Touch Math TOS Review

I was excited to get the opportunity to review Touch Math Curriculum,  Since it is a multi-sensory math curriculum I knew that it would be perfect to try with Selena. We were struggling in our math as I tried to teach from one perspective of the touch points to show Selena the value of the numbers instead of just seeing them like letters (numbers) written on the page. She just could not understand the concept very well, and was making a lot of messes on her daily work by placing dots all over the page. With using this curriculum she has now learned to keep the touch points on the numbers and her school work is neat and clean. We received the complete 1st grade Touch Math download which includes everything you will need for a year of math. There is curriculum for PreK, Kindergarten, First grade, and Second grade.

Touch Math is designed to work with any child, no matter what their learning style or level is. Since it allows the child to utilize their senses through seeing, saying, hearing, as well as hands on activities that will make math fun for any type of learner or ability. They recommend using this curriculum with your child 4 to 5 days per week for 2 to 2 1/2 times their age, so with Selena we did math 4 days a week for 15 minutes. By using touch points the child is able to comprehend that numbers have a true value or quantity.

How did we use it:
As I went through the lesson plans which are so nicely laid out and they all just blend together to teach the next concept, I realized that for Selena the first grade math was going to be way too easy for her. She had already mastered all the concepts in this level, (I must remind my followers that Selena is very advanced academically, and this math curriculum drilled it home for me that she is more advanced in math then I was giving her credit for.) We were still going to get a lot out of this curriculum though besides just learning touch points. I set out to do a review of the units, have fun using the hands on activities, and allowing Selena the opportunity to build her own confidence in her own math abilities.

Selena had no problem doing 2 to 3 worksheets that I selected and printed off from the curriculum in addition to her regular math curriculum. She was very excited everyday to move on to one of the hands on modules that I set up for fun math time on the floor.

We have saved all these hands on activities stored in a nice box and Selena enjoys pulling them out as she desires. She easily sets them up and works on them for sometimes hours at a time.

We also received a few of their manipulates, which are great fun, but are not necessarily needed to teach this math curriculum. I allowed Selena to pick out her favorite manipulate from those we received to share on our review. She loves the Touch Math Tutor so much that we installed it on her own lap top, which provides her with math fun throughout the day.

What did we like:

I really liked the feel of the curriculum, and how easy it is to teach. The hands on modules within the curriculum are simple to make from things within the home which also makes for little prep time. The lesson are presented in a very simple but straight forward making them just flow from one concept to the next. The worksheets do not contain an overwhelming amount of work for the child, and since this is a pdf file, they can be printed off and used multiple times for those who need more practice. I also appreciated the fact that the material is at grade level for any 1st grader.

What we did not like:

The only draw back I found with this curriculum it the fact that it is a download pdf file. I would have preferred to have at least the teacher’s manual in book form, since many times I needed to look something up in a lesson to have to leave Selena to run to my computer. With the amount of material found in this curriculum, it would be a bit to print it off. This is where a good laptop would come in handy.

What we got:

All for units of 1st grade Touch Math  Each unit costs $59.95 each, or you can buy all 4 units for $199.95

Touch Math Touch Numerals which cost $99.00. These are real nice foam numbers with all the dots which are great for working on touch point placement as well as teaching many other concepts. They do come with plastic holders for the dots, which can be multi used for grouping.

Touch Math 1st grade tutor which costs $99.00. This is a very fun computer game that reinforces the lessons in the curriculum.

Twelve boxes of flip cards which cost $19.00 per box. The flip cards are designed to be used with the lessons. Each unit contains 3 boxes of flip cards that build upon each concept within the lesson.
I highly recommend the Touch Math to anyone looking for a very comprehensive math curriculum.

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. No other compensation was received.

College Common Sense TOS Review

Papa and I have had many discussions about college for Selena, it is a real concern for us, probably because we are her grandparents and know that with retirement right around the corner we have to work a little harder now to assure there will be some financial peace of mind for all of us when college does come a knocking. We have already taken several steps in preparing some financial accounts and some term life insurance designed for college funding when the time comes. It only made sense to both of us to check out College Common Sense by Denise Ames. We received access to Going to College and Paying for it Online Video and Workbook that Denise put together to help parents and children of all ages, with special activities designed for elementary students up through high school.

We already knew we did not want Selena falling into the trap of funding her entire college education through student loans, then having the responsibility of paying off what seemingly never ends. Papa’’s first comment was “If only my parents would have…”  College Common Sense does make you, as the parent do a little thinking, but it is really designed to help your child be a huge part of the thought process of “How am I going to pay for my college?”

I can hear most of my followers asking right now, what does this program have to offer a 6 year old? Great question and one that we even had as we started. I love the fact that even the youngest child can already utilize the program through a very fun journal that Denise calls, “All About Me Journal.” The idea is this is truly an ongoing Journal where your child jots down or writes what they see the future holding for them. As we all know these ideas of a child will constantly change, but it does give us a great tool to know what our child is thinking, and areas of interest that we can explore together. I know for now Selena sees herself as a homemaker and mother, oh and a homeschool teacher. I am sure though as she grows her ideas will switch and jump all over the spectrum of career choices.

The material covered in College Common Sense made me stretch my thought process and I actually did quite a bit of research into what local scholarships are offered in our area. I knew there was one, that was set up by a long time resident of the area, and I know the person in charge of the funds and the distribution of said funds, but I did not know the requirements that they look for. Through my research of this scholarship I actually found a few more, I also was able to open some minds to expand these scholarships to include the possibility of the the homeschool community and not keep them so inclusive to the High School students.

I highly recommend that if you are truly interested in learning more about resources, and ways of helping your child prepare for college, rather it be not far off, or many years away to check out Denise Ames series. There are two methods to receive this valuable program, $25.00 a year gives you online access to videos or a one time payment of $50.00 will bring the CD version to your home. You will definitely want to visit College Common Sense website and sign up for the monthly newsletter as well as the weekly assignments. Remember you can’t start too soon in engaging your child to be thinking of her future, and college is probably going to be a huge topic, rather they go or not as well as which college they choose will totally be their choice. It doesn’t hurt to prepare their minds for the financial responsibility of paying for a higher education.

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. No other compensation was received.

A+TutorSoft TOS Review

I have been looking for a interactive Math program for Selena to use on the computer. When A+TutorSoft, offered their A+Interactive Math for a review, I was excited to see if this program would be a fit for us. They offer both an online or CD version, we chose the first grade online for our review which costs $19.95 per month or $124.99 per year. This covers from 1st grade 1 of counting numbers up to Algebra 1. It truly is a program that has a lot of room for growth with your child’s abilities.

 
Each lesson is presented in a very understandable way with a good amount of interactive time for the child to learn the concept. There is plenty of worksheets to be completed to master the concept, and they also offer the option to print out the worksheets so your child can get practice with the concepts in paper form. I liked the ability to input the scores from the printed worksheets through the parent/teacher dashboard which helps to track your child’s progress.

We were very excited to get started with the program. Selena did comment that she liked the work area since there wasn’t a lot of things to distract her, unlike other programs we have tried where there are games and cartoon characters to draw her attention away from the task at hand. Selena’s interest in the math program quickly diminished, I don’t know if this was due to an eye condition she was just diagnosed with or if she truly found many aspects frustrating. I do know I found aspects of the program frustrating. Selena often got frustrated when completing a worksheet only to discover her results did not get recorded.

We liked the detailed lessons and Selena had no problem sitting through the entire lesson listening and following along on the screen. Though she quickly got flustered when doing the worksheets. I think their idea is good, but the planning and implementation could use a little improvement. I know that as a first grader Selena is above level in math and reading, but to be asked to type out the large number words was more then she could handle. Had this been more word recognition of the number words and type the number instead of the word, I feel she would have been less frustrated. This particular worksheet seemed a little above grade level for a first grader.

Another area that frustrated Selena was the counting by 10’s. Selena is able to count by 10’s real high, and this might have been due to her eye condition, but when she went to do a worksheet in this area, it started out with 510 moving on up. Selena got upset and announced, “Grandma I can’t count that high, I can only count to 200.” I of course realize the idea is for the child to see the pattern and keep it going, but many first graders do not count that high yet, so seeing the higher numbers kind of took away from the idea of looking for the pattern.

I feel the navigation upon log in on the site could use some improvement, I know it took both Selena and I a while to click through all the steps to get started. They have a very good foundation and with a little improvement I could see this being a successful math program in our home. I would encourage any parent looking for an online program to at the very least try their one month free trial offer.
A+Tutorsoft is offering a great deal that runs through the end of March. Receive a 50% off your subscription price using the code SPOFFER50.

I was provided this product free for review. I was not compensated in anyway the opinions above are my honest opinions. 

Apologia Zoology TOS Review

I was pretty thrilled when I was given the opportunity to use and review curriculum from Apologia Educational Ministries, since I’ve always heard such good things about Apologia. We received the Apologia  Young Explorer Series Zoology1 Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day textbook and Junior Zoology1 Notebooking Journal for Creatures of the Fifth Day.

Selena was not as thrilled as I was, especially with the Journal. She did however read quite a bit from the textbook. She did color one picture in the Journal, but after that she refused to even have it brought off the shelf. With that said I set out to see just what information we could just pull from the textbook. As we started to discover just what Zoology is and what a Zoologist does, Selena decided to ask about all the other type of scientists, so a list compiled with definitions from Zoologists, Biologists, to Dermatologists. I guess she was more into increasing her vocabulary and learning what each new term meant so she could use them appropriately in sentences. However, she did point out that the very first Zoologist was Adam, since God commanded him to name all the animals.

I attempted to move on from there into the Bird section, which has some really neat experiments about how birds fly as well as looking at airplanes. When I set out one day to build the airplanes they had in their book, Selena quickly rejected it and went into folding all sorts of paper airplanes, discovering which designs would fly and which ones would not.

Just as I was about to give up on moving any further with the textbook Selena discovered a very interesting find in the barn.

A swallow’s nest. She was completely over taken by it’s presence in the barn and began to ask questions about how did the birds get it up there? Why would they build their nest over where the horses eat? What type of bird built this nest? I guess you know I was in pursuit to help her discover the answers. With textbook in hand we jumped ahead and found the chapter on nests. We quickly found a picture of a nest just like this one, and learned not only what type of bird built this nest, but also how that bird did so. Selena looked at that section in the text book throughout the day, but still would not allow the Journal to come off the shelf.

My Thoughts: I like the material and how it is presented in the textbook. The material covers Zoology, how they classify animals, birds, insects, homes of flying creatures, and their habits. Truly there is so much more to discover in the pages of this textbook. I also like the format of the Journal, though I expected the Junior Journal to not have as much writing in it, since it is designed for the beginning writer. I really see this book remaining on my resource shelf for future reference, and see it getting a lot more use come Spring and Summer then this time of year. The recommended age group for this curriculum is K-6th grade. Just keep in mind that with this large of a grade span, you will probably find much of the material overwhelming for the younger age group so be prepared to break it down appropriately for them. I feel strongly that a 5th and 6th grader will probably get more out of the textbook then a younger child, but it can easily be modified by you the parent/teacher for the younger student.

I feel this curriculum would be great for any homeschooler, especially those who enjoy absorbing themselves with information from a textbook form. For those like Selena this does lead to a great resource book to go to for quick answers, though we still ended up researching much more information from the computer. Truly one has to take into consideration the learning style of their child. The Journal is very nicely done, and follows the text very well. There would be many ways of using the Journal with the beginning writer, by even having them do it orally and you write their answers down.

I do recommend Apologia as a great science curriculum. In the Zoology Series you can choose from Flying Creatures, Swimming Creatures, and Land Animals. You can purchase their books and notebooks from their website. The textbook costs $39.00 and the Journals cost $24.00. They also offer textbooks and journals for Anatomy, Botany, and Astronomy. You will also find great material to get you through High School.

 

I was provided this product free for review. I was not compensated in anyway the opinions above are my honest opinions. 

TOS 2011-12 Primary Schoolhouse Planner

When I got the opportunity to review the 2011-12 Primary Schoolhouse Planner from The Old Schoolhouse, I was very excited. I have been looking at this planner for sometime, to actually get it in my hands and really get a good look at it has proven this planner to be my favorite life, and homeschool tool.
You can use this planner by either printing it and putting it in a binder should you wish. They have created the calendars in a nice spreadsheet format, so you can see the entire month at one glance.
My personal favorite part about this program, is that I can type in all the events I desire on my computer before printing it off, no more messy cross outs, or wondering what it was I scribbled on that day. There is plenty of area to still add notes. They even offer these same calendars with a lined version, for those who would prefer that feature.
Another feature I absolutely love is all the recommendations they have for reading, from bible stories to Aesop Fables and more. Need some ideas for holiday readings? They have that too. If you love literature, this will be a great supplement to any literature curriculum.
There is a section of “The Information Must Knows.” Rich in bible references from the books of the bible to the Miracles of Jesus, Parables of Jesus, and Biblical Timeline. They also have everything you will need to know to teach the parts of speech, basic grammar for writing in the elementary grades, basic spelling rules, and the complete list of most commonly used words. Do you need some recommendations for picture books, or story starters for the beginning writers? They even have a list for both of these areas.
Math: You better believe they cover math. Complete with a multiplication table, reference guide for roman numerals. prime numbers, geometry, and money. Believe there is so much in this one little planner, that one could truly use it as a base line for all your education needs.
I highly recommend this Primary Planner, it is full of everything one needs to supplement or just use as your guide throughout the entire year of homeschooling. They have covered every basis in this. You don’t think so, well there are even pages that you can print out for your child to learn how to print, and even cursive write. There are weekly and daily planners for your use or your students use, to do lists, perfect for those chores around the house.
Keep all your yearly records, of what did we read, field trips, let’s just say if you want to know what all you have done for the year you will have it logged in this wonderful planner. You won’t need to shuffle through paper work, books, or files to do any of the end of the year summaries or reports you may need to do. This planner has an area for everything. I know we are sure going to get a lot of use from this one little planner. I am looking forward to using it through out the year.
There is truly so much more to this planner then I mentioned, history from ancient to the modern world, geography, timeline of inventions, and science. I as a homeschooler really can appreciate all the information and work that has gone into this planner. Often when I think of a planner, I think of just a basic calendar to log appointments, and materials we will study, but this planner is so much more. I know that I am going to love using this in our homeschool, as the basic curriculum guide for this year and probably for several more years. I will never hesitate again about purchasing a planner from The Old School House Magazine, I believe they are one of the best planners and guides I have seen.
All of the planners from The Old School House Magazine comes in either a E-Book format or on CD. For The Primary Planner the E-Book is $9.95 and the CD is $14.95. You can order them from The Old School House Magazine Store found here.
I was given a copy of the Primary Planner from The Old School House Magazine in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way for my review, this is my honest opinion. 

The Curiosity Files/Quicksand Review

I was sent The Curiosity Files Quicksand E-book Unit Study, from The Old Schoolhouse  to review. I must admit I have been looking at the Curiosity Files for a while now and wondered if Selena would enjoy working through the series. They have 9 different titles in this series with Professor Ana Lyze. A few of the ones that stood out as ones I would like to explore are Quicksand, Puffer Fish, and Dung Beetle. Actually I could see us looking into all the series down the road. The ages for this curriculum is from 8 to 13 years and up.

What is covered in this unit study? I must admit a lot, there is not only information about quicksand, but there is math, science, geography, art, bible, music, vocabulary and spelling, and a lot of fun games and activities, that can spark a child at any age. They do include a list of resources for further research, along with activities for children as young as 3 years old. I wanted to do so much more with this study, and I know we will as our weather improves and we can get outside to explore more. I can envision us making the quicksand and comparing it with the sand at our local beaches, as well as using a walking stick and exploring the banks of the rivers and lakes around us. How we did use the material though was to watch some videos on youtube and began to discuss simple things about quicksand. I can see us referring back to this unit study many times as Selena grows in her abilities.

I have to say that Selena and I had fun exploring through this topic. We were truly able to adapt quite a bit of this material for some real fun learning here in our home. While Selena is only 4 years old, I knew we would not be able to use all the material, but I knew she would have fun exploring quicksand, the bible study that goes with it, and many of the games recommended could be adapted for her learning level. She was able to learn some new vocabulary words through exploring and gained a few more new words to add to her, “I can read” list. She enjoyed some science, geography, and story time all using things she learned from this curriculum. We would have loved to take more advantage of the outdoor activities suggested in this unit, but our weather was not the best for that. I know that we will revisit this unit as Selena’s skills increase, and I will be looking into the other unit studies they offer too.

Selena’s take on this unit study: “Quicksand is like our mud pit that I fell in. I sank and had mud all over me. Our beach is like quicksand, because when we walk near the water we sink a little bit in the sand. Oh and remember the car that was stuck on the beach, it really sank.”

I believe a child who is 8 and older would have a lot of fun and learn a lot from this study. Besides the obvious, what is quicksand, but they would learn metrics in math, reading a tide chart, where one can actually find quicksand in the US and around the world, and have fun as they expand on their knowledge of the world around them. For those of you who are busy homeschool moms of multiple children I feel you will appreciate that they do offer ideas and activities for various ages. I hear so many homeschool mom’s ask “What do you do with your younger children while working with the older children?” This series has activities even for those as young as 3 years old, this provides a learning atmosphere for the entire family.

The other thing I truly liked about this curriculum is that the reading section, the learning about quicksand, is done in a question and answer form not just merely reading, but digging right into those questions I think most all of us have such as can I truly sink clear down and drown? It truly answers all the common questions that any person or child might have about quicksand. The answers are packed with interesting facts and information about quicksand. The Bible study is very well written and incorporates the unit study fairly well. There is also an essay section, to help your child learn how to write their own essay.

One con I found with this curriculum, is they introduce the series with the portrayal of how Hollywood uses quicksand in the movies. I remember  movies quite well, that were produced in the 1950’s but I have not seen quicksand used in the production of many movies today. While I did a search to see what movies of today use quicksand as a prop and did find a couple, I wondered how many kids have watched these movies. We got around this by watching some youtube videos about quicksand before we even started the unit study.

It goes without saying that I highly recommend The Curiosity Files by The Old Schoolhouse especially if you have older children. Again I can’t say enough about the fact that there is a little something for all ages, this truly is a family learning adventure. There are a total of 9 topics which you can explore here.  You can buy the entire E-book set for $46.00 or you can purchase the individual units by title for $6.95. These prices include everything in the E-book, handouts which can easily be printed off for each child and suggestions for how to store all the information they learn in a file folder or perhaps a lapbook. There are links to the instructions on how to make your own quicksand, as well as links and lists for all sorts of added resources. The only materials you provide are the materials needed for the experiments or the making of your own quicksand. They even offer a sneak preview of each unit, for this unit study you can see that here. While you are there remember that the store at The Old Schoolhouse offers many resources, unit studies, curriculum choices, so take some time to look around, you might find something that strikes you as interesting at a very reasonable price.

I was not paid for my review, while given a copy of this unit study I received no compensation. My opinion about this product is my honest opinion.