Abraham’s Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream

 

With President’s Day recently we read a book given to me by  Inspiring The American Dream called Abrahams Journey: A Celebration of the American Dream. 

This book is about a boy named Abraham and living through the depression and his parents have both lost their jobs and can’t afford gifts.  He takes a journey through cyberspace with a man he meets (Abraham Lincoln).  Together both Abrahams travel through time (not historically accurate) and meet people that end up helping Abraham to raise money to buy gifts for his family.  In the end they are even able to donate some money to the needy. 

The book talks a lot about the American Dream, and what it means.  This book did keep it fairly simple and had it only evolve around Christmas. It wasn’t historically accurate as you meet two people from two different time periods at the same time.  However that only bothered me slightly since time traveling through cyber space isn’t possible to begin with.  I also thought this book would be more able the journey of Abraham Lincoln throughout his life.  Just goes to show you, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover!

I did appreciate how it portrayed the American Dream as to taking care of your family and still be able to be charitable.   I also liked how in the back of the book are short biographies on the 7 famous people mentioned throughout the book.

This book was a short quick read for us. We really liked the stunning pictures throughout.

The paperback version of this book sales for $14.99 with the Kindle version being $9.99

To see what others think of this check out this post. To see a wide variety of reviews check out our crew blog.

  

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

College Common Sense

Going to College and Paying for it Online Video and Workbook is a program designed to help you find many ways to pay for college. For just $50 + $5 shipping/handling you can get the program in DVD/workbook or for $25, a one-year online access to the video and workbook materials. 

Denise Ames is the creator of College Common Sense, her experience comes from her working as a financial aid counselor for the past 10 years. Denise realizes that each college has their own financial aid office, however with the multitude of students applying each year some things can be overlooked, and that is why you need to arm yourself with this knowledge.

The program consists of about 6 hours of videos, a workbook, newsletters, and lesson plans. The Newsletters and lesson plans are free to anyone.

This program is designed so that it can be used by parents of any students, or as your students get older you can do this together. There are things in the lesson plans listed out by age that they can do to help them understand the process.  Some of the things are quick and simple such as watch a video, or research something, other times it is a project or bigger things like taking a tour of a college campus.

The program is divided into sections

• The Big Picture
• How Financial Aid Works
• All About The Free Money
• The System That Works
• You in the Process
• Pull It All Together

I had my older children watch the videos with me and they did not enjoy them.  They are very to the point, similar to watching a lecture. 

Then we worked together on the lesson plans that were sent to me each week.  Doing the suggested lessons was much more hands on and enjoyable for my middle school aged kids. We did not do every thing in the lesson plans we decided to pick and choose based on the time we had and what was available to us here in our small town.  

We did all learn very much about the process of applying for colleges as well as some good tips to help us get through college financially.  I could see anyone who plans on going to college benefiting from this program.  It even got me to see some ways I could afford for me to go back to college if I wanted to.

To see what others think of this check out this post. To see a wide variety of reviews check out our crew blog.

  

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Teaching a distractible child in a distracting home.

Learning happens in all places at our house.
It has to.  With a small house and 4 children learning it can be hard to pay attention to what you are supposed to be doing.  I have found my own little tricks and ways of making school fun and being able to get it done. 

Here Katey is doing a math page in a fort.
 
I even made her a little office one day when she was having a hard time staying focused because of her brother.


Sometimes we do school just at the kitchen table too.

Here Tyler is building a tower with blocks.

After Katey’s schoolwork is done she joins him on the floor.

My Go To Recipe. Simple Salisbury Steak.

My families all time favorite meal is Salisbury Steak. 

It is kind of like a grilled meatloaf.


This recipe was given to me by a friend about 7 years ago. 

It is so simple, and inexpensive.  It is a real meat and potatoes meal around here.

You need.

1 1/2 lb. Hamburger
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs or crushed crackers, corn flakes, etc. ( I use Italian bread crumbs, but homemade would be good too.)
Salt and Pepper. 
1 chopped onion
1 clove garlic

Mix the above ingredients together and then form patties with them.  Cook in a frying pan (so they will brown and hold their shape) Then transfer to a baking dish.  Cover with brown gravy and bake in oven at 350 for 30 minutes.
I always serve this with potatoes and gravy, and green beans.  I start my potatoes first and then make the meat, then I start the green beans and clean up while everything is cooking.
This feeds my family of 6.  4 adult eaters and 3 child eaters. 

I hope you enjoy it. 





This has been part of the Blog Cruise through The Schoolhouse Review Crew.  To get more yummy recipes check out this post.

       

Handwriting Without Tears.

 

Handwriting Without Tears has been in our homeschool from the very beginning. I had done research on how important handwriting actually is, and I like the Handwriting Without Tears way of teaching.

It increases brain activity, aids memory, and more. Studies have shown that the same paper written in two different handwritings, the neater one usually gets the better grade.

Handwriting Without Tears sent me their brand new editions of the 2nd grade workbooks and teachers manual. 

The Teacher’s Guide is $9.95

The 2nd Grade Printing Power workbook is $8.25

The combo of Printing Power and Kick Start Cursive is $10.25

For those of you who have never heard of Handwriting Without Tears, let me share a little bit of their teaching strategies with you.  They teach using multisensory techniques, along with a developmental approach. 

What all that means is that handwriting is taught by doing more than just repetitive writing.   Which is one of the fun factors of Handwriting Without Tears.

They teach using chalk boards, foam or wood letters, air drawing and the regular workbook practice.  As well as many other hands on activities.    None of these things are necessary to teach using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum.

 

They have an array of online tools, from letter forming videos to handwriting worksheet generators.

Handwriting Without Tears is fun for my daughter because of the language they use throughout the books. 

You teach what to next in a letter by saying things like “Frog Jump” or “Bump” and many more.  One of my daughters favorite things to do is the Silly Spelling Test.  That is where I give her a spelling word and I spell it for her.  (That way she just has to focus on writing it.)

 

 

The teacher’s manual can prove to be overwhelming at first because it is so chalk full of information. It is about 200 pages.  With the workbook lesson plans starting about page 42.  Keeping bulk of the information in the teacher’s manual, leaves the student workbook simple and fun for the child.

Here she is learning how to write the many different letters that begin with “Magic C”.

Each day we do one page, some days she needs me for the whole lesson (like on Silly Spelling days). Other days I just get her started and she can do the workbook portion on her own.  Something else Katey enjoys is that she corrects her own work.  When she is finished each day she chooses the best writing for that day and circles it.  That really motivates her to do her best work.

I appreciate the videos and other online teaching tools that are available with the passcode printed on the back of the teachers manual.  Katey loved watching and dancing along to the videos that showed her how to create the different letters. 

A cursive starter book is now available for the 2nd grade level.  We didn’t make it clear to that book yet, but I know once she is ready we will be using it. 

To see what others think of this check out this post. To see a wide variety of reviews check out our crew blog.

  

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Real life in my house.

 

We have really had quite the busy start to our year. 

We are still adjusting to me working part time.  We have good days and bad days.  We have good weeks and bad weeks.  I am not sure we are finding the swing of things yet.  We are still looking for our groove. 

The kids are getting their school work done.  Not always as quickly as I would like them to.  I just feel like I should be home with them.  Hopefully this season of my life will be over soon.  As much as I enjoy working, I feel as if home is where I should be.  I do notice some behavioral problems arising in my 3 year old.  I need to fix those. 

I only work part time about 20 hours per week, usually over 3 days.  They have certain schoolwork that they need to do while I am at work.  Other things we do while I am home, even if it means late at night, or on the weekends.

My house has been staying clean enough by using this chore system.  We do “quick cleans” a few times throughout the day.  Mainly one before lunch and one before dinner.  We do a deep clean on the first weekend of the month.  This has really been working out for us. 

We also rotate who has to do the dishes each day, along with a menu plan. I created this one.  On the top blank line I write in my work schedule.

The blank line below the day I write who is in charge of dishes that day.  Then it is divided up into breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.  I write in a colored pencil if someone else is in charge of preparing that meal. (You can only switch out meals that you prepare).  Then I have the grocery list in order of the grocery store I most commonly shop at.  I have a small section for Walmart and the blank spot in that column is my divider for stuff I need to pick up at another store.  At the bottom I have a place for wants and other random stuff I may need from like the hardware store or other specialty stores.  I plan this out every Friday for the following week.  (I don’t know how to share this as a printable file, but I am willing to share it, so if you would like a copy, just leave your email and I will send you one. ) 

Sometimes we just need to take a break and go fishing! 

Emily and  I made chocolate covered strawberries.  They were…… DELISH!

If you have a weak stomach, then this blog posts ends for you right now. 

So thanks for reading and see ya next time.

Okay and here is a warning. Just so we are clear, if you go any further you will see a sad mangled toe with stitches in it. 

I am serious.

You have been warned.

 

 

There is no turning back after this.

 

It can’t be unseen. 

 

 

There, there it is, my poor 3 year old fell off the bench to our table and he had to get 7 stitches in that one toe.  We have went back for a checkup and they want to leave the stitches in even longer. 

 

There goes his toe modeling career I had all planned out for him. 

But all is well and he is healing well. 

 

Teaching another language to children using singing.

Have you ever realized how easy it is to learn a song.  Even as a young child, children pick up on songs so easy.

What about teaching your child another language using songs? 

Classical Academic Press has done just that with their Song School Curriculum. 

They offer Song School Spanish (which I am using) and Song School Latin and Song School Greek

Song School Spanish is designed for kids Kindergarten through 3rd grade level.  I am using it with my 2nd grader.

Let me tell you a little bit about the student book. ($24.95)

 

Each student book comes with a cd that has 42 songs on it, to help reinforce what is being taught in the book. 

The Student book is designed in a fun workbook format.  This makes it interactive and helps gets get involved in the learning process by making it multisensory.

Your child will learn over 100 vocabulary words throughout the 30 weekly lessons, including review chapters.

You will meet two friends, Tortuga and Conejo. A friendly turtle and a rabbit.  These two friends will help model conversations in Spanish, while making it fun.

Download a sample of the student book for free.

 

Let me share with you a little about the teachers manual.  ($24.95)

 

This book is similar to the student text as it has all the student activities in it as well as notes and activities outside the book to do, along with the answer keys to the student book.

There are often days where I don’t even look at the teachers manual.  I review it about once a week to see what types of things we will be doing that week and then I just have it for reference. 

See a sample of the Teacher’s Edition here.

There is also a free website Head Adventure Land where they can practice and review what they have been learning every couple of chapters.

They do offer Spanish Amigo Flashcards ($26.95) Which I do not have and did not use. 

They do sale everything (Teacher’s Edition, Student Edition and the Spanish Amigo Flashcards) in a bundle for ($66.95)

How we have been using Song School Spanish.

We have been doing Spanish about 5 days a week.  3 days a week, I have Katey do workbook pages and then listen and try to sing along with the CD. 

 

The other 2 days I have her just listen and sing along to the songs. The songs use a mix between Spanish and English words so that the kids know what they are singing about.

Here is a sample of some songs.

She loves to get out our little basket of homemade instruments to play with while listening.

She also loves to get up and dance to the songs. 

They are quite upbeat. 

From my point of view

Song School Spanish is very easy to implement into our days.  Katey has been wanting to learn Spanish and I needed a simple, easy to implement, gentle curriculum.  I got just that with Song School Spanish.

From Katey’s point of view

I like the songs. They are my favorite.  It has very fun songs that you can sing along to.  It is fun to speak Spanish words to my family and friends and they don’t know what I am saying.  The book is fun and it teaches you and it is not hard. I like the review games on the computer.

 

To see what others think of this check out this post. To see a wide variety of reviews check out our crew blog.

  

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.