Schoolhouse Review: Notebooking Pages Lifetime Membership #hsreviews #notebooking #journaling

On my list of skills to work on improving during the new school year are handwriting and personal research and I have found a valuable resource tool in the homeschool notebook pages over at NotebookingPages.com.  For purposes of review, we received the Notebooking Pages Lifetime Membership and it is making a huge difference in how we approach learning at our home.  I knew there just had to be a better way to create lifelong learners without completely losing all of our joy -- and I knew there had to be something out there that would work for my high schoolers.  It seems like it was a little easier to find creative ways to teach and learn when my children were all in elementary grades, so I was excited to find out that NotebookingPages.com would work for students of all ages -- high schoolers included.

We are busy by nature and always on the go to our next activity, so there is no time in our schedule for things that my children see as straight-up busywork.  Part of why we homeschool is so that we can skip the fluff.  I've heard tales of notebooking working in the lives of several of my homeschooling friends, and I was eager to give it a try at Long Leaf Academy.  But going into it, I knew that if notebooking and journaling was going to work for my family, I would need quality pages that engaged my two high schoolers without a dumbed-down feel.  I have been more than pleased because that's exactly what Debra Reed offers through NotebookingPages.com.  If you are even a little bit skeptical, you'll want to stop reading this review and head right on over to read Debra's story of how they escaped the doom and gloom of homeschooling busywork and moved right into freedom through notebooking.  {Seriously, go read it.  I'll wait. And while you are there, you can go ahead and sign up for the FREE 600+ page Sampler and tutorial.}


Here's what I've decideded:  "Notebooking" is a creative way to engage students in active learning as they are required to search out the material of study as they fill in blank (or lined) pages as assigned and create notebooks of knowledge.  Notebooking is a personalized scrapbook of individualized learning that allows students to dream and study and enjoy school because they are creating keepsakes that they will treasure for years to come.  Notebooking allows your students to tell their very own story and explore the world around them.   NotebookingPages.com makes it easy to begin and simple to continue because all of the work is done for you.  The Lifetime Membership is just that -- good for a lifetime -- and they are continually adding new pages and designs to meet the needs and desires of all.  That's pretty impressive in and of itself because there is a TON of stuff just waiting for you to print out for your students.  Seriously -- a ton.  As of right now, there are 1,000s of pages available to you.  You simply decide where you want to begin.

It really is that simple.  Pages come in varieties that are sure to please every child and momma.  There are blank pages, pages with dashed-line grids for early writers, and pages with notebook-type lines for older students.  You can choose from blank "Any Study" formats that allow your children to pick colors and designs for any type of study they desire or you can choose from specific pages from each of the following subject areas:

• A-Z alphabet copywork
• Bible and Character Studies (these include pages for Old and New Testament characters, Quiet Time pages, Character Trait study pages, and Bible Study templates)
• Famous People -- including First Ladies, Presidents, Missionaries, Artists, Composers, Poets, Scientists, and Explorers
• Fine Arts -- which includes Artists & Picture Studies as well as Composers and Listening Pages
• Geography -- Continents, Countries, the USA, and World maps
• History -- timelines for Ancient Times, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, and Modern Times
• Holidays -- pages for holidays from each month of the year
• Language Arts -- Spelling Logs, Writing Helps, Reading Logs, and beautifully designed pages for copywork and poetry, plus Latin & Greek Word Study pages
• Science and Natural History -- pages for Animals, Nature Study, Experiments, Plants, and Astronomy

See what I mean?  There is a little bit of EVERYTHING at NotebookingPages.com.  

The Quiet Time pages come in several designs which are perfect for my crew.  The Princess has chosen to utilize the pink pages as pictured below.  There are also blue pages and the "my daily walk" pages.  The simple format of each makes digging into GOD's Word easy and the questions direct study and Bible reading times and encourage growth through accountability.  I like that.

We've chosen to pair the Character Trait study pages with the Quiet Time pages and the act of writing out the habits and attitudes that need to be uprooted is amazing.  My kids are paying closer attention to qualities that matter and are finding ways to cultivate positive change in their lives.

There are so many different pages and so many ways to use them all.  The holiday studies are way cool and the author pages are some of my favorite.  I am looking forward to continued positive change this year as my children fall in love with learning all over again.  I am excited to see how NotebookingPages.com helps with improved handwriting and research skills.  I know that it is important to cultivate independent learners before my kids head off to college and I feel like this is the perfect tool to do just that.   

You can find out more about the lifetime membership to Debra Reed's HUGE library of notebooking and journaling pages by visiting the following Social Media sites:

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And you'll want to make sure you check out the FREE resources available that I mentioned earlier.  There is something here for EVERY homeschooling family.

I was given the opportunity to review NotebookingPages.com as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of it as well (or just click on the banner below) and you'll see how it worked for families with children of all different ages, interests, grade levels, and writing skills.

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Schoolhouse Review: The Nutcracker - Maestro Classics #hsreviews

We were introduced to the fabulous Maestro Classics a few years ago and have had the overwhelming privilege of listening to their classical music stories and sharing them with you ever since.  We've reviewed several titles to date, but this new one is my absolute favorite.   Brand new and just in time for our Christmas celebration, The Nutcracker has arrived and I am so glad it is mine.  Ah, The Nutcracker!

Now, I don't about you, but we have been fans of Tchaikovsky's beautiful Nutcracker for just about forever.   The Nutcracker is a huge part of our Christmas tradition.    We've watched several film versions together and seen the ballet performed live on multiple occasions.  The sweet story is perfect for kids of all ages as there is truly something for everyone.  Life-sized dolls, evil mice, dancing candies, waltzing flowers, toy soldiers, and exquisite snowflakes mixed with drama, laughter, music, and ballet make for exciting entertainment.  My girls adore the lovely Sugar Plum Fairy and my boy loves the hero found in the Nutcracker.  (It is actually what began his fascination with and subsequent extensive collection of Nutcrackers in all shapes and sizes.)  To say that the Nutcracker has impacted our hearts and lives would be an understatement.  We are super-excited that Maestro Classics has offered us this newest audio version to hum and dream and dance along to this Christmas.


Pairing exquisitely performed music by the London Philharmonic Orchestra with exciting narration by Jim Weiss, listeners are invited to step into the story of The Nutcracker from the moment you arrive at the family Christmas party until Clara awakens on Christmas morning.  The narration clearly describes the wonders of the evening and explains what is happening in the story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince while leading us to listen carefully for the emotion in the music itself and teaching the terminology of dance along the way.

When you visit the Maestro Classics website, you might find that these beautiful classical music pieces are targeted to younger children in order that they might gain an appreciation of serious music at an early age, and that is great, but don't let it fool you.  While 5- to- 12-year-olds will definitely fall in love as these stories come to life, the 14-, 16-, and 47-year-olds at my house LOVE Maestro Classics, too.  We enjoy listening to these CDs and even studying through the Curriculum Guides together.  And by "we" I do mean all of us.  I am as fascinated as my children while we listen and study and enjoy.

When The Nutcracker CD arrived at our house, I took it straight to the vehicle as we were heading out for the day.  With just a little under an hour of playing time, it was the perfect accompaniment to our afternoon of errands and activities.  I like for us to have a chance to simply listen along to the musical story before we delve into the technical aspects of it.  We listen, we discuss, we soak it all in and give the music time to really pull upon us.  This way, my children's interest is piqued and I am able to begin to set the stage for future study.  After listening through on our drive around town, the CD made its way inside where we can play it again and again as we fold clothes, prepare meals, live life.

There are 21 tracks on The Nutcracker CD and an accompanying 24-page Activity Guide breaks the production into Acts and Scenes, teaches the History of Ballet, shares information about the harp, introduces the reader to Tchaikovsky, and includes a Word Scramble and Crossword Puzzle.  Although we don't make a formal study of the Activity Guide, both the Eagle Scout and the Princess enjoy reading it through.  This sets the stage for the formal study I am putting together for the month of December -- perfect for our Christmas tradition.

Maestro Classics generously offers FREE Curriculum Study Guides for all of their musical works that can be used as great Unit Study material to correlate to your listening CD.  The Curriculum Study Guide includes links for Science, Dance, Health/Fitness, Nutrition, Geography, History, Math, Music, Art, and Language Arts.  I am excited about this and can't wait to further explore it with my children as we continue listening to The Nutcracker CD.


I'm thrilled to begin bringing a little of the Christmas spirit into our home early through The Nutcracker and know this is a production we will listen to year-round.  Maestro Classics has quite a few selections to choose from, so be sure to stop by and see which ones your family will enjoy most.  As a matter of fact, in honor of tonight's first game of the World Series, the Casey at the Bat CD is on sale right now for only $5.  That's an incredible deal and for a WONDERFUL production.  WE loved it!  

This is the perfect time to stock up for Christmas presents and stocking stuffers.  I encourage you to read the company's Mission Statement so that you understand the JOY with which they invest in our children and our grandchildren.  What a beautiful gift for us all.  You can further connect with Maestro Classics via the following Social Media links:   

Facebook

YouTube

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I was given the opportunity to review Maestro Classics' The Nutcracker as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of this and other products as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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Schoolhouse Review: Home School in the Woods #hsreviews

I enjoy traveling and seeing new sights and learning new things as I go.  I also love studying history and digging into stories and projects that make it come to life.  I have been able to share that love with my children through the years -- all four will confess that history is their favorite subject -- and the travel "bug" is beginning to take root in their lives as well.
I am especially excited when travel and history combine and educational opportunities abound, as we have found in the Project Passport World History Study:  Renaissance & Reformation by Home School in the Woods.  A hands-on curriculum written especially for 5th - 8th graders (but completely appropriate for both younger and older students) Project Passport has become a family favorite as we work through the Guidebook and maneuver through our Travel Itinerary on an epic quest through the Renaissance & Reformation time period (1100 AD to 1660 AD).

What a perfect way to learn about history!  My very kinesthetic learner has thrived this summer as she "visits" each of the 25 stops that bring history to life.  It has been such fun for her as she "meets" new people like Martin Luther and Henry VIII along the way.  This is a world history program that easily takes the "school" out of learning.  Instead of dreading work, she has enthusiastically embraced fun.  It's easy to pack your bags and head out on this cultural adventure through history.

A rising 9th grader, the Princess is  really "into art" (her words) and the art projects and artist studies piqued her interest from the first moment she began researching Project Passport.  In depth lessons have reinforced the art history we have studied and given her the opportunity to try her hand at emulating some of the Masters.

In years past, we have taken field trips to a local Renaissance Faire.  Project Passport brings that field trip home to us.  With recipes to try and clothing to make, you can easily step into the world of royalty and examine the daily life of peasantry as you learn and explore and dream and write alongside of some of history's greatest characters.  My girl has become so enamored that the flowers in her hair have become a staple fashion accessory.  Learning that becomes everyday life makes this momma's heart smile.  (Pictured below, the flower wreath is one of her completed craft projects from the study.  She has made several -- in different colors -- and even gifted them to friends.)

Project Passport World History Study:  Renaissance & Reformation is available as either a physical CD or a digital resource. For purposes of this review, I received it in downloadable format.  This worked perfectly for us.  Designed to be used over an 8 - 12 week period, it includes audio files (used as audio tour on your travels) and printable components to make for an authentic experience.  Students can read lessons directly off of the computer, print pages for further exploration, and fill their notebook full of souvenirs from their trip.  There is easily enough provided within the study to turn this into a semester-long historical study and additional resources and reading suggestions make it easy to continue even longer.

What I particularly appreciate is that my daughter can truly make this her own as she steps into the pages of history.  Project Passport makes it easy to explore the world through the projects and lap books provided, but also allows her creative license to  continue the exploration as her heart desires.  She is not confined to the pages of a book, but is encouraged to branch out, chase rabbits,  draw, paint, cook, learn, and live.  It is at the point when the desire to learn becomes active that I know we have succeeded.  Project Passport offers success.

You can explore history for yourself with Home School in the Woods by visiting the following Social Media sites and seeing which of their many studies would be fun for your family:

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I was given the opportunity to review Project Passport World History Study:  Renaissance & Reformation as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of this and other products as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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Schoolhouse Review: SmartKidz Media Library #hsreviews

It's always exciting to find new things to enhance our homeschooling journey.  I am blessed to be able to review cool products and websites and share them with you and I always hope that you'll find them just as wonderfully engaging as we do.  Homeschooling affords us the opportunity to meet our children right where they are and invite them to fall in love with the process of learning through a variety of tools and methods.  That's one of my favorite things about educating my children at home -- I can specifically tailor each child's education to their individual learning styles.  Finding resources that present "something for everyone" all in one place that's easy to find is a WIN in this momma's book and SmartKidz Media has proven to be just that.  The SmartKidz Media Library for Homeschoolers offers a digital media resource library for you to use at home that includes music, videos, eBooks, and more.

Talk about something for everyone, there's a TON of neat stuff on this family-friendly website that I've been able to turn my family loose on.  My kids thrive on documentaries and "how stuff works" videos.  It is not unusual for the Eagle Scout  to tell me some tidbit of information during school lessons and then explain what programs he watched the night before that taught him all about it.  That my friends is what homeschooling is all about.  I LOVE it when my children take the initiative to study and attain knowledge all by themselves.  The SmartKidz Media Library makes it easy for them to do just that.  Super user-friendly, it is set up in such a way that we can access it all from our iPhones, iPads, and computers.  I've been able to allow my children to visit topics of interest and I've enjoyed sitting back and watching to see what they wanted to learn.  We've also used the Smart Kidz Media Library as our "family time" entertainment.  I love it when learning just "happens."   Don't you?  With 16 different categories in the World of Discovery collection, we can literally find something about everything.  There are 5 - 10 videos in each category ranging from Animals & Wildlife, Nature, and Cultural Documentaries to Health & Fitness and Lifestyle & Cuisine.  You can take off on adventure as you Travel the world and soon you'll even be able to learn about Sports and History.  We are enthralled with the travel documentaries and are having fun imagining life abroad as we "visit" new places through video.

This barely scratches the surface of what is available.

One of the things that I remember about my grandfather was his love of great music.  He played a double-barreled silver clarinet as a child and that fed his life-long passion for toe-tapping tunes.  It was not uncommon to walk into his house on any given day and hear jazz tunes or the blues blaring from the tape deck of his stereo.  He was a fan of the big band era and his passion fueled an appreciation in each of my children.  Can you imagine my delight when I came across the Music & Fine Arts Collection of SmartKidz Media?  With volumes of classical, cultural, jazz & blues classics, and relaxation music, we could easily find something to reminisce over as we listened to some of Poppa's favorites over the internet.  We found some really cool new things to add to our favorites list as well.  (You've GOT to check out the 25 Rhythms of the World for the neatest cultural experience and the most hauntingly beautiful rendition of Danny Boy that I've ever heard.)

The Mighty eBook Collection contains flash animated eBooks that the children in your family will fall in love with and ask to watch over and over and over.   I'll even admit to enjoy singing along to some of the songs myself.   What a great way to promote literacy beginning with our littlest learners.  The books in this section reminded me so much of the sweet little VHS tapes I used to play when my girls were mere babes.  (Yes, I realize I'm dating myself because WHO even knows what a VHS tape is anymore?)  I so loved sharing Aesop Fables and The Real Mother Goose with my children.  It's nice to know that those sweet lessons can continue.  The sing-along books help your little ones learn to read as the highlighted words are spoken and sung to them.  With science lessons and Bible stories included, there's something here for everyone.  Speaking of cool things for kids, there's even a Baby Signs program and Potty Training Help.  Neat, huh?

I love, love, love the Quick Find Study Guides that offer help in categories from Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, AND Science to the new categories that are soon to arrive -- Basic Accounting and Foreign Languages.  There's even a Special Needs section on SmartKidz Media that has tons of helpful read-along books and videos to learn by.  Seriously, you need to check this learning resource out for your family.  You're going to love it!

You can find out even more about what SmartKidz Media has to offer your homeschool environment by visiting the following Social Media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

I was given the opportunity to review SmartKidz Media as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of this and other products as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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Schoolhouse Review: JazzEdge's DrumsWithWillie #hsreviews

I've always thought that music lessons of one kind or another are very important for all students.  I played clarinet and bass clarinet and twirled flag in the band through junior high, high school, and college.  As part of the band, I learned how to be a team player.  I learned what it truly means to take pride in what you do.  I learned that a group is only as strong as its weakest link. I learned that playing well with others matters -- in a concert setting, in a marching setting, in life.  Here in my neck of the woods, there is no homeschool band for my kids, but I've made sure to let everyone take some type of musical lessons.  All four of my children have taken piano through the years and the Princess still takes today.  My eldest daughter (the OT Student) added guitar to her musical abilities.  Both she and her sister the Bride-to-be took voice lessons.  You might even remember that last summer we reviewed JazzEdge's HomesSchoolPiano.  Like I said, I think music lessons are important.  Learning to read music, count rhythms, and practice until you get something right are valuable skills for anyone.

The Eagle Scout has long wanted to learn to play drums.  Yes, I know, that might just be every mother's nightmare, but I'm married to a drummer so . . . I'm kind of used to the click-click-click of sticks.  {When the MainMost and I were dating, he used to airdrum the steering wheel as we drove along the road.  That may actually be when I first fell in love with him.  Just don't tell him I said so.}  And one of my very best childhood friends was a drummer, so I was excited when we had the opportunity to review DrumsWithWillie -- another of the great JazzEdge classes.  

my favorite drummer boy

For purposes of this review, we received access to all three of the drum lesson levels for one year.  It is recommended that your drum student be equipped with a basic drum set to include kick drum, snare, hi-hat, and at least one cymbal.  Obviously, your aspiring drummer will need at least one set of drum sticks, as well.  Lucky for us, my favorite drummer -- the MainMost -- has a complete drum kit at home and my son even has access to an electric set at church.  It's the one his daddy plays on every Sunday.  With all this drum equipment at our disposal, it was quite easy for the Eagle Scout to begin his drum lessons.

DrumsWithWillie is an online program that can be accessed via computer, tablet, or iPhone which makes it super easy for my guy to learn new skills and practice, practice, practice.  He can watch a video at home on the laptop and then access the same video for practice sessions when we head out the door to church.  (The lessons are all taught via streaming video so you're going to want to make sure you have a good connection.)  What we really like about this program is that you work through the lessons at your own pace and you can watch and re-watch as much as you want to do so.  If you find a concept or technique difficult, you are encouraged to keep at it until you feel comfortable with what you've learned.  Students also learn to be expressive as they learn to create music.

Divided into three different levels (of 6 units each), students are taught from the very beginning stages of drumming with no prior ability necessary all the way through to creating their own arrangements and understanding techniques for all types/genres of music.  It has been most interesting watching my son follow in his father's footsteps as he learns how to take the snare drum apart and tune it himself.  I am enjoying hearing the rhythmic sound of sticks wafting down the hallway as he practices in his room.  I like that he has a passion for learning and that I can provide music lessons right from home.  No need to travel, but enjoyment at his fingertips with just the click of a button.

Now, I don't know anything about the technique of "rat-a-tat-tat" and "clicka-clicka-clicka", but the beauty of DrumsWithWillie is that I don't have to.  My guy is 16 and as soon as the account was set up, he was ready to begin.  He doesn't have to have his mom standing over him to learn.  Expert teaching will create expert students every time.  Willie has his attention and respect -- and that's enough to keep him interested.  

For more information about JazzEdge's DrumsWithWillie, be sure to visit the following Social Media Sites:

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Pinterest

Twitter

YouTube

Vimeo

I was given the opportunity to review DrumsWithWillie as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of this and other products as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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Schoolhouse Review: Homeschool Legacy #hsreviews

It's no secret that I like history.  It was my favorite subject in school and it's definitely my favorite subject to teach at Long Leaf Academy.  Our recent trip to Chicago made it even more clear that I've passed the history buff gene on to my children.  We visited all of the big museums and were in complete agreement that while we enjoyed both the Aquarium and the Planetarium, you could give us more of the history museums any day.  They were where we spent the most time -- walking through the halls, reading the information provided, soaking it all in.  Fish and stars were interesting for a short visit, but history grabbed our attention for hours on end.

I have always enjoyed adding living history lessons to our school days.  It's fun to share readings together, but it's even better to be able to include hands-on activities, movies, and projects to the learning environment.  Unit Studies make it possible to bridge textbook learning and active engagement.  I was a late arrival to the unit study, but I have embraced it wholeheartedly with my youngest two children.  We've recently had the opportunity to utilize Westward Ho! Part I (a five week study) and Westward Ho! Part II (a four week study) by  Homeschool Legacy.   Each can be used as a stand-alone study, but you'll want to study them together for a phenomenal adventure.  Trust me on this one.  Both are written for students in 2nd - 12th grades, so my 8th and 10th graders were perfect candidates for these all-inclusive learning tools.

Now, over the years we've read Little House and Tom Sawyer books, watched videos about America's expansion out West, and tasted our share of homemade hardtack; but studying through the pages of Westward Ho! Parts I and II pulls together all of these resources and more -- offering an in-depth study of American pioneers through a multi-subject approach that includes reading, utilizing maps, creative writing, science projects, oral presentations, music and art appreciation, life skills, ideas for real-life field trip, and more.  These biblically-based unit studies are perfect for the busy homeschool family as they can be done as little as once a week with no prep work.  There are family-friendly games and movie suggestions with each unit and a wide variety of additional resources to choose from that make for a tailor-made study for each student.  Each of the Homeschool Legacy titles offer substantial credibility for all students, regardless of grade.  Elementary and High School students will each be challenged as they learn.

How It Works at Long Leaf Academy

Westward Ho! Parts I and II are available as print or digital versions.  For purposes of this review, we received the digital version.  We read portions of the unit study together off of my laptop or iPad and I am able to print the pages that I want my children to work on (with actual pen or pencil).   The digital version is hyperlinked for easy access to websites that further explain concepts and provide a more in-depth look at historical figures.

Our mutual love of history typically finds us spending quite a bit of time in study together.  We prefer to work through the unit study daily -- and often spend hours delving deeper into the material presented.  It has been fun to re-examine many of our favorite read-alouds through the years as we fit them into the historical timeline.  In the pictures below, you can see my Princess and the Eagle Scout hard at work writing their original tall tales.   Even more fun was sharing them with one another.

Creative Writing

Public Speaking -- Sharing their Tall Tales

Westward Ho! Part I is a 69-page ebook that covers Frontiersmen, Pioneer Life, the Lone Star Republic, the Life and Times of James K. Polk, and the Oregon Trail.  Of course, our favorite section was studying the Lone Star Republic since we visited San Antonio this year.  We were able to stand on the grounds of the Alamo and discuss the events of history that shape our lives today.

Remembering the Alamo

Westward Ho! Part II is a 63-page ebook that covers the Gold Rush, Life on the Prairie, the Great American Railroad Race, and Cowboys and Cattle Drives.  The Princess has been reading a series of books that complemented this unit study perfectly.  She has been able to share insights about the Gold Rush and her excitement is contagious.  I LOVE this kind of learning, don't you?  Learning to make a business plan helped reinforce concepts learned this year in robotics and our studies of prairie life had us looking out the window more at large farms as we recently traveled through Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.  This is why we homeschool.  My children are most excited and retain more information when learning becomes a part of who we are -- not just what we do.  We completed our study of the "Great Migration" by creating personalized cattle brands.  This led to a discussion about how to come up with the best names for a ranch if we ever own one and a reminder that GOD owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  (Psalm 50:10)

Art Project -- Creating Personalized Brands

And that may be my very favorite part of Homeschool Legacy Unit Studies.  We are able to enjoy a quest for knowledge together and explore a variety of topics and ideas as we learn.  We have laughed and enjoyed each other's company more through this review and that's a blessing for any family.

We were first introduced to Homeschool Legacy two years ago when the Eagle Scout was working on his Citizenship in the Nation badge and we had the opportunity to review the We the People:  Getting to Know Your Constitution unit study.  I was super-impressed that Sharon Gibson (veteran home educator and creator of the unit studies) had included so many of the specific Boy Scout badge requirements in each study.  There were only about 10 studies available then, but lucky for us that number has grown over the years.  We've had the privilege to add Horsing Around and Christmas Comes to America to our list of completed unit studies and we've enjoyed them both.  It's exciting that there are even more for us to choose from over the next few years.

You can learn more about Homeschool Legacy, choose a great study to share with your children, and find some really cool information about all sorts of things that helps make serious learning fun on the following Social Media sites:

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

I was given the opportunity to review Homeschool Legacy as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of this and other products as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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Schoolhouse Review: Star Toaster #hsreviews

Games, games, games.  We are definitely a gaming family.  Board games, card games, online games . . . we enjoy gaming and I consider it a major win when the games my children play teach as they go.  When we were given the opportunity to review Star Toaster's Orphs of the Woodlands book The Treasure of HighTower, I was excited because it brought the best of both worlds to my family.  An online educational resource AND game, Orphs of the Woodlands has the Princess reading, learning new vocabulary words, improving math skills, AND smiling as she does it all.  That, my friends, is a WIN for not only this mom, but for my girl as well. In order to decide if Star Toaster was for us, I had my eighth grader watch the promo video with me. From the very first introduction, she thought it looked "cool" and was eager to begin.  (As you are well aware, "cool" is the ultimate compliment for a teenager.)  Reading through the chaptered "story" daily, she enjoyes the interactive lessons -- she is actually so engrossed in the story that she forgets she's working on "school."  Another win for us both.  I'm open to all the help I can get in a multi-disciplinary way.  Bring it on!
So, what IS Orphs of the Woodlands, and exactly how is it a multidisciplinary program?  The best explanation for all of this comes directly from the Princess herself.  Here's what she has to say about The Treasure of HighTower (as she waits patiently for book two to arrive):

To begin the book, you must first fill out a Spy Application and tell about your qualifications and willingness to learn.  You have to be accountable to do your best.  As you read through the book, you are tasked with the job of finding a treasure and keeping it safe. Students are introduced to and name their main character (My character is named Rain) and they follow him through a series of  adventures.    This is really kind of like a detective story/mystery/adventure all rolled into one.  When you sign in to your current chapter (I read one chapter a day), your character leads you through the story to find the treasure.  While you are reading, the story comes to life through videos that apply to the task at hand.  Math videos and science videos explain new concepts that apply to what you've just read.  Famous quotes from literature and history are clickable so that you learn who said themand what they meant.  You are able to earn gold stars as read through the book -- and you use the gold stars to feed your orphs and keep them alive.  There are even recipes to try.  

Progress is tracked in a "Top Secret" Journal (pictured above) which lets students know how many Orphs they have rescued, how many jobs they have completed, how many goldstars they have earned, how many projects they have completed, how many plots of land they own, and how many orphanages full of sweet little orphs they have.   

It is worth noting that a typical purchase of the Orphs of the Woodland program gives up to three children access for a two-month subscription.  One month extensions can be purchased as needed. Parents can easily follow the progress of each child as they work through the skills of Math, Science, Language, Vocabulary, Thinking Skills, Character Development, Life Skills, and the Arts by tracking the successfully completed jobs.  Each of these skills can be reviewed as often as necessary so that complete mastery is attained at the end of the fifteen chapter book.

The entire program is user-friendly and offers a  "no parent required" success rate.  My eighth grade Princess works completely on her own each day. Concepts are introduced and taught in a fun and engaging way that keeps her interest and leaves no room for complaint.  As a result, we are all winners.   Orphs of the Woodlands would make for the PERFECT summer reading program.  You'll definitely want to give it a try.  There's even a FREE TRIAL so you can see if it's a good fit for your students in 4th grade and above.


You can find out more about Star Toaster's Orphs of the Woodlands by visiting the following Social Media sites:

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I was given the opportunity to review Star Toaster as a member of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Schoolhouse ReviewCrew thought of this and other products as well (or just click on the banner below.)

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