Sad and Breaking News

If you have read my blog at all in the last year and a half you know I have been a proud member of The Old Schoolhouse Magazines Homeschool Crew.  I have absolutely loved doing reviews with them and am so honored that I was chosen for that privilege.

Unfortunately, that time has come to an end.  Changes are afoot and I can no longer remain there.  I have tendered my resignation as of this morning and am no longer part of The Crew. 

I will fulfill my obligation of finishing the reviews that are outstanding so beware, they will all probably hit at once! 

Changes are hard no matter what but when they are handled badly it makes it even worse. 

TOS Review Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting App-Letters Make Words

Who doesn't love technology?  It can used for so many things- to make life fun or it can be used for educational purposes.

But, there are times and Apps that combine both!  Can you hear the celebration going on over at our house?

I was fortunate to be chosen to be on the App Crew as part of The TOS Crew and our very first app review is for Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting App Letters Make Words.  You can find more about this cool app here.  This is an app for the ipad and can be purchased right now for $2.99.  Isn't that a great price?

I'll give you just a bit of info here until you head on over and check it out for yourself.

Learn and teach handwriting with phonics, an app designed by a Handwriting Specialist and an Early Childhood Specialist. The purpose of Letters Make Words is to help beginning writers develop good handwriting habits for all academic and adult needs, and to learn basic phonemes.

 The first screens offer suggestions of how to use Letters Make Words. Then letters are presented. The user can select any letter. Each one comprises a complete unit of instruction for that letter, a warmup pattern, the letter and a word to trace and to sound out. When a letter has a different sound depending on its usage in words, choose from either of two words. The next screen has three words to sound out with a silly sentence for the child to write on paper.

That's just a bit about it from the app store.  Now, here's what we thought about it.

Three of my children used this app and three of them loved it!  The 12yo needs extra help with handwriting due to eye teaming problems, the 10yo needs to practice on letter formation more, and the 6yo just needs more practice with writing.  Each one needed something different from this app and they all got what they needed.

They would sit down with my ipad and start it up-I didn't even have to ask them to do it they would ask to do it.  It did take a bit to get used to how to make it work but it wasn't too big of a learning curve.  It was extremely easy to download and it started right up without any hoops to jump through. The only thing we did have a problem with was the sound.  We didn't realize there was supposed to be a voice guiding the student through the steps until we re-read the start up page. lol  It's always a good idea to read directions!  We plugged in some earphones and it was like a brand new app.

My 12yo has been doing italics for handwriting but the 10 yo has been doing classic cursive and I was surprised at how easily both of them were able to implement this app.  It did not detract from their individual courses of study for handwriting.  That's a bonus when you have several kids using it. 


Here are some screen shots from the app:













If you are even the slightest bit curious about this app I highly suggest you head on over to check it out.  This is a great way for kids to practice handwriting that they won't whine about!

If you want to see what other Crew members thought of this app, head on over to The Crew Blog and check them out. 



**I was given a copy of Letters Make Words through The TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review.

TOS Review Pitsco Review

I love to build things.  Small things, big things, crafty things, and useful things.  It really doesn't matter what, I just love putting things together.  When we can combine school and building things it's a win-win situation!!

The TOS Crew was fortunate to review some items for Pitsco.  We received the Siege Machines pack from Pitsco and it is AWESOME!  The pack included a kit for a trebuchet and a catapult.  Everything we needed was included with directions that were easy to follow.  The kit sells for $21.95 and is well worth it.



We waited until we had plenty of time to build these siege machines but we only got to one of them.  We started with the trebuchet and when it was built the kids were having too much fun to stop playing and build the catapult!  The catapult will be built on Christmas vacation and I am sure that I will be dodging flying objects for quite a while.



When we started building this we cleared a space on the floor and we all gathered 'round.  The instructions were well written and easy to use.  I do wish that the pictures were a little easier to see-some were too dark and hard to see the details.  But, that was easy to overcome from the descriptions.

We laid out our pieces, found our super glue, and got started.  Before anything could be put together, the kids reminded everyone that Mom wasn't allowed to use the super glue.  Man, one time of gluing my fingers together and they never let me forget it.  When that statement was out of the way, Dad took charge of the super glue and I was in charge of the instructions.

After the pieces were laid out, we started the figuring it out.  Once we identified the correct pieces for the right steps we were on our way!

It started coming together pretty quickly and we were encouraged with our progress.  It was really starting to look like the picture. lol

Then the instructions said to cut notches in two of the small pieces of wood.  hmm...these kits should be used with adult supervision, by the way.  As you can see, Dad did the notching at our house.

Notches were made, the arm was attached and we really started getting excited.  Not too much more and we would be able to test it out.

We had a little trouble bending the paper clip the right way but once we figured it out, we were ready to test out our trebuchet.

See the purple sling on the left side of the picture?  That is where our clay cannon ball was before it launched across the room!  It was SO COOL!!  We all jumped with excitement and did it over and over again.

This is such a neat kit.  We have truly loved putting it together and playing with and can not wait to get the catapult put together.  This is a great way to study these siege machines and the history they represent.  And to help learn the history of these machines a neat booklet is included.  There is a section on the history of these machines and then the book is divided up into sections.

First up is the catapult.  There is in-depth information about tension, torsion, and how to do experiments using mass vs. distance.  There is also a section using math to calculate how far projectiles with fly depending on weight.

The trebuchet is next with much of the same type of information.  Except with the trebuchet there is an explanation of levers and gravity.  There are also experiments to conduct with the trebuchet and the science behind the force and motion of a trebuchet.

At the back of the book there is a list of Standards that are addressed the material covered as well as an additional resources list.

This is a great addition to the study of history, science, math, and hands-on for your school.  It is an amazing product for a great price.  Trust me, there are hours and hours of fun to be had with these siege machines. 

Wanna get your own kit?  Head over to the Pitsco website and order one!  While you are there check out the other amazing products they offer.  You can contact them, request a catalog, and find out about the company.   Be sure to look around and explore all the things the site has to offer. 


If you want to see more great reviews from other Crew members, head on over to The Crew Blog and check them out.




**I received this Trebuchet/catapult kit from Pitsco through The Crew in exchange for my honest review.

The Best Christmas Gift...Ever!!

If you are looking for a Christmas present for your kids, I have just the thing.

A fort.  But not just any fort, I'm talking about a Toydle Toy Fort.

Never heard of Toydle?  Hold on to your hats and I'll tell you all about them.



Toydle is the brain child of Robert Brownfield. Rob—president of Worry-Free Manufacturing in Boise, Idaho—has been making quality products for years. He is also the father of two fraternal twins, Ike and Molly. (Their pictures adorn our website.) Like all good fathers who refuse to (fully) grow-up, he loves toys, and he loves to give toys to his kids.

Problem is, as you’re fully aware, good toys are hard to find—real, high-quality, long-lasting toys. 

Frankly, most toys are only slightly better than junk.


Awhile back Rob brought home a toy for his son. Within five minutes it had met its fate on the driveway concrete. Busted. Worthless. And only five minutes old! While stewing on this reality Rob thought, “This is dumb! I can build better stuff than this. I do build better stuff than this!”


And so The Toydle Dream was born.



Toydle Forts are made right here in the USA in Boise, Idaho. Each tube is cut, each wood block is hand-shaped by an American worker. We believe that with a little American ingenuity we can make products better and more cost-effective than sending the work overseas. We believe that we can win jobs back for our workers and our economy. We practice it every day!

And we guarantee every Toydle product—we will replace any product or piece thereof that fails for any reason, even if your little critters leave a block out in the rain, or try to do pull-ups with a tube. 

The quality of our products speak for themselves.





All Toydle Forts are constructed with

• Hand made wooden blocks 3” sq. made with high quality, laminated poplar.
• High Quality PVC tubes 29” long & 1/2in wide.

All Toydle Forts include an industrial strength storage bag.
 
All Toydle Forts include clips to help secure your sheets and blankets.
 
Our Forts are the strongest, longest lasting, and highest quality forts you will find anywhere! And we’ll back that up with an Unlimited Warrantee! No one else even comes close to what we offer!


Toydle Toy Forts come in two different size-The Toydle Fort which runs $149 and The BIG Toydle Fort that sells for $229.  To check out these Toy Forts, head on over to the Toydle website and read all about them. You can also contact them via phone or email at:  

Email us: info@toydle.com
Call us: (208) 371-9929

You can also visit them on Facebook!

Now for some exciting news:

The TOS Crew is hosting a give away for THREE of The BIG Toydle Forts.  Just head on over and check out how to enter. 

NOTE: This contest is open to residents of the United States ONLY.  TOS Staff and TOS Crew Members (and their families) are not eligible to enter this contest.

TOS Review Artistic Pursuits

I love Art.  I love to gaze upon it, ponder it, soak it in, and just generally enjoy it.  Having to teach art is another story.

I have not artistic talent in my body.  None at all.  Well, that's not totally true I guess. I can sing, dance, and act but I CAN NOT DRAW.  I am okay at smiley faces and very simple stick figures but that's about it.  I have these wonderful visions in my mind of what I would like to dray, it just never comes out on paper the way I see it in my mind.

So, to teach art to my kiddos is very daunting.  We have tried several things including having them just look at a famous piece of art and then recreate it.  That works fine but it doesn't really teach them how to draw.  As you can imagine with five girls in the house, we do a lot of coloring and drawing so when Artistic Pursuits came up for review with The TOS Crew, I begged to be on the list.  Our oldest has talent for drawing and surprises me often by what she draws.  I was mainly thinking of her when I asked to review it, but my 9 yo is asking to do it next year.  And after the 6yo heard that she wants to do it also!  I think I will have the 6yo wait a while for this book, though.  ;-)

Artistic Pursuits is a great art program.  It is easy to implement and easy to use.  I am impressed at how well this program teaches the how-to's of art as well as giving the students a feeling of accomplishment without overwhelming them with technical speak.

From the website:

The ARTistic Pursuits approach to teaching art is a welcome departure from typical art instruction books. This award winning homeschool art program meets the specific needs of homeschoolers at home. A variety of fun art lessons teach both the expressive and technical aspects of art while allowing children to make choices about what and how they will draw, paint, and sculpt.

Philosophy:

At Artistic Pursuits Inc., we believe every child can understand the concepts of art and enjoy the process of putting ideas and visual images on paper. We're committed to the goal of helping children become visually aware of the wonderful world we live in, and be able to work in creative ways within this world. We offer parents and teachers a simple way to give children a quality art education that will prepare them to meet creative challenges in their future endeavors. 

How Artistic Pursuits teaches art:


The Artistic Pursuits program presents both the expressive and the technical aspects of art in an age-appropriate manner. Children are curious and expressive from the start. We work with those interests to teach them to observe more closely. Skills develop as each child observes nature and enjoys the process of creating. Using ARTistic Pursuits, a child carries art tools to locations which both inspire and are chosen by the child. Creating truly personal work gives a child a sense of accomplishment that cannot be attained by copying from a book or watching an adult do it for him. They learn because direct observation is the best teacher when accompanied by an understanding of the foundational elements of art and compositional ideas. Children examine and explore these key ideas by seeing them in their own world, in art works by the masters, through pages demonstrating techniques, and through art of their own and of others. Childhood development studies were foundational to the layout of the program. ARTistic Pursuits lessons offer children the right kinds of information at the right time. We expect a child to be a child and we value what they produce from their own hands. Projects do not try to force young children to draw like adults. Our projects do not require patience and discipline on the part of the child, which leads to frustration. Children don't need patience when their own interests and motivations are guiding them.


For more information on Artistic Pursuits, look at this page and you can see the components of each lesson.  There is also a FAQ page that can answer your questions.  To see their list of products, head to this page.


We received Junior High Book 1 and we just love it!  This book sells for $42.95 and is totally worth it. 

In this book, my 13yo learned to feel confident learning and trying new concepts.    It was fun to see her try new things and I just might be tempted to try it out myself!

One of her lessons had her working with drawing the eye to the center of the page or into the drawing rather than sending the eye out away from the drawing.  It was a somewhat hard concept to understand at first since we didn't necessarily see anything wrong with the example, but the more we looked at it and the more we re-read the information...we got it.

Then, she had to draw it. 

That was easier said than done to begin with.  At first, she was hesitant to try but when she finally started, it went really well.  At least I think it did.  See what you think:

I think that is pretty good! 

I am so looking forward to using this curriculum more as well as maybe getting the books for the younger girls.  There are books for ages/grades Preschool all the way up through high school.  I am just so impressed with how easily they teach the students how to draw.  As well as Art History, Art Appreciation, Vocabulary, Cultures, and Artists.  This is such a well-rounded and well done curriculum that I would recommend it without reservation.

If you want to see what books are available from Artistic Pursuits, head over to this page.  You will see a description of each and then be able to choose the appropriate book for your student.   If you want to see what other Crew members though of the books they received, head over to The Crew blog and check them out.





**I received the Junior High Book 1 from Artistic Pursuits through The TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review.