Tools at your fingertips

I have been telling you since I started this blog that you NEEDED a subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.  It is so full of encouragement and information, I really think every homeschooler could benefit from it regardless of the method you use to school.

Ever on the quest to put resources in the hands of homeschoolers, they have come up with a new Teachers Toolbox for their subscribers.  It is a monthly publication that is LOADED with stuff.  Just look at  some of what members have access to:

• Access to EVERY digital issue ever created!
• Access to a special password-protected section of the TOS website available only to subscribers, containing article after article of inspiration and support.
• A month’s worth of recipes—one for every day of the month (recipes will change monthly). (Can I get a Hallelujah here!!!  I am ALWAYS looking for new ideas for dinner!)
• Monthly calendars featuring “This Day in History” activities and lessons for each day.
• Frugal tips with Molly!
• Guest “speakers” popping up to inspire us. Think of it as a homeschool seminar at your fingertips!
• Free E-Books, crafts, printable content, unit studies, and so much more!


I know that times are tight for folks around the country but I want you to know that there is always a sale going on for a subscription to this magazine, and there is bound to be a price that fits your budget.  Prayerfully consider a subscription with your spouse.  The encouragement is so worth the price.  My husband reads the magazine too.  In the last issue, he found an article that said, when homeschool moms neglect their personal time with the Lord, and do not create a time in the day to be still and recharge their batteries...they tend to feel overwhelmed and exhausted.  He brought me the magazine.... asked me to read the article... and then said, "What can I do to help you have that kind of time in a day?"  This is just one example of how this magazine has been such a blessing to us!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has always been more than words on a page.  In addition to the magazine it is an online community on Facebook and Twitter where you can go to ask questions and get answers from other homeschoolers. It is a place to share ideas and encouragement. The Teachers Toolbox enhances that community with providing you instant access to tools that will help you teach your child.

I am blessed to have been chosen as a Star Contributor for the Teachers Toolbox.  Star Contributors are crazy busy homeschool parents like you, that are eager to share and encourage you on your homeschool journey.  Many of us have been where you are.... searching the Internet for information.... going cross-eyed looking for things and then forgetting where you wrote them down... The Teachers Toolbox is where we put all the things we have made, and found... all for you.... and it is FREE with your subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

 If you don't have one already.... go and grab your subscription TODAY!


I’ll look for you in the Teacher’s Toolbox, where inspiration builds education.

Math Rider~ A Math Mastery Adventure

"Have your child master addition, subtraction, multiplication and division all for the cost of less than 1 hour professional private tuition!"

       ~ from the creators of Math Rider

Available to download instantly to your computer, Math Rider is a compelling choice for mastering those math facts from 0-12.  Created for children ages 7-12 Math Rider learns what you child knows and needs to learn and tailors the game to them.  This is a real value at the full price of $49.95 but it is even a better value at the sale price of $37.00, so hurry over and get it while the sale is on!
 
The Math Rider website explains how your child plays.
 
Your child is taken into a land of fantasy and quests. Living in the Land of Ray and riding a horse called Shadow, he or she will set out on various noble adventures. Riding across amazing, digitally matte-painted moving backdrops of distinct fantastic lands, they will accomplish their quest, be it finding magical flowers, returning gems to the elves or even rescuing a princess!

Each operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) contains four quests, ranging from easy to master.

The four quests are the same across the four operations, however, the rewards are not. Every combination of quest and reward holds a different reward. The rewards are all animated according to how well the player answered the questions.

All rewards are displayed on the main screen of the game. In this way there is a direct feedback and incentive for your child to do as best as they can.

Hunter, our 3rd grader, was our Math Rider user.  He uses it about 4 days a week.  It has certainly helped him retain his math facts.  When he is doing his multiplication in his workbook, the only problems that he misses, or doesn't know, are the ones that he has NOT gone over yet with Math Rider.  Even just listening to him play I know that he is learning.  Early in his quest  I hear lots of  "uugh!" and "oh, man! I almost had it!" going on.  In the middle of the quest I begin to hear, "YYYEESSS!"  as he has finished a ride and earned time points.  That tells me that the skills are sinking in, and over the days he is on a quest, the retention of the facts is faster and faster.

It is easy to set up a Quest.  You choose the operation that you want to work on and then the level (easy, medium, advanced, or master). 

Then the problems come up as hurdles for you to jump.  You input the answer with your number pad, and hit enter to record it.  If you are correct Shadow jumps the hurdle.  If you are wrong, Shadow stops, and a kind voice reads you the problem and the answer.

After your ride, you are taken to a map and are able to see how far you have traveled toward your destination.  Here Hunter is about 1/2 way through an advanced skill level addition quest.

Here you can see the flower he has earned for the easy quest, a gem from a medium quest, and a flag from the advanced addition one.

You can use the My Statistics button to see exactly what as been covered, and how your child is coming along.

Clicking on any number (here 25; 5x5=25), brings up additional information.  I can see how many times the problem has appeared in the game.  What his percentage of correct and incorrect answers were.

I will be honest, I really didn't think that Hunter would like this program. He is all boy, and camo and guns, and sharks.  I didn't think he would like the horse riding theme.   I have been utterly blown away by how much he loves it.  He asks to play it all the time.  Today he did 10 rides in is Quest, he was determined to complete it!!  I think that seeing his progress on the map, and the instant feedback on a right or wrong answer, have been part of what makes this program work for him.  He loves the little stories, and often calls us in so that we can listen to them again with him.  I also think he enjoys the independence of the program.  I don't need to sit with him and explain anything.  The controls are easy to use, all he has to do is input the answers and do some clicking.  It is simple and straight forward.

If you are looking for an innovative take on drilling math facts that really does feel like a game.  I would recommend that you try out Math Rider.  Many other families tried Math Rider in their homeschool.  Don't forget to read about their experiences before you decide if Math Rider is right for your family. 



****Disclaimer****

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew I was given Math Rider free of charge for the purpose of this review.  No other compensation has been received.  All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

These are from last spring, a field trip to our favorite farm....  The Happy L'il Homestead

 Trying to bench press a goat

Hey lady?  Can you get him to let me go???

Tuesday Trivia

Today's installment comes to you live from the Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal package...

Did ya know?...

Forty-seven bibles are sold or distributed throughout the world each minute of each day.

The Stanley Cup, emblem of ice-hockey supremacy in North America, was donated in 1893 by Canada's then governor-general, Frederick Arthur, Lord Stanley of Preston.

Until the mid-eighteenth century, spectators in English theaters often watched performances while sitting on stage-- just a few feet away from the actors.

According to the U.S. Hydrographic Office ( a what? this is a legitimate office? Even my spell check doesn't believe that is a real word. )  about 2,500 ships have been wrecked at sea in the last hundred years.

To busy to Expo? Get it to go!

I heard you wanted to go to the Schoolhouse Expo but May 16th -20th are busy days for you.....

Maybe it's Aunt Margret's annual visit is that week or you have a root canal scheduled or something....

Since the creators of the Schoolhouse Expo are busy mom's like you, they know things come up and life happens and sometimes you can't possibly glue yourself to a computer for a week....  they have come up with a perfect solution.

They want homeschool parents everywhere to be able to benefit from:

• Learning how to Teach a Timed Essay, by Kim Kautzer (  I don't know about you but I don't have a clue how to do that... and I have kids needing to take SAT's!)
• Leading with Vision, the Key to Family Unity, by Norm Wakefield.  ( We have teens and younger children and our family starts to feel very scattered sometimes.  I am intrigued to hear what Norm has to say about keeping your family unified.)
• Devotions with Deborah Wuehler....  ( really these are like a tall glass of water in the middle of the Expo day.  I look forward to these devotions everyday!)

They really don't want anyone at all to miss out on the great information that is going to be presented. So they came up with Expo to Go!

While I have been blessed to attend every Expo as a live event, I assure you that if there were some compelling family reason that had to keep me from the expo, or if I were a working homeschool parent, I would be buying Expo to Go.

With such busy full days, it is important to take time to recharge our parental batteries.  These recordings will do just that.  You can listen while you do the dishes or vacuum.  You can listen as you walk the dog or work out.  If you work outside the home you could listen during your commute.

Live attendees get these MP3's also, so I assure you that they are a valuable asset in your homeschool journey.  I have listened to Milia Russell (May 2010) over and over again.  Her two talks on Managing the Multilevel Homeschool, and Teaching the Distractable Child...  both speak straight to my heart.  They help me refocus when I feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be done....  They remind me that my duty is to teach and train!  That same Expo is where I met Lee Binz, the Homescholar.  She demystified making a High School transcript...  She stands with you and tells you ... YES! You can do it!....  I listen to that MP3 when I am facing a stack of paper 12 inches high and when I am not sure what things I can call a class or not.
From the October 2010 Archives, I listen to John Taylor Gatto. Every. Single. Time... I hear something I missed in the original airing....  Every time I come away galvanized that Home Education is the for sure choice for our family.

I want you to have these great resources at your finger tips from THIS Expo....  and you can for only $19.99.  Make sure you make your reservation for these great MP3's.

They have even thrown in a few free gifts every one of them something that can help you in your homeschool journey.

To check out the gifts in detail click on the purchase now button.  It will link you to a page that explains the whole Expo To Go concept and links directly to the spot to order your very own Expo to Go.

*A link to download your Free Gifts will be available in your account upon checkout.
**You will receive an e-mail sometime mid-June notifying you when your MP3s will be available for download

Lawyers, Doctors, Divers and Cheeps.... oh my!

Cruising from the office chair, once again, but today with the Hubbster sipping coffee next to me.  I could get used to this... 

Today's topic is: "What do your children want to be when they grow up and what are you doing to help them pursue their field of interest?"

Evan who is 16 for a few more months, isn't home this morning so his "what does he want to be" comes from his sister, who he talks to about these things....  My sources tell me that he currently wants to be a lawyer, pastor, music minister, oh... and maybe a software developer.  With no solid landing yet in any one area,  we currently let him explore the things that interest him....  If he is on fire to learn more about government.... we give him things like that to read or research....  He has started taking more music classes, and wants to take voice lessons....  We just try to give him the space to investigate all the possible jobs from all sides...

Tayler, she is 15.  She wants to be a doctor, paramedic, farm/ranch (a "franch" she called it..) owner, a missionary, and maybe a zoo owner.  We encourage her by letting her keep Noah's ark at our house....  She also helps out our friends with their farm work whenever she can.  She knows how to vaccinate animals and clip pig teeth, and help goat babies come into the world.  She is an amazing goat and pig wrangler...  I have seen her chase a 300 lb pig and win.  In her pursuit of medicine, she really likes to study how Herbs work in our bodies to help us naturally.  She has mentioned becoming a doctor of natural medicine.  For missions, we have been on a trip to Mexico, and I think our church will be going on another one in a year, so we will attend that also.  If she wanted to move to a different country ranch alpacas, tell people about Jesus, and grow herbs to help treat sicknesses, at 17...  I'd be ok with that. 


Hunter who is 8, states he would like to be an underwater welder.  This is news to me.  I have no earthly idea how in the world to encourage that one.... Maybe help him practice holding his breath for long periods of time???  Time to get investigating...


Jeremiah, my lovely 3 year old for only a few more weeks, proudly declared that when he grewed up he wants to be a "fyah cheep".  Fire Chief, I can do.  We will start investigating all the fire truck we see when we are out running errands.

Don't forget to click on the big ship at the top, to check out what the kids of other homeschoolers want to be when they grow up, and how they are helping them be whatever God has designed them to be.

Kid Scoop News ~ Reluctant Reader Solution

Do you have a Reluctant Reader?
Me too...

The Reluctant Reader Solution is geared to entice children ages 7-12 into reading with a very friendly and interesting format.  If you choose to purchase this program for your child, be aware that it is comprised of three different parts.  First you can go to their home page, http://www.kidscoop.com/, and sign up to receive daily "Make Reading Fun" tips for 30 days.   The first portion of the Reluctant Reader Solution is an e-book.  It is an immediately down-loadable PDF file that you would store on your computer, or portable disk drive.  With that FULL and I do mean FULL book of activities, you also receive online access to a monthly magazine "KidScoop", for one year.  This package is available for only $97. It comes with a 365 day money-back guarantee. That is how important it is to them that you are happy with their product!

So how does this thing work???  It isn't mind control or a secret formula you feed to them...  It is based on something all kids have.  Curiosity!

The worksheets in the book and the monthly magazine are chock full of bite sized,  trivia filled articles that kids love to read and explore.

The Down-loadable file that you receive, comes with an explanatory page suggesting several different ways for you to use all of the files.  You can sort them by month ( it gives you that list)  or just go one by one through them.

In January and February I just printed out the files that were listed for those months.  I would keep them on a clip board and we would take them to church with us.  what?  yup.  That was where we would use them.  My son is 8 and at our church there are no longer children's programs for him during services.  I have tried and tried to get him to do some school work during that hour, and he has always been resistant.  Until now.

Now, he is asking for his "papers" and he eagerly sits and works while he listens.  I no longer need to shush him for making shooting sounds with the pencils in the pew....  he is too busy writing with his pencil to play with it.  So there you have it, I found a fun way to sneak school in on Sundays!

I really liked how the articles and activities are linked to State Standards.  You can at a glance, see the places that you child gravitates to, and standards that they are comfortable with.... and you can see the ones they struggle with or avoid altogether.

For instance, with the Hockey Volume, Hunter avoided like the plague a section on Proof Reading, but he did very well with the letter sequencing, recognizing identical words, skim and scan reading and recalling spelling patterns ( the Word Search puzzle).  You are able to see what skill the activities are working on building up in your child, that will carry over into those multiple pages, picture-less books you want them to read.  It may look a bit like you are giving your child busy work, but you are really giving them skill building work that they think is just plain fun.

As a reviewer, we were given access to the monthly online magazine as well. 

This is what it looked like on my home computer...  It was vibrant and colorful, and contained lots of great reading material that was very interesting.  It has a full screen view to help with reading those little letters.... and for those that need the writing even bigger, there is a zoom function,

that brings everything into a super easy to read size.  You just click and hold your mouse down to move around the page.  The online version also has the option to have the text read to you.  The robotic voice was a bit hard to get used to... but the thing that I had the most trouble with was when you clicked to hear the audio, your screen would go dark, and the audio files would be covering the actual text.  I tried to move it, but it just stayed put.  I think my son would have benefited from being able to read along with the audio file.  Seeing and hearing the words to help build a better connection.  That being said, it wasn't a deal breaker thing, we just chose to read the magazine and not listen to it.

The Reluctant Reader Solution is a great tool to have in your corner.

It makes writing, reading, grammar, spelling, sequencing.....  all that official stuff we want to make sure our kids are understanding.... it helps you make it all fun.

We will continue to use this product after our review, to help build these great Language Arts skills.

As always, opinions on products will vary from family to family.  Please take the time to read the other reviews from my TOS Homeschool Crewmates.

**** Disclaimer****

As a member of the TOS Homeschool Review Crew, I received a copy of The Reluctant Reader Solution and access to their online monthly magazine, free of charge from KidScoop, for the purpose of writing this review.  No other compensation has been received. All the above opinions are my own.