Music for Little Learners Giveaway!

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Shannon

Music for Little Learners Kit

…fills the gap in your home-school curriculum, giving you the age-appropriate tools you need to effectively teach your young student how to read and play music.

…is so simple to use that you can teach your young student to play the piano without having any prior musical background yourself!

…is chocked full of fun, dynamic games and activities that are sure to foster the joy of making music in your young student.

Click to see more of our instructional videos.
Click to Purchase a kit.
Click to follow our blog which is full of free creative music ideas.

ONE winner will be selected to win one full Music for Little Learners Kit.  (Retail value:  $50)

Enter using PunchTab below.   The winner will be randomly chosen and notified by email.  Entries will close at 11:00 pm EST, Saturday, May 19, 2012.

TOS employees, contractors, product reviewers, and Crew members are not eligible to enter.  Entry into this contest will automatically subscribe you to The Old Schoolhouse magazine’s free newsletter, The Homeschool Minute.  You may unsubscribe at any time.

Posted in General, Giveaway | 10 Comments

Apps for Exploring: The Joy of Geography

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Shannon

Interactive educational apps can add so much fun to your family’s study of world geography. With a wealth of geographical offerings available, there’s so much to explore as you travel around the world together!

Maps – With an iPad on hand it’s easy to bring up maps quickly when specific locations are mentioned in read alouds, appear on the news, in magazines, or even in general conversation.  The rapid linking of places on a map with the story being read or places just mentioned helps to link geographical knowledge with real-life context and adds meaning.

Kids World Maps, iPad – $0.99 (often discounted to free) provides a simple, zoomable map that will let you point out continents, countries, capital cities, main rivers, and more while avoiding an overwhelming amount of detail.  This app is a great, basic map for younger children in early elementary.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/kids-world-maps/id428955952?mt=8

For older children, the National Geographic World Atlas, available separately for both iPhone/iPod and iPad for $1.99 includes a wealth of rich detail.  With a 3D spinning globe, three styles of maps, search and bookmark features, and even country flags and basic demographic facts, this app is an affordable, app-based atlas.

iPhone/iPod – http://itunes.apple.com/app/world-atlas-by-national-geographic/id342272934?mt=8
iPad – http://itunes.apple.com/app/world-atlas-hd/id364733950?mt=8

Historical Maps and Atlases – You can even link your exploration of geography with your history studies as you look up ancient sites and examine how political boundaries have shifted over time.

MapTrek Ancient World brings the excellent series of historical maps from Knowledge Quest to the touch screen in this universal (iPhone/iPod/iPad) – $9.99 app.  We love the PDF series of printable blackline maps, but the interactive version includes the same great chronologically arranged digital maps where the pins can be tapped to bring up more information about the locations shown!  The app also includes multiple choice quiz questions.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/maptrek-ancient-world/id429111249?mt=8

The Interactive Historical Atlas, iPad – $9.99 is another fascinating resource you may be interested in sharing with your children.  This app includes 50 historical maps from ancient through modern times, grouped into notable historical periods (The American Revolution, World War Two etc.) Animations, color coding, and map layers help to show how geography has changed over time.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/interactive-historical-atlas/id482946856?mt=8

Geography Puzzles – The joy of app-based puzzles is found not only in their affordability, but also in the freedom of never losing a piece again!  You also don’t need large, clear areas of table and large chunks of time to complete puzzles, just pull out your iPad and away your child goes!

One of our favorites, and one of the most economical geography puzzles we’ve found is Puzzleography, iPad – $2.99.  The app includes puzzle maps for the United States, the World (Continents), Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North America, South America, and the Solar System.  Several different puzzle completion modes make this app appropriate for geography learners of all ages.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/puzzleography-world-geography/id465803703?mt=8

A free lite version that includes a full puzzle map of the United States is also available as a sample of the larger app.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/puzzleography-lite-usa-geography/id472545366?mt=8

One of the best-designed and highest quality geography puzzle apps we’ve built is Shake the States, available separately for both iPhone/iPod and iPad for $1.99. This physics-enabled puzzle lets your child shake the iPad to watch the states fall from their places on the map, bounce the States around, and solve the colorful puzzle with or without state boundaries for a sense of accomplishment.  This app provides excellent reinforcement for the names and locations of all the states.

iPhone/iPod – http://itunes.apple.com/app/shake-states-for-iphone-fun/id438864504?mt=8
iPad – http://itunes.apple.com/app/shake-states-fun-games-for/id417452527?mt=8

Exploration – These apps invite your child to travel around the world virtually, exploring fascinating sights, animals, landmarks, and more.

The Barefoot World Atlas, iPad – $7.99 is a lush, gorgeous 3D globe filled with animated hand-drawn artwork and interesting tidbits about wildlife, cultures, landmarks, and more. While it also includes basic country facts, the fully narrated text about points of interest, photographs, and lovely drawings make this an app ideal for interest-led exploration and serendipitous discoveries.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/barefoot-world-atlas/id489221652?mt=8

For older students Geo Walk HD 3D World Fact Book, universal (iPhone/iPod/iPad) – $2.99, encourages the exploration of the world by exploring unusual and remarkable animals, plants, history, inventions, landmarks etc.  This high-interest app includes brief, fascinating articles along with intriguing photography to spark interest and encourage exploration of the 3D globe it uses as a navigational tool.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/geo-walk-hd-3d-world-fact-book/id379602269?mt=8

Geography Games – The premiere geography game apps are hands-down Stack the States and Stack the Countries. With similar gaming strategies, your child needs to answer questions about geography in order to earn states/countries that must then be stacked to create a physics-based pile.  Once the stack reaches the top of the line, your child receives a country or state to add to his map.  This is incredibly fun and addictive, and can lead to hours and hours of practicing geography facts and encouraging memorization.  (These apps are also available for Macs.)

Stack the States, universal (iPhone/iPod/iPad) – $0.99

http://itunes.apple.com/app/stack-the-states/id381342267?mt=8

A free lite version is also available to try –

http://itunes.apple.com/app/stack-the-states-lite/id390058619?mt=8

Stack the Countries, universal (iPhone/iPod/iPad) – $1.99

http://itunes.apple.com/app/stack-the-countries/id407838198?mt=8

A free lite version is also available to try –

http://itunes.apple.com/app/stack-the-countries-lite/id407838751?mt=8

The world is a big, exciting place – have a great time exploring it with your children with these excellent geography apps!

Jennifer Bogart is a homeschooling mom of four, 8 months to 8 years. She’s an app-loving, aspiring geek dedicated to helping you hunt down the best homeschooling apps for your children. Visit her website, Apps for Homeschooling, and let her help you find apps for your children.

Posted in Tech Matters | Tagged | Leave a comment

CHEA of CA Interviews Gena

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Shannon

The publisher of The Old Schoolhouse ®, Gena Suarez,  was interviewed today by the president of the Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA of CA).  You can watch the interview here.

Posted in Encouragement, General | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Nature Friend Magazine for Nature-Loving Families

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Shannon

No Evolution! – 12 Issues per Year

Nature Friend Magazine

Helping Children Explore the Wonders of God’s Creation

See our Homeschooler’s Guide to the Nature Friend website

With 12 issues per year, you get an exciting new magazine in your mailbox each month.

You Can Draw Feature

Children love to draw. Each month for the past 30 years, Nature Friend has given children an art lesson. Lessons may use paint, pencil, or color pencil. Children enjoy following the instructions to create their own special drawings.

Hundreds of children submit their drawings for possible publication in upcoming editions of Nature Friend. We choose for publication from all age groups, approximately 26 children’s drawings per month.

Below is a simple art lesson for your children to try.

See some sample art lessons and children’s drawings that have been published in Nature Friend.

You can draw a red fox

We now offer a Study Guide with each issue of Nature Friend magazine for only $2 per month. Besides exercises to reinforce learning, we have several bonus features. “A Study in Nature; A Lesson in Writing” teaches creative writing using a nature study as a springboard. “The Photo Critique” teaches nature photography and is an opportunity for you to submit your best photos for possible publication. See samples of the Study Guide.

Save $3 on Your New Subscription.

Mention code TOSE1213 when calling or enter coupon code TOSE1213 on Internet orders.

Please order by May 31, 2012.

Subscribe TODAY!

 1 or 2 Years,
12 Issues – $36
24 Issues – $68
International rates extra.

 Call Toll-Free:
1-877-434-0765

Or Order
Securely
Online

Features Include:

  • You Can Draw – A nature drawing lesson, as well as children’s drawings from a previous lesson. See Sample
  • Pictures and Poems – Drawings and writings submitted by our readers. See Sample
  • Invisibles – A drawing with numerous objects hidden within the drawing. See Sample
  • Stories – Character-building, Creator-honoring. Any artwork illustrations are realistic, rather than comic drawings. See Sample
  • Puzzles – May be submitted by readers. See Sample
  • Scavenger Hunt – We hide two objects anywhere within the magazine. Page 2 shows you what to look for. See Sample
  • Learning by Doing – A science-related article with an activity to reinforce or observe what is being taught in the article. See Sample
  • Creation Close-ups – Nature photos taken by readers. See Sample
  • “Month” Nature Trails – We encourage you to share with us, things you enjoy doing and the month they occur. See Sample
  • Caption This – Submit a caption for a photograph we expect to use on the back cover of an upcoming issue. See Sample
  • Story Behind the Photo – Photographers tell us about the events leading up to their capturing a special photograph. See Sample
  • Study Guide – Study Guides have exercises that reinforce learning. These may be photocopied for the whole family to use. There are two bonus features, a creative writing lesson and a nature photography lesson. See sample.

“Thank you for Nature Friend! We grew tired of the secular and evolutionary viewpoint in so many children’s nature magazines. Nature Friend is refreshing!”

—Muskego, WI

“We really enjoy your magazine We have 12 children, ages 3-20, and it’s a scramble to see who gets it first (parents too!). Thanks, and God bless your efforts!”

—Tillsonbury, ON

Read More Testimonials

Readers appreciate the opportunity to contribute art, photographs, stories, puzzles, and poems to Nature Friend. Not only do we publish material from readers in each issue, but every year we also publish a “Readers’ Issue” which is cover-to-cover with readers’ submissions. Discover what is inside Nature Friend by enjoying this Readers’ Issue.

The beautiful cover photograph of a green frog on a zinnia was taken by Anna Parish, 13, of Cleveland, MO. Anna was awarded $50 for this cover. Joanna Yoder, 15, of Princeton, KY, was awarded $25 for her drawing of a meadowlark that graced a back cover.

Save $3 on Your New Subscription.

Mention code TOSE1213 when calling or enter coupon code TOSE1213 on Internet orders.  Please order by May 31, 2012.

We invite you to join our subscriber family!

-Kevin and Bethany Shank, home-schooling parents, are publishers of Nature Friend.

Nature Friend Subscriptions
4253 Woodcock Lane
Dayton, VA 22821
Toll-Free: 1-877-434-0765
Nature Friend Magazine Website
E-Mail Nature Friend

Your children can take in-flight photos too. Click, or call Kevin 1-877-434-0765

Birds are migrating now. The whole family can enjoy them up close with quality Vortex binoculars. Want help choosing a pair? Click, or call Kevin 1-877-434-0765

a publication of Dogwood Ridge Outdoors

Nature Friend banner

You are invited to place a link to our website on your website.  Get banners, buttons, and code for your website.

 

Posted in Affiliate Marketing | Leave a comment

Give Your Child a Passport to Math Success This Summer with ALEKS

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Shannon

ALEKS Corporation
Whether at home or on the road this summer, ALEKS can be used to provide each student with personalized learning and assessment tailored to his or her individual needs.See how ALEKS will help your children prepare for future math success this summer by signing up for a complimentary 2-month trial (a $39.90 value!).

Begin 2-Month Trial

(new users only)

“I am very pleased with ALEKS as a tool to keep my student’s skills sharp over the summer months and to prepare for entering the next level of math. We have used the program for the past three summers with great success.”

– Mary E.,
Homeschooling Parent, OR

Read More Success Stories

 

ALEKS is a registered trademark of ALEKS Corporation.
This is an advertising message from ALEKS Corporation.

Posted in Affiliate Marketing | Tagged | Leave a comment

Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? Review

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Shannon

Are you looking for a book to help teach worldview and foundational truths to elementary aged children?  Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him from Apologia may be the perfect addition to your homeschool.

Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him?

By John Hay and David Webb

Apologia Educational Ministries

1106 Meridian Plaza Suite 220
Anderson, IN 46016 US
Phone: (888)524-4724

www.apologia.com

Product Review by Courtney Larson

Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? is the first volume of the four volume What We Believe worldview series. This series is written for ages 6 through 14, and is designed for multi-level use. This book was published by Apologia in partnership with Summit Ministries, a well-known Christian ministry that is focused on teaching young adults a strong Christian worldview. A big gap in worldview materials has been the availability of materials for elementary age students, even though children are often hit daily with incorrect, unbiblical messages from various media sources. Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? will begin to give these children the filters they need so they can view the world with a Christian worldview and sort right from wrong, fact from fiction, and truth from lies.

This book is divided into ten lessons, and is written directly to the student. Each lesson is designed to be flexible, though there is a sample schedule provided that shows how to divide the lesson over 6 days, stretched over 2 weeks (doing the program 3 days per week). There are several sections and activities in each lesson, including short stories, questions designed to get your student thinking, memory work, and vocabulary work, in addition to the main lesson. Notebooking is encouraged to reinforce what the student has learned, and there are notebooking pages available on the Apologia website (a code to access the information is included in the text).

Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? isn’t a Bible study, though there is plenty of Bible in the book. Instead, it teaches the student about who God is, and that God is truth, which is the foundation of a Christian worldview. The lessons cover questions such as: “What is God Like?”, “Who Are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?”, “If God Created the World, Why Isn’t It Perfect?”, and “Is Jesus the Only Way to God?”, along with 6 other topics.

I think this book is absolutely wonderful. Teaching students Bible stories isn’t difficult, and there are plenty of resources available for that. Teaching worldview is often overlooked, though, and I feel that it is just as important. If children are taught to think about the messages they receive, and to filter them through a Christian worldview, I really think their understanding and faith will be stronger as they grow into young adults and are faced with dealing with unchristian, or even anti-Christian messages from the media, their colleges, and friends and acquaintances they meet along the way. I highly recommend adding Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? to your student’s schedule, and I look forward to the release of the remaining three volumes.

Posted in Product Review | Tagged | Leave a comment

Picking Curriculum is Like Picking a New Dress

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Shannon

I had the privilege of speaking at a women’s luncheon this weekend. So, deciding the day before that I needed a new dress to wear, and being the frugal homeschooler that I am, I headed over to my local thrift store.

A little-known fact about me is that I hate clothes shopping. Do you know how time-consuming and frustrating finding something to wear can be? After an hour and a half, I was still unable to locate anything. I found lots and lots of interesting things that I thought might be nice, but most were not the right size. When I did find the right size (which will remain anonymous to protect my plumpness), the clothes either did not fit just right, or I saw right away that I could never wear that in public. Tired and frustrated, I finally prayed for help. Merely 15 minutes and $4 later, I had a skirt in a bag and was heading home. I hadn’t planned to get a skirt, but I realized I had the perfect jacket and blouse at home to go with it. I love how God changes my mind for the better.

Great story, but what does it have to do with choosing curriculum? I find many similarities between looking for something to wear and looking for something to teach.

Often, I will go curriculum shopping with a general idea of what I need but no idea of what I want to purchase. Sometimes, I see so many things that look good, I am not sure about anything at all! After spending lots of time and ending up a bit frustrated, I finally pray. “Lord, give me Your direction and guidance for each child.” I begin to see how the things I had in mind wouldn’t work in my family with the way I teach. Or, I begin to see that it would not fit with how my child learns. After prayer, clarity of mind often comes, and I am sometimes pleasantly led in a whole new direction than what I had planned. Sometimes, I realize that all I need is some extras to go along with what I already have at home. And sometimes, I am even blessed with a $4, 15-minute answer.

Just as each of us has a personal clothing style, so we each have a different teaching style. What is right and works for one family may not work at all for ours. It just doesn’t fit. Sometimes we feel like we don’t have the right curriculum or don’t have enough subjects, or don’t have enough experience teaching. The cool part about all of this is that no matter what the teaching method or what kind of curriculum, God rewards our obedience, and home-educated children excel across the board. **

If you are like me and are already thinking about what you are going to do for curriculum next year, pray about it, talk to your spouse about it, and ask for God’s guidance. He blesses those who want to bless Him with the education of His children and who are making the commitment to keep them home where they belong.

~Deborah

Deborah Wuehler is the Senior Editor for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, wife to Richard, and mom to eight gifts from heaven. She loves digging for buried treasure in the Word, homeschooling, and of course, dark chocolate! Emailsenioreditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.

Posted in Encouragement | Tagged | Leave a comment

Review: Beautiful Feet Literature Study Guides

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Shannon

I have used several of these literature guides with much success in my home, so I thought I would share this review with you today.

Beautiful Feet Literature Study Guides:
Ancient History Through Literature

by Rea Berg and Rebecca Manor

Beautiful Feet Books

www.bfbooks.com

Product Review by Heather Jackowitz

Rea Berg and her daughter Rebecca co-authored this helpful study guide for homeschoolers. The guide is divided into two parts for use with intermediate (fourth through sixth grade) and high school students. Although the cover says, “With additional notes for junior high,” the only note I found specifically addressing junior high was in the introduction: “Students in junior high may follow the intermediate study on their own, with the teacher participating as much as possible.” Following each section is an answer key with answers to some, but not all, of the questions posed in the guide.

The intermediate level contains 71 lessons, and the high school level contains 91 lessons. Each level of the guide is divided into four sections: The Rise of Civilization, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. It might take more than one day to complete each lesson, and students will need to complete two to three lessons per week in the lower level and three per week in high school to complete the study in one school year. Each lesson will probably take one to two hours to complete, as history and literature are tied together. In addition to a Bible, you will need the following books for each level:

Intermediate:

  • Streams of Civilization by Mary Stanton and Albert Hyma
  • Atlas of the Bible Lands by Harry Thomas Frank
  • Pyramid by David Macaulay
  • Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green
  • Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne
  • The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
  • The Children’s Homer by Padraic Colum
  • D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
  • Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker
  • The Ancient Greeks by Don Nardo
  • Augustus Caesar’s World by Genevieve Foster
  • The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare
  • The White Isle by Caroline Dale Snedeker
  • City by David Macaulay

(The Ancient Greeks by Don Nardo has gone out of print. Although Beautiful Feet does offer a substitution on their website, the guide refers to the old book.)

Senior High:

  • Streams of Civilization by Mary Stanton and Albert Hyma
  • Atlas of the Bible Lands by Harry Thomas Frank
  • The Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty
  • Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
  • Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne
  • The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton
  • D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths
  • The Children’s Homer by Padraic Colum
  • Augustus Caesar’s World by Genevieve Foster
  • Caesar’s Gallic Wars by Olivia Coolidge
  • Quo Vadis? by Henryk Sienkiewicz
  • Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
  • Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
  • Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray

Students compile a notebook with maps, drawings, writing assignments, and vocabulary. The Bergs have provided excellent comprehension questions for each book and a variety of suggestions for writing assignments. Many of the writing assignments require students to do research, such as this example from the Intermediate guide: “Do some research on the Greek language. From where did it originate? What modern languages are based upon Greek? What literary works were originally recorded in Greek? Copy out the Greek alphabet in the student notebook.” Other lessons suggest that students use the Internet with parental supervision.

Beautiful Feet’s Ancient History Study Guide is a tremendous resource, whether or not you use it in its entirety. It is very inexpensive and offers a wealth of ideas for your study of ancient history.

Posted in Product Review | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Homeschool Buyers Co-op

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Shannon

www.HomeschoolBuyersCo-op.org

With over 80,000 families, the Homeschool Buyers Co-op is the world’s largest buyers club for homeschoolers — owned and operated by homeschoolers, just like you!  Membership is FREE!

Our mission is to give homeschoolers access to the world’s best curriculum at the lowest possible prices.  On our website you’ll find the BEST DEAL ON THE PLANET for hundreds of popular homeschooling curriculums from companies such as Rosetta Stone, Alpha Omega Publications, Mark Kistler, and more.

Join us today — it’s FREE!

Save 20%-90% On Curriculum

Posted in Affiliate Marketing | Leave a comment

Weekly Giveaway! In the Hands of a Child Lapbook Project Pack

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Shannon

In the Hands of A Child Project Pack

A Summary & Review of Early American History (1585-1861) Lapbook in eBook form

Throughout history, the population and economy of the United States has changed dramatically.  The nation has developed from a small English colony into a diverse culture that has the largest economy in the world.  Make your lesson planning easy with the A Summary & Review of Early American History: The Lost Colony through the Pony Express (1585-1861) lapbook from In the Hands of a Child.  This unit includes a 15-day Planning Guide, Related Reading List, 30 Hands-On Activities, a 32-page Research Guide, and an Answer Key. Students will be introduced to or will review events in American history that include Roanoke: The Lost Colony, Jamestown, the Pilgrims, Colonial Life, French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Gold Rush, the Pony Express, and much more.  (Retail Value: $18.00)

Enter using PunchTab below.   The winner will be randomly chosen and notified by email.  Entries will close at 11:00 pm EST, Saturday, May 12, 2012.

TOS employees, contractors, product reviewers, and Crew members are not eligible to enter.  Entry into this contest will automatically subscribe you to The Old Schoolhouse magazine’s free newsletter, The Homeschool Minute.  You may unsubscribe at any time.

Posted in Giveaway | 8 Comments