Category: Reviews

Product reviews

See The Light

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“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him,” (Col 1:16).

Every now and then, when I allow myself to slow down enough, I love to take a few minutes and just simply reflect on the wonder of creation. God created such a magnificent world. Can you imagine what it must have looked like before the fall of man? The world is a glorious masterpiece created by the Master Designer. And even more wonderful than the creation of this world is the creation of man. God made man as the pinnacle of all creation. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” (Eph 2:10).

Creativity is a wonderful character trait to have and to teach our children. I like to remind my children that God is the most creative of all. When we are creative, we are being like Him. I can show my children how to be creative in their writing and with problem solving. But when it comes to things like sketching, drawing, or painting, I have no artistic abilities. All I can do is encourage them. But I have learned as a homeschooling mom that if I am not skilled in a subject it doesn’t mean my children can’t be.

I have recently discovered a great tool for teaching children art. It is called See The Light Art Class. It is taught by Mater Artist Pat Knepley. The 9 volume DVD series contains 36 complete step-by-step tutoring lessons. Mrs. Knepley has a warm personality which captures your attention. In each easy to understand lesson she leads you through a successful drawing experience every time. Each lesson runs approximately 15 minutes and includes suggestions for follow-up activities. No workbooks are needed just basic art supplies. What I really like about the art class is that biblical truth is integrated into every lesson.

We were sent Volume 1 with art lessons 1 – 4 to review.

  • Lesson One – Tools of the Trade Learn the basics of what makes a drawing.
  • Lesson Two – It All Starts with a Line – The most fundamental element of all drawing is the line – but not all lines are alike.
  • Lesson Three – Contours & Composition – Train your eyes and hands to be synchronized!
  • Lesson Four – Draw What You See – You’ll take a common everyday item – a shoe – as your subject for a completed contour drawing.
  • Bonus Lesson – Chalk-It-Easy Chalk Art Lesson

Aaron is the artist in the family so I chose him to do these lessons. He enjoyed them and learned a few things but thought they were too short. I think he would be more challenged in some of the more advanced lessons. His favorite lesson was the bonus chalk lesson. We all agreed that it was rather cool.

You can purchase the entire 9 Volume DVD series with 36 lessons from See The Light for $99.99. But before you do, check out the website to watch some of the free art lessons. You can also request a free DVD of volume one, the same volume I reviewed.

To see what others are saying about this product click here.

Disclaimer: As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received See The Light Art Class Volume One in exchange for an honest product review. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Choose Life

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We have all heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” And we would probably all agree that here is significant truth to the statement. But what about a deeper absolute truth, found in the Holy Scriptures? As believers, our body is the temple of God. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” (1Corinthians 6:19-20).

This is a concept that I have been greatly convicted about over the past few years. When it comes to taking care of our body, there are deeper implications than just the physical. My quest for a healthier lifestyle began last year. I realized that our family did not get to the place we were overnight and that we would not be able to get back overnight either. So I started slow. I started buying whole wheat flour for baking. I replaced our salt with natural sea salt. I bought more fruits and encouraged our children to drink lots of water. At the first of the year I cut out sugar from my diet. And just this change alone has reduced my weight by 15 pounds. With the Lord’s help, I will continue to make changes for myself and my family one step at a time.

I was excited for the opportunity to review a family nutrition and health program called Nutrition 101: Choose Life by Growing Healthy Homes. “This is just what I need!” I thought after receiving the 448 page book in ebook format. I must admit that I have not read it all. To be honest, there is just too much information. It will take me months to accurately go through the program. But already I have learned so much valuable information. For example, those sugar substitutes that I had switched to are very harmful. I also thought I was doing well to drink cold water with my meals. I had been told that cold water would speed up your metabolism. While this may be true, it is not good to do this. When we consume ice cold drinks (even water) with our meals, fatty foods can congeal in our stomach making them harder to digest (gross, I know!). These are just a few of the things I have been learning and passing along to my family.

Nutrition 101: Choose Life! Is broken down into six units:

  • 1. The Brain and Nervous System
  • 2. Digestion and Elimination
  • 3. Respiration and Olfactory
  • 4. Muscular and Skeletal Systems
  • 5. Cardiovascular and Immune Systems
  • 6. Endocrine System and Emotions

It is filled with hands-on activities, science and art projects, family-friendly recipes, nutrition facts, charts, practical tips and an exhaustive index. It is truly a powerful resource for healthy living. You can purchase the beautiful, hardbound book from Growing Healthy Homes for $99.95. The CD ROM is available for $79.95 or you can purchase both for $129.95.

As a reader of this blog you get a chance to get the same discount you would at a homeschool conference.  Use the coupon code TOScrew11 for a 15% discount!

To see what others are saying about this product, click here.  

Growing Healthy Homes is more than a business. It is truly a ministry. Here is what they say:

We established Growing Healthy Homes LLC in 2007 to educate and train families regarding God’s plan to optimum health as outlined in the Bible. We are wives, mothers, researchers and teachers dedicated to reaching homes with a message of hope and healing. Our product line includes family-centered and health-infused books/e-books, as well as educational materials for user of pure therapeutic-grade essential oils. It is our mission to honor God by creating and distributing products that educate and empower His children to establish healthy, Christ-centered homes.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)

Disclaimer: As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received Nutrition 101: Choose Life in exchange for an honest product review. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Truth Be Told

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If the truth were to be told, there are many families out there who are tired of the trashy entertainment that fills the airwaves.  Our family had to finally resort to turning off the TV and sticking with family friendly movies that we could rent.  However, this past year, Family Movie Night has successfully reached millions of viewers all across America.  Movies like Change of Plans and A Walk in My Shoes offered families wholesome alternatives and teaching moments with their children.

 Now, the latest in the Family Movie Night series, Truth Be Told, is set to air this Saturday, April 16th, 2011 on FOX.  I previewed the movie this week and was once again pleasantly surprised.  Truth Be Told addresses the importance of honesty and personal integrity even when faced with great temptations.  The wisdom of the world is to compromise the truth in order to achieve your goals in life.  The movie highlights the consequences of such action and worldly thinking.  The moral is that honestly is always the best policy.  The movie was lighthearted and fun to watch and, like the other Family Movie Night films, it stressed the importance of family unity.

 Film Synopsis:

 According to Colorado’s leading marriage counselor Annie Morgan (Candace

Cameron Bure, Full House, Make It or Break It), honesty and love are the keys

to successful long-term relationships. Ironically, Annie has never been married

and doesn’t always follow her own advice. When an opportunity arises to

discuss hosting a relationship talk show with media mogul Alexander Bishop

(Ronny Cox, St. Elsewhere, Beverly Hills Cop), Annie jumps at the chance.

Through a misunderstanding, she receives an invitation for her and her spouse

to join Bishop at his New Mexico ranch. Fearful that being single will wreck

her big chance, Annie conspires with Mark Crane (David James Elliott, JAG),

an old college friend who is a retired professional football player and recent

widower, to pose as a married couple with their teenage kids for the weekend.

A series of comical misunderstandings mark the weekend, leaving Annie

emotionally involved with Mark and his two teenagers and battling with her own

conscience. Will she confess the truth about her marital status or the feelings

she’s developing for Mark? Telling the truth may have its consequences, but

ultimately it’s what opens our hearts and brings out the best in each other.

So make plans with your family to enjoy Truth Be Told this Saturday.  For a  preview of the trailer click here.

I Will Praise You

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 I have always enjoyed the music of Rebecca St. James and was please to hear about her newest collection of worship songs that is scheduled to release on April 5, 2011.  I Will Praise You is her first studio project since 2005.

Grabbing I Will Praise You from the mailbox, my husband and son were the first to listen to it in the car on their way to town today.  My husband, who is always looking for great driving music, let me know that the CD was great.  So I was anxious for an opportunity to sit down and listen.

I must admit that I am probably more critical than most when it comes to music.  That is because I take it very seriously.  Music stirs the soul.  I have always said that  music will either stir your soul toward God or away from Him.   The songs on this album unquestionably stirred my soul toward God.

The first song, I Will Praise You, was beautifully written as a sacrifice of praise to God. 

Whatever the storm

Whatever is lost

Whatever it takes

Whatever the cost

I will praise you

A couple of songs on the CD were taken from Revelations.  I was instantly drawn to them.  In A Moment begins with “In a moment everyone falls silent, to hear the mighty trumpet, split the eastern sky, Just imagine the King of all Creation, riding through the heavens, returning for His bride.”  It is a very powerful song and beautifully delivered.  You Hold Me Now wonderfully visualizes when we will finally see our Lord face to face.  Another one of my favorites is You Make Everything Beautiful taken from Ecclesiastes 3:11.  Aaron’s favorite song on the CD is You Never Let Go – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear….”

If you would like to hear a preview of the CD, check out Rebecca’s LISTENING PARTY here.  Be sure and share the link with your family and friends.  And be sure to pick up a copy of this great new CD available on April 5th. 

*I will be giving away a copy of I Will Praise You to one of my readers.  (Sorry, it won’t be my copy.  We’re keeping this one close by.)  Just leave a comment to enter and I’ll draw a winner on April 5th  and send you your own copy.  For additional entries subscribe to my blog, post about this, or share on facebook.  Just leave a separate entry for each.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

-Hebrews 13:15-

Disclaimer:  I received I Will Praise You CD for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Teaching Latin – Really? Why? How?

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Why would a parent want to teach their child Latin?  Isn’t it just a “dead” language?  Can it really be that helpful?  The answer might surprise some.  Over two-thirds of our English words come from Latin roots.  You have probably heard Latin phrases like carpe diem (seize the day), vice versa (the order being reversed), or tempus fugit (time flies).   

Many abbreviations come from Latin words. 

For example:

  • anno domini (abbreviated AD),  in the year of the Lord.
  • et cetera (abbreviated etc.),   and so on.
  • exempli gratia (abbreviated e.g.),   for example.

Latin not only reveals a great deal about English but it enhances expression.  It develops understanding and appreciation for literature and the classical impact on our modern culture.  And learning other foreign languages comes easier to a child who has learned Latin – French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian are all derived from Latin.

As we can see there are many good reasons to teach Latin. So what is it that holds parents back?  I cannot speak for all, but I can speak for myself.  Learning a new language is time consuming.  There are days that I do well to get everything taught.  In addition, it is hard to teach what you do not know. 

I was recently given an opportunity to review a Latin program from Classical Academic Press with Andrew.  Due to my concerns for teaching a different language, I was anxious to give it a try.  And I am glad I did!  Song School Latin is a gentle introduction to Latin for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade.   What I love about the program is the music CD with over 30 songs.  Andrew and I spent about 15 minutes a day learning new words, reviewing the songs, and working in the activity book.  He really enjoyed the coloring pages as well.  When we finish the program Andrew will have learned over 100 everyday Latin vocabulary words.

You can purchase the Song School Latin student book with CD for $22.95.  The teacher’s edition is an additional $22.95.  They also have available the Latin Monkey Match Flashcard Game for $24.95.  Or, you can buy them together and save money by purchasing the bundle for $64.95.

Visit the Classical Academic Press website for more information.  To see what others are saying about this product you can click here.

Disclaimer:  As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received Song School Latin in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

Who Is God?

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Just who is God? And can I really know Him? Could there be a more significant question asked? Is there anything more noteworthy to dwell on? Does a more important question beg to be answered? No, the question of “Who Is God?” is of upmost priority. Why? The answer is because it is imperative that we know the Creator of all things and understand His plan and purpose for mankind.

Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. To seek after wealth, pleasures, happiness, personal fulfillment, or earthly treasures cannot compare to seeking after God and His truth. Eternity is at stake. Our very souls cry out for an answer. Our conscience bears witness. And creation reveals God and leaves man inexcusable. (Read Romans 1:18-20.)

John Hay and David Webb have put together a series of books from Apologia Press called “What We Believe”. The series sheds light on having a biblical worldview of God and Truth. I received the first volume, Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? to review. The quality of the book first grabbed my attention. It is a beautiful hardback of 252 pages. When I first flipped through the book the pictures immediately captured my interest. It was hard to put it down. But having a beautiful cover and striking artwork means nothing if the content is not superior. However, over the weeks of reviewing this product with my children I have not been disappointed. This book addresses some very important questions.

  • Where am I building my life?
  • How can I know what is true?
  • What is God like?
  • Who are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
  • If God created the world, why isn’t it perfect?
  • Why did God create me?
  • Will God meet all my needs?
  • Why does sin keep me from knowing God?
  • Is Jesus the only way to God?

In a clear and concise format, this book makes a great Bible curriculum for the entire family. We have thoroughly enjoyed it. My one and only complaint is that the authors use a variety of Bible translations (NIV, NLT, NASB, NKJV, ESV, NCV, and NRSV) throughout the book. For consistency sake I do not like this. But most negatives can be turned into a positive. So I simply took our KJV’s and had the children looked up the verses as we came to them.

You can purchase this book for $39.00 from Apologia. Don’t let the price dissuade you. The truth is that you get what you pay for. And with this book you get your full $39.00 worth plus much more. The Apologia website contains additional resources to help you teach this course. To see a sample lesson, click here. To see what others are saying about this product click here. This is a book we will hold on to for many years. And hopefully we will be able to purchase the remaining volumes in the future.

Volume 2 – Who Am I? And Why Am I Here? Addresses the Biblical worldview of self-image.

Volume 3 – Who Is My Brother? And Why Do We Need Each Other? Addresses the Biblical worldview of servanthood.

Volume 4 – What on Earth Can I Do? Addresses the Biblical worldview of stewardship.

Disclaimer: As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received Who Is God? And Can I Really Know Him? from Apologia Press in exchange for an honest product review. I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

MathRider

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Remember the “good ole days” of flash cards?  Ten years ago, when I first began teaching my children, that was how I taught math facts.  Every day we would pull out the flash cards and drill, drill, drill.

We’ve come a long way since that time.  This month Andrew (2nd grade) has been reviewing his math facts while riding a horse called Shadow.  He has been on various noble adventures in fantastic lands.  He searches, on this math quest, for magical flowers, returns gems to elves, and seeks to rescue the princess!  All of this is done at our kitchen table while he plays MathRider.

MathRider is a math game for children who need to learn their number facts.  Drilling math facts no longer have to be boring.  Whether you child is working on addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, MathRider can make the journey fun and successful.  Each operation contains four quests, ranging from easy to master.

As part of the Old Schoolhouse Crew, I had about 6 weeks to review this product.  I must say that I’m disappointed with the short trial version.  But other than that, I’ve had a positive experience with MathRider.  Andrew enjoyed playing it very much.  It was simple to download and took just a few minutes.  At first I had trouble with the screen resolution but it was easily fixed.  I like the fact that you do not need the internet to play the game and that you can have up to 10 players.  Every person creates their own rider and the game tracks each rider’s progress and practice results individually.  Another great feature is that this program is able to custom-tailor the questions asked based on what the rider knows.  Here is the explanation from their website:

While the rider is playing, the game learns what the rider knows and what he or she still needs to practice. Every single response (or non-response) is stored in an internal database and statistically analyzed by the software. In this way the program is able to custom-tailor to each rider, which questions are asked next. No repetitive drilling of random number facts the rider already knows – but real practice of what actually needs to be practiced!

Visit the MathRider website to purchase this game for your children for just $37.00. 

To see what others are saying about this product click here.

 

 

Disclaimer:  As a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew, I received a trail version of this product in exchange for an honest product review.   I do not receive any other form of compensation for the reviews posted on this blog.

MOST (and DVD give-a-way)

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How does one even begin to extol the message of the glorious gospel? How do we even begin to comprehend the good news that has been given to us? How can we fully grasp the meaning of what God did for mankind? Sometimes I can’t. I believe it with all my heart but I do not understand it.

The Bible says, “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13). That I get. I can truly understand giving your life for those you love. I would not hesitate to give my life for one of my children or my family. I would like to think that I would even give my life for my friends. But God did not just give His life for His friends. He gave His Son to the world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, (John 3:16a).

Our Creator made us in His image, perfect and righteous. Yet, by one man sin entered the world and death came by sin, (Romans 5:12). We were ungodly, unrighteous, and enemies of God, deserving hell eternal. But God sent His beloved Son that, “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” (John 3:16b).

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:6-8).

Can you imagine sacrificing your only son, who you cherish and love, for those who do not care? Can you imagine allowing your child to die at the hands of the wicked? Can you imagine giving up an innocent child to save the undeserving?

Last night, my family and I watched a 21st Century modern parable that gives us a small glimpse into what this sacrifice might look like. MOST – The Deluxe Edition DVD, beautifully illustrates the story of a father, his beloved son, and a great sacrifice that takes place at an open drawbridge. MOST, the Czech word for “The Bridge,” will stir your heart. It was most compelling and most intriguing!

MOST was filmed in Eastern Europe and is spoken in Czech with English subtitles. (It is translated into 18 subtitled languages, making it a great outreach tool). However, the language barrier did not hinder the message in anyway. Instead it created a timeless effect that brought the meaning of the message to full focus. MOST: The Deluxe Edition arrives at Christian stores and online retailers on March 1, 2011. It includes:

• MOST (33-minute film)

• Making of MOST (32-minute feature)

 • Bonus Scenes

• Extended Ending

• Introduction and Commentary by Luis Palau

• Study Guide

• Scoring Session (1-minute featurette of Symphony recording session)

I am also pleased to offer MOST – The Deluxe Edition DVD to one of my readers. Just leave a comment and I will draw one name on Friday, February 25th. The DVD will be shipped directly to the winner. For additional entries you can subscribe to this blog or spread the word about this giveaway (blog, facebook, emails, etc) and leave separate comment for each.

Also, be sure and check out the website and watch this heart wrenching trailer.

Disclosure: I received MOST – The Deluxe Edition in exchange for an honest product review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, part 255.