A Stable Beginning

Friday, April 16, 2021

Creative Art Education from ARTistic Pursuits ~ a TOS review

Disclaimer: I received a Complimentary copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.

Happy Friday guys! We are busy wrapping up our school year, just FIVE more weeks to go, but today I want to share with you another review from our favorite art education program, ARTistic Pursuits, that helps my kids get creative. This time we received a complimentary copy of K-3 Vol. 3 The Art of the Middle Ages that I have been using with my first-grade son, Micah.

With our busy schedule, I often struggle to incorporate art into our week even though I know how important it is to let kids express themselves. However, the K-3rd Grade Level, Volumes 1-8 from ARTistic Pursuits Inc. makes art instruction easy for this Mama!

There are eight volumes (we own 3) total in this series which include:

Art for Children, Building a Visual Vocabulary (Vol. 1)

Art of the Ancients (Vol. 2)

Art of the Middle Ages (Vol. 3)

Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance (Vol. 4)

Art of the Northern Countries, Renaissance to Realism (Vol. 5)

Art of the Impressionists (Vol. 6)

Art of the Modern Age (Vol. 7)

Art in America (Vol. 8)

Like the other volumes in this series, Vol. 3 is a beautiful hardcover textbook filled with 18 projects that focus on needlework, weaving, and oil pastel. Lessons cover art that was produced in the Middle Ages from the early Migration Period AD 500 to the Gothic architecture 1300 that was found in France.

The course is available with the standard DVD/Blueray CDs to view the video portion of the program. Or you can choose the new Online Streaming option that gives you two years of unlimited access to the complete program through a flipable online book that is identical to the hardcover book. This is an awesome option for those who are on the go. Or if you don’t have a DVD/CD drive on your newer computer, the streaming option works great.

We love ARTistic Pursuits Inc. here at A Stable Beginning so we were thrilled to receive another volume of the K-3rd Grade. Getting started with the program is so simple! I love that there is a materials list in the front of the book so you can be prepared come art day. Many of the art supplies needed can be found at your local stores or you can opt to purchase a supply kit directly from ARTistic Pursuit.

Micah especially loves when he can do art lessons! I love how easy it is to bring quality art concepts and lessons to him. I scheduled our art lessons over the course of 2-3 days each week. To start out I would read to Micah the short lesson pages from the book as we studied and talked about the pictures on the lesson pages on day one. Then on our next schedule art day we simply watched the video lesson together on the computer and then I provided the necessary supplies for him to complete the art project. If he needed an extra day to finish the art project we would do that on Saturday morning.

ARTistic Pursuits offers a wonderful Art program and includes many different grade levels from Preschool through High School. I am so happy that they help me provide quality art instruction for my kids. We will continue to use this Volume for Micah as well as the Beginner Level, Art Core 1, Drawing with Graphite Pencils for my rising 6th grader McKenzie, and the Artistic Pursuits, Senior High Book 1, The Elements of Art and Composition program for my rising 9th grader, Montana, next school year. It’s going to be a great year filled with creative art education for my kids.

Be sure to check out the website an see all of what ARTistic Pursuits has to offer to bring out your students creativity. But don’t just take my word for it! 44 of my CrewMates also reviewed one of the following products:

Beginner Level, Art Core 1, Drawing with Graphite Pencils

Beginner Level, Art Core 2, Painting with Watercolor Pencils

K-3 Vol. 1 Art for Children, Building a Visual Vocabulary

K-3 Vol. 3 Art of the Middle Ages

K-3 Vol. 4 Artists that Shaped the Italian Renaissance

K-3 Vol. 5 Art of the Northern Countries, Renaissance to Realism

K-3 Vol. 6 Art of the Impressionists

K-3 Vol. 7 Art of the Modern Age

K-3 Vol. 8 Art in America

Click on the banner below to read their thoughts!

Company ~ ARTistic Pursuits

Product ~ K-3 Vol. 3 Art of the Middle Ages

Format ~ hardcover book and Online course

Price ~ $49.99 book plus online course or $39.99 book DVD option

Ages ~ K-3rd graders

Find ARTistic Pursuits on these Social Media sites:

Facebook ~ Twitter @ARTisticPursui1 ~ Instagram @artisticpursuitsinc ~ YouTube

http://astablebeginning.com

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Wordless Wednesday

http://astablebeginning.com

Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division ~ A TOS review

Hi there! Many students struggle or don’t feel as confident with their math facts. Whether they have mastered them or not, learning and memorizing your math facts makes life so much easier as you get higher and higher in math. Last year we had the opportunity to review the Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Addition and Subtraction from Math-U-See with Montana and McKenzie. This year I was super excited to be able to use the newest program, Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division with McKenzie, my 5th grader.

$Math-U-See Logo$

So, just what is Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM)? AIM was specifically designed as an intervention program who struggle with the multiplication facts. Studies have shown that when a student lacks the math fact knowledge, it then effects the progression in upper level math. It can be best described as this:

Accelerated ~ The opportunity for Students to move quickly through a skill set they have not yet mastered, without extra distractions.

Individualized ~ Each Student is different, and so are their learning preferences. Using multi approaches, the program creates and encouraging environment for the student to master the skills they need at their own pace.

Mastery ~ means that a student can quickly recall all the math facts using little mental energy while still staying engaged in the problem solving process.

Everything you need to implement this homeschool math program is included. Inside the box you will find:

~ the resource guide

~ information for registering for the online digital videos/toolkit

~ a set of integer blocks

~ math strategy posters

~ and fact check flashcards

There are 10 lessons in this AIM program. The Scope of what will be learned includes:

Lesson 1 ~ Integer Blocks

Lesson 2 ~ Rectangles, Factors, and Product

Lesson 3 ~ Doubles and The Commutative Property of Multiplication

Lesson 4 ~ Tens Facts

Lesson 5 ~ Fives Facts

Lesson 6 ~ Nines Facts

Lesson 7 ~ Multiplication by 3

Lesson 8 ~ Multiplication by 4

Lesson 9 ~ Multiplication by 6

Lesson 10 ~ Extras, Facts Known, and The Distributive Property

Bridge to Division ~ Solve for an Unknown Factor

Bridge to Division ~ Introduction to Division

$Math-U-See Logo$

Before you begin this homeschool math program you need to be sure your student meets the minimum requirements which includes being able to:

~ multiply by 0 and by 1

~ quickly recall your basic addition/subtraction facts

~ recognize the hundreds, tens, and ones place value

~ add/subtract two-digit numbers

~ find half the amount of a number (i.e. half of 60 is 30)

Once these basic requirements are met you are able to verbally administer the Before-AIM Assessment. The teacher should then watch the video that demonstrates how to teach the fact family for the lesson. Also, reading the resource guide for the lesson. The process of completing and learning the lessons follows the same pattern for each of the ten AIM lessons. $Math-U-See Logo$

Each lesson follows this pattern:

Session A: Present the Lesson Instruction

Session B: Demonstrate concept understanding

Session C: Transition Math Facts to Visual Memory

Session D: Assess for Mastery

Once you know your student has achieved mastery for the lesson, at least a minimum of three times, you move onto the next lesson.

It’s always nice to have a helping hand, and the Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division gives you just that! I love that it is so interactive and hands-on, something my children prefer in their learning. McKenzie had great success with this program. She can now recall her multiplication and most of the division facts quickly and without hesitation. Overall, I find this to be an excellent math fact mastery program! If you have a student who is struggling to learn the multiplication math facts, definitely check out the AIM program first! I am making room for this homeschool math program in our resource closet for when it’s Micah’s turn to memorize his math facts. But don’t just take my word for it, check out what 24 of my CrewMates think of this program by clicking the banner below.

Math-U-See Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Reviews

Company ~ Math-U-See

Product ~ Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division

Format ~ physical product with digital toolkit

Price ~ $45.00

Ages ~ students 10 years and up $Math-U-See Logo$

Find Math-U-See on these Social Media Links:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator: Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students ~ a TOS review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Regulations.

Happy Thursday friends! High School level math can strike fear in all. Not only must you learn the complex functions and new concepts of this high level thinking, you must also learn how to navigate a scientific calculator. Since High School math can be challenging, Triad Math, Inc. has created the Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator: Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students course.

The course was developed by Craig Hane, Ph.D. and is delivered through Amazon Web Services. When you purchase the Triad Math course for just $14.99 you will receive the student worktext as well as access to twenty-five online lessons through the Moodle platform. This course teaches math concepts with the TI-30Xa calculator for demonstration. This particular calculator is inexpensive and can be found online or in most big box stores for around $10.

By the age of 10 most students have a firm grasp of the decimal number system and will be able to use this course. Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator: Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students course covers lessons in a variety of mathematical topics including:

real numbers

fractions

negative numbers

multiplying and dividing

percentage

fraction to decimal conversions

square roots

reciprocals

exponents

to trigonometry topics.

The full course covers these wider topics by lesson:

Pre-Algebra ~ Lessons 1-13

Algebra ~ Lessons 14-15

Trigonometry ~ Lessons 16-20

STEM ~ Lessons 21-25

Each of the twenty-five lessons follow a similar pattern for learning. You will have a pre-test, PDF notes that can be downloaded and printed, the video lesson, math exercises, answers to all math exercises and supplemental exercises, as well as a post-test, and forum. The course also includes pre and post quizzes to help cement the mathematical concepts in Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Trigonometry, and STEM. Using the student worktext alone is not recommended. Taking advantage of the online lessons in conjunction of the student work text is best.

I have been using this course with my 11 year-old, McKenzie. Typically, we do not allow the use of calculators in our homeschool until Pre-Algebra. McKenzie is strong in math but I am glad to have this opportunity to give her a little taste of what the calculator can do when you know how to use it. Once we started with the curriculum I figured out that we did not have the very specific TI-30Xa calculator as I thought we had. However, it seems that we have five other TI’s which are very similar to the TI-30Xa. We ended up using the TI-30XS which has a multi-view display. McKenzie did not have too much trouble following along the program with this calculator and making the calculations.

McKenzie is just through lesson 5 because of her busy schedule with States coming up. I plan to have her finish up through lesson 13 over the next few weeks. We will save the more advanced lessons for later when she is ready. I am happy to say that this math worktext has earned a spot on our overflowing bookshelves. It will be a valuable resource as we continue through our math studies. But don’t just take my word for it! Twenty-one of my CrewMates also reviewed this homeschool math curriculum. Be sure to check out their thoughts by clicking on the link below.