Fascinating Education~ Fascinating Physics

A couple of years ago we reviewed Fascinating Physics (with my then just barely 15-year-old ~ please do go ahead and check out that review if you are a newer reader, as much of the information is still the same, and I may not go into quite as much detail here). Fascinating Education has given us another opportunity to review their course, which is appreciated now that he has reached a more typical scholastic level to comprehend a physics course.

The 15 Fascinating Physics Lessons/Modules

I mentioned in my first review that my Middlest utilizes the laws of physics when juggling, playing pool, and while playing baseball and fishing without even thinking about it. Fascinating Physics offers examples that use physics in every day life (or maybe even in the less ordinary life led by someone in the C.S.I. field~ which should help to grab the attention of some teens!), which helps to give answers to the question "Why do I need to know anything about physics?"

The course is set up to particularly suit audio and visual learners.  In order to begin the audio/visual lesson the student can click the graphic, or the red "lesson" button (Shown in the graphic on the left). This starts up an audio/visual lecture (approximately 45 minutes long), with a number of slides.
If your student is less "auditory" you'll be happy to know that the blue "script" button contains the text of the lesson, which they can read, but I do recommend watching the presentation as well, since some of the slides are not static, like the photos in the text, and can help comprehension of the topic.

If you want to break the lesson up a little, or time requires you to take a break to get to an activity, no worries, the program remembers where you were, and offers the ability to resume where you left off. This was particularly helpful for us as our summer schedule had us going in many directions at once, and there wasn't always a block of time every day.

You can see that the chapter is broken up into sections, and you can easily click on a title to review anything that wasn't understood. We also appreciated, as mentioned above, the ability to work through this in smaller chunks throughout the day, when necessary, and having the titles of each section made it easier to figure out where a good stopping point might be.

Tests:
In the Physics course there is a "need help?" button that opens up an audio/visual slide (My son's computer only played the audio for some reason... I love my Mac! :) ) to help them reinforce the information learned in the lesson. I appreciate this help,  particularly when there are so many formulas to remember. Dr. Marguilies believes that testing should be another opportunity to help ensure the student grasps the material and so offers helps to make sure they succeed.

I actually think providing the formulas is more "real world" because today everyone looks everything up. My son felt this was a bit like an open book test, with answers given to him in the "helps." I suspect that we are more likely to use the online test as a "review" and then follow up with the printed version for most units.  I will note that the "help" video only opens the first time the question is attempted, so not entirely "open book" because there is no replay. If they don't grasp the concept after the help, I would suggest going through the "Script" again, and then retaking the test.

If you'd like to learn even more, and check out some samples, visit the FAQ page , where you will find more information that details Dr. Margulies' philosophy, links to course outlines and more.

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Fascinating Education
• Product: Fascinating Physics
• Ages: High school
• Price: $79 for a full year's access

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say about Fascinating Physics, Fascinating Biology, and Fascinating Chemistry. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

#hsreviews  #Homeschool #chemistry #biology #physics #highschool

Hewitt Homeschooling~ Lighting Lit ~ British Mid-Late 19th Century

One of *my* favorite things to review are Literature related, and two out of three children agree strongly! My Middlest isn't as fond of reading as his siblings, but I was very interested to see what he thought about Hewitt Homeschooling's British Mid-Late 19th Century Lighting Lit Guide. I chose this (one of 12 high school units being reviewed by the Crew) because I hoped it would offer him some literature, stories and poetry that would be a little more up his alley, with authors like Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Oscar Wilde. Also studied are works by Rudyard Kipling, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lewis Carroll, George Eliot,  and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Other Crew members reviewed Lightning Lit for grades 1, 2, or 3, "My First Report" or Grades 7 or 8 Lighting Lit sets as well as the above-mentioned high school sets. Be sure to click on the linky at the end of the review to see what they had to say. You can also check out my previous reviews for Shakespeare: Comedies and Sonnets (2014), and Early 19th Century American (2012) to see what my impressions were about those titles.

One of the things that my son particularly appreciated about Hewitt's program is that while there are four physical books (See the complete set pictured below) that need to be available to complete the course, all of the shorter works are self contained in the bound Student Guide, which makes it more compact and efficient, with fewer things to be misplaced. ;)

Because my son was just coming off a Novel Study, and it is summer-time, I chose to have him work through some of the portions of this guide that were a little lighter and/or self-contained~ Poetry and Short Story selections from Tennyson, Carroll, and Stevenson, which will give him a head start on his Literature requirements for the coming school year

The High School Lightning Lit courses include a Teacher's Guide (Stapled, 3 hole punched papers that need to be put in a folder) with grading helps and rubrics as well as a couple of well-laid out schedules for Semester or Year-long coursework.

Each Lesson includes an Introduction, Comprehension Questions, a Literary Lesson, and four to six writing exercises to choose from. If following the Hewitt Basic English, English, and English Honors programs, it is suggested that the student submit two written papers for each book-length work, and one for shorter selections. This can obviously be adjusted according to your student's proficiency and exercise choices.

If correcting those written papers seems to be too daunting of a task, even with the included helps,  you may be pleased to know that Hewitt offers a Paper Evaluation service which some Crew members also reviewed (again, click through the link at the end to find those reviews).

I particularly enjoyed going through the Lewis Carroll selections (Jabberwocky is one of my long-standing favorite poems) with my son, and I even learned something about Rhyme Scheme that I didn't know before (Or maybe that I forgot...?): that there are masculine and feminine  rhymes, and an explanation for words in poetry that *almost* rhyme like "again" and "plain" (Slant Rhyme).



Here is a sample of my son's couplet writing
Like Carroll, and possibly Ogden Nash,
he has a droll sense of humor :

The wish of a fish
Was to eat from a dish

While a frog in a bog
Hoped to go for a jog

And the bee's only plea
Was to sip some green tea ...



Once again, I thoroughly appreciate Hewitt's approach to teaching "college-level composition skills by responding to great literature." I will continue to use selections from their guides to flesh out my son's high school literature courses over the next two years.

You can check out samples of the Student Guide and the Teacher Guide on their individual product pages.


Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Hewitt Homeschooling
• Product: British Mid-Late 19th Century 
• Ages: High School 
• Price: $58.23 for complete set including 4 novels

You can visit Hewitt Homeschooling's media pages:
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say about this and the other titles and grade levels reviewed. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

Unlock Math : Online Full Geometry Course

My Middlest will be looking at the PSAT in the fall, and in order to do that he needs to get a bit of geometry under his belt (the path we took with my daughter was the natural progression of Algebra I and then Algebra II, however, that meant that we were not as prepared for the test as we might have liked). In light of that, the timing for our review of UnLock Geometry  for UnLock Math couldn't have come at a much better time. 

Here is a screenshot of the first few units of UnLock Geometry~ there are 15 Units altogether. You can see the rest of this screen at the UnLock Geometry link above. :) 

*Disclaimer~ To be fair, I will say we did have a couple of timing issues, totally unrelated to UnLock Math~ cyberspace has been eating emails that belong in my inbox (So it took me awhile to figure out that I hadn't received my log-in email~ not their issue~ I've had multiple emails not show up in the past month or so), and our internet has been frustratingly slow for almost e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g (we're talking *almost* pre-1990's get up and get a cup of coffee while waiting for one page to load slow...). Due to other commitments he could only look at "loading" wheels/bars for so long before we needed to move on to other things. I think we need a new router, but haven't had time to address that issue just yet because... life. 

Now~ if this were a textbook review, I wouldn't need that disclaimer~ no techie issues to cause trouble there~ However, I also wouldn't have the benefits this program provides. I personally don't feel like geometry is a subject where I could inspire someone to love math. I can puzzle through to help figure out where answers went wrong, but I'm not a higher math teacher. Thankfully, with UnLock Math that doesn't really matter, because THEY provide the teacher, the computer interface (which is neat and clean, and easy to understand when your internet is working properly), and the assessment and grading ~ I really don't have to do anything beyond making sure that assignments are actually being completed.              

UnLock Math provides a way to check and see what day each assignment was finished, how long it took, and how well the student did. There aren't many parental options beyond looking at (downloading and printing if you like) the grade-book that is linked to your student's account. I was actually taken aback at how little there was for *me* to do... 

The one time we did run into a glitch (which again, took far longer than anticipated to get around to dealing with because of the timing of life, combined with agonizing internet speed), Matthew ( the founder of UnLock Math) happened to be  accessible via the online chat button at the same late hour that we were trying to troubleshoot. Amazing customer service, in my book! I understand that he is very quick to reply to messages sent as well, if he doesn't happen to be online at the same time. At any rate, he was able to quickly and easily solve the issue we had, and my son was able to unlock the next section in order to proceed. *Geometry is the newest course available, and as with any new program, I expect a bug or two to show up  for the first bunch or two of users. 

In the screen above you see the basic set-up of the program~ 

• Warm Up consists of... warm up problems ~ 5 quick, fairly simple problems to get your brain warmed up~ they take about 1 minute to complete. 
• The big "UnLock" screen is where the video lesson is watched~ about 5 minutes (We decided on the earlier lessons that he could skip the video and continue to the practice problems (Opening them in another window), only returning to watch the video if he ran into something he didn't already know.
• Practice Problems ~ 10 problems on the current topic ~ with explanations after most of them~ Here's an example where... oops~ made qt plural... (even though the math was right). The good news is that if there are silly mistakes made like this, your student will (hopefully) learn from them, and then have the opportunity to do another set of practice problems if they want to increase their score. 
  

• Stay Sharp ~ another 10 questions on the topic ~
  
  
• Challenge Question ~ This is the only section where there are no second chances- 1 question! 

There are quizzes after every two lessons, and a Test at the end of the Unit.

So far my son is doing well and appreciates the way the lessons are set up. I like that he isn't given too much at once. Occasionally the explanations are a little longer and complicated (for the way *my* brain works), but then they are distilled to the simplicity that I understand. (See the bolded sentence at the bottom of this screenshot...)

I think that if he is diligent with this course through some of the summer and early fall he should be well prepped for most geometry questions on the PSAT this year. Time will tell... ;)

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: UnLock Math
• Product: UnLock Geometry   
• Ages: High School 
• Price: $49 monthly or $299 annually (50% sibling discount)
• Use my referral link to receive $50 off a one year subscription to any of the Algebra programs. Special link expires September 14, 2017

You can visit UnLock Math on the following Social Media Pages:
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say about Unlock Geometry as well as UnLock Pre-Algebra, UnLock Algebra I, and UnLock Algebra II.  As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

#hsreviews  #math #homeschoolmath #highschoolmath #onlinemath

Historical American Fiction, Time-Travel~ Great Juvenile Summer Reading set! (Review)

My History-loving Youngest was so excited when a package came from Adventures of Rush Revere #1 New York Times Bestselling Book Series by Rush and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh with this lovely set of books, the Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series.  Many adults are only familiar with Rush Limbaugh as a talk radio host. However, he has also co-authored a great series for the elementary set, intended to foster excitement about our nation's founding, and the amazing people that made it happen. 

First off, I personally appreciated the attention to detail in the packaging~ a box arrived with the books stacked and beribboned. We were so excited that we took them out before we remembered to take a photo~ they looked so neat in the box!  The presentation made him feel very special! This would be a great gift idea for the history-loving bookworm in your life! 

Now on to the review.
There are five hardcover books in the series:

• Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims
• Rush Revere and the First Patriots
• Rush Revere and the American Revolution
• Rush Revere and the Presidency
• Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner

The stories revolve around a substitute teacher (Rush Revere) who dresses up like his hero, Paul Revere, every day, a group of modern-day children (Tommy, Freedom, Cam, Ed, Maddie, and Elizabeth), and Liberty, a time-traveling horse from the Revolution. They end up in a variety of interesting present-day and historical situations, as they rub shoulders with some of the most exceptional Americans of the day.

The books were not only presented beautifully in shipping, but are themselves lovely. The pages are high quality with a parchment look, and include "Rush Revere and the Gang" Illustrations, Original Source Documents, Helpful Information, and Fine Art from the period. These help the stories and history come alive, and both younger readers and middle schoolers should find things of interest in many of the graphics. 

Bottom Left~ Map sketched by John Adams of taverns in Braintree and Weymouth, 1761 

My son read through the series right away (he's a speedy/voracious reader, so he was through the series in 5 days~ one book/day), and has reread them, as he does with many books that he enjoys. Each time through, at various points in the stories he was chuckling to himself over the action and/or conversation. He also still spontaneously offers historical information that he has gleaned from his reading in general conversation with the family, so that is a win in my book!

While the conversations and side-stories are sometimes silly and goofy, and words like "stupid" and "brat" show up (those are kind of considered "bad" words in our house, in that my kids aren't allowed to use them...  so when it *is* appropriate to use them, *I* get called on it... ;) ), juvenile humor *does* tend to catch some kids' attention, and I totally understand it's use in this format.

Living in New England, my son has been steeped in Massachusetts history, so any book that catches his attention on this well-loved, much read topic must offer something new to pique his interest~ The Brave Pilgrims did not disappoint~ and he was annoyed with me that I made him wait till the next day to read the second story, The First Patriots. This book included some of his favorite historical characters "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" was heard in my home even as I'm writing this review... ;). Having just visited Philadelphia last summer, and stood where the Constitutional Convention took place, and having watched National Treasure (the National Archives are of great interest to my Youngest), The Star-Spangled Banner was another book that was greatly enjoyed.

Patriotic themes show up in the stories that relate to today's young Americans. One I appreciated, that showed up in my son's favorite book of the series (The American Revolution), offered support for the military children of our time. Cam's dad is in the military, and Rush Revere helps him see that he is away FROM his family at times, FOR his family, and the country, just like the original Patriots.
In The Presidency, the concept that those who are seeking election shouldn't be doing so for fame, fortune, careers, and power, but to actually SERVE their country and fellow-citizens is another patriotic theme that I hope these books will help the next generation take more seriously than many have in recent decades. ;)

Beyond reading the books, the Rush Revere website offers a number of resources for educators (home and school), including study guides and a couple of activity pages for each title. The study guides are intended for parent/teacher use, and include an introduction and book summary with a handy synopsis of each chapter, as well as quizzes for each chapter. These could be printed out, or used as discussion questions, depending on how you feel.

There are also some online word and art activities for your child to check out, and a few online games, for those that like to reinforce their reading with interactive electronic play.

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 
My personal take~ This would be a great gift idea for the history-loving bookworm in your life! (And a super summer reading pack!) 

• Company: Adventures of Rush Revere #1 New York Times Bestselling Book Series by Rush and Kathryn Adams Limbaugh
• Product: Adventures of Rush Revere Book Series
• Ages: intended for 8-12
• Price: varies~ check your favorite book-seller ~ 
• list price $19.99/book

You can visit Rush Revere on the following Social Media Pages: 

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

#hsreviews  #history #AmericanHistory

Can you use an Internship for High School Credit ? (A Review)

Apologia Educational Ministries could be considered one of the cornerstone companies in the Christian Homeschool Education Publishing world. They have branched out from their most well known original science curricula to many other homeschooling subjects and helps, including one of their latest offerings, a workbook on Internship for High School Credit.

Internship for High School Credit is a spiral-bound 99 page workbook intended to introduce the concept of considering internships during the high school years, as well as practical helps in making an internship happen for your student AND offering credit for that internship on a high school transcript.

The Introduction to the book discusses reasons for internships and helps to assess whether an internship might be a good fit for your child.

Part 1 is written to the student~ "Getting Started"
Each one of the sections in Part 1 include discussions about making decisions, and/or practical tips and helps. The contents include:

• Determining the Type of Internship
• Choosing a Company
• Preparation
• Receiving High School Credit ~ this is a particularly helpful section, as it gives the student information on how to determine what credit(s) they plan to receive, how many, and how to organize their schedule to reflect that. 
• Writing a Resume'
• Letter of Introduction
• Sample Student Resume'

The Resume' and Letter of Introduction segments offer helpful information on organizing these important documents as well as some samples which can be used to model their own resume's and Letters of Introduction. I always find it easier to figure out something like this when I have a bit of a template to follow! 

• The Interview
• After the Interview
• Gearing Up for the First Day

Again, these sections offer practical suggestions (for example, try to memorize the interviewer's name, even if you only learn it at the interview itself~ that makes a good impression) and helps as the student moves into the area of actually getting an internship.

• Part 2 is written to the parents~ "Information for Parents" with discussions about:
• Choosing an Internship Location ~ gives some practical questions to think about when contemplating a specific company (an example... Do the employees bring their lunches, or eat in restaurants or order out regularly~ these are good things to consider, that I wouldn't have thought of on my own~ is it financially feasible for your child to intern at a specific company/location baed on the practical aspects of the job). 
• Child Labor Laws 

• Transcript Documentation
• Course Title and Number
• Number of Credits
• Grades

All of these sections offer suggestions on the practical side of creating your own course through the internship, and how to go about it. Nothing is laid out precisely, because there are so many variables and options for possible internships, but there are concrete examples of hours required and credits assigned. 

Parts 3-5 return to the student.
Parts 3 and 4 are the practical workbook section, one for each semester, and include

• How to Use the Worksheets
• Semester Goals
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• Evaluation sheets
• Midterm and Final Work Performance assessment pages (For work supervisor to complete~ see example below)
• and Summary pages.

Part 5 wraps everything up in a neat package by suggesting final writing assignments for the student ~ one to summarize their experience, and a thank you note to the company providing the internship. It also discusses asking for a letter of recommendation and updating your resume'.

My son isn't able to apply for an internship this summer due to various activities and family commitments, but he definitely appreciated how well the book is laid out~ simple and clear without any confusing elements.

I appreciate the idea of an internship, as it is a good way to determine what our children are interested in doing for the rest of their lives. So much better to find out waaaaayyyy before college that an accounting office (or a dental office, or a landscaping company) are exactly the sort of atmosphere where your child will either flourish or fade, and will help to make future decisions that much easier (And if they can get high school credit at the same time, so much the better!).

Not So Nutty Nitty Gritty 

• Company: Apologia Educational Ministries
• Product: Internship for High School Credit
• Ages: High School/Homeschool Parents
• Price: $33

You can visit Apologia on their social media pages:
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+, and  YouTube and you can find sample pages and FAQs if you click the yellow download button on the product page.

Please click the banner below to visit the TOS Homeschool Review Crew and see what others had to say about this book, as well as How to HOMESCHOOL with Stunning Confidence, Contagious Joy, and Amazing Focus (DVD &Coursebook) a help for homeschooling parents. As always, I hope that this review was useful to you as you choose where best to spend your homeschool budget.

Blessings~

#hsreviews  #homeschoolsupport #startinghomeschool #organizing #howtohomeschool  #highschool #highschoolcredit #internship