A Stable Beginning

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Wordless Wednesday

http://astablebeginning.com

Elementary STEM Explorer Pack from Pitsco Education ~ 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.

My kiddos thrive and love hands-on learning opportunities. And I love incorporating homeschool STEM in our weekly learning time as well so I was super excited when we were offered the chance to review the Elementary STEM Explorer Pack from Pitsco Education! Let me tell you more about it.

Pitsco Education is a company that was built by educators for educators. Way back in 1971 in the garage of Harvey Dean. Focusing on their mission of “leading education that positively affects learners”, Pitsco Education STEM kits help students learn to get creative in solving problems while working with their hands together.

We received the Elementary STEM Explorer Pack which includes five hands-on kits to make each project. All the materials necessary to complete each activity is included as well in a printed color instruction booklet. The instructions are step-by-step so an older elementary child could work on their own and ask questions or for help when needed while your younger K-2nd grade students might need your help. As I said, the kit comes with five projects that include making a musical instrument, a tilting maze, parachutes, large structures, and a bird feeder. Plus, each of the kits includes extra challenges and activities to complete.

Everything, you need to complete each of the projects is included…yes, you read that right, everything! Down to the string and glue sticks which you probably already have on hand but it’s nice to not have to hunt for supplies when your child is ready to jump in and create.

Inside your shipping box you will find all of your supplies packaged neatly in 5 plastic bags. I really like that the kits are shipped together and that you don’t have to hunt through a box to see what supplies you need.

The Elementary STEM Explorer Pack is geared towards kids in kindergarten through fifth-grade. The whole kit retails for $79.95 but is on sale for $49.95 at the time of this blog post. And if by chance you loose your instructions you can download a new copy off the website. My three youngest have been working with a few of the kits we received in our box.

While Montana is outside of the grade range for this box she did enjoy helping Micah with the Maze and Parachute kits. McKenzie completed her Maze and Parachutes when she returned home from her gymnastics training. Micah and McKenzie have since teamed up to create a bigger maze and have been experimenting with which toys can parachute from the upstairs foyer to the bottom the fastest.

I purposely held off letting them do the bird feeder, musical instruments, and large structures kits because I wanted to save them for when I have to travel in August to take my older girls back to University and their Great Aunt is here with them. It has taken their mind off my travels and given them something fun to look forward to doing each day with her while I am gone.

Hands down, If you are looking for a homeschool STEM project, you'll want to check out Elementary STEM Kit from Pitsco Education. We have used many different STEM kits before and this on takes the cake by far! They also have kits for older kids that would make such great birthday or Christmas gifts. And guess what!? Pitsco Education wants to give everyone a chance to take part in STEM education so they are giving away an Elementary set. Be sure to click HERE to register before August 31st for your chance to win.

But don’t just take my word for it, 42 of my CrewMates reviewed several different sets so be sure to check out what they thought by clicking the banner below.

STEM At Your Fingertips - Elementary, Middle & High School STEM Kits {Pitsco Education Reviews}

Company ~ Pitsco Education Product ~ Elementary STEM Explorer Pack (46198) Format ~ consumable kits Price ~ $79.95 on sale at the time of this writing for $49.95 Ages ~ K-5th graders

Social Media Links:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Friday, July 10, 2020

2020 ~ 2021 Plan of Study ~ 12th, 8th, 5th, and 1st grades

Happy Friday friends!

I am excited to finally be posting our 2020 ~ 2021 Plan of Study. It's amazing to me that we are entering our 12th year of homeschooling...12 years! Mikayla was in 1st grade when we officially started our homeschooling journey (she did spend her first half of Kindergarten home because of an undiagnosed gallstone) after moving from WA State and now she is entering her Senior year. It's been an amazing journey so far and I am excited to continue for 12 more years to complete Micah's education.  

Our school year begins again in just 6 short weeks and we have some changes happening once again. For 2020 ~ 2021 we will have a Senior, and a 8th, 5th, and 1st graders. I have planned and re-planned the courses with the input from all of the children for weeks now and finally figured out what I hope will better suit my son's learning as well. It’s quite a span of learning but I am excited for the challenge. As in previous years, each of my children will have a specific area that we will focus on throughout the year. Pouring into their individual focus areas has lead to good fruits down the road as they leave the nest. Once again I am excited to be at a place where we can reuse most of our curriculum we own already. The bulk of our curriculum budget this year is going to my Senior and 8th grader as we have the majority of our Grammar stage curriculum.  

This year we are all looking forward to going back to our Sabbath schooling schedule of 9/1 and 6/1 (X weeks schooling / 1 week off). Mikayla will continue to follow her typical schedule that includes working over the weekend because of her gymnastics training schedule. This has proven successful for her especially as she is transitioning to University life next year where she will have to complete her studies on the weekend. Montana, McKenzie, and Micah will continue to study 4 days a week, taking off on Wednesdays when we attend our co-op. As always, if you don't finish your assignments during the week, it must be done by Saturday afternoon.

We are starting a bit later than usual this year as we need to get Madison back to University and Mikayla has been invited to visit a few Universities, so with our August 24th start date, we will have 15 weeks completed by the start of our Christmas break on December 18th. Remember, any links below are only for reference and are not affiliate links. Let's dive in...

Mikayla ~ 12th grade

Bible
~ Sonlight Bible 510
Math
~ Saxon Advanced Math ~ Trigonometry with Pre-Calculus and Calculus through Derivatives with lecture instruction from Art Reed DVD’s and mom
Honors Science
~ Apologia Advanced Biology (A&P) at coop ~ I'm teaching
Honors English 12
~ IEW Fix-It Grammar 5 and 6
~ Vocabulary Instruction that Works, Vol. 3 and 4
~ Writing with Veritas Press
~ selected Sonlight Literature
History
~ Sonlight Core 500
Electives:
~ Sonlight AP Psychology
~ Home Economics - Kitchen, Household and Personal Management Skills
~ Forensic Science
~ Photography/Yearbook at coop
PE
~ Level 10 gymnastics, 28 + hours a week

Extras ~ ACT/SAT study 1 hr/day

Total credits: 8.5 credits  

Montana is wrapping up her last year as a Dialectic student. She still is not a huge fan of math but it's not taking all day like it has in past years. She still enjoys reading along with with her newfound artist abilities that she has been showcasing. This year she is we begin her college prep studies by adding in a few high school classes that she is ready for.

Montana ~ 8th grade

Morning Time Recitations  
Bible
~ Sonlight Bible 100
Math
~ Saxon Algebra 1/2 with Mastering Algebra John Saxon's Way Lectures 
Science
~ Honors Apologia Physical Science with Red Wagon Tutorials Lectures - 1 credit
~ Entomology *at coop because Mama doesn't do bugs 
Language Arts
~ Rod & Staff Grammar, book 8
~ Vocabulary Instruction that Works, Vol. 1
~ Essentials in Writing, grade 8 *only the writing portion
~ Sonlight Literature Core 100 
History/Geography
~ Sonlight Core 100 - 1 credit
 Foreign Language
~ Classical Academic Press Latin Alive, Level 1 - 1 credit
PE
~ softball in the spring...the private school is not letting homeschoolers play next year so we will look for another option 
Extras
~ PSAT study/ 20 minutes a day
 ~ ~~Girl Scout Cadette~~

At our weekly Co-Op:
~ Entomology
~ Physical Science
~ Art
~ Animal Behavior
~ Survival Skills

Total credits: 3 credits

Our biggest change this year is to our History studies. We are going back to Tapestry of Grace for my two youngest. We will stick it out for at least the complete 4-year cycle and then reevaulate where McKenzie is. One of the reasons for the change is because while McKenzie's reading has improved she is not ready for the independence of Core G for 6th grade next year. So, I opted to take a slower approach through the four year history cycle while getting the option to combine her and Micah with a more hands-on approach. 1st and 5th grades are the time to study Ancients so it made sense to switch now. Change is good, especially when it helps me help my children be the best students they can be!  

McKenzie ~ 5th Grade

Morning Time Recitations  
Bible
~ You're God's Girl Devotional
~ Bible Journaling 
Math
~ Saxon 6/5 with DIVE lectures
 Science
~ Real Science Odyssey: Biology 2  
Language Arts
~ Rod & Staff Grammar 5
~ Rod & Staff Spelling 6
~ IEW SSS Level A
~ A Reason for Handwriting, Cursive F
~ Greek & Latin Roots Vocabulary
History/Geography/Literature
~ Tapestry of Grace, Year 1 at the Upper Grammar Level
~ Story of the World {Vol.1} Audio / activity guide
~ Monthly TOGether co-op meeting for show n' tell
Foreign Language
~ Classical Academic Press Latin for Children A
Health
~ Health for the Glory of God
~ Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls 
PE
~ Level 8 gymnastics Team, 25+ hours a week *we are hopeful she moves up to Level 8 this season, with the COVID shut down we will see how training goes through the summer. 
Extras

At our weekly Co-Op:
~ 50 States
~ Lego's
~ STEM
~ Human Body Lab
~ Art or Financial Peace Jr

 Micah ~ 1st Grade

Morning Time Recitations
Hands-On Morning Tubs
Bible
~ Leading Little Ones to God
Math
~ Apologia Exploring Creation with Mathematics, Grade 1
~ Math Made Fun, Grade 1/2
Science
~ Real Science Odyssey: Life 1
Language Arts / Phonics
~ Monthly NO PREP Packets
~ The Moffatt Girls Ready2Read Sight words *finish Level 2
~ Fluency Strips™
~ Sonlight Readers 1
~ A Reason for Handwriting, Manuscript A
History/Geography/Literature
~ Tapestry of Grace, Year 1 at the Lower Grammar Level
~ Story of the World {Vol.1} Audio / activity guide
~ Monthly TOGether co-op meeting for show n' tell
Foreign Language
~ Classical Academic Press Song School Latin 1
PE
~ Fall & Spring Baseball, maybe wrestling
Extras
~ Boy Scout Tiger
 
At our weekly Co-Op:
~ Geography
~ Lego's
~ Hands-On Math
~ Art
~ Choir

I know I enjoy seeing what others have planned for their own homeschoolers, but I worry about what image I am unknowingly projecting. Please know that I plan big and have high expectations of myself and my children, yet we fail in one fashion or another every single day. I know what they are individually capable of and the push and pull is a grace filled one. I may seem to have it all together but know I struggle just like you with insecurities in educating my children to the best of my God-given ability. There are many days that I wonder if I am able, but He equips me each and every day with confidence! The one thing I have learned over the last eleven years is to do what works for our family and my children.

Yes, it’s easier said than done at times, especially when there is some new shiny curriculum that comes out…but like they say the grass is not always greener on the other side. Granted it has taken me several years to get this much-needed concept, but it is so freeing when you do! Thanks for making it through this long post! I am busy writing lesson plans and prepping the hands-on work and student notebooks for our year. The first day will be here before we know it!

Have a great day!

http://astablebeginning.com

Thursday, July 9, 2020

High School Literature Guides: Animal Farm Study Guide and Little Women Study Guide from Progeny Press ~ a TOS review

Are you gearing up for the new school year? Or have you just decided that you will be homeschooling due to the COVID pandemic and are searching for literature curriculum that is Christian based? Our family has always enjoyed the literature guides we have used from Progeny Press and today I am excited to tell you about the two newest guides, Animal Farm Study Guide and Little Women Study Guide, that we have used over the last six weeks for our summer learning activities.

If you have been a long term reader you already know that our family has a fond affection towards good books. I try to fill our bookshelves full of good books as well as check them out from the library. We have found that literature guides make reading even more enjoyable!

At Progeny Press we are committed to teaching good cultural literature, examined from a Christian perspective. We believe in the equation "Biblical Truth + Cultural Relevancy = Effective Christians." Take away biblical truth and Christians become no more than a religious subculture-- salt without saltiness. Take away cultural relevancy and Christians become isolationists with no impact on the world-- lights hidden under bushels. We believe in looking at the world clearly and openly with the Bible firmly in hand.

~ from the website

Progeny Press has been a family owned and operated company since 1992. They produce high quality literature guides from a Christian worldview ranging from lower elementary years through high school. They literally have 100+ Literature guides and add 3-6 new titles each year ranging from lower elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school. So you are sure to find one or several that fit your needs.

We received the downloadable interactive eGuides of the study guides for the novels Animal Farm and Little Women. Mikayla, my rising 12th grader, is working her way through Animal Farm which tells the classic story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer to form a society where animals are considered equal and free. While Montana, my rising 8th grader, is reading Little Woman, the timeless classic that tells the story of the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy— as they grow from childhood to womanhood.

Both of the guides that we received are suitable for High School credit. For reference, completing four literature guides is considered a full literature credit. The suggested length of time for finishing a study guide is 8-10 weeks, however you can adjust this based on your child’s reading speed. The first week is used to read the book and then each study guide takes the reader through two chapters of the novel at a time and focuses on several different literary concepts. Vocabulary is addressed in many ways to make sure the reader has a full grasp. First students are required to define several words, determine word meaning from its context and then double check their guesses in a dictionary. Vocabulary words and definitions are also presented to be matched and there is a vocabulary activity in multiple choice format. Using a thesaurus to study definitions is also taught.

Also included are several comprehension questions which ask the student to recall events from the book and analyze them. Literary devices such as similes, synonyms, foreshadowing, hyperboles, juxtaposition, metaphor, personification, and idioms are reviewed and how they are presented and used in the text are studied. Character studies include studying personalities, reactions to events, and events in general in light of Scripture passages relevant to the storyline. I love that each guide takes care to draw the student back to the Bible.

As you can see each guide includes a variety of elements, depending on the level of the study. To make navigation on the website easier, literature guides are categorized by both genre and grade-level. The guides are extremely user-friendly and are currently available as a print version, CD in PDF format, and email as a PDF attachment.

We enjoyed our literature guides tremendously! I love that the girls have read quality literature over the summer to keep their minds active and fresh. The new interactive eGuide format allows the student to type in the answers directly on their computer screen which is awesome and saves paper! If you like to print, there is no limit on copying pages for use within your homeschool. Progeny Press Guides are economically priced from $10.99 to $27.99, Little Women and Animal Farm both sell for $21.99. Be sure to browse the online catalog for individual pricing on all the available guides.

Our family finds that literature guides make reading even more enjoyable! We give these two guide 2 thumbs up and I look forward to adding more literature guides over the course of the school year.
Be sure to check out what my CrewMates thought of this guide and the many other guides being reviewed A New Coat for Anna Study Guide , In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson Study Guide , and My Side of the Mountain Study Guide.

Study Guides for Literature - A New Coat for Anna, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, My Side of the Mountain, Animal Farm & Little Women {Progeny Press Reviews}

Company ~ Progeny Press

Product ~ Animal Farm Study Guide and Little Women Study Guide

Format ~ eGuide or printable

Price ~ $21.99 each

Ages ~ 8th - 12th graders

Social Media Links:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube

http://astablebeginning.com

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Wordless Wednesday

http://astablebeginning.com

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

MaxScholar online Orton-Gillingham Software ~ a TOS review

Hello there friends! Have you decided that you will be homeschooling because of the rampant Covid pandemic? Well today I am going to be sharing with you an online reading program that can help your child be a successful reader even if they have dyslexia. It’s called MaxScholar and the program offers a variety of activities for students to help improve reading skills with their MaxScholar Orton-Gillingham Software.

MaxScholar was created to help students who have Dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADHD, processing problems, or for those who are just struggling to learn to read. The online program is based on the research method of the Orton-Gillingham approach, the Lindamood-Bell Process©, and other phonics and reading comprehension strategies with systematic, multi-sensory learning. My youngest child, my son Micah, does not have any reading difficulties but I wanted to review this program because we had success using this with Mikayla a few years ago and because I like exposing him to every opportunity to learn to read.

As I said above, MaxScholar is an online program. It is accessible anywhere you have a good internet connection. A set of speakers or headphones is also good to have too but not a requirement. We received a six month subscription to the MaxGuru program.

It includes access to:

MaxPhonics ~ based of the Orton-Gillingham method this is a multi-sensory program that prepares 3 to 7 year olds for reading.

MaxReading ~ improves reading comprehension and introduces students to the concepts of summarizing, highlighting, and outlining in 13 levels. There is a placement test to see the best level to start with.

MaxWords ~ build vocabulary through reading and word parts knowledge all the while learning word parts and improving spelling. Learn prefixes, suffixes, Greek & Latin word roots, spelling rules, and syllabification.

MaxVocab ~ a dictionary with thousands of entries, definitions, and games to build the students vocabulary.

MaxMusic ~ play fun learning games while strengthening reading skills and learning music.

MaxPlaces ~ explore the world and check for reading comprehension with multiple choice questions.

MaxBios ~ meet famous people from the past and present from all over the world with these biographies.

All of theses programs belong to the MaxGuru Pack subscription that normally costs $279.00 per year. There is also a 15 day free trial if you want to try before you buy. We received a six-month subscription to the MaxScholar Orton-Gillingham Software for the purpose of this review.

Since we are in the thick of our summer learning studies and part of it includes daily reading time. I like to have our kiddos catch the reading bug at a young age. Light the fire young so to speak so I am a huge fan of free reading at our house for at least 20 minutes a day. While for most of my children this is not a “chore” a few do not enjoy reading time, and Micah is not one of them. Micah gravitates towards online learning programs so I was glad that this one is so interactive for him. He typically worked on his lessons on our school mini iPad.
Overall, I am truly happy with Micah’s MaxScholar progress. It has served us well over the course of the last few weeks as a great supplement to our summer learning. The changes to the program include a more streamlined experience as well as the graphics have been updated. The site is easy to navigate even for my son. I think all the changes, bit and small have made the program streamlined and easy to use for kids and adults alike. But don’t just take my word for it, fifty-nine of my CrewMates also reviewed this product so be sure to check out what they thought of this program also by clicking the banner below!