Apologia ~ Exploring Creation Field Trip Journal

I had the opportunity to review Apologia Educational Ministries new book Exploring Creation Field Trip Journal. Everyone enjoys field trips and Apologia comes alongside by provided a fun journal to record your adventures.

As a family, we do a lot of fun activities but never really take the time to create physical memories in the form of a book or journal. My kiddos liked the idea of a journal and were excited to put tickets, programs, and fun mementos into the book. 

For those that feel a bit overwhelmed by undertaking a "field trip", Apologia has helped by providing many help pages including:

• Preparing For A Field Trip
• Called Off The Beaten Path
• Field Trip Ideas
• How To Use The "Field Trip" Pages
• How To Use "My Special Spot" Pages
• How To Use "As I See It" Pages

The guide provides many different field trip ideas to help you get started. Suggestions range from taking a first aid class, to camping, or off the beaten path adventures. Whether your budget is small or large, there are great ideas for any family wishing to explore the world around them both near and far. 

Field trips do not always have to cost money. We had fun feeding deer and watching baby fawns follow their mothers out in the country. My kiddos had fun fishing along the bayou. Our trip to the gulf was so much fun as we searched for seashells, built sandcastles, splashed in the ocean and walked along the beachfront. 

One of my favorite sections in the journal is, My Special Spot. In this section your child is able to express themselves through something in nature that is meaningful and special to them. Everyone has his own idea of where his special outdoor spot would be. I challenged my children to choose two spots, one local and one that they have always wished to travel to. With regards to their local special spot, I cannot wait for them to watch how it changes throughout the year. This is definitely a field trip idea that would not have crossed my mind. For this particular field trip they suggest:

• picking a small spot so that detail does not get lost
• take photos of your spot
• draw a picture of your spot
• note everything included in your spot
• look for what creatures may frequent your spot
• notice changes throughout the year

Apologia provides four pages for you to chronicle your special spot. There is a page for each season of the year.  

Megan, age 9

Megan's local special spot is a big oak tree in our front yard. She loves to climb up into the tree and read, think, get away, and just relax. 

When asked where her special spot would be that she has never physically been to but has seen in books, movies, or television, she said, "I think it would be really fun to go into the Rainforest and see all of the exotic birds, insects and animals that live there. It would be fun to see all of the different stuff that grows there and what the flowers smell like. It would be fun to experience the rain falling in the Rainforest too."

Karis, age 12

Karis's local special spot would definitely have to be a local creek bed area. She and her sibling love going to the creek and exploring. When asked where her special spot would be that she has never physically been to she said, "Exploring the ocean and all of the sea creatures, corral reefs and fish. She said that the ocean is kind of one of the most mysterious places in her mind because it is hidden from the naked eye."

With all of the crazy storms in Texas lately, we had quite the adventure as we daily witnessed a nearby lake. The lake rose to never before seen levels. After several days of torrential amounts of rain we went to walk alongside the lake. One section of the lake has a waterfall like area and the water was flowing like roaring rapids. As we walked along the path and over the bridge, the water sprayed, leaving a steady mist of water in the air. In the four years we have lived by the lake we have never seen it rise to these historic levels. Not only was this a fun experience but it also naturally turned into talk about storms, flooding, thunder and lightening, ect.. 

Virtual Field Trips

Guatemala

This summer my 19 year old daughter will be going on her first, out of the country, mission trip. She will be traveling to Guatemala so we decided to learn a bit more about the country by taking a virtual tour. Here are some interesting facts that we learned:

• Guatemala means, "land of the trees".
• The country is divided into three parts: sparsely populated northern plains, the volcanic and largely populated central highlands, and the agricultural Pacific lowlands.
• Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products grown in Guatemala. 
• Guatemala is the size of Tennessee 

Greece

Daddy will be going to Greece for part of the summer to photograph ancient biblical manuscripts so we decided to take a virtual tour of Greece to get an idea of where he will be. We learned some interesting facts about Greece such as:

• Greece is about the size of Alabama.
• According to Greek Mythology, Athena and Poseidon agreed that the one who gave the city the greatest gift would be the guardian of the city. Poseidon's gift was water and Athena's was an olive tree. The other gods deemed Athena's gift more valuable. 
• 80% of Greece is mountainous 
• Greece is composed of almost 2,000 islands.
• The first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C.
• Greek has been spoken for almost 3000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in Europe.
• Greece's highest elevation is Mount Olympus at 9,750 ft., and its lowest elevation is the Mediterranean Sea at sea level. 

Our Field Trip Experiences

Texas Ranger's Baseball Game

There is something about the nostalgia of "the game" that is exhilarating. The crack of the bat, the singing of the national anthem, peanuts and hotdogs, cheering, the music and lights,

and the sea of your teams color throughout the stands creates a team atmosphere.

Dance Recital
Four of my daughters take dance. Recital time is the final culmination of
a year of dedicated practice. While the day gets long, it is so much
fun to see them preform. Special memories are made and remembered from past 
years of dance study.

Feeding Deer
The kiddo's grandparents live on an acreage with lots of trees and a bayou 
at the end of their property. There are always deer walking around. This 
time of the year is quite special because baby fawns are being born. Some of the deer
will eat out of your hand while others wait for you to put deer feed
down and then walk away. It was so incredibly precious to watch the fawns follow their mothers. 

Fun at the Ocean
Technically, we were at the Gulf of Mexico. We had so much fun building sand 
castles, looking for shells, splashing in the water and body surfing.  

Fishing

My kiddos tried their hand at fishing along the bayou behind their 

grandparent's house. By the end of the day, they had caught a handful of fish. The weather was beautiful. Even the mosquitoes came out to play!!! 

Aquarium

Fun time at the aquarium looking at amazing fish, turtles,

and live sea plants. 

White Rock Lake

With the flooding in Texas lately our local lake has been

a huge attraction. 

Apologia always adds in extra fun by providing "book extras". With a password provided in the Exploring Creation Field Trip Journal you can access an extensive list of field trips ideas and extras that Apologia has put together:

• Field Trip Ideas and Searches
• Maps
• Field Guides and Identification Resources
• Natural History Museums
• Science Museums
• Children's Museums 
• Aquariums and Zoos
• National Parks
• State Parks
• Botany
• Animals
• Earth Science
• Aeronautics and Space
• Human Body/Biology
• Chemistry/Physics
• History/Government
• Community/Municipal 
• Business and Industry
• Culture
• Art Journaling 

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The dreaded............

Multiplication Tables!!!

It is a rite of passage for all, and yet you feel like you have been singled out by the world to achieve this tedious task. We all remember what it was like when we had to learn those dreaded times tables. There are so many suggestion as to how to make the process less painful. I have tried many suggestions over the years and always come back to FLASHCARDS. 

There are so many fun ways to try and accomplish the multiplication facts. Personally, I am just glad when the task is achieved!!!!! 

Memoria Press ~ Latina Christiana I

Salvete, 
I was given the opportunity to review Latina Christiana I Complete Set by Memoria Press. This course is geared towards 3rd grade and up. This curriculum is part of Memoria Press's Classical Trivium Core Series. Memoria Press courses teach "church" Latin rather than "classical" Latin. The set includes:

• Student Book
• Teacher Manual
• Pronunciation CD which also includes Prayers and Songs
• Instructional DVD's
• Flashcards

Upon receiving the curriculum, I was a bit nervous. I do not have a Latin language background so starting this program felt a bit like jumping feet first into a pool of cold water. I was quickly relieved when I began reading the teachers manual and the first sentence said, "This grammar overview is designed for the teacher who has no background in Latin." Right away I knew that we were going to be okay.  

In Latina Christiana I ~ Introduction to Christian Latin, students will:

• learn the first two declensions 
• pronounce, spell and translate 200 Latin words
• learn 25 Latin sayings
• learn two prayers
• learn three songs
• learn grammar
• learn derivatives
• history and geography 

Each lesson is broken down into five sections:

1. Opening
2. Latin Saying
3. Word Study
4. Derivatives
5. Grammar

My 9th grader she did not take the suggested 5 days to complete a lesson. My daughter used the first day to watch the lesson on DVD and work on the Latin Saying and the New Vocabulary. The second day she completed the rest of the lesson. The third and forth days she reviewed grammar forms and the vocabulary, cumulatively. 

There are 25 lessons, 5 review lessons, a quiz after each lesson and a test after every 5 lessons. 

The added history and geography complemented this curriculum and is also very applicable. Understanding the history and culture of Rome and the Middle Ages, the eras when Latin was the dominant language, helps the student associate the language with the times. I absolutely love that Memoria Press combines the language with the history. The combination of history and language establishes a better understanding of the study of Latin. The first thirteen stories of Famous Men of Rome are included in Latina Christiana I.

How we used the curriculum
My 9th grade daughter stepped up to the plate to learn Latin. Using the teacher's manual, I also worked through some of the curriculum. Both my daughter and I were quite impressed by how well the curriculum broke down the lectures in easy, understandable terms. Latin grammar is very logical. 

My 9th Grader's Thoughts
She was excited when I told her about Latina Christiana I. She has not started a foreign language for high school credit yet so we decided that this would be a great option. She is enthusiastic about learning Latin and embraces the curriculum. It is not everyday that your teenager says that they enjoy their schoolwork. My daughter does not particularly like to read nor does she enjoy studying history, so this study will be a great asset for her. We know that avid readers have a more extensive vocabulary and that reading improves grammar. The history that can be gleaned from this curriculum is a huge plus.  Since memorization is a huge part of learning Latin, this will be one of my daughter's biggest challenges. 

My Thoughts
Wow, wow, wow!!!!! I am absolutely impressed with this curriculum. It is amazing. The only aspect of reviewing this curriculum that made me sad was the fact that I haven't discovered it until now. Even though this curriculum was for my child, I studied it along with her. I have learned so much from Latina Christiana I. I enjoyed the teacher and her ability to explain and enunciate the Latin so that it was clear and easy to understand. The pace with which she teaches, is perfect. I will definitely be continuing on with Latina Christiana II. This curriculum is inspiring. I have already looked into purchasing Prima Latina for my younger children. I would highly recommend this curriculum to EVERY homeschooler. Not only will your child learn Latin but they will have a better understanding of English grammar and word meanings. I am so very thankful to Memoria Press for providing an amazing curriculum such as Latina Christiana I for homeschoolers. I will definitely be using this curriculum with my younger children in the future. Gracias tibia ago (thank you) for reading my review. 

To read more reviews click HERE.

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History Hidden on a Chalkboard

Recently I read an article about Haunting chalkboard drawings, frozen in time for 100 years, discovered in Oklahoma school. Another great article.

I was impressed by the beautiful penmanship and cursive writing. The drawings are amazing and I couldn't help but think about the time it took to draw them. I am fascinated by the math wheel and hope that maybe someone will eventually be able to figure out how it works. God was honored!!

PianoWithWillie ~ Studio Access

I had the incredible opportunity to review PianoWithWillie "Studio Access" by JazzEdge. With over 3,000 lesson chapters and multiple learning levels, this program has something for everyone. PianoWithWillie is NOT for the beginner piano student but for the student that already has some piano background, as well as for the more advanced piano students. Willie Myette's music programs have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX as well as featured in many music publications. This program is unique and exciting!!!

The site has different tracks depending on your experience with the piano. They have lessons for the beginner, up to those that already have extensive piano experience. The program keeps track of your progress so that each time you log in, you can pick up where you left off. There is a great Unit Reference Guide to better help you see what is covered in each book and unit. Lessons are taught using a video format. There is an initial piano assessment that helps the learner know where to start based on the students current skills and ultimate goals. 

Navigating the site

There is a very helpful video on "How to use the site" which is very informative. The interface is somewhat confusing with so many links and options to choose from that it is easy to get overwhelmed and lost. I guess you could say that the site is "busy" but with all that is offered it is somewhat expected. 

Willie Myette is actively involved with the site on a continual basis. The site has a forum where you can chat with others in the PianoWithWillie community. Willie appreciates feedback and is open to suggestions in order to provide ease and understanding, as well as amazing content to its users. Knowing that Willie has a strong presence is reassuring to the paid user. For anyone questioning the true validity of Willie's expertise and ability, the answer is unequivocally, YES!!!

Piano Start
Willie provides a 5 step guide to get you started: 

1. Getting Started
2. 30 Day Success Playbook
3. Piano Foundation
4. Using the Site
5. Next Steps

Each of these steps is very informative and offers suggestions on navigating the site as well as guiding you, based on your comfort level and ability. In Step 3, Willie offers his expertise on the best path based on the ease or difficulty with the 30 Day Success challenge. If the student is struggling with completing the 30 Day Success challenge, he suggests that the student try the HomeSchoolPiano. Willie really does want all students to be successful in their pursuit of the piano. 

Studio Lesson Library

Wow, there are so many options. Willie offers six genres to choose from:

• Blues
• Classical
• Funk
• Gospel 
• Jazz
• Latin
• Rock
• Universal

You are able to narrow your lesson search by using the following filters:

• Element
• Level
• Genre
• Tonality
• Key Signature
• Time Signature
• Instructors

The student can also choose which path they want to take, either Foundational or Fun'dational. 

Fun'dational, Song, Beginner, Classical

My PianoWithWillie Experience 
It has been 33 years since I took piano lessons. I took two years of piano before stopping in order to pursue the violin. When the opportunity came to review piano lessons, I was very excited. I can still play basic piano. I have often times wished that I knew how to play the piano better. We have a beautiful piano sitting in our front room that is never played. I was so excited to try my hand at the piano again and hopefully share the love of piano with some of my children. I was pleased to find out that although I thought I had forgotten much of what I had learned so many years ago, the fundamentals came back to me, as I worked through PianoWithWillie.

30 Day Success Playbook
After working through half of the 30 Day Success Playbook, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I may not have been 100% successful in mastering everything just like Willie said I should have been able to, but I progressed further than I ever thought I would. I often repeated lessons in order to master the skills being taught. Being a "very busy mom", I was really excited with how short the lessons were. It is so hard to complete anything that requires long periods of time without being interrupted. I found myself going to the piano throughout the day and practicing what I learned. I even heard, "That sounds pretty good, mom" from my kiddos.

Playing the treble clef is easy, but when I added the bass clef, my left hand had a very hard time working together with my right hand. My "down here" (left hand) did not like working with the "up here" (right hand). I laughed when Willie said that age and dexterity had a play in how easily one is able to catch on. Willie is right!! I do not remember having my left and right hands fighting to play together when I was a kid. 

I am what you would call "music terminology" challenged. Willie does an amazing job of explaining the terms and then demonstrating them. I had to take a lot of notes because I knew that I would need to go back and review.

Now that I have regained some of my lost piano skills from childhood, I hope that some of my children will be able to share in the love and joy of learning to play the piano too.

Core Piano ~ Piano Basics For All Levels
There are 30 chapters in this series. Students will learn how to sit at the piano, proper posture, grab techniques, rhythms, cords, scales, sharps, flats, playing hands together, how to read music and so much more. The lessons are short and are extremely easy to fit into even the most crazy of schedules. 

My 12 year old daughter has always wanted to play the piano. She took lessons for a couple of months and then stopped. She regretted the decision and was excited when this opportunity became available. One of the reasons it was hard for my daughter to continue taking piano was because she deals with chronic health issues. Weekly scheduled lessons and practicing just does not fit into her world. This program is perfect because it is self paced and can be done without the stress of worrying about missing lessons or practice time. It may take her longer than most to learn to play the piano but that is okay. She is enjoying the piano. 

Book 1 ~ Perfect For Beginners

This book is perfectly designed for the beginning piano student. In this book you will learn how to read music, improvise and create your own music. There are six units with each unit, containing technique, rhythm, reading/song, improvisation, and bonus. 

Book 2 ~ Building A Foundation

This book is a continuation of book one. For the student with some piano training, Book 2 is a great place to start. 

Book 3 ~ Unlocking The Pianist Within

In this book you will learn how to create piano arrangements using both prior and new techniques that will be learned.

My daughter really enjoyed learning piano with PianoWithWillie. She has learned so much. This program is definitely the perfect fit for our family. 

My daughter said, "For so long I have been wanting to learn how to play the piano and now I am. Willie makes learning to play fun and easy. I look forward to being able to play really well someday."

Final Thoughts
I had my reservations about how someone on the internet who I had never met or who had never met me, would be able to TEACH ME PIANO. Well, Willie is amazing. His teaching style is fun and likable and is very easy to follow and understand. Willie seems to anticipate questions or obstacles that the student may have. During the lessons, he addresses many of the exact thoughts and questions that were racing through your mind. Willie has done an amazing job. You can tell that he has put a lot of work into making the site a great music learning experience. 

The summer months are almost upon us which means academic work is more laid back and not as intense. Several of my other children plan on beginning their own piano adventure this summer. I cannot wait to share the love of music with all of my children through Willie Myette's program.

I would highly recommend PianoWithWillie to anyone wishing to learn to play the piano. This is a great alternative to normal lessons. For those that have a tight budget, this is amazing. Go check out the fantastic programs that Willie has to offer. You will not be disappointed.  

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Spring 2015 Texas Floods

Education in real life is aways exciting. Recently, in Texas, we have received a huge amount of rain. All of the rain has caused flooding. The ground is so saturated that when it rains we have standing water in our yards. Our landscape is very green and plush thanks to the rain but on the flip side some vegetation is drowning in all of the water. What a perfect opportunity to study weather!!!

The Washington Post has an eye opening visual of what the recent rain in Texas has produced with regards to Texas Flooding. We live in Dallas near White Rock Lake and early today we captured these amazing pictures.