TOS Crew Review - Times Alive

Times Alive! by City Creek Press is a fun and creative way for children to learn their multiplication facts. Teaching the 0-9 tables, it incorporates songs, fun activities, repetition practice and short animated videos to help children of all learning styles become more proficient at multiplication.

This review is for the downloadable version of Times Alive, however, City Creek Press also offers books, CD-ROMs, activity sheets and music CDs that can be used in similar ways to help achieve success in multiplication. The price to download the Times Alive program is $44.95 and the download can be used by any number of students - each will be able to sign-in with their own login information, which tracks their lesson progress.

For each lesson, a new multiplication fact (or sometimes several) is introduced through a short animated video and a song, tying the new fact into a play on words or easy to remember rhyme. Then, the student is asked to practice the fact taught through a few simple activities. Each lesson lasts about 8-10 minutes. Once a few facts are taught and practiced, there are "Progress Checks" which cover not only the newest fact taught, but ones that were taught in the previous lessons, to ensure that the previous lessons are still reinforced. Parents can view and/or print progress reports showing each student's progress very easily.

The two children in my house who enjoyed this program the most were Ezra (age 8, 3rd grade), and Joel (age 6). Ezra had learned about half of his multiplication facts through our regular math program already, and using Times Alive helped him not only cement those facts more firmly into memory, but also introduce and familiarize him with facts he hadn't learned yet. At the beginning of the program, each student takes a pre-test, just to demonstrate what the student already knows. Ezra's initial score on this test was low, as I expected - he scored a 57%. After going through the program, at the end, there is a post-test - on this one, he scored a 96%! What an improvement! That spoke volumes to me about how well this program can work!

Joel, being just 6, didn't know any multiplication facts, but now can easily remember the answer to, and tell me the story behind, facts such as 6x6, or 8x4. Even though he doesn't understand exactly what multiplication is yet, I think having those already tucked into memory will help when the time comes!

The only drawback I could find about this fun program is the login process is a bit tricky. I assigned each child a login name (which, to keep it simpler, was just their first name). However, instead of a drop-down menu or other way to choose their login, it had to be typed - and if the child typed it incorrectly (say, with all caps, or all lowercase), the program would still open but with none of that child's progress showing, as if they were a new student. That caused a bit of panic a few times until we figured out that they had to login the exact way I had signed them up! A small detail that doesn't change my opinion of the effectiveness of the program, but one I wanted to mention nonetheless.

Overall, I think Times Alive is a good program, especially for students who are more non-traditional learners who don't do well with typical memorization methods (such a flash cards or timed repetition). The price is comparable to other similar math products, and an especially good value for families who have several children who will benefit from it! If you'd like to see some samples for yourself, be sure to check out the Time Alive YouTube Channel to get a glimpse of some of the videos and songs in the program, and to learn more about City Creek Press and their other products - they offer many other quality math helps for all ages!

Of course, be sure to check out what other reviewers thought by checking out the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

TOS Crew Review - TenMarks

TenMarks is an online supplemental math program, for grades 3 - High School. At just $10 a month for each student, it is an affordable way to help your child in areas of math that he or she might need some extra work in.
After enrolling, the student is assigned a designated number of "worksheets" each week. Each worksheet consists of 10 problems based on whatever the concept being taught that week is, and the goal is for the child to get 10 out of 10 correct (hence the name of the program!).

If the child needs help, the program offers video lessons, as well as 3 hints per problem. However, the more hints a child uses, the lower his or her score goes - this helps the child to not rely on the program to do all of the thinking for him or her, but instead, get help when it is needed and figure out as much as they can by themselves. If the child requires too much assistance on a worksheet, or scores too low, they program requires a "do-over" before progressing to the next topic, ensuring that the child is getting a good understanding of the topic being taught.

Once the score for the worksheets is given, the child can go back to the problems they missed and try them again, or walk through the video lessons and hints to get more help figuring out the correct answer.

Parents can set up external rewards to be given once a certain learning requirement is met, and the program also offers the incentive of games that can be played. After a certain number of worksheets are completed, a new game will open up, maintaining motivation for the child to continue working.

The program also generates tests after each concept's worksheets are completed. The tests are timed (30 minutes) and have 20 problems each. After a test is completed, it can be retaken if the score demonstrates that the child is still struggling with that concept.

Both Isaac (age 10, 4th grade) and Eara (age 8, 3rd grade) were my "testers" for TenMarks. We had some mixed feelings about the program, so I deecided to condense my thoughts into a pros and cons list:

Pros:

• The video instruction is great for students who need audio/visual help when learning
  
• The kids love the games - they were very good incentive that kept them asking to do Ten Marks!
  
• Excellent customer service - response time to a question I emailed from the website was just a few hours!
• The curriculum is customizable - subjects to be covered can be arranged in preferred order

Cons:

• No minimum work requirement before games are able to be accessed - I had to set limits. While I monitored the children to make sure they meet my required limits, if left to their own devices, a child could easily play games the whole time instead of do their worksheets.
  
• No time limit set on games - again, if not monitored, a child could spend quite a bit of time just playing games.
  
• While tests happen to be assigned after each album is completed, there is no formal notification of when tests are available, so parents could miss them, or children could skip them.
  
• The program does not give immediate correction while doing the worksheets - the student has to finish entire worksheet to see what they got wrong. I prefer immediate correction so that the problem is still fresh and the misunderstanding doesn't continue in other problems.
• Parental notification was limited - while I received an email everytime new worksheets were generated for each child, I was not notified of their progress, scores or available/taken tests. Logging into the website with my login showed me all of these things, but I found the parental part of the website not as easy to navigate as I would have liked.

To be honest, this program met with mixed reviews at our house. The kids enjoyed it, mostly because of the game incentive. The asked eagerly to do TenMarks everyday! We are a family that does not allow a lot of internet/computer game time, so having the chance to play everyday was a easy trade off for a few math problems. However, because of the various reasons I listed above, I found the program lacking in some areas.

As I always mention when I share a review that is not the most positive, please remember that just because something didn't quite fit with our personal homeschooling goals does not mean it won't work for your family! I encourage you to explore the TenMarks website, watch their videos, and try their free trial, to see what you think for yourself! As always, also be sure to check out what other homeschoolers thought by visiting the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog.

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

TOS Crew Review - Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids is a great Biblical resource for families with children of all ages! Although it is technically written for children ages 5-10, even the adults in our house have really enjoyed using it.
With over 750 definitions, and over 500 beautiful photos and illustrations, this Bible Dictionary really helps bring characters, places, and concepts in the Bible to life! The illustrations include beautiful artwork, maps, photographs, charts, and reconstructions - all laid out in an inviting and eye-catching way, without being overwhelming or cluttered. The definitions given are written clearly and accurately, and in an easy-to-understand way, so that even young children can get a good idea of what a difficult word means.

When this book first arrived at our house, it was not looked at like a dictionary at all! Both myself and my oldest son (age 10) sat down with it and read it from cover to cover (we had to take turns, of course). It is that captivating! The younger guys in my family like to ask questions about the pictures, which brings up wonderful little teaching moments about God's Word.

I loved reviewing this product and am thankful we will have it in our house for years to come. If you are looking for a Bible resource that is definitely kid-friendly without being overly simple or condescending, the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids fits the bill perfectly. At only $14.99 from Lifeway Christian Bookstores (who provided the book for this review), this hardcover, info-packed book is a great addition to any Christian family's library. I highly recommend it! You can get an idea of what it looks like inside by taking a peek here.

See what other members of the Crew thought by checking out the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

No News is... well, No News!

I am still here, and I am still pregnant :-) At only 4 days until my due date, this baby is one of my "latest". I know the due date is really just an estimate, but I think as any woman who has been pregnant knows, as that number on the calendar grows closer, so grows the anticipation!

I am really trying hard to keep decent perspective during these last few days. My parents are here and we've had a good time enjoying eachother's company. My mom and I had a mother-daughter spa day, and Michael and I were able to enjoy a last minute date night while the grandparents stayed with the little ones. We've stopped school for now, so I'm enjoying the free time with the kids as well as time to get lots of last-minute cleaning and organizing done. I am also taking advantage of more time to rest, as naps seem more necessary lately.

However, I have to confess, I am definitely struggling with mood swings! There are times when I feel great, excited, confident... and other times when I am frustrated, discouraged, and nervous! I told Michael its a little like seeing a really neat ride at an amusement park and deciding to get in line - but as the line moves ever so slowly, the more you think "Hmmm... what have I gotten myself into? Do I REALLY want to ride this ride?" ;-) Of course, in my case, there's only one way to get out of line! So, I am spending a lot of time really leaning on the Lord. Lots and lots of prayer! Reminding myself that His timing is perfect, that He is with me, He is my strength and my comforter, and that I can rest in His perfect plan.

This verse was on my calendar this morning: "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14). Just the encouragement I need! I'm so thankful for His promises to lean on.

I know that for anyone who has actually gone overdue with a baby must think that I'm a little pathetic! ;-) It is a relief to know that sometime soon, eventually, this baby will come! Until then... I will just keep waiting and praying!

TOS Crew Review - Speekee

Speekee is a Spanish instruction course designed specifically for children ages 2-10. Developed in the UK and focusing on the "immersion" style of teaching, Speekee has been called "The World's Number One Spanish Course for Young Children".

The immersion approach to teaching a language is based on the way that young children naturally learn their native language - simply by hearing it spoken day after day. Speekee's program does this through videos of Spanish-speaking children, adults, and puppets who interact and do day-to-day activities, speaking Spanish the entire time. While English subtitles are available, the point is to have the viewer seeing and hearing Spanish spoken naturally in familiar and friendly contexts.

The episodes include easy to remember songs, familiar locations and activities (such as playing at the park, shopping for fruits and vegetables, etc), and humorous interaction between human and puppet characters. Here's the star of the show, Speekee!

Also on the program, there are various points at which the viewer is asked to interact, as well, through repeating words or answering questions.

My children enjoyed Speekee - especially my youngest three (ages 22 months, almost 4, and 6 years old). My older two (ages 8 and 10) would watch it, but it didn't captivate their interest like it did for the younger set. Just after watching the first two episodes, my younger guys were singing the songs, and asking what certain words meant (such as adios and amigo), and begging for more!

I was curious to see what they would think of it since they couldn't understand what was being said, but they didn't mind at all. I can see how the immersion approach is very effective, because even without totally understanding every word that was said, the children very quickly picked up on main ideas and main words presented! Very cool, and easy!

This review is specifically for the new Online Version of the Speekee Program - there is a DVD program available, however, since the program is produced in the UK, there is a chance that certain DVD players will not support the DVD format offered. The Online Version contains everything that the DVD program does, and has advantages such as a monthly subscription ($7.95 a month), that users can cancel at any time (there's no minimum usage requirement), and also the ability to watch wherever and whenever a computer and internet access is available - it is even Wii compatible! Also, if you sign up for a subscription, the first 2 weeks are free! If you'd rather have a one-time payment, there is also a 1-year subscription available for $75 (which is 12 months for the price of 10!).

There are 10 episodes available, each one ranging from about 15-25 minutes each, as well as printable worksheets and other fun activities to go along with each episode. While 10 episodes may not seem like a lot at first thought, one of the main essentials of learning a new language is repetition, so the more frequently a child watches each episode, the faster they will begin to comprehend Spanish!

I think Speekee is a gentle and fun introduction to Spanish, and one that can be of benefit to a family with younger children. It definitely takes the intimidation out of teaching foreign language! Be sure to check out what the other Crew Members thought at the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

TOS Crew Review - Maestro Classics - Peter and the Wolf

Maestro Classics is a company that produces beautiful classical music CDs for children. However, more than just CDs with various pieces of classical music, Maestro Classics offers something even more captivating - Stories in Music! For this review, we were sent the classic story of "Peter and the Wolf" on CD.


I grew up listening to "Peter and the Wolf" and have always loved it, so I was excited for this review! The CD not only comes with the narrated "Peter and the Wolf" story, but also has several other tracks that caught the children's interest and attention. The main narrated musical piece (performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra) is a little over 25 minutes long, and then there is a short bio about the composer (Sergei Prokofiev, in case you were interested!). There's still more! There are several short musical pieces relating to Russian Folk music or the Peter and the Wolf theme, another full-length version of "Peter and the Wolf" (instrumental only, this time), and a little more information about the music from the conductor himself. Wow! It all adds up to over an hour of musical enjoyment and education!

In my house, there's something about an Audio Book or Narrated Musical CD that captivates my children. They can easily sit and color at the table for an hour, absorbing all the good information while they keep quiet and busy - something I'll never complain about! Even my littlest ones caught on quickly to this story and would point out during various instrumental parts, "Mama, that's the wolf coming!" or "The duck sounds so funny!". They got as much enjoyment out of it as I remember getting from it when I was their age - it is timeless!

Along with the CD, there is also a program book that offers still more interesting facts and fun activities. Several lesser-known (to me, anyway) instruments are introduced, there is an interview with the conductor, more background about the composer, as well as an introduction to some of the musicians featured on the CD. Activities include matching instruments, decoding Russian, a crossword, and more! It is a rich accompaniment to the CD.

One thing that really stood out to me while we listened to this CD over the weeks was how easily something like this could springboard into some great Unit Study Material! Not only could the composer be highlighted, but Russian music and culture, and learning about various instruments could quickly grow into a wide and fascinating study - all from one little Story in Music! But even if you're not the Unit Study kind of homeschooler, the story and music all by themselves is delightful enough.

I also have to add some big kudos for their customer service. For some reason, the original CD I was sent was a bit fickle - it wouldn't always start up right away, and made some odd noises while playing. When the company was notified about this, they immediately responded to me, letting me know they'd be sending a replacement promptly, as well as a prepaid return envelope for the slightly defective CD. The replacement CD arrived within days via Priority Mail! They were friendly, efficient, and super fast - what more could you ask for in customer service? That experience gave me even higher confidence in the quality of their products!

Maestro Classics offers many "Stories in Music" CDs such as this one. Each CD and program book is priced at $16.98 each, or you can get 3 for $45. There are also several gift sets available, which include the CD, program book, as well as the actual book telling the story featured on the CD. One I'd love to get is "Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel" - that book is a huge favorite at our house! If you're curious for more, be sure to check out their website for some samples - I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Also be sure to see what other Crew Members thought by going to the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.

The Belly

I was finally able to get a somewhat decent shot of "the belly", so I thought I'd share! The skirt isn't the most flattering, but it fits, and that's what counts most right now! ;-)

Here I am, at exactly 38 weeks and 3 days:

Not too much longer until we meet who's in there! I can't wait!

Waiting...

I've got only 12 days until my due date. If this baby were Ezra, it would be here by now! Everything is ready. I've gotten all my supplies together, did a test run with the birth pool, the midwife has come by the house to make sure she knows where everything is... and now we just wait!

The odd thing about this pregnancy is that normally by now I'm on pins and needles, waiting, waiting, waiting, feeling like the next few weeks will be torture! But this time around, it feels differently. I don't feel this impending sense of anticipation - in some ways, I don't feel close to giving birth at all! Yes, I'm HUGE, and yes, I'm running to the bathroom all the time. Braxton-Hicks are my constant companion, while sleep is not... but I feel good, have energy, am not too sore, and my spirits are up. I haven't hit that "end of pregnancy" exhaustion wall (at least not yet, lol!). I'm at peace.

I find myself very contemplative - I look at my calendar and wonder "which day will it be?". I find it fascinating that one day I will wake up and that day will be the day a new life joins our family - and that, for now, I have no idea when that is! The more I think about the upcoming labor, the more I marvel at God's design and the beauty of new life. And I remember, too, that the birth isn't THE event. A new child is coming! A new baby to nurse, diaper, cuddle, soothe - a new person who will grow and soon be running around with the rest of us, chattering up a storm, introducing us to their own personality and quirks. I love getting to know my children!

What a blessing life is, from the giver of all good and perfect things, the Creator of life itself!! I am overjoyed and thankful, and relying on Him during this soon-to-be-over time of waiting. He is certainly my strength and my peace, for which I am ever thankful!

(Oh, and don't forget to enter a guess in our baby pool! Thank you to all who have voted so far, it is so fun to see what everyone thinks! Interestingly, there is one date that no one has picked at all yet... hmmmm...)

Want to Play?

I've started an online baby pool for friends, family, and blog readers to take a gander at when #6 will make his or her appearance! My official due date is January 29 - will this one come early, like all the rest? Or throw things off a little and take his or her sweet time? What about gender - are we in for boy #6, or will we need to do some shopping for pink things?

The pool also has a place to enter a guess at weight, length, and even time of birth! Please feel free to join in the fun... and I'll have a little gift for whoever gets the closest!

Just for some background, here are my babies' stats (although, I admit I don't remember anyone's length, sorry!)

• #1 - 8 days early, 7 pounds, 6 ounces, born at 5:56 pm,
• #2 - 12 days early, 6 pounds, 10 ounces, born at 10:48 am
• #3 - 3 or 4 days early, 8 pounds, 3 ounce, born at 5:50 pm
• #4 - also 3 or 4 days early, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, born at 9:56 am
• #5 - 10 days early, 7 pounds even, born at 9:55 pm

And, of course... they've all been BOYS! ;-)

So, what do you think? Click on the banner above or in my sidebar to place your vote, and feel free to leave a comment here, too!

Once baby comes, I'll enter in the information and the Baby Pool will automatically generate whose guess is the closest - I'll post the winner here after the birth announcement!

Thanks for playing!!

TOS Crew Review - Easy Classical - Early Modern History Schedule

Easy Classical's schedule for Early Modern History (Explorers to 1800) is an excellent resource for putting together a History curriculum for a full year's (36 weeks) worth of study. Based on Susan Wise Bauer's "A Well Trained Mind", the schedule strives to adhere to the Classical model of homeschooling, one that is a favorite of many.

Each week's schedule includes lesson plans for History, Writing, Geography, a Project, and Read-Alouds, all which tie in together for a nice Unit-Study feel. But, more than just a grid with lesson plans on it, included with the schedule is a list of recommended resources, supply and shopping lists, comprehension questions and quizzes for each week, drawing instruction pages, and activity ideas.

While I did not have the recommended resources available to actually try the schedule, by looking it over it seems like a very flexible yet thorough schedule. It looks easy to follow, very streamlined without a lot of visual clutter (an essential for someone like me, who gets confused easily if there's too much to look at), and of the resources that are recommended that I've seen or used before, I can say that they are excellent.

Overall, the schedule seems like a good fit for a family looking for a year-long History curriculum that is Classical in design and function, easy to use and follow, and hands-on, too! Many of the recommended resources can be found at local libraries, or purchased from various websites (see the list of Recommended Resources here). Be sure to check out the Sample Pages available to get an idea of whether or not Easy Classical's Early Modern History Schedule might be the perfect fit for your homeschool! A digital version is available for $29.99 and a notebook version is $35.95. Easy Classical also has many other schedules available, for history, science, and and even full curriculum for each grade year.

Also be sure to find what other members of the Homeschool Crew thought by checking out the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.