Brinkman Adventures ~ A Review

My daughter loved listening to the Brinkman Adventures Season 4 from Brinkman Adventures. I received the 4 pack of CD's which includes 12 action packed adventures. The Brinkman Adventures is an exiting radio show that tells true, modern, missionary stories through the eyes of the fictional Brinkman family. 

All of my children really enjoy listening to audio dramas and books on CD. They are great for   long car rides, breaks between schoolwork, hospital stays, and bedtime wind down time. 

Episodes:

A Paradise Lost
Remember Nhu
Aisha’s Fear
Heart Song
The Crashed Kitchen
Crisis In The Congo
The Mysterious Palm Feller
War of the Raccoons
The Five Guys
Toughest Man
Cambodian Quest
What Brings Us Together

Each episode is about 1/2 hour in length and the episodes build upon each other. 

My daughter said, "One of my favorite episodes was Aisha's Fear and that episode was about, Aisha's husband beat her a lot and there was a Christian doctor across the street that wanted to buy from their shop but no Chrisians could buy from their shop. One day her husband got really sick and Aisha called the doctor and he came and her husband finally let the doctor look at him. The doctor started coming on a regular basis. He told them about the Lord. Aisha's husband became a Christian. Aisha's husband died. After her husband died Aisha started building a friendship with the doctor and became a Christian herself. This is just one of the many amazing stories that I heard as I listened to the Brinkman Adventures. Another episode that I really likes was Remember Nhu which was about a guy who has a dream and the Lord says to go around the world and find Nhu. He travels and finds someone who will help him. They look for two years and find her. The guy goes and sees her. She is a slave. The guy who helps find her is actually her uncle. The guy who had the dream starts a home for girls just like Nhu. The first episode, The Paradise Lost, the Brinkman's go to a family camp by a lake. When they get there the lake drains up. The bridge breaks and no one can leave or get to the camp. They make the best of the situation by creating their own activities. One activity was avoiding adults and the adults were trying to get the kids inside because there was a huge storm. The kids were running away from the adults. They finally got all of the kids safe inside. The bridge got repaired and everyone got to go home." 

I really enjoyed listening to the Cambodian Quest with my 9 year old. The theme of this episode is going deeper with God. They are helping fix sewing machines to the Nhu house. Kitry doesn't want to help fix the machines. She rather explore Cambodia. Her heart is in the wrong place. Kitry gave a man in the market the Nhu house address. A girl in the market is very ill and and gives Nhu her baby because she can no longer care for her. Kitry continues to stir up trouble by thinking of her own desires all the while putting Nhu and the girls at the home at risk. The stories are based upon real missionary stories. You can read the stories behind the episode adventures on this page.

Some of the themes that your child will learn about while listening to the adventures are: obedience, recognizing God's power, finding courage, our weakness and God's strength, and God's Sovereignty.

Travel with the Brinkman's from Ecuador to Kashmir and from Africa to Alaska as you follow their adventures in these episodes and discover God’s wonderful truths.

I would definitely recommend Brinkman Adventures to others. Definitely check out the whole all of the seasons on Brinkman's website.  

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brinkman-Adventures-152895116079/

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CTCMath ~ A Review

My 4th grader has been working on CTCMath over the past weeks using their Single Membership subscription. Right now homeschoolers can get 60% off + 6 months free through November 15, 2017. You can also get a free trial. CTCMath is an online Math curriculum for grades K-12. CTCMath is a full curriculum but beyond 8th grade it is recommended that it be a supplemental curriculum. The program runs on all modern HTML5 platforms, including iOS devices such as iPads and iPhones, and Android devices.

So how does CTCMath work? Each lesson tutorial is about 4-9 minutes in length. Lower grades are on the shorter end. Concepts are taught step-by-step. As the instructor teaches the math concept is displayed on the screen. 

After the tutorial students are then directed to go onto the interactive questions. The student inputs the answers to the questions and if the question is answered correctly they will get a green checkmark. If the answer is incorrect they will receive a red x with the correct answer written off to the side. The program automatically keeps track of your students progress. If your child does not receive a high enough grade they will be asked to repeat the lesson before advancing to the next lesson. For those that prefer working with a worksheet, no problem. You can print out the lesson, work through the problems, and then input your answers. CTCMath also offers students one page summaries of the lesson tutorial that can be printed out. This is a great option for students who may want to keep a binder of the lessons to refer back to. After a lesson is fully completed students can print out an answer solution page. This is simply every problem that was in the lesson worked out with the answer. 

A progress page displays your child's lessons, attempts for each lesson, lesson grade, and date completed. 

Students receive certificates of completion. 

My daughter working through some of the long multiplication problems. 

My 4th grader is really enjoying CTCMath. We have a really solid math curriculum that we already use and like. I intended to use this more as a supplement but my daughter is really embracing the program. She HATES math and actually looks forward to doing math. I never thought I would be saying those words! I have decided to let her use CTCMath until Christmas and then reevaluate where she is in comparison to where she would have been in her other curriculum and decided what we will do in 2018. I will definitely continue to use it whether as a full curriculum for as a supplement. 

I would definitely recommend CTCMath to others. Over my 18 years of homeschooling I have used many math curriculums both book, online, and CD and I can definitely say that I am not a fan of many of the most popular ones on the market. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media

CTCMath (US and Canda)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctcmath?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctcmathofficial
Periscope: https://www.periscope.tv/ctcmathofficial
Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/ctcmath/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWn5e6974bpIEAe46VnovZw

Maths Online (Australia Only)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsonline.com.au
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MathsOnlineAU

Super Teacher Worksheets ~ A Review

Super Teacher Worksheets is an amazing online resource treasure trove of educational materials for educators and parents. An Individual Membership can be purchased for $19.95 and allows unlimited access for an individual user. 

As educators, we sometimes find that our students need extra practice in order to master specific skills. Other times, we need worksheets to help fill in the gap where our curriculum may lack a bit. Or maybe, like my children, they just like worksheets. Sounds strange, right? In their words, "Worksheets are fun". I still haven't figured out how worksheets are different than their normal schoolwork, but I am not questioning or complaining. I usually try to fish around for the "fun" ones first and then mix in more needed ones as I see fit. You would be surprised at how even "fun" worksheets according to kids truly are learning worksheets. 

Super Teacher Worksheets has worksheets in the following categories:

• Math
• Reading & Writing
• Phonics & Early Literacy
• Handwriting
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Chapter Books
• Science
• Social Studies
• Holidays
• Puzzles & Brain Teasers
• Teacher Helpers
• Pre-K & Kindergarden
• Worksheet Generator

With Fall finally here we decided to dig into the Fall, Halloween, Autumn, and Thanksgiving Worksheets. Isn't this "Fall is Here" crown the cutest thing ever!

What would Fall be without a scarecrow. 

Even though Thanksgiving is over a month away it is never to early to do a crossword, right?

It took multiple attempts at this graphing activity but my daughter FINALLY accomplished the desired result, a happy JACK-O-LANTERN! She was so excited to do this activity. She had never graphed before. Her first attempt was a mess of lines. I sat with her again and showed her again how to do it. She was mixing up the "x" and "y" axes. In the end, success!

Taken from the Reading Comprehension section, "America's National Bird: Eagle or Turkey?" was a one page write up followed by two pages of follow up. One page has statements and the student has to answer whether the statement is either fact or opinion. There are a couple of short answer questions and one multiple choice question. Another fun activity was called "Letter Mix-Up" where the student cut out the letter that spelled the word THANKSGIVING. They had to come up with as many 3 letter, 4 letter, and 5+ letter words as they could.  

This fun little turkey came as a template (feathers and body). The kiddos color the feathers and the turkey and then put him together. I used tape because it is fast, easy, and less mess. 

An Indian headpiece. 

I did find a great section of cursive writing worksheets that I will be using with my 4th grader. There are these full alphabet sheets as well as worksheets that are focused on single letters too. 

My 4th and 6th grader had fun doing a competition round of who could come up with the answer faster with this States and Capitals Quiz. I would say the questions out loud or write clues on a board. They had so much fun. Great way to learn! 

I would definitely recommend Super Teacher Worksheets to others. It is a great online resource for worksheets. Whether you looking for a specific subject and concept that your child is struggling with or you just need something to help keep your kiddo busy look no further. If you cannot find exactly what you are looking for you can create your own worksheet via the worksheet generator. Super Teacher Worksheets will also save your content in a section called "My File Cabinet" so that you can easily access your material when you need it again. Definitely go check out the site for yourself. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/superteacherworksheets
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SuperTeacherWks 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/superteacherwks/ 
Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/superteacherworksheets/ 

Dallas Children's Theater

Goosebumps

My kiddos and I had the opportunity to see Goosebumps at Dallas Children's Theater yesterday afternoon. We always enjoy each and every performance that DCT performs. This one did not disappoint. The singing and the acting was captivating and performed. Unlike me, my kiddos already had the phantom already figured out.

The set was simple yet perfect. Lighting and smoke added an extra feel of eerie. Transitions were flawless. I loved how they utilized the space within the audience. It is always fun how the characters come out and meet the kiddos afterwards to take pictures and sign programs.

The music that DCT comes up with for their musical's are catchy and infectious. We all loved the music that they came up with for this performance. It was awesome!!

Thank you DCT for yet another wonderful production!!!!

WorthyKids/Ideals ~ A Review

My 9 year old daughter enjoyed reading the first two books in The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series by WorthyKids/Ideals. We had the opportunity to read the first two books in the series, The Secret Of The Hidden Scrolls ~ Book One The Beginning and The Secret Of The Hidden Scrolls ~ Book Two Race To The Ark. Your kiddos will enjoy a time traveling adventure with Peter, Mary, and their dog Hank as they travel back in time to familiar stories from the Bible. Together they must search for hidden clues to solve messages on ancient scrolls. These books are targeted for ages 6-9 years of age. The reading level is grades 1-3. 

The Secret Of The Hidden Scrolls ~ Book One The Beginning
This book is 107 pages in length. The biblical events in this story are taken from Genesis chapters 1, 2, and 3 as well as Revelation 12: 7-9. 

My daughter said, "Peter and Mary's mom and dad are going on a trip to Africa and they are going to be staying with their great uncle Solomon. Their dog Hank can tell the time by looking at the sun. Their great uncle Solomon is a archaeologist. Uncle Solomon tells the children that he has spent much of his life traveling around the world and has discovered artifacts that prove the stories in the Bible are true. Hidden Scrolls! It took them back to the beginning of time." 

The children arrive in total darkness and hear the words, "Let there be light." The day ends with God saying, "It is good." The children witness creation. The angel Michael introduces himself as their protector and gives them the rules for their adventure which are: 1) They have 7 days to solve the scroll or be stuck back in time 2) They cannot tell anyone where they are from 3) They cannot try and change the past. 

I don't want to give away any more of the story and spoil it. 

The Secret Of The Hidden Scrolls ~ Book Two Race To The Ark
This book is 118 pages in length. The biblical events in this story are taken from Genesis chapters 4 - 9. 

My daughter said, "Peter and Mary hear a loud roar! They are taken back to the time of Noah's Ark. They have to help fix the ark. There are evil people that they must face. The Dark Ruler gets angry when they talk about God. They meet Shem, Han, and Japheth."

My daughter pretty much summed it up. Again, the children have to solve the message on the scroll. I don't want to give any more detail and spoil the book.  

My daughter really enjoyed reading these books. She was able to read through them fairly quickly and is excited to read more in the series. 

I would definitely recommend these books to others. The stories are full of adventure and most importantly they are biblically based with scripture passages to refer back to. At the end of each book is a short section giving the book and chapter reference from the Bible where the stories from the book can be found. Great first chapter books for your early readers. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/WorthyKidsIdeals/ 
Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/worthypub     
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/worthypub   
   

Heirloom Audio ~ A Review

My family definitely enjoyed listening to Captain Bayley's Heir from Heirloom Audio Productions.  I received the physical CD's as well as digital downloads. 

A Grand, American Adventure (CD 1, Track 1)

Our Story Begins In London (CD 1, Track 2)

Captain Harold Bayley (CD 1, Track 3)

The Westminster Boys (CD 1, Track 4)

The Real Fight (CD 1, Track 5)

Harry's History (CD 1, Track 6)

Dismissal (CD 1, Track 7)

America! (CD 1, Track 8)

Abe, Rube, And Dickens (CD 1, Track 9)

Danger On The Trail (CD 1, Track 10)

Indian Attack (CD 2, Track 1)

Disquieting News (CD 2, Track 2)

The Plot Thickens (CD 2, Track 3)

Prospecting (CD 2, Track 4)

Pay Dirt, Gentlemen (CD 2, Track 5)

Amazing Grace (CD 2, Track 6)

The Shootout (CD 2, Track 7)

Frank, The Hero (CD 2, Track 8)

Investigation and Exoneration (CD 2, Track 9)

More Stories To Be Told, More Adventures To Be Had (CD 2, Track 10)

G.A. Henty, dubbed history's master of storytelling, brings history alive in his books of daring adventures. Heirloom Audio Productions philosophy of a Christ-centered history is refreshing amidst a world of humanistic thinking. Heirloom Audio truly brings history to life. As you listen to the story unfolding you feel like you are really living the adventure. Heirloom's Audio Drama's together with Henty's great books make for an engaging way to learn history. The audio dramas are a collaboration of creative storytelling, gifted orators/actors, realistic sound effects, and amazing composed music to make for a captivating historical drama. 

What is Captain Bayley's Heir about?

18 year old Frank, who is falsely accused of a crime, theft, that he did not commit, or at least we are lead to believe. With the help of a friend Frank decides to flee to America decides to pursue to Gold Rush instead of sticking around until he can be publicly convicted. Captain Bayley, Frank's uncle, and Alice, are left behind grieving his departure. There is plenty of exciting drama listening to stories and tales and times of the gold rush. I hate to give away too much of the story and be a spoiler. I will say that the ending turns into a wonderful story of redemption. 

Some historical events, people and topics discussed in Bayley's heir are:

• British Constitution
• Clipper Ships & Common Ships
• Consumption
• Wagon Trains
• Indian Attacks
• Prospecting

This audio adventure is 2 1/2 hours in length. Along with the CD's the following were included in the form of downloads:

• MP3 Download
• E-Book or read online
• MP3 Soundtrack
• Printable Cast Poster
• Study Guide and Discussion Starter
• Inspirational Verse Poster
• Desktop Wallpaper Download
• Official Script Download

I have created binders with all of the study guides for the many Heirloom Audio Adventures that we have collected. After printing the guides out I put the pages in protective sleeve covers. Since printing these colorful guides can get a bit expensive placing the pages in protective sleeves ensures that over the years as my children listen to the Audio Adventures the guides stay in perfect condition. If printing is not an option, viewing the pdf format online is a great option as well. The guide is professional looking easy to follow. 

Study Guide
The study guide is a FABULOUS complement to the audio drama CD's. I found the study guide to be extremely helpful in discussing the story with my children. The study guide is set up to aid the younger student in understanding the story as well as challenging the older student at a deeper level. The study questions are divided into three sections.

The Listening Well - focuses on what was heard

The Thinking Further - challenges the child to think, draw conclusions, and speculate

The Defining Words - defining unfamiliar vocabulary

The study guide which is available via computer download is great for a wide range of ages. For the younger child there are vocabulary words to define and for the older child there are great discussion questions. Many times, after listening to the Heirloom Adventures, it has sparked further discussion and interest in periods of history that likely would have been overlooked.

Expand Your Learning

In the Expand Your Learning sections my kiddos learned some very interesting facts. Did you know that many mining towns dealt with exorbitantly high prices for common household items such as eggs? For instance, a single egg could be sold for as much as $20! The drastic increase in population in these mining town lead to price gouging, attacks, disease, and great risk. People came from South America, Mexico, Europe, and China in search of gold in America. Little did they know how hard it would be. Once they landed they would have to journey inland hundreds of miles to reach their mining destinations. Using a map you can trace the journey that various individuals might have had to take in order to reach a mining destination. This is also a great opportunity to discuss the hardships that travelers would have faced along the way. 

At the end of each Heirloom Adventure there is a short Bible Study section that is definitely worth working through. 

Live The Adventure Club 

Live the Adventure Club is a community forum as well as a treasure trove of extra resources, games, and extras for the whole family. Your child can take online quizzes, print out coloring pages, solve word searches, and so much more. You and your child can follow along using a copy of the actual audio drama script! Don't want to print out the study guide, no problem. You can download the guide in a friendly pdf version. Teachers and parents can search through the teachers resources to find enrichments to go along with each audio adventure. I love this new addition. My kiddos love to get on and eagerly complete each activity relating to the audio drama that we are currently listening to. 

Summing It Up

Like all of all of the other audio adventures produced by Heirloom Audio this one did not disappoint! I would highly recommend Heirloom Audio to everyone of all ages. I have had the privilege of reviewing The Cat of Bubastes, The Dragon And The Raven, With Lee In Virginia, In Freedom's Cause, In The Reign of Terror and Beric The Briton. I would highly recommend these audio adventures. 

To read more reviews click here. 

Social Media

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomAudio 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/HeirloomStories    
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HeirloomAudioOfficial       
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/b/114534826166314080647/114534826166314080647     

Banned or Challenged Book Week 2017

Many books on the banned or challenged list are classics. I for one make sure that my kids read all of them before they graduate from high school. One of the great privileges of homeschooling is that I am able to expose my children to great literature! Those banned or challenged books include...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Call of the Wild

The Catcher in the Rye

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Gone With the Wind

The Grapes of Wrath

The Great Gatsby

The Jungle

Moby Dick

The Red Badge of Courage

The Scarlet Letter

To Kill A Mockingbird

Uncle Tom's Cabin

The Chocolate War

Of Mice and Men

The Giver

The Bridge to Terabithia

The Kite Runner

The Great Gilly Hopkins

Summer of My German Soldier

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

A Day No Pigs Would Die

A Wrinkle In Time

Julie of the Wolves

I am saddened by the lack of classic literature read in the public school systems today. It is sad that many of the great classics are overlooked for newer books that are thought to be more relevant and better. Not true! You haven't experienced a great book until you have read Jane Eyre and experienced the pages of Pride and Prejudice. 

Fall 2017

Autumn Rain

The plane leaves

fall black and wet

on the lawn;

the cloud sheaves

in heaven’s fields set

droop and are drawn

in falling seeds of rain;

the seed of heaven

on my face

falling — I hear again

like echoes even

that softly pace

heaven’s muffled floor,

the winds that tread

out all the grain

of tears, the store

harvested

in the sheaves of pain

caught up aloft:

the sheaves of dead

men that are slain

now winnowed soft

on the floor of heaven;

manna invisible

of all the pain

here to us given;

finely divisible

falling as rain.

by DH Lawrence