TOS Crew: Family Mint

The financial world has been up in arms for some time now; with a recession going on, it's even more important to know where you stand financially and how to cut back on things to save money.  Early on in our marriage, Dan and I got into a bit of financial trouble, and it has haunted us ever since.  We are truly beginning to climb out of our hole of debt, but it has been a long road, and it's still not over yet.  We had to learn the hard way, though.  Through everything we've been through, I definitely don't want that for my kids.  I want them to know where they stand when it comes to money, credit cards, etc.  I want them to be well educated in financial matters, so that they can make good, sound decisions.

That's where Family Mint Comes in.  Family Mint is all about helping your kids to "appreciate money."  It's a system that can be used to teach your children how to handle their money.  Not only do they get to create their own goals, but they get to track their goals, as well, teaching them how to budget wisely.  Every time Jacob gets an allowance or birthday money, or what have you, he can make a deposit, although, his allowance will be automatically deposited, just to save the parent hassle; keep in mind that the money tracked on Family Mint is virtual money, so it can't be stolen or anything.  It's just a way for him to keep track of how much he has earned and how much he's spent.  He can deposit money, withdraw money, and transfer money.  As the parent, I'm the banker, so I'm responsible to help him handle his money and pay him when he requires it.

I can also set up interest rates, in order to let him see how a real savings account, with interest, might work.  If he has set up a particular goal that is worthy, I can match his goal.  If his goal is not meeting his expectations, he can easily go in and edit it.  So say that Jacob wants to save up for his favorite Lego set.  He can set that as a goal and then work towards it.  If he decides to change his mind and decides he needs the next Star Wars action figure instead, he can change his goal to accommodate.  If he decides he wants both items, he can change his goals and add or subtract goals.

It's all about appreciation of money and what's most important to him.  As he gets older, he may realize he wants to set a goal of saving for college or for that vacation he wants to take when he graduates.

With Family Mint, there is a parent's side and a child's side.

So, I can easily log in and see the progress he's making, but he can log in and also see how he's doing on the child side of it.  He'll easily be able to see all of his goals and edit them from his homepage.  So far, I'm pretty impressed with Family Mint.  I really think this will be a great help to Jacob and even Jaden as he gets older.  With Jacob, he's very money conscious anyway; the trick has been teaching him that his money is only there as long as he saves it....he has to make the decision whether or not the particular item he is purchasing is worth it; does he want to spend a great deal of his money on that one item, or is it something that can wait?  Does he need that item?  Is the purchase truly that important to him?  We always tell him that he has to make the decision, but he really needs to think about the consequences.  Is he going to regret not having any money left or having very little left?  He has started to become very conscious with his money, and I can only see this program as a huge help.  Now he'll be able to truly track his money and how he's wanting to spend it.

You can read more about Family Mint on their blog, and you can follow them on both Twitter and Facebook.  For now, Family Mint is free, but later on this year, they will have a Pro version available.  You can read more reviews on the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this free version of the program by Family Mint, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.) 

TOS Crew: Homeschool Library Builder

Homeschool Library Builder is an online bookstore run by two homeschool families.  

They stock new and used books in many different categories, and their purpose is more than just providing access to educational, enriching books. In addition to books recommended by highly-respected and widely used homeschool curriculums, we offer titles specifically chosen to supplement unit studies, promote sound moral character, and provide knowledge of truths for curious youngsters. We want to help you build your own excellent library and create memorable reading experiences for your family!  Here are just a few of the categories they offer for your browsing selection:

• "BOOK ADVENTURE" TITLES
• Activity Books/Crafts
• African American Culture and History
• Anthologies/Storybooks
• Biographies
• Christian Fiction
• Classics/Literature
• Curriculum/Teacher Helps
• Fiction
• Hard-to-Find/Collectibles
• Native Americans
• Picture Books
• Poetry/Art/Music
• Readers
• Reference

....and many more.  They offer much more than affordable books, though.  

The homeschool moms behind Homeschool Library Builder seek to reach out to their online community by offering free advertising, for HSLB members, in their newsletter or on their website.  If you have a handmade, "homegrown" product, then this could be of great value.  They also have a page filled with online resources/links for homeschooling.  You can check out their Helping Hand program, as well.  This category of books raises money for great causes, such as the earthquake in Haiti or Operation Christmas Child, among others; for the month of February, the focus is on Haiti.  By purchasing books from this category, all of the proceeds go to a specific cause, and often, HSLB will match the amount raised. 

For customers/members (it's free to become a member), and you can earn book points for dollars purchased in books.  Your points won't expire either.  They also offer you a 30-day guarantee that, if for some reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can simply return the books, and you will be refunded your money.  For the month of February, HSLB is offering you 20% off all month long, no coupon necessary.  You can find HSLB on Facebook.  You can also read more reviews on the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(I received no compensation/product in exchange for this review.  This review was done for the purposes of the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Math Mammoth

We have certainly been blessed in supplementing our math curriculum this year through the Crew, and this next program that we were allowed to try is something I'm excited to write about.  Maria Miller sent us part of her Math Mammoth series.

Maria used to teach math, but has since turned her skills to staying home with her children and homeschooling, as well as writing math curriculum and books.With a master's degree in mathematics (with teacher educational studies), as well as minors in physics and statistics, Maria is an expert in the field of mathematics, and she really enjoys being able to help homeschooling families get the most learning out of math, as it's sometimes a subject that these families struggle with.  Math Mammoth is aimed at helping the student not just memorize a set of rules but to help him to understand why he is doing what he is doing in math.

We received the Math Mammoth Light Blue Series, Grade 1-A and 1-B, along with a few supplemental materials.  This curriculum is a complete curriculum with worktexts, answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews, and a worksheet maker.  If you buy this program as the downloadable form, you also get the Soft-Pak, which contains activities for math, language arts, and testing.  Here is what the Light Blue Series aims to teach your child:

• Addition Within 0-10
• Subtraction Within 0-10
• Addition and Subtraction Facts
• Place Value Within 0-100
• Clock
• Shapes and Measuring
• Adding and Subtracting Within 0-100
• Coins

Each chapter starts out with an Introduction for the teacher to look over; it contains explanations for the teacher, to help her/him in teaching the student the particular topics covered in that chapter.  I love that there is no separate teacher's book that you have to buy with this program; teacher's books can be such an outrageous amount of money when it comes to homeschooling, but with this program, the teacher helps are included in the worktext by way of the Introductions and also little blue boxes throughout the texts.  If your student is more independent, he can read the little blue boxes on his own.  With each chapter also come games and internet resources.  These internet resources include links to free online games that will help further your child's understanding and mastery of the concepts learned.  Maria breaks up each chapter, as well, by pages for the lessons, so that you can easily figure out how much you need to do in a day or week.  

The worktexts include colorful pictures for visual illustrations, helping the child to grasp concepts without a ton of manipulatives needed.  I also am thrilled about this part  because manipulatives can cost the homeschooling parent.  The basic manipulatives you might need for this 1st grade program are an abacus, an alarm clock, and a ruler.  The text also includes word problems; this text is somewhat like the program we're using right now, in that it focuses on the mental aspect of math, helping the child to understand why he's doing what he's doing.  Maria believes that math should be enjoyable and understandable, not so redundant, as it is in a lot of math programs today with pages and pages of review.  There is review involved in this curriculum, but there is also freedom to move on, once you feel your child has really learned the material.   

Math Mammoth can be used as a sole curriculum or as a supplement, which is how we are using it, since we already had a math program in place.  I love the freedom that comes with this curriculum, meaning that if the child grasps a concept, we can go to the next thing; if he needs more time, then we have the resources we need to keep trudging through.  The worksheets and even the worktexts provide great review for Jacob's addition and subtraction facts.  It's also something that we can turn to, if he isn't "getting" a particular concept, to see if the explanations and visual illustrations in this curriculum will help the light bulb to come on.  

You can purchase the full downloadable first grade curriculum from Math Mammoth for $29.70, or you can buy each worktext individually for $15.50, with supportive materials priced at $14.  Printed versions are available, as well.  This is completely affordable, in my opinion, as it can be used over and over for multiple students.  I highly recommend Math Mammoth.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(I was provided the 1A & 1B curriclum, free of charge, by Math Mammoth, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.) 

TOS Crew: AAS Beehive Reader 1

We've been using All About Spelling for Jacob's spelling program this year, and we received the Beehive Reader 1, by Marie Rippel with Renee LaTulippe, to review.

Based on phonics, this reader is a nice addition to the All About Spelling program, especially for beginning readers.  Beautifully illustrated with black and white photos and decorative pages, it draws the reader into the stories even more, so it's not just great practice with phonics; it's a fun way to read beginner level stories, as well.  It is filled with pages of 1-2 sentence paragraphs, the sentences themselves being shorter.  Different sounds the child might be working on in his spelling lessons are incorporated into story form.  Phonograms, short vowel sounds, initial and final blends, the C and K sounds, consonant teams, etc., are all put into story form for your child to practice reading and using all together.  Each story varies between 10-20 pages in length, but again, the sentences on each page are shorter, so that the child isn't overwhelmed with all of the words on the page but rather can focus on practicing the sounds in everyday language, as he reads.  Here are the stories that this reader includes:

• At the Pond
• The Nap
• At Camp
• The Pet Duck
• The Bat and King Sam
• Frank Shrank!
• Cobweb the Cat
• Ten Wishes
• Fast Fun
• Off We Go!

 

For Jacob, this reader was quite below his reading level; when I asked him to read close to 40 pages of it, for example, it only took him maybe 5-10 minutes, if that.  So, it was quite easy for him, as he's in Level 2 of the All About Spelling program right now.  It is perfect for beginning readers, though, and I plan to use it with Jaden when the time gets closer.  I might even suggest using the pictures in the book to look at with your children and do a bit of picture narration with them; or they could make up their own stories based on the pictures.  This book could be versatile in that way.  You can purchase the Beehive Reader 1 for $19.95 from All About Spelling. 

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, by All About Spelling, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Apologia- The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling

When I first started homeschooling, I did so much research into everything I could; I searched online intensively, I talked to other homeschoolers, and I went to local bookstores, just trying to find resources to help me figure things out. I still do much research and welcome any and all help that I can get.

When I received Apologia's The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling, I was happy to add it to my resource shelf. Out of all the books I got in the beginning, I have a small resource shelf that I keep books on that I use for reference all the time. This book is so multi-faceted that it's going there, as well.

The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling starts out with a Foreword by Michael Farris, who is the founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association.  There are also tips on how to use the book and an introduction to the book.  Throughout the book, there are suggestions for further reading and study on certain subjects, websites that will help you, examples and stories from the author's experience, other opinions from other experienced homeschool families, and information on recommended resources.  The end of the book also contains a Resource Guide, in which you will find pages and pages of Homeschooling Organizations and Publications, Recommended Supplier and Products, and Academic/Athletic Contests and Competitions.  There is also an accompanying website for the book at Apologia.  The book is formatted in an interesting, informative, enjoyable way.  The following is a listing of the major sections of the book:

• Part 1: Homeschooling: Is It for You?
• Part 2: Choosing a Curriculum (a daunting but very pleasant task for any homeschooler)
• Part 3: Organization and Planning
• Part 4: Preventing Burnout
• Part 5: What to Teach-When and How
• Part 6: Homeschooling Teens
• Part 7: Computers in the Homeschool
• Part 8: Creative Solutions
• Part 9: Measuring Your Success
• Pre-Game Pep Talk
• Part 10: Resource Guide

The parts that were most helpful for me are hard to say, for sure, because the whole book is really helpful.  The section on burnout is one that I need to read over and over to remind myself of different strategies that could help when either I or Jacob are feeling that "can't take this anymore" feeling.  I want school to be an enjoyable time for my boys, so this chapter is quite helpful in offering advice and ideas on how to switch things up.  Too often it's easy to get sucked into the schedule and curriculum, when really, there are times when all of that needs to go to the side for more important learning opportunities, aka, life lessons.  Another part that I found helpful was the Creative Solutions section, in which there's a section on how to deal with different challenges, such as toddlers while homeschooling and even motivating a reluctant student.  With a second grader who demands my attention in school, it can be hard to give my toddler the attention he requires at the same time, and I've tried some of the ideas from this chapter; so a lot of this was stuff I already do, but it still is great information for a beginning homeschool mom.  The strategies to help motivate the reluctant student were very informative, creative, and helpful.  

All in all, this book is a great resource to have on your shelf.  With all of the resources it contains, there is something for every homeschooling family.  You can get this book from Apologia for $20.  Packed with information from one homeschool mom to another, this book is definitely one I'll be keeping around.  

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this book, free of charge, by Apologia, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Presidential Penmanship (BJ Style)

Zeezok Publishing is a company that has a variety of different materials, including music studies, literature, character building, and penmanship.

We received Presidential Penmanship (BJ Style) to review in our homeschool endeavors.  I just want to be up front and honest in this review; since this style is a different style than what Jacob is used to doing, rather than confuse him, I chose to not use the style with him.  He began cursive writing early on, and he has really begun to grasp it, and I didn't want to set a different style in front of him and confuse him by that.  We can, however, use the quotes that are included in our own style.  The BJ Style has a more modern feel to it than more traditional styles.

Presidential Penmanship is a handwriting program for grades 1-12.  The lessons in first and second grades focus on manuscript writing.  Lessons are broken down by weeks and days of the week.  The lessons are shorter in the younger grades, and the student begins the lesson by reading and tracing the quote or passage.  All of the quotes and passages included in the Presidential Penmanship program are taken from past U.S. Presidents and other historical figures.  These people include George Washington, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, etc.  Not only is your student learning how to have good handwriting and gaining practice, but he's learning these historical quotes, which he is also encouraged to memorize in the younger years, at least.  These quotes not only promote the founding principles of our nation but also good character qualities.  Scripture is even included at certain points.  Cursive writing begins in third grade, and the passages and quotes start to get longer. In the junior high/senior high years, he will copy passages from famous Presidential speeches/addresses.  

You can purchase Presidential Penmanship (BJ Style) from Zeezok Publishing for $39.99; with this price, you get the complete program on CD or the ebook.  You can also purchase each level separately for $9.99.  Later on, after Jacob has fully grasped cursive writing, we may use this as a handwriting program because it will provide the practice he needs in learning how to write neatly, plus it is beneficial to the mind and heart.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.    

(Disclosure: I was provided this product, free of charge, by Zeezok Publishing, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Math Tutor

Math has sometimes been a tough subject to teach while homeschooling Jacob.  Anyone who reads my blog knows I've talked about this before....but God knows all our weaknesses, and He has certainly provided the supplements and helps that we have needed this year, through the Crew.  I am so thankful for that.  This review is a little different, as instead of reviewing a website or a textbook, we got to review a couple of DVDs from Math Tutor.

The Basic Math Word Problem Tutor, an 8 hour video course, comes with 2 DVDs and covers basic word problems in several areas, including the following:

• Adding Whole Numbers
• Subtracting Whole Numbers
• Multiplying Whole Numbers
• Dividing Whole Numbers
• Adding Decimals
• Subtracting Decimals
• Multiplying Decimals
• Dividing Decimals
• Adding Fractions
• Subtracting Fractions
• Multiplying Fractions
• Dividing Fractions
• Percents, Part 1
• Percents, Part 2
• Ratio and Proportion

Since Jacob is only in 2nd grade, we concentrated on the Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers sections of the video.  He has struggled with word problems a little bit, so this was a great review for him.  The instructor in the videos is Jason Gibson, a former NASA flight controller.  In the videos, Mr. Gibson emphasizes to the student to try to "Understand what the problem is really asking you."  He also emphasizes that practice is key, and he only talks to the student for a very short time before actually delving into practice problems.  Most of the video is filled with problems to solve, which are written down at the bottom of the screen, so that the student can both hear the problem and read the problem.  Then, Mr. Gibson works the problems on the board, providing many illustrations and pictures to help the student in solving.  He does every problem step by step, breaking it down into parts.  He even emphasizes labeling the problem, which helps the student to associate the numbers with the parts.  At the beginning of each section, such as addition or subtraction, he gives certain key words that go along with those types of problems, such as total, how many in all, how much more, how much less, what is left over, etc.  Throughout the practice, he also reviews certain math skills that go along with each specific problem, such as carrying, lining up place value, counting forward or backward to add or subtract, borrowing, etc.  He also includes money problems, which I thought was good, seeing as dollar and cent signs seem to trip Jacob up at times.  The thing I would recommend is having your child sit and watch the DVD with notebook and pencil in hand, so he can work right along with the instructor.

This video has no frills to it, as it is a math DVD, helping students to understand word problems, but it's definitely a huge help.  I did notice that the addition section seemed to be very basic problems, but the subtraction section dove into more complex problems.  You can hear testimonials and see sample videos of this DVD here.  You can purchase this 8 hour DVD for $26.99 from Math Tutor DVD.  Right now, they have a special going, in which Each new Math Tutor DVD customer receives 60 minutes of FREE live online tutoring available 24/7 through Tutor.com! A $35.00 Value!  I definitely recommend this DVD if your child struggles with word problems. 

The next DVD we received is one that I loved, loved, loved.  It was the Young Minds- Numbers and Counting DVD. This DVD kept Jaden mesmerized for more than half of it, and Jacob loved the games and pictures on it.  With classical music by some of the greatest composers who ever lived, such as Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Pachelbel, Chopin, etc., and bright, vivid, colorful images to go along with the music, I recommend this DVD for any parent with young toddlers/children.  As the movie progresses, it shows beautiful images of animals/wildlife, fruits, flowers, modes of transportation, inanimate objects, nature, etc., and it includes numbers with these.  There is a set number of objects in each picture, and it starts at 1, eventually showing pictures with up to 10 objects for the child to count.  The numbers are shown as the child's voice on the video counts.  Your child can count right along with the movie.  With each picture, certain facts or sounds or colors are given that the child can associate with that picture.  For example, Jaden especially enjoyed and giggled with the "moo" cow.  He also enjoyed the sounds of the backhoes.  With each new number that is introduced, there is a new musical piece to go along with it.  I could honestly feel the learning taking place and the brain cells growing while watching this video....:) 

There are also bonus features to go along with the video, and these include puzzles, counting the dots, and a game called Guess the Animal.  My boys especially loved guessing which animal was in the picture, as the screen started with a close-up of the animal and gave certain riddles for the child to guess at; as the riddle went on, the screen panned out to show which animal it was talking about.  You can watch a sample video to give you an idea of how this DVD works.

I highly recommend this DVD.  I plan to use it with Jaden to help him learn his numbers.  I am so excited to have gotten the opportunity to review this DVD, and I can't say enough good things about it.  You can purchase the Young Minds DVD from Math Tutor for $19.99.  This DVD has received several awards, including the Creative Child Magazine 2009 Top Choice Award.  

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I received these DVDs, free of charge, from Math Tutor, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.) 

TOS Crew: Dollar Homeschool/Ray's Arithmetic

When I got an email for the Crew from Dollar Homeschool/Ray's Arithmetic, I really didn't know what to expect.  I thought it was going to be just another math course for Jacob and I to review.  Little did I know the background behind it or what all it entailed.  Dollar HomeschoolEES, or Eclectic Education Series, which was the set of textbooks used back in the one-room schoolhouses from 1865-1915.  I was immediately intrigued by this. is actually a company that has brought back into existence, for homeschoolers everywhere, the

We actually had the privilege of reviewing the entire math collection, Ray's Arithmetic.

This CD is comprised of 38 books, including textbooks, teacher's editions, answer keys, and some extracurricular math books.  Here's a listing of just the math textbooks included:

• Ray's Primary Arithmetic
• Ray's Intellectual Arithmetic
• Ray's New Elementary Arithmetic/Rudimentary Arithmetic
• Ray's New Practical Arithmetic
• Ray's New Higher Arithmetic
• Ray's New Elementary Algebra
• Ray's New Higher Algebra
• A Complete Algebra
• Ray's Treatise on Geometry and Trigonometry
• Ray's Analytic Geometry
• Ray's Differential and Integral Calculus
• Ray's Elements of Astronomy
• Dubbs Problems for Practical Arithmetic
• Complete Book Keeping
• Schuylers Logic
• Schuylers Surveying and Navigation
• Norton's Elements of Physics
• A Complete Algebra
• White's First Book of Arithmetic
• White's Intermediate Arithmetic
• White's New Complete Math
• White's Practical Problems in Arithmetic

This is such a comprehensive list that I picked just a few to give a more thorough review on; also seeing as Jacob is only in 2nd grade, there were only a few that we can use right now.  I can say, though, that I'm very grateful to have this as a resource later on in future years.

Ray's Primary Arithmetic begins by teaching your student to count.  It has oral exercises, as well as written exercises, which is good for Jacob.  I try to use both types of exercises with him in math because it seems to help him learn it even more quickly and in different ways by using both auditory and visual/kinesthetic learning styles.  Next the book progresses into addition, and I noticed that there are a lot of word problems, which is also something that Jacob and I can use over and over, as he struggles somewhat with word problems.  Just to give you an example of how the book presents addition problems, here is one: 5 and 1 are 6.  That's the format of the combinations.  Likewise, as you get into subtraction, the combinations are set up like the following: 4 from 9 leaves 5.  After subtraction comes multiplication and then division.  All of these basic math concepts are taught in a very mental/intellectual way.  Towards the end of the book come concepts like money, weight and measures, etc.  I can definitely see us using this as a supplement over the next couple of years, although it could most certainly be used as a main text.  With a few black and white illustrations throughout, it's not the most eye-catching text, but the amount of learning to be had with the use of this book far outweighs any cosmetic disadvantages.

As you progress each year to the next level and the next book, you begin with some rudimentary review, just so your child can be sure he understands previous concepts.  

Ray's Intellectual Arithmetic begins with a review of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and then proceeds right into fractions.  I know with Jacob that I have to illustrate a lot of concepts, so that he can visually see it before he understands it, so I'd have to make use of the dry erase board, since there are not a lot of illustrations that accompany the text.  This could be a good thing, though, as it promotes more of a mental form of math, which is needed out in the real world.  Ratios and percentages are taught after fractions are mastered.  The amount of word problems is just amazing....I was thinking I needed to buy a supplement for Jacob in his math for this very purpose, but I can see now that I have all I need right here to help me teach him basic concepts.

Rudimentary Arithmetic begins with Roman numerals and place value.  It then proceeds into more advanced mental exercises with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Money, weight, and measures are incorporated, and everything is just much more advanced.

Elementary Arithmetic again begins with a review and then proceeds into more advanced problems, even leading into decimals and the metric system.

White's First Book of Arithmetic is much like Ray's Primary Arithmetic in the beginning, but you quickly notice that it covers more than just primary math.  It's actually meant to cover 3 years worth of work in arithmetic, leading from addition all the way through fractions, decimals, and measurements.  

Again, there may not be a whole lot of cosmetic advantages to the series, although the pictures in the books are wonderful, in my opinion; they just are not as colorful as a lot of today's books.  Pictures don't make the book, though; that's just common sense.  What I mean is that there aren't illustrations to go along with the concepts....they could easily be illustrated by a teacher or parent, though.  One specific advantage you have with this whole program is that you have all of the K-12 school years covered in math, once you purchase this series.  Granted, it is a PDF file, so you have to print it, but it's everything!  The best part is that it's only $59 for this CD.  If you have multiple children, this is a truly huge savings when it comes to purchasing math programs for all of them.  Not only that, but you don't have to pay extra for all of the teacher's editions and answer keys.  They are right there. Another great thing about this series is that it was designed to keep in mind the children who were living on the frontier, who were being taught by their parents.  It is designed to be self-teachable and progress in a logical manner for the child.  You can find out more about Ray's Arithmetic on the Dollar Homeschool site.  Just to let you know also that you can buy, for a limited time, the whole EES for $159 with a 30 day money back guarantee.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I was provided this CD, free of charge, by Dollar Homeschool/Ray's Arithmetic, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Kinderbach

Music education is very dear to my heart, since I grew up with years of piano lessons.  It's something my parents started with me when I was 5 years old.  Naturally, I want to instill a love for music into my own children.  I've started trying to teach Jacob the piano this year, and when we had the chance to review Kinderbach online piano lessons, I was so ready.  

Kinderbach is a program that doesn't just sit your child in front of a piano with a book and expect him to learn rhythm, music theory, etc.  Kinderbach actually uses all of the learning styles together to make music interesting, learnable, and fun for your child.  Designed for ages 3-7, it's meant for those early preschool ages; I did feel, at first, that the lessons were a little "childish" for Jacob, but as we got into them more, he was really learning, and he was enjoying it too.  Using the computer, basic rhythm instruments (we used pens; hey, they worked), and a keyboard, Jacob has been able to comprehend more than I could have taught him myself right now.  I actually enjoyed staying with him through the lessons and doing the rhythm beats, song singing, and activities together.  The nice thing is that if you don't have any musical background, it's ok.  You can learn right along with your child.  The lessons are very simple and short, so they don't require a long attention span either, which was nice for Jacob, as he's a mover.  Here are some of the things your child will learn from Kinderbach:

• Music vocabulary
• Music theory- note reading, time signature, fingering, different types of notes, etc.
• Rhythm and beat value
• Physical technique
• "Do Re Mi" singing
• Listening skills- learning high vs. low sounds, etc.
  
• Ear training
• Introduction to music composition- with Bach.
• Keyboard landscape- using characters, activities, etc.
  

The lessons include several colorful characters, including Miss Diddle, the Beat Bug Brigade, Frisco, Dodi, and others.  Jacob absolutely loved Dodi and Frisco.  The keyboard is the home for all of these characters, as you will see when your child begins learning where different keys are.  The characters are also included in the printable worksheets that came with our lessons.

With several lessons, your child will have games, puzzles, coloring activities, and more to help reinforce what he is learning.  He will sometimes work right along with the video.

There are 6 levels to Kinderbach, each level having 10 lessons.  You can use Kinderbach for one or all of your children, which is nice when you consider the cost of having multiple children in piano lessons.  You can purchase a Kinderbach online membership for $7.99 a month, paid in one lump payment of $95.88 annually; or if you choose to pay monthly, it's $19.99/month.    They also have DVD packages available, as well as extras (worksheets, coloring pages, etc.) to go along with the lessons.  You can try it for free here.  I definitely recommend Kinderbach, especially with the cost of music education nowadays.  In my opinion, it can give your child an early start  and an education that's going to stick with him for a lifetime, possibly helping him if he chooses to keep playing piano or chooses to play another instrument later on.  It has definitely helped Jacob to learn how rhythm works, which is something he didn't quite understand before.  Here's a video that tells you a bit more about Kinderbach.

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog. 

(Disclosure: I was given a Kinderbach trial, free of charge, by Kinderbach, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)

TOS Crew: Worship Guitar for Kids

When I was a teenager, I wanted so badly to learn how to play the guitar.  I got myself a book, and I made several attempts at it, but it just never came together for me.  Now, though, I have the opportunity to teach Jacob how to play, and I can learn right along with him, using Jean Welles' Worship Guitar Class for Kids, Volume 1. 

I actually received Jean's e-book to go along with online streaming videos for beginner lessons.  The book goes through all of the different lessons in written form, so that Jacob can read what Jean is talking about, also visually looking at the different notes, chord charts, and the written music that he will be learning.  It helps to reinforce what he is learning through the videos.  The videos feature Jean Welles, who has a guitar in hand, teaching your student different aspects to the guitar, as well as how to play.  Throughout the videos, she has the help of a 7 year old student, Abigail, who is also learning how to play the guitar.  There are 9 lesson videos, as well as 9 practice session videos.  The practice sessions run for about 5 minutes each, and she begins each one with prayer. 

Throughout the lessons, Jacob can learn how to tune his guitar, the parts of the guitar, how to catch the rhythm (using arm swings for illustration), notes and their values, how to read chord charts, how to thumb strum, different chords and how to play them on the guitar, and even extras for songs, such as a bass run.  

He'll also play several worship songs, some of which include Thank You Father, I Will Trust You, This Little Light of Mine, I Worship You Lord, etc.  I love the worship aspect to this series because not only can Jacob learn how to play the guitar, but he can worship God right along with the lessons.  He's even encouraged to try making up his own verses throughout. 

Jean recommends this series for ages 5 and up, and she recommends spending this time with your child each day, helping him as he goes along in the lessons, even offering praise.  She gives a practice box at the end of every lesson, in which she recommends the student practicing for 5-10 minutes each day and then gives an outline of what he should practice for the week.  She also provides practice charts, as well as suggestions on how to use them to motivate and encourage your child.  

I look forward to using this more with Jacob, as he has been asking for a while now to learn to play the guitar.  Lesson prices being what they are, though, we had refrained, especially in light of him doing Tae Kwon Do right now, but now we have this opportunity to learn right here, in the comfort of our own home.  I'm pretty excited about this.  

You too can either learn how to play or teach your kids how to play.  You can purchase the Guitar Worship Class for Kids online streaming videos for $28, which honestly, is quite reasonable, given the cost of lessons; 9 lessons for $28 is a true bargain, in my opinion.  If you'd rather have the DVD, you can purchase it for $29.97, or you can get both the DVD and access to the online lessons for $33.  You can also purchase other videos/DVDs from Jean, such as How To Master Finger Picking, "Be Thou My Vision" Arrangements, or Christmas Songs and Solos.   You can see more of what Jean Welles has to offer on her website, Worship Guitar Class.

To read more reviews, check out the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: I received the Worship Guitar Class for Kids, Volume 1, free of charge, from Jean Welles, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)   

TOS Crew: Kregel Publications- Bertie's War

Bertie's War, by Barbara Tifft Blakey, is a story that takes place back in the turbulent time of the 1960's, when the threat of nuclear missiles was real.  Roberta, or Bertie, is entering that time between childhood and young adulthood, picking her way through the "traumatic" times that becoming a young woman can entail.  

Bertie lives with her mom and dad, her brother Aaron, and her sister Tami.  Bertie has all of her favorite places to go when fear drives her to the point of just wanting to escape.  The thing is, that even though Bertie is afraid of every little thing, especially the woodshed and even the threat of nuclear missiles attacking, she's still into trouble with every turn she takes.  No matter what she does, she just can't seem to do anything right, and she certainly can't please anyone.  The story winds through Bertie's many adventures, both real and imaginary, as Bertie has quite the imagination and can make a storyline out of any situation.  

I found this story to be very real and very colorful.  As I read, I could easily picture all of the scenarios that Bertie drummed up, and I could feel her sadness throughout different parts, such as the story of her grandmother's death.  I could easily feel her frustration, as well.  Some parts made me think back to my own childhood, as I remembered making up fantasies about what might be around the next corner, or fantasies to go along with whatever job I was given to do, etc.  The story goes on to show the reader why Bertie is so afraid of everything, and the lesson behind the story is truly eye-opening.  At first glance, I would not have thought that the story could have such a deep impression, but it truly does.  Not only is it a great story, but it's a story I would be ok with letting my daughter read, if I had a daughter.  Seeing as my son is 7, I don't think he would really be interested in this kind of story....of course, he could surprise me.:)  I did enjoy it, though.  You can get a copy of Bertie's War from Kregel Publications for $7.99.  

To read more reviews, visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

(Disclosure: This book was provided, free of charge, by Kregel Publications, in association with the TOS Homeschool Crew.)