Aleks

Since we began homeschooling, I have struggled to find a good solid math program for my 6th grader.  I started out with a 4th grade program when he was in 5th grade.  I wanted him to have a solid understanding of math facts, and since he was public schooled up until then, I wasn’t really sure what he knew or didn’t.  He did fine with the chosen math program for the first year.  Then we got to the stuff he hadn’t learned yet.  And he began to fight me on math everyday.  I have been trying to find a program we can both be happy with since them.  Let me be honest with you here, I wasn’t sure about Aleks when I first found out we would be reviewing it, so I dragged my feet in getting into it.  And boy do I wish I hadn’t. 



We received a month long subscription to Aleks to review.  I set up my sixth grader on it.  I now find him doing Aleks outside of “school time”.  I have found him on it during weekends and his free time.  So let me just jump into the things we loved.

What we love about Aleks:

The great client support, quick response time, friendly and helpful.

The fact that it is hands off for me.   I can just check his progress through my parent account, and work with him on specific things he needs help with.

He is doing math when I tell him to and even when I don’t. 

We both love the way it has a pie chart of all the things to learn and all the things you have learned.  It really shows him exactly where he is at, and how much further he has to go.  Tommy really likes knowing what is ahead. 

You answer a few questions and show you know how to do the type of problem, if you get it right you move on, if you get it wrong it teaches you, and you try again.  It shows you what you got wrong and how to do it right. 



Aleks remembers where you last left off, and just restarts you on the next problem when you get back on. 

What could have been better:

The assessment was long for Tommy, about 45 minutes to answer 30 questions, and while it had to be done, he struggled with the feeling that it wasn’t going to end.  While I feel this purely had to do with my son’s attitude, it was still a struggle for us. 

The next button stuck on him quite a few times.  He would have to close out and restart.  He found that frustrating. 



Normally, Aleks offers a 48 hour free trial.  Now for me, I would need more time to be able to decide.  So for my readers they are offering a free 30 day trial!  That is so great.  I recommend at least trying it with your children to see if it meets their learning styles.



For Aleks the price is $99 for 6 months, which is expensive for me, but when you have been searching for a complete math program that your child is willing to do without fighting you on.  The price is worth it. 

To see what my crewmates said about Aleks check out our crew blog. 

{I received a 30 day trial of Aleks in order to write this review.  All opinions are my own.  No other compensation was provided. }

Kids Answer TOS Blog Cruise

 

I am interested in my children’s answers.  So I am participating in this weeks blog cruise.

 

Here are Tommy’s (11) answers.

Why does my family homeschool?

Because it’s easier.

What is my favorite part of homeschooling?

Doing product reviews and the field trips.

What do I want to be when I grow up?

I wanna be a mechanical engineer, and build cars and stuff.

Emily’s (10) answers.

Why does my family homeschool?

 Because you wanted us to be home.  I don’t know, why do we homeschool. 

What is my favorite part of homeschooling?

Playing family games for school.  I like being home.  I don’t have to hurry and do my work.  We can take breaks if we need to.   

What do I want to be when I grow up?

I wanna be an actress.  My back up plan is to be a police officer. 

Katey’s (5) answers.

Why does my family homeschool?

 Because I want to. 

What is my favorite part of homeschooling?

 Everything.  Playing.

What do I want to be when I grow up?

I might work at In and Out.  I like their hats

I am glad to know my children’s answers, whether I agree with them or not. 

A little time saves alot of money

I received my internet bill in the mail recently, and I couldn't help but think how stinkin expensive internet is.  I was paying $57.95 plus $7.00 for modem rental PER MONTH! I have cable internet.  Then I heard about how another internet company (the one offered through my phone company) their internet was $19.99 per month for 6 months.   

So that's enough background.  Let's get down on how to save some money!  I called my internet company and told them about the deal the other company was offering.  My internet company agreed to price match for me.  So now I pay $19.99 a month (plus the $7.00 modem rental) per month for 6 months. 

All that savings for 15 minutes on the phone.  I am so happy.   Now in 6 months I will still have to decide what to do again.  But for now I am happy and saving money!

Good Morning, God. A book review.

I have used Apologica Science books since I began homeschooling.  I absolutely love them.  So I was completely thrilled to be able to try out another one of their books.  I received Good Morning, God written by Davis Carman by being on The Homeschool Crew.



Good Morning, God is a great book that teaches your children to worship God throughout every day life.  It is such a cute book with amazing pictures. This book is geared toward children 1-8.  However, all my children loved it and they range from 1 to 11.  In fact, I loved it too.  The artwork and story are enthralling.  The book was repetitive nature  it was very easy for my children to be able to “read” the repeating phrases of the book with me.  That really makes the book more enjoyable for pre-readers my daughter felt really special being able to “read” the words.  

One great thing this book had, that I was surprised at was a week long lesson plan.  It would make for a great unit study of how to worship God in your everyday life.  It has some really great activities. 

For $14.00 directly from Apologica makes for a great book that you and your family will enjoy for years to come.

To see what my crewmates thought of this book check out the crew blog here. 

{I received this book for free in order to write this review, in which I share my honest opinions and feelings.  NO other compensation was received."}

What’s in the box? 4th Grade

During the month of December, we are taking schooling a little slower.  We are trying to focus more on the season and preventing burn out. 

 

Emily’s 4th grade boxes look like this today.

 

Box 1: Wrap ups and Skip Count Cd.

Box 2:  Story Builders.    You draw one card of each color and then write a creative story about what was drawn.

 

Box 3: 20 Questions

Box 4: Roman Coloring book.

Box 5: Read in Botany

 

Box 6:  Math Facts Now

 

Box 7:  Handwriting Without Tears Cursive

Box 8: Measuring with the Master Ruler

Box 9: Vocabulary Cartoons.  Review 10 words.

Box 10:  Work together with the family on our Christmas Study.

 

 

She is able to get boxes 1-9 done before lunch and after lunch we will work on our Christmas Study. 

 

 

A whole new person

 

Katey went through a big transformation recently.  We took her in for a haircut.

She got a shampoo.

 

She sat patiently in the chair while the stylist put her hair in a pony tail.  Then WHACK!

 

 

She cut off over 15” of hair.    Now this was no surprise to Katey, she knew she wanted short hair.  Her long hair was beautiful, but very hard to take care of and was always prone to tangles.  She donated her hair to Locks Of Love.  She had cut off enough hair that they will use it to make a hair piece for a child. This made the whole process more exciting for her.  She loves helping out. 

This is her with her cute new haircut.  Tyler couldn’t stop hugging and kissing her after.  It was like she was a whole new person to him. 

We had SNOW much FUN!

One of the great benefits of living near the mountains is the amazing sledding hills near us.  This weekend we packed up the kids and let them go sledding.    They had so much fun.  Some of the hills were very big, so big that the kids only dared go on them once.  Then they stuck to the “kiddie hill”, which was still a pretty nice hill.  

Pardon the poor pictures, I forgot my camera, and these were taken with my phone.

I am so excited!

I am just so excited that I want to shout it from the rooftops. 

 

What am I so excited about? 

 

Our upcoming Christmas Study! 

 

Join us.

 

I hope to blog all about it with pictures coming soon!

Teaching the difference of standard and metric measurements.

 Master Innovations, LLC, sales a variety of math manipulatives. 



We have been “Mastering the World of Measuring With The Master Ruler”  for the past while.  We have really enjoyed these.    We have 2 rulers, one metric (mm, cm, dm), and one standard (1/16”, 1/8”, 1/4”, 1/2” and 1”).   Each ruler has a measurement conversion chart right on the back of it.  These rulers have labeled and different color tabs on them, so you know which measurement you are reading.  This makes them so simple.  They really helped my handyman son get the hang of reducing while measuring.  Each Master Ruler sales for $9.95. 


We also got the workbook to go along with it.    It has all kinds of measuring worksheets in it.  The book starts of easy, you begin by measuring things from butterflies and bugs, to buildings an distances.  Then it works it’s way to be more challenging, with worksheets where you figure out how many miles away something is if 1/8” equals one mile.   Moving on to measuring and figuring out area or perimeter on squares or rectangles.   And still more challenging as it moves into adding and subtracting the fractions with like and unlike denominators,  and even moves into reducing the fractions.  The workbook sales for $15.95.

These rulers and the activity book proved to be challenging enough for my 11 year old who is studying fractions.  Yet my 10 year old who is learning division was also able to understand.   



They have a nice poster with measurement conversions, which comes in helpful when talking about how many pints in a gallon, how many cups in a pint, ect.  The poster sales for $10.00





They also have Master Angles, Master Clocks and Master Fractions.  I can see how each of these items would definitely help your child to master these concepts in a fun way.    One great feature I see is that they are not geared toward younger kids as far as faces on the clock, and cartoonish characters.  That made this more appealing for my older children, they did not feel as if they were learning things for kindergarteners.  

{I received all of these items as my part of The Homeschool Crew in order to share this review.   All opinions expressed herein are my own, and have not been influenced at all.}