Homeschool Planet Review

In talking with several homeschooling moms lately I have discovered more than one thing in common with them. A lot of us hate to keep grades. Some of the ladies I talked with don't until high school and a very few didn't at all. They know what their kids are doing, what they know, and how well they know it; why assign grades?

Well, my nature is such that I need grades to fill in the forms. I like forms filled in and blanks to not be empty. Plus, it makes me feel better seeing all those forms filled in!

 

Unfortunately, it is rather difficult to find an online planner that is easy to use and has all the features you want. Homeschool Planet just might be the thing you are looking for.

 

Homeschool Planet includes:

*A Calendar View that lets you see anybody's or everybody's calendars at once

*A Planner View with a simple list of everything you need to do and when

*Automatic Rescheduling -- A class time changes? You miss a few days to illness or vacation? No problem! Homeschool Planet automatically reschedules all the affected classes and assignments.

*Separate logins for kids to view their assignments and check them off when completed.

*Daily Digest emails to everyone in your family with their own schedule, assignments, and chores for the day

*Email and text message reminders to help everyone stay on schedule (Some limits apply.)

*Lesson plans with assigments, web links, notes, and more

*Easy attendance tracking, grading and transcript creation

*To Do lists for everyone in your family

*Shopping lists (one each for Target, Safeway, etc.) that you can text to your spouse or have sent to your smartphone when on the go

*Widgets you can use to do research, send text messages, and more. These are really cool!

*Mobile Version -- Ability to view and edit (with some limitations) your calendar on SmartPhones and tablets

*Calendar sharing -- View the contents of your spouse's Google Calendar inside Homeschool Planet, and vice versa! This also works with Apple iCal and other online calendars.

*Lesson Copying -- Copy any lesson for use at a later time by another student.

 

http://youtu.be/XXOVwaDUMqg

 

Homeschool Classifieds is offfering a FREE 30 day trial! Head over Here and check it out. You DO need to be a member of Homeschool Classifieds but membership is FREE as well!

 

Now for what I thought of Homeschool Planet. I like it. It is fairly easy to use and doesn't have a ginormous learning curve like a few other programs out there. There are many scheduling options, re-scheduling, chores, appointments, multiple students, etc. to choose from. It is a pretty exhaustive list of options. Almost too many? I'm not sure. It would take a while to use this program to its fullest I think. Homeschool Planet would be your one-stop shopping for scheduling school and your life.

 

You can sign up to get Daily and Weekly Digests of the upcoming events. It can goes to email and I had it sent to my kids as well. It can be printed out for them to use as a guide for getting the work done. I thought that was pretty cool!

I am going to show you some pictures from my tablet of how things look and some of the options.

The picture above is pretty self-explanatory, really. You are creating an event! It is straightforward.

You choose what to add or Copy an Existing Class-that one is HUGE people!

Rescheduling assignments because life gets in the way can be a pain but Homeschool Planet makes is doable.

Display options for how your planner will look. I like options!

Calendar or Planner view, I can never stay on just one. Homeschool Planet offers both!

 

 

What I didn't like about Homeschool Planet was the mobile version. I am a gal that likes the desktop version of just about everything I see. I just do. It is a personal preference and I know that. Homeschool Planet does not offer a desktop version on a tablet at this point. There are options for the desktop not available on tablets and the set up looks different than the desktop version. Now, my husband will tell you that most people don't care about such things but I do and so I mention it. Just in case you care about that little thing as well! ****The Widgets are pretty cool on the desktop version-don't neglect checking those out!****

I wouldn't let that be a deterrant if you like what you see. Try it out!

 

If you want to order a subscription after your FREE Trial, it is $65 for 1 year. You can head over Here to sign up!

Find them here:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

 

Head over to Home & School Mosaics and see what everyone else thought of Homeschool Planet.

 

 

 

Who Created Everything? Wizzy Gizmo Review

Do you struggle making Bible time interesting for your kids? Do you want something to make the Bible come alive? Need some quiet time activities to keep the littles occupied and interested?

 

Wizzy Gizmo has just the thing for you. Who Created Everything? is an audio CD from the book of Genesis. We reviewed Episode 1 which is Chapter 1.

 

I pulled out the CD and put it in the player hoping it would catch the attention of the kids. It did. They didn't want to listen at first but very quickly the room quieted down and they were listening!

About Wizzy Gizmo

We are parents, pastors, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, and Homeschoolers who are committed to our children for life, by planting them firmly in God's Word; and we want to help you do the same! Why? Because we believe that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

 

Who Created Everything? would be a great tool to use for Bible Study, Bedtime Stories, Homeschool Resources, Devotions, and so much more. It is great to have handy to turn on when you need the kids to settle down and get a lesson or two.

The Audio Drama we received tells the story of how it all began. "It all begins when Wizzy Gizmo places the Bible on his incredible Gizmovision invention. The machine whirls and hums, the room begins to vibrate and shake, lights flicker on and off. The invention is surrounded by tiny arcs of electricity as a sphere of blue-green light emerges and begins to grow bigger and bigger. There is a flash, and then things really begin to happen..."

 

I really love this CD. The voices are sweet in their characterizations and the music is engaging. I was humming it for days after listening the first time! Our 4yo does not sit still easily but when I put this CD on, she was sitting within minutes and was engrossed. That is incredible in and of itself!

 

She sat listening for quite a while and what better thing to listen to than Bible Stories? I am so thankful for Who created Everything? and the solid Biblical teaching it offers.

If you want to hear samples of Who Created Everything? head over to this page and listen. You can also purchase the CD's or Digital Downloads starting at $9.99. The target age is 4-12 but older kids will enjoy them on car rides or just for the quiet it brings to the house when the younger kids are listening!

Wizzy Gizmo also has a Book Series, Fast Track Bible Packs, Free Resources to check out. Find out more about Wizzy Gizmo on their About Page and find Who, What, Where, When, and Why for your questions.

You can connect with Wizzy Gizmo through

Facebook

Twitter

Vimeo

Pinterest

 

Check out what other reviewers thought over at Home and School Mosaics.

 

Thanksgiving

Today we get to spend the day with family. We get to eat, visit, and remember our blessings. We are truly blessed. Bug and her family are celebrating together and we will miss her-we aren't all here without her!
Enjoy your families and hug them often.
You can also read my latest article over at Homeschool Mosaics today. Check it out!

Homeschool Mosaics

I keep forgetting to post about Homeschool Mosaics.  I have mentioned it but I want to really focus on it today.  Homeschool Mosaics is a medley of many different writers with personalities just as varied.  We are a mish-mash of opinions, ideas, and methods and we all come together to offer our wisdom, advice, and friendship to whoever reads it.  Homeschoolers and the reasons they chose to homeschool are as different as the cars we drive.  They are all cars and get us from one place to another but they look different, we use them differently, and they go at different speeds. 

But they all get us there.

Homeschool Mosaics offers so many articles that I have no doubt you will find something to encourage you or make you laugh. 

From the website:
Our goal here at Homeschool Mosaics is to support homeschoolers – we want to reach you where you are, and encourage you on your journey.  Because we know that each homeschool is different and unique, we’ve put together a group of authors here who come from a wide variety of backgrounds.  Boxed curriculum, unschooling, Charlotte Mason, Classical, relaxed, eclectic . . . you name it, we’ve got it.
We hope that you will find some writers that you can relate to.  Maybe you will also “meet” some new people with new ideas who will inspire you.  We know that sometimes the road seems long and hard, but the end result is so worth it.  And we believe in you . . . YOU CAN DO IT!
Please take the time to get to know us!  And be sure to leave comments and share your thoughts and opinions. Questions are welcome also!
If you like what you see here, we hope you’ll share with your friends.  Feel free to grab one of our buttons to post on your blog.  We’d also love to have you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  Sign up via e-mail to be notified of new posts too!






Here is a list of the articles I have posted.  My column A Day in the Life is nothing dramatic or earth shattering.  It is just a place I share a little about our lives.  It is sometimes gritty or laughable but it is always real.   If you read my articles you will find out just how crazy life can be in a house of six females!  My poor husband might achieve saint status before this journey is through. 








There are forty contributing writers on our site including Todd Wilson, Lee Binz, Davis & Rachael Carman, Leah Nieman, to name a few! 

Head over to our website and poke around a while; I'm sure you will find something that speaks to you.  Don't forget to leave some comment love on any article you enjoy!

Don't Forget

Don't forget to go over and check out all of the GREAT articles at Homeschool Mosaics.  There is encouragement, reviews, interviews, give aways, and just plain fantasticness going on over there.  ;-)

There will also be a Facebook party on August 2nd that you don't want to miss!  Check it out and plan to be there.

It's Up, It's Up!!

My post is up over at Homeschool Mosaics.  You should go check it out!

Homeschool Mosaics

The new blog is LIVE!!




There is already an amazing amount of content on it.  There are absolutely amazing articles just waiting to be discovered.


Mine just happens to be here! 




Check it out!!



You can also check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Friday's Fave Five

I'm back to this wonderful link up.  I have missed it completely for the month of March, I think, but I am back and want to stay on track!

So My Fave Five this week:

1.  Sabbath Week!  We chose to take it this instead of next and I am so glad we did.  It has been a restful week.  I hate to see it end. lol

2.  Our library.  We frequent it often.  They know us on sight. lol  I love that my kids love to go there.  I love the smell of the books, the looks of the books, and the adventure awaiting me in them.  It is one of my favorite places to be.

3.  Cancelled practices.  hahaha  Our youngest has gone down to one soccer practice a week and I am thankful for one less thing on the schedule.  That means one more night open that we can hang out as a family at home.  Resting, being together, getting stuff done around the house.  Love it!

4.  Our family doctor.  I know, I say that I am thankful for him a lot but I truly am so blessed by him that it bears repeating.  He sees and treats Bug for free.  He is a Godly man that takes the time to spend with us until we are comfortable with what he is telling us.  He is a great man and a great doctor.

5.  The last thing on my list is a new website I am part of.  It is a new homeschooling website with different contributing authors covering some pretty amazing topics by outstanding women.  I can not wait for it to go live on April 2nd.  Homeschool Mosaics is going to be something pretty special and I am so honored to be part of it. 

What are your favorites from this week?  How has God blessed you?  If you want to see what others are thankful for head over to Living to tell the Story and find out.

EXCITING NEWS!!!

I am so thrilled to be part of a new venture in the homeschool community. 

I am going to be a monthly contributor to a new blog for homeschoolers.  It will have encouragement, homeschool helps, recipes, special needs, notebooking, humor, give-aways, and so much more.  Sound like something you are interested in?  Yeah, I kinda thought so! 

Homeschool Mosaics will go live on April 2, 2012.  We already have a great line up of of articles so when the blog goes live it will be full of helpful and relevant articles from a variety of authors.  Each author is unique and different to help cover the diversity in the homeschooling community. 

If you are new to homeschooling or have been doing it since the dark ages, this new website is for you!

Don't forget to stop the Facebook page for some other great information. 

There will be a Facebook party on April 2, 2012 8-10pm EST with lots of great prizes and a chance to chat with the authors of the blog.  You won't want to miss this party.  I have seen the list of give-aways and I am more than a little jealous!

Like our Facebook page to be sure to stay in the loop before this new site goes live. 

Don't worry, I'll be posting the URL here for the Homeschool Mosaics blog as soon as it is live.  ;-)