TOS Review ~ Always Icecream

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So, just what does ice cream have to do with the internet? Well, let me tell you about a great site for girls aged 7-12 called Always Icecream.  It is a social media site just for girls that brings “A scoop full of laughter, A scoop full of learning!” plus a whole lot of fun playing educational games.  Always Icecream was co-founded by  parents of five children, Swenja and Johannes Ziegler.

This great website rewards your daughter with scoops of virtual ice cream for all their learning accomplishments, while allowing them to play, learn and interact in a safe environment.  Now, I know what your thinking? Social media for my young impressionable daughter, no way!  Honestly, I thought the same thing when I was chosen for this review.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this site gives the parents full control of everything that happens in your child's virtual world.  Also, content on Always Icecream is subject to moderation, is blocked to search engines, and contains no advertising.

Dr. Johannes Ziegler came up with the idea for Always Icecream when he was looking for an appropriate internet website for his three daughters. In search of a site that combines safety, fun, educational value and online networking he was unhappy with the existing sites. That’s how the idea for Always Icecream was born.”

Always Icecream has been certified by the Privo Privacy Assurance Program to be in compliance with the rigorous standards defined in the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Want to know what else? This site has committed to not teaching on the touchy subject of evolution.  You get to teach your daughters  what you believe about the origin of life.  I for one appreciate that and give them a high five for that!!!

So, just what do you get with your membership to Always Icecream?

• Learning Games and Rewards
• Educational Videos
• Shops and Games to Spend Rewards
• Weekly Progress Report to Parents
• Friends and Profiles
• Comments and Messages
• Entertaining Games and Videos as Rewards
• Social Games like Pet Sitting and Arts Shop
• Moderation prior to being visible to other members

The Games

You will get your fill of games in a fun educational way.  There are different levels of learning so you daughter will be continually challenged. The following subject categories available:

Language Arts

Math Drills

Math Quizzes

Advanced Math (such as exponents, fractions and square numbers)

Religious Education (Christian)

Geography & History

Science

Music & Arts

Computer Skills

Foreign Languages

Rewards

Another great aspect of Always IceCream that I appreciate is that they site provides the girls with praise and recognition. While the girls play they earn “$coops,” an in-game currency. Medals and awards for achievements in games that can be use the $coops to take care of pets or decorate homes. The girls also get to redeem their $coops for any fun game or activities, such as purchasing items in their mini world or purchasing fun stuff for their pets in the Pet World. There is also the  social aspect of chatting with other girls about how they liked a game or lesson, but that option is completely up to the parent to allow that feature or not.

Our Thoughts

We liked Always IceCream  and we give them 5 $coops for the fun, educational, and  safe site that can be moderated  to parents desires. I especially enjoyed the fact that everything is educational and if I found something that I didn’t like (which I rarely did) I could disable that feature.  Because I used this review with Madison, Mikayla, and Montana sharing an account I did not feel comfortable having them access the Learning Community as we don’t know anyone in “real life” that uses this feature.  However, in the future if this should change I would allow them to.  If you are looking for a safe, educational, online environment for your daughter definitely check out Always IceCream!  It works for our family of girls and it may just work for you too! Try it for yourself right here.

Check out what my crewmates experienced with Always Icecream, HERE.

Company~ Always Icecream

Product ~Always Icecream

Price ~$4.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Life-time membership $99.99

Ages~ geared towards girls aged 7-12

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I received a membership to Always Icecream , in exchange for a thorough and honest review.  Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews.  The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

TOS Review ~ Visual Latin

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We began journeying into the world of “Classical” education this year and a part of that involves the study of Latin.  No, it not a dead language, it’s just frozen according to Dwane of Visual Latin.

We received a Visual Latin 1 DVD a few weeks ago to try out and it has been going well.  I used it with Marie to give her a little reprieve from the current Latin Program she is using. 

 

We had great results in the few lessons she has been through!  We received the DVD version with lessons 1-10. Each DVD has 10 complete lessons with included worksheets in PDF files form for the worksheets that accompany the lessons.  The setup of  was simple,  just pop it into your CD drive and your off on a fun filled lesson of Latin. The Lessons are broken down into 3 simple steps.

 

Step 1 ~ Grammar.  Latin teacher Dwane Thomas introduces the lesson in an engaging, fun, and quirky way. After the lesson is finished your child will then complete the corresponding worksheet.

 

Step 2 ~ Sentences. Again, Dwane will give a short lesson with sentences using the Grammar from step 1. A short worksheet will be completed.

Step 3 ~ Reading.  Dwane  reads a passage from an abridged Latin Vulgate. Again there is a worksheet for the child to translate the passage they just reviewed in the video.

Yes, Latin can be fun!  A you want to know a great part?  This program makes it feel like you have your very own Latin tutor right in the comfort of your own home.

“Add that to Dwane’s ability to address your children directly and your kids have their own personal Latin tutor right in your home.  They will smile, chuckle and even laugh at him as he teaches, whether it’s making a pun or making a mistake.

That’s right – we let the camera roll so every now and then Dwane slips up and corrects himself. It happens in a real class, right?  And kids make mistakes themselves, right?  This is something kids can relate to that builds great rapport. Furthermore, it relaxes them”

Visual Latin is a great program and I whole heartedly recommend it for anyone just starting to learn Latin or just needing a different approach to learning this great language.  The lessons are short and you find yourself laughing at Dwane’s humor.  You can try 6 introductory lessons for yourself by clicking HERE.  Check out what my Crewmates had to say about Visual Latin by clicking HERE.

    

Company: Compass Classroom

Product:Visual Latin 1, DVD

Price: DVD $30.00, Download $25.00, Complete  series 1-3 $90.00 (on sale for $80.00)

Ages: 9 and up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   I received a copy of Visual Latin 1 DVD, in exchange for a thorough and honest review.  Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews.  The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, Wk 7 ~ The one where Montana Reads!!!

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Montana read her first 3 words this week, I. am. Sam.  Yipee!!!  I have another reader in the house.  She was so excited today she did a little happy dance.  Let me share it with you.

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We switched Phonics/Reading programs for an upcoming review I am doing, and let me tell you it is going so good!  Montana is so excited to learn to read and ready every morning for me, even if it is at 630am.  I am so glad I was chosen for this review and can’t wait to share it with you in a few weeks.

It was a smooth week for the older girls. Marie is doing excellent with the Sonlight switch, which makes this Mama happy.  She finished up Module 3 this week in Biology and scored an “86” a “B” on her test.  I ended up restructuring the way we are learning with Tapestry of Grace.  Don’t know if I mentioned it last week but I ended up combining Madison & Mikayla and doing the History portion as a read-aloud instead of individual readings.  It’s going well and everything was completed this week.  McKenzie has been working on stringing her beads this week. I love the concentration on her face.(Yep, even the baby wears leos on gymnastic days and baby legs for leg warmers).                                                                   

Gymnastics and cheerleading are going fantastic!  Madison was able to ring the bell because she got her skill (the Kip) she needed last Saturday, so we are hopeful this will solidify her a spot on the Level 5 team. I attached the video clip so that family will see what I am talking about, Hi Grandma!!!  Marie’s cheer teams (she is on the Junior 2 and Senior 4) are sharpening up there skills because competition season begins December 4th.  Upon matching up cheer and gymnastics schedules we have a few conflicts but won’t know for sure how much we overlap until 1-2 weeks before the event.  I am looking on the bright side though because at least we are conflict free for the Nationals and State finals and for that I am thankful.  Especially since the Level 5 gymnastics meet is near West Virginia this year.

So, that was our week in a nutshell.  How was your week?

I am linking up the Weekly Wrap Up over at WUHS. 

Review & Giveaway~ Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Math House Games

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Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Math House Games is a great set of 20 laminated cards with large, toddler proof durable activity cards all stored on a convenient O-ring for easy totting and use.  The card set showcases 20 easy steps to help kids learn math in a fun, hands-on way.  Math can be FUN and Caterpillar Math House helps to make it fun.  Each of the 20 steps includes 2 activities, which are further broken down into 3 different stages that increase in difficulty as your child progresses.  Any materials for the games are available right on the c3pla site, how great is that?!

“Domenico Marcario, M.S. – The creator of Carlito C. Caterpillar’s MathHouseTM Sensory Math Teaching System, is a retired high school mathematics teacher and full-time passionate grandparent!

The Carlito C. Caterpillar’s Sensory Math Teaching System is the outgrowth of years of research and development. It utilizes the natural way children learn.

From birth, children discover facts through sensory experiences. Fueled by curiosity and imagination, children use their eyes, hands, ears, noses, and mouths to learn about their world. They gain understanding by doing rather than by sitting passively and watching someone else do the thinking for them.”

The younger girls really enjoyed playing and learning with these cards.  I especially liked that whenever I needed a specific  worksheet, I could just go to the site and print as many as I needed.  I recommend this set of cards to anyone who wants to supplement their math program and to think out of the box a bit.

Company ~ c3pla

Product ~ Carlito C. Caterpillar Math House Games

Price ~$23.95 includes free shipping

Ages ~K – 5th

Want to give it a try yourself?  I have a copy to give away to one lucky reader.  That could be YOU!  All you have to do is leave a comment about your least favorite concept to teach in math.  Giveaway will close on Friday, October 14th @ 12Noon and the winner will be announced Friday, October 14th @ 3PM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I received a copy of Carlito C. Caterpillar Math House Games , in exchange for a thorough and honest review.  Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews.  The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Weekly Wrap Up, Wk 7 ~ A refreshing break and changes

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We had a great, relaxing week this week.  It was our first break after six sustained weeks of learning, not just in books but life.  We found out that our current History curriculum was not a good fit for Marie.  It makes me sad a bit, and not because I spent a small fortune on books and curricula, but because I was hoping to have all the girls in one History period. However, I am not up for long, tedious battles of getting work done.  So, we are moving back to Sonlight for Marie.  My friend, Michele, who has been there, done that for High School has graciously offered to lend us her Core 100. THANK YOU MICHELE, You are such a blessing!!!  

So, for now Madison & Mikayla will be staying with TOG but I may be tweaking it in the next few months as Madison has already expressed that she wants to go back to Sonlight also, sigh!  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Sonlight, we still use there readers, etc. but I had a plan for something different, and God is gently, yet firmly letting me know that is not the path we need to be on.  I am listening, just a little bit stubbornly.  I am a Taurus after all :-)

So, just what did we do with our week off?  Not a whole lot of anything.  Just the way I like it.  So, besides gymnastics and cheer practices and co-op we stayed home.  I did have to make a trip to Patient First on Monday when I was having flank pain that turns out I had a bladder infection that spread to my kidneys.  Fun, by Monday evening I was in so much pain I had to break down and take a 800Mg Motrin.  I normally don’t take any meds, so this knocked me out Monday night.  I do remember the Lt. going to pick the girls up at practice but not much after that.  I was o-u-t!

I didn’t pick up my camera hardly at all this week, so I am using archived photos.  Sometimes those can be the best kind, right?  The girls did have school photos at co-op on Thursday.  McKenzie would not smile for anything so hers should be interesting.  We also got a group photo of them, I can’t wait to see how they turned out. 

Mikayla started her TOPs training in gymnastics on Wednesday evening.  She had fun, but said it was too easy.  I told her if they made it hard the first day she would not want to come back.   She was asked to practice with the level 7/8 girls two times a week and last night she connected a back walk-over with a back-handspring on the balance beam.  Madison is making great strides too, she is so close to getting her Kip on the bars.  Not that there’s pressure or anything but she has 22 days left to get that skill before the routines clinic happens on the 30 Oct.  I know she will get it and I really hope it’s on a Wednesday (the day I stay at the gym for all 4 hours of practice) so I can see her ring the bell.  That will be a Kodak moment.  Oh, we also got our Meet schedule {jumping for joy}.  I am a planner and I have been pestering asking ever so sweetly  when it would be out so that I could match up gymnastic meet with cheerleading competitions.  So far, we only have 1 or 2 that conflict but depending on times we may be able to make it work out.  There is an optional meet listed in Chicago in February that Mikayla wants to go to so she can get her picture in front of this:

chicagonow.com/garden

So, that was our week in a nutshell. How was yours?  I am looking forward to getting back at the in-depth learning next week.  I am linking this post up with the Weekly Wrap Up over at WUHS.  Stop by and link up too!

Wonder Maps ~ Timberdoodle review

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Are you map savvy?  I am not and GPS is my best friend!  But I am not talking GPS I am talking paper maps like the kind every child, home or public schooled, needs for studying history and geography. Wonder Maps is made  by Bright Ideas Press  who also carry The Mystery of History and All American History line. 
Timberdoodle contacted me to do a review on Wonder Maps and I was not disappointed in this product, not one bit!  I have heard of Wonder Maps but since our current History curricula comes with a maps resource I couldn’t justify purchasing this one.  I am so glad we were afforded the opportunity for this review!

Wonder Maps does everything you could ever image a mapping program of your dreams to do!  Have you ever needed a World Map, United States Map, Historical Map, or a  Thematic Map.  Wonder Maps has it!  Perhaps you need a specific historical map?  Wonder Maps has it!  There is a section that is broken down into four categories, The Ancients (Creation to 33 A.D.), The Middle Ages (33 A.D. to 1456 A.D.), The Renaissance, Reformation, and Growth of Nations (1457 A.D. to 1707 A.D.), Revolutions to Rising Times (1708 A.D. to present).

Wonder Maps has a total of over 350 customizable maps, including over 60 maps of the world, over 60 maps of the U.S.A., 125 historical maps and 25 biblical maps available for your use. There are political, outline, reference and, topographical maps – in both black and white or color. Once you locate the map you want in the appropriate section, you then have the flexibility of turning on and off various layers, depending upon your particular needs. 

It’s Maptastic! 

Wonder Maps has all your bases covered plus more in the map department.  We recommend this program hands down, you will not be disappointed!  We are so thrilled to be able to have this valuable resource to use in our everyday schooling. The flexibility of this program  allows it to be used for many years.  I know it will be in my house.

Company ~ Bright Ideas Press
Product ~ Wonder Maps
Price ~ $49.95 from Bright Ideas Press , but you can buy it from Timberdoodle for $44.95 and you can earn 45 Doodle Dollar points.
Ages ~ all ages
Platform ~ works on both PC and Mac
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I received a copy of Wonder Maps from Timberdoodle, in exchange for a thorough and honest review.  Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews.  The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but are not influenced by the company or the free product provided.