Salem Ridge Press is offering a FREE download of the historical fiction novel Glaucia the Greek Slave by Emma Leslie.
This is a title, along with two others from Salem Ridge Press, that I reviewed in November. You can read the full review here.
To get your free download, click here. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Review of Homeschooling ABCs by Knowledge Quest
When I was first considering homeschooling, I had a ton of questions. I'm sure we've all heard them rolling out of inquiring mouths or even thought them ourselves at some point or another.
Where do you buy curricula?
How do you even know what to buy?
Do you give tests?
How do you know you are teaching everything?
and the most common...
What about socialization!?
The problem was, I didn't know a single solitary homeschooler to ask my questions. Not one. I asked around locally and turned to the internet. In my search, I discovered a local friend was also contemplating homeschooling and also found another local family online with the same quest for information. Together, we all joined a local group and met another family just starting out. Unfortunately, it was a very small support group that really had its focus on older kids and not a great fit for young families new to homeschooling. The families starting out fumbled together and eventually we formed a thriving support group of our own. However, what I really needed in those just starting out times was someone willing to take me under their wing, invite me out for coffee, and guide me through those scary, overwhelming thoughts about homeschooling my children.
Terri Johnson of Knowledge Quest, a supplier of history and geography resources, is offering a new e-course, Homeschooling ABCs, to guide new homeschoolers. As an 11-year homeschooling veteran and mom of six, Terri will bring confidence and guidance to new homeschoolers through 26 weekly lessons delivered right to a personal email box. Terri takes the overwhelming and breaks it down into short and manageable lessons, designed to get a new homeschool up and running within 48 hours with continued success.
Lesson topics range from how to go about your first day, discovering learning style, where to find curricula, managing multiple ages and how to stay organized and sane all the while. The step-by-step approach to getting your homeschool started is non-threatening and Terri never makes you feel like you are behind. Most weekly lessons are about 5-10 pages of one topic, ending in a short assignment. Below you will find titles of the first 10 lessons.
- 10 Steps to a Great Start in Homeschooling
- Let's Being with the Basics
- Copy the Classroom - Not!
- Dare to Differentiate
- Establish your Philosophy of Education
- Finding the Best Curriculum for your Family
- Get Together - Networking with other Homeschoolers
- Hands-on Learning for Greater Retention
- Internet and Library Research Skills
- Just Say "No" - Staying Focused and On-Track
Each homeschooling family is unique and has their own way of homeschooling. This e-course is geared towards Christian homeschoolers, with a lean towards those with younger children, larger families, and a more relaxed and eclectic approach. Because Terri is sharing a glimpse into her own personal homeschool, not every approach she takes will apply to everyone. However, she will point those just starting out, or even experienced homeschoolers that are revisiting their approach or in need of some encouragement, in a direction and share some great resources that are useful to all. Knowing where to look and what questions to ask is a great beginning for anyone trying to establish a homeschool they can call their own. Just as a friend would sit down and give you their personal story with guidance, so does Terri. The only thing missing is the cup of coffee or tea. So grab your favorite warm drink and get ready to learn from the experiences of a veteran homeschooler.
The Homeschool ABCs e-course costs $60, billed $10 monthly. This amounts to just $2.30 per lesson and comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. A free 5-day mini course titled Do You Want to Homeschool with Confidence? is available, with the first lesson arriving in your email box within moments, as an introduction to Terry's friendly teaching style.
Visit the Official TOS Crew blog to hear what others thought of Homeschooling ABCs.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Review of Math Mammoth
Perhaps you've experienced the following scenario. You are correcting your child's latest math assignment when you have a startling discovery. While it appears that the new concept is understood, not applying previous material correctly is causing your child to get too many problems wrong. It may be a concept from years earlier that your child never mastered, or perhaps just forgot, or one that was not covered in depth. Either way, a sudden realization surfaces that you must go back to the basics or review. Your child needs extra work on a particular topic right now in order to continue. You are ready with your shovel to fill in that hole, but you need to find some mathematical dirt....quickly.
Maria Miller, author of Math Mammoth, has the answer for all you shovel-holding, math-teaching parents and tutors. A math teacher and tutor turned homeschooler, Maria Miller noticed that often homeschooling moms struggle with teaching math. Through her tutoring experiences, she developed a desire to help struggling math teachers do a more effective job teaching their students. It was her hope to improve elementary math teaching to include more mathematical understanding rather than rule memorization. Furthermore, she had a goal to do all of this in an affordable, self-teaching and mastery-focused manner. Large goals, but I do believe she's met them.
Math Mammoth has a full line of products for grades 1-8 to fill just about any need, whether it be a full curriculum, supplemental, or remedial resources. All products come in an easily downloaded format, perfect for those who are wanting to get started right away. There are several different series and collections available.
The Blue Series, Grades 1-5
Each worktext, containing both explanations and problems, in this series concentrates on only a few topics with varied problems for full understanding. The focus is on learning a particular topic; some of the books in this series cover several grade levels of material. This series is an excellent choice for remedial or supplemental work. Depending on the selected topic, cost for an ebook format is a very affordable $2-5.
The Lightblue Series, Grades 1-5
The Lightblue Series is a complete curriculum. The two worktexts (A & B) include answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews and an additional worksheet maker. Each grade level has limited topics, going deep rather than broad, and a longer time is spent on one topic for better learning. There is little prep work for the teacher. Children who can read will be able to self-teach with the clear explanations, including visual and puzzle exercises. The Blue and Lightblue series are essentially the same material, just organized and packaged differently. Each downloadable worktext is available for $15.50, or you can purchase both A & B worktexts for $29.70.
The Golden Series, Grades 3-8
This series is a collection of 120-150 worksheets for each grade for review and supplementation, starting with grade 3 and going through Algebra 1. The Golden series has problems only; concept explanations are not included. One topic per page is covered with variable problems for practice and understanding. Grade levels are available in two parts (A & B) with their corresponding answer keys available separately. Each part (A or B) is available for $6-9 and answer keys for $2. Complete packages are available for $12-14.
The Green Series, Grades 3-7
This series is similar to the Blue Series in structure and is organized by the topic. The worksheet collections may span several grades, making this series great for a comprehensive review and supplement of a particular topic. One topic per page is presented with variable problems, including word problems. The worksheets in this series are the same as those in the Golden Series, just arranged by topic rather than grade. Prices range from $2.50-9.
Each series is also available in printed format, CD and in various packages and pricing structures. Purchase of certain packages also includes bonus Soft-Pac software.
If you are unsure of what grade level you need, Maria Miller is willing to consult parents on what might be a good option for your child. There are also placement tests available for the Lightblue series.
Since my kids are already settled in with a main math curriculum, I selected supplementary titles for review. I received four different titles, Place Value 4 and Geometry 1 from the Blue Series for my son and Fractions and Ratio, Proportion & Percents from the Green Series for my daughter. At first, all I saw were a bunch of worksheets and wondered how they differed from any other worksheet. I fully expected my kids to approach doing math from more worksheets with their eyes-crossed. My son is great at math conceptually, but hates to write and often attempts mental math beyond his capability to do so. My daughter is convinced she stinks at math. Though she was an advanced math student in the early years, she's been in a holding pattern for a few years while both her development and attitude are ready for progression. I consider neither to have a preference for worksheets.
I was very pleasantly surprised with how my kids took to Math Mammoth. My son is a little weak in place value yet was able to work through the worktext pretty much on his own. I used this as a supplement to his regular math program, which covered the same material but not as in depth, and usually had him do 2 pages in a sitting. The explanations were thorough and the problems incremental enough that he was fairly independent through-out the whole book. He's recently started the Geometry 1 and I can tell he is really going to enjoy this title since it is hands-on learning through drawing. The real shock took place with my math-phobic daughter. She actually liked doing the worksheets. While the Green series does not have much explanation, the problems built on each other in such a way she easily (re)learned the material. She also liked that there was just one book, not a separate text and workbook or problems to be copied to paper. For my daughter, Math Mammoth was an excellent tool for reviewing material and developing mastery. For two different kids with different learning styles and needs, Math Mammoth was a winner.
Also to my surprise was that I liked the ebook format. At first I thought it would be a drag to have to print everything. Unlike other ebook products, you obviously have to print worksheets to use them. However, you need only print what you need. Another benefit is that you have Math Mammoth's permission to print as many copies needed for your whole family. When younger siblings move into the material, your only additional cost is for printing. The immediate delivery is a definite plus, especially when you are in a panic over the results of your child's latest math assignment.
While there is much to be liked, there are two areas worth mentioning that may cause problems for some. For younger kids who still have large writing, there may not be enough space on the worksheet. I thought his might be an issue for my son, who is still working on pencil control, but it was easily eliminated. I printed the worktext in batches and placed the copies in a 3-ring binder. Whenever he needed extra space, he just used the available space on the backside of the previous page in the binder. The other issue is that I found more errors than I would care to see in the answer key and a couple in the actual text of one title in particular. If the answer appeared to be wrong based on the answer key, I was sure to work the problem myself before marking it incorrect. Having a math background, this wasn't much of an issue for me but may cause those weak in math some stress. Being this is a digital product, I do expect the author will be able to quickly revise any errors that are brought to her attention.
Overall, Math Mammoth is an excellent product at an affordable price. The approach and explanations are clear, easily understood and thorough. The next time I have a mathematical hole to fill, Math Mammoth will be a definite source to stick my teaching shovel in.
Be sure to check out the Math Mammoth website for more information and pricing options. Products are available in several formats from various sources. You can also sign up at the website for Maria's Math Teaching Emails and Newsletter and receive 280 worksheets and teaching article for free. Her Homeschool Math blog and her Homeschoolmath.net website also have a ton of resources for you to "dig in".
See what other Crew members thought of Math Mammoth as a supplemental source or a complete curriculum by visiting the Official TOS Crew blog.
Maria Miller, author of Math Mammoth, has the answer for all you shovel-holding, math-teaching parents and tutors. A math teacher and tutor turned homeschooler, Maria Miller noticed that often homeschooling moms struggle with teaching math. Through her tutoring experiences, she developed a desire to help struggling math teachers do a more effective job teaching their students. It was her hope to improve elementary math teaching to include more mathematical understanding rather than rule memorization. Furthermore, she had a goal to do all of this in an affordable, self-teaching and mastery-focused manner. Large goals, but I do believe she's met them.
Math Mammoth has a full line of products for grades 1-8 to fill just about any need, whether it be a full curriculum, supplemental, or remedial resources. All products come in an easily downloaded format, perfect for those who are wanting to get started right away. There are several different series and collections available.
The Blue Series, Grades 1-5
Each worktext, containing both explanations and problems, in this series concentrates on only a few topics with varied problems for full understanding. The focus is on learning a particular topic; some of the books in this series cover several grade levels of material. This series is an excellent choice for remedial or supplemental work. Depending on the selected topic, cost for an ebook format is a very affordable $2-5.
The Lightblue Series, Grades 1-5
The Lightblue Series is a complete curriculum. The two worktexts (A & B) include answer keys, tests, cumulative reviews and an additional worksheet maker. Each grade level has limited topics, going deep rather than broad, and a longer time is spent on one topic for better learning. There is little prep work for the teacher. Children who can read will be able to self-teach with the clear explanations, including visual and puzzle exercises. The Blue and Lightblue series are essentially the same material, just organized and packaged differently. Each downloadable worktext is available for $15.50, or you can purchase both A & B worktexts for $29.70.
The Golden Series, Grades 3-8
This series is a collection of 120-150 worksheets for each grade for review and supplementation, starting with grade 3 and going through Algebra 1. The Golden series has problems only; concept explanations are not included. One topic per page is covered with variable problems for practice and understanding. Grade levels are available in two parts (A & B) with their corresponding answer keys available separately. Each part (A or B) is available for $6-9 and answer keys for $2. Complete packages are available for $12-14.
The Green Series, Grades 3-7
This series is similar to the Blue Series in structure and is organized by the topic. The worksheet collections may span several grades, making this series great for a comprehensive review and supplement of a particular topic. One topic per page is presented with variable problems, including word problems. The worksheets in this series are the same as those in the Golden Series, just arranged by topic rather than grade. Prices range from $2.50-9.
Each series is also available in printed format, CD and in various packages and pricing structures. Purchase of certain packages also includes bonus Soft-Pac software.
If you are unsure of what grade level you need, Maria Miller is willing to consult parents on what might be a good option for your child. There are also placement tests available for the Lightblue series.
Since my kids are already settled in with a main math curriculum, I selected supplementary titles for review. I received four different titles, Place Value 4 and Geometry 1 from the Blue Series for my son and Fractions and Ratio, Proportion & Percents from the Green Series for my daughter. At first, all I saw were a bunch of worksheets and wondered how they differed from any other worksheet. I fully expected my kids to approach doing math from more worksheets with their eyes-crossed. My son is great at math conceptually, but hates to write and often attempts mental math beyond his capability to do so. My daughter is convinced she stinks at math. Though she was an advanced math student in the early years, she's been in a holding pattern for a few years while both her development and attitude are ready for progression. I consider neither to have a preference for worksheets.I was very pleasantly surprised with how my kids took to Math Mammoth. My son is a little weak in place value yet was able to work through the worktext pretty much on his own. I used this as a supplement to his regular math program, which covered the same material but not as in depth, and usually had him do 2 pages in a sitting. The explanations were thorough and the problems incremental enough that he was fairly independent through-out the whole book. He's recently started the Geometry 1 and I can tell he is really going to enjoy this title since it is hands-on learning through drawing. The real shock took place with my math-phobic daughter. She actually liked doing the worksheets. While the Green series does not have much explanation, the problems built on each other in such a way she easily (re)learned the material. She also liked that there was just one book, not a separate text and workbook or problems to be copied to paper. For my daughter, Math Mammoth was an excellent tool for reviewing material and developing mastery. For two different kids with different learning styles and needs, Math Mammoth was a winner.
Also to my surprise was that I liked the ebook format. At first I thought it would be a drag to have to print everything. Unlike other ebook products, you obviously have to print worksheets to use them. However, you need only print what you need. Another benefit is that you have Math Mammoth's permission to print as many copies needed for your whole family. When younger siblings move into the material, your only additional cost is for printing. The immediate delivery is a definite plus, especially when you are in a panic over the results of your child's latest math assignment.
While there is much to be liked, there are two areas worth mentioning that may cause problems for some. For younger kids who still have large writing, there may not be enough space on the worksheet. I thought his might be an issue for my son, who is still working on pencil control, but it was easily eliminated. I printed the worktext in batches and placed the copies in a 3-ring binder. Whenever he needed extra space, he just used the available space on the backside of the previous page in the binder. The other issue is that I found more errors than I would care to see in the answer key and a couple in the actual text of one title in particular. If the answer appeared to be wrong based on the answer key, I was sure to work the problem myself before marking it incorrect. Having a math background, this wasn't much of an issue for me but may cause those weak in math some stress. Being this is a digital product, I do expect the author will be able to quickly revise any errors that are brought to her attention.
Overall, Math Mammoth is an excellent product at an affordable price. The approach and explanations are clear, easily understood and thorough. The next time I have a mathematical hole to fill, Math Mammoth will be a definite source to stick my teaching shovel in.
Be sure to check out the Math Mammoth website for more information and pricing options. Products are available in several formats from various sources. You can also sign up at the website for Maria's Math Teaching Emails and Newsletter and receive 280 worksheets and teaching article for free. Her Homeschool Math blog and her Homeschoolmath.net website also have a ton of resources for you to "dig in".
See what other Crew members thought of Math Mammoth as a supplemental source or a complete curriculum by visiting the Official TOS Crew blog.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Review of Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day by Bilingual Books
For a short time, I would speak Pig Latin when discussing with my husband a topic that I wanted to keep from little ears. It was a short-lived strategy because my preschooler soon become more fluent in Pig Latin than my husband. Idskay areway ickquay. Not only are most kids curious about language, they pick it up very easily. I've always been a bit jealous of those households that were bilingual and the children had the benefit of learning two languages with ease. Unfortunately, with the exception of said Pig Latin, English is the only fluent language in our household. My practical foreign language expertise is limited to a year of junior high Spanish - many, many years ago. I retained enough to teach my daughter how to count to ten in Spanish when she became very interested in learning a new language, but Dora the Explorer would have been a better teacher. Maybe I can get my kids, now 9 and 12, to watch Dora?
Thankfully, Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day arrived for review before further consideration of PBS morning programming as a serious foreign language learning tool. My review package included a 132-page workbook with supplemental CD-Rom and an audio CD set.
Expert linguist Kristine Kershul is the author of the 10 Minutes in a Day series by Bilingual Books, an established foreign language program of over 28 years. After years of teaching in the classroom, Kershul recognized that most students studying a foreign language were doing so for personal enrichment, a goal often unmet with a strictly academic approach. Bilingual Books' building-block approach, achieving results quickly, was created for language learners studying for their own enjoyment or travel. The short and fun lessons introduce vocabulary in bite-sized pieces to be learned at your own pace. For more explanation of the method, you can listen to Kristine Kershul explain the playful step-by-step approach taken in the series.
Each workbook comes complete with a CD-Rom, 150 sticky labels and flash cards. The colorful workbook pages start out with seven key question words: where, what, who, why, when, how, how much. Throughout the workbook, simple phonetics are included above the words so
there is no guessing on pronunciation. The key question words are built upon with vocabulary needed to ask basic questions if you were to travel to a Spanish-speaking area. The focus is on words commonly used in everyday life, quickly getting the learner up to a functional speaking level. Spanish culture and customs are also introduced. You can view the 25 steps covered in the workbook here.
The sticky labels are to label household items for further practice and immersion. The flash
cards help practice vocabulary away from home. If you are learning a new language in preparation for a mission trips or overseas travel, the flash cards can easily be brought along to use while traveling. The interactive CD-Rom contains matching games of common words with instant feedback (see right).
The audio set contains six CDs covering the material in the workbook with nearly 8 hours of instruction. Fifteen different Spanish speakers deliver the lessons for the student to hear and copy proper pronunciation. The audio set can be used independently or as a supplement to the workbook. You can listen to one of the beginning lessons and learn the Seven Key Question Words for Spanish here. You may also want to listen to the following lesson to get an idea of how the material is reviewed and practiced in the program. To see how the audio CDs coordinate with the workbook, you can print the workbook pages that go along with the two audio lessons above here.
This is truly a low-pressure and fun approach to learning a new language. While designed for adults, the workbook is simple enough to be completed by elementary children. Non-readers and young children can join in using the audio CDs and learn along with the rest of the family. I have two very different learners in our household. My daughter is very language arts oriented and I utilized both the workbook and audio CDs, so she could both see and hear the language. My son is dyslexic and I mostly focused on learning through the CDs for him because I did not want to complicate the phonics and spelling remediation we are doing with him. He enjoyed listening and practicing new words with my daughter while keeping his hands busy with Legos. Regardless of what type of learner you have, I would highly recommend purchasing the audio set to complement the workbook. The reinforcement of hearing the words spoken can only aid and strengthen the use of a new language. We found them a helpful tool for easy review in the car as well.
While Bilingual Books can be a useful tool for students wanting to explore a new language, I would not consider it comprehensive enough for use for a high school foreign language credit. However, it would be excellent to spark or satisfy an interest in a new language, to prepare for a family or mission trip to another country, or to introduce a language as the first step of further study. The design is to quickly learn a new language for immediate use. The teaching parent does not need to have any previous knowledge of the language. If your child is interested in learning Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese or one of the 16 available languages, Bilingual Books is a fun way to quickly try out and explore the language.
Keep in mind that the original target audience for this program is adult travelers. Parents should be aware that one of the first things taught in the program is how to ask for a glass of wine! The menu section also contains a selection of alcoholic beverages. Obviously this is appropriate for the adult traveler, but you may not want your 10-year-old learning how to order a beer and should modify accordingly. While some phrases wouldn't be something a child would need, e.g. asking for certain beverages or learning how to pay the restaurant bill, overall the program is quite adaptable to homeschooler users wanting to experience a new language.
Can you really learn a new language in just 10 minutes a day? Si! With some practice, you and your children can be speaking Espanol in no time.
Visit Bilingual Books to view products for the 16 languages offered. “Cuanto cuesta (how much does it cost),”, you ask? Workbooks with the CD-Rom, offered in all languages, are available for a list price of $24.95. The audio CD, available for Spanish, French, Italian and German, has a list price of $42.95. You may purchase both the workbook only and audio CDs as a package, which lists for $59.95. Also available are language maps, a convenient list of important words and phrases, for $7.95. Furthermore, Bilingual Books offers a 25% discount for all prepaid orders placed by homeschoolers, making this program even more affordable. You will not find this discount on the website yet and will need to call to receive it. You may also find products by Bilingual Books in many stores and popular online sources.
Be sure to check out what other Crew members thought of Bilingual Books by clicking here.
Thankfully, Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day arrived for review before further consideration of PBS morning programming as a serious foreign language learning tool. My review package included a 132-page workbook with supplemental CD-Rom and an audio CD set.
Expert linguist Kristine Kershul is the author of the 10 Minutes in a Day series by Bilingual Books, an established foreign language program of over 28 years. After years of teaching in the classroom, Kershul recognized that most students studying a foreign language were doing so for personal enrichment, a goal often unmet with a strictly academic approach. Bilingual Books' building-block approach, achieving results quickly, was created for language learners studying for their own enjoyment or travel. The short and fun lessons introduce vocabulary in bite-sized pieces to be learned at your own pace. For more explanation of the method, you can listen to Kristine Kershul explain the playful step-by-step approach taken in the series.Each workbook comes complete with a CD-Rom, 150 sticky labels and flash cards. The colorful workbook pages start out with seven key question words: where, what, who, why, when, how, how much. Throughout the workbook, simple phonetics are included above the words so
there is no guessing on pronunciation. The key question words are built upon with vocabulary needed to ask basic questions if you were to travel to a Spanish-speaking area. The focus is on words commonly used in everyday life, quickly getting the learner up to a functional speaking level. Spanish culture and customs are also introduced. You can view the 25 steps covered in the workbook here.The sticky labels are to label household items for further practice and immersion. The flash
cards help practice vocabulary away from home. If you are learning a new language in preparation for a mission trips or overseas travel, the flash cards can easily be brought along to use while traveling. The interactive CD-Rom contains matching games of common words with instant feedback (see right).The audio set contains six CDs covering the material in the workbook with nearly 8 hours of instruction. Fifteen different Spanish speakers deliver the lessons for the student to hear and copy proper pronunciation. The audio set can be used independently or as a supplement to the workbook. You can listen to one of the beginning lessons and learn the Seven Key Question Words for Spanish here. You may also want to listen to the following lesson to get an idea of how the material is reviewed and practiced in the program. To see how the audio CDs coordinate with the workbook, you can print the workbook pages that go along with the two audio lessons above here.
This is truly a low-pressure and fun approach to learning a new language. While designed for adults, the workbook is simple enough to be completed by elementary children. Non-readers and young children can join in using the audio CDs and learn along with the rest of the family. I have two very different learners in our household. My daughter is very language arts oriented and I utilized both the workbook and audio CDs, so she could both see and hear the language. My son is dyslexic and I mostly focused on learning through the CDs for him because I did not want to complicate the phonics and spelling remediation we are doing with him. He enjoyed listening and practicing new words with my daughter while keeping his hands busy with Legos. Regardless of what type of learner you have, I would highly recommend purchasing the audio set to complement the workbook. The reinforcement of hearing the words spoken can only aid and strengthen the use of a new language. We found them a helpful tool for easy review in the car as well.
While Bilingual Books can be a useful tool for students wanting to explore a new language, I would not consider it comprehensive enough for use for a high school foreign language credit. However, it would be excellent to spark or satisfy an interest in a new language, to prepare for a family or mission trip to another country, or to introduce a language as the first step of further study. The design is to quickly learn a new language for immediate use. The teaching parent does not need to have any previous knowledge of the language. If your child is interested in learning Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese or one of the 16 available languages, Bilingual Books is a fun way to quickly try out and explore the language.
Keep in mind that the original target audience for this program is adult travelers. Parents should be aware that one of the first things taught in the program is how to ask for a glass of wine! The menu section also contains a selection of alcoholic beverages. Obviously this is appropriate for the adult traveler, but you may not want your 10-year-old learning how to order a beer and should modify accordingly. While some phrases wouldn't be something a child would need, e.g. asking for certain beverages or learning how to pay the restaurant bill, overall the program is quite adaptable to homeschooler users wanting to experience a new language.
Can you really learn a new language in just 10 minutes a day? Si! With some practice, you and your children can be speaking Espanol in no time.
Visit Bilingual Books to view products for the 16 languages offered. “Cuanto cuesta (how much does it cost),”, you ask? Workbooks with the CD-Rom, offered in all languages, are available for a list price of $24.95. The audio CD, available for Spanish, French, Italian and German, has a list price of $42.95. You may purchase both the workbook only and audio CDs as a package, which lists for $59.95. Also available are language maps, a convenient list of important words and phrases, for $7.95. Furthermore, Bilingual Books offers a 25% discount for all prepaid orders placed by homeschoolers, making this program even more affordable. You will not find this discount on the website yet and will need to call to receive it. You may also find products by Bilingual Books in many stores and popular online sources.
Be sure to check out what other Crew members thought of Bilingual Books by clicking here.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A WriteShop StoryBuilder Assignment, John the Detective
My son, age 9 and dyslexic, is a very reluctant writer. He has great ideas; it's just getting them on paper that poses a problem. I recently gave him a writing assignment using WriteShop's StoryBuilder cards (read review here). The assignment was:
He originally selected the following cards: detective, clever, a strange telephone call and secret room.
Before he even started writing, he decided to select several more cards from each category and then eventually grabbed the whole character pile and headed to the computer.
Below are the results, with punctuation and spelling only corrected for readability. I wonder what will happen next? If you would like to know the ending to this story, feel free to leave an encouraging comment to be forward to the author!
Hello, my name is John. My story begins one day as I was sitting on my couch when I got a mysterious phone call. It was the state police! They said they needed me in England. Some of the Queen’s jewels had been stolen! Knowing the stories of Sherlock Holmes, I dashed out the door to the airport and got the last plane ticket to England. Ten hours later, I got off the airplane. The Queen’s palace guards took me to the palace. There I met the Queen herself! After they led me to my private chamber, the next day the Queen told me what had happened.
- Select a card from each category.
- Write a story using the ideas in the cards, writing for as long as you like.
He originally selected the following cards: detective, clever, a strange telephone call and secret room.
Before he even started writing, he decided to select several more cards from each category and then eventually grabbed the whole character pile and headed to the computer.
Below are the results, with punctuation and spelling only corrected for readability. I wonder what will happen next? If you would like to know the ending to this story, feel free to leave an encouraging comment to be forward to the author!
John the Detective
Chapter 1, The Mysterious Phone Call
Chapter 1, The Mysterious Phone Call
Hello, my name is John. My story begins one day as I was sitting on my couch when I got a mysterious phone call. It was the state police! They said they needed me in England. Some of the Queen’s jewels had been stolen! Knowing the stories of Sherlock Holmes, I dashed out the door to the airport and got the last plane ticket to England. Ten hours later, I got off the airplane. The Queen’s palace guards took me to the palace. There I met the Queen herself! After they led me to my private chamber, the next day the Queen told me what had happened.
A WriteShop StoryBuilder Assignment
Using the StoryBuilder cards from WriteShop (read a review here), I gave my daughter, age 12, the following assignment:
Below are the results. I'd love to read more and find out how this story turns out. If you would too, feel free to leave an encouraging comment to be forwarded to the author!
*woof* I tumbled down from the rope again. I had been practicing swinging from vine to vine so I could go on a trip with my grandfather to Africa. One of my grandfather’s many friends had a strange disease that could not be cured. However, it was rumored that deep in the jungle, where great cats and bugs roamed, a flower stood in the middle of the jungle that could cure any disease, no matter what it was. There was one catch though, the flower only worked if it was picked when it was blooming. And it only bloomed once every 20 years, in the month of June. The last recorded blooming had been in 1905, and since it was now the beginning of June, it should bloom in about 2 weeks.
“Joshua,” I heard my grandfather call, “meet me in the parlor!” I dashed out the door of the training room and through the rest of the mansion. Racing up the steps, I buttoned on my jacket and ran my fingers through my hair. I knocked on the parlor door twice and then entered.
“Yes, Grandfather? You wanted me?” I looked around the parlor. My grandfather, wrinkled but looking young, and with a twinkle in his eyes, was sitting in his favorite red chair, the one that was big and soft and overwhelmed you when you sat in it. In the chair next to him, sat a stranger, someone I did not know. Who was this man?
“Joshua, I’d like you to meet Mr. Cunningly, the friend we are going to the jungle for.” I backed up a couple steps, hoping the disease wasn’t catching.
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Cunningly choked out, while Grandfather handed him a glass of water, “you can’t catch it.”
- Randomly select one card from each category.
- You will write about the events leading up to the situation described by the cards.
- First, plan what you'll write for 5 minutes.
- Next, write for 15 minutes only.
Below are the results. I'd love to read more and find out how this story turns out. If you would too, feel free to leave an encouraging comment to be forwarded to the author!
*woof* I tumbled down from the rope again. I had been practicing swinging from vine to vine so I could go on a trip with my grandfather to Africa. One of my grandfather’s many friends had a strange disease that could not be cured. However, it was rumored that deep in the jungle, where great cats and bugs roamed, a flower stood in the middle of the jungle that could cure any disease, no matter what it was. There was one catch though, the flower only worked if it was picked when it was blooming. And it only bloomed once every 20 years, in the month of June. The last recorded blooming had been in 1905, and since it was now the beginning of June, it should bloom in about 2 weeks.
“Joshua,” I heard my grandfather call, “meet me in the parlor!” I dashed out the door of the training room and through the rest of the mansion. Racing up the steps, I buttoned on my jacket and ran my fingers through my hair. I knocked on the parlor door twice and then entered.
“Yes, Grandfather? You wanted me?” I looked around the parlor. My grandfather, wrinkled but looking young, and with a twinkle in his eyes, was sitting in his favorite red chair, the one that was big and soft and overwhelmed you when you sat in it. In the chair next to him, sat a stranger, someone I did not know. Who was this man?
“Joshua, I’d like you to meet Mr. Cunningly, the friend we are going to the jungle for.” I backed up a couple steps, hoping the disease wasn’t catching.
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Cunningly choked out, while Grandfather handed him a glass of water, “you can’t catch it.”
A Review of StoryBuilders by Writeshop
My two children have vastly different writing styles. My daughter never has a shortage of ideas. Her writing is fast and furious, though taking a story to completion doesn't always happen. However, her half-written novels flow on paper with ease. Giving my daughter an assignment deadline is usually motivation to finish her already started independent work. My son, however, is often troubled when asked to select a writing topic. Giving him a blank piece of paper with no topic creates a panicked look across his face. A deadline for a completed project will produce nothing but writer's block. Ideas come slowly and he may dwell on a story idea for months, formulating a plot in his head. This fall he asked me to help him type out a story that he had been composing mentally since June! My son carefully develops his story over time and struggles to get those wonderful thoughts on paper. My daughter writes with ease, composing and typing simultaneously.
While different styles usually call for different resources, I was pleased to find a versatile writing tool in Writeshop's StoryBuilders.
I received the World of People and the Christmas Mini-Builder card sets from WriteShop for review. Each card set, in the form of an ebook, includes printable cards of story elements in the categories of character, character trait/emotion, setting and plot. While I typically don't care for digital products, this format was well-suited in this case.
The product consists of a few pages of instructions accompanied by a set of 192 cards (96 for Mini-Builder sets), printable in either in black or colored text. Forty-eight blank cards are also provided for adding to the categories. It is recommended that printing be done on cardstock for durability. If you don't have colored cardstock available, a different color for each category, the cards can be printed with colored text on white cardstock or regular paper. I highly recommended purchasing a multi-colored pack of cardstock, available for around $3.50 a pack at discount stores. One pack of card stock can be used for more than one StoryBuilder card set.
Several ideas are provided with each set, but there is no right or wrong way to use the cards. One card from each story element category should be selected. Selections can be random, decided by the student, or picked by chance with a roll of a die (e.i. rolling a number 4 means you get the forth card in the pile). Independent students can simply use the cards to start formulating a story surrounding their selections. For the more reluctant writer, a timer could be set for just a few minutes, adding to the story each day. The cards could also be used Round Robin style in a group setting, giving each student a set of cards to start a story and then pass the story to others to add on. By drawing more cards from the piles, more characters and events can be introduced into the story line.
I decided to first try these out with my reluctant writer. To be honest, my son was more than a little suspicious. I took six cards from each category, gave him a die, and had him roll for each category. He reluctantly took his cards, strung them together and composed one sentence, “The clever burglar was on a raft with his feet and hands tied.” I started asking him questions.
I then took four more cards, one from each pile, and added to his one-sentence story.
At that point, my son started jumping in with his additions and before you knew it our burglar had met some interesting characters and events, including having his head stuck in the mud by a baby. My daughter soon jumped in and both kids were roaring with laughter at their silly story.
Now that the intimidation was gone, I had my son go through the cards and select one card from each pile for a story development. He chose the following cards: detective, clever, a strange telephone call and secret room. Interesting. Once the potential of his choices started to develop, he decided to select several other cards for twists and turns in the story. He happily trotted to the computer with his pile of cards to create his story. A title was pecked out, followed by "Chapter 1: The Mysterious Phone Call". The ideas were flowing. My reluctant writer was formulating a story that didn't take months of mental composing. You can read the beginnings of his story here.
I don't often give assigned topics for my daughter, but they are a great exercise to occasionally use in preparation to quickly formulate a written response based on given parameters. The writing portion of the ACT and SAT and essay questions on exams, for example, would require this skill. However, receptiveness from my daughter to being told what to write about is non-existent. Her approach to her writing is like that of an artist, and rightly so. She's a talented and creative writer. Even though she wasn't thrilled about an assigned writing topic using the cards, the results made it worthwhile. I had her randomly select one card from each category and asked her to write for 15 minutes only. Given she often doesn't finish stories, the assignment was to write a story that explained the events that led up to the situation in the cards, which would act as her concluding event. Her selected cards were: explorer, fearless, a strange disease and mansion. You can read what she came up with here. I suspect she may sneak a peek at these cards again later, as long as it is on her own terms. On occasion she does have writer's block, and she mentioned the cards might help with character development.
Anything that both inspires a non-writer to write and serves as a tool for talented writers is a winner to me. StoryBuilder card decks are a wonderful creative writing tool that provide a jumpstart to the imagination and inject a little fun and variety in writing exercises. Students of all ages, either independently or in groups, will be inspired, and even humored, by the sparks of ideas resulting from use of StoryBuilders. Aside from writing assignments, these simple little card decks have lots of potential. Parents can use them to come up with bedtime stories, families can build stories together during long car rides, and groups can utilize them for team writing exercises. The endless card combinations will create new story ideas each time you use a StoryBuilders set.
Four StoryBuilder sets, World of People, World of Sports, World of Animals and Christmas Mini-Builder, are currently available for immediate download. A new title, World of Imagination, will be released soon. Prices range from $3.95-$7.95. Be sure to visit the WriteShop website and browse the other products available.
Read how other TOS Crew members used StoryBuilders in their homes here.
While different styles usually call for different resources, I was pleased to find a versatile writing tool in Writeshop's StoryBuilders.
I received the World of People and the Christmas Mini-Builder card sets from WriteShop for review. Each card set, in the form of an ebook, includes printable cards of story elements in the categories of character, character trait/emotion, setting and plot. While I typically don't care for digital products, this format was well-suited in this case.
The product consists of a few pages of instructions accompanied by a set of 192 cards (96 for Mini-Builder sets), printable in either in black or colored text. Forty-eight blank cards are also provided for adding to the categories. It is recommended that printing be done on cardstock for durability. If you don't have colored cardstock available, a different color for each category, the cards can be printed with colored text on white cardstock or regular paper. I highly recommended purchasing a multi-colored pack of cardstock, available for around $3.50 a pack at discount stores. One pack of card stock can be used for more than one StoryBuilder card set.Several ideas are provided with each set, but there is no right or wrong way to use the cards. One card from each story element category should be selected. Selections can be random, decided by the student, or picked by chance with a roll of a die (e.i. rolling a number 4 means you get the forth card in the pile). Independent students can simply use the cards to start formulating a story surrounding their selections. For the more reluctant writer, a timer could be set for just a few minutes, adding to the story each day. The cards could also be used Round Robin style in a group setting, giving each student a set of cards to start a story and then pass the story to others to add on. By drawing more cards from the piles, more characters and events can be introduced into the story line.
I decided to first try these out with my reluctant writer. To be honest, my son was more than a little suspicious. I took six cards from each category, gave him a die, and had him roll for each category. He reluctantly took his cards, strung them together and composed one sentence, “The clever burglar was on a raft with his feet and hands tied.” I started asking him questions.
“How do you suppose the burglar got there?”
“Who put him there?”
“What was he doing before he ended up on the raft?”
“Where was the raft?”
“When did he get on the raft and how long has he been there?”
“Who put him there?”
“What was he doing before he ended up on the raft?”
“Where was the raft?”
“When did he get on the raft and how long has he been there?”
Blank looks.
I then took four more cards, one from each pile, and added to his one-sentence story.
“Along came a fearless postal worker who was lost in the jungle and saw the burglar floating on the river..."
At that point, my son started jumping in with his additions and before you knew it our burglar had met some interesting characters and events, including having his head stuck in the mud by a baby. My daughter soon jumped in and both kids were roaring with laughter at their silly story.
Now that the intimidation was gone, I had my son go through the cards and select one card from each pile for a story development. He chose the following cards: detective, clever, a strange telephone call and secret room. Interesting. Once the potential of his choices started to develop, he decided to select several other cards for twists and turns in the story. He happily trotted to the computer with his pile of cards to create his story. A title was pecked out, followed by "Chapter 1: The Mysterious Phone Call". The ideas were flowing. My reluctant writer was formulating a story that didn't take months of mental composing. You can read the beginnings of his story here.
I don't often give assigned topics for my daughter, but they are a great exercise to occasionally use in preparation to quickly formulate a written response based on given parameters. The writing portion of the ACT and SAT and essay questions on exams, for example, would require this skill. However, receptiveness from my daughter to being told what to write about is non-existent. Her approach to her writing is like that of an artist, and rightly so. She's a talented and creative writer. Even though she wasn't thrilled about an assigned writing topic using the cards, the results made it worthwhile. I had her randomly select one card from each category and asked her to write for 15 minutes only. Given she often doesn't finish stories, the assignment was to write a story that explained the events that led up to the situation in the cards, which would act as her concluding event. Her selected cards were: explorer, fearless, a strange disease and mansion. You can read what she came up with here. I suspect she may sneak a peek at these cards again later, as long as it is on her own terms. On occasion she does have writer's block, and she mentioned the cards might help with character development.
Anything that both inspires a non-writer to write and serves as a tool for talented writers is a winner to me. StoryBuilder card decks are a wonderful creative writing tool that provide a jumpstart to the imagination and inject a little fun and variety in writing exercises. Students of all ages, either independently or in groups, will be inspired, and even humored, by the sparks of ideas resulting from use of StoryBuilders. Aside from writing assignments, these simple little card decks have lots of potential. Parents can use them to come up with bedtime stories, families can build stories together during long car rides, and groups can utilize them for team writing exercises. The endless card combinations will create new story ideas each time you use a StoryBuilders set.
Four StoryBuilder sets, World of People, World of Sports, World of Animals and Christmas Mini-Builder, are currently available for immediate download. A new title, World of Imagination, will be released soon. Prices range from $3.95-$7.95. Be sure to visit the WriteShop website and browse the other products available.
Read how other TOS Crew members used StoryBuilders in their homes here.
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