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Just Being Us
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Friday, December 24, 2021

Homeschool Review Crew: Our Review of Practice Monkeys


I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

     I am a mom who believes that we should prepare our children for as much as we can before sending them into the world.  It is sad but true that sometimes our children can find themselves in dangerous situations that they need to be ready to face ahead of time.  The online self defense classes from Practice Monkeys is a great way to help your child learn how to protect themselves and others from harm.  



     These classes are for children ages 5 and up.  Even adults can learn a lot from these self defense courses.  The online classes are just 15 minutes a day from Monday through Thursday, and your student is expected to practice another 15 minutes or so a day after the class is done.  They will not only learn how to defend themselves, they will learn about respect and self discipline.  Dr Van Kleek's way of teaching will have your child excited to learn.  

 
     In these zoom classes Dr Van Kleek will keep your child motivated and will teach them that practice and hard work will help them improve the skills he is teaching and how important it is to be self motivated to improve everyday not just in the classes but in life.  

     These classes are also great to help keep your kids moving and get some physical activity in each day.  In a day where we sit behind computers, phones, and tablets, I think it is important to have some sort of physical activity that will help our children to not be couch potatoes.  

     Would you like to know more about Practice Monkeys? I would encourage you to go check out their site and to join them on their social media pages below.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PracticeMonkeys/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7wOO7WqC5Yk-nID8fhVaiA/videos


     We have more reviews of the  Practice Monkeys self defense classes along with others like violin, piano, cello, and guitar over on the Homeschool Review Crew page. Just click on the link below.  

https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/online-lessons-for-children-violin-piano-cello-guitar-and-self-defense/


 

Homeschool Revie w Crew: Our Review of The Giving Manger

 

I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew


     It is so easy during the holidays to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.  We also tend to get caught up in the presents and forget many are doing without while we are stacking presents under our trees.  It is so important to teach our children that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  Worthy Kids has made an amazing book called The Giving Manger that will help families remember the importance of giving during this season and all year round.  


     This year, we have 3 wonderful grandchildren to share in the blessed time.  We love that their parents love Jesus and share it with them every chance they get.  Our granddaughter Rachel is going to be learning about giving as her parents read The Giving Manger to her during the week leading up to Christmas.  She is already understanding that Jesus gave His all so we could live life eternal with Him one day.  




     In this amazing hardcover book and manger set, she will be learning that sharing and giving are a wonderful part of life.  In the days leading up to Christmas her parents will be giving her a piece of straw to place in the manger every time she shares. This is a symbol of giving.  On Christmas morning they will lay the baby Jesus into the manger.  She will then see how important it is to give and will remind us all of the acts of kindness Jesus did His whole life even the act of dying on the cross for our sins so that we might be saved.  He gave the ultimate sacrifice.  


     Would you like to make this Christmas a little more special?  I would encourage you to check out this story and many others from Worthy Kids.


     Do learn more about  The Giving Manger  and other books go to the website or check out their social media pages below. 


 We also have more reviews for you over on the Homeschool Review Crew site.  Just follow the link below.

https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/start-a-new-christmas-advent-tradition-with-the-giving-manger/

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW: OUR REVIEW OF PROGENY PRESS

I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

     Our family has been using the amazing resources from Progeny Press for many years.  Our daughter loves reading and when we can incorporate her love of reading into our school day, we do it! She really liked the latest study guide we were chosen to receive and review called the Frankenstein Study Guide. She loves reading thrillers like this and especially during this time of year when she is also watching all her favorite classic thriller movies. This review was a HUGE HIT!!!
     
 These study guides are easy to download and print.  You can print them for all your students but are not allowed to share them with others.  This company works hard to make quality resources.  I love that they let you print copies for other students in your classroom or home.  It is more than fair.

     This PDF study guide is about 79 pages long and the Table of Contents is:
  • All about the Study Guide Authors
  • Note to the Instructor
  • Synopsis
  • About the Novel's Author
  • Background information
  • Ideas for Pre-reading Activities
  • Letters I -IV
  • Chapters 1-3
  • Chapters 4-6
  • Chapters 7-10
  • Chapters 11-16
  • Chapters 17-22
  • Chapters 23-24
  • Overview
  • Essays
  • Related Resources
     You will also receive an Answer Key in another downloadable file when you purchase this study guide. 



     These study guides were created to help your student to understand the book they are reading on a new level. As they go through the guide, they will be doing in depth studies of the author and characters of the book. You will also get to see your student brush up on skills such as vocab and writing when they do their essays towards the end of the study guide. 

     Hope, our daughter who is doing this study, is in the tenth grade and this particular study was a great fit for her.  She said she enjoyed learning more about the author and really diving into deep parts of the book. She said it gave her a new perspective of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.  I haven't heard any complaints as she is working through this guide. It has actually opened up some conversations for her and I to discuss. As she gets older I feel its even more important to have open and honest discussions about things she is learning.

     As parents I feel we need to be careful about what we allow our children to read and watch. Progeny Press never disappoints me when we use their resources.  They are always pointing our children in the right direction.  I never have to hover over our kids while they are working through their study guides.  It's great to be able to trust a company like this. 

       Would you like to learn more about Progeny Press ?  I would encourage you to check out their website and social media pages listed below:




We also have more reviews for this resource and others on the Homeschool Review Crew site.  Just click on the image below.

                        Progeny Press Literature Study Guides

Friday, October 29, 2021

HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW: OUR REVIEW OF Greg Landry's Homeschool Science

I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

     I have always enjoyed Science classes from Biology to Chemistry, but my children didn't all feel the same about Science classes.  That is why when we find a great curriculum like Earth & Space Science from  Greg Landry's Homeschool Science we get excited.  These classes are self paced and online so we don't have to worry about books laying around the house getting stepped on or lost.  


     Our daughter enjoys online classes now that she has found some that fit her schedule and learning process. The author of this program is Greg Landry. He is a husband, dad, and former college professor.  He created these classes to assist homeschooling moms and dads in teaching. He loves teaching science and his heart for God shines through in his classes.  These classes are Creation based. He wants us all to know that God created us for a purpose.  As a mentor and teacher, he encourages students both now and in the past to explore God's amazing handiwork.  He is also a homeschooling father, so he knows the needs of parents who also homeschool their children.



    Earth & Space Science is a wonderful program that will teach your children in these areas:

  • Class Intro will be your guide to the class.  You and your student will be given instructions and an introduction to the course you are taking
  • Class 1 will go over taking notes, note-sketching, and how to study
  • Class 2 includes teachings on the Prime Meridian, International Date Line, Longitude, Latitude, and Time Zones
  • Class 3 is all about the tides in the oceans
  • Class 4 consists of teachings on the earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate
  • Class 5 goes over The Heavens I
  • Class 6 continues with The Heavens II
  • Class 7 will teach you about rocks, minerals, ores, and landforms. 
 
     There is a pdf study guide that you can print out for your student to use as they go through the video lessons online. My daughter liked having it printed out and in her own spiral notebook, but if you are low on ink and/or paper you don't have to print it out.  



     Hope said she enjoys the videos and is learning more in this class than she has in the past when she learned about Earth Science.  She said she would like to take some more classes from  Greg Landry's Homeschool ScienceSo far she has taken this one and his one on Physiology.  

     There is only one thing you need to do after purchasing your online class and that is to download a program called Canvas.  It is easy to navigate and will give you and your child easy access to all their classes in one area.  As a parent I like that I do not have to keep track of things.  They have it all online for you.  Even grading!  


Would you like to learn more about Earth & Space Science from   Greg Landry's Homeschool Science as well as his other courses?  I would encourage you to check out their site as well as our other reviews over on the Homeschool Review Crew site.  Just click on the link below
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https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/self-paced-online-homeschool-science-labs

                       

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW: OUR REVIEW OF LightSail for Homeschoolers

I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew



     Reading and writing are important subjects for our children to learn.  I feel if they can read well and write with ease, they will be able to accomplish many things in their lives. We have recently been given the opportunity to receive and review LightSail for Homeschoolers. This particular site is asset to all parents who want their children to excel in this area.  The Premium Subscription includes a one year access to resources that teach reading, writingvocabulary, and fluency. They have other subscription you can choose from if this one is not a good fit for your family.  



     The website includes so many books, audiobooks, videos, and much more.  I personally like that they include encyclopedias. I feel they have been a lost resource for kids to do research. The site is a bit difficult to navigate at first, but they do have a helpful introduction video that may help you.


     Our daughter is 14 and in the 10th grade. She is an avid reader and enjoys all types of genre. I have been wanting her to dive into some classic books, so we used the site to read classic books and go over some vocabulary words through activities that are placed strategically through the books you are reading.  We mainly concentrated our review time on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  







     As she was reading through the book online, she was asked to fill in words with the correct vocabulary word.  She was given 4 words to choose from and when you choose the right one it lights up green and inserts into the page of the book you are reading.  She said this was a great way to learn new words and review old ones.  

     As a parent I liked that it allowed me to give her assignments each day. It also has parental controls that allow me to choose what books I deem appropriate or not. I think this would be especially nice for parents of little ones.  There were quite a few aspects of the site that I would have loved to have years ago when my children were younger like the educational videos, augmented reality, and unit studies.  Hope is a bit too old for these things, but from what I looked at, they are awesome.  We did take some time to watch a few of the Livestream videos and enjoyed them very much. We loved watching the jellyfish!



 
     Would you like to know more about LightSail for Homeschoolers ?  I would encourage you to check out their site or social media pages listed below:

      We also have more reviews of this site over on the Homeschool Review Crew site.  Just click on the image below

 

Improve Reading Skills with LightSail for Homeschoolers

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW: OUR REVIEW OF TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL

I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

     We have had the opportunity to receive and review the PDF called Bible Breakdowns from Teach Sunday School.  It has been a blessing to our family.  Right now we are experiencing some serious medical hardships with my husband and taking time to sit down and study God's Word has been a huge factor in how we are taking the difficult news. I have always enjoyed the resources from Teach Sunday School and this one did not disappoint.  



     I especially love that this is a PDF.  I can have it with me on my tablet, phone or laptop at all times.  As a family we have printed out pages we are using together.  Right now we are going through Psalms and Proverbs. The set includes the entire Old and New Testament books of the Bible.   

      Each page is filled with a breakdown of each book of the Bible.  It will guide you thoroughly as you study God's Word. You will learn how many chapters are in the book,  who wrote the book, when it was written, what type of book it is and the period of time when it took place.  It is color coded and easy to use. The classic stories of the Bible are colored in a turquoise color on the pages so you will be able to see them quickly if you have a lesson on that particular story.  

     I absolutely love studying with my kids.  When we learn as a family I feel it brings us closer.  I enjoy talking with them about how they feel about certain subjects in the Bible and this resource just helps guide you along and gives you insight or quick ways to look up certain things like where in the Bible does it talk about Godly wisdom or when did Moses help the Israelites cross the Red Sea.  

    It is so important to discuss and learn God's Word together and I feel this is an amazing tool to have in your home to help you do just that. 

     Would you like to learn more about this company and their wonderful tools to learn the Bible in a new way?  I would encourage you to check out their website and social media pages listed below....





We also have more reviews of this product over on the Homeschool Review Crew site. Just click the image below
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Boob-by-Book Bible Study Printable Breakdowns

Friday, October 1, 2021

HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW: OUR REVIEW OF MATH ESSENTIALS


I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

     I have loved math my whole life. I loved sitting in class and learning all the wonderful new equations each day. My children however didn't all get that zest for it like I had.  Somedays have been a real struggle when I said "Let's do math".  I was both excited and relieved when we found Math Essentials a couple of years ago when we reviewed one of their books.  I was equally excited to be chosen to receive and review Basic Math Skills Rescue Parts 1 and 2. I knew these would be a great fit for our daughter who is 14 and doesn't really care for math at all. She is our reader.  She can finish a 500 page book in just a couple of days, but math is her nemesis. 😉

     


     In these two books, you will be taught 6 different skills that will ensure readiness for your student to go on to more difficult math classes.

     In Part 1, your student will learn 
  • Whole Numbers & Integers
  • Fractions
  • Decimals & Percents
     In Part 2, the skills include
  • Geometry
  • Problem Solving
  • Pre- Algebra

     These math books are amazing. They go over everything your child will need to ensure they are caught up and ready to tackle harder math classes.  When you purchase these books you will also have access to an Online Video Library. The videos will help teach the skills that are being focused on in the workbooks. 

     Hope has been using both workbooks.  She is going back and forth to brush up on some skills that she struggles with.  I feel these books will help her gain confidence in areas she felt she was lacking in.  She has gone through some of review exercises and is now working on the new material or skills.  She said she is enjoying it and doesn't feel rushed or pushed ahead before she is ready.  




     I feel these books have a lot to offer your student. The videos also give you a break from teaching skills that you may have trouble teaching. I love the problem-solving sections. They take real-life scenarios and help teach skills that way. Each skill is shown in a way that is easy to learn so your child won't' get frustrated. The lessons build upon each other. Your child will understand it easily and because they don't have a million questions, you won't be dealing with the whining that can sometimes come with long lessons and too much.  repetition. They include many helpful hints as you go along and you will be able to test your student frequently to see how they are progressing. 

     We will continue using both of these books throughout our school year.  I may do another review at the end of the year to let you know how well they worked for us.  

     Would you like to learn more about this company and its products?  I would encourage you to check out their website and other reviews on the Homeschool Review Crew site.  Just click on the image below  👇👇👇👇

Ensure Success in Algebra 1 with Math Essentials

Friday, August 20, 2021

HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW: OUR REVIEW OF It's NOT Greek to Me!

I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew

     I love spelling, vocabulary, and writing, but not all my children have. I was always concerned that they wouldn't do well in these subjects when they did their yearly achievement testing. I tried using a few different curriculums with my hesitant learners, and eventually, we found something for each one. That is why when I see amazing programs like this for homeschooling families, I get excited.  It's NOT Greek to Me! from Ready to Teach is a Greek vocabulary program that will help strengthen your child's vocabulary skills.  When they have better vocabulary skills, they will excel in other subjects as well.  I would have loved to have this resource years ago.  I am happy to use it with my 14-year-old daughter now. 


     
     It's NOT Greek to Me! is different because of the way they teach. They use Greek morphemes to teach vocabulary in a new way.  Greek morphemes are parts of a word originating from the Greek language. The program involves over 200 small word parts that eventually help to construct word meanings. This way is more challenging and a more fun way to learn vocabulary words. When things are learned in this way, your child will have an easier time remembering them long term.  Our children are capable of learning and retaining more vocabulary words than they realize. We just need to help them unlock a way to do it. 




     This set includes:
  • A softback Student Book
  • A softback Instructor's Manual
  • A flash drive
  • A hole punch 
  • A binder ring
     The Student Book is a single-use workbook that is about 112 pages long. It has 12 lessons, a Greek morpheme index, and color paper for study cards. I like that after every 2 lessons there is a review as well. 



     The Instructor's Manual is about 126 pages and includes:
  1. Introduction, background, and lesson plans
  2. Greek Morphemes, Lessons 1-12, and Words Worked Keys
  3. Review activities, keys, and a Serial Mystery Story
  4. Lessons tests, review tests, and all test keys 
  5. Greek morpheme index and a section all about the author Dr. Alene Harris



     The flash drive has a PowerPoint for each lesson. They are very informative and make learning more fun for your student.  The hole punch and binder ring will help your student keep their lesson cards organized and together.  




     The best part of this program is that your student gets to work at their own pace.  I think that is a great plus to learning for many students. They don't feel like they are being rushed. They can take their time with each lesson and really allow it to sink in. 

     We have been working through the lessons together.  I actually thought it would be fun to learn alongside my daughter. We are learning some new words along with the meanings of root words that will enhance our knowledge of vocabulary.  Our favorite part of the lessons is the PowerPoints.  They are very creative and help reinforce what is being taught in the workbook. The study cards make it simple to go over the words we are learning. I asked Hope what her favorite word was so far and she said eumegalobibliomaniac. You may be wondering why this is her favorite word.  It is because she is one.  She is a eumegalobibliomaniac.  It is someone who enjoys reading long books. She has a library of over 300 books in her bedroom.  Needless to say, most are over 300 pages long and yes she has read most of them. 









   
     Would you like to learn more about It's NOT Greek to Me! I would encourage you to go check out their website or read the reviews over on the Homeschool Review Crew site.  Just click on the image below 👇👇


 

                              Learn Greek Vocabulary with Ready to Teach