Memoria Press: 8th Grade Literature Guide Set Review ~ TOS Review

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We find ourselves nearing the end of our fourth year of homeschooling, and so many things have become easier. My top priority each year is finding the right curriculum for each child! Memoria Press has become such a big help with that! Which is why I was so excited to review the 8th Grade Literature Guide Set from Memoria Press. Answer this question.....Have any of you ever had your child read a book for English/Literature and then have to hurry and read it yourself so you can put together study questions for it? I know that I have!!  And let me just add that it isn't all that fun! That is one BIG reason that I am so thankful for Memoria Press.

 

A Little Bit About the Company:

Memoria Press is a family-run publishing company that was founded by Cheryl Lowe in 1994. It produces wonderful, simple to use Christian education materials that benefit Homeschool families as well as private schools.
 

What I Received:

When I opened up my box from Memoria Press I was so excited to see that I have 4 sets of Literature Guides for my review.

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Teacher Guide
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Student Study Guide
• As You Like It Teacher Guide
• As You Like It Student Guide
• Treasure Island Teacher Guide
• Treasure Island Student Study Guide
• The Wind in the Willows Teacher Guide
• The Wind in the Willows Student Study Guide

Then we just went to the library and checked out the books to read as we worked through the curriculum.

 

How We Used It:

 

My daughter decided to start with Treasure Island first. We were able to check out the book and dive right in! At the beginning of the study guide there is a couple pages about the author of the book, which I found to be a great addition to the study guide. Then what you find when you open up the Student Guide are several sections for each chapter that is read. The sections are split up into: Reading Notes, Vocabulary, Comprehension Questions, Quotations and Discussion Questions. Your student can work through the study guide and fill in the blanks.

 

When I decided to start homeschooling it was because my daughter was struggling with reading comprehension, so watching her work through this study guide and build her reading comprehension at the same time was very rewarding for me.

 

My Bottom Line:

This is a great product! At this stage of the game, I find that the simpler something is.....the better. Memoria Press and the 8th Grade Literature Guide Set is a lifesaver for me! This makes adding books to a reading list simple and easy. Now homeschool parents everywhere have a little helper when it comes to reading comprehension guides. Memoria Press does a great job of not just making their products simple and easy-to-use, but also very affordable! Order yours today!

 

Social Media:

 

If you are like most people these days, you have found the benefit of staying connected through social media.

 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/memoriapress/
Twitter (@MemoriaPress) - https://twitter.com/MemoriaPress
Instagram (@memoriapress) - https://www.instagram.com/memoriapress/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/memoria-press?trk=nav_account_sub_nav_company_admin
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/memoriapress/
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102017568472649365859/104379865092561103366/about?_ga=1.103684480.147808133.1453409903

Unexpected Fruit on the Trail

 

  

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Life sure has a way of getting busy quickly. Sometimes before I know what is happening I am overcome by innumerable details and deadlines. Have you ever been there? Have you ever become so busy that the people you care about the most seem to only get the worst of you, or the leftovers? Well, I most definitely have!!  If I can be completely honest with you, I have probably found myself in that place more than once!  And.....That is exactly where I found myself on this particular day. So much to do and starting to feel overwhelmed and agitated.....so I did something surprising, and I went on an adventure with these three beauties!

I know it seems counterintuitive to escape to the woods with deadlines looming, but what I found is it had the exact opposite effect. Although the time I spent away from my "obligations" was spent.....(time I will never get back), it did several things for me.

The most obvious is this.....I love every second I can spend with my girls, and we have a wonderful time no matter what we do.  Even though the park was muddy and it was too early for there to be leaves on the trees....Actually.....it was too early for the bathrooms to be unlocked at the park! Ugh!! That's a completely different story altogether.

 

Next, exercise is always good for you....and it helps you clear your mind and build your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. It is important that we spend time caring for ourselves....that is a hard one sometimes!

 

I think the most important reminder I received was about the truth of God's Word. You see God tells us multiple times in His Word the importance of rest for our bodies. He led by example as we can read in Genesis....on the seventh day He rested. Do you really think the God of the universe was tired? No.....He was teaching us that we need to take some time to rest and rejuvenate ourselves. When we are faithful to walk out the precepts of God's Word....it will always produce fruit in our lives. We will see growth and development in ourselves because of it.

 

That is exactly what happened! After my little adventure with my girls I was able to get right back to work and was actually more productive and got more done is a shorter amount of time! Not to mention, we were able to make some silly and wonderful memories along the way! I love watching the Truth of God's Word in my life!



 

 

Logic of English: Essentials 2nd Edition Review~ TOS Crew

 

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Recently I received Essentials 2nd Edition from Logic of English to work through with my daughter. So for the past several weeks we have been hard at work! The second edition of Essentials make it not only easy, but fun to learn the Logic of English.

Essentials 2nd Edition is great for homeschool families because of the wonderful way that it is created. Essentials is designed to teach students at multiple levels of learning. Because of this fact, Essentials can respond to each students growth as they move from one learning level to another. 

 

What you will find when you begin a lesson, is that each one contains essential concepts your student must learn as well as all three levels of spelling lists, grammar practice, and vocabulary instruction. We were so excited to dive into this amazing curriculum and check it out for ourselves.

 

We received:

• Essentials Teacher's Guide Volume 1
• Essentials Student Workbook Volume 1
• Spelling Journal
• Phonogram & Spelling Rule Quick Reference Guide
• Basic Phonogram Cards
• Advanced Phonogram Cards
• Spelling Rule Cards
• Morpheme Cards Set 1
• Phonogram Game Cards (Green)
• Phonogram Game Cards (Blue)
• Spelling Analysis Card 3
• Phonogram Game Tiles
• Essential Reader pdf
• Essential Reader Teacher's Guide pdf
• Essential Reader Student Activity Book pdf

 

My decision to homeschool was mainly because my youngest daughter was needing some additional assistance and seemed to be slipping through the cracks in the "brick and mortar" education system. Although she seemed to be a great reader, her reading comprehension level was below grade level and causing her so much frustration! At that time we began a new journey! Thankfully, Essentials is now a part of that journey!

 

How we used this product:

 

 

I was able to plug this product into her schedule so that we could get started with it right away! I found the Teacher's Guide to be very instructive and well written. Each lesson is split up into 5 parts...one for each day of the week. You begin with the essential concepts that will be taught throughout the lesson. Then throughout the week your student will move through a Spelling Rule, Spelling Journal, Building Words, Spelling Analysis...or tips for the spelling list, Grammar, Parts of Speech, Dictation, Vocabulary, Composition and Reading. We also were able to utilize the Essential Reader pdf and the Activity Guide pdf as well. These were a "bonus" for us. It was a great way for us to practice these concepts more fully.  The flashcards were also a wonderful addition to the learning process. You know that kids seem to forget things easily...this method of learning helps take these concepts from short term to long term memory! What a wonderful way to solidify the concept. Practice truly does make perfect!

My bottom line:

This is an INCREDIBLE curriculum!!  From the start it will engage your student and take them on an amazing journey teaching them the Logic of English. You will find that the variety of different learning methods do what they were crafted to do. You will see your student learn by leaps and bounds as they work through this curriculum, which is what we always want!!
Purchase yours today!

Social Media:

If you are like many others, you love staying connected through social media. Please take some time to check out these social media links.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLogicOfEnglish/  @LogicOfEnglish
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LogicofEnglish
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/logicofenglish/
 

Lavished with Love

 

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 We recently returned home from a family vacation. As we were away for the week, my husband and I found every opportunity to lavish our girls with not only wonderful things, but unique opportunities. We found great joy in hearing them squeal with delight and giggle with joy! Then as I read this verse all these thoughts flooded my mind and started me thinking about my Father God and how much He loves us.

 

I John 3:1 says, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

 

God loves us so much. Just as we love to lavish our children because of our great love for them, our Father loves to lavish us because of His great love for us!! You can’t earn his love. You can’t earn his recognition. God is love, and he loves you unconditionally. If you want to be a happy person, you need to relax in God’s grace every day.

 

 

FishFlix.com: War Room Review ~ TOS Crew

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Thank you for supporting my blog and homeschool!

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Inspiring movies are few and far between these days, or at least they used to be! There have been quite a few wonderful movies that have broken onto the scene recently, and War Room is one of them! I was so thankful when I received the DVD War Room from FishFlix.com to review for them, and what a treasure it is!

Some of you may not be familiar with FishFlix.com. FlishFlix.com is a one stop shop for Christian movies that inspire and entertain! I am the mom of three girls and they all have different taste in movies, that's why I am so thankful to have found FishFlix.com. You will never have to wonder what to watch again...It is easy and affordable to build your DVD collection based on the options on this site. There are countless options, no matter what your taste in entertainment is.

What I received:

I was sent a physical copy of War Room to watch for this review. My family and I had a wonderful time watching it together.
 
How we used the product:

There are so many ways to spend quality time with your family, but sometimes it is nice to put a movie in, snuggle up under a blanket, and watch a family friendly movie together. War Room is an amazing movie from start to finish. We all loved it!

For those of you who haven't watch this film, I don't want to give anything away....but know that this movie is spectacular and challenging. I particularly loved the impact it made on my girls.

Here are some quotes from my sweet kiddos.
My oldest said: "I love that movie! It made me cry 3 times! It was inspirational and showed me how important it is to have a strong and consistent prayer life. This movie showed me that prayer needs to be the first thing you do.....especially when life happens."

My youngest said: "I loved it!"

My middle said: "It was funny and inspirational. It was funny how they showed real life situations and the struggle that Elizabeth had as she tried to learn how to pray. My favorite part is when she was sitting in her closet eating potato chips and drinking sprite. This movie also helped me to remember the power of prayer."

My bottom line:

What is there not to love about this fantastic film. Well done!! 

I found the cast to be amazing, and the message a critically important one. God's Word is clear that He desires us to cast our cares on Him. Prayer should always be our first line of defense when we come up against a difficult situation....and this movie shows just how difficult life can become.  Tony & Elizabeth Jordan are facing insurmountable odds in their relationship and the world seems to be crumbling down around them. If it weren't for Miss Clara taking Elizabeth under her wing, this family would have seen a different outcome. Instead, we see the importance not only taking things to prayer first and foremost, but also of passing on what we learn.

Without the mentorship of Miss Clara, Elizabeth would have continued to try to solve her problems on her own, but that isn't what we were created to do. God is faithful and He will work all things out for us, we just have to allow Him to. I know that I have people like Miss Clara in my life, and how thankful I am for them! War Room was a great reminder of just how important they are to me.

War Room is the best movie I have seen this year!

Social Media

If you are like so many other people, you love staying connected over social media. Take some time to check out these links.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fishflix
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FishFlix @FishFlix
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ChristianDVD @ChristianDVD
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fishflix/

Who Have You Been Talking To?

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I have to say that I am so thankful that I attend the church that I do. My pastor preached a sermon on prayer a few weeks ago. I sat down this evening and started reading through my notes and I love how God can speak new things to us. Prayer is such an important part of our relationship with God. It is our opportunity to talk with God, and for Him to talk to us.

Think about it...we serve a God that gives us the option to speak with Him on a daily basis, and yet one statistic states that most Christians spend less than 7 minutes a day in prayer.
Wow! When I heard that statistic it absolutely floored me!  Less than 7 minutes a day. That would be less than 49 minutes in a week, or around 3 hours in a month. OUCH! I talk to my co-workers more than that!! So....we talk to God less than 7 minutes a day which is less than most people we deem acquaintances.

I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "Pray continually." I love that verse. I too have struggled with the discipline of prayer in my life. I felt like it had to be at a certain time, for so many minutes, I had to follow certain rules, I wanted to sound like so-and-so, blah, blah.....
I tied myself up so much that I crippled my own prayer life. I love the freedom found in spending time with a God that is with me everywhere I go. Prayer should be relational not ritualistic. We serve a God that desires to be a part of our day to day life.

My pastor shared a comment in his sermon that impacted me. He said, "A desire that is never transformed into a prayer is never answered." James 4:2 backs that statement up when it says, "...you have not because you ask not..." Does God know everything? YES! Doesn't He already know what I need? YES! So why do I need to ask Him for it? He longs for us to come to Him, just like we long to have our children come to us and crawl up in our laps and let us know what is going on in their lives. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and He desires to hear our hearts. He knows our desires and needs, but He wants to hear our voice. He wants to hear your voice!

 



Demme Learning: Math-U-See Pre-Calculus Review ~ TOS Crew

 

 

 



I now have two children in High School classes. As a homeschool mom, I find that a little bit intimidating sometimes. The drive to find the right curriculum for each of them, so they can learn the way they need to is a strong one. Sometimes I find myself frustrated as I hunt and search...then I am nervous about whether the decision I made was the right one. That is why I am so glad that I got the chance to review Math-U-See Pre-Calculus complete with digital packs from Demme Learning.

Demme Learning is an amazing, independent, family-owned and operated publishing company. They have been providing high quality, innovative learning solutions for homeschoolers, parents and small group learning environments since 1990. The products created by Demme Learning  will encourage your student to learn and helps homeschool parents to be engaged in the learning process. 

Demme Learning has 5 main principles that they base their curriculum on:

1. Parental engagement in the learning process.
2. Multi-sensory instruction.
3. Sequential instruction that builds from concept to concept to achieve mastery.
4. Guided discovery with a committed instructor.
5. Individualized instruction that adapts to each student’s unique strengths.

What I received:

I received everything necessary for my daughter to complete this class.

* An Instruction Manual
  (complete with solutions)
* A Student Text
* A Test Booklet
* 2 DVD's (Lessons 1-30)
* Digital Pack


How we used this product:

This product was used by my daughter that is in the 11th grade. She loves when curriculum has video lessons. The lessons included with this curriculum are wonderful and easy to understand.

We were able to work through these resources and see the benefit to the way that Demme Learning puts their curriculum together. The Instruction Manual makes it simple to help your student as you move through each lesson. I love that there is flexibility built into the curriculum for you to move at whatever speed is necessary for your student. The goal is not to move forward before you are ready, as each concept builds on the one prior

 

My daughter is wanting to earn an Honors Diploma, so there are instructions on how to utilize this class as an honors class. I am happy that they included that. They have truly tried their very best to think of everything to make using this curriculum as simple and straightforward as possible...no matter the learning style.

 

My Bottom Line:

 

Demme Learning did a great job on the Math-U-See Pre-Calculus curriculum. We really enjoyed the opportunity to check it out and work through it. This is top quality material and comes with everything you need for your student to be successful in the class. I also love the fact that they have ongoing support for us as well. When you have watched the DVD and read all the instructions but still have questions, you can call and talk to their trained staff. They will be able to walk you through any lesson you need help with. I love that! I never took Pre-Calculus in school, so without that additional support I could find myself really struggling, but they have truly thought of everything!!

 

This curriculum is a great addition for your high school curriculum list. Check out Demme Learning and all the wonderful options they have that can fit your homeschool needs!

 

 

 

Social Media:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathusee

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mathusee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mathusee


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mathusee

 

 

 



A Faithful God!

 



God's Word is so wonderful! Don't you agree?

With God's Word, you are able to find strength to remain strong during hard times that come against us. Sometimes we find it easier to listen to Satan when he tells us, "It's just too hard!" We have to renew our minds in the Word of God, so that we can't be deceived into believing those lies.

I am so glad that no matter what happens in life, God's faithfulness is never failing. He will never leave us! Even when we feel lonely we are not alone. God is always with us! In God we can put our trust!

Lamentations 3:21-25  says "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."

Praise God! We have hope in the Lord! That is such great news! I have been through several things in my life that have caused thoughts of hopelessness and despair to flood through my mind, but then I am reminded of the faithfulness of God through His Word. That is when my weakness is made strong!

Don't get overwhelmed or weighed down by the cares and problems of life. Put your hope in the Lord! He is faithful!

 

Here to Help Learning: Homeschool Writing Program Review ~ TOS Crew

 

 

My girls and I had the privilege to review Homeschool Writing Program from Here to Help Learning.  I have to admit that these classes were designed with fun in mind!! The author Beth Mora appears often in costume which adds a unique humor to the mix. But even when she isn't a flight attendant, or reporter, etc...she is full of life and spunk!  She grabbed my daughter's attention and kept it throughout the lesson with her humor and wit. As a homeschool mom, I really appreciated the manner in which these lessons were put together.

This unique website does a great job of classifying the lessons in a way that makes sense.  They are split up into six different courses that are referred to throughout as (Flights). The six Flights are split up again....there are 3 Flights in the Paragraph Writing Course (which is recommended for students in grades 1-3), and 3 Flights in the Essay Writing Course (which is recommended for students in grades 4-6). My daughter is in the eighth grade and still benefited from this course!

In the first three Flights (Paragraph Writing) students will learn to write paragraphs and poetry. The following three Flights (Essay Writing) students will transition into writing more substantial pieces. This was especially great for my daughter! The grand finale, so to speak, is that the students will write a six-chapter book! As someone who loves to write, I found that this addition adds a unique and wonderful perspective for the student. Too often they write, essays and compositions simply for a grade, but writing something like a book truly shows them how to use the voice they have to convey thoughts and ideas!

.
 

 

 

How we used this product:

 

My daughter has struggled in the past with reading comprehension, which caused her to be behind in most of her classes. This was the one big reason that my husband and I decided that the best thing for her would be homeschool. When I saw the opportunity to review this product, I thought it would be a perfect way to do some review and then do a little test to see how she was doing.

 

We began in the Essay Writing Course and she is working her way to the book. I noticed that this course has caused her to broaden her abilities and her writing skills are improving the further we work in the course. Even though she is older than 6th grade, this has been a confidence builder for her, and I am so happy that we were able to give it a try!

 

My bottom line:

 

How can you argue with a program that works? I found myself so thankful that we were able to be a part of this review. Seeing my daughter grow in her writing skills made me so happy. Then knowing that she has also grown in her confidence level was exciting! When you are confident as you approach education , it always overflows into other subjects. I know that the impact from this course will be seen throughout the rest of her education career.

 

Social Media:

 

Social media is a great way to stay connected with, or get more information on products. Here are few links to stay connected with Here to Help Learning:

 

Vendor Blog: http://heretohelplearning.com/hometohome/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heretohelplearning/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HTHLTweets
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HTHLearning/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/HereToHelpLearning

 

 



Heirloom Audio Productions: The Dragon and the Raven Review ~ TOS Crew

     

 

 

My girls and I had the chance last year to listen to G.A. Henty's radio dramas In Freedom’s Cause and With Lee in Virginia by Heirloom Audio Productions, and we loved every second of them! So.......we were so excited when we had to opportunity to also review Heirloom Audio Productions’ latest audio drama, The Dragon and the Raven, also based on a G.A. Henty's historical novel. What we found is that when you listen to an audio drama from Heirloom Audio Productions you will have the attention of everyone in the room no matter their age. The stories are riveting and adventurous, and the cast is amazing at grabbing your attention and keeping it throughout the entire production!

   

What we received:

• 2-Cd “Active Listening” audio book, 2+ hours!
• The complete The Dragon and The Raven eStudy Guide and Discussion Starter.
• Printable copy of the inspirational verse (Proverbs 21:31) as quoted by King Alfred.
• The Official The Dragon and The Raven Soundtrack MP3 download
• Unlimited access to the Live The Adventure Letter E-Newsletter.
• E-Book with all new colorful graphics.
• A professionally designed, printable promotion poster (24” x 36”) featuring the star-studded cast.
• A behind-the-scenes documentary featuring the amazing cast, crew and actors.

How we used it:

 I know I have said this before, but I am a true history lover. When it comes to the Christian audio dramas that are produced by Heirloom Audio productions, I find them an all-out pleasure to spend time listening to. I decided that if I put it in my car to listen to as I drove, that we could listen as we ran errands.  It didn't take long for me to see that my plan backfired a little bit. We found ourselves sitting in the car continuing to listen even after arriving at the destination! lol! Audio books are nice, but audio dramas are amazing!!

With my kids being older I was able to utilize the study guide and had great conversations with them about the story. They found themselves captivated by the story and enjoyed chatting about the adventures! This is a much better way to spend time together than sitting and staring at a television!!

My bottom line:

Honestly I found The Dragon and the Raven a pleasurable and enjoyable audio drama. Not only does history come to life...but you are able to feel like you are in the story itself. What a wonderful way to learn about King Alfred the Great and his battle to free ancient Britain from the marauding Danes.

 Purchasing options:

• The family four-pack includes 4 audio copies. You will also receive 7 free bonuses: a digital download, e-book, study guide, quote poster, newsletter, promotional poster, and the all new behind the scenes documentary featuring a star studded case. All for $99.97

• Single CD pack includes study guide, quote poster, and mp3 digital download for $29.97.
• Digital download includes study guide, and quote poster for $19.97.

You can order online here today!

 

 Social Media:

 

Heirloom Audio Productions Social Media Sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomAudio
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeirloomStories @HeirloomStories
Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/114534826166314080647/114534826166314080647/posts

Instagram: @HeirloomAudioOfficial

The Dragon and The Raven product specific facebook page:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDragonAndTheRaven


The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty specific facebook page:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheExtraordinaryAdventuresOfGAHenty