Cleaning out curriculum

I’ve been inspired by some of my homeschooling, blogging friends this year, to clean out some of the curriculum we aren’t using, and hopefully pass it on to someone who can put it to good use!

Please take a look at my list, and let me know if there is anything of interest to you. Thanks!

Rod and Staff Kindergarten set of  6 workbooks, and Bible Stories to Read. The first few pages of each workbook has been done. Retails for $19.95. Asking $10.00, plus postage. 

Look What I Can Do, preschool. Good condition. Retail, $34.99; will take $10.00, plus postage. 

Giant basic preschool skills and Hearts and Hands; a few pages of Hearts and Hands have been done. Will take $5.00, plus postage.

Miquon Math set, minus the orange book; Cuisenaire rods; The Super Source, Cuisenaire Rods, K-2–retails for $84.00. Asking $35.00, plus postage.

This has a copyright date of 1986. It’s in new condition, never used. It covers reading, writing, arithmetic, and spelling. I’ll take $2.00 for it, plus postage.

1st grade social studies, All Together, Scott Foresman, brand new. Retails for $43.47. Asking $25.00, plus postage.

Beyond Five in a Row (1997 copyright), volume 1-3;  and Christian Supplements, volumes 1, 2. The current editions would retail for $140.00 for all three volumes, along with the Christian supplement. Asking $25.00, plus postage.

Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Tan Book (6th grade), a few pages are written in with pencil. Very good condition. Retails for $27.00, asking $15.00, plus postage.Sale pending

Latin Alive! 1 Bundle including: Latin Alive! Book One student text, Latin Alive! Book One: Teacher’s Materials, and Latin Alive! 1 DVD & CD Set, nearly new condition.–retails for $139.95. Asking $110.00, plus postage.

Lab kit from Home Science Tools, for Exploring Creation with Zoology 2, Swimming Creatures. Brand new. Retails for $31.95. Asking $26.00, plus postage. Bonus: lapbook elements for first module, for 2 lapbooks, from Live N Learn Press, already cut out for you! 

Home Style Teaching, by Raymond and Dorothy Moore. Like new. Retails for $12.95. Asking $10.00.

Eagle’s Wings: Considering God’s Creation: teacher‘s manual, student notebook/workbook, and CD of songs, brand new. Retails for $29.95. Asking $20.00, plus postage.

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett – Cyber Monday Specials!

Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett – Specials.

Discounts as much as 55% off!, decreasing to 30% off later in the day. Hurry!!

TOS Review: The Reading Game

ANYONE CAN LEARN TO READ. This is the motto over at The Reading Game.

I’ll have to admit, reading just hasn’t “clicked” for my youngest yet. With his developmental delays, and his challenges with processing information, etc., he is still struggling with reading.

The Reading Game is proving to be a fun way for him to learn word recognition, though!

How does it work?

The game contains 6 books. The story in each book is told using only thirty new words. The words are broken down into 6 sets of 5 words, and made in to a memory match card game.

The student and tutor (parent, older sibling, who ever) place one of the decks, face down. Then proceed by turning the cards over, to make matches. Be sure to read each word aloud; that way the student learns the words by sight and by hearing.

After all the words of deck 1 have been learned well, move on to deck 2. When those have been learned well, have the student read the test sentences in the instruction booklet. Proceed with the rest of the decks of cards for that book.

The words for Skunk, Game 1, are: can, cat is, me, not.  Playing Game 2 adds: sad, she, stay, this, with.  The test sentences are:  “This cat is not a sad cat.  Can she stay with me?”

When all decks of cards and test sentences have been mastered, then have the student read that book.

Little Bit has been having so much fun playing the memory match! He does well at reading the words during the game. But then when it comes to reading the sentences?….Not so much, yet. He is eager to be able to read the books, though, because he likes looking at the pictures.

The Reading Game consists of six beautifully illustrated story books, six decks of matching playing cards, and a Teacher and Parent’s Guide, and can be purchased for $24.95.

Contact Information:

Website

Address:
Allsaid & Dunn
2727 De Anza RD, Suite SD21
San Diego, CA 92109

Email:
info@thereadinggame.com

Phone:
858-412-3442

Facebook

Be sure to read what my fellow Crew mates have to say, by clicking the banner below.

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As a review blogger, I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

TOS Review: Read Naturally~One Minute Reader

Fluency in reading is vital, as we all know.

I once knew someone who, even in his 30s and 40s, would skip words he didn’t know while reading aloud to his children. It wasn’t many years before the children were reading better than he. There are many adults in this country who struggle with reading, which shows how important it is for children to have a good foundation in reading, fluency, and comprehension.

One thing I don’t want happening to my children is for them to struggle with reading. I want them to be able to read fluently, with expression and comprehension.

One Minute Reader will help them accomplish this! Students develop fluency through modeling, repeated reading, and progress monitoring. It is recommended that students work in One Minute Reader for 15 to 30 minutes a day, three to five times a week.

One Minute Reader Steps:                                    
Get Ready to Read
Time Yourself Reading
Mark Your Cold Score in Blue
Read Along With the CD
Read Alone, and Raise Your Score
Take the Quick Quiz
Read for an Adult
Mark Your Hot Score in Red

Included in the starter kit, you’ll find a book with audio CD, timer, red/blue graphing pencil, and instructional DVD, all contained in a sturdy album.

There are level bundles, which consist of the starter kit, plus seven different reader/audio CD sets.

Each reader is comprised of five high-interest nonfiction stories that are the right length for readers to practice without being overwhelming. There’s also an audio CD which contains  recordings of the stories, instructions, vocabulary words, and fun facts. You’ll  find in each reader Quick Quiz, Graph, Joke Jumble, Crossword & Glossary, and Did You Know?

I already know my children don’t read as fluently as I’d like to seem them reading. I know they each need more practice. For this reason, I was anticipating trying these One Minute Readers. We received the Level 1 starter kit, and a level 3 reader/CD set.

I found that the level 1 was too difficult for Little Bit, and level 3 too easy for Botanist Boy. With the One Minute Placement Guide, though, I was able to find which levels would best suit each boy. I am seriously considering purchasing one or two of the readers at the proper level for Botanist Boy, just to help him improve his fluency and comprehension….even if he isn’t too crazy about the idea!

You can see a sample book, as well as see sample stories from each level.

Each starter kit costs $24.95. Each level bundle is $99.95. And each individual reader/CD costs $12.95. Be sure to also check out Read Live, and their other products.

Contact Information:

Address:
2945 Lone Oak Drive, Suite 190
Saint Paul, MN 55121

Telephone: 800-788-4085
Fax: 651-452-9204

E-mail: info@readnaturally.com

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To read what my Crew mates have to say about Read Naturally, click the banner below.

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As a review blogger, I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

Virtual Refrigerator

One of the things I like most about Five in a Row are the art lessons/activities each week.

Last week Little Bit “Rowed” Who Owns the Sun?, and this was his art for the week.

2011 Gratitude Challenge~Day 16

I am grateful for God’s protection. Even though we were in a tornado watch last night, no serious storms came our way.

I am sorry for those who were hit by those storms, though; those whose homes were damaged, etc. I will be praying for those families.

Come see what my friends are grateful for today, here. What are you grateful for today?

Wordless Wednesday

TOS Review: CollegePrep Genius

One of the most intimidating parts about homeschooling through the high school years, is preparing your student for that ACT or SAT. At least, that is what I have discovered! Add to that the fact, we need to find a test center that will offer the test other than Saturday!

Then again, I’m not sure who’s been more stressed about it: Teen Girl, or her mother!

I have been grateful for our opportunity to check out the CollegePrep Genius SAT Prep Course DVD set. Although we have been preparing for the ACT rather than the SAT, I figured that some of the test-taking strategies presented in these DVDs would prove useful in Teen Girl’s preparations.

The SAT Prep DVD set contains the College Prep Genius Second Edition Textbook, College Prep Genius Second Edition  Workbook, College Prep Genius Second Edition set of 4 DVDs containing a total of 12 lessons.

The 12 lessons cover:

Lesson 1 – Introduction to the SAT
Lesson 2 – Critical Reading – Long Passage
Lesson 3 – Critical Reading – Short and Dual Passage
Lesson 4 – Critical Reading – Sentence Completion
Lesson 5 – Math – Mulitple Choice
Lesson 6 – Math – Multiple Choice Practice Problems and Answers
Lesson 7 – Math – Student Response
Lesson 8 – Math – Student Response Practice Problems and Answers
Lesson 9 – Writing – The Essay
Lesson 10 – Writing – The Essay
Lesson 11 – Writing – Sentence Error
Lesson 12 – Writing Improving Sentences and Improving Paragraphs

Many students simply don’t understand the strategies and logic behind these standardized tests. These exams test more than just a student’s ability to answer questions; they test time-management skills, logical aptitude and much more. COLLEGE PREP GENIUS helps students pinpoint weak areas of the test by emphasizing the strategic and logical approach to taking the SAT.

Now, I will admit, I am kind of torn on this whole thing. While I see the importance of taking these tests, and doing well (because the better the score, the better the student’s chances of scholarships, etc., for college–and we certainly could use all the financial help we can get, since hubby and I can’t help with any of the expenses ourselves), there’s a part of me that just plain doesn’t like emphasizing it so strongly. It just seems like it would overwhelming pressure on my student, and make her terribly nervous. Believe me, I’m really not sure I am ready to have my son begin this process next year, when he enters only 7th grade!

If you have students heading in to the high school years, whether they are homeschooling or not, and are looking for a way to help them prepare for the SAT, this will definitely be worth looking in to!

The complete program is only $99.00. That’s 25% off the original price. There is a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the College Prep Genius program, you can send it back within the first 30 days and you will receive your money back. That is a zero risk for you. Also check out their Vocabcafe Series of books.

Contact Information:

Website

Email: info@collegeprepgenius.com

Address:
College Prep Genius
P.O. Box 398
Hurst, TX 76053

Phone: 81-SAT-2-PREP (817-282-7737)

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Check out what my fellow Crew mates have to say about CollegePrep Genius by clicking the banner below.

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As a review blogger, I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

2011 Gratitude Challenge~Day 14

I am very grateful to the anonymous gifter from Florida, who sent us a monetary gift through the mail. I don’t know who sent it, but God does….and I pray the Lord will richly bless you for your kindness!!

Come see what my friends are grateful for today, here. What are you grateful for today?

TOS Review: Keyboard Town Pals

In this day and age, children are learning to navigate the computer younger and younger, it seems, doesn’t it? It also seems they need to learn proper typing skills at a younger age….much younger than when I was in school (back in the “dark ages!”).

Keyboard Town Pals is a fun, engaging introduction to those skills for young children, ages 7 and up.

Keyboard Town PALS, LLC,  creates, manufactures and distributes educational software teaching early elementary school children how to type on a computer keyboard using proper finger technique in one hour.

Keyboard Town PALS is the only program on the market using the revolutionary PALS method (PURPOSEFUL  ASSOCIATIVE  LEARNING SYSTEM) to teach young children to keyboard.  With the PALS system, the child associates a puppet in a fictional town with a letter and a key on the keyboard and finally to the finger used to press that key. The puppets’ entertaining short stories are easy to remember.

The past few weeks, Little Bit has been using the Keyboard Town Pals program. Even though he is 9, he seems to have been enjoying the program pretty well. The puppets capture his attention, and are somewhat entertaining for him. His developmental delays do have him at a lower maturity level (for lack of a better term) than most 9 year olds would be. I can see that, with lots of repetition, he could get to the point of using proper finger placement on the keyboard. He’s definitely not there yet!

I had Botanist Boy run through the program once or twice as well. He also found the puppets rather entertaining, and thought the program was okay. It didn’t take him long to go through the program. But I really don’t think he’d care much for the repetition, like Little Bit could “handle.”

Some of the characters your child will be introduced to: Amy, Sam, Dora, Frank and George, Jan and Helen, Kay, Larry.

Here’s the Welcome and Lesson 1 video:

The program can be purchased, either as a CD Rom or Web-based package for $39.95, with English, Spanish, and French versions available. They have other products available as well. Free shipping on all orders now through Dec 31, 2011!

Be sure to visit the website for more information.

To read what other Crew members have to say about Keyboard Town Pals, click the banner below.

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As a review blogger, I am provided a free copy of the book, curriculum or product to test and use in order to write an honest review. I receive no other compensation and the opinions I share are my own and not influenced by the company in question.

2011 Gratitude Challenge~Day 12

Today I am so grateful to see child support money processing in my checking account! I really need to be able to buy some warm clothes for the kids (yesterday’s heavy frost created that urgency in me!), not to mention food!

Come see what my friends are grateful for today, here. What are you grateful for today?