The Critical Thinking Co. ~ World History Detectives Book 1

I had the privilege of reviewing the World History Detective Book 1 for The Critical Thinking Co.. The World History Detective Book 1 is geared for grades 6-12+.

Mission Statement

The Critical Thinking Co.™is committed to developing students' critical thinking skills for better grades, higher test scores, and success in life. We do not teach through drill and memorization or teach to the tests - we empower the mind!

What exactly is Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking is the process of disciplining one to think clearly, rationally, with an open-mind, and to be informed by evidence through examining, analyzing, questioning and challenging situations, issues, and information. Critical Thinking sets out to find truth from partial truth or thinking based on false premises or assumptions. Thinking critically requires one to consider the whole context of a problem, issue or situation without assuming what is or isn't there.

World History Detective Book 1
The workbook covers Prehistory, Ancient Civilizations, Medieval Civilizations, and Early American Civilizations for a total of 78 lessons. The lessons include maps, graphs, and timelines. Students learn to develop important critical thinking skills while learning history. For each lesson, the student reads and analyzes the written material. After doing so, they apply critical thinking to answer multiple choice questions and complete short essay questions. The student is required to support answers through evidence learned from each lesson.

The lessons are broken down into one page readings followed by the questions and short essay questions. The answer key is included in the back of the book. Before giving my son the book I removed the answer key section to eliminate the temptation to cheat. The pages in the book are perforated for easy removal.

How I used it
I decided to have my 8th grader use this curriculum. World History Detectives challenged my child's thinking and required him think outside of the box. Most curriculums are read and regurgitated, that is not so with this curriculum which requires one to use deduction, reasoning, and critical thinking in order to arrive at answers. My son was quite resistant in the beginning because in his words, "It makes me think too hard." He is so used to finding direct answers to questions in a reading. The multiple choice answers are uniquely worded from the lesson material, forcing the student to think about what they have read in order to accurately answer the questions.

My son was quick to point out that the book was written from a secular perspective. Evolution and an old age of the earth are presented as factual, though the book does point out that these views are debatable. As Christian parents, we have taught history based on creation rather than evolution. This instigated a great discussion about the necessity of learning all perspectives, in order to better enable our children to defend history through God's creation. I was pleased to see that the book included how religious developments have impacted culture and the events of history.

My son has an insatiable love of history. He enjoyed working through the lessons and gaining historical knowledge, as well as developing his critical thinking skills. As he progressed though the book, my son found it much easier to complete the lessons. Obviously, his critical thinking skills were being sharpened. As both a parent and a teacher, I would call that a SCORE!!! Being 13 years old, I doubt that he would actually admit it, but I think that he enjoyed World History Detective. 

Final Thoughts
Overall, I was quite pleased with this curriculum. Critical Thinking is an important tool and The Critical Thinking Co. does an amazing job at preparing the student to be able to think critically. I will definitely continue to use The Critical Thinking Co. in the future. I would also highly recommend this curriculum to others.

“If we teach children everything we know, their knowledge is limited to ours. If we teach children to think, their knowledge is limitless.” 

 Michael Baker, President of The Critical Thinking Co.

Social Media:
Facebook
Google +
Twitter
Pinterest

If you would like to read more reviews click HERE.

Singapore Math

Let's Talk Mathematics

I am happy with our current math curriculums, Rod and Staff and Teaching Textbooks, but have found Singapore Math to be a wonderful supplement to our current core math curriculum. You can purchase Singapore Math from many retail stores and online sites. We use the Singapore Math Practice workbooks.

Singapore Math requires the student to think mathematically rather than just memorizing the mechanics of mathematics. The curriculum utilizes a three step process in it approach.

• concrete
• pictorial
• abstract

Singapore requires the child to think critically, use strategy, mental math, and problem solving skills in order to solve each mathematical problem.

I am currently using the Grade 2 level for my youngest child. I have used critical thinking materials/curriculums with all of my children to supplement our core curriculums. The concepts and methods for learning math are drastically different with the Singapore Math method. My child is being challenged to think critically which is a skill your brain has to be trained to do.


Disclaimer
I am not a proponent of Common Core.

Review ~ FreedomProject Education

My son and I had the privilege of participating in an online streamed class for FreedomProject Education entitled, Mother, Should I Trust the Government. This was an eight week online course taught by Dr. Jake Jacobs. FreedomProject Education has more classes for 2015. Go check them out. You can purchase Dr. Jacobs book at several online sites including Amazon. 

Dr. Jacobs is both president and founder of the Politically Incorrect Institute. He holds degrees in American History and Judeo-Christian Studies from multiple institutions of learning. Over the past twenty-seven years, Dr. Jacobs has taught in both private and public schools, as well as at the college level. Over the years, Dr. Jacobs has been criticized for his passion for historical correctness and his position that our country was founded as a Republic Under God. Dr. Jacobs is an evangelical Christian and brings his strong Christian beliefs to his teaching. His desire is, that students, upon completing the course, have the ability to dialogue with better intelligence and understanding. This understanding allows the student to reflect upon their Christian beliefs and verbally express their passion for a nation conceived, based on "On Nation Under God."

This online class met once a week, for two hours, for eight weeks. The class time was recorded, so that, in the event that you had to miss all or part of any class, you were able to watch the video at a later time. Weekly e-mails were sent which included a link for the week's video recording of the class. With the class being once a week, I was a bit concerned that I might miss a class. Knowing that a video of the class could be accessed at a later time, was a wonderful perk. There were no tests or papers required for the course. The only required work, between classes, was reading sections of the book, Mother, Should I Trust The Government, written by Jake Jacobs PhD. 

Discussion centered around such thoughts as:

• Creating enough government to govern without corrupting 
• Finding and maintaining truth, (Veritas) 
• America is not a Democracy, rather it is a Constitutional Republic
• Government officials are servants of the people
• "The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws" ~Tacticus~
• Balanced government 
• Totalitariamism ~ government takes control over every aspect of public and private life
• America founded on Christianity
• Democratic and Republican party platforms

Dr. Jacobs utilized slides throughout the lecture. He explained "the basics" as he went along, for those who had limited government understanding.  He often recommended books and media that were relevant to the discussions.

Dr. Jacobs book, Mother, Should I Trust the Government, was a great read. The book was informative and we learned a lot. Throughout the book, Dr. Jacobs uses cartoons by A.F. Branco. Branco's Comically Incorrect comics brought a bit of laughter to the table.

My son's thoughts
My 13 year old son and I completed the course. My son thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Jacobs teaching. When I initially told my son about this course he grumbled and asked if he had to do it. After the first class, he changed his mind. He enjoyed the lectures, the book, and interacting during the class via the online chat board. My son eagerly read the book, Mother, Should I Trust the Government, and read the book section assigned each week on his own volition. He now has a much better understanding of how our government was created and functions. The class ignited his desire to further study government.  

My thoughts
I was excited that I had the opportunity the review this course so I could have a better understanding of how our government functions . Dr. Jacobs was engaging, funny, and a wealth of knowledge. I would definitely take another course taught by Dr. Jacobs. I enjoyed reading, Mother, Should I Trust the Government. I liked the ability to actively interact during the class time through the open question and chat forum. I learned a great deal from taking Dr. Jacobs class and reading his book. 

Final Thoughts
I would highly recommend this course to other homeschoolers and friends. Having an understanding of our government system and its workings is imperative if we want to be informed citizens, making informed decisions. 

"The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government."   

~Franklin D. Roosevelt~

Social Media:

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

To read more reviews click HERE.

Visual Learning Systems

I was privileged to review an amazing online science curriculum by Visual Learning Systems. There are two levels available, Digital Science Online: Elementary Edition (Grades K-5) and Digital Science Online: Secondary Edition (6-12).

This online program utilizes videos, images, and animations to teach the numerous chapters of study in their program. 

The Elementary Edition contains studies in:

• Physical Science
• Life Science
• Earth Science
• Integrated Science

The Secondary Edition contains studies in:

• Physical Science
• Life Science
• Earth Science
• Integrated Science
• Health
• Biology

Each chapter has downloadable teacher's guides, as well as student printables. The student printable section contains both pre and post assessments, as well as worksheets for each chapter. 

The Teacher Guide contains: 

• National Standards Correlations
• Learning objectives
• Assessment explanations
• Video introductions and suggestions
• Video scripts
• Answer keys

Each chapter is broken down into one to three minute video segments. I really, really like this set-up. Often times when a student is presented with a whole chapter, whether it be in a book or long video, it is so overwhelming. When broken down into smaller segments, the material does not seem so overwhelming and daunting. The breakdowns are extremely helpful when going back to find an answer to a question. I always think of the analogy, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

My 3rd grader loves animals, so it was a no brainer when she began with the animal related chapters. She began with the chapter entitled, Animal Classification, in the Life Science section. This particular chapter of study is actually targeted for middle school, but my daughter was able to complete this chapter with minimal help. She was very excited when she was able to answer all of the questions in the post chapter quiz. As she completed the worksheets and she came across an answer she was unsure of it was easy for her to go directly to the video segment in order to get the correct answer. She loved the videos and eagerly completed the worksheets for the chapter. My daughter has eagerly completed many of the sections in the elementary level, as well as some in the secondary level. She looks forward to using this program every day. As a mother and teacher I am always excited when one of my children has such an insatiable desire to learn. 

My 1st grader also wanted to learn about animals so we started in the life section with, What is an Insect?. My daughter enjoyed the videos and they kept her attention. Since a lot of the vocabulary was above her level of current understanding she stopped the videos many times to ask what something meant. I was excited that she really wanted to understand the material that she was viewing. She listening intently and could easily pick up where she stopped. For the most part, she utilized the video sections of this curriculum. She willingly sat and watched many of the videos. I was pleased knowing that she was learning a lot from just watching. 

My 6th grader tackled Life Science for Middle School. My daughter is more of a visual learner when it comes to science, so this program was definitely a perfect fit for her. She completed the first chapter, Bones and Muscles, in two days. I have been struggling to find the perfect science curriculum for my daughter and I think I have found it!!

Overall thoughts
The website itself has a very basic look without much visual appeal. The layout could be cleaner to enhance navigating the site easier. These observations are minor and inconsequential in that they have nothing to do with the overall content which is amazing. The curriculum is secular based so I did discuss with my children how our creation theory beliefs did not line up with everything said in the videos. With regard to the content, I am very pleased with what is offered and I would highly recommend this science curriculum to my friends, fellow homeschoolers, and educators. I am impressed by their excellent customer support. I had several questions as I navigated the site. When I called customer support, my questions were thoroughly answered. This is definitely a huge perk. I will continue to implement this curriculum for my children as it is the PERFECT fit for our family. 

You can find Visual Learning Systems on Facebook and Twitter.

To read more reviews click HERE.

Egglo Entertainment

I had the privilege of reviewing products from Egglo Entertainment. For review we received, 
The Egg-cellent Easter Adventure Book, Glow in the Dark Egglo Eggs, Egglo Bible Verse Scroll Stickers, Egglo Treasures Scripture Scrolls, and the The Egg-cellent Adventure Program Guide downloadable PDF. The purpose behind Egglo products is to help families keep the focus of Easter on Christ. With the help of Hardy, Anastasia, Pascal and their dog Zeke, Egglo Entertainment is sure to be a hit with both parents and children.

You can purchase the complete Egglo Kit or purchase individual items. I was pleased with the quality of the product. The products available for purchase are:

• The Egg-cellent Easter Adventure Book on DVD
• The Egg-cellenct Easter Adventure Audio Book
• The Egg-cellent Easter Adventure Book
• The Egg-cellent Adventure Program Guide
• Glow in the Dark Egglo Eggs
• Egglo Treasures Scripture Scrolls
• Egglo Bible Verse Scroll Stickers
• Egglo Easter Egg Stickers
• The Egg-cellent Easter Adventure Character Stickers

Jesus is the Light of the World, and Egglo does a fabulous job at transforming the traditional Easter Egg Hunt into a search for light, the Light of Christ. 

John 1:5 says that the "Light shines in the dark and the darkness has not overcome it."

Christ's light shines even in the darkness. I liked the idea of searching for God's truths contained on the tiny scrolls, nestled in the Egglo Glow in the Dark Eggs, in the dark. I cannot think of a better way to teach a child about the Light of Christ.  Christ entered a dark and sinful world to become sin for us.  Searching for God's truths in the darkness, guided by the light that is in each of the eggs allows children to search for God's truths. This experience is the perfect interactive, visual experience that will be sure to be remembered not only at Easter but every day of the year. 

My children had so much fun on their Egglo Easter Egg hunt. This was definitely like no other Easter egg hunt they have ever had. As a mom, I had a feeling of accomplishment and well-being, just knowing that the focus of Easter was not lost amidst the fun. My daughter said, "Mom, can we start doing this every year?" Due to the cold weather and snow, we did the hunt indoors. I imagine that it would be even more fun to do the hunt outdoors. Maybe next year the weather will cooperate with an outdoor hunt.

The book, The Egg-cellent Easter Adventure, is not a Bible story, rather it is an engaging story with pictures that connect the idea of searching for scripture, along with searching for Easter eggs. My 6 year old and 8 year old children really liked the storybook. The book is third-nine pages long. The length of the story book was a bit too long for my younger children. It may be a good idea to read the book over several sittings in order to keep the younger audience's attention. I thought the book was well written and the illustrations were eye catching. The story was easy for children to comprehend. 

The Egg-cellent Easter Adventure Program Guide contains ideas that will help you combine, looking for the Light of Jesus, with hunting for Easter Eggs.  

• teaching ideas

• scripture memorization

• decorations

• printables

• coloring pages

• snacks

My kiddos love coloring so they were unquestionably excited when I printed out some of the coloring sheets that were included in the guide for them to color. While coloring, we discussed the book and went over the scriptures on the scrolls. We also talked about Christ's death and resurrection.

We also had fun with the Bible Alive Q&A suggestion from the program guide. Based on the text from John 18:20-31, there are ten questions to ensure that your child understands the Biblical account of Jesus's death and resurrection. Instead of making it a race to see who could answer first, I had the kiddos take turns answering the questions. Here is an example of one of the questions and answers.

Question 3: What happened when Peter denied Jesus the third time?

Answer: A rooster began to crow. 

The Egglo Treasures Scripture Scrolls are a wonderful tie-in to the storybook.  The package contains twelve scrolls, each of which contain different scriptures relating to the Light of Jesus. What better way to prepare for Easter, other than reading, memorizing, and storing God's truths in your heart. My kiddos had so much fun unrolling each scroll and reading the scripture contained on each one. 

If you are looking for the perfect Easter gift for your child, grandchild, or friend, this is definitely a great option. 

Social Media:
Pinterest
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Google +
Tumblr

To read more reviews click HERE. 

Dr. Seuss Day

Today, we celebrate Dr. Seuss and his contribution to children's literature. Most of us grew up on Dr. Seuss, learned to read with his books, and enjoyed them being read to us.

The Newer-than-New Dr. Seuss book, What Pet Should I Get, comes out Summer 2015.

You can find many fun activities and games to celebrate this fun day!!

Seussville

abcteach

PSBKids
Homeschool Share
Random House Kids

Don't forget Pinterest. There are many boards dedicated to Dr. Seuss.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!!!!

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904. He published his first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, under the name of Dr. Seuss in 1937. Many more best sellers, including The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham are common household names. His rhymes and characters captivate children.

Education in the Rare....

Today is Rare Disease Day. One in ten people deal with a rare disease. Today is set aside to honor and bring awareness to those dealing with Rare Diseases. Our Rare Disease is FPIES, Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome. Education is essential.

The FPIES Foundation is a great resource to learn about FPIES. Their goal is the educate, support and empower.

The International FPIES Association is another great site.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology is another great resource to learn about FPIES.

Review - Koru Naturals

I had the opportunity to trial some products by Koru Naturals. I was asked to use the Emu Oil Premium Golden and Pure and Simple New Zealand Lanolin Cream for a period of about four weeks. Koru Naturals has a wide selection of wonderful products in their catalog. Koru Naturals products are never tested on animals and contain natural substances such as manuka honey, lanolin, tea tree, manuka oil, rosehip oil and Rotorua mud. This company has been bringing the beauty of New Zealand to the United States since 2002. 

Emu Oil
Emu Oil Premium Golden is a traditional Australian Aboriginal natural oil to be used as a moisturizer for the skin or hair. I was curious as to other uses for the oil so I researched it a bit on the Internet and found some interesting uses. I was excited about the product information stating Emu Oil Premium Golden could be used "to reduce the depth and length of fine lines and wrinkles." The oil does not really have any definite fragrance. It soaks into your skin with minimal amount of an oily feeling. Hopefully, with continued use, the oil will to decrease the dryness in my skin and decrease my "slightly aging" appearance. I am impressed with how well the oil was absorbed into my skin.

When I began using the oil on my face I was experiencing an acne breakout that was due to stress. I was surprised at how well the oil helped with the redness. So far, I have not noticed any significant change on my face.

Next, I used the oil on my feet to try to combat the rough, dry, calloused feel and appearance. Emu Oil works great to soften the skin on your feet. I think that with continued use of Emu Oil Premium Golden on my feet, my feet will be ready for wearing sandals in the summer.

Emu Oil Premium Golden also works great as a lip moisturizer.

Lanolin Cream

Pure and Simple Lanolin New Zealand Cream has a mild, pleasant fragrance. The cream is not at all greasy and my hands felt well moisturized after applying. As a mom I am constantly washing my hands which leaves them dry and rough. After using the Pure and Simple New Zealand Lanolin Cream during the day, I noticed at the end of the day that my hands were dramatically different in comparison to a day that I had not used cream or lotion at all. I am very sensitive to harsh perfumes and fragrances so I was pleased that I did not have to worry about this aspect while using these products. 

I have several children with extremely sensitive skin and eczema and this cream was gentle enough for them to use. Most lotions and creams tend to burn the surface of the skin when applied to skin with eczema. My daughters were pleasantly surprised that the Pure and Simple New Zealand Lanolin Cream did not cause any irritation. As a parent it is very important to me to use products that will benefit my children without causing irritation.

Final Thoughts
If you are looking for natural products to care for your skin and hair Koru Naturals is definitely something I would encourage you to try. I can feel confident using these products knowing that they are free of chemical and additives that many skin and hairs products contain. I enjoyed trailing these products and will definitely continue to use Koru Naturals products in the future. I am anxious to try some of their other products as well.

Social Media:
Facebook
Pinterest

The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew tested many different Koru Naturals products. To read what others had to say click HERE. 

Our Crazy Life With A Side Of Homeschool

I am beginning to think that I should have named my blog, Our Crazy Life With A Side Of Homeschool instead of Homeschool Happenings.