Getting Ahead with Vocab Ahead

Vocabulary development is essential to success in the college setting. Even before college, the extent of your vocabulary can determine your placement in classes and on standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT. However, by the time you hit the hallowed halls of whichever university you choose and get accepted to, no matter where you were on the spectrum in high school, you need to have reached a certain level, or your performance in your college classes, even those as basic as English 101, is sure to be affected. Knowing what is to come can allow a student to be prepared instead of being caught wanting and furiously struggling to keep up or be left behind. VocabAhead offers two products that can help your students develop their vocabulary and get ahead of the game.

VocabAhead is a company which provides useful vocabulary-building audios and videos. Each track is under a minute long and includes the following features:

• a pronunciation of the word
• a definition of the word
• at least one example sentence or paragraph including the word as it would be used in conversation
• a drawing of that example sentence that helps illustrate the definition, and remind the student of the definition, if it is the video track (of course the audio tracks are only audio)
• repetition of the pronunciation and definition of the word

You know how I love FREE stuff, right? Well, VocabAhead is one of those great companies which provides quite a bit of their content for FREE right on their website. If you are interested in checking out what they have to offer, look HERE for many examples of their simple vocabulary cartoons and definitions. In fact, there is so much free stuff HERE (you can do flashcards or develop study lists), that you can do quite a lot of SAT preparation without ever spending a dime (unless your prefered method of study involves some sort of protable device, in which case you should buy the dvd-rom so you can load everything onto your player).

You can also sign up HERE for a Word of the Day to be sent straight into you or your student's e-mailbox (look down on the left for a place to enter your e-mail address). This would be a great way to ease younger students into the world of SAT vocabulary study or to develop your own vocabulary (and influence your childrens' vocabulary by expanding yours!). Pretty great freebie, huh?

If you prefer to have access to the whole shebang, and you own devices such as an iPod, other MP3 player, iPad, or iPhone, you can purchase the dvd-rom from which you can download all 1000 of the videos and definitions HERE for $24.95. This dvd-rom will also play on your desktop computer or laptop, or with a dvd-rom compatible dvd player. We were also able to listen to the MP3 tracks with our car dvd player (my cd player does not play MP3s), which was somewhat interesting, though it was way above the level for my younger kids, and not all definitions were appropriate for their little ears (for example, the word abominable is defined by saying a guy's body odor was abonimable because he chose not to bathe for a week and thus he smelled like a bag of garbage and his odor made people feel like throwing up...this isn't BAD, I guess, but it's not particularly polite either. It's probably memorable to a teenager, though...lol).

**Speaking of appropriateness, today I randomly reviewed some more of the words, and I have to admit that the overall tone of some of the definitions and pictures left me a bit uncomfortable. It was kind of like watching one of the popular comedy shows of today where the parents are put down and the kids are so smart and doing wrong (as long as they get away with it, which they usually do) is funny. I can't pin it down, but I am not really sure that the worldview of the authors of this product lines up with mine. For example, this is mild, but for "abduct," they showed an alien spaceship beaming a BABY right out of its terrified mother's arms. Creepy, and as a mom, it made me think I didn't want my younger kids seeing that! A more serious example was the word "Bacchanalian," which was defined by describing drunken college students partying. The word "bias" had a negative attitude towards step-parents, and was defined by a sentence describing a step-mother who neglected and malnourished her step-child. Yikes! I really did NOT like this aspect of this product. I just think there were probably better example sentences that could have been used for those words and others. However, if the methodology of this product really lines up with what your student thrives on, you could preview the words, create lists from the ones you approve of, and it would likely be a help to you and your student(s).

If your kids are more into learning through books, or your level of technology does not include the use of devices such as those mentioned above, you can purchase the print version of the VocabAhead program for $12.95. This paperback book includes 300 pictures and definitions, as well as online access to the complete set of audios and videos. It is available HERE. I was not able to preview this item, so I cannot say how I feel about the words, drawings, and definitions in this book.

We received the dvd-rom. Here is what we thought about it:

Tex says:

• I think the best way to use this product would be for a teacher to send a student five (or so) definitions a day (or a certain number per week) via email. Then the student would check their email and learn the new definitions, and be quizzed at the end of the week. This would be great for a teacher of a group class or of many high school-aged kids.
• Another way to use this would be to load the audios on an MP3 player and set them to play randomly (by making a playlist). You could quiz yourself by pausing the player after the word is pronounced and then listening to the definition, which would reinforce it.
• You could also just use the MP3 player to listen to your lists of words for each week, if you made a separate playlist for each week.
• Or what if you loaded them and set the player on completely random, so the definitions were mixed in with the songs? Then it might not seems as much like you were studying...
• I think you could load the picture definitions on an iPhone or iPad, but we don't have one, so we didn't try it. I think this would be an interesting way to study while you are traveling or waiting for an appointment or something.
• I'd be willing to use this product to expand my vocabulary before I take the SATs. I think I might check and see which words I know just from reading first, and not load those words onto my MP3 player. I would just add the words I don't know and learn them, then probably take them off once I've memorized them to get the space back.

Mom says:

• I believe the best way to develop vocabulary is from reading...by listening to stories read aloud (or audio books) over the course of many years, reading many genres of stories written by talented authors (especially classical ones), and by writing (and editing your own writing) extensively. However, you won't necessarily encounter every potential SAT word in this manner, so bolstering your vocabulary and thus your chances at a higher score by studying a variety or words is a good thing. This product is one tool that can help you accomplish that. That said, I do believe that studying the Latin and Greek roots of words is also a very valuable method for increasing your vocabulary, as you can figure out a greater number of words with fewer "words" (roots) to memorize. It wouldn't hurt to do all of these things, though...imagine what your scores could be then!!
• The cartoons were well-drawn, but I guess I was hoping for something a bit more flashy (they were simple, unmoving drawings and some of the reading was a bit monotoned at times). I think it is a nice idea, though, for kids who are audio-visual learners, and Tex thought the concept was interesting.
• I am AMAZED and impressed by the amount of free content HERE in the VocabAhead Study Room. You can not only view and lsiten to many of the videos, you can also do "flashcards" online, as well as develop study lists (by signing in, which is free).
• I had some difficulty getting the MP3s to work on my computer (I am not a techie, just a writer), and when I contacted the company they were VERY helpful. They explained the download process and how I could access the MP3 files in various ways that would work for my family. Their customer service was excellent.
• As I said previously, I did not like the tone of some of the definitions. I could definitely not use this product without strictly controlling the content of the words chosen. It's not that an older student shouldn't know the definitions of each of the words given, but that I would chose different sentences to illustrate the definitions.
• The price of  $ 24.95 for the dvd-rom seems reasonable for a thousand audio tracks and videos (check out the word list HERE), though there is a lot of free content HERE in the Study Room. Be sure to try before you buy, and then once you are sure it works for your family, support the company by buying either the book or the dvd-rom.

To read what other members of the TOS Crew had to say about this product, click HERE.

Blessings,

Heather

**As part of the TOS Crew, I received a complimentary copy of the VocabAhead dvd-rom for the purposes of offering an objective review here on my blog. What you read here are our personal impressions of the product. I hope you find them helpful. If you have any questions about the product that I did not answer here, please feel free to contact me.

To Grandmother's House We Go---Making Cookies with Nanny

We went to my folks' house the other day after church and my mom was in the mood to make cookies with the kids (awesome!!). I took pictures since they were having such a good time, and usually when it is time to make cookies, I am too busy with the process to grab the camera.

Here's a fun activity: Ask your little ones what is in chocolate chip cookies (or brownies) BEFORE you get out the ingredients. Write down their "recipe" on a recipe card and have them draw a picture of how their treat will turn out on the back. When you are done, you can get together the real ingredients and let them help measure them out and mix them together. Then, of course, everyone must help eat them! If you want to turn this into a school activity, you can count the making of the cookies as home ec and math (measuring), the writing of their recipe as handwriting and creative writing, the drawing of the picture as art, and the eating of the cookies as dessert! I'd take a picture of the finished product for a portfolio or scrapbook, but then, I take pictures of almost everything.

It's fun to see what kids think is in a recipe, and in what amounts. I remember doing this myself when I was a Brownie scout, and I still have the old recipe card I made. I think I said there were about three cups of sugar and a cup of salt, a cup of flour, a bottle of vanilla, and who knows what else. My basic ingredient list was almost right, but the proportions were waaaay off.

After making cookies with my mom the other day, I think my kids have a pretty good idea of the ingredient make-up of chocolate chip cookies, but I wouldn't put it past them to say that a good batch of cookies takes at least two bags of chocololate chips...and I might even agree with them!

Cracking eggs is so interesting...

"How come there aren't baby chicks in there?" asks Cowboy.

We can all help make some chocolate chip cookies...We LOVE to help!

 Helping each other use the mixer (under supervision, of course).

You never knew making cookies was a cooperative learning activity, did you?

Homeschooling is everywhere!

Taking turns stirring...aren't they cute?

Almost ready...it's tempting to tast the cookie dough BEFORE it goes into the oven...

Bubba snuck in and grabbed a big spoonful when we weren't looking!

A happy Tex gets to taste the first of the tasty treats...YUM!!
He'll be glad to help you eat chocolate chip cookies ANYTIME.

Our best chocolate chip cookie making tips:

1. Do not melt the butter. Make sure you set it out early to soften to room temperature. Melting the butter gives the cookies a different consistency. Don't ask me why, but it is true.
2. Add extra chips. Yes, we are chocoholics and we are not ashamed to admit it. I don't make cookies often, but when I do, I say why not go all out. I like using the usual bag of regular-sized semi-sweet chips, and another half bag of the small milk chocolate chips. Then you get more chocolate per bite (the little ones fit in the spaces in-between the big ones). We use all the chips in the half bag by doubling our recipe so there are none left behind (or Bubba will find them and eat them for sure...lol...he has chocolate radar!).
3. Take the cookies out just a little bit early, then let them cool on the trays before transferring them to a cookie rack. That way they turn out just a little bit "squishy" and they keep their "just made" consistency a bit longer. I apply all of these tips to making brownies, too (yes, I do add chocolate chips to my brownies and they are extra chocolatey and gooey, and very delicious!)

Doesn't thinking about cookies make YOU want to mix up a batch with your kids? Then you should definitely go do it NOW, just because it will be a nice thing to do together. Won't your kids all be pleasantly surprised? I hope you have a lot of fun making memories. Let me know what kind of cookies you wind up making, and leave me a link to your favorite cookie recipe, if you post it.

Blessings,

Heather

Third Annual Not-a-Superbowl Party

Okay, it's not that I HATE football. I just don't see the point of it. I know, I know. There are a lot of folks out there who are really into different teams and who have a lot of fun hollering at the television set over various plays and decisions, as if the coaches, refs, and players can actually hear them (my dad, my husband, my oldest son, & my brother just to name a few), BUT I am not one of those people. I'd rather PLAY football than watch it, and given a choice of what to do on ANY given day, I will NEVER choose watching football (well, maybe over watching pro-wrestling...if I can't choose to watch nothing at all).

However, I do support my husband's, brother's, father's, and sons' choice to watch the Superbowl and enjoy the experience. The men in my life don't tend to take advantage of football season as an excuse to totally absent themselves from family life (we don't even have cable TV here, so for hubby this year, the Superbowl was it), so it's not hard to want for them to have a fun day of "guy time." I am perfectly happy watching the kids and trying to keep them out of the way, so the guys can watch the game uninterrupted.

In fact, I am so happy to do that, that the last few years, since moving back near my family, my mom and I have hosted an "Not-a-Superbowl Party." Twice, we had it at her house, which is also where the guys were watching the Superbowl. Her house is large enough to support having two groups of folks doing two divergent activities without there being a conflict of interest, and it was easy for us to relax in one room and monitor the snack area, while they yelled at the television in another.

This year, the Superbowl Party was hosted at my brother's house, which was going to be full of adults having fun, so I decided to do it a bit differently and have my own non-Superbowl celebration over here. Seriously, who wants to monitor four kids under age seven at a grown-up party, and spend the entire evening (which was a late one) keeping them out of the way? My hubby was happy to head on over to my brother's house with the older boys, leaving me behind with the kids, and I didn't mind it one bit because I had PLANS.

I figure, I think it's great the guys (and gals) who like football have this one day of the year to look forward to...but just because I DON'T choose to watch the game, should I be left out of the fun...and the awesome snacks? When we bought the ingredients for the traditional seven-layer dip my guys always ask me to make (recipe below), we made sure there was enough to prepare TWO pans of dip, bought extra bags of chips, and I also asked hubby to splurge for me and buy us a veggie tray (I figured someone at the other party would bring a veggie tray for those guys...or something more up the guys' alley like hot wings). After church, I made the dip, then sent the boys on their way to have a nice evening of pick-up basketball games, Wii, watching the football game, and junk food. The kids and I waited for my mom to show up (she, like me, does not prefer football so she joined me...since my sister-in-law was hostessing the Superbowl party, she wasn't with us this year) and then we got started on our fun.

The kids were definitely excited to have an evening of watching videos, playing games, coloring, and yummy food to look forward to. We were kind of in the mood to take it easy, so we spoiled the kids by letting them watch a few Dora the Explorer episodes while they colored pictures. After a relaxing chat with Mom while we partook of the bountiful feast, we dressed the kids in their PJs and served the remains of the spread on trays for the kids: pineapple, canteloupe, bananas, and strawberries, a veggie tray with broccoli, carrots, celery, snow peas, and ranch dip, my seven-layer chip dip, cheese slices, drinks, and overfrosted cupcakes. YUM!

You should have seen those kids dig into that broccoli! Each one took a tree-sized bunch, dipped it into ranch, and devoured it in less than a minute. I was so proud that they like their veggies! I chose an old Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr movie from Netflix (The Grass is Always Greener), and while the kids ate and then played in their room, mom and I watched the movie and sewed on our projects of a yoyo quilt top (me), and a cross-stitch bookmark (mom). There was no yelling at the TV at our house, or wild and crazy commercials, bad half-time shows, or singers who get the words wrong to the National Anthem, but we had fun in our own quiet way. Then we tucked the kids in, said prayers with them, and I walked mom to her car so she could get home before the less-tame party-goers got on the road.

At previous years' parties we've been a bit less laid-back...the first year we had a long table set up in the living room and spent the day scrapbooking (and eating) like maniacs. The second year, I think we played games and watched a movie, visited a lot and had some really great food (hubby made some very spicy hot wings that year...whew...I am still sweating from eating them!). This year, I am still not feeling great because of the miscarriage, so simply enjoying each others' company, sewing, and watching an old movie, was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for joining me, Mom. Maybe next year we will record a bunch of Dancing With the Stars episodes (my mom loves that show) and have our own fun time yelling at the TV...Who knows? ;-)

Here's that recipe:

Simple Seven-Layer Dip

I say"to taste" a lot in this recipe, because every family is different. This recipe is easy to tweak so that your family will absolutely love it when you make it. Adjust it however you like.

• two cans of refried beans
• container of sour cream
• can of sliced olives
• diced green onions (about a half cup, or more, to taste)
• shredded lettuce (about two cups, or more, to taste)
• diced tomatoes (about a cup, or more, to taste)
• A bag of shredded cheddar or mexican-mix cheese (about a cup, or more to taste)
• taco seasoning (I use about one teaspoon per can, but you can use more or less, as your taste dictates)
• due to taste preferences, we turned a potentially eight-layer dip that included guacamole into a seven layer one. You can add the guacamole back, or serve it on the side.
• another optional layer is salsa, which I have found makes the dip too runny, so I serve it on the side.
• a final optional layer is jalepeno peppers, or some other favorite pepper, which I would serve on the side for the benefit of those folks who like to cry when they eat.

Get out your largest rectangular casserole dish (or even better, one of those disposable aluminum ones from the dollar store). Put the two cans of refried beans in a bowl and add the seasoning, stirring and adding more until the flavor suits your taste. Spread the cold beans evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish. Using a spatula, spread the container of sour cream over the beans, trying not to mix the sour cream in with the beans. Sprinkle the shredded lettuce on top of the sour cream. I use a bag of shredded lettuce when I am strapped for time. Sprinkle the diced tomatoes on top of the lettuce, the diced green onions on top of that, then the cheese, and the drained olive slices go on last (I only put them on half of mine because I do not like them). Serve with chips (we use Santitas as they are inexpensive, but pretty tasty and don't break really easily), and salsa/guacamole/hot peppers on the side. Enjoy! (My son said the big pan of dip I sent lasted about five minutes at their Superbowl party. It made me feel great to hear that, but I wish I'd sent more!)


So what do you do on Superbowl Sunday? Party with the football buffs (because you are one, or because you love one?)? Go shopping? Go to a movie? Hide in your room while your hubby hollers at the TV? Keep busy serving the partiers? Go to a special event at your church? Visit a friend? Have your own Not-a-Superbowl-Party? If you do something special for Not-Necessarily-Superbowl-Sunday, let me know and leave a link if you have a related post.


Blessings,



Heather

Sermon Sunday---Marriage and You

Here are two sermons by JR Vasssar of Apostles Church in NYC that popped up on my blog's "Sermon of the Week" feature on the bottom right sidebar. I happened to listen to the one called Marriage and Women, and it was excellent. I plan to listen to the one titled Marriage and Men later this week. I think your marriage (or your singleness and your search for the mate God intends for you to have) will be enriched by listening to these two sermons.

Marriage and Women

Marriage and Men

Have a blessed Sunday.

Heather

Roamin' Through a Roman Town

Have you ever wanted to take a Roman vacation...back in ancient times? Have you ever thought it would be interesting to be part of an archaeological dig, searching for treasures and answers among the rubble of a buried city? Do you have a thirst for learning about ancient cultures and the people who lived long ago?

If you answered "yes!" to any of these questions, then the new game Roman Town by Dig It! Games may be just the right fit for you. "Designed by a teacher, Roman Town emphasizes student driven learning, problem solving, and analytical thinking." It is a game that is meant to immerse "travelers" in the heart of an archaeological dig as assistant to the Professor . As you coordinate excavation activities, you discover artifacts, which you then must reconstruct and identify. When you identify each one, you are given the opportunity to L*E*A*R*N* (Locate Engrossing And Remarkable kNowledge) more about their use in ancient times, as well as given a chance to compare them to their contemporary equivalents. There are six rooms in a Roman house to excavate, and by the time the "dig" is completed, you and your students will have a firm feel for the culture of a Roman citizen, as well as an understanding of the role of an archaeologist.

We received Roman Town in December, right around Christmas, and because our holiday schedule was particularly light, the children were able to dive right in to the fun that was Roman Town. I sat down with the Three Amigos (ages 3, 5, and 7) each time we played the game, to read the information and to guide their choices. The game is very heavy on the reading, so pre-readers and early readers will definitely need help from a parent or older sibling. I found that the little ones were very excited to dive right into the dig, and they hounded me with questions each time we played. Even though Tex knew he was going to play the game on his own later, he was also drawn into the action and stood behind us watching (and adding snippets of knowledge from the endless random trivia bank that is in his mind) as we worked and learned together.

As you complete different activities, you gain access to mini-games, which you can play any time. Tex liked the game Calculi best. It is like a Roman version of Go, I think. The little ones liked the matching game best. This aspect of Roman Town was definitely a plus for my kids. If you want to try out some similar games, you can go HERE on their website to try out some different learning games.

It took us about six sittings (of under an hour each) to complete the entire game. Because my young kids will sit for about an hour attentively, they always completed a level before quitting. They likely would have done more each time, but I asked them to stop after each room was done, to make sure they didn't finish it all at once. The fact that the game only took six sittings to complete is one of the drawbacks I found in the game. The content was useful, motivating, and interesting, but the kids wished there was more to the game. At the end of the game, one of the characters hints at there being a follow-up dig elsewhere in the town the "next summer." If that adventure had been part of the game, too, it would have been really neat (they were to excavate apartments, which would be different from the house we excavated in this adventure).

One of the rooms that was excavated

 

Here's what everyone thought about the game:

The Three Amigos (ages 3-7)

• It was a lot of fun to play this game with Mommy.
• The game made us more interested in archaeology and Rome. We learned a lot of cool facts and new words.
• We liked uncovering the artifacts and putting them together.
• It was too hard for us to read it all on our own, but we liked doing it together with Mom or Tex.
• We wish there was more to do. We are sad we already finished it. Maybe we can do it again later when we can read it alone. We hope so!

Tex (age 13)

• I like the Romans (though I do think the Greeks were more amazing), and I find them interesting. To my knoweldge, the game was accurate, and I learned a lot about the basic Roman culture from it.
• The activities were a bit simple for my age, but too hard in parts for my siblings. I guess that means a target age might be 8-12.
• I liked the way they structured the game...how they built the house bit by bit, and how you had a part in reconstructing it.
• I enjoyed the storyline they developed in this game. It got you involved right away with a mystery to solve.
• I probably could have finished this game in one sitting, but I spread it out over several sessions because that is how Mom wanted me to do it. I wish there had been a second "level" or something more because I did find the content interesting. Maybe an excavation in a lower class neighborhood, or a temple would be a good addition. Or both!
• Many of the graphics are pretty basic (the guys who did the digging for you were stick men with stick picks and stick shovels). The little kids did not care, but I have played lots of games with much more sophisticated graphics and paid a lot less for them than this game is selling for (or for free). I guess that's because their market is bigger, or something.

• Actually, the whole game seemed more like an animated book than a game, which was okay, I guess, since it was meant to be educational. It was very interesting, but a hardcore "gamer" might not appreciate that.
• I think that good games need to have four basic elements: good structure, good story, good graphics, and depth (meaning many paths to many outcomes). At least, I think that's what kids who play games look for today. This game has a good story, a good structure, basic graphics, and was pretty linear (limited outcomes, one ending). However, the site does say you can "find something different every time you play," so maybe there are more things to uncover than I found the first time I played. I will have to check that out.
• However, I thought the game was really cool once we watched a video about an archeological dig that was very similar in storyline to this game. It was amazing! I am more interested than ever in learning about Roman culture since I played Roman Town. I am looking forward to our World History studies next year.

Mom

• I found the game to be a fun and useful way to get the kids interested in studying Rome. We are actually studying the US this year, so it was a bit out of our curriculum, but the fact that the game is a simulation of an archaeological dig ties in to any historical study. We live near several historic areas and now I will be able to refer to the methods the archaeologists used in this game when we go visit local attractions and talk about their history.
• Roman Town was engaging for the kids, and mimicked a hands-on experience. From digging up coins, to reconstructing a mosaic, from preparing a meal, to playing a game, the Roman Town introduces you to many aspects of Roman life.
• We wound up watching an amazing IMAX on Netflix (it was instant downloadable) about Greece that was almost IDENTICAL to the storyline of the Roman Town game the day after we finished excavating the last room of the fictional Roman town. The kids were amazed and excited to see real archaeologists and to see the same practices they had learned about being lived out on screen. Actually, I am not sure who was more excited, them or me. Anyway, it showed me that the game was definitely a good part of a unit study, whether about archeology in general, ancient times, or Rome specifically. It would definitely be a good "springboard" activity.
• While the graphics were not of the quality Tex expects in a game, they were servicable for the topic that was being addressed. The Three Amigos did not have any issues with the graphics, and really, it is the quality of the information that is being shared that is important, and that is good.
• There is both a public school version of the game for multi-computer use ($299), as well as a downloadable Teacher's Manual ($19.95), for those who might like to use this game in a formal setting. I think it would make a great addition to any history classroom. The difficulty and length of time to complete is perfect for classroom use.
• However, I will be honest and say that the price of $39.95 for individual use seems a bit steep to me. For the same amount, I could buy the Genevieve Foster book on Julius Caesar, a cd-rom of Civilization IV (which includes mention of Rome and famous Romans), AND a bag each of Plaster of Paris and sand so I could make my own physical archaeological dig for my kids in a cardboard box. These would also make good supplemental activities for a unit study on Rome. It kind of makes you think where will your money best be used...? Buying the game is certainly easy, though, and the kids liked it.
• The game runs on PCs using Windows Vista/XP/2000
• You can check out a demo of the product below:

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***HUGE SALE ALERT JUST FOR YOU!!! If you are planning a unit study on Rome (or ancient cultures) soon, or maybe sometime next year, and want to plan ahead, NOW is the  absolute BEST time to jump on Dig-It! Games' incredible offer for TOS Review Crew readers right HERE. Only through February 21st, 2011, you can buy Roman Town at the bargain price of $24.95 PLUS by entering the code TOS2011 when ordering, you can receive an additional 20% off that low price. Awesome deal!! This makes the final price just under twenty dollars, and I CAN highly recommend this product as being a good investment at that price...so ORDER NOW!!

Learn more about using Roman Town with homeschoolers HERE.

Read more reviews from the TOS Review Crew HERE.



Blessings,

Heather

**As part of the TOS Review Crew, I recieved a complimentary copy of this game for review purposes. In return, I have provided an honest review containing my opinions about this product, and the opinions of my family, based on our unique expericences with it. I do not expect that your experiences or impressions will be exactly the same as mine, but I hope what I have shared helps you. If I can offer you any information about this product that I have not provided here, please feel free to contact me.

Sketch Tuesday---Science Time

For Sketch Tuesday's challenge to draw "something you study in science," Tex decided to sketch the space shuttle.

He thinks astronomy is absolutely fascinating, and wanted me to pose the question that if you think the space shuttle is an amazing thing to have been designed, what do you think about the incredible human body God created?

Blessings,

Heather

Sermon Sunday---Singing in the Rain

This song popped into my head today, and cheered me up.

I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin' I'm happy again.
I'm laughing at clouds,so dark up above
The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love.
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the place.
Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane with a happy refrain
Just singin', singin' in the rain.

Dancin' in the rain
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
Dee-ah dee-ah dee-ah
I'm happy again!
I'm singin' and dancin' in the rain!
I'm dancin' and singin' in the rain...

Why am I smiling, and why do I sing?
Why does September seem sunny as spring?
Why do I get up each morning and start
Happy and head up with joy in my heart?
Why is each new task a trifle to do?
Because I am living a life full of you.

Have you ever seen the scene where Gene Kelly sings this song in the classic movie "Singing in the Rain?" It is a young man dancing in the rain, not worried about getting wet or cold because he is so happy to be "in love." The scene is one that always makes me smile any time I see it. My husband says he fell in love with me the time an outdoor concert we were attending got rained out and I made the best of it by singing and dancing in the rain, too.

But my reason for smiling over this song today is not so simple as an actual rainstorm or being "in love." Today the storm we are experiencing is a symbolic storm with very dark rain clouds, persistent thunder, and sharp flashes of lightning.

About two weeks ago, I found out I was expecting a baby. We were so overjoyed that I wanted to call everyone I knew immediately. However, the wisdom of experience led us to choose to hold off telling family and friends until after our first OB appointment at six weeks. I had a missed miscarriage after my second child that absolutely devastated us, as I walked around for a month not knowing the precious baby had already died, and went into the joyful occassion of the first ultrasound alone (hubby was out to sea at the time), only to have them tell me there was no heartbeat and that the baby was way too small to be twelve weeks along (our dates were certain). Hubby came home from his deployment (during which the sub had maintained silence) expecting to find a contentedly pregnant wife to dote upon, instead finding a despondent and weary wife who had miscarried the baby just a few days before.

This time, circumstances were a bit different, but the outcome is the same. The precious new life we were so excited to meet, even only having known about the potential of it for just over a week, is not to be. Last week, I had an issue which prompted me to call my OB, and he sent me in for bloodwork. The bloodwork confirmed that my progesterone was very low, though my HcG was fine for five and a half weeks along, so there might yet be hope. However, low progesterone is often an indicator of either an ectopic pregnancy or of chromosomal abnormalities in the baby which are leading up to a miscarriage, so follow up testing was definitely needed. We treated the low progesterone just in case (I always try to be hopeful), prayed continuously, and went back in for more testing two days later. The results were not good. Even though I had not had conclusive evidence that I would miscarry, the tests showed the hormone levels were not rising appropriately and that a miscarriage was imminent. Thankfully, God's mercy allowed that after a few more tests they believe we are not dealing with an ectopic pregnancy, which would require surgery, though we are devastated over the loss of our baby.

It's amazing how attached you can get to someone you haven't even met yet, isn't it?

And what does this sad story have to do with "Singing in the Rain?" Well, it's because our family has the assurance of God's love through all of this. We know that God had a plan, and that He knit our baby together and knew every part of our baby and numbered every day he/she had been given long before we even knew about that baby. The merciful Lord knew what was best for our baby, and apparently, our baby is so special, he/she was blessed to have been born into heaven into the arms of the Lord, instead of mine. I count it as one of God's mercies, that if there was something so wrong with our baby that life here would have been a dire hardship for him/her, that the Lord's kindness allowed our baby to be born into a body made perfectly for heaven instead of an imperfect one here.

I may not have the priviledge of meeting my baby this side of heaven, but someday I will. I will meet this baby and our other one in Glory, and we will rejoice at finally getting to see each other face to face. I am singing through our rainstorm because I have Christ in my life, and with Christ, we can bear all things, even this sad event, and we can find joy in knowing there is more than just HERE.

Praise God for that with singing and prayers of thanksgiving! Hallelujiah! I can't imagine the grief of someone who does not have that assurance. Some moments, my tears well up unexpectedly and the song is gone from my heart for a moment...but thankfully, by focusing on the Lord and his merciful plan, I can find it again...

I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121

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This is not much of a Sermon Sunday post (since there is no sermon), but it is what is on my heart today. I deeply appreciate your prayers as we travel along this stormy road. I thank all of our family and friends who have reached out to us already...you are true blessings to us and just one more reason to find that song in our hearts again.

A sweet friend visited and brought by a card suggesting we listen to the song "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns. Here it is, if you would like to listen, too.





Are you in the mood to join me for some more praising today? Check out my previous posts of our favorite worship songs HERE and our favorite hymns HERE. They are sure to raise your eyes above your earthly troubles to the promises of God above.

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There is one last story to share with you and I will be done. When I told the children our sad news, they were obviously upset, but thankfully, the innocence of childhood protects them from the worst of the grief. When I told Cowboy, who is always full of questions, that those among our family who accept Jesus as their personal savior can meet our baby someday in heaven, he asked, "But will the baby just say goo-goo and ga-ga? How will we talk to the baby?" LOL...kids. Aren't they so amazing and surprising and adorable at just the right times? I didn't really know what to say except that since God's desire is for all to worship Him and praise Him and to know Him, that I believe the baby will be able to communicate, and that his/her form will be perfect, whatever it is. I hope I answered that right. It was an interesting question and it made me smile.

I thank the Lord every day for all of my precious children here on earth and up in heaven. Take some extra time today to sit with yours and cuddle them tightly. That's what I am going to be doing.

Blessings,

Heather 

Good Marks for Ten Marks

Guest Reviewers: Tex and Hubby

Ten Marks is an online math program ideally suited to use by homeschoolers and public or private-schooled students in grades 3-10.

The name Ten Marks comes from the company's concept that math does not have to be an endless stream of practice problems that bury you under the weight of their monotony and repetition. Instead, they offer problems in bite-sized chunks (ten problems for each worksheet), with each problem set building upon the previous one.

According to their website, the TenMarks approach to effective math learning is based on 3 simple principles:

1. Personalized Learning Makes All the Difference.
2. On-Demand Instruction Provides Help When You Need it.
3. Practice Builds Confidence and Improves Achievement.

Ten Marks offers its problem sets in small portions, with four ten multiple-choice problem interactive worksheets expected to be completed online each week, along with one twenty problem test. Parents and/or children can adjust this expectation to slow it down, or to "fast track" through areas in which the student is already excelling. When a student encounters difficulty on a problem, the student can click on "hints" up to three times to receive help. Students can also choose to view a short marker board style video lecture on each topic.

According Ten Marks: "Interactive worksheets make the curriculum dynamic, adjusting automatically to the needs of the student, and accommodating different learning styles and aptitudes. With a personalized program, students become engaged and the learning is more relevant."

Upon completing of certain levels of work, the student can unlock games or "earn" parent-set, customized rewards (such as the purchase of a long-awaited book or more game time over the weekend). Each week the parent is reminded of the worksheets' availability with an email, and parents can monitor student progress by accessing the parent portion of the site. Students monitor their own progress as outlines of people (representing areas of knowledge) fill in according to their mastery of each area. Certificates of completion can also be printed from the site once the required worksheets are finished.
 
What Tex and Hubby liked about the program:

• It allows students to control pace and content
• It adjusts to the students level of knoweldge in each area
• The worksheets are brief, not overbearing
• The content is progressive, and builds one topic on another
• The site is easily navigated
• The simplicity of the structure makes it ideal for tutoring, or supplementing an already existing curriculum
• There are a wide variety of topics and levels covered here (over 100 core topics per grade), all aligned to your particular state's math standards (view your state's customized curriculum HERE).
• The designers of this program acknowldge that life (and holidays) happen and offer an option to pause your subscription to account for those holidays, family travel, and emergencies, so you never have to feel you are wasting your money
• The price is very reasonable

What Tex (mostly) and Hubby did not like about the program:

• Tex did not prefer just seeing a markerboard to seeing an actual person teach the topics. He likes people. Seeing a friendly face makes him feel more connected to the topic and the teaching.
• Tex felt that sometimes a particular teacher was difficult to understand (had an accent) and this threw his ability to understand the information off.
• Hubby felt that the multiple choice format gave students an opportunity to guess when they are uncertain, instead of having to really know the answer. Plus, the program allows you to try-try again, which is fine when you are going for mastery, but if you are guessing with multiple choice answers, it just gives you more opportunities to guess wildly.

TenMarks is affordable and offers a money back guarantee. Pricing options (per student) are:

• $10 a month
• $49 for 6 months
• $89 for 12 months (the most economical pricing)
  

Here is a video from the site which explains how the program works:


View a few other videos about the program HERE.

Who would this program work best for?

• A homeschooled student who already has a book curriculum, but needs a bit of help to get through some trouble spots
• A public or private schooled student who needs some after-school practice/tutoring (definitely cheaper than a tutor!)
• Any math student who wants to brush up in general on many areas and desires a quick and easy daily exercise to help with that goal
• We are not unschoolers, but feel that unschoolers might find this a good way to get math in without being too heavy on the written exercises and time committment

Do you want more information about Ten Marks than you see here? You can contact the company HERE and ask away!

Would you like to see other reviews by TOS Crew members who reviewed this program at the same time we did? Then click HERE.

Blessings,

Heather

We received a complimentary subscription to Ten Marks for the purposes of giving it a fair trial and an honest review here on our blog. What you read here are our experiences and we do not expect or guarantee that your experiences with this product will be the same. If you have questions regarding our experiences with this program, please feel free to contact me.

A YoYo Quilt Story

This is what I've been working on lately. It's a yoyo quilt top I rescued from the local antique mall (yes, the same one with that wonderful Tea Room in it!). I have been sewing all of the disconnected yoyos back together, and making new ones to fill in the spots where some are missing. I've never done yoyos before, but I am finding that they are very simple and right up my alley...They are quick to make, and you can do as many as you have time for (or as few, as is usually my case!)

I think I am going to add to this old quilt top until it is large enough to cover my dining room table, then I will ask Hubby for a piece of edged glass to cover it for my birthday. What do you think?

I LOVE fixing up old things. It makes me so happy to restore something to usefulness. I like to look at the different fabrics and wonder whose feed sacks or old dresses and shirts the pieces came from. Whose were the hands that wielded the needle that constructed this quilt the first time? Who stitched these few yoyos together with yarn instead of thread, and why? What was this piece used for? A table? A small bed? Or was it hung or a wall because it was intended as a quilt but never got finished? Old things are so interesting and if they could talk, I am certain they would have fascinating stories to tell. I feel very blessed to have found this sweet piece of handiwork and priviledged to be the one to restore it.

Let me know if you have any experiences with yoyo-ing (is that even a word? lol!) and PLEASE share a link if you have a post showing you working on a yoyo quilts (or any other kind of quilt).

To be continued...

Blessings,

Heather