I have wondered lately if a new version of the Driver's Handbook has come out recently and I missed it. I was still under the impression that a construction zone called for a slower speed limit. I do my best to follow the speed limit in a construction zone because I don't want to get a double fine. Everybody else passes me, though. They even cross the solid white line to get away from me. Men are working behind the jersey barriers. Does this give us the right to speed through the zone? Am I the only one who didn't read the revised version of the rules of the road?
I also missed the parking rules when related to purchasing movies from Redbox locations. Was it in the fine print when I signed up for Redbox. "If you are purchasing from a Redbox, you are given permission to park catawampus in a parking lot and ignore the painted lines designating actual parking spaces. Those spaces are for the consumers of the store where the Redboxes are located, not you the Redbox consumer." Has anybody else read this? Am I missing something?
Oh, yeah, then there's the rule that says if your car is shiny and you view it as the vehicle that makes you THE MAN, you can take up two parking spaces. Seriously, what if everybody did that? What goes through a person's mind to take up two spaces. Do they think their car is so much more special than everyone else's or is it a phobia, closecaraphobia? Am I missing something?
Now, I know when I took my driver's test 25 years ago the rule was that if a sign said, "No Turn on Red," you didn't turn right on red. Does the rule not apply to people who can't read? If you can't read, should you be driving? I am only assuming that is the case for all those people who actually turn right on red when there is a sign. And what's up with the people who don't turn right on red when you can? Are they the ones who turn right on red when there is a sign not to? Do they lack something in reading comprehension? Have the rules changed in the last 25 years, and they are just that slow to take the signs down? Am I missing something?
Granted, I am not the perfect driver. I don't pretend to be, but there are certain things I just won't do. I believe in using turn signals even when people aren't around to see. I believe in doing 25 through neighborhoods where the posted speed is 25 mph. I like to move over a lane, if I can, to let people enter the highway. Just let me know, am I missing something?
;-)
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
The British Middle Ages
Would you like to study something like the British middle Ages without having to go to the library to search for the books you'll need? What if all the books you'd need came on one disc? Well, that's exactly what you get when you purchase curriculum through Heritage History. For only $24.99 you get a "complete illustrated text of 55 books, over 60 maps, timelines, battle dictionaries, reading recommendations, geography terms, short biographies, historical era summaries, and a ready-to-print study guide."
Heritage History employs the use of "living books" to learn about history. The idea is that students will learn more through the use of engaging books instead of rote memorization of names and dates. Besides the British Middle Ages, they also have a CD for young readers which includes books from a broad range of historical periods and is appropriate for elementary students. There are CD curricula for Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the British Empire as well. These CDs contain books for all ages, introductory, intermediate, and advanced. All 5 can be purchased together for $99.99.Upon placing the CD into your computer, the first-time user of this curriculum is encouraged to read through the Introduction and Getting Started links (located on the left-hand side) in order to understand the purpose and how to use it. It would seem self-explanatory, but the introduction is quite detailed. As I read through it, I got excited for all that my children could learn from it. I am beginning to write my own curriculum/unit studies, and the way they have put this together is the way I would put something together. It can be a challenging program if one takes full advantage of it. The student (and parent) is guaranteed to learn quite a bit from this program.
The scheduling of the program is left to the parent/student. The exact course used is left to the parent/student as they peruse the library and decide the course of learning for the year. The parent and student are encouraged to spend a few days deciding which books are going to be read; more books can be added as the path of learning is understood. Each book includes a brief description to help understand what the book is about to make it easier to decide when choosing. A "Book Selection Register" is included so that the student can keep track of the books that have been read. The wonderful thing about this curriculum is that the books available on the CD can be printed without having to worry about copyright infringement since the books are public domain, and they can be downloaded onto any e-reader or tablet.
While we have just begun with this program, I am thrilled that I now own it so that we can take our time learning through reading. Because it includes books appropriate for all levels of students, I can use it with all three of my children this year if I want to, or I can hold onto it and use it with the younger ones later.
While this resource is a little bit difficult to navigate in the beginning due to the all of the instruction that is provided, once the books are chosen and learning begins, it becomes an invaluable resource. It is worth so much more than $24.99 because of all of the leg work that has been done in finding books and putting them in one location and providing all of the additional study aids.
I wholeheartedly recommend this product!
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to provide an honest review of it.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Go Science!!!
As science is a favorite subject in our household, we were excited to receive these videos to review. On the back of The Go Science videos it says they are geared towards children ages 6-14. Since my children are 10, 12, and 14, these were to work perfectly with my family. The LES website says the recommended ages are 5-11. Ben Roy performs experiments on this video
about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class levers; incline
planes; pulleys; trebuchets; singing glasses; singing rods; sounds waves;
singing pipes; making a cloud; weather balloons; tornado tubes; and air
pressure. There are a few experiments on
this video that are interesting such as singing pipes and air pressure, but the
rest of them are ones that have been performed over and over again. Ben Roy speaks and gestures in such a way
that I feel this video would be more appropriately geared towards children 4
through 8 years of age. He speaks to the
children as if they are very young and have a hard time understanding
things. Even so, he mentions terms that
an older student should know or be learning about. He does not explain things very well. He performs the experiments and throws out harder scientific words, but he does not tell us the science behind the experiments.
Everyone in the video is wearing a yellow “Kid’s Time”
t-shirt. The kids don’t look very
comfortable when they are standing up front with him to do an experiment. He asks questions and feeds the children the answers if they give the wrong one. The whole
video isn’t very polished. He makes
errors as he speaks. Those mistakes are
caught, but he leaves a feeling of confusion.
In some of the later experiments, it seems as if he gave the children
the answers ahead of time to the questions he was going to ask.
His whole animation is a bit unnerving. I had a very hard time watching the entire length of the videos. Biblical
topics are discussed very quickly in some segments and not at all in
others. They are mostly the Bible
stories that children hear growing up.
The back of the video says, “Even kids who claim an aversion
to science will be engaged by the high-energy science demonstrations of Ben
Roy!” I would have to disagree. There is nothing about these videos that makes
my children want to learn more about science.
It also says, “Ben captivates, motivates, and inspires students to be
excited about science, while providing effective instruction based on science
phenomena.” Again, I would have to disagree. There is no effective instruction. Nothing is explained well.
Older children and children who are interested in science
already would NOT benefit from this product.
There is no challenge in it whatsoever, and it is tough to listen to him
make the mistakes as he is speaking, including grammatical errors.
The Go Science videos sell for $8.97 individually and $47.95 for all six including Motion; Simple Machines, Sound, and Weather; Magnetism, Engineering, Electricity, and Design; Chemistry; Air and Flight; Water, Space, and the Solar System through Library and
Educational Services. Even though I wouldn't recommend these particular videos unless your children are very young, Library and Educational Services has a wide variety of other products to choose from at great prices.
Their website is
Their website is
DISCLAIMER: I
received these products free of charge in order to provide an honest review of
them.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Love Books? Looking for a Good Sale?
The Homeschool Library Builder is an online book store that serves the homeschool community. It is owned by two veteran homeschoolers, and they understand the need to find affordable books to fill our shelves. I don't know about you, but I love seeing bookshelves full of things for my kids and myself to read.
Now through May 31st, Homeschool Library Builder, HSLB, is having a 25% off sale on all items. No coupon or discount code is needed, and you can even use additional discounts or coupons if you have them with this sale. If you become a member, you will receive one bonus point for every dollar spent. Fifteen bonus points counts as $1.00 which you can use towards a future purchase.
In addition to the current 25% off promotion, if you make a $25.00 purchase, you will receive Of Earth and Sky: Spiritual Lessons from Nature, a $4.99 value, at no additional cost. It includes literary selections that highlight the "seven virtues as taught through nature."
Some examples of the products available are The Tree and the Trail (softcover), usually $11.95, HSLB price $6.50, PLUS an additional 25% off. There is a book about Buzz Aldrin called, Reaching for the Moon; the list price is $12.95. HSLB's price is $4.99, PLUS you can take an additional 25% off. That is amazing!
The page for each book gives a good description of what the book is about, whether it is soft or hardcover, the intended age range, and the condition of the book. They tell you how many are available and how much it costs. Discounts, like the 25% off promotion, are taken at checkout.
HSLB will even search to find a book you may be looking for if they don't have it at no extra charge. Suppose you heard of a great book years ago and have been searching high and low for it to no avail. Simply give HSLB the information, and they will do everything they can to locate it.
The different categories of books they have are fiction, non-fiction, activity books, award winners, classical literature, "for the homeschool teacher," "helping hand," holidays & seasons, inspirational, science, and story books. You can search by curriculum, age, geographically, and even vintage and hard-to-find books.
Say you are using a curriculum you borrowed from someone, but it doesn't have the readers that are supposed to go along with it or maybe you are using a study guide for a particular book; chances are HSLB has it or can locate it for you.
There are American Girl books, My First Little House books, and other historical fiction books. Under the science category, there are books about animals and nature, explorers, geography, and inventors and inventions.
As I perused the website, I was very impressed with the selection of books that are available and the prices. I am sure I will be back to buy some things as we begin our next year of homeschooling. I think you will be blessed if you check them out.
Under their "About Homeschooling" tab, there are biographies of "Heroes of History," interactive lesson units about art topics, and links to various sites that can help with your homeschooling.
HSLB can be reached at Flower Mound, Texas, 75022. Their phone number is 800-718-7986. Their email address is info@hslibrarybuilder.com.
DISCLAIMER: I did not receive any products to try. I am simply providing a review of their website and sale.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
How God Paints a Future, Part I
It is easy to see how God paints a sky. From the sunrises to the sunsets, every day is different. There is not an artist in the world who can create such beauty. He does the same thing with our futures, if we let him. This is the story of our journey over the past year.
I was born and raised in Southwestern PA and, except for the one summer I spent two months in Ocean City, NJ, I have lived here all of my life. There was never any desire or even the faintest notion that I would ever live anywhere else.
John, my husband, had wanted to move south since he was a kid and spent time with his brother in both North Carolina and Florida when he was in the military. He shared this with me on a few occasions, but he never pushed the issue. He was pretty sure I would never move south. My reasoning was that Florida was too hot, and there were too many bugs.
Last April, John had had a frustrating day at work and came home wondering what job could be more enjoyable than the one he was currently doing. As he looked on line for employment, he found a job at Walt Disney World working in their IT Department (computers). Just applying I think made him feel a little better. He didn't really expect to hear back from Disney World. I mean, come on, you have to be really, really good at what you do. Well, three weeks later, he got a call. This started the ball rolling on the idea that we might one day move. We had our friend, who is a real estate agent, come look at our house and advise us as to what needed done before we put our house on the market.
John had his phone interview with Disney but turned down the opportunity for a second interview. We just weren't ready. Since we had started to think about moving, John and I both were of the belief that God was calling us out of our current house. He had done that in the past. When we lived in Ellwood City, there came a time when we knew it was time to move on. Having nowhere to go when our house sold, we moved in with John's parents for seven months. That was not an easy time for me. Two women in one house does not work well. Hindsight has allowed me to see God's plan in that, though. John had the opportunity to spend time with his mom before she died the following year that he would not have had if we had still lived up north. I am very grateful for God's wisdom.
We spent a lot of time looking online at houses in our area, but we didn't have much motivation to get anything done with the house. I had started to paint some of the rooms that needed painted, but there was no urgency.
In November, we drove to Disney World for our annual vacation. We had been there in 2008 and 2009 as well. This time, however, as we were driving out of Florida and into Georgia, I almost cried. I felt like I was leaving home forever. What was that? Why did I feel that way this time when I had never felt that way before? As we drove home, the decision was made to try to move south. My arguments from before no longer held any weight. In the sweltering heat of the summer in PA, I spend all my time inside in the air conditioning. The same thing would happen in Florida. At least down south, things would be in bloom all year, and there wouldn't be any snow.
Around this same time, I started going to counseling for help in dealing with the stress in my life. My front teeth hurt all the time from clenching my jaw while I slept. While in counseling, I learned that I was a control freak and, also, that I had a very low opinion of myself. Through counseling, I was able to break free from the control issue and was also able to believe the truth. Jesus loves ME! Really, he does. I am wonderfully made. I don't have to believe the lies I let myself belief since I was a young child. I dealt with some really heavy issues over the next couple of months.
For the first time in my life I wasn't afraid of what my future held. God often puts us in the dark so we can't control how things turn out. I have always hated that. I have to know. I have to be able to see what is going to happen. I no longer cared. I handed God a blank canvas and said, "Paint it, God, with whatever you want. I look forward to seeing the picture when you're finished."
John had started applying for positions the day we got back from vacation. He had had some phone interviews, but nothing materialized. In March, we had our friend, the real estate agent, come back to remind us of all we needed to do with the house. We got started right away. There was a sense of urgency now. All five of us did our fair share in completing the painting of four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two hallways, an entire basement, stairway, deck, etc., etc. It was exhausting completing it in the short amount of time we had, but there was motivation and determination.
I believed it was time to put our house on the market. John had reservations, though, since we had nowhere to go. I told him I would look into finding a place to rent in the area. We weren't prepared to go to Florida without a job. I put feelers out for information on a rental. I had told people that I was pretty sure our house would sell quickly. It went on the market the Monday before Easter. That Wednesday, a couple came with their agent and looked at the house. The sign was placed in our yard on Thursday. Thirty minutes after that, our agent called to tell us that the couple who had come the day before wanted to give us an offer. Four days...that's quick. Four days...that's God!
I was born and raised in Southwestern PA and, except for the one summer I spent two months in Ocean City, NJ, I have lived here all of my life. There was never any desire or even the faintest notion that I would ever live anywhere else.
John, my husband, had wanted to move south since he was a kid and spent time with his brother in both North Carolina and Florida when he was in the military. He shared this with me on a few occasions, but he never pushed the issue. He was pretty sure I would never move south. My reasoning was that Florida was too hot, and there were too many bugs.
Last April, John had had a frustrating day at work and came home wondering what job could be more enjoyable than the one he was currently doing. As he looked on line for employment, he found a job at Walt Disney World working in their IT Department (computers). Just applying I think made him feel a little better. He didn't really expect to hear back from Disney World. I mean, come on, you have to be really, really good at what you do. Well, three weeks later, he got a call. This started the ball rolling on the idea that we might one day move. We had our friend, who is a real estate agent, come look at our house and advise us as to what needed done before we put our house on the market.
John had his phone interview with Disney but turned down the opportunity for a second interview. We just weren't ready. Since we had started to think about moving, John and I both were of the belief that God was calling us out of our current house. He had done that in the past. When we lived in Ellwood City, there came a time when we knew it was time to move on. Having nowhere to go when our house sold, we moved in with John's parents for seven months. That was not an easy time for me. Two women in one house does not work well. Hindsight has allowed me to see God's plan in that, though. John had the opportunity to spend time with his mom before she died the following year that he would not have had if we had still lived up north. I am very grateful for God's wisdom.
We spent a lot of time looking online at houses in our area, but we didn't have much motivation to get anything done with the house. I had started to paint some of the rooms that needed painted, but there was no urgency.
In November, we drove to Disney World for our annual vacation. We had been there in 2008 and 2009 as well. This time, however, as we were driving out of Florida and into Georgia, I almost cried. I felt like I was leaving home forever. What was that? Why did I feel that way this time when I had never felt that way before? As we drove home, the decision was made to try to move south. My arguments from before no longer held any weight. In the sweltering heat of the summer in PA, I spend all my time inside in the air conditioning. The same thing would happen in Florida. At least down south, things would be in bloom all year, and there wouldn't be any snow.
Around this same time, I started going to counseling for help in dealing with the stress in my life. My front teeth hurt all the time from clenching my jaw while I slept. While in counseling, I learned that I was a control freak and, also, that I had a very low opinion of myself. Through counseling, I was able to break free from the control issue and was also able to believe the truth. Jesus loves ME! Really, he does. I am wonderfully made. I don't have to believe the lies I let myself belief since I was a young child. I dealt with some really heavy issues over the next couple of months.
For the first time in my life I wasn't afraid of what my future held. God often puts us in the dark so we can't control how things turn out. I have always hated that. I have to know. I have to be able to see what is going to happen. I no longer cared. I handed God a blank canvas and said, "Paint it, God, with whatever you want. I look forward to seeing the picture when you're finished."
John had started applying for positions the day we got back from vacation. He had had some phone interviews, but nothing materialized. In March, we had our friend, the real estate agent, come back to remind us of all we needed to do with the house. We got started right away. There was a sense of urgency now. All five of us did our fair share in completing the painting of four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two hallways, an entire basement, stairway, deck, etc., etc. It was exhausting completing it in the short amount of time we had, but there was motivation and determination.
I believed it was time to put our house on the market. John had reservations, though, since we had nowhere to go. I told him I would look into finding a place to rent in the area. We weren't prepared to go to Florida without a job. I put feelers out for information on a rental. I had told people that I was pretty sure our house would sell quickly. It went on the market the Monday before Easter. That Wednesday, a couple came with their agent and looked at the house. The sign was placed in our yard on Thursday. Thirty minutes after that, our agent called to tell us that the couple who had come the day before wanted to give us an offer. Four days...that's quick. Four days...that's God!
TO BE CONTINUED...
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
A Weekend Trip to Gettysburg
After teaching a Civil War class at our homeschool co-op, I figured an appropriate ending would be a field trip to Gettysburg. Since we live in Pennsylvania and will be moving out of PA in a month, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to visit a Civil War battlefield so close to home.
The cyclorama is a 360-degree painting of the three days of battle. It used to be housed in its own building, which still remains by the Soldiers' National Battlefield, but they moved it into the new visitors' center which was built in 2008.
I had seen this cyclorama 30 years ago as a child. It took five years to restore it once they moved it into the new building. It is an amazing site to behold. It took the artist and his team a year to paint the entire thing. As the story of the battle is told, the lights shine on different parts of the painting.
It looks 3-D at different points and is complete with sound effects of battle.
In the large picture below, there are two men carrying another man into a shanty (above where the sticks of the fire meet). The man they are carrying is said to look like Lincoln. Perhaps this was intentional on the part of the artist.
The uniform on the left is typical of a Confederate soldier. That on the right is typical of a Union soldier. We learned that the weight of everything they carried - uniform, cooking supplies, games, etc. - weighed in excess of 45 pounds. I can't even imagine carrying that extra weight while wearing wool clothing in the heat and humidity of July.
The cases below had buttons, belt plates, and insignias from various regiments.
After we finished at the visitors' center, we began our audio tour. There were 16 separate markers on the tour at which we were to stop. Sometimes the tour had us stopping at points not marked so that it could inform us of various events that took place. I was, overall, very happy I bought the audio tour because it will be a wonderful resource for years to come. There is so much information contained within it that it doesn't matter if you aren't driving around the battlefield; you will still learn so much. The booklet that comes with it is also a wealth of information with its maps and pictures and explanations of things.
As you drive around the battlefield, there are thousands of monuments. They are for people, for brigades, divisions, markers for various battles, etc. I will include some photos that I took and explain what you are looking at.
The cross is a memorial to a Pennsylvania brigade
This is a view from the observation tower. There are a few of these around. You can climb them for an overall view of Gettysburg. They often have signs on top that show where things are in the distance. They are very, very sturdy!!
This is Little Round Top. Fighting took place here on day 2 (July 2, 1863).
The hillside is covered with very large boulders. The Union took this high ground on day one. Therefore, they were able to maintain the high ground throughout this battle.
This would be the stonewall the Union soldiers were behind when the Confederates began firing upon them with their cannons in hopes of destroying the Union guns and causing them to run out of ammunition.
The line of trees in the far distance is where the Confederates involved in the charge would have left from once the cannonade stopped. They then needed to march over the large open field towards the Union.
We ventured out Friday evening around 5:00 and arrived in Gettysburg at 9:00 p.m. I had thought it was a 5-hour drive, so I was pleasantly surprised to get there in only 4 hours. We stayed at the Comfort Suites on Baltimore Pike. There are many hotels, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds in the area, but I like to find a hotel with a pool for the kids. Besides, we came across a lot of people who had been camping, and all I can say is I'm glad I didn't smell like that. ;-)
Upon entering the hotel, I picked up a thick pamphlet about Gettysburg. It listed things to do, places to shop, and places to eat. I had heard that it is worthwhile buying an audio tour to take you around the battlefield. You can hire a live guide as well, but it is a bit more expensive than an audio CD. There were two really good audio tours that I looked at when we were at the Gettysburg Military Park Visitors' Center Gift Shop. One was $34.99 and came with a CD-ROM that could be used at home for further learning. I chose the $29.99 audio tour with 3 CDs because it was the only one that had the Gettysburg Address on it. After picking up the audio tour, we paid for and watched the movie and cyclorama about the 3 days of the Battle of Gettysburg. The movie is told more from the point of view of the North and claims the major issue of the war was slavery. The movie lasts approximately a half hour. It is very well made and enjoyable to watch. When the movie is over, the audience is directed to an escalator that takes you to see the cyclorama.
I had seen this cyclorama 30 years ago as a child. It took five years to restore it once they moved it into the new building. It is an amazing site to behold. It took the artist and his team a year to paint the entire thing. As the story of the battle is told, the lights shine on different parts of the painting. It looks 3-D at different points and is complete with sound effects of battle.
In the large picture below, there are two men carrying another man into a shanty (above where the sticks of the fire meet). The man they are carrying is said to look like Lincoln. Perhaps this was intentional on the part of the artist.
The visitors' center also a large museum that comes with the price of admission. It is not biased with regard to the North or the South. It contains hundreds, if not thousands, of artifacts from the entire Civil War, not just Gettysburg. It was so very interesting to walk through this museum and read letters written by Lee to Jefferson Davis and love letters written by soldiers. All of the artifacts were explained as to their purpose. There was a room in which you could sit and listen to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
The uniform on the left is typical of a Confederate soldier. That on the right is typical of a Union soldier. We learned that the weight of everything they carried - uniform, cooking supplies, games, etc. - weighed in excess of 45 pounds. I can't even imagine carrying that extra weight while wearing wool clothing in the heat and humidity of July.
The cases below had buttons, belt plates, and insignias from various regiments.
After we finished at the visitors' center, we began our audio tour. There were 16 separate markers on the tour at which we were to stop. Sometimes the tour had us stopping at points not marked so that it could inform us of various events that took place. I was, overall, very happy I bought the audio tour because it will be a wonderful resource for years to come. There is so much information contained within it that it doesn't matter if you aren't driving around the battlefield; you will still learn so much. The booklet that comes with it is also a wealth of information with its maps and pictures and explanations of things.
As you drive around the battlefield, there are thousands of monuments. They are for people, for brigades, divisions, markers for various battles, etc. I will include some photos that I took and explain what you are looking at.The cross is a memorial to a Pennsylvania brigade
The house above is General Lee's Headquarters on the first day of battle. The museum inside is free. There are artifacts inside here as well from the Civil War.
Next are some informational signs explaining what happened where you are standing. This one is for a skrimish that took place in the railroad cut that sent Confederates hiding for cover.
 |
| Eternal Light Peace Memorial dedicated to unity between North and South after the war was over. |
 |
| Sallie the Dog - Guarded over the dead and dying of her regiment. Killed in battle later in the Civil War. |
 |
| Observation Tower |
This is a view from the observation tower. There are a few of these around. You can climb them for an overall view of Gettysburg. They often have signs on top that show where things are in the distance. They are very, very sturdy!!
This is Little Round Top. Fighting took place here on day 2 (July 2, 1863).
The hillside is covered with very large boulders. The Union took this high ground on day one. Therefore, they were able to maintain the high ground throughout this battle.
 |
| Devil's Den |
 |
| Little Round Top Monument |
We went to Devil's Den on Saturday and again on Sunday. The kids had so much fun climbing on the rocks. In listening to the audio tour, it was said that the soldiers who fought here remembered fondly of days they played hide and seek here with their friends.
The last stop we made on the battlefield before heading home was the site of Pickett's Charge. I recommend watching the movie, "Gettysburg," before you go to get an idea of what happened. It gave us a greater respect for the soldiers as we walked across the same field.
The line of trees in the far distance is where the Confederates involved in the charge would have left from once the cannonade stopped. They then needed to march over the large open field towards the Union.
 |
| Copse of trees on right that was their target to head for |
 |
| Memorial of High Water Mark attained by Confederates It sits behind the copse of trees. During our weekend in Gettysburg, we also went through the Jennie Wade House. She was supposedly the only civilian casualty in the Battle of Gettysburg. We also ate at some wonderful restaurants. Hunt's on 15 is a tiny little place but small prices and delicious sandwiches on pretzel bread. We ate breakfast on Sunday at a place called Dunlap's. We didn't particularly care for the free breakfast at the hotel, so we ventured out and were very happy with our choice. Nathan ordered a cheese danish. I figured it'd be like a store bought danish with cream cheese swirled inside of it. The thing they brought out was about 3 inches high with cream cheese poured on top and dripping over the sides. I'd swear it was half as big as his head. It was also delicious!! I hope you get a chance to visit Gettysburg at some point. It was a wonderful experience, especially being a parent and getting to go with my kids. I know it is something they will remember forever. Even Paige said that this was something she'll want to share with her kids and grandkids. Jacob said, "The Civil War is pretty cool." |
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Science is a favorite subject at our house. We love to do science experiments, even though most of them fail. :-(We had the opportunity to review the Amazing Science! Volume 1 DVD which is loaded with experiments. As soon as we started watching it, the kids wanted to try the experiments. They are all simple enough that they work! The instruction provided by Jason Gibson is very clear. After explaining how to carry out the experiment, he then explains the science behind it. I have loved the experiments so much that I have told many of my friends about them. We especially liked the color changing milk, and the kids really want to try the dry ice bubbles; but I haven't gotten to the store to buy the dry ice. Mr. Gibson said that dry ice can be bought at the grocery store, which was a surprise to me. The fact that he lets us know where we can get certain materials that aren't a normal part of our shopping list is also a nice feature.
One of the other experiments is the egg in a bottle experiment which is a pretty well-known experiment where lit matches are placed inside a bottle and the egg then falls into the bottle. Other ones are "Build a Lemon Battery," ""Candle Suction Power," "Lift an Ice Cube with String," "Matchstick Speedboat," and "Balloon in a Candle Flame." There are a total of 23 experiments in this 2-video set.
I especially like the fact that Jason Gibson does not speak down to the people who watch his videos, nor does he speak above what people can understand. He has "advanced degrees in Engineering and Physics, worked as a Rocket Scientist for NASA, and has passion for teaching Science and Math." With that type of education and, what I would consider, genius brain, you might think his teaching would be beyond the common person's comprehension, but he does a WONDERFUL job. Listening to the way he explains things, you are able to sense his excitement for science. It is contagious, which is part of the reason why my kids wanted to do the experiments so quickly after watching them. I know, too, that they will remember the science behind why the experiment works. Thank you, Mr. Gibson!!
The list price for this 2-disc DVD set is $24.95, but it is for sale at ScienceAndMath.com for $19.95. It can also be downloaded instantly for just $17.99. ScienceAndMath.com also has several math tutor DVDs available such as Basic Math, Algebra 1 and 2, Advanced Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus. They are multiple DVD sets with hours of explanation in each math subject. They also have chemistry and physics tutoring DVDs available. All DVDs are available as a bundle you can receive for 30% off the list price. So, instead of $466.00, the cost is only $325.00.
Because of the quality of the Amazing Science! videos, I am seriously considering purchasing one or more of the math DVDs for my kids to help them through basic math and algebra. I expect the explanation of those concepts to be presented as well as the science concepts for each of the science experiments.
ScienceAndMath.com can be reached by going to their Contact Page and entering your information and your question. They can also be reached by calling their toll-free number: 1-877-MATH-DVD. Their address is ScienceAndMath.com, PO Box 1165, Seabrook, TX, 77586. If you choose to contact them by email, their address is jason.gibson@ScienceAndMath.com.
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to provide an unbiased review.
Monday, April 23, 2012
God's Great Covenant
God's Great Covenant
I have found a Bible curriculum that I love!! There aren't too many great ones out there, but this one teaches exactly like I like to teach. It is more than a devotional. It gets in depth into the passages. It teaches the history surrounding the passage so the student can understand better what is being read. There are maps so that the student can picture in their mind where things are taking place. Things are laid out in such a way so as not to be difficult to follow.This book that I had a chance to review was about the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There is a student book and a teacher book. The words are in a large font. I think that makes it more enjoyable to read because it doesn't look like too much on any given page. There are memory pages and review worksheets.
As an example of a memory page, for chapter 10 entitled, "Rejection at Nazareth, Miracles at Capernaum," the theme of the chapter is listed. In this case, it is "God's Servant helps faith to grow in physically and spiritually unclean people." The Scripture that will be referred to is listed. There is a memory passage: Isaiah 61:1. The key facts of the chapter are presented in a chart form. This one talks about the men who met Jesus, when they met Jesus, and what happened when they met Jesus. The Old Testament prophecy that was fulfilled is also cited at the bottom of the page. On the next few pages, the Scriptures are explained in a simple way so the student will understand it. At the end of the chapter are review questions and fun activities to help them remember what they learned in the chapter.
The New Testament 1 book is geared towards students in fourth grade, has 36 chapters divided into 4 themed units, and sells for $26.95 on the Classical Academic Press website. The teacher's edition has 346 pages and sells for $29.95.
Classical Academic Press also sells Old Testament curriculum, and they also bundle OT and NT and sell as full units with student book, teacher's edition, and audio book download at 15% off the price if all were to be bought separately.
If you are looking for a worthwhile Bible curriculum, I would encourage you to try Classical Academic Press.
 |
| Student book |
 |
| Teacher's Edition |
The address for Classical Academic Press is
3920 Market St.
Camp Hill, PA 17011
The toll free phone number is:
866-730-0711.
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge so that I could use it and provide an unbiased review.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Here's A Bright Idea!
I find it very easy to teach things like botany and anatomy, but I don’t particularly like chemistry. I only passed my organic chemistry class in college because the curve was 80-100 was an A, 60-80 was a B, and 40-60 was a C. I got a C. L
Lower level chemistry is easy enough for me, but I don’t like it as well as the other sciences based on my background.
Bright Ideas Press publishes Christian-oriented curriculum “that will fit into your hectic life, curriculum that is both affordable and easy to use with children of different ages at the same time.” www.brightideaspress.com
There are many different subjects available through Bright Ideas press such as geography, history, science, and literature. This is the company that publishes The Mystery of History. They also have a collection of over 350 different maps available to go along with the various curricula they offer.
The Christian Kids Explore Chemistry book is geared towards kids in 4th through 8th grade. It is $39.95. It has a resource CD that includes lesson plans, material lists, a bonus literature study guide, and all the reproducibles that are in the book. Scripture is used throughout the book. There are 30 lessons grouped in five units. Each unit includes vocabulary and material lists. Each unit also has hands-on lessons to help the student better understand what has been learned during the reading.
The Bright Ideas Press website makes sample pages available for this book so you can get an idea of what it is like inside. The sample pages include the table of contents, sample pages, materials list by unit, and the answer key to the Review It questions for each lesson.
The units included in the Chemistry book are “The Basics of Chemistry,” “Atoms and Molecules,” “The Nature of Chemistry,” “States of Matter,” and “Organic Chemistry.” There is a glossary and coloring pages in the back of the book.
There are unit wrap ups that could be used as tests or to just simply ensure your child has an adequate understanding of what has been presented in each unit.
Most of the materials needed for the experiments can be found at home. There are some experiments that require items most folks probably don’t have sitting around like different size Styrofoam balls, but they aren't expensive nor are they hard to find.
My daughter really wanted to work through this chemistry book because she was excited about doing the experiments. The first few hands-on activities in the book are about understanding basic chemistry facts like the tools and taking measurements, etc., so they didn't excite her; but the experiments definitely got better and were more interesting to her.
These books are very interesting, well thought out, and illustrated well. I would encourage anybody interested in this book to also search the rest of the Bright Ideas Press website for additional science curricula, history, and also an all-inclusive curriculum covering Bible, language arts, science, literature, music, art, geography, history, etc., called Illuminations.
Bright Ideas Press can be reached at 877.492.8081. If you click the Contact button, you can find many different ways to reach Bright Ideas Press besides their phone number. Their address is Bright Ideas Press, PO Box 333, Cheswold, DE 19936. They can be reached by email at contact@BrightIdeasPress.com.
They can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrightIdeasPress.
Be sure to check out their monthly specials!!
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to use it and provide an honest review.
Bright Ideas Press can be reached at 877.492.8081. If you click the Contact button, you can find many different ways to reach Bright Ideas Press besides their phone number. Their address is Bright Ideas Press, PO Box 333, Cheswold, DE 19936. They can be reached by email at contact@BrightIdeasPress.com.
They can also be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrightIdeasPress.
Be sure to check out their monthly specials!!
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to use it and provide an honest review.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Teaching Anatomy "From Head to Toe"
I realized part way through the year that one of my children's grasp of anatomy was deficient. Even though I had taught him anatomy before, four years ago, he could really use a refresher. One of the products I was given the opportunity to review was AIMS "From Head to Toe" anatomy curriculum.
This curriculum is specifically geared to students in grades 5-9. I am using it with my 6th grader, as well as my 8th grader and 4th graders. The information contained within the curriculum is superb. It is not a simplified curriculum that I feel you see more often than not unless you are working through a high school anatomy course. There are definitely concepts that are beyond the young elementary level. It is not too difficult, however, that my 4th grader cannot understand it. The method of learning the information is a bit different than I am used to. Small books are created for each lesson. I print out the pages for the lesson which are then folded in half and in half again. These pages are then put together to form a small book which are held together by rubber bands.The books are easy for the student to use and different from the worksheets that are the norm. There are some worksheets included in the curriculum, but they are used to supplement the books that are made.
The book also contains a number of experiments to understand the functioning of various systems of the human body. For example, to understand how the lungs work, there is an experiment which uses a 2-L bottle, two straws, and two balloons. Also throughout the book, the students make a model of the human body. There are data-collecting experiments, too.
It is evident that the creators of "From Head to Toe" spent a lot of time developing a curriculum that would be very interesting to the student. It is full of very creative experiments, well-illustrated books, and hands-on projects that continue the learning beyond the book.
The curriculum is guided by Project 2061 Benchmarks and NRC Standards. At the beginning of each new topic, there are key questions, learning goals, a material list, background information, and management guidelines for preparing for the lesson. The procedure is also explained. At the end of the lesson, whether the model is continued or an experiment is completed, there are questions provided to connect learning.
AIMS Educational Foundation can be found at http://www.aimsedu.org/. "From Head to Toe" is located under the Books and Activities link and then under Activity Books. AIMS offers this activity book as a downloadable ebook in PDF format for $24.95. The hard copy (in paperback) is also $24.95 and contains a CD with all of the printables for each lesson so you don't need to try to position the book on your copier.
I encourage anyone interested in enhancing their child's learning to peruse the AIMS website. There are so many wonderful products that integrate math and science. There are books about electricity, space, building with LEGOs, anatomy, earth, and a variety of math topics.
AIMS can be reached at PO Box 8120, Fresno, CA, 93747. Their toll-free number is 1-888-733-2467. If you have a particular question, you can fill out an online form at https://store.aimsedu.org/aims_store/contact-us.html.
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to use it and provide a honest review.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Pennsylvania Homeschooling Adventure, Part II
OBJECTIVES
When I first began the homeschooling adventure, I was afraid to do it on my own. I envisioned the task of writing objectives as a daunting one. I stuck with the virtual charter school for two years because I didn't think I was capable of getting all the beginning-of-the-year paperwork done. When a friend showed me all that was required for the affidavit and writing objectives, I wondered why I ever thought I wouldn't be able to do it. There is really nothing to it.
The PA Homeschool Law states that the affidavit must contain "an outline of proposed education objectives by subject area." It also states, "The required outline of proposed education objectives shall not be utilized by the superintendent in determining if the home education program is out of compliance..." There you have it. It is very clear, right? Sounds to me like writing objectives ought to be very simple. It is up to you what you want to teach.
Technically, you must have at least one objective for each required subject. In the elementary years, your required subjects are "English, to include spelling, reading, and writing;
arithmetic; history of Pennsylvania and United States; civics; health
and physiology; physical education; music; art; geography; science;
and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in
the danger and prevention of fires."
At the secondary (high school) level, your required subjects are "English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry;
art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. High school credit requirements: 4 credits of English, 3 credits of
math, 3 credits of science, 3 credits of social studies, and 2 credits of
arts and humanities."
As you can see, there are a few more things required at the high school level. This next year will be my first time writing objectives for the secondary level. Let's start with elementary, since I have done that for the past 9 years. I've had to write brand new objectives for my oldest child each year, but one of the great things about homeschooling younger siblings is that you can reuse the objectives from your first child. It may require a little tweaking on your part, however, depending on the interests or abilities of the child for whom you are using them.
I have been taught over the years to make the objectives relatively vague. Remember, the superintendent cannot use the objectives to determine whether or not you are in compliance. You do not have to teach what they are teaching in the public school at your child's age. Sometimes I will use the PA education standards as a guide. I imagine them looking through my objectives and seeing a state standard and saying, "Oh, look, she's trying to follow our guidelines." I do various things in my obligatory paperwork to go above and beyond what is required so that the state's need for control will be appeased. Many people give only what is required and nothing more. My philosophy is if I do a little bit more than is required they will leave me alone and have nothing to complain about. It has worked so far. Anyway, the state standards can be found here http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_academic_standards/19721. Each required subject pulls up a PDF. It lists the grade and many, many standards. Pick and choose, if you use any of these. You certainly don't have to use all or any of them. It is sometimes a good starting point if you have never written objectives before. It does, though, give me a good idea what is being taught in the areas of mathematics and language arts. These are two subjects that I try to stay either at or above the level of what is being taught in the schools.
There are many ways to determine objectives for each subject for your school year. Don't be intimidated by objectives. Ask friends who have homeschooled if you can look at their objectives. Why reinvent the wheel? If someone you know has homeschooled a child in the past in a grade your child is now in, it would be okay to reuse those objectives (obviously putting your child's name at the top and tweaking for what you will be teaching, specifically). If your friend taught about the middle ages for history, but you are planning to teach on Columbus, obviously you'd want to adjust.
There is a website that lists many ideas for objectives, http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/hs/homeschoolaffidavit.html#objectives. This site has a ton of great information about homeschooling. I encourage you to check it out.
Another thing you can do to figure out what objectives you will write is to look at the table of contents of the curriculum you will be using. Take some of those topics and make them your objectives. Let's say, for instance, that your math book will teach fractions and multiplication. An objective could read, "Student will gain further understanding of math concepts including multiplication and using fractions." Take that a bit further. Where would they use multiplication and fractions? Cooking? Great, use that as an objective! "Student will apply mathematical concepts through everyday situations such as cooking and reading recipes."
In subjects such as science and history, you may have purchased a great program and used the table of contents as your guide for writing objectives. What happens if you get halfway through the year and decide you don't like the program and you want to change your subject matter? One way to write your objectives so that they are vague is to say, "Science: May include one or more of the following.." and then list some objectives. This allows for getting to or not getting to each of the objectives listed.
As I close, I will give you some of my objectives in each subject (these are for sixth grade) so that you can see some other examples of things you could use. If you want more, please send me a message so I can help you.
English (to include reading, writing, spelling):
-to demonstrate fluency and comprehension in reading
-to be able to research a topic using various sources
-to be able to present research orally
(There are many more you could choose. These are just a few examples.)
Mathematics:
-to demonstrate an understanding of mathematical concepts such as multiplication, division, time, money, geometry, fractions, etc.
-to be able to use mathematical concepts in everyday situations
Science:
-to gain a greater understanding of various fields of science such as geology, biology, botany, etc.
-to gain knowledge through use of hands-on experiments
Geography:
-to be able to read a map
-to gain an appreciation of different cultures through the study of other countries (history, people, geography, culture, etc.)
History:
-to be able to recognize prominent people in history and their contributions
-to develop a greater sense of patriotism
-to be able to describe places and regions
-to participate in activities that will facilitate learning of U.S. and world history
-to use various resources to increase learning about world history, culture, etc.
Civics/PA History:
-to be able to explain the purpose of government
-to understand rights and responsibilities of citizenship
-to continue to develop an understanding of the history of PA through books, videos, field trips, etc.
Music:
-to learn about famous composers through history and to recognize their music
-to demonstrate knowledge of musical theory
Art:
-to learn about various artists throughout history and understand their technique, subject material, etc.
- to use various mediums and techniques in art projects
Physical Education:
-to demonstrate good sportsmanship
-to learn the rules of various sports and be able to put them into practice
-to participate in a sports program of choice and regular bike riding, hiking, etc.
Health/Safety Education:
-to demonstrate good hygiene and safety
-to understand fire safety
-to understand how the body functions and how to take care of self...
You can include foreign language, enrichment activities, etc., but these above are the required subjects. My objects will be slightly different for each grade. They will also differ depending on what I choose to teach each child. This decision can be based on their likes. My middle child loves astronomy, so I may choose to teach him all about the stars and planets one year instead of botany. My objectives would reflect this choice.
I hope this helps. Again, if you have any questions, please send me a message.
The PA Homeschool Law states that the affidavit must contain "an outline of proposed education objectives by subject area." It also states, "The required outline of proposed education objectives shall not be utilized by the superintendent in determining if the home education program is out of compliance..." There you have it. It is very clear, right? Sounds to me like writing objectives ought to be very simple. It is up to you what you want to teach.
Technically, you must have at least one objective for each required subject. In the elementary years, your required subjects are "English, to include spelling, reading, and writing;
arithmetic; history of Pennsylvania and United States; civics; health
and physiology; physical education; music; art; geography; science;
and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in
the danger and prevention of fires."
At the secondary (high school) level, your required subjects are "English, to include language, literature, speech and composition; science; geography; social studies, to include civics, world history, history of the United States and Pennsylvania; mathematics, to include general mathematics, algebra and geometry;
art; music; physical education; health; and safety education, including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and prevention of fires. High school credit requirements: 4 credits of English, 3 credits of
math, 3 credits of science, 3 credits of social studies, and 2 credits of
arts and humanities."
As you can see, there are a few more things required at the high school level. This next year will be my first time writing objectives for the secondary level. Let's start with elementary, since I have done that for the past 9 years. I've had to write brand new objectives for my oldest child each year, but one of the great things about homeschooling younger siblings is that you can reuse the objectives from your first child. It may require a little tweaking on your part, however, depending on the interests or abilities of the child for whom you are using them.
I have been taught over the years to make the objectives relatively vague. Remember, the superintendent cannot use the objectives to determine whether or not you are in compliance. You do not have to teach what they are teaching in the public school at your child's age. Sometimes I will use the PA education standards as a guide. I imagine them looking through my objectives and seeing a state standard and saying, "Oh, look, she's trying to follow our guidelines." I do various things in my obligatory paperwork to go above and beyond what is required so that the state's need for control will be appeased. Many people give only what is required and nothing more. My philosophy is if I do a little bit more than is required they will leave me alone and have nothing to complain about. It has worked so far. Anyway, the state standards can be found here http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_academic_standards/19721. Each required subject pulls up a PDF. It lists the grade and many, many standards. Pick and choose, if you use any of these. You certainly don't have to use all or any of them. It is sometimes a good starting point if you have never written objectives before. It does, though, give me a good idea what is being taught in the areas of mathematics and language arts. These are two subjects that I try to stay either at or above the level of what is being taught in the schools.
There are many ways to determine objectives for each subject for your school year. Don't be intimidated by objectives. Ask friends who have homeschooled if you can look at their objectives. Why reinvent the wheel? If someone you know has homeschooled a child in the past in a grade your child is now in, it would be okay to reuse those objectives (obviously putting your child's name at the top and tweaking for what you will be teaching, specifically). If your friend taught about the middle ages for history, but you are planning to teach on Columbus, obviously you'd want to adjust.
There is a website that lists many ideas for objectives, http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/hs/homeschoolaffidavit.html#objectives. This site has a ton of great information about homeschooling. I encourage you to check it out.
Another thing you can do to figure out what objectives you will write is to look at the table of contents of the curriculum you will be using. Take some of those topics and make them your objectives. Let's say, for instance, that your math book will teach fractions and multiplication. An objective could read, "Student will gain further understanding of math concepts including multiplication and using fractions." Take that a bit further. Where would they use multiplication and fractions? Cooking? Great, use that as an objective! "Student will apply mathematical concepts through everyday situations such as cooking and reading recipes."
In subjects such as science and history, you may have purchased a great program and used the table of contents as your guide for writing objectives. What happens if you get halfway through the year and decide you don't like the program and you want to change your subject matter? One way to write your objectives so that they are vague is to say, "Science: May include one or more of the following.." and then list some objectives. This allows for getting to or not getting to each of the objectives listed.
As I close, I will give you some of my objectives in each subject (these are for sixth grade) so that you can see some other examples of things you could use. If you want more, please send me a message so I can help you.
English (to include reading, writing, spelling):
-to demonstrate fluency and comprehension in reading
-to be able to research a topic using various sources
-to be able to present research orally
(There are many more you could choose. These are just a few examples.)
Mathematics:
-to demonstrate an understanding of mathematical concepts such as multiplication, division, time, money, geometry, fractions, etc.
-to be able to use mathematical concepts in everyday situations
Science:
-to gain a greater understanding of various fields of science such as geology, biology, botany, etc.
-to gain knowledge through use of hands-on experiments
Geography:
-to be able to read a map
-to gain an appreciation of different cultures through the study of other countries (history, people, geography, culture, etc.)
History:
-to be able to recognize prominent people in history and their contributions
-to develop a greater sense of patriotism
-to be able to describe places and regions
-to participate in activities that will facilitate learning of U.S. and world history
-to use various resources to increase learning about world history, culture, etc.
Civics/PA History:
-to be able to explain the purpose of government
-to understand rights and responsibilities of citizenship
-to continue to develop an understanding of the history of PA through books, videos, field trips, etc.
Music:
-to learn about famous composers through history and to recognize their music
-to demonstrate knowledge of musical theory
Art:
-to learn about various artists throughout history and understand their technique, subject material, etc.
- to use various mediums and techniques in art projects
Physical Education:
-to demonstrate good sportsmanship
-to learn the rules of various sports and be able to put them into practice
-to participate in a sports program of choice and regular bike riding, hiking, etc.
Health/Safety Education:
-to demonstrate good hygiene and safety
-to understand fire safety
-to understand how the body functions and how to take care of self...
You can include foreign language, enrichment activities, etc., but these above are the required subjects. My objects will be slightly different for each grade. They will also differ depending on what I choose to teach each child. This decision can be based on their likes. My middle child loves astronomy, so I may choose to teach him all about the stars and planets one year instead of botany. My objectives would reflect this choice.
I hope this helps. Again, if you have any questions, please send me a message.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Progeny Press Study Guides for Literature
There is a way to help your child get more out of the literature they are reading...Progeny Press Study Guides. When offered the opportunity to review one of their study guides, I saw that the book, Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt, was a study guide available and, since I am teaching about the Civil War to the 6th-8th grade students at our homeshool co-op in which two of my children are involved, I gladly accepted the assignment.
When I received the study guide, I realized that they have been using Progeny Press products at our co-op for years. A good friend of mine has been teaching literature for a few years, and I recognized the study guides as Progeny Press guides. I hadn't realized this previously.
There are many wonderful activities to further their learning while reading literature, and it is all done from a Christian perspective. There are vocabulary activities and writing activities. Depending on the book you choose to read, there are connections to history where you learn more about important historical figures and events as it is with Across Five Aprils.
Use of maps is incorporated. Various elements of grammar such as learning about synonyms, personification, and overshadowing are part of the study guide as well. There are exercises that allow the student to dig deeper by looking at how what they are reading applies to Scripture. There are writing assignments that teach the student how to write persuasive essays. There are so many topics touched upon by these study guides it makes it an invaluable tool along side any other language arts curriculum that might be used. The student looks so closely at the book through all of these various topics that they are sure to get a greater understanding of what was written than they would have by simply just reading it.
Progeny Press has products available for all grade levels: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School. You can also search by genre and new titles. There are also additional resources available. There are items from time to time you can save money on, and there are also CDs available. I did notice that they offer a military discount of 15% for all active duty military personnel.
There are 36 different study guides for middle school including The Giver, Anne of Green Gables, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Treasure Island, to name a few. The study guides are available in three different formats: printed and bound booklet, CD in .pdf format, and as a .pdf in an email attachment. No matter how you receive the material, it all has the same content. The shipping cost is what varies. If you receive your guides as an email attachment, there is a simple $3 flat rate fee to cover employee time for order downloads, payment processing, and time spent assembling sending emails.
Pricing is as follows (it seems as if this is for each study guide):
Booklet - $18.99
CD - $16.99
CD and booklet - $23.99
Email attachment - $16.99
They also sell the books for each of their study guides. Prices differ depending on the book purchased.
Check out their website for additional information. There is a FAQ page, a link to physical stores that sell their products, and information about Progeny Press and using their materials.
They can be contacted by address at:
Progeny Press
PO Box 100
Fall Creek, WI 54742
or by phone at:
1-877-PROGENY.
Their email is progeny@progenypress.com.
I hope you will check them out and will enjoy their products as much as I do.
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to review it and provide an honest review.
There are 36 different study guides for middle school including The Giver, Anne of Green Gables, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Treasure Island, to name a few. The study guides are available in three different formats: printed and bound booklet, CD in .pdf format, and as a .pdf in an email attachment. No matter how you receive the material, it all has the same content. The shipping cost is what varies. If you receive your guides as an email attachment, there is a simple $3 flat rate fee to cover employee time for order downloads, payment processing, and time spent assembling sending emails.
Pricing is as follows (it seems as if this is for each study guide):
Booklet - $18.99
CD - $16.99
CD and booklet - $23.99
Email attachment - $16.99
They also sell the books for each of their study guides. Prices differ depending on the book purchased.
Check out their website for additional information. There is a FAQ page, a link to physical stores that sell their products, and information about Progeny Press and using their materials.
They can be contacted by address at:
Progeny Press
PO Box 100
Fall Creek, WI 54742
or by phone at:
1-877-PROGENY.
Their email is progeny@progenypress.com.
I hope you will check them out and will enjoy their products as much as I do.
DISCLAIMER: I received this product free of charge in order to review it and provide an honest review.
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