A Review of ARTistic Pursuits

My daughter loves to draw. Often times she's sketching out an illustration for a story she authored or just keeping her hands busy while listening to a book on tape. Recently she's taken an interest in improving her drawing independently. We own a variety of step-by-step drawing books, but they have an emphasis on following directions rather than art understanding or application. Drawing technique books have been rejected for looking too technical and outside art classes, while enjoyed, have been too group and project-oriented. Nothing seemed to fit an independent and creative art student in need of some direction. So, it was quite timely when I had the opportunity to review an art curriculum that was not only comprehensive, but directed at the student.

ARTistic Pursuits, authored by Brenda Ellis, is an art curriculum created for homeschoolers by homeschoolers. For review, I received the Junior High Book One, The Elements of Art and Composition. Designed to be a full year of instruction, there are 16 units which can easily be divided into weekly two lessons, one hour each. Through pencil, ink and wire projects, students learn various art techniques in addition to exploring world history and examining art work by the masters. The curriculum is directed at the student, involving them in the creative process.

Each unit has four unique lessons: Building a Visual Vocabulary, Art Appreciation and History, Techniques, and Application. Each lesson introduces either an element of art or a principle of design, giving students the exposure and practice to automatically incorporate it into their thinking and drawing. Through these projects, students will learn to apply the secrets of the great artists:

1. Learn to observe the world around you – to really see it.
2. Learn what to look for.
3. Learn to focus on one element of art at a time, while drawing, and block out the others

An element of art or composition is singled out in each lesson. Concepts are arranged so that they build on each other with opportunity for earlier concepts to be applied in later projects. Click here to view a full lesson and also see a list of contents for both the Junior High One and Junior High Two books.

Inspiring student work is shown throughout the book. Encouragement to create a personal work, rather than copy step-by-step instructions, gives students a sense of accomplishment. The emphasis in ARTistic Pursuits is to develop skills through the student's own observation and creativity. You can read about the instructional philosophy of the author here.

There is a lot to be appreciated about ARTistic Pursuits. It is extremely user-friendly. The layout and organization of the lessons is nicely done. A list of supplies is included on the first page, divided by semester. I had most of the needed supplies already, but all of the supplies can also be purchased as a kit directly from ARTistic Pursuits. From a practicality of use standpoint, the comb binding allows the book to lie flat when doing the lesson. I also appreciate that the book is non-consumable.

In terms of content and instruction, I like that art history and art appreciation are integrated into the lessons. Pictures of master works are included right in the lesson, in color. The introduction of single elements in each lesson makes this program approachable to beginners yet not overly simplistic for more talented students. However, my favorite feature is that students can work through the book entirely on their own, taking full ownership of their art instruction.

Being able to work independently was also a favorite feature of my daughter, age 12, and she enjoyed going through the lessons at her own pace. She also positively commented the following,

“It allows you to use your own creativity, but gives you examples to guide you. It also gives background information on the art, like history, for example.”

Below is A Horse under a Willow by Utagawa Kunisada and my daughter's "rough sketch", used as an exercise in observation of line. Students works from the work of other artists to better understand what they did, not to make an exact copy or complete and precise work. After a quick study or sketch, students can then apply the same techniques on another project.

My daughter is looking forward to continuing with ARTistic Pursuits, making it a thumbs up from both of us.

If you are looking for a user-friendly and comprehensive art curriculum, ARTistic Pursuits is definitely a program to consider. Books leveled for preschool, K-3, 4-6, junior high and senior high are priced at $42.95. You'll find order information, articles on art, sample pages, FAQ and more at the ARTistic Pursuits website.

**For those of you with younger kids, click here for an opportunity to win a 5-lesson sampler of the ARTistic Pursuits Grades K-3 Book One.

Visit the TOS Crew's Official Blog to read more review on this product.

A Review of Beyond Five in a Row

I've been homeschooling for seven years now, over the course of which I've heard about and viewed a variety of curricula. Five in a Row is a curriculum I've heard of often but have never actually held in my hands. The name is based on the concept of reading one picture book five times in a row over five days, carrying the content into various other subjects as a unit study. I'm not much of a unit study person. Similar to my preference that different foods do not touch on my dinner plate, I prefer distinct division of academic subjects. Unit studies are more like casseroles, just as nutritious, but a mingling of the food groups. Sticking to comfortable styles, I never got around to expanding my academic palette. Now that my children are ages 9 and 12, I figured it was too late to even consider. If there were something to use beyond picture books, perhaps..

Much to my surprise, I discovered that Five in a Row (FIAR) has curriculum for a broad range of ages, from toddler through high school. How did this get by me, a self-proclaimed Curricula Queen? For review I received Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 2 for ages 8-12, written by Becky Jane Lambert, homeschool graduate and daughter of Five in a Row curriculum author Jane Claire Lambert. As the name indicates, the program is for kids who have moved beyond reading picture books and uses chapter books as a foundation instead. Have no fear...there will be no reading a chapter book five days consecutively. However, the original flavor of the earlier concept is preserved, using literature as the springboard to a love of learning in all areas.

Volume 2 explores four titles total, two fiction and two non-fiction. Titles included are: Sarah, Plain and Tall, The Story of George Washington Carver, Skylark, and Helen Keller. Unlike the FIAR series, which covers specific academic subjects on specific days, Beyond FIAR bases weekly activities on individual chapters. Subject emphasis, activities and time needed will vary depending on the information presented in each chapter of the book. Overall, it will take two days or so to complete the activities for each chapter and one semester to complete the entire volume. However, there is no set schedule and students are encouraged to study where their interests lead, savoring each educational bite, rather than rush through.

Five principal academic areas are covered: History and Geography, Language Arts, Science, Fine Arts and Human Relationships. Throughout the volume are also special learning opportunities that include topics such as drama, internet, career path, art, cooking and essay questions. The author is clear that supplementation will be needed in arithmetic and specific language arts areas such as grammar, spelling and penmanship.

A summary for the parent is provided for each chapter, should the parent prefer independent reading, followed by a list of topics covered in the activities. As an example of the type of activities included, below is the covered material for the first chapter of Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan:

History and Geography: Maine and the Eastern United States
History and Geography: Prairies – Beginning Your Notebook
Science: Babies and Human Development
Science: Rocks – Three Types
Language Arts: MacLachlan's Use of a Continuing Symbol – Singing
Language Arts: Letter Writing – P.S. and R.S.V.P.
Language Arts: Creative Writing – Writing a Personal Introduction
Language Arts: Avoiding Cliches – Interesting Description
Fine Arts: Composition in Drawing
Issues of Human Relationships: Memories
Issues of Human Relationships: Singing – A Family Activity

For each activity listed, the teaching parent is provided with anywhere from a paragraph to a full page of explanation, information and ideas on how to approach the topic with the student. The activities are flexible enough to allow adjustment for varying abilities. In the back of the book is a complete list of the scope of topics covered throughout the entire volume, especially helpful to see the academic ingredients to the unit study casserole for those of us who need it.

Even though I'm not a unit study person, Beyond Five in a Row could easily fit into our homeschool as a supplemental resource. I found its flexible and gentle approach quite palatable and I now wish I had explored the Five in a Row series when my children were younger. Sarah, Plain and Tall was already on my son's reading list for the year. What a great supplement to spice up our current program and to further enhance understanding, bring in more interest, or inject a little fun. I especially liked the writing activities, which easily had enough substance for the older writer. Many of the writing activities included excellent and relevant discussion questions that could be done verbally as did the Issues of Human Relationships section. Beyond Five in a Row would also be an excellent resource for a book club or co-op situation where students can come together to discuss a selected book and do related activities, such an art project - or cooking.

Of course, those who know and love Five in a Row will likely enjoy the continuation with Beyond as the meat and potatoes of their studies. Five in a Row has quite a following, over 50,000 per the webite, of families who enjoy learning at the leading of great literature. You will find a large and active message board community of users at the Five in a Row website with which to share the experience.

There are three Beyond volumes in all for ages 8-12, at $24.95 each, as well as a Beyond FIAR Bible Christian Character and Bible Study Supplement. In addition to Beyond Five in a Row, the following products for other age groups are also available:

Before Five in a Row, ages 2-4: Twenty-three FIAR-style mini-units based on simple children's books are included in this title to inspire learning readiness.

Five in a Row, ages 4-8: There are 3 volumes, together covering 55 titles, of this step-by-step instructional guide using outstanding children's literature.

Above and Beyond Five in a Row, ages 12 and up: This unit study is aimed directly at the student and designed to be completed as a 6-8 week study or over several months as a supplement.

Five in a Row also has a number of supplement and digital products to go with the curriculum. You can view their menu of printed items here and browse available digital items here.

Whether you are looking for some a la cart supplemental activities or would prefer a full course unit study, Five in a Row brings to the table a variety of selections for ravenous learners of all ages.

Visit the TOS Crew's Official Blog to hear what other Crew members thought of this product.

Story Contest - 3 Weeks Left to Enter!

Exciting News from TOS!

Attention writers!
Grab your pencils and get those creative juices flowing!

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is hosting our second Storytime Writing Contest! We have two creative fiction categories: adults (16 and up 2,500 words or less) and children (15 and below 1,500 words or less). Deadline to enter is March 16, 2009. $7.95 fee per entry.

Grand prize winners in both the adult and child categories will receive prize packages valued at over $1,000, publication in the Summer 2009 issue of TOS, and publication in our Storytime 2009 Compilation E-Book. Eleven Honorable Mentions from each category will also be included in the E-Book in addition to receiving gifts from top homeschool companies.

We look forward to reading your entries!

For a detailed list of prizes, official contest rules, to meet our judges, and to upload your story, please visit: www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com/Short_Story_Contest.php.

Need help teaching writing? We have over 200 writing products in the Schoolhouse Store!

A Review of Math Tutor

As an engineering major, I had plenty of required math courses. Math was not my favorite subject but I was usually capable with a little work. However, one semester I found myself in a predicament with a falling grade. I was one student of hundreds for the lecture portion of the class. In the smaller working session, I had difficulty even understanding the teaching assistant because of a thick accent, let alone the foreign material. Many of my classmates were just as lost. As I was grasping on to a C, I decided to hire a tutor. After a few sessions with the tutor, I earned an A on my next exam. No magic was to be found in the tutor. He just explained to me how to do the problems in a language I could understand, both literally and figuratively. The tutor took what seemed like a complicated problem and broke it down into steps. I felt like going to my instructor and asking, “Why are you making this so complicated?”.


Have you or your student ever been in need of a good tutor to move you forward in a subject? Jason Gibson, Math Tutor founder and teacher, started offering his DVD math courses at the request of the many satisfied students and friends he tutored. What started out as a small eBay venture soon turned into a full course line with thousands of happy customers.

“ I pride myself on providing quality educational content at affordable prices, and I have a passion for making "complex" subjects easy to understand. "

Not only does Gibson have the passion for teaching the subject, his educational and professional background is impressive, including his current employment with NASA as a fully certified space shuttle flight controller. When reading his credentials, there may be a worry that he may talk over the student's head. However, Jason Gibson knows that it takes to deliver his knowledge effectively to the student.

“Now, I am the first to admit that none of this amounts to a hill of beans when teaching a lesson. What really matters if the instructor take a complex topic and assume the student knows absolutely nothing about the task at hand and take him/her from zero knowledge to expert in step-by-step chunks.”

It is important that the instructor and his approach be understood because of the simplicity of these courses. There are no bells and whistles, no amazing graphics, no cartoon characters doing dances or even a change of scenery. This courses are simply Gibson, a white board and math. The philosophy of Math Tutor is that the best way to learn is through examples. Each section of the course includes numerous fully-narrated example worked out step-by-step.

I received two Math Tutor course for review, Basic Math Word Problems and Algebra 2.

The Basic Math Word Problems is 8 hours worth of instruction, cover the following areas:

Disc 1

• Adding Whole Numbers
• Subtracting Whole Numbers
• Multiplying Whole Numbers
• Dividing Whole Numbers
• Adding Decimals
• Subtracting Decimals
• Multiplying Decimals
• Dividing Decimals

Disc 2

• Adding Fractions
• Subtracting Fractions
• Multiplying Fractions
• Dividing Fractions
• Percents, Part 1
• Percents, Part 2
• Ratio and Proportion

The Algebra 2 course is 6 hours long and includes the following topics:

Disc 1

• Graphing Equations
• The Slope of a Line
• Writing Equations of Lines
• Graphing Inequalities
• Solving Systems of Equations by Graphing
• Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution
• Solving Systems of Equations by Addition

Disc 2

• Solving Systems of Equations in Three Variables
• Simplifying Radical Expressions
• Add/Subtract Radical Expressions
• Multiply/Divide Radical Expressions
• Solving Equations with Radicals
• Fractional Exponents
• Solving Polynomial Equations
• The Quadratic Formula

I have to admit, I was initially unimpressed upon my first viewing. As I said earlier, these DVDs are simply a casually-dressed Jason Gibson standing at a white board going through problem after problem. The presentation is rather drab and the tone is very conversational, with many an "um", "okay", and nervous gestures. Some may be bothered that fingers are used to illustrate simple math and may contradict your teaching, though I personally allow it in my home. In fact, when my son was younger he actually developed a rather complicated base-ten system using his fingers.

However, the purpose of the course isn't to entertain nor for public speaking instruction, it is math. What is important is Jason Gibson's ease in explaining the math problems in the way that the student can understand. The lack of bells and whistles is an advantage because there is nothing to detract from the work at hand. Below you can view a sample video from the Algebra 2 course. You may view samples from other courses here.



I had my 9-year-old son view some of the Basic Math Word Problem course. He said the course was very “plain” though explained well. This is something I would use in small doses with him as he had trouble keeping focused after the first couple examples. I'm not sure if that is a reflection of my son or his age. However, I can see this DVD course being a useful tool to have on hand when extra explanation or practice is needed.

My daughter reviewed the Algebra 2 course. The mention of math has her immediately building a mental wall. It isn't a favorite subject, though she is actually fairly capable. To ease her in, I had her start with a session with material she's previous worked through, but was still a bit rusty, Graphing Inequalities. I watched in awe as her math-phobic attitude dissolved as she worked out problems with the DVD. Then it slipped out,

“I actually like this!”

followed by...

“Wait...did I just say that?”

I'm not sure who was more surprised, my daughter or me. My daughter further explained.

“It's just math...no fluff. There is no long, round-about explanations. He just works problems and shows you how to work them without any other confusing stuff. I like that.”

While I can typically explain my daughter's math, I'm probably not as thorough as the Math Tutor course. I actually learned a great deal about how to teach math better by watching them with my daughter. These courses are also tools that the student can use on their own, whenever they need a little extra help, encouraging independent learning. I will definitely be checking out more Math Tutor courses to put on our shelves.

Math Tutor would be excellent for struggling students or teachers or just as an extra math resource in your home. Prices range from $21.99 - $49.99, with some courses containing as much as 14 hours of instruction. In our area, one-hour of math tutoring goes for over $50. If you are not completely satisfied with your Math Tutor course, there is a 30-day full refund guarantee.
LIMITED TIME FREE BONUS: Each new Math Tutor DVD customer receives 60 minutes of FREE live online tutoring available 24/7 through Tutor.com! A $35.00 Value!
Facebook users can also get a $10 off coupon good for any single DVD. Details here.
I've found an unexpected gem in Math Tutor. Head over to their website to view all the different titles available.
Read reviews of this product by other TOS Crew members here.

A Review of Bible StorySongs

When my son was younger, he had a difficult time learning the order of the days of the week. It was something we'd go over and over, looking at the calendar and reciting them in order. It just wasn't sticking. However, once the days were put to a tune, he remembered them always. It wasn't even a tune he knew previously (The Addams Family theme song), but it was catchy and it stuck.

There's Sunday and there's Monday
There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday
There's Thursday and there's Friday
And then there's Saturday...
Days of the week (snap snap)

From that point on, he'd simply sing the song whenever he wanted to know the order of the days.

Does music help long-term memory? How many of you actually mentally sing the ABC song when looking up a word in a dictionary or putting something in alphabetical order? I do! There are many (oh, so many...) things I've forgotten since my school days, but the ABC song is forever ingrained in my head. Music is a powerful thing!


Bible StorySongs was inspired when two moms, now grandmas, were looking for something fresh and new for summer Bible camp lessons. They set stories and verses from the Bible to old-fashioned tunes, making them easier for the kids to remember. Bible StorySongs uses the power of music to teach the power of the Word!

There are currently six double-length albums available, approximately one-hour long each. Accompanied by piano, the songs are sung by children, either solo or as a choir. Lyrics are included for children to learn and sing along, though I bet most kids will be able to do that just by listening!


I received the Matthew Volume 2, I Want to Be Good Ground CD, which covers Matthew Chapters 9-28. Familiar song tunes, such as "Go Tell it on the Mountain", are put to new words that tell stories and truths in the book of Matthew. Some of the songs teach good character traits, like keeping your room clean, putting things away, and getting homework done. Much to the horror of my children, I have a few new ditties to sing when I ask them to do a chore! Before each song, a child tells the location of Scripture and/or the Biblical principal being taught in the song. As an example, a song for Matthew 10:1-5 starts out with a child defining a disciple and an apostle. Another child then states, "In Matthew 10: 1-5, Jesus chose twelve men who were very trainable and sendable." The song is set to the tune of "Good King Wenceslas" with the following lyrics, sung through multiple times for better memorization:

Jesus called His twelve disciples,
Gave to them authority
O'er the unclean, every sickness,
Sent them forth to heal disease.

Simon Peter, Andrew, his brother,
Two sons of Zebedee, James and John.
Philip and Bartholomew, then
Thomas, Matthew, chosen ones.

Then came James, the son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus, and Simon, the zealous one;
Judas Iscariot, replaced by Matthias,
Twelve apostles' work begun.

This song and the other 32 songs on the CD can be sampled here.

One of my first thoughts when listening to this CD was that is would be an excellent tool to reinforce Bible stories taught at church or home. Since the music is more calm rather than the get-up-and-dance variety, it would also be great for soothing background music in the church nursery or during down or play time for kids at home. I think younger kids would appreciate the songs the most. Both my nine and twelve-year-old felt it was too young for them and didn't fit their preference for more modern music.

Individual titles start at $9.99 and are available for as low as $4.99 with bulk purchase. Also available are Color 'n Sing, e-books, Puzzle Pages e-books and sheet music that correlate with the CD. Visit Bible StorySongs to see what is available or to make a purchase. You can also buy one song or the entire album at major internet music retailers.

See what others thought of various titles of Bible StorySongs by clicking here.

A Review of Heads Up!

In the past few years, I've noticed an influx of “accidental homeschoolers”. Accidental homeschoolers are those who did not intend to homeschool but turned to it because of a less than adequate, or even toxic, classroom situation. Homeschooling is thrust upon them, ready to be embraced for the benefit of their child. Many of these families have bright, wiggly, and sensory sensitive kids that don't thrive in a classroom with thirty other children. Sometimes learning disabilities are at play, disabilities that may hinder learning in the classroom but don't have to hinder at home. With the right information, tools, and support, these kids can move from struggling learners to joyous learners.

Heads Up! is a company devoted to providing parents the tools they need to successfully homeschool their special learners. Melinda Boring, owner of Heads Up!, uses her experience with her own family to guide others to products that may be useful in their own homes. Heads Up! describes their purpose as:

"Our goal is to provide materials and information for homeschooling families, occupational therapists, speech therapists, teachers, and specialists who work with children who have developmental delays, learning disabilities, or other special needs. Professionals, as well as parents and families interacting with special needs children, need materials and teaching tips that will be effective in promoting successful learning experiences while reducing frustration for children, teachers, and parents."

From the variety of products offered by Heads Up!, I received a selection of frames and readers in a variety of colors - Top of the Line, Double Time, Readers, and large and small frames . These products are used as vision aids, particularly for kids that are either distractible or dyslexic.


The Top of the Line, Double Time, and Readers are all used to help readers keep focused on not lose their place. Top of the Line and Double Time, both 2 3/8” x 8”, come in blue and yellow. One line of text is viewable in the color area of Top of the Line and two lines for the Double Time. The Reader , 1 1/2” x 7”, views one line at a time between two strips of gray and comes in seven colors. The various colors help maintain focus on the reading material. All three of these items make great bookmarks too.

The small (4" x 4 1/2") and large (4" x 9") frames are meant to highlight a particular area of the page where you want your child's attention directed. The smaller frames are especially helpful to highlight just one math problem on a page for the easily overwhelmed student. Both frames are useful tools for the drifter or easily distracted, who is prone to look out the window and forget where he/she left off when attention is returned to the page.

My son has had tracking difficulty and other vision challenges while reading, such as pulling words from lines above or below. We even went the route of vision therapy for a time. There was improvement after the therapy, but some minor issues have remained. His eyes tire quickly, all small text is avoided and glare can be problematic. I heard of overlays possibly helping in these areas, but I had yet to give it a try since most of the issues were largely resolved.

I showed my son the selection of frames and readers I received from Heads Up!. Within 15 seconds he knew without a doubt that blue was his preferred color, while the other colors were met with indifference. Using the Double-Time reader, he immediately started reading a book that had text that would have otherwise been too small for him to tolerate. Remembering to use the overlays doesn't always happen, but when he does it seems to help some. I may purchase more of the blue readers to use as bookmarks so they will be handy. Each frame and reader costs only $1 each, a small investment if your struggling reader wants to read more when using them. If you are curious on why color overlays may work for some kids, research Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome and the Irlen Method. There are many reasons that could cause reading issues and I do encourage investigation to discover the source.

When browsing through the Heads Up! catalog, I discovered I've picked up many of the products from various sources over the years. Heads Up! is a great single source supplier for products that you may not even know could help. I've accidentally discovered items that fit in with the learning styles and needs of both of my children. For example, I purchased an inflatable disk to use as balance practice. However, I soon found it on the seat of a chair, which allowed my kids movement while sitting. It wasn't the intention when I purchased the product, but my kids found a better use for it. Flipping through the catalog, I found this exact same product marketed for this use. Melinda Boring knows what works! While these products are marketed for kids with learning and attention struggles, my experience tells me that many work with most any child. While only one of my kids regularly needs help staying focused, both of my children use the products we own from the Heads Up! catalog. Some of the products we own and enjoy are: Time Timer, various fidget toys, Bookzup, therapy balls, Vocabulary Cartoons, Page Up, Mind Music, various pencil grips and more.

Visit the Heads Up! website and check out all the interesting products offered to assist you in homeschooling learners of all kinds. You can also visit Melinda's blog for personal stories on homeschooling, learning disabilities and life. Also, if you are in the area of the Midwest Homeschool Convention taking place in Cincinnati on April 16-18, Melinda Boring will be presenting workshops and will have a booth in the Exhibitor Hall.

Visit the Official TOS Crew blog to read more reviews on this product.

A Review of The Bridge to the Latin Road, Schola Publications

“Latin? Why Latin?'

This was the response of my dad when I first told him of my intentions for his grandkids to study Latin. From my father's perspective, and many others, studying a dead language serves no purpose. Unless the initials M.D. are in the future, wouldn't Spanish or French be more practical?

It depends on your goals. If you plan on moving to a Spanish speaking area, well then yes, Spanish would be they way to go. However, that isn't my goal. My primary goal is for better understanding of our OWN language, which has its roots in Latin. My daughter aspires to be a writer and enjoys creatively composing and playing with words on paper. Latin will help her expand her vocabulary and understand words better to further develop her writing style. Conversely, my son is not a writer and struggles with word structure and meaning. However, he is very analytical. If he can learn to dissect his own language, in a way that he would deconstruct a Lego structure, he will be better equipped to write and understand word meaning.


I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review The Bridge to the Latin Road, Intro to Latin by Schola Publications. The Bridge to the Latin Road is the transition course between The Phonics Road to Reading and Spelling and The Latin Road. The Phonics Road is a complete language arts curricula for grades K-4 and The Latin Road is a 3-year Latin course for grades 5-12. The Bridge to the Latin Road, for grades 3-6, is designed to lay the framework the student needs for Latin study.

Barbara Beers, author of all three programs, likens learning language to building a house. Once the foundation of basic spelling, writing and reading skills are laid, it is time to build upwards with the framework of the house. As a result, you will find Beers takes a very systematic approach for both the teacher and student.

Each package contains:

Teacher's Guide in 3-ring binder with DVD presentation, Framing Codes, Sentences to Analyze, and Designing Codes

Complete Student Package in 3-ring binder with custom pages for Framing Codes, Sentences to Analyze, and Designing Codes, 3 pencils, Scaffolding Ruler

Verb Memory Game for learning irregular verb forms

Designing Cards for learning Latin prefixes, base words, and suffixes

Each lesson is fully explained to the teacher on the six instructional DVDs. The DVDs also include Grammar Rule Tunes, used to help the student remember the components of English sentences. Barbara Beer goes over each work page, the objective of the lesson, and how to teach the material. The Teacher's Manual contains every page in the Student Package and as it should look when completed by the student. By the end of the course, the student will have an organized reference manual to use during The Latin Road to English Grammar course. The 36-week program is broken down into 4 days per week, with an assignment schedule for each day. For a full scope and sequence, click here.

The course is structured with three main categories, Framing Codes, Sentences to Analyze, and Designing Codes.

Framing Codes covers eight specific areas or codes:

• Sentences, Phrases, Clauses
• Uses of Nouns
• Uses of Adjectives
• Uses of Pronouns
• Uses of Verbs
• Uses of Prepositions
• Uses of Adverbs
• Uses of Conjunctions
  

Each code has 5-10 pages of material to be completed, each building upon the previous. For example, the first page of the Sentences, Phrases, Clauses code defines a sentence and goes over the four sentence types. By the end of that particular code, students are diagramming, or scaffolding as Beer's terms it, relative clauses. Before the students are able to get to this point, they have also worked through the other codes at the same rate, slowly adding layers to their understanding for all the parts of speech.

The Sentences to Analyze section contains the dictated sentences for the students to apply what they learned in the Framing Codes. At first, this involves writing the dictated sentence and circling, underlining or marking various parts of speech. In the later weeks, students will be able to fully diagram complete sentences.

The Designing Codes is where the Latin is introduced in the form of prefixes, suffixes and base words. Designing Codes are first introduced in Week 11 after the basics of the parts of speech are covered. By the end of the program, the student will be able to use the Designing Cards to build approximately 400 words from Latin roots.

My daughter has a strong language arts foundation, so she began her Latin studies this fall. My son, age 9, requested that he start this year too. I hesitantly allowed him to take a 10-week introductory course to comply with his request, but he simply isn't ready to go beyond Latin exposure. He does not have the foundation and framework established to move forward.

I was excited to be able to try The Bridge to the Latin Road with him. He has strong reading skills, but writing skills are another issue. My focus has been to get him functional in writing before fully covering grammar. As a result, we've done very little grammar in exchange for spending a great deal of time in spelling with an Orton-Gillingham approach. Initially, flipping through the Teacher's Guide, the program looked overwhelming. With nearly 200 pages of written work through the course, I was wondering how my non-writing son would fair. Once I watched the first lesson on DVD and flipped through the book to better understand the organization, I was ready to get started.

There are a couple references to the preceding program, The Phonics Road to Reading and Spelling, and pages completed during the program. I would have preferred to have a reference page, but it wasn't too much hassle to work around. Otherwise, the instructions for the teacher were clear. While there is a lot of writing for the student, I was surprised to not get too many complaints. I was sure to not do the program directly after other written work for other subjects. Most days my son was able to complete the assignment for the day, but a few times we split up the assignment. Since the schedule is based on a 4-day week, this did not cause a problem as far a keeping to the schedule. For the average 3-6th grader, the writing requirements would most likely would not be a problem. It should also be understood that the student pages are not worksheets, to be completed independently. The teacher guides the student, giving instructions and dictating words and sentences.

While Latin prefixes, suffixes and base words are introduced, this is not a Latin program; it is a study of the English language. The Bridge to the Latin Road is simply that...a bridge. After completing this program, your student will be prepared to study Latin more formally. Even if your student has no desire to study Latin, this course is an excellent grammar study.

What I appreciated most about this program was its thoroughness. The student is given adequate practice to apply new material before introducing more. The structure of the English language is slowly built from each framing code simultaneously. Even with very little grammar exposure, my son was able to move through the material with little trouble. If the student needs review, they are able to refer back to their own personally-created reference manual. I can't say this is an exciting and fun program that will have your student begging for more, but where it is going and what is being learned will be quite clear. You can't build a framework without having a clear picture of what the structure is to look like. There is no clutter of unnecessary graphics or colorful pages, just the tools needed to learn the information. This program simply gets the building done and leaves the student with the blueprints for future reference.

The Bridge to the Latin Road sells as a complete package for $139.00. Visit Schola Publications to find out more about this program or the others mentioned, as well as to request a free sample packet.

Curious about what others think about Schola Publication products? Visit the Official TOS Crew blog to find out more!