenypress

Twitter: https://twitter.com/progenypress
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/progenypress
YouTube: https://youtube.com/progenypress

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Math Essentials ~ A Review

Over the past weeks I have been working through Math Refresher for Adults from Math Essentials. This workbook is the perfect solution for those that need to refresh their math skill in the areas of General Math, Geometry, Problem Solving, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra. This is more than just a workbook! You can find tutorials for each new concept online at www.mathessentials.net and click on Videos.

Math was never a strength of mine in school and now that I am homeschooling my kiddos I find it to still be a hindrance and a deficent. Once my kiddos hit upper level math things get a bit rocky. When this workbook came up for review I jumped at the chance to review it. While I have always told myself I HATE MATH, I have come to discover that I actually really do like it. The problem it that I just don't get it! Once I understand a concept and am able to make sense of it all I actually really enjoy the number challenge. Math is a bit like a foreign language. You have to continually review, and keep the skill up, or at least I do.

Each page contains Review Problems, Helpful Hints (which are problems worked out), and then Practice Problems. The solutions to all of the problems are at the end of the workbook. Also, a Glossary of mathematical terms can be found at the end of the workbook as well. Helpful charts including; Important Symbols, Multiplication Table, Commonly Used Prime Numbers, Squares and Square Roots, and Fraction/Decimal Equivalents are also at the end of the workbook.

So what exactly is covered in the workbook:

Whole Numbers
Fractions
Decimals
Percents
Geometry
Intergers
Charts and Graphs
Word Problems
Pre-Algebra and Algebra

There are approximately 224 pages of math problems. At the end of each section there is a final review before going on to the next section.

I would definitely recommend this workbook for those needing a quick and easy way to refreshen their math skills.

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/math.essentials/

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Bible Study Guide For All Ages ~ A Review

My daughters have been working through the Advanced (5th and 6th Grade) Bible Study Guide For All Ages. We also got the Wall Maps and Timeline Set. For this review I received Unit 1 which contains Lessons 1-26. There are a total of 416 lesson in the Advanced Level Student Pages. There are multiple options for purchasing each level in the Bible Study Guide For All Ages levels. Units can be purchased individually or as entire kits. There are also many levels beginning with Ages 3-K through Adults.

Student Pages

I used the Advanced Level with my 10 and 12 year old daughter's.

What is covered in each lesson:

Remember It?

This is a review section where student's are reminded about important details from previous lessons.

Memory Workout

Students learn key verses in the Bible, the Books of the Bible, and themes of each Book of the Bible that are taught via the Bible Book Summary Cards.

Guess What...

This section helps students understand words that may be unfamiliar to students as well as lesson text that may be a bit complicated to understand.

Discover The Bible

This is the actual Bible lesson part. Students will use their Bible and look up the verses given for the day. The student reads the verses corresponding with each numbered cartoon and answer the questions.

Time Line and Map

This gives the student a BIG picture look at the Bible as a whole. The timeline helps the student visually see where everything visually fits. When student's read about various Bible places most have no idea where these places are. Actually seeing a map student's can then visually see where the places being talked about were.

Get Active

This gives the student the opportunity to get a bit of a break away from their lesson and apply Biblical truths they have learned to their own lives.

Apply It!

Student's learn how to apply what they have learned to their own lives. Prayer and personal application.

Specifically, Unit 1 covers both the Old and the New Testament. Lesson 1 takes verses from Genesis 35:23-26;37:1-11 and Lesson 26 covers verses from Matthew 2:13-23 and Luke 2:39-52. If your student completes the full 416 lessons it will take them approximately 4 years to complete a full walk through the Bible. Each year they will study both from the New and the Old Testament.

Teacher Key

The Teacher Key pretty much just has the answers to the questions in the student workbook. There is gray shaded areas in the Teacher Key that has helpful information for the teacher.

Bible Book Summary Cards

( These can be purchased in three sizes; 4.5"x6", 8.5"x11", and 11"x14".)

The pictures on the front of the card spell out and help explain the main content and theme of each particular Book of the Bible. On the back of the card students will find a short summary of the corresponding Bible book and questions pertaining to the book. The illustrations on the front of the cards are a great way for students to visually comprehend and understand as well as remember what each book is about. For the younger student unable to read or just beginning to read this is the perfect way for them to visually remember via pictures. Sometimes students who are visual learners are helped when they see visual pictures that then help them to remember content, especially of large content such as books of the Bible.

Wall Maps and Timeline

Unlabeled Wall Map & Time Line

Wall Map & Time Line Label Book

The cardstock used for the label system for the time line is nice and thick. My girls had so much fun cutting out and placing each label as they worked through their lessons. Having a huge timeline helped them to see the WHOLE picture as them went along.

My 12-year-old could not wait to get started on the wall map. It was a bit difficult to find a wall that was big enough. I knew that these were going to be big but WOW! The time line is 76"x25" and the maps are 38"x25", 19"x25", and 19"25". They recommend using HandiTAK® or something similar so that the labels can be removed and reused.