As my homeschool friends all know I am always on the lookout for a great reading program. While one program worked great for my son, it was a horrible failure for my daughter Lexi, who has dyslexia. We have a great reading program for Lexi but, when trying to use it with Ava Mae she has found it boring at times. Enter Memoria Press' new First Start Reading and Classical Phonics program. I was so happy to test out something different with Ava Mae and being we do a mixture of Classical/Charlotte Mason curriculum I knew it would fit right in.I have been so happy with First Start Reading and Classical Phonics - my daughter really took to the program immediately. The pages in First Start Reading are interesting and keep my daughter's attention. I love that we can combine her practice of handwriting with the phonics program. After just a few short lessons my daughter was reading and writing the words she had learned. The books are the perfect mixture of tracing, reading, drawing, and coloring for Ava Mae. I love the fact that the lessons are simple and direct but, very thorough. The teacher's manual is so easy to follow - anyone can easily use it to teach their child to read.The only hiccup we had while using the program were the word lists in the Classical Phonics book. When I first opened the book to show my daughter without even looking she immediately said "I cannot read those words". After a few minutes of showing her how the word lists would work she was happily working through them. Classical Phonics has a very traditional way of teaching phonics - no pictures next to words cluing the child into what the letters spell - just phonetically arranged word lists {it was originally published in 1913 and was ahead of its time when it came out}.Memoria Press' First Start Reading is a complete phonics, reading and printing program. There are three student books and one teacher's manual - all which retail for $29.95 {a great price!} and can be ordered directly from Memoria Press.Memoria Press' Classical Phonics is a teacher and student guide all in one. It retails for $14.95 and can also be purchased directly from Memoria Press.Would you like to read what my fellow crew mates thought of Memoria Press and the First Start Reading and Classical Phonics program? Then head on over to the TOS Crew Blog.
Disclaimer: I am reviewing this product on behalf of the TOS Crew. I received no compensation, other than a free First Start Reading and Classical Phonics program from Memoria Press, for the writing of this review. The contents of this review express my personal opinion of the curriculum.
Another fun Halloween ... our good friends throw a wonderful party each year. There is lots of yummy food for dinner and then we all head out to trick-or-treat the neighborhood they live in.
Many of our closest friends attend each year and the kids have a blast!
The theme this year amongst my kids was to dress like one of their best friends ...
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Pictured above - Ava Mae with her best friend, Maddie Bell - they were Rockettes. Pictured below - Devin with one of his best buds, Clarke, as Boston Red Sox players}
This year Lexi won the costume contest for the girls ...
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Pictured above - Lexi with one of her best friends, JK. Trick or Treating. Pictured below - just some of the ten pounds of candy loot my kids brought home.}
Our family has really enjoyed board games lately ... and, while I love games like Monopoly they can seem to drag on and on. Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a new game ~ "Wits & Wagers Family" by Northstar Games. We were immediately hooked! Even our youngest child, who was too young to play the game {game is best for 8 and up}, got into the action by keeping score.
The great thing about this game - not only is it fun, enjoyable, and easy to play for everyone, it is also fast paced. Another bonus, being able to open a new game and have everyone playing within just a few short minutes. Here is how easy it is ...
1. Choose a card from the deck and ask a question from the card.
2. Have all players write down a numerical guess on the dry erase boards provided.
3. Players then reveals their guesses and each person bets on which answer is correct {many times I knew my kids would know answer to something I did not like "How many official Disney Princesses are there?"}.
4. Award points to the players who bet on the correct answer and the player who gave the correct answer.
Too simple ... we have played multiple games and they have never lasted more than 15 or 20 minutes.
Our family gives it 2 thumbs up ... in fact, when I told my son I was sitting down to write this review he wanted to make sure I included how "awesome" this game is. Wits & Wagers Family is best for 3 - 6 players and can be found at local retailers and online. We saw this game on the shelf at our Target store for $19.99. I think it would make a great Christmas gift!Would you like to read what my fellow crew mates thought of Wits & Wagers Family by Northstar Games? Then head on over to the TOS Crew Blog.
Disclaimer: I am reviewing this product on behalf of the TOS Crew. I received no compensation, other than a free Wits & Wagers Family board game, for the writing of this review. The contents of this review express my personal opinion of the game.
Just starting out homeschooling or been in the trenches for awhile? This is the book I would point you to Apologia's ~ Educating the WholeHearted Child! In this newly updated 3rd edition {376 pages}, Clay and Sally Clarkson delve into the world of homeschooling - bestowing on us their knowledge from years and years of homeschooling.This is a book that I just cannot put down every time I pick it up to read. So many great ideas and wonderful insight and while I may not agree 100% with everything the Clarkson's have written in the way they have chosen to homeschool I still walk away with some great tidbit or something new I want to give a try.One of my favorite tools in the book is a section on how to decipher your child's learning style. You can make your homeschooling life so much more pleasant by knowing what style learner your children are. I also love all the forms in the back of the book - a great resource! {One thing I have definitely learned in the five short years we have been homeschooling - learn from those who have gone before me and do not try and reinvent the wheel.}From the book cover: Since 1994, Educating the WholeHearted Child has been a trusted guide for thousands of homeschooling families. This extensively revised and expanded third edition provides a solid biblical foundation for educating and nurturing your children's hearts, minds and souls.
You will discover how to:- Make your home and family the heart of your children's education
- Train your children to become creative, self-directed learners
- Enrich life and education with living books
- Identify and work with each child's learning style
- Help your children love to learn as naturally as they love to play
- Gain confidence to teach with practical, commonsense methods.
I think every homeschool could benefit from having this book on their shelf! I know I will be referring to it for years to come. To purchase your own copy {Cost: $22.00} head on over to Apologia's site. You can even read a sample chapter or take a look at the table of contents.Would you like to read what my fellow crew mates thought of Apologia's ~ Educating the WholeHearted Child? Then head on over to the TOS Crew Blog.
Disclaimer: I am reviewing this product on behalf of the TOS Crew. I received no compensation, other than a free copy of Educating the Wholehearted Child, for the writing of this review. The contents of this review express my personal opinion of the book.
As my homeschool friends all know I am always on the lookout for a great reading program. While one program worked great for my son, it was a horrible failure for my daughter Lexi, who has dyslexia. We have a great reading program for Lexi but, when trying to use it with Ava Mae she has found it boring at times. Enter Memoria Press' new First Start Reading and Classical Phonics program. I was so happy to test out something different with Ava Mae and being we do a mixture of Classical/Charlotte Mason curriculum I knew it would fit right in.
