Time4Learning-Review

I had the opportunity to review Time4Learning with my 2 youngest children. Time4Learning is an online curriculum for children ages pre-k through 8th grade. It gives immediate feedback to students as they work through the lessons and it’s great for bust parents because the record keeping is done for you.
From the site:http://www.time4learning.com/

Time4Learning Members Get Access To:

Rosetta Stone Giveaway

I just entered a great giveaway here
If you would like to enter go on over and check it out!

Now is the perfect time to give your child the gift of possibilities for the holidays with Rosetta Stone Homeschool — and you can WIN a Level 1 Homeschool program, language of your choice (valued at $249)!
Right now Rosetta Stone is having a special Holiday promotion on our Homeschool Edition program and we’d like you to help spread the word! Everyone can save up to $150 on Rosetta Stone Homeschool by visiting our website at http://www.RosettaStone.com/hsw1110.

See N Read - TOS Review

After homeschooling for almost 2 years now I have noticed it helps my kids to follow along with their finger under the words as they read. I taught them this after doing it myself in school for eons (it seems anyway, I am not really THAT old).
So imagine how awesome it was to be able to review a product specially designed to help struggling readers, beginning readers, what have you, keep track of their place as they go. See-N-Read is a flexible little semi transparent gray plastic sheet with a clear strip. It comes in three different models, Memory Mark, 2 sizes- book and document, which is used if you need to highlight, See-N-Read 2 sizes, and eSee-N-Read for online reading. The first two just lay over the reading page with the clear strip or cut out window over the line you are reading.

CSN Stores

I have decided I need a new laptop messenger bag. I have couple laptop bags that looks very nice but not one that is very comfortable to wear. I was introduced to CSNstores.com not too long ago and after looking for a bit found quite a few I like.

       

 

 

 

 

 

How cute are these, right? And each under $40!

CSNstores.com has over 200 stores to find just about anything you need. They have free shipping on most items too. I am looking to see if I can find a rocking chair since mine is so creaky it wakes the baby when I get up to put her in bed, not a good combo.

Go take a look and see what they have that you might like. Let me know what you find.

Mandy

The Critical Thinking Company ~ Timberdoodle Reviews

After first being introduced to Timberdoodle Christmas 2009 while searching for some long lost books (stolen while he was overseas some years ago) of my hubby’s, which thankfully they had, I had the opportunity recently to review some homeschool products the carry from the Critical Thinking Company. They have many selections available but the two I chose to review were Building Thinking Skills Level 1, for my 8 year old son and Editor in Chief Level C2, for my 15 year old son. They came in just the nick of time.

Homeschool software woes

I am forever trying to figure out a way to minimize my time spent doing planning and grading for school. I have tried Homeschool Tracker Plus, Homeschool Daybook, Homeschool Inc PER,  Homeschool SkedTrack, TOS Homeschool Planner to plan and track our school and a really great OpenOffice Calc spreadsheet just to track hours. I did a combination this year since I was spending almost an entire day a week doing our planning on Homeschool Tracker.
Homeschool Tracker Plus  was and is a great program but I got tired of entering each and every lesson, the great little details bogged me down.

2 Free Interactive Storybooks

Story Time For Me is giving away 2 FREE multimedia storybooks for kids- the stories are wonderful and engaging with excellent vocabulary. These interactive storybooks are truly a first rate selection of well written literature aimed at 2 age groups, preschool-4 and 4-8.

With features such as word or phrase highlighting, auto read or manual modes, clickable keywords to hear repeats, and vocabulary picture associations your child will grow in their confidence as a reader. Additional functions such as polls, activities and community videos, discussion questions and an art room expand on each stories theme and really let a child indulge in their own creativity.

I love this site and my 22 month old will watch and repeat the words when I click on them. It really is a great way to expand her growing vocabulary. I hope you check it out and let me know what you think about it.

Mandy

So many thoughts

running through my brain. I am having some trouble focusing on any one thing. It’s like the craziness of the holidays has engulfed me. I have schoolwork to correct, a house to put to order, a tugging pain in my heart for a unknown child in the Father’s arms, a rebellious son wreaking havoc, thoughts of inadequacy, and physical ailments to top it all off. In short I am exhausted, cranky, frustrated, angry, sad and my back is killing me (ice is my friend right now). I hopefully will be able to form a coherent thought in the next few days. Right now I just want to point out I have some reviews coming up, we had a lovely Christmas that turned into something  atrocious, and we were all sick with head colds. Happy New Year everybody! May this year be the last year I give Santa credit when it is God who is Glorified.  We are so very blessed by the Almighty even in (especially) our times of suffering.

Mandy

Our Christmas Card to You

We love and appreciate you all.

Some of you only know us through this blog and others are frequent visitors to the various homeschool yahoo groups I am on and we have gotten to be closer. Some are also friends on Facebook and Twitter and have shared in some of our ups and downs as we share in yours. I am glad to call you all friends. Some of you are even my friends IRL (in real life) and I cherish those friendships as well. God chose each and everyone of you to be in our lives for a reason and for that I am grateful.

You have blessed us in ways unimaginable, oh Lord. Your angels here on earth hold us when we feel far from you.

Personalize your own free ecard

Merry Christmas to all my Earth Angels!

Mandy

I Caught Santa Contest

Imagine the look on your child’s face when you can give them the proof they need to keep the belief in Santa alive. ICaughtSanta.com does just that by combining your room photo and their Santa pose into a picture that is truly worth a thousand words. They have other characters you can catch if you are not of the Santa persuasion too!

Oliver’s Labels – Tomoson Review

I have kids, kids tend to lose things. Lost things can be a big problem.
Oliver’s Labels = problem solved

Oliver's Labels makes high quality waterproof labels and tags to stick on all your kids' stuff. Our labels are dishwasher & laundry safe and will never fade, scuff or peel.

Tiny Planets – TOS Review

Product: Tiny Planets Website
Company: My Tiny Planets Ltd.
Price: Free to various pricing options.               Ages: 4-12

I’d like to introduce you to a couple of my friends. Meet Bing and Bong, the loveable duo who takes your child on a trip around their galaxy. Along the way your child will be able to visit 6 planets, learning “to think for themselves, assume social responsibility, take care of our planet and learn about the mysteries of space.”

ALEKS – TOS Review

I always hated math in school. It was truly my worst subject. Not because I didn’t understand it but because early on I was taught to hate it. I remember it well. I was in 2nd grade and was so proud of myself for finishing more than I had to. When I turned it in and my teacher saw I had done more than assigned she rapped my knuckles with a wooden ruler. I was mortified and from that day hated math. As I progressed in school I only did just enough to get by in all subjects and math remained my worst subject. I would avoid it and subsequently get behind.
Fast forward 25 years and I am teaching my children math. My oldest seems to fly through it and my middle child drags his feet. I have used a few different types of programs to try to fix what the schools missed (with my oldest, 9th grade) and broke (in my 3rd grader).
Enter ALEX. I love this program…

I gave Joy to the World when I....

birthed my 3 beautiful children. My daughter, who is almost 2, & my sons, who are 8 and 15. We have had our ups and downs with medical issues and money problems but through it all my children have reflected God’s love. They are so happy all the time even if something less than what they expect has happened. I sometimes think God gave me this particular children just so he could see me laugh. All of my children have a humor streak a mile wide and for that I am grateful. I love to hear my 8 year old laughing turned high pitch squeal, to see my 15 year old  with tears streaming down his cheeks while laughing without sound, and to watch as my giggly baby girl chases everyone who will be chased. All ending up in a pile of laughing children on the floor. Yep, I thank God for the joy he has sent to this world through me, he knew I would need it.

Mandy

Toms of Maine Buzz

I love finding new things that fit wonderfully into my life. Tom’s of Maine is one of those things. They are a company that makes personal care products with our future in mind. From using natural ingredients to ingredient disclosure Tom’s is helping to do their part to conserve our resources and be responsible.

 

Tom’s of Maine:

 Toothpaste, Dental Floss,    Mouthwash, Deodorant, & Soap

 

“Good people making
Responsible Choices