KinderBach (TOS Crew Review)

My children and I received a temporary online subscription to KinderBach as members of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew.  We didn't manage to complete as many of the online lessons as I would have liked with all the holidays and schedule changes, but we did finish Weeks 1 and 2.  Here's what we discovered:

• KinderBach is a great introduction to music and the piano/keyboard.
• KinderBach is fun and engaging for preschoolers and kindergartners.
• KinderBach offers many fun activities to supplement the online sessions.
• KinderBach is a little too "young" for my two older kids.

The Littlest Princess loved the sessions, but whether she got anything out of it is not clear (after all, she's only 3).  She even requested the videos many times, often a specific segment (the "high and low" apple tree activity was by far her favorite!).  The older kids did learn to play 'Jingle Bells' during the Christmas break with the song supplements they offered for the holidays.

Overall, I believe KinderBach is a great introduction to music, and is perfect for preschoolers, but it is a little slow and "cute-sy" for my older kids (7 and 10).  It did spark their interest in music, though, and for that alone, I have recommended KinderBach to many of my friends (even those who do not homeschool would benefit from this musical education program).  As a totally musical being, I appreciate anything that instills a love of music in my children.

To see what my fellow Crew Mates had to say about KinderBach, click here.

*Disclaimer: a 3-month subscription to KinderBach online was given for the purposes of using and reviewing their services.  This review is my honest opinion, and I have not been compensated for it.

How do you know if your children are keeping up with their peers?

Interesting question.  So glad you asked.

See, the thing about children is that a) we always compare them to other children, and b) we know we should NEVER compare them to other children. 

Hmm. 
Seems hypocritical. 
Well, yes, as a matter of fact it is. 
I never want someone to compare my children to hers... unless my children come out on top.  Yeah, it may not be something you hear every parent say out loud, but it is what drives our hearts.  Many of us have a physiological reaction to hearing anything negative about our children coming out of anyone else's mouth.

So, how do i know if my children are keeping up with their peers?  Well, i honestly don't.  I find myself in various situations over the course of the year: children at my house playing with my children demonstrating various levels of proficiency in various topics; children in public places behaving in various ways; and parents of our local homeschooling groups discussing things they are currently working on with their offspring.  All of these scenarios illustrate 3 things: my children aren't doing half the stuff other children are doing; my children are right on par with what other children their ages are doing; and my children are way ahead of their peers.

Basically, since we don't test yet (elementary school is about proficiency and mastery, not keeping up with an arbitrary state-determined standard), i have only these random situations throughout the year to 'measure' my kids against their peers.  And since my kids come out ahead, on par, and behind when compared to their peers, i have to say we're probably in the same boat as every other parent out there: comparing our children to their peers to feel some sense of satisfaction that we are doing what we should be doing.

One thing i can say about my children: they are far more compassionate than many of their peers, and that is a side effect of parental interaction.  It is also much more possible when children are not overwhelmed with academics at too young an age.

Homeschool Library Builder - SALE

Okay, i am getting a website/service to review that is somewhat overwhelming to describe, but they are having a sale THIS MONTH and i didn't want to wait to get the word out.

If you like books for your homeschool (or home, i suppose!) and you like getting a good deal, Homeschool Library Builder might be just the thing for you!  Like i said, i haven't checked into everything, but i have read a few reviews so far, and i know this to be something TRUSTWORTHY - i am just unable to completely describe it yet. :-)

So you can go here   or here  to see more or you can go to their website.
http://www.hslibrarybuilder.com/

On Super Bowl Sunday ONLY, you can get an additional discount by helping Haiti - but you have to get on their website by tomorrow night.  Check them out for more information!

Worship Guitar (TOS Crew Review)

As a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, I received access to the Worship Guitar For Kids lessons online.  These lessons include an introduction to the guitar, as well as the way to hold it, pluck the strings, and make chords.  I was delighted to learn we were on this list since the Drama Queen insisted she wanted to learn to play the guitar a couple of years ago.  With private lessons out of our price range, we just kept putting her off.  This review turned out to be the perfect opportunity to see how serious she is without incurring any cost.

So, we borrowed a 3/4 size guitar from a friend and began our lessons.  First, we learned the beat, or rhythm, of music in general.  Then we learned about notes: whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes.  After that, we learned the parts of the guitar, as well as how to hold it properly.  Once we mastered that, we got to pluck those strings - which I discovered I had never done properly.  We accomplished two chords, which Ms. Welles turns into a song that stays with you even as it makes you feel like you can actually play something on the guitar!!

All of the kids were into the introductory lessons about notes, rhythm, and the parts of the guitar, but only the Drama Queen (and her mommy) followed the online lessons and learned the chords and songs.  She and I both discovered rather quickly that it will take some time before we can play those chords without pain.  But I do believe we will persevere.

Thanks to Jean Welles' Worship Guitar for Kids, we have learned that we can play the guitar.  And it is fun!  I really like the way the lessons are done, and I love how she weaves God into them.  Great product.

To see what my fellow TOS Crew Mates had to say about this product, click here.

*Disclaimer: A temporary subscription to the online lessons was provided to me for the purpose of using and reviewing the Worship Guitar for Kids series of lessons.  This review is my own opinion, and I have not received compensation for it.

Random January...

I made my first REAL adult hat!

(the first one was a flop!)

Dania enjoyed her first REAL snow!

So did Oliver!  Does he look like he is impressed??

 It was a real snowfall and accumulation, too!

The melting... Thank God!!

Oliver is getting good at catching his toys...

This just makes me chuckle!!

...and finally...

How do i ever get anything done?!?!

Ever Get the Feeling...

... that everyone else is crazy?

I know, i know, the first sign of insanity is thinking the world is crazy and i am normal, but really, people!  Do you ever feel that way?

"Christians" who murder in the name of God.  What's wrong with that picture?

Schools that teach our kids about homosexuality.  When did that topic become academic?

Grown men who have no idea how to be MEN because no one ever showed them.  How will the world survive a fatherless generation?

Sometimes, it makes me sick to think of all we are facing.

But... God...
He has a plan.  He loves me.  He loves you.
I am really glad i know how this thing turns out (Psst! We win!).
Sometimes, that is all i have that keeps me going.

Facts First (TOS Crew Review)

When we were given a 90-day subscription to FactsFirst online (by Saxon) as members of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, I admit I was a bit bummed: another math product AND it's an online "math supplement" product.  So, I dragged my feel in getting the kids going on it for that reason, but also because in order to do this many math products justice in reviewing them, it is my belief that I need to use them exclusively.  That way, if something wonderful comes from the program, I am not left trying to figure out if it was because of Product A or Product B or a combination of the way we used them together.  Understand my point?

That being said, we have been using FactsFirst online for at least a week, and it is time to review it.  The good news: the kids LOVE it.  They have decided that it is WAY more fun than practicing math on paper, and the kids were rewarded for doing the "work" in the game by 5 minutes of "game time," which was a great surprise to them!  The bad news: we didn't spend as much time playing with it as I would have liked, so check out the other reviewers!

Starting point: the kids create their own character.  This is my daughter's favorite thing to do on computer games!!  The graphics are good and bold, but without being too overwhelming.  There were numbers presented in ways that made sense (like cash registers, chalk boards, etc.), and nothing else was going on that distracted from the problem on screen.

FactsFirst does encourage speed in entering your answers on the keyboard, but the beauty of this program over others we didn't like for this reason is that FactsFirst encourages the speed, but doesn't require it for the child to keep going.  I can no longer remember which program was which without going back and re-checking them all, but I remember there being something in our recent past that stressed the kids out about the time by buzzing at them or moving them on or something if they didn't get to it fast enough.  With FactsFirst, the kids can complete the entire set of problems, and they get a CHECK if they get the problem correct, but they get a CHECK PLUS if they get the correct answer with a fair amount of speed.  No buzzing.  No finishing without them.  They just do the problems and see the results after they are done.  And my son got competitive with himself and started angling for those CHECK PLUSES yesterday!

Really, it is a beautiful complement to any math curriculum, and is well worth the $49.99 for a year subscription (I have spent more in flip charts, flash cards, card games, and dollar aisle workbooks in a year!).  Check them out, or if you need more information, check out my fellow Crew Mates' reviews here.

* Disclaimer: I was given a free 90-day subscription to FactsFirst online with the intention that I would use it and review it.  This review is my honest opinion, and no compensation has been provided for it.

Grapevine Studies ON SALE!

I just got an email from Grapevine Studies that they are offering 50% OFF student books through Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th), so head on over and try them out (or stock up!).  

By the way, i also found out that if you give them my name (Angela Varela) when you order, i get a credit on my account, which would mean discounted curriculum for my kids! (and here i was referring you all to them just because i LOVE their stuff - i get bonus points to top it off!)

You can call them at (toll free) 877-436-2317 or log onto their website: www.grapevinestudies.com 

Have a blessed day!

How Do I Know What To Teach?

One question we all seem to ask (or at least wonder about) when we are thinking about homeschooling or we meet someone who does for the first time: how do you know what to teach?  For me, it was "How will i know what to teach?" I believe this to be a valid question because it stems from genuine curiosity and it is mixed with a touch of doubt, generally self-doubt, so it is a fair concern.

Traditional Answer: buy a reputable curriculum and follow it to the letter.  As you get the "swing" of things, you will be able to supplement or skip pieces.  This is a valid answer, but it didn't fit our style around here, so....

Less Common Response: learn about whatever the kids are interested in!  What could be more fun than learning everything from the world around you rather than textbooks!?!  Also a valid answer, but it was a bit too loose for me - i am still struggling with my self-doubt too much to lean too heavily on unschooling (as this method is often called).

Fence Straddling Answer (and my personal favorite): pick a few things that are done well to keep the basics, like math and reading, and discover the rest as you (or your children!) desire.  This way embraces all that wonderful curricula out there in Homeschool Land written by wise, intelligent, helpful people with far too much time on their hands, but it also allows for the freedom of focusing on things you are interested in, like bugs or clouds or Native Americans or - you get the idea.  For me, it's the perfect way to homeschool!

Not to mention, what works for us this week may not work for us next week - our needs are not finite, and they require us to adjust every so often.  I sometimes panic when i discover someone else's child is doing something more advanced than mine, but i quickly calm down again when i remind myself that i am aiming for a well-rounded education, not just a revolving set of facts or a checklist at the end of each year.

I feel the need to point out that the traditional school teachers are given goals/checklists before they ever meet their students, and whether or not their students reach those goals is the measure of their teaching.  While that is a lot of stress for the teacher, imagine how the kids feel who are being force-fed information that they may not understand or droned at with material they have already mastered.  The beauty of homeschooling is that i can teach only what my kids don't already know, and i can slow things down when someone needs me to do so.

So the shorter answer to the question "How Do I Know What To Teach?" for me would have to be: i don't.  I rely on some basics, like math and reading, to help keep us on track, and we fill in with whatever we feel like learning about (like pink flamingos or farm animals or self-checkout lanes or dog obedience training or building hay bale towers or...).  But, seriously, it isn't about having all the answers - it is about the journey.

MathScore (TOS Crew Review)

We have been receiving quite a bit of math products here in the TOS Crew, and my kids are getting a bit weary of me "trying something new" every month, so consider yourself warned about this review not being totally about the product. {wink}

When we received an online subscription to MathScore, I didn't know what to expect. We have run the gamut in math products lately, and I no longer have any idea what one company might have done differently from another (and WHO KNEW there were so many ways to get kids to "do math"?!?!). Well, unfortunately for my kids, MathScore was not a hit. They really didn't give it much of a chance, but I can certainly see their points:

~ timed sessions (all timed sessions stress out my children, especially my oldest, and we have a very relaxed homeschooling environment to support this)
~ drills (although drills are useful, and some parents find them necessary, we are not really thrilled with the idea of drills in our homeschool)
~ black and white, straightforward (which isn't always bad, but when math is boring for my kids, they don't get much out of it - they just try to tolerate it long enough to get past it)

You can sign up for a 2-week FREE TRIAL on their website, though, so don't take my word for this program - check it out for yourself! Your kids may LOVE it!

To see what my fellow Crew Members thought of MathScore, click here.

*Disclaimer: I was given temporary access to MathScore at no cost for the purposes of reviewing their program. No compensation was provided for this review.

Wednesday Blahs

So, it is Wednesday.  I am halfway through the week, still have so much to do, and i am running out of steam!  On top of the Wednesday Blahs, I decided to give into my craving for Doritos and i am REGRETTING IT. {ergh}

Among the other great choices i made today:

~ washed and dried 2 loads of laundry (you're thinking "Way to go!" but actually, that just means i have to put all those stupid clean clothes away... sigh)

~ asked my son to complete a competency exam in math (uh-huh, should've been a good thing, but Alas! He couldn't be bothered to take it seriously, so we'll keep plugging 1st grade math... sigh)

~ attempted to add a sidebar item to my blog with copied html code, which resulted in complete abandonment of the idea... at least for today.... sigh

~ investigated the situation when a neighbor took it upon herself to yell at my child... which just made us both feel bad because we were both being overly dramatic cautious... sigh

Plus, my dog regurgitated his breakfast and has been vomiting ever since, and keeps barking at what i can only presume are ghosts shadows since no one else sees anything.  AND i drank decaf for my afternoon coffee instead of caff and i am drooping....

Can i go back to bed?

{sigh}

Christian Keyboarding (TOS Crew Review)

As a member of the 2009-2010 The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew, I received en electronic copy of Keyboarding for the Christian School: Elementary Version (a.k.a. Christian Keyboarding) to use and review. At first, I wondered if it was another piano program, but I was wrong. Christian Keyboarding is a typing program! Wow! What a concept: a typing program that includes Bible verses and references.

So, after looking it over, I printed off only the first few lessons because I was sure that alone was going to be a nightmare to get through. I'll tell you why, and then I'll tell you whether the program met my expectations. My initial reaction to Christian Keyboarding was that it was going to be boring. It looked, at first glance, like a high school typing course: straight forward, efficient, but dry. My children are 10 and 7 years of age... the three-year-old doesn't count for this curriculum yet. :-> Anyway, my children have played a typing tutor game already and lost interest when it got difficult, so I figured, "No way will this keep their attention! Let the tantrums begin!"

Okay, I am not too proud to admit when I am wrong.

My oldest did the first lesson without a single murmur of complaint. Then she did Lesson 2 without a twitch. I honestly think if I had printed more of it out, she may have kept going indefinitely!! (lesson learned!)

Her reaction: "I like this typing program better! I like it that it isn't timed. I spent so much time with the other program worrying about the time and making mistakes that put me behind that I was more nervous and made more mistakes."

Interesting, no?

So, hats off to Christian Keyboarding (aka Keyboarding for the Christian School) for creating a program that doesn't feel the need to cover content with flash - games might be great for some children, but apparently my oldest isn't one of them. (I can't wait to put the first-grader in this program now... maybe this summer.) My daughter does these lessons without grumbling or complaining, and she has a Word document to show her what she accomplished after each lesson (yes, I am saving them for her).

To see what my fellow Crew Members thought of this program, click here.

*Disclaimer: I received this product for free with the understanding that I would use and review it. A positive review was not required, just deserved. I was not compensated in any way for this review.