Snow~ Who needs to pay to snowboard??

OK, So I'm going to try to Blog Through the Month of  February... we shall see... ;)

Whew! We have had some snow where I live... I didn't take pictures of the 6-8 inches we got today, but this is what my son was doing in the front walkway of our house last Saturday~

Nice little jump that he built, huh? 
Blessings~

PS. This would have posted yesterday, but I couldn't get the pictures up for some reason.

The big "Surprise Hit" from our Twelve Days of Christmas!

OK, so I  shared in one of my last posts (on my "Small Change Blog) how we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, and what everyone got. Now, as promised, I want to share a few of our favorite things.

Every year the kids go through the variety of catalogs that come to the house, as well as their playmobil and lego catalogs that they've picked up during the year. They create a "Wish List" of sorts, so that if anyone asks, we have a running list to use not only for Christmas, but the occasional birthday present. (Eldest is  growing up... last year was "Fuzzy Socks", and this year, clothing was added to the list... bittersweet... )

Youngest hasn't really joined in yet, but Eldest and Middlest are very good at including things in all price ranges, including the ""Dream-ticket" items which we usually can't afford, and they have to save up for on their own (Like an ipod touch). Sometimes I find an amazing deal, and have been able to pick up things like cameras and their ipod shuffles for very reasonable prices.

So, we do try to give them SOMETHING from their wishlist, but I also enjoy seeking out the things that they might not be aware of. Sometimes it's more of a hit than I would imagine. That happened this year...

The Standout Surprise favorite this year.... 
I picked up some of "Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty" as a stocking stuffer (at Timberdoodle.com) . How could I know how much fun everyone would have with this?

Because there are so many "Varieties",  I thought it would be fun to get each child a different one:

Click the Photo to purchase
Super Illusions Super Scarab

• Youngest's favorite color is blue, so I decided the "Scarab" Color-shifting Illusions Thinking Putty would be the best for him. Two colors of blue in one...  excellent! (Sadly this color is gone, but I've linked to Super Scarab over on the left, which looks fabulous as well! )
    
• Middlest likes green and red, so I decided the Heat Sensitive "Chameleon" Thinking Putty would be his. (Especially since his hands tend to be toasty.... ;) ) Here's an idea of how it "Changes" over time... less than 20 minutes from first photo to last... 2:13pm -2:31pm

• Eldest received the Glow-In-The-Dark "Aura" Thinking Putty. She wasn't so excited about the "White" putty in her can when she saw the cool colors her brothers had received, but once it was "Charged", it became MUCH more cool! (I would say that it glows more "Violet"(As described) than the "Blue" that came across my computer screen when I ordered... very fun!)(mouse over for "descriptions)

These have been used daily since they opened them... Eldest is quite adept at creating 3-D models, Middlest mostly likes to "Fiddle", and Youngest like to make balls  with his "Blue stuff" and squash them, as well as make "imprints" of things. Mom likes to play with all of them, doing all of the above... ;)

They've been popular for "Quiet fidgets" during church services,  fiddling while mom reads, and general playing. All in all...  we highly recommend Aaron's Thinking Putty!
5 Acorns from our family!


Oh, this is a pretty inexpensive gift option also~ Prices range from around $9.00 to $18-ish depending on the color options you choose. There are smaller tins available for prices closer to $5-$8 dollars, so really something for many cost options.

Blessings~

 
Note: I am writing this review of my own volition, based on purchases I made for Christmas presents for my children. :)

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary For Kids

The "Camp of Israel"

Have your children ever asked you what Holy, Righteous, Justified, or Mercy and Grace mean after reading verses in the Bible? Ever wished you could show them exactly what "The Camp of Israel" looked like during the 40 years wandering in the desert? How about a semi-detailed map of Jerusalem?  

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids from Lifeway Christian Stores can help you with all of these and more! There are 750 Bible words with "Kid friendly" definitions, with scripture references that go along with each word included at the end of the definition. There are at least 500 full color photos, illustrations, reconstructions and maps, which according to my math means that there are only about 250 words without an illustration. Excellent! :)

There are some "Special Features" that include charts with:

FIAR Go-along items for older Sibs~ Wooden 3-D Puzzles

I think that most of my readers and local folks know that my all-time favorite "Unit-study" curriculum is Five In A Row  (aka FIAR). I am looking forward to another (Hopefully more complete) rowing since my youngest is currently 3. I am also still intermittently rowing with my 10 YO, picking up books that we didn't get to with him.

So.... Whenever I find a cool item that would go along with one of the books, I try to pick it up to squirrel away for future use. In light of that, here are some items that I just found today~

Timberdoodle.com has some nifty 3-D wooden puzzles. Now, I will say upfront that these are probably more appropriate for an older sibling (Or mom or dad) to put together, which is nice if trying to include the older ages a little as well.

For the "Story of Ping", a "Junk" house boat ($6.50)

Madeline~  The Eiffel Tower ($7.50), of course! :) 

Pappa Bleirot could have a wooden Biplane ($2.95)! 

And for Cowboy Charlie~ a "Ride 'em Cowboy($4.50) " 3-D puzzle, very reminiscent of Russel (or Remington) bronze sculptures. :)

My favorites are the Junk boat and the Cowboy~ Fun stuff! :D
Just thought you might be interested! :) 


Blessings~

Virtual Nerd(What? Who you talkin' about?)

Some of the TOS Crew were given a month-and-a-half subscription to a new online Math/Tutoring Interactive Video-based website for students in 7-12th grade, Virtual Nerd. The topics currently covered are Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Intro to Physics, with more in the pipeline for 2011-2012

The basic facts~

Algebra I Topic Search

• There are hundreds of video tutorials to watch for each subject.
• The videos are searchable by keyword, topic and textbook( for instance, in Algebra I, if you happen to be using Prentice Hall: algebra 1, 2004 ed., Holt: algebra 1, 2007 ed., Glencoe: algebra 1, 2004 ed., or Mcdougal Littell: algebra 1, 2007 ed.)
• Each video has an intereactive whiteboard component that follows the video(You can see this in the screenshot above). This allows the student to get more information, as she/he runs into concepts or terms that are confusing or unfamiliar. (I suggest watching the Introductory Video. Scroll down the page linked to see it in action)

Pricing: a variety of options to give you flexibility, depending on your budget and needs *

• Free~ 2 hour trial
• $5~ 1 day
• $19~ 1 week
• $49~ monthly
• $129~ 3 months

So~ What did we think?
Pros:

• My daughter was impressed with the way that the "Whiteboard" worked, with the ability to dig deeper into a given topic.
• This could be a less expensive option than 1 on 1 tutoring, if this is something required in your home.
• Convenient and nothing to "Install" on your computer

Cons:

• For us, it just didn't mesh with the non-traditional Algebra program that we are using. I think that if we were using a traditional textbook, it would have been a better option. We spent a fair amount of time trying to find videos that would coordinate with the lessons being learned, and were not very successful in that quest. 

If you have a student who struggles with Math, I would recommend checking out the other TOS Crew reviews, to see what my fellow Crew-mates have to say. I am fairly certain that there are those using more traditional programs, and may have better insight on Virtual Nerd.

Virtual Nerd has uploaded some videos onto YouTube, so you could check those out to get more of a feel for the "Product". If you like what you see, I would highly recommend signing up for the free 2 hour trial if you have a specific problem you would like to remediate. This will give you a  good chance to see if you are able to find applicable videos quickly and easily. From there, your decision should be easy to make.

As always, I hope that this review is useful to you as you choose where to spend your homeschool budget. As always, but in this case particularly, if you are interested in a "Math Tutoring" style program, I once again highly recommend perusing the other TOS Crew reviews.

Blessings~

*Quick note~ although there is mention of a "Free Account" for "Educators", this is meant for those in group or "Classroom"  teaching situations, and NOT homeschoolers. Just wanted you to be aware. :)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Crew Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Tradition? or Not.....

Alrighty, then~ New for MY readers, for the FIRST TIME EVER, I am joining in on the TOS Crew Blog Cruise. So, what IS the TOS Blog Cruise?

The TOS Blog Cruise is just what it sounds like - A "Cruise" (aka Blog Carnival) through TOS Crew Member Blogs that elect to participate. Each week, a new homeschool topic is addressed. Participants are encouraged to express themselves however the question leads them; everyone has a different style and personality when it comes to homeschooling, and that's what makes this so much fun.

This week's topic.... Very appropriate for the first topic of the new year...

"Do you follow a traditional school day/time/schedule/year"

When it comes to schooling, we are rather eclectic. 

• Our school days are fairly free flowing, and not "Scheduled" like a traditional school. IE... we don't always do specific subjects at specific times. I have a schedule that we follow very loosely. We don't always get to everything in the order written, and if we don't finish something it just moves to the next day. 
• Our school times are also very untraditional. We do TRY to get schoolwork done during traditional school hours. However, I sometimes find that evenings find my children more focused and productive. It's also handy upon occasion to take advantage of Daddy Distraction, for the youngest, so the other two can get their work done.
• Our school-year schedule, however, is much more traditional. We live in a fairly populated neighborhood, with children who go to public as well as private school. Thus, I have found it easier to follow their basic schedule, and let my kids have the same days off (If I didn't I think I might experience mutiny). Sometimes I will make sure that they get their basic "Three R's" done on a "Snow day",  but most of the time they are out with everyone else, shoveling and having fun. :) 

So, we're semi-traditional, but mostly fluid and ecclectic.

If you'd like to see how some other Crew Members would categorize their schools, be sure to click on the Cruise button~ and I'd sure love to hear how your school day/year is organized, so feel free to contribute to the conversation by commenting on this post.

Blessings~

North Star Games

As the weather turns wintry, and our homes become (hopefully) cozy retreats from the cold, those chilly afternoons and evenings become the perfect time for playing games with family and friends. North Star Games provided a great game for  TOS Crew Members to try out, just in time for Thanksgiving gatherings and Christmas get-togethers. What fun!

Wits&Wagers Family has become an almost instant favorite in our home. Here are some of the things that we really like, along with some playing descriptions:

• Playing field is leveled so that the youngest and oldest players can remain competitive: A question is asked that can be answered by a number. Every player writes down their best guess(With included dry-erase markers, on included tiny dry erase boards), then puts their card on the table. The cards are put in numerical order, and each person decides where to place their 2 "meeples" (playing pieces).So, if you have no idea what the answer is, but you think your son might be right on, you can put one/both of your meeples on HIS answer. Or you can split your guess, by placing a meeple on your two best guesses. 
• There are three opportunities to earn points: By having the guess closest to the answer without going over(1 point), Placing your big meeple on the winning guess(2 points), Placing your small meeple on the winning guess (1 point). You could earn 4 points with one question if you're really good! ;) 
• Play is fairly fast~ the game comes with a dry-erase scorecard ~ first person to reach 15 points wins. Dad really likes this game because even when he's tired, it doesn't require TOO much thought, and goes fairly quickly. 
• We haven't tried it yet, but thought that this game might provide the ideal opportunity to play a game via skype with family that we don't get to see in real-life that much. Looking forward to that option! :)

Some questions come from the Guinness Book of World Records, as well as other "Fact" publications and sources(Which means this could be a favorite with kiddos that enjoy reading that sort of trivia~ my son being one).

Here is one of my favorite questions from the last time we played: "In miles, how long of a line can the average lead pencil draw?" (Source: American Chemical Society, 2001) You'll have to scroll to the bottom of this post to find the answer.... care to guess?

Here are some of the particulars:

• Players: 3-5 individuals OR Teams
• Manufacturer age recommendation 8+ (I think it can easily be played with a 5 or 6 year old, especially if the "Team" option is used... our 3 year old joined in by practicing writing some numbers on one of the boards)
• List Price: $19.95 at Barnes&Noble.com , other online retailers, and be sure to check out your local toy and/or game retailer.

Quick note about customer service~ North Star games has a great guarantee, that I unfortunately had the opportunity to test. Our game arrived with 1/2 of a small green meeple... :( and one dry erase marker that didn't work. I checked on their "Contact Us" page, and found this information:

Free Parts Replacement - Don’t let a lost or broken component stop you from playing.  If any of our game component(s) should fail (or even be lost) within the first year of ownership, we will deliver an identical or comparable replacement to your door free of charge!  Requesting replacement parts is a breeze... simply e-mail us the requested part(s) along with your mailing address.  We’ll send the parts out within two weeks.

I emailed them, as directed, and received a reply the same day, with parts arriving within a week. Stellar! (And, while I can't guarantee the same, I can tell you that my package arrived with a sticky notepad and a few sample cards from one of their other games. Fun!)

We have found this to be a great "take-along" game for afternoon/evening games with friends and family. If you are still looking for a great present for Christmas (Or later, for a birthday, etc....) this could be a great option for you. I have nothing to say in the negative, except perhaps, that I hope that North Star Games will put out some question expansion packs. In the meantime, this could be a fun research project for your kids... to look up some facts and figures and write their own questions. :)

I hope that this review was useful to you as you plan how to spend your homeschooling/gift budget. To read how other TOS Crew families used/enjoyed Wits & Wagers Family, please visit them at the TOS Crew Blog (Link will take you to the Crew Blog. Scroll down the page to find the link for the rest of the blogs.)

Speaking of scrolling.... Don't forget to keep going on this page to find the answer to the question from Wits & Wagers Family!

Blessings~

 



**Answer to the question: 35 miles, or about 45,000 words. How'd you do???

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this/these item(s)/service for free as part of the TOS Crew Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."