Heirloom Audio Productions - Under Drake's Flag Review

After a summer of fairly heavy reviews, I was looking forward to being able to kick my feet back and listen to a great story. Heirloom Audio Productions has created a wonderful audio version of G.A. Henty's novel, Under Drake's Flag. This is not your typical audio book, however. This is audio theater. The story is told with more than just a narrator; there is Ned, Mr. George, Gerald, Sir Francis Drake, Master Holyoake, Master Taunton, and others. Each character has his own voice. Each scene has its own music and sound effects.

The story follows the adventure of Ned Hawkshaw who leaves the comfort of his home to become part of legendary hero Sir Francis Drake's crew. Along the way, he must face an angry sailor, an angry shark, and the equally angry Spaniards. His faith is tested, and he learns to trust wholeheartedly in God even though it might mean he'll die. The scene with the shark was probably one of the most riveting (for me) in the whole CD. It was performed very well, and the music included was perfect to add suspense to the scene. The scene when Ned and Gerald are facing certain death at the hands of the Spanish for not recanting their faith was very realistic. I could almost see it unfolding before my very eyes. I could feel the dankness and darkness of the prison. I could sense the boys' fear. I understood the anger Ned felt at having his father's sword melted and made into an instrument of torture. The only thing I didn't like about this production was the accent of Donna Anna. It just didn't sound truly Spanish; it sounded like an English person faking an accent.

This particular story is ideal for ages 6 to adult and is two hours' worth of entertainment on two discs. The two-disc set, which I received, comes with a prayer and a short study guide. A more complete study guide can be downloaded to expand upon the ideals and the history contained within these discs. The small study guide that comes with the CDs includes questions about each chapter (there are 19), vocabulary, and three Bible studies: Godly character, True Manhood, and Confessing Christ. There are several options available for purchasing this program. A downloadable MP3 is available for just $20. Those who purchase this will also receive the study guide and the printable prayer. For $29.95 plus $6.95 shipping and handling, you can receive the two-disc set, the downloadable MP3, the study guide, and the printable prayer. The best offer, as described on the website, is the family four pack which includes four copies of the CD sets for $99.97. This offer has some freebies to go with it: an e-book copy of Bill Heid's book Echoes of the Dragon's Drums about Sir Francis Drake, the MP3 download, the original G.A. Henty story as an e-book, a two-lecture MP3 set about the life of Sir Francis Drake, the discussion and study guide, the printable prayer, a 30-minute DVD behind-the-scenes documentary about the production of this audio drama, and, finally, unlimited access to Under Drake's Flag membership website.

I started listening to the story in the car with my kids as I was driving, but they very quickly asked to turn it off. When they were younger, we only ever listened to Adventures in Odyssey on CD, no other audio drama. They got used to movies and video games. They are not as impressed with audio drama as I am, unfortunately. Heirloom Audio Productions did a wonderful job with this, however. I didn't get to listen to it with my feet kicked back, since I was always driving while I listened to it, but I did get to listen to a great story. I highly recommend this product!

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/UnderDrakesFlag

Ever Wish You Could Have a Do Over?

Do you ever wish, as a parent, you could have a do over? Not everything, but just certain things? I don't want to start over at the very beginning of each of my kids' lives, but I wish I could fix the mistakes I made as a parent.

I know. Every parent makes mistakes, and most kids turn out just fine. God is gracious and will help our kids become the people He wants them to be. However, I can't help but feel some remorse for the things I have done that have fostered attitudes like anger, selfishness, and rudeness.

Do you think I'm being too hard on myself? I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't. I've been in the car with my kids and listened to them, for the umpteenth time, bicker over insignificant things or ask each other to stop humming because it was irritating them. They fight over who is going to sit in the front seat. Why? It isn't that amazing.

We are all born sinful. I get that. But I believe that if I had stayed silent more often than I expressed my opinion or remained calm more often than I groaned out of frustration I may have helped my children to be more peaceful. The attitudes that I display are more often than not learned by my kids.

I wish I had had a crystal ball when I was pregnant. I could have seen how my kids were going to turn out. Don't get me wrong, they are great kids, but there is this undercurrent of entitlement I wish wasn't there.

All the little sarcastic and caustic comments I made when they were little about seemingly insignificant things went straight to their hearts. They heard me say them, and they learned that it was okay. I helped to water the seed of sin. I am guilty, and I must ask forgiveness.

They are teenagers. They have learned the habits. Those things are ingrained in them. What can I do now? Will it do any good to work on my own anger and selfishness at this point? You betcha!

When we turn from our sinful ways, people around us are changed. It may not be a noticeable change at first, but they will realize there is something different. I have found myself lately looking to give people the benefit of the doubt, to believe there is another layer of the story than what appears on the surface. Joe isn't being a jerk just to be a jerk; there is probably something going on in his life that is causing him frustration.

If I show more love towards others, then perhaps my children will show more love towards others (even their siblings). If I find a more constructive way to work out my frustration than with my words, perhaps they will have more peace.

I wish I could do over the parts when I got so mad that I yelled. It was usually over really stupid things. I wish that I could do over the parts when I said something not-so-nice while I was driving. I have no right to judge.

I realize now that as a parent we often have to do things that go against what comes naturally for the sake of our children. If you aren't a parent yet or are expecting, please heed this warning: Your children will be like you—in the good and the bad. Do what you must to prevent the sin that is within you spilling over into your kids. Fight the urge to spew venom when someone cuts you off. Fight the urge to be negative. Life is too short. The time we have with our kids is too short. Those formative years are even shorter.

Of course, for all of our greatest efforts, our kids will still have weaknesses and sins in their lives, but do what you can to keep from giving them yours. I will strive (through prayer) to become more Christ-like, to give my kids an example they can follow, a mom they can be proud of. Hopefully, this will help them to be parents who are positive and peaceful and selfless.

Savannah, Georgia: Not What I Expected

We spent the past weekend in Savannah, Georgia. Having moved to northeast Florida in 2012, it has been on our list of places to visit. Since all five of us went, the number of affordable choices was limited. There are many quaint B & B's, but they typically only have rooms for two and are quite expensive. Therefore, we stayed at the Comfort Suites on West Bay Street. This hotel is not recommended. While the staff was extremely friendly and the room was comfortable, it was located across from government housing. It was two blocks past the historical section of town. While we were checking in on Friday night, a youngster from the neighborhood asked if he could come in. The clerk told him no, and he proceeded to throw something against the glass before he left.

John and I took a walk, while it was still light outside, to River Street. I was expecting a beautiful, scenic stroll along the river. While there were some cool buildings and side streets, I didn't think it was beautiful or scenic. I felt like I had to keep looking over my shoulder, especially once the sun went down. 

On Saturday, we decided to tour the town via the Old Town Trolley. The concierge gave us a discount, which we were extremely grateful for as the tours are nearly $30 per person. The trolley takes a 90-minute, narrated, winding route through the historic district, stopping at 15 places along the way. At each stop, passengers have the opportunity to stay on or get off and enjoy the attraction, be it a house, museum, church, or shopping area. One of the beautiful churches, built in the Gothic style, was The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

During the tour, various spots that were used in popular movies were pointed out, including the bench where Forrest Gump sat while he waited for the bus and the home where the shooting took place that is referenced in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. We drove past the pub where Julia Roberts saw her husband, Dennis Quaid, eating dinner with another woman in Something to Talk About.

There is one home in Savannah that wast the first on the East Coast (if not the nation) to have whole-house plumbing, and one house was built mostly out of iron (to show others how wealthy the owner was).

The Juliette Gordon Low birthplace is located here. She was the woman responsible for founding the Girl Scouts.

The city is built around 22 existing squares (there were originally 24). Some have statues of people instrumental to the history of Savannah, including James Oglethorpe. Some of these people are even buried in the squares underneath their statues.

One of the places we chose to eat while visiting Savannah was Leopold's Ice Cream on West Broughton. Sandwiches are served here, as well as ice cream. Leopold's is rated the third best ice cream in the country and the fifth best in the world. The owner's father started the business in the early 1900s, and when he (the son) was old enough, he left the business and became a movie producer (Sum of All Fears, Mission: Impossible III, The General's Daughter). In 2004 (I believe), he came back and reopened Leopold's, using the same secret recipe. The history is very interesting, and the restaurant is full of movie posters and clapboards from the movies he played a part in producing. The ice cream is delicious, too!

We had dinner on Saturday night at Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons restaurant. Once we were seated, we were served garlic cheddar biscuits and corn bread pancakes. For our meals, the menu had several options, including a buffet for $18.00 that includes salad fixings and an ever-changing variety of Southern favorites. On our buffet, there was fried chicken, pot roast, lima beans, collard greens, green beans, macaroni-and-cheese, cheese broccoli, candied yams, garlic mashed potatoes, rice, spoonbread, and fried fish. Dessert was a choice of peach cobbler, banana pudding, or butter cake.

The Lady and Sons is pictured below. It is a three-story building re-purposed to house a restaurant and store. There is a great deal of re-purposing going on in this town.

Two of the places we frequented while in Savannah were The Peanut Shop where they have all different flavors of peanuts to sample and Savannah's Candy Kitchen where they give out free praline samples. Oh, my goodness!

I'm glad we went to Savannah. If we hadn't, we'd always wonder what it would be like. It wasn't really what I expected, though. There were some interesting things, and I think I would have liked to have toured some of the old houses. I did enjoy the history I learned on the trolley tour. I do recommend that. Just try to get them to reduce your ticket price, especially if you have kids. I guess I was thinking this historic town would be more like Colonial Williamsburg and less like Philadelphia. I don't like the city feel. I want to be steeped in history. I don't want to have to worry about mine or my children's safety.

If you plan on visiting Savannah, my biggest recommendation is to stay within the historic center. Don't stay in a hotel or B&B beyond Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to the west or Broad Street to the east. There are some upscale hotels on River Street and Bay, as well as some B & B's on East Oglethorpe.

Wizzy Gizmo Review

Being that it is summer and we've reviewed some fairly intense products, I jumped at the chance to listen to a product for a change. Wizzy Gizmo is a company that has created some Bible resources for children. This is another reason I asked to be on the review. I don't feel like we have enough Bible study or reading (or listening) in our house, so this was an opportunity to learn more while we were out and about. We received Audio Drama One: Who Created Everything? This CD presents the story of Genesis from an extremely unique perspective in just 36 minutes. It retails for $14.99.

Professor Wizzy Gizmo starts up his Gizmovision machine, and the Bible comes to life. The kids who are listening to the Bible story gain a firsthand account of creation. The CD is intended for ages 4-12. My daughter, who is 12, felt like this was a little bit childish. Of course, she is a strong-willed almost-teen who has developed a taste for things are a bit more young adult in their age level. However, this audio drama is perfect for the younger crowd. It is engaging and entertaining. The way creation is portrayed in this CD with the sound and music and descriptive narration almost made me feel as if I could see it and hear it myself. I did feel as if there were some corny things in it, but, again, it is great for elementary and preschool children. Some vocabulary words are defined during the various segments, which I thought was ingenious. Not many children's stories do this. Silly songs are also interspersed throughout. One of our favorites was about mangoes. We sang this repeatedly after we listened to the CD, especially in the produce section of the grocery store.
Though this audio drama is geared towards ages 4-12, I also listened to it with my 16- and 14-year-old sons. They felt they were beyond the level of the story as well, but we ALL loved the soundtrack that was included at the end of the story. It was almost as if the music didn't fit the rest of the CD; it was that good—good enough that 16- and 14-year-old boys enjoyed it! We listened to the music more than once. I'm glad we are able to keep the CD because I'll be listening to this music when I'm tired of hearing the same songs played on the radio. Some songs had lyrics, and others were instrumental.
This is an excellent homeschool resource for Bible learning! It presents the Bible story in a memorable way, and it is accurate. They present the facts as they are written in Scripture. I hope that Wizzy Gizmo produces more stories like this. Though my children are older than the age range of this product, many children will benefit from this Christian education resource.
Some other products available from Wizzy Gizmo that the Crew reviewed and which you can read reviews about are:
Fast Track Bible Pack: New Testament Book One: Who Created Everything? Book Two: In His Image
Find Wizzy Gizmo on these social media outlets:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wizzygizmo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wizzygizmo

Pinterst: http://www.pinterest.com/wizzygizmo/

Google+: http://www.plus.google.com/+wizzygizmo

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/wizzygizmo

Six Words and a Review (This One is for My Daughter)

Today I will present six words that may or may not be familiar to you. They are certainly familiar in our house because my daughter has talked of little else over the past few months. I will explain a bit later.

1. Candor - unreserved, honest, or sincere expression

2. Abnegation - self-denial

3. Erudite - learned

4. Dauntless - fearless

5. Amity - friendship

6. Divergent - differing from the standard

Do you know what these words have in common? The book series and movie: Divergent

When Divergent (the movie) first came out, a couple of us youth group leaders went with some girls from our youth group to see it, including my daughter. She had read the entire series by Veronica Roth and was ecstatic to finally be seeing the movie. I had not read any of the books, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I am a movie-goer, and I enjoy seeing action-packed movies with a good story line. I was impressed by this movie. It was the fastest 2-1/2-hour movie I've ever seen. Yes, I know, 2-1/2 hours is always 2-1/2 hours, but this movie did not seem like 2-1/2 hours. I felt like I had only been sitting in the theater for a half an hour.

It is rated PG-13, mostly because of the violence. In this dystopian society, there are groups fighting against each other. There is killing, though very little blood. Several swear words are used. There is no sex, though Tris and Four kiss, and the new recruits are forced to share sleeping quarters. The movie shows some undressing, but no one is ever naked. During Tris' simulation test, which shows a person's fears, she dreams that Four is trying to physically hurt her as he throws her onto a bed. She kicks him and escapes.

Despite the fact that I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone with younger children, it is a well-made film. It is action-packed and quick moving. There are few, if any, slow spots.

Since we all have differing views of what is appropriate for our kids to watch, you should consider reading the review on Plugged in Online and then decide. I, however, felt that my kids could distinguish between reality and fantasy. They know not to swear. One good thing this movie does is provide a strong female character, one who isn't afraid to be different, one who stands up for what she believes to be right. In the scene where she and Four are kissing, she stops kissing him and tells him she doesn't want to go too fast. This strength of this character is a strong point for the movie, I believe.

Apologia Educational Ministries: "Flourish" Review

Apologia Educational Ministries has become a go-to resource for many homeschooling families. Not only do they have superb science curricula for elementary through high school, but they also have books on history, Christian teaching, and encouragement. One of these books of encouragement is Flourish: Balance for Homeschool Moms written by Mary Jo Tate.

This 288-page softcover book retails for just $15.00 and is replete with Mary Jo's life experiences as a single homeschooling mom with a home-based business. Perhaps you are a married homeschooling mom who is not receiving a paycheck or a homeschooling mom who works outside of the home. This book is still for you. The encouragement and tips provided in this book are applicable to many different people. The chapters are topic specific, so if you aren't single, you can choose to skip the chapter on being a single mom. However, Mary Jo suggests you read it on the off chance something within it will help you to understand what your single friends are dealing with and will provide you with ideas that may encourage them. There are chapters on raising kids and chapters on our attitudes. The chapters I enjoyed the most, despite the fact that I am not an organized person, were the ones on organization—setting goals, big dreams, weekly plan, daily tasks, running to-do list, etc. I think I loved them because the direction Mary Jo provided was easy for me to accomplish. I didn't have to purchase binders and folders and filing cabinets. I just needed some paper and a pen.

I don't think any of her ideas are wholly revolutionary, but I feel like her book did provide some balance for my life. When I first wrote down work- and school-related tasks on a running to-do list, there were nearly 25 things on it. It felt so good to be able to cross things off that list once I finished them or even just worked on them for a portion of the day. One thing she suggests is writing things down that were accomplished but not planned. This allows you to look back at your week and see what you actually did get done. One week I didn't write down blogging, but I did have a few minutes I could spend on a homeschool science-related post. What a good feeling that was to actually get something done I didn't plan on doing!

One of the biggest things I took from Flourish is to multitask when I am able to do so. I took Flourish with me to the doctor's office so that I could read it while I waited. I listened to a CD I needed to review while driving in the car. As I wait for a page to upload for work, I try to plan our school for the year. When I take my son to work, I run errands while I am out so that I can save gas and time.

I have not done a great job writing out a specific daily task list, but I have found more organization through Mary Jo's encouragement than I had before reading Flourish. She does provide some forms in the back of the book so that you don't have to create your own. There will also be some downloadable materials available for those who purchase the book. However, I simply have been writing things down on notebook paper and keeping it by my computer. I have found in the few weeks since I've read this book that I am a bit less absent-minded, except for when health issues for three people in the family hit at once. Nothing throws me off more than worrying about the health of my loved ones. I know, I know. I'm not supposed to worry. I have prayed more recently. I have been working on memorizing Scripture so that I am strengthened spiritually. I even find that I believe a little bit more in my ability to accomplish things that I didn't want to do before, like make things from scratch and doing a little bit more cooking from recipes instead of just throwing things together that I've always made. One thing I have to do is make time to accomplish my big dream of finishing my novel. That is the thing that always gets postponed.

There are 16 chapters in this book plus some appendices. Some of the chapters are entitled:

Change Your Mind to Change Your Time

The FREEDOM Toolbox

Where Did My Time Go?

Aim High: Setting Goals

What Do I Do Next? Seven Essential Planning Tools

We Interrupt This Program

It's Time for an Attitude Adjustment

Training Your Children

Making Memories

Managing Your Home

Flourishing as a Single Mom

Home Business

Mary Jo Tate has been a single mom, has started her own home-based business, and has had health issues. Thankfully she has shared her experiences with us. She is down to earth. Her methods are simple. They are doable—for any of us. The benefits obtained are worth far more than what you will pay for this book. You may say to yourself, "Now, why didn't I think of that?" or "Of course, it's so simple!" That's what I love. It's like Mary Jo gave me permission to stop struggling and to do those things that I enjoy, like reading. Whatever you enjoy doing but don't take the time to do, Mary Jo teaches you how to incorporate those hobbies back into your life. Yes, you can have your own time!

I plan on re-reading this book so that I can continue to establish balance in my life and implement the things that I didn't on the first read through.

You can find Flourish through these social media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlourishAtHome

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryjotate #flourishathome

Roman Roads Media Review

As a part of the Review Crew, I was presented some options,one of which I could use and review, from Roman Roads Media, a company specializing in a classical Christian education. These options were such things as Old Western Culture: The Romans, The Grammar of Poetry, Dave Raymond's American History, Economics for Everybody, Visual Latin, or Old Western Culture: The Greeks. Because we enjoy Greek history and stories so much in our household, I was eager to review, along with my son who is going to be a junior, Old Western Culture: The Greeks. This is a four-unit Christian approach to the "great books" that includes (as can be seen below) The Epics, Drama and Lyric, The Histories, and The Philosophers. The product that was given to us was the online access to the full-year course of Old Western Culture: The Greeks along with the DVD set for Drama and Lyric.

We chose to focus most of our time on the histories since we've spent some time recently studying the philosophers and my son wasn't too excited about having to do a lot of reading. He was surprised, however, to find out that "The Histories" unit included just as much reading as "The Epics" and "Drama and Lyric."

Our homeschool has never taken a classical approach to Christian education because I believed it was too rigid, and I have been mainly eclectic, using an all-in-one curriculum for the first couple of years but then sampling many different curricula over the years since there are so many wonderful products available to homeschoolers nowadays; I didn't want to miss out on anything. However, it appears that I may have actually been missing out on something.

Recommended for students who are 14 and older, the full year of The Greeks Year 1 curriculum is available through online streaming for $199 or 4-DVD sets for $224. Each DVD set includes four DVDs, a guide, a PDF workbook, exams, and answer keys. Each of these things is accessible as part of the program through the online version. Hard copies of the workbooks are available also but are not necessary. Individual DVD sets that include a guide are available at a cost of $56 per unit, but the student workbook must be purchased separately as it is not included as a PDF (as with the purchase of the full-year course.)

My first impression of the online version of The Greeks is that it is a no-frills presentation. Each element of the course—the assignments, the lectures, and the quizzes—are simply listed one right after the other on the page. 

I found it a bit difficult to find where we left off each time we re-entered the course outline. As you can see, the headings for each unit are not obvious. They are smaller than the boxes that list the lessons. The lesson boxes also close each time you log out, so that made it difficult to remember where we were. The image above shows that the word "Completed" is present when each step has been finished. However, we had to open each lesson to find our place, if we couldn't remember. Perhaps if each new unit were a different color that would make it easier to distinguish between them.

The program is extremely easy to use. All my son had to do was click each new step, and it would open to an assignment or a video. Thankfully, Roman Roads Media has provided various options for acquiring the books that are required for The Greeks. The very first step for each unit has a "Note on Translations and Texts" which lists the works required and the translations suggested. In the online course, these works are provided as PDF links at the bottom of the first step.

The videos are presented by Wes Callihan. For the videos we viewed, he spent his time lecturing comfortably from an arm chair. I was impressed with his knowledge. My son and I both learned a great deal from listening to his lectures. The only complaint I have is that he has quite a bit of verbal pausing—a lot of "um" and "uh." If you can ignore that, it is quite enjoyable. I found his voice very relaxing as well. The videos don't just show Mr. Callihan sitting in his chair, though. They show ruins, works of art, drawings of the people being discussed, and more—all things that enhance the student's understanding.

The first book in The Histories unit was Histories by Herodotus, translated by George Rawlinson. The version provided by Roman Roads Media was a 629-page book. So, my son's idea that he wouldn't have to do much reading was proved completely false. This reading stretched through six lessons. Needless to say, we didn't finish the reading of Histories. The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, which we didn't get to, is four lessons long, and Anabasis by Xenophon is just one. I think about the lower age limit of 14+, and I think about my 14-year-old. He would not enjoy this course. When trying to decide whether or not to purchase this course, think about the amount of reading your child will have to do and whether or not he/she likes to read. One option, although you'll probably end up with a different translation, is to find an audio version. My son tried this and found it a bit more enjoyable.

As I mentioned early on, we did receive the DVD set for Drama and Lyric. I am the type of person who likes to hold a book in my hand rather than read an e-book. In the same vein, I would rather have a case full of DVDs than have to access everything on the computer. I think that might be because I grew up before personal computers and DVD players. Regardless, the "Guide to the Art" that is provided in the case is wonderful. It provides instructions on using the course, along with a materials list and a recommended schedule. Additional assignments are listed along with age level "warnings"—"will encounter mature themes such as paganism, sexual immorality...and nudity in classical painting and sculpture." I greatly appreciate these warnings. The same warnings are provided in the PDF workbook that must be downloaded on the online version. It is located in step 1-"Welcome to the Greeks: Year 1." It is just a bit more difficult to find the information with the online version. There are many PDFs at the bottom of some of the pages (be sure to scroll all the way down so you don't miss any). I would strongly urge parents to read through all of the introductory materials, both online and in print, before your child begins the program. I'm fairly sure the child will not.

I noticed, as far as the nudity in the paintings is concerned, that Roman Roads does not dwell on any painting that displays nudity. Some paintings that have it are shown on a smaller scale than others. It seems to me that maybe they try to avoid it as much as possible, unlike some other Greek and ancient curricula that allow the image to be displayed for longer than I would like. I understand that they are classical works of art, but I don't believe my children, especially my boys, need to see nudity in any form until they are married.

Drama and Lyric covers the development of the theater, the period and the poets, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, lyric poetry, Quintus of Smyrna, and Apollonius. The Epics covers the Iliad and the Odyssey and discusses the Legacy of Homer in Western Civilization. The Histories contents were discussed above. The Philosophers provides an overview of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle but spends the majority of the time on Plato and Aristotle. Each unit has quizzes and a final test, as well as a paper.

Despite the few things that I commented on that I didn't like, I think this program is a very high quality choice for world history and/or literature for a high school student. It is well worth the price. I think it would be extremely difficult to find the same level of knowledge of ancient Greek civilization in any other high school product. Wes Callihan is truly a master. I would think that a high school student who took this class would certainly be ahead of his/her peers upon entering college in terms of culture and historical literacy.

We enjoyed the program so much and felt it provided such a wonderful learning experience that my son will be completing it for school this year.

Find Roman Roads Media on these social media platforms: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanRoadsMedia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RomanRoadsMedia

Pinterst: http://www.pinterest.com/romanroadsmedia/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/115410002124541916147/posts

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/romanroadsmedia/videos

Teaching Science to Your Homeschooler

The other day I met with a friend who will start her homeschooling journey in a few weeks. Because the curriculum choices are numerous and can be quite overwhelming to a new homeschooler, she wanted some help in figuring out what to do for history, science, and math. Through the course of our conversation, she let me know that she has a membership to the zoo in our city. Since the children she will be homeschooling are elementary age and there is a bit more flexibility in what she can teach, I suggested she take a field trip to the zoo and have each of her children choose their 10 favorite animals that live at the zoo. She can then take one animal per month and study it. Scientific websites can be found by searching by the animal's common name. 

My friend's son's favorite animal is the Komodo Dragon. Here are some suggestions for a study of this animal (which can be applied to any other animal):

• What is the scientific name of this animal? Consider a further study of the classification of animals. How and when did this classification system begin? How many Kingdoms are there? Genus? Species?


• Where does this animal live? Consider printing out a map of the continent/country where this animal lives. Free outline maps can be found here. While working with the map, label the capital of that country and other major cities. Label the rivers. How close does this animal live to a major water source?


• What does this animal eat? Is it an herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore? How does it eat? What does it eat in the winter? How does its diet compare to our own? Is there an ample supply of this food source where it lives (look back at the map)? Is this something you would eat? If yes, consider finding a recipe that uses that food or one like it.


• How big can this animal grow—length, height, weight? What is the lifespan? How does this compare to human beings? How tall are you now?


• How fast can the animal move? How does it get around? Compare this to some other animals or to human beings. Incorporate some math into this. For example, if said animal can move 10 miles per hour, how long would it take to get from the zoo to your house? Of course, you'll need to use a map to figure this out. Think of other ways to use math in this way.


• What are some special characteristics of this animal? Does it have a long tongue? Does it use echolocation?


• Is this animal threatened or endangered? If yes, why? What are the criteria for being placed on the endangered species list? Who created this list? Who maintains it? How are animals that are threatened or endangered protected? What are preserves? What are wildlife conservation areas? How many animals are on each list? What role do zoos play in animal protection and preservation?


• What are this animal's major threats? What preys on this animal? What does it use to defend itself?


• Learn how to draw this animal. Here is a video about drawing a Komodo Dragon. Can you find any famous paintings that include the animal? 


• Are there any legends about the animal you are researching?


• When was this animal discovered or has it always been known to exist?


• Are there children's book (not fact books) that feature this animal? Komodo! by Peter Sis would be an example. Spend some time reading stories about the animal.


• What other zoos house this animal? Learn about the history of zoos. When did they begin? Where are most zoos located? (Again, use a map and mark where major zoos are located.) What is the mission of most zoos?


• Have your child write a report about the animal using all the facts they have learned.

That is a pretty good list for now. I am sure there are many other things that can be added. Simply brainstorm how the animal you choose can be found throughout the academic subjects.

Hewitt Homeschooling Review

Over the years, I have accumulated quite a few products from Hewitt Homeschooling, including the 7th grade curriculum, high school British Lit from the early 19th century, and the British Medieval Pack. I recently had the opportunity to review Lightning Literature and Composition World 1: Africa & Asia Student's Guide for grades 11 and 12. Because my oldest son loves Japan and his dream is to visit after graduation, I thought he might really enjoy this curriculum since once of the countries this book visits through literature is, in fact, Japan. We were also given Lightning Literature Composition World 1: Africa & Asia Teacher Guide. 

All of the student books for the older grades that are created by Hewitt Homeschooling are simply beautiful. This new one is no exception. The information contained within it is also top-notch. They provide much more than synopsis and reading comprehension questions. In this 272-page student guide, which sells for only $29.95, perspectives on the literature or the people of the area are given. This allowed my son to think beyond his own small corner of the world and gain some insight into what and how others think. Words that were likely to be new to the student in the reading selections were defined in the student guide. When my son worked through the section on Japan, he was very eager to relate to me the things he was learning. (I would have liked to have seen pronunciation guides for these words. Some words in other chapters have a guide.)

In the chapter on Japan, there is also a section that introduces the student to various international writers. I thought this reading would bore my son, but he was fascinated. Again, he shared with me the things he was learning as he read through this.

The specific countries/regions included in this curriculum are Africa, Japan, Middle East, India, Vietnam, and others. The fourth unit discusses autobiographies and allows the student to choose from a list provided in the appendix. At least five books (novels and books of poetry) need to be purchased separately or borrowed from the library to work through this curriculum. We simply purchased through Amazon and downloaded the works to the Kindle app on our tablet. While you may be hesitant to have your child work through a curriculum that includes works that are not Christian in nature, Hewitt Homeschooling does a great job teaching the student how to examine these works with a Christian worldview.

Not only is Hewitt Homeschooling interested in exposing our students to great writers from around the world and helping them to gain an appreciation for these other cultures, they want to assist our children to become great writers themselves. The subtitle on the text reads, "Acquiring College-Level Composition Skills by Responding to Great Literature." Okay, so college-level writing and great writing might not be synonymous, but college-level is probably an improvement from the writing skills they did have. More often than not, reading will enhance one's writing skills. The more one reads, especially of a wide variety of writers, the more likely one will become a better writer. Hewitt Homeschooling provides many different types of writing exercises in each chapter. For example, in the Japan chapter, there is a writing assignment that talks about first person point of view and how a scene could have been different if taken from another character's POV. The student is asked to rewrite the scene. Another discusses direct versus indirect communication. There are several exercises that require a one- to two-page essay about topics presented in the reading. Some options are based on the Japanese culture. In this chapter alone, there are 13 different options for writing assignments.

Each chapter also includes literary lessons: historical fiction, the sounds of poetry, point of view, themes in poetry, symbolism, imagery, autobiography, and tone.

The appendices provide even more options for further learning such as projects that tie the reading selections to other subjects such as history, science, language, etc. Additional reading suggestions from the selected authors and regions are provided, as well as reading recommendations for younger students. One of the appendices discusses the cultural/core values of the regions studied. There is also a breakdown of the course by semester or full-year so that the teacher does not have to create a schedule, including a way to coordinate the learning with teaching geography.

The teacher guide is a simple black-and-white, 82-page answer guide priced at $2.95 that includes a teaching schedule and grading tips.

I can't think of anything negative to say about any of the Hewitt Homeschooling products we have used. They are beautifully made and well thought out. It is obvious that a great deal of time went into creating these resources for homeschoolers, including choosing the reading selections and developing the lessons, both cultural and literary. While my son might complain about the idea of having to read certain selections or do the writing assignments, I know that he is going to increase his cultural literacy through this product. We did not have enough time to finish the course during the review period but have already decided that this will be what he uses for world literature for the coming year.

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My Experience at Summer Camp

I went to summer camp once when I was about 10 or 12 years old. There are things I can vividly remember like barely being able to tread water long enough to be allowed to swim, having mosquitoes attack me when we slept under the stars one night, and encouraging a cabin mate to surrender her life to the Lord's leading. I went to summer camp for the second time in my life this past week.

King's Camp takes place each July at a campground near Butler, PA. This year there were 87 children, the most ever. The theme was "Stand Firm: Plant Your Feet on the Solid Rock."

Each day began with morning exercises. After breakfast, each cabin was responsible for cleaning up their area so that Princess White Glove could inspect it before lunch. The cleanest cabin had the privilege of housing Leo or Lucy (stuffed lions) for the day. After cleanup, we all enjoyed morning chapel and Bible time where we heard various Bible stories that related to the theme. We learned our daily verse and then had a chance to recite our memorized verse to earn points for our teams and a jewel in our crown. Yes, we each wore a crown all week long—proudly, I might add. After lunch, each cabin had a time of connection where they could reflect on the message given by the missionary the previous evening. At 2:45 each day, we had snack time. During this time, we could all (staff and campers) recite more verses we had learned. The daily activity took place after snack time, and the kids chose two of the following: fishing, archery, crafts, ropes/obstacle course, and water sports. After the kids were given some free time, they lined up for supper at 5:30. The missionaries for the week, Brad and Tricia, talked each night about what it is like to be a missionary, what missionaries need, and the importance of missionaries in this world. Surprise time each night brought a sense of anticipation for the special activity that each team would participate in. There was singing, candy hunting, throwing water balloons, etc. Once the campers ate their snacks, it was time for lights out. Then it would start all over the next day.

There were four specific things I pulled out from my week at camp that I will remember:

Faith: It was wonderful to be steeped in God's Word from sunup to sundown. Staff had devotions each morning before the campers awoke, and we were able to memorize verses along with the campers. I was surprised by how many verses I was able to memorize—27—since it's been quite a while since I've memorized anything. Our theme passage was Ephesians 6:10-19, which speaks of the armor of God. Our chapel time each morning discussed the history and purpose behind each piece of armor. Of course, I loved this part because I enjoy learning about history. It also helped us to understand why Paul chose each piece of armor he discussed and how it protects us. Bible time with Princess Julia encouraged us throughout the week to be strong, brave, loving, faithful, and watchful. We learned about biblical figures like Job and Gideon. The missionary at King's Camp this year, Brad Henderson, serves in Tanzania and is currently on furlough until January 2015. He was engaging and passionate about sharing his faith. Many children and staff were moved to consider serving as missionaries in the future and learned about the practical first steps to doing so. There were five children who gave their hearts to Christ during the week. Being able to see my own son lead a child to Christ about moved me to tears.

Friends: Not only did the campers make new friends, but the staff did as well. I came in as a newbie; it was my first year on staff. There were many times I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. We stayed up late playing games and talking. The younger staff also had one night during the week when they were able to stay up late and hang out. How about those ultimate spoons, guys? Friends were available to help through the hard times during the week. They encouraged us to make good decisions. These new friends were eager to learn as much as they could about us. Though I had just met most of the people I worked with this past week, they are most definitely family, and I can't wait to see them again.

Food: There were nearly 140 people, and there was no shortage of good food here. We had french toast, oatmeal, pancakes, cereal, fruit, juice, and cinnamon rolls for breakfast (not all on the same day). Lunch consisted of sandwiches, salad, soup, pizza, veggies, and dessert. Supper was spaghetti, Thanksgiving dinner, ham, hot dogs, chicken, veggies, and dessert. The desserts were delicious—Texas sheet cake, blueberry/chocolate chip muffins, Jell-O, corn flake cookies, homemade kettle corn, and ice cream. There were snacks in the afternoon and snacks at night. I still can't believe that I was able to lose some weight despite the amount of food I ate.

Fun: There was no shortage of fun either. Kids were always laughing and running around. They enjoyed their daily activities and had stories to share each day about how fast they ran the ropes course or how many fish they caught. Of course, surprise time in the evenings was a favorite event. Sunday night was the great candy hunt. There were also singing competitions, a scavenger hunt, quizzing, and relays. All of the surprise time events, Scripture memorization, cabin cleanup, and missionary offering gave the campers a chance to earn points for their team. This year was Beryl's turn to win, despite the best efforts of other teams to bypass them.

It was a full week. So many exciting and inspiring things happened throughout the week that it would be impossible to relate them all. The one thing that impressed me most was the Scripture memorization. I want to continue that now that I am home. I want to write down all of the passages I did memorize and remind myself of each of them from time to time. I want to learn the ones I did not get around to memorizing. After that, I want to find new verses. I want to hide God's Word in my heart. I want to keep it close and never forget what God has said to me through His Word.

Here are some of the verses/passages we learned in case you are interested in memorizing them yourself: 

Ephesians 6:10-19
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Psalm 7:10
2 Corinthians 5:17
Isaiah 41:10
2 Timothy 2:22-23
Ecclesiastes 5:2-3
Romans 10:8-10
James 4:7-10
Habakkuk 2:2-4
Psalm 98:1-4
Romans 10:14-18

I can't wait to go back to camp next year!

Today's Words

I'm in desperate need of a break from posts that require a lot of research on my part. So, today (and maybe for a few weeks), I will be giving you a word from the dictionary and a word from the Word—the Bible—along with a few of my own to discuss the words I have chosen.

As I look through the dictionary, I am amazed by how many entries are animals and plants. Some of the ones I've run across tonight are:

bandicoot - large rat from southern Asia
capybara - South and Central American rodent
Devon rex - large-eared cat with a short wavy or curly coat
fossa - carnivorous mammal found in Madagascar
tamandua - kind of anteater
tamarin - type of monkey

aster - herb
baneberry - herb of the buttercup family with poisonous berries
breadfruit - fruit that resembles bread in color and texture when baked
devil's claw - herb found in U.S. and Mexico that has pods which can be used to make baskets
episcia - tropical American herb related to the African violet
tamarack - larch found in America
tamarillo - South American fruit or the shrub that grows the fruit
tamarind - tropical tree of the legume family

God's Word (NIV):

Genesis 1:20-25:

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it,according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Matthew 6:25-34:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

My Thoughts:

As I notice the wide variety of creatures and plants that God created, I am amazed by the vastness of his imagination. Animals and plants exist throughout the entire earth—on land, in the ocean, and in the air. Though God took great care to make the animals, he took even more care when he created mankind. He made man and said, "It is very good." He gave man the directives of naming the animals and ruling over them.

We see, though, in Matthew 6 that God still takes care of his creatures. He feeds the birds, and he clothes the grass of the field. He pours beauty upon His creation. However, man still holds a special place in His heart. He encourages us not to worry about anything we need because He loves us—his very good creation. We are to seek Him first. When we are faced with a situation that causes us to worry, we should go to Him first. He will give us His strength and His peace.

It is difficult to not worry. Trust me, I know. When we can't fix our situation and when we can't see the other end, we worry about how it will turn out, but that takes our focus off of God. Do we doubt that He knows what is going on? Do we doubt that He really does have what is best for us in mind? When we focus on Him, we begin to understand that He is always with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

If he allows the flowers to be beautiful, if he allows the animals to find food and survive, won't he take care of you no matter what you are going through? You are the one He created to have relationship with. You are the one He died to save.

The Build Your Own Bundle Sale is Coming!

The BIGGEST digital homeschooling curriculum sale EVER is coming! Mark your calendars! Save up to 92% on popular homeschooling curriculum! ONE WEEK ONLY - July 21-28, 2014! Click here to be reminded | Enter to win $100 towards your bundle purchase What is the "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition Sale?
The "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition is designed to contain the best educational digital products on the internet! Sprinkled throughout the bundles are well known publishers, including products on Cathy Duffy's Top 100 list! Unlike overwhelming bundle sales with nearly a hundred ebooks, the "Build Your Bundle" - Homeschool Edition is a brand new concept that will allow homeschoolers to pick and choose what they want to purchase ~ all at a MASSIVE discount of up to 90% off!
Take a Sneek Peek at Our Bundles:
	Tots & Preschoolers Bundle Teach your littlest ones about God's amazing creation and the value of virtue using our Tot & Preschool Bundle! This bundle gives you a complete Christ-centered preschool program, including age-appropriate character-building tools, a stick-figure Bible study, a creation-based coloring book, a handwriting curriculum, an independent activity guide (for those times when you need a moment to focus), and much more!
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Bundle Teach your K-3 children basic skills and core truths through easily understandable lessons and hands-on activities. Our K-3 Bundle includes reading, math, science, handwriting, character training and Bible resources. Your children will experience life in 17th century America as they learn about the settlers and our 13 original colonies. You will have everything you need to savor these first days of discovery!
	Elementary: 4-6th Bundle Your 4th-6th graders will develop foundational skills and gain insight into the ancient world using the comprehensive collection of resources found in our 4th-6th Grade Bundle. This bundle features both a science curriculum and a creative writing course from Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks. You will get a popular curriculum that has a blend of history, geography, and art. Also included: Math, Bible, handwriting and copywork resources, writing guides, timeline cards, ancient history notebooking pages, creative writing for both boys and girls, and an editable weekly homeschool planner for Mom!
Middle School Bundle Your middle school students will tour the classical world and develop academic excellence using our Middle School Bundle. This bundle features a full language arts curriculum and two science curricula, one from Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks, as well as a complete geography and history curriculum, a popular history timeline/book of centuries, Renaissance and Reformation notebooking pages, a classical music curriculum and famous composers notebooking pages, and a creative writing collection that even “non-writers” will love!
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Charlotte Mason Bundle Amazing things await you in our Charlotte Mason Bundle! This bundle features a complete curriculum using the Charlotte Mason Methods for language arts, handwriting, and reading, a full geography curriculum, a plethora of resources for studying nature, artists, poetry, and a variety of "extras" just for mom! Learn all about Charlotte Mason and enjoy a special bonus (a $90 value all by itself) of great, classic audio books! This bundle is jam packed full of amazing resources your family will love!
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"Build Your Own" Bundles Our "Build Your Own" bundles offer you the opportunity to select a certain number of products with a retail price of $19.99 or less for up to 80% off! We have MANY items to choose from, including Cathy Duffy Top 100 Picks! When you purchase a combination of any 2 "Build Your Own" bundles, you will get the 3rd one at 50% off!
*Lots of ways to save! When you purchase ANY 2 pre-assembled bundles you will get the 3rd pre-assembled bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! When you purchase ANY 2 "build your own" bundles you will get the 3rd "build your own" bundle of equal or lesser value for 50% off! When the sale goes live on July 21st, tell your friends about it using our referral system that will be found on the top of the website! When 10 of your referrals visit our site using your unique link, we will give you a code to save 10% off your total purchase! The image will look like this: Now, if you are like me, you might forget about the sale when it gets here! We are prepared to send you a reminder email. Click here and enter your email in the "Remind Me" box and you will get an email the day the sale goes live! Pre-Sale Promotional Giveaway - Enter to win $100 towards the purchase of ANY of our individual or "build your own" bundles! Winner annouced the day the sale starts! CLICK HERE TO ENTER!