Upcoming Book Release

Recently, my daughter, Karis Ladewig, co-authored a book detailing our family's personal journey and raising Mazie. The book also entails how emotional support animals help people within the community in incredible, life-transforming ways. The proceeds from the book sales will go toward the care and upkeep of Mazie and future service dogs we train. You can make a tax-deductible donation now via the donate button on our website www.dogsinvests.com.

You may have heard of gluten detection dogs. Shannon Eavenson, author of Gut Feeling: Gut Healing have gone above and beyond to train for the detection of (13 multiple grains and starches) to help her son navigate his special diet for digestive issues. This is an all new and emerging niche in the area of health and wellness.

Leave a comment if you would like a sneak peak of the intro and chapter one before our official launch in late May.

Phoebe and Mazie

Memoria Press ~ A Review

Music Appreciation I is just one of the many great curriculums offered through Memoria Press. This is intended for use in grades 3-5. With that said, I am using it with my 6th grader who has little music background and it has been the perfect fit for her. Music Appreciation I is comprised of a workbook and two audio CD's. 

Here is a list of the musical compositions that are covered and the concepts learned:

George Frideric Handel, Water Music, Suite in D Major (HWV 349): 2. Alla Hornpipe
concepts: Musical Form, ABA Form, Baroque Period
Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Concerto no. 4 in F Minor, op. 8, rV 297, “L’inverno” (Winter), i. Allegro Non Molto
concepts: Absolute Music, Programmatic Music, Concerto, Movement, Ritornello Form
Johann Sebastian Bach, Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria and Variation 1
concepts: Melody, Theme, Rhythm, Harmony, Theme and Variations
Johann Sebastian Bach, Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052: i. Allegro
concepts: Concerto, Ritornello Form, Solo, Tu i, Baroque Driving Rhythms
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G Major), Allegro
concepts: Introduction to Sonata Form, Exposition, Development, Recapitulation, Classical Period
Beethoven, Bagatelle no. 25 in A Minor (Für elise)
concepts: Notes, Pitches, Seven Basic Note Name, C Scale, Arpeggio, Rondo Form
Leopold Mozart, Toy Symphony (Cassation in G Major for Toys, 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo)
concepts: Introduction to Intervals, Half Step, Whole Step
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, kV. 550: i. Molto Allegro
concepts: Symphony, Movement, Absolute Music, Sonata Form, Classical Period
Leopold Mozart, Minuet in F Major
concepts: Basic Note Names, Octave, Sharps, Enharmonics, Binary Form
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 in F Major, op. 68, “Pastoral”: i. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
concepts: Programmatic Music, Di erences between the Classical and Romantic Periods
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: ii-b. Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy
concepts: Suite, Celesta
English Carol of French Origin, The Twelve Days of Christmas
concepts: Cumulative Song, Review of Binary, Ternary, Theme and Variations, Ritornello, Rondo, and Sonata Forms
Franz Schubert, Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, The Trout: IV. Andantino - Allegre o
concepts: Chamber Music, Chamber Ensemble Names
Johannes Brahms, Lullaby, Op. 49, No. 4
concepts: Flats, Syncopation
Johann Strauss II, An Der Schönen Blauen Donau (The Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314
concepts: Wal , Coda
Richard Wagner, Pilgrims’ Chorus From Tannhäuser
concepts: Opera, Musical Drama, Leitmotif
Camille Saint-Saëns, Le Carnaval Des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals): Vii. Aquarium
concept: Tempo
Jules Massenet, Méditation from Thaïs
concepts: Interlude, Transcription, Arpeggio
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Flight of the Bumblebee from the Tale of Tsar Saltan
concepts: Prologue, Act
Modest Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition: No. 5, Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
concepts: Grace Notes, Nationalistic Music, Scherzo

Sergei Proko ev, Peter and the Wolf, op. 67
concepts: Dissonant, Consonant

Paul Dukas, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
concepts: Motif, Symphonic Poem
Maurice Ravel, Boléro
concepts: Ostinato, Tonic, Impressionism
Aaron Copland, Hoe-Down from Rodeo
concepts: Meter, Measure
George Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
concepts: Rhapsody, Rubato, Blues Scale
John Sta ord Smith (Lyrics by Francis Sco Key), “The Star-Spangled Banner”
concept: Range 

I was somewhat confused when we began the curriculum because there really was not clear straightforward instructions as to how to implement the program. It took me some time to figure out how it all worked, or at least how we would use it. 

So how is each chapter broken down?

1. Listen 

• Students listen to the musical piece they are about to study. For some, it maybe the first time.

2. A Little History

• Students read this section to get a glimpse into the lives of the composers/musicians, the time period, why they may have composed the piece, what was going on in history that played a significant role in the piece. 

3. Musical Concept

• The student will listen to tracks on the CD and learn about musical vocabulary/concepts as well as analyze the music. 

4. About The Piece

• This gets into more detail of the piece being studied. For example, Water Music, Suite in D Major, was used in entertaining. "Handel included several styles of dances that were popular with royalty. They were highly organized dances with series of steps that had to be learned and rehearsed during dance lessons, which was a common aristocratic activity." 

5. Musical History

• Students learn about the various periods in musical history such as the Baroque period. 

6. Facts To Remember

• This is a list of the important facts that the student needs to take away from the lesson. 

7. Listen Again

• The student is asked to listen to specific tracks again. 

Some chapters change up the sections a bit. For instance, in Chapter 14, there are only six sections. Or, in Chapter 12, there are two Musical Concept sections. The point is, The above breakdown is only an example of what some chapters will look like. 

Tests, lets not forget about good old tests. There are tests after every four chapters. There are a total of 26 chapters in Music Appreciation 1. 

My 6th grade daughter used this curriculum. She was a bit intimidated by the curriculum as a whole since she has had very little music theory or overall musical education. She doesn't play any instruments either. My daughter is a dancer, her love being ballet, so music is a huge part of her life. One of her weaknesses in dance is counting out steps and going to fast. My hope through using this curriculum was that she would gain a sense of not only music appreciation but more about rhythm and timing. She really enjoyed learning about the composers and pieces. 

I would definitely recommend Music Appreciation I to others looking for a great overview of some of the greatest pieces in the canon of Western classical music. 

To read more reviews click here.

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The Atomic City Girls

Very riveting book! Hundreds of people flocked to Oak Ridge, Tennessee to work on an unknown project enticed by great pay. It was only after the end of the war that they learned of the huge impact of their work, helping to create the ATOMIC BOMB! The town of Oak Ridge literally came into existence over night. Shrouded in secrecy, those that came to live and work in Oak Ridge could not tell friends or family anything about their jobs and were not even to talk amongst themselves about their jobs. The town was alive day and night. 18-year-old June Walker becomes involved with physicist, Sam Cantor. She soon learns that her work at Oak Ridge is not just about carefully watching dials when Sam accidentally reveals that they are building BOMBS that came destroy. It is at that point that June and Sam become more than friends and that June really finds about what is really going on at Oak Ridge.

My Daughter the Artist

Recently, my daughter drew her very first self portrait. I 

am so very amazed by her God given talent and artistic ability. Her art was chosen to be displayed in the art department on the college campus where she is currently enrolled as a full time college student while still in high school (she is homeschooled). 

Cascarone Egg Hunt

Cascarone (Confetti) Filled Eggs

Disclaimer: The first three pictures are stock photos taken from google.

Carole P. Roman ~ A Review

Over the past couple of years the author Carole P. Roman has become a familiar name in our home. Her ever growing collection of books have become a favorite in our home. I recently had the opportunity to review, If You Were Me And Lived In... Australia: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World, If You Were Me And Lived In... Hungary: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World, and If You Were Me And Lived in... France: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World. This particular series of books is one of my favorite Carole P. Roman series. The age range targeted for this series is 4-9 years of age.

If You Were Me And Lived In... Australia: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World

Did you know that Australia comes from Latin and means "south." The Great Barrier Reef is in Australia and is the largest reef in the world! A favorite game in Australia is cricket. No, it has nothing to do with the insect, lol. January 26th is a very significant day in Australia. Do you know why those that live in Australia are referred to as living "down under"? Well, it is because of its location on the globe. These and so many other fun facts will be learned about in this fun book all about Australia. 

If You Were Me And Lived In... France: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World

Did you know that Paris was the first city in Europe to use gas lamps? The most popular sport is soccer but it is referred to as football in France. The 14th of July is known as Bastille Day and commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution. Do you like école? 

If You Were Me And Lived In...Hungary: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Did you know that the capital of Hungary is Budapest. Hungary is landlocked. That means that it is surrounded on all borders by other countries and no ocean. Your Nagyi (grandmother) might cook you goulash which is a thick stew of meat and veggies. Did you know that the Rubik Cube was invented in Hungary in 1974 by Professor Erno Rubik. 

Each of the books in this series has a Pronunciation guide at the end of each book so that readers can get help pronouncing some of the hard words that may be unfamiliar to them. Throughout the book when these unfamiliar words come up the words are followed by the words written out phonetically in parentheses. 

These books are perfect for giving young children an introduction of countries and cultures around the world. The length of the books are long enough to capture a good overview of the country being explored without being so long that a child looses interest. There are pictures on every odd page with some pages where the pictures cover both pages. While you read the child can be looking at the pictures. If the child is able to read the books for themselves they will enjoy how well the pictures go along with the text. 

I have had the privilege of reviewing many of Carole's other books in her other series.  Here are my other posts. 

Carole P. Roman

Carole P. Roman

Carole P. Roman

My older kiddos absolutely love this history based series, If You Were Me And Lived In..., that is targeted for older students 8-15 years of age. 

Do you have a little pirate lover in your life. Arr, Matey! You may want to check you these books featuring Captain No Beard. 

Check out all of Carole's books. She has these and so many more. 

To read more reviews click here.

Social Media

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