A Stable Beginning

Monday, October 3, 2011

Wonder Maps ~ Timberdoodle review

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. wonder_maps

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.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

TOS Review ~ Aletheia Writing Magazine

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I received the Aletheia Writing Magazine in the mail. Aletheia is Greek for TRUTH and is a quarterly published magazine for Creativity in Christian Teens aged 13-19.

ABOUT ALETHEIA MAGAZINE:
Aletheia Magazine was created as a platform for teenagers to express themselves. Each issue features stories, poems, and book reviews written by fellow teens. There is also a photography selection that I have to say was really impressive.

Submissions to the magazine are accepted for genres such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Artwork, Photography, and Book Reviews. Every month there is a writer's challenge with a deadline date for submissions. October’s Challenge can be viewed by clicking, HERE.

While I thought Aletheia is a well thought out magazine, I am just not sure it is right for our family. I have a 14 year old that does enjoy writing but just not the particular genre featured in the magazine. I think it would be a great opportunity if your child enjoyed fantasy etc., but it is just not for us. Check out what my fellow Crewmates had to say by clicking HERE.

Company ~Aletheia Writing Magazine

Product ~ Aletheia Magazine

Price ~ $26.00 for 4 issues per year, $29.00 Canadian pricing *Price includes shipping and handling*

Ages ~ 13-19

Available to Purchase~ To purchase a subscription visit, HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of Solve It! 3rd: Problem-Solving Strategies + CD from AIMS, 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.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Weekly Wrap Up, week 5 ~ character training

Week 5…WHEW! We had another long week, but we made it through with God’s grace. Without airing everything, but in the spirit of keeping it “real” we had some character issues with a few members of this household. So we spent a few days really dealing with and getting things lined up the way they are supposed to be. I was lovingly reminded by my Aunt Janice not to try to be a Super Mom by rather an Abiding Mom.

But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful nature to his cross. They don’t want what their sinful nature loves and longs for. Since we live by the Sprit, let us march in step with the Spirit. Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others. ~Galatians 5:22-26 (NIrV)

As far as schooling goes, I have lowered my expectations of what the girls need to get done without sacrificing the quality of their education. I recognized I was expecting too much, trying to plug in too many classes so we dropped a few classes and it is going well. I had to really examine myself and what I really wanted the girls to accomplish this year and just focus on that.

We started Science for Madison & Mikayla and learned all about cells. We looked at onion and celery cells under the microscope. We didn’t get to make the edible Jell-o cell…but you know what? THAT’S O.K.!

Madison got a lesson on writing paragraphs and wrote about a personal experience as part of her Rod & Staff composition assignment. She chose to write about when we moved from WA State to our current location in 2009. I have to say she wrote a very well detailed paragraph and included highlights of our trip, including when Montana’s car seat got stuff in the airplane seat.

CREDIT

Wednesday the girls had their dental cleaning. Out of the four girls that got their teeth cleaned we only had one cavity. Next cleaning in March I am hoping for NO cavities. Madison will be getting her braces in the beginning of the year, and she is really excited. We also made it to the library after the dentist. McKenzie kept her shoes on so we didn’t get the evil eye from the librarian :-) She is starting to enjoy looking for books and sitting at the little toddler tables reading her books.

Thursday brought co-op and much needed encouragement. It is a long day because Marie’s class is not over until 4P.M. and Madison’s starts at 1030A.M. Because we live so far out we have to leave our house by 945A.M. to get there with a little cushion time to get settled, but it is worth it. I just need to be better prepared on my part Wednesday nights so that things can run more smoothly and so I can make it to Group night at church.

That was our week, how was yours? Check out how other homeschoolers weeks went over at WUHS.

Friday, September 23, 2011

TOS Review ~ AIMS- Solve It! 3rd Problem-Solving Strategies

Have you ever heard of AIMS? I hadn’t until this review opportunity came up. AIMS is an acronym for Activities Integrating Math and Science. The company was founded on the principles that children need hands on opportunities to develop problem solving skills.

About the Book

“A Collection of activities designed to introduce students to nine problem-solving strategies. The tasks included will engage students in active, hands-on investigations that allow them to apply their number, measurement, computation, geometry, data organization, and algebra skills in problem-solving settings.

The strategies addressed are: use manipulatives, write a number sentence, draw out the problem, guess and check, organized the information, look for patterns, use logical thinking, work backwards, and wish for an easier problem. Also included are practice problems that can be used for assessment.

These activities give students the opportunity to develop a toolbox of problem-solving tools that they can draw from when approaching problems. These skill will serve them well not only in mathematics, but in other academic subjects and their everyday lives.” (from the cover)

This book provided some much needed problem-solving skills for my 5th and 3rd graders to work on. While some of the activities are geared for bigger groups we still managed to get the most out of the activities. I especially found it helpful to have the included CD for easy printing of activity sheets. Overall we would recommend this product to anyone looking for help in problem solving skills. It is a great find with many activities to keep you busy learning throughout the year!

Check out what my Crewmates had to say about this and other books we reviewed from AIMS Education Foundation, HERE.

Company: AIMS Education Foundation

Product: Solve It! 3rd: Problem-Solving Strategies + CD, 29 activities

Price: $24.95
Ages: Grades 3-5
Available to Purchase: AIMS
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I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2011-2012 Crew and as such received a copy of Solve It! 3rd: Problem-Solving Strategies + CD from AIMS, 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.