Vocab Videos ~ a TOS review

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As a part of the TOS review crew we were given a subscription to Vocab Videos.  In theory I love the idea of this program. Learning 500+ vocab words for standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT can be well, monotonous. Vocab Videos makes learning your vocabulary words interesting and fun.

    

Vocab Videos is presented in a series of several ongoing segments parodied off shows like Lost or The Office. The segments are further broken down in 20 second video clips showcasing 20 vocabulary words. In addition to the videos there are quizzes to test your knowledge of the words, activity sheets, and the opportunity to make digital flashcards of the words for further study.  

Marie has been using this program for a few weeks now for vocabulary study. While I enjoy the concept of the program, I should note that this is a secular program and I am not against using secular material in our schooling, I do try to monitor what we bring into our house and learning. Overall, I  love the concept and fantastic idea of Vocab Videos, I just wish that it was presented a little differently, or maybe with an option of a Christian version. My daughter did not “get” some of the satirical humor presented and at times she was left with a blank look after the video. If you can get past this, then I definitely think you should check out the free 30 day Educator review and see what you think for yourself. Because what did not quite “work” for our family may be just the thing you need in our own family, so give it a look.

Normally a small Vocab Videos educator pricing for up to 20 students runs $79.99 a year and include all of the following features:

Teacher Dashboard to monitor student progress

Individual student accounts

Access to all videos and study materials

Digital Quizzes, Multi-media Flashcard Maker, Digital Worksheets

Larger packages are available on the website if needed. Individual student subscriptions are available for 6 or 12 months and cost $24.99 and $39.99 respectively and include all of the following features:

Access to the entire video library of 500 Vocab Videos

Total access to an extensive suite of study resources and tools: digital quizzes, digital worksheets, multimedia flashcard maker, downloadable crossword puzzles

Be sure to click on the link below to see what my fellow Crewmates thought of Vocab Videos.

 

Company/Product ~ Vocab Videos

Price ~ small educator rate $79.99 for a year, individual student subscriptions available in 6 month ($24.99) or 12 month ($39.99) plans.

Ages ~ 10th grade and up

DISCLAIMER: I received a subscription to This Week in History from A Thomas Jefferson Education, 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.

Wordless Wednesday

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A Thomas Jefferson Education ~ a TOS review

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Is your family really into History?  Well, today I am going to share with you my thoughts on A Thomas Jefferson Education. Are you familiar with this idea/company? If not, let me tell you a little bit about it.

A Thomas Jefferson Education is based on the principle by which some of the greatest people in history were educated. TJ Ed seeks to help, you the parent, to experience the joy of helping your child to discover, develop, and polish his/her inner genius.

TJEd gives you the “how” and the “why” to make the “what” more powerful, more memorable, more relevant to your children.                          ~from website

A Thomas Jefferson Education encourages parents to apply the 7 keys of Teaching for a successful educational journey:

Classics, Not Textbooks

Mentors, Not Professors

Inspire, Not Require

Structure Time, Not Content

Simplicity, Not Complexity

Quality, Not Conformity

You, Not Them

We received a subscription to This Week in History which delivers a unit study each week to your email. Each weekly email focuses on the major events or people from each week in history, complete with pictures, links, and pertinent videos to help you educate your child. Click here for a sample week.

This Week in History is a subscription based and costs just $9.95 a month.  With This Week in History, each day’s resources become an adventure in math, science, language skills, geography, current events, and the arts. The beauty is that all this information is tied to events in history. A great plus is that all of the content is searchable by date, topic or by key word, and is accessible at any time for subscribers.

We have been really enjoying this resource over the summer and as we head back to school next week I will continue to dig a little bit deeper into the topics as they correlate with our studies. The level of detail in the emails and the information presented is amazing and really helps me be able to pick and choose what we want to cover. I would definitely recommend This Week in History to anyone. Check out what my Crewmates thought by clicking on the banner below.

Company ~ A Thomas Jefferson Education

Product ~ This Week in History

Price ~ $9.95 a month

Ages ~ K and up

DISCLAIMER: I received a subscription to This Week in History from A Thomas Jefferson Education, 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.

Math Made Easy: Addition~ a TOS review

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Teaching your children to master there math facts should be easy, right? Well, now it can be. In just 6 short weeks your child can know their addition or multiplication facts without using their fingers.  How, you ask? With Math Made Easy.

Math Made Easy was created by Glenda Brown James as a simple workbook to help children master addition and multiplication facts. We were privileged to receive the Homeschool Addition Package for this review. The addition workbook is primarily for children in 1st-2nd grade, however, you can use it with Kindergarteners or children with special needs. I attempted to use this with Montana, but she is not quite ready yet. I know this will come in handy come mid-year of this school year once she is a bit older.

 

The 64 page addition workbook set sells for $24.95 and includes:

• Lesson Plans
• PreTest
• Six Weeks of Daily Activity Sheets (labeled M-F)
• Post Test
• Games
• Flash Cards

I would recommend this program for those looking to have there children master their addition facts. However, I would wait to start this until your child has a firm grasp of number sense. Montana is not at this point yet, but she will be soon and we will fully take advantage of this program. I should note that this is not an open and go program. Parent/teacher preparation is needed to cut out and laminate items. It is not extensive, but just thought I should mention that. Check out what my Crewmates thought of the addition program and others who reviewed the multiplication program by clicking on the banner below.

 

Company ~ Math Made Easy

Product ~ Homeschool Addition Package

Price ~ $24.95

Ages ~1st-2nd graders

 

DISCLAIMER: I received the Homeschool Addition Package from Math Made Easy, 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.

Wordless Wednesday

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And the waiting begins…

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We ended up traveling to Maryland to Hill’s Gymnastics Training Center this past weekend for Mikayla to test in the last TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) testing for the USAG. Yes, this is the Hill’s that trained 3 Olympians including 3 time Olympian Dominique Dawes! Initially, I agonized over the decision of whether we should go since we had just traveled 2 1/2 hours the previous weekend for a testing and the fact that Mikayla would not do her back handspring on the balance beam.  By the end of the week Mikayla was confident enough to do the skill on the beams in the gym  without Coach Nici spotting her.

However, come testing day she still did not do the back handspring without a spot from Coach Kyle, which equates to a zero skill. I am glad that we went, it was a great experience for Mikayla. She had to learn to battle fear and to move on and do your best at the next apparatus. She excelled on the bars and floor nearly maxing out the points for those skill areas. She also improved on her leg lifts, doing the max of 20 and having 13 count this week instead of last week having only 3 count.

Now we wait to find out if her scores make the state qualifying cutoff and she earns herself a trip to the National Training Center in Texas. No matter what the end result is, the Lt. and I are so proud of her accomplishments she has made so far!

Good job Mikayla!!!