Nutrition 101: Choose Life! ~ A Review

I know I keep telling you that I love the products I’ve been reviewing, but I really do and this recent product is no exception. I love products that don’t assume that their product is the only one I’m using in my homeschool. A product that is simple, straightforward and easy to use gets high votes from this busy mom!   Nutrition 101: Choose Life! A Family Nutrition and Health Program by Debra Rayburn, N.D., Sera Johnson, Laura Hopkins and Karen Hopkins did not disappoint.

I really, really cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed using this program with my children. This program takes a look at what we eat, what the foods we choose do to our body, and how we can make better choices using key scriptures that show us how important it is to care for the temple the Lord has blessed us with.

This course is very timely for my family as we strive to make choices that will strengthen our bodies not only now, but in the long run. Nutrition 101: Choose Life! is set up as a unit study for all ages, from toddler up, but I really think that it is most appropriate for middle school and up. Each easy to use unit is broken down into chapters that can easily be completed  in a week following the suggested loose lesson plan.

Nutrition 101: Choose Life! covers the 12 main body systems in six units, the Brain and Nervous system, the Digestive system, the Respiratory, Olfactory, Auditory and Visual systems, the Muscular and Skeletal systems, the Cardiovascular and Immune systems and the Endocrine system and Emotions.  Each unit includes an overview of the body system, discussion questions, suggested activities to choose from for both elementary and secondary students, recipes and more activities (including some experiments), that encourage you and your children to make healthy food choices.  And for the interested high school student or parent, there are additional resources that allow you to dig a bit deeper.

Nutrition 101: Choose Life! is a great resource for anyone that is looking for a beginner’s guide to healthy eating and living. Not only does it cover why we should make wise choices, it also addresses what happens to our body when we don’t. Plus, it gives helpful information about supplements and exercise that I found very helpful. This is NOT your run of the mill health book, if you’ve ever been curious about incorporating whole foods or healthier options to your diet,  you’ll find yourself referring to this resource again and again!

Nutrition 101: Choose Life! is available as an e-product on CD-Rom for $79.95, as a 448 page, beautifully hardbound book for $99.95, or as a combination of the two (CD-Rom and hardbound book) for $129.95, which allows you to easily print the charts and recipes that are included in the book as needed.

I’m pleased to announce that for a limited time, my readers can purchase materials from Growing Healthy Homes at a 15% discount using the code TOSCrew11.     

Nutrition 101: Choose Life is a product from Growing Healthy Homes. You can find out more about the this product and others that they offer to promote healthy living at their website or by calling 918-841-2934.

You can stop over at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew to read what other crew members had to say about this product.  

Just so you know, I received an e-product of Nutrition 101: Choose Life! free of charge as part of the TOS Crew for the sole purpose of reviewing the product and sharing my honest opinion with my readers. I have not been paid for my review. 

ZGuides to the Movies~ a Review

We’re a big movie watching family. My kids are visual and auditory learners so they love to watch documentary’s, educational films or movies that tie in with what we are learning in history, science or government. I’ve also been known to find a great flick as a way of piquing their interest when it’s time to move on to a new area of study. I’m convinced that you can find a movie for nearly any subject matter you could imagine, as well as some you’d rather not.

I knew when I was offered the opportunity to review a ZGuide to the Movies from Zeezok Publishing that it would be a good fit for our family. When it arrived in my inbox, I couldn’t download it fast enough and as soon as I had a chance to glance through it I emailed the company to tell them how much I appreciated their product, something I’ve never done before.

So, at this point you may be wondering “What is a ZGuide”? You can think of a ZGuide as a guide for movies, the same way a literature guide would be a guide for books, deepening your understanding through a series of activities and exercises.

Zeezok Publishing currently offers over 25 ZGuides in CD or e-book format. The guides correspond to movies that range from Kit Kittredge for young students, to One Night with the King, Les Miserables, My Side of the Mountain, Ben-Hur, Flyboys, Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner?, and the ZGuide I selected, The Boy in the Striped Pajama’s, which is definitely geared towards high school students.

The Boy in the Striped Pajama’s is about a young boy, Bruno, whose father is an officer in Hitler’s Nazi regime during WWII. The family moves to a new home in the country and as Bruno explores the countryside he discovers a ‘farm’ and befriends one of the ‘farmers’,  a boy wearing striped pajama’s, named Shmuel, who is actually incarcerated in a concentration camp.  

Each ZGuide offers a topic overview, movie synopsis  and ten learning activities that can easily be completed in five days, as the lesson plan suggests.  First, your child will answer a series of questions as they watch the movie which will require them to really think and absorb what they are watching, forcing them to notice things that they may overlook or simply dismiss. After watching the movie and answering the questions your child will research topics that were suggested or mentioned.

After watching The Boy in the Striped Pajama’s, my kids completed a series of activities that allowed them to grasp a deeper understanding of WWII and the Holocaust. They researched Auschwitz, Nazi propaganda, created a playbill for the movie and learned about theme, irony, humor and foreshadowing. There is also a biblical worldview connection and family discussion questions.    

The only aspect of the ZGuide that left me disappointed was the additional resources section. I found the two suggested books meager and would personally love to see this section expanded. 

The ZGuides to the Movies are available on CD, with some available as an e-book for only $12.99. I’d love to eventually see some of the titles offered as bundles for families like mine that incorporate a range of movies in their homeschool program. In addition to ZGuides, Zeezok Publishing also offers a selection of materials and resources for the homeschooling family.

Zeezok Publishing can be contacted via their website or by calling  (800) 749-1681.

You can also read the reviews of other TOS Crew members by visiting The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew.

*As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew, I received the ZGuide, A Boy in the Striped Pajama’s, free of charge in exchange for sharing my thoughts honestly and openly. I am not an affiliate for Zeezok Publishing and receive no compensation if you decide to purchase their products.

Latin Alive! Book 1~ a Review

My oldest son loves languages. We have yet to settle on one language and work consistently through one program, but in the past he’s studied a bit of German, Spanish and Greek. He has a growing list of languages that he has expressed interest in and watching him learn, I’d have to say that I believe he is one of those people that is truly gifted when it comes to undertaking such a study.  He seems to have an ‘ear’ for languages.

Having given you a bit of background on this child, imagine his delight when we received a package from Classical Academic Press containing Latin Alive! Book 1, both student and teacher texts, and a DVD & CD set which present the lessons and offer pronunciation help. He didn’t waste much time getting started.

From a teacher’s or parent’s perspective, the teacher’s manual is very user friendly, laid out well and offers suggestions and guidance as your child works through the course.  I was pleased to find that the entire student text is included with additional tips and notes for the teacher in clear, easy to find boxes that offer additional guidance as needed.

The student text is written directly to the student and honestly, other than trying to read through my manual a step ahead of my son, I’ve offered very little assistance. He watches the DVD lesson and proceeds on his own with very little to no direction from me.

So, what did he think? He has really enjoyed stepping up to a formal Latin study. He has felt a little overwhelmed and commented that maybe the program begins a bit quickly for someone that has no previous background with the Latin language. However, this has not deterred him and he looks forward to the challenge of marching on and continuing with Latin Alive! Book 1 though our official review period has concluded with this review.  As a visual and auditory learner, he has enjoyed watching the lessons on DVD and appreciates that the video segments are clear, professional and presented by a knowledgeable teacher.

This program is certainly for the serious middle school to high school age student. You can purchase individual components of this program or purchaase the entire Latin Alive! Book 1 set for the bundled price of $139.95.  This set is broken down into 36 weekly lessons and is intended to be the first in a three year series.

If you have younger children, or don’t feel that your child is quite ready for Latin Alive! you may consider Song School Latin for children in Kindergarten to 3rd grade and three levels of Latin for Children geared for 3rd grade and up. 

You can read reviews of all three programs by visiting The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. 

You’ll find Classical Academic Press online or at the following address:                           3920 Market Street                                                                                                                             Camp Hill, PA 17011
Toll free: 866-730-0711 or 717-730-0711 - Fax: 717-730-0721

Just so you know, I received this product bundle free of charge to use with my child  in exchange for sharing my opinion about the program with you.

Artistic Pursuits: A Review

I love art. When I was in high school my art teacher actually tried to encourage me to consider applying to an art school. When we first began homeschooling, I wouldn’t consider purchasing curriculum without also picking up something for art instruction. Somehow we’ve managed to get by the past few years without any real instruction but rather with a Modge Podge of ideas from here and there. We were ready for for a program that could fill some of the gaps that we have.

Enter, Artistic Pursuits, Senior High Book One which focuses on The Elements of Art and Composition.

All I can say is, Wow! I really like this art curriculum. I like how the book is laid out, how the lessons are presented, the minimal amount of preparation that is required, and the fact that I didn’t need to buy any art supplies to get started since we already had the materials needed on hand. We literally gathered our sketch pads and drawing pencils, opened the book and began our first lesson on Space.

The lessons, written directly to the student, are clear, easy to understand and follow, and the guide is broken down nicely in units. If you schedule two art classes a week, it will take two weeks to finish each unit, covering vocabulary which introduces key elements, art history and appreciation, technique and application. There are 16 units in the book that begin with teaching the elements of art and progress to drawing the human form in proportion. 

Clear examples are given throughout the text and the art appreciation pieces are in full color. If you happen to get stuck on an assignment, the company offers assistance via email or phone.

Artistic Pursuits offers curriculum guides for all ages,  from preschool through high school,  and have won several awards, including the Practical Homeschooling Reader awards for several years in a row.

Artistic Pursuits, Senior High Book One can be purchased for $42.95.   

Artistic Pursuits can be contacted at :

Artistic Pursuits Inc., 2626 East 109th Avenue, Northglenn, Colorado 80233                Phone: (303) 467-0504                                                                                                                    Or online: www.artisticpursuits.com

My kids really enjoyed using Artistic Pursuits so much that we’ll certainly continue using the program. I really can’t recommend this program enough. You can see what other members of the TOS Crew had to say about the product at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. 

Disclosure: I received this product as part of the TOS Crew,  free of charge, in exchange for sharing my personal opinion. 

The Curiosity Files™ E-book: The Dung Beetle

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has recently launched a new product line called The Curiosity Files™ where you join Professor Ana Lyze in exploring some of God’s amazing creatures that are a bit on the unusual side.  Zombie Fire Ants, Cicada Killing Machine, and Quicksand are just a few of the titles that I considered putting my request in to review, but I managed to narrow down my choice to the Dung Beetle.

I don’t remember ever seeing a Dung Beetle until we were camped in Alabama for the first time.  My boys had taken our puppy for a walk and excitedly returned to our RV showing me the pictures of the ‘cool bugs’ they’d seen—of which the Dung Beetle was one.  I couldn’t believe it! I had to go out and find one myself. It didn’t take long, just a short way down the trail, we found a little bug pushing along a huge ball of dung.

After that, how could I pass up the opportunity to dig a little deeper? I have to admit, since the e-books are targeted for 8-13 year olds, I really thought they’d be too young for my teenagers, but the information they contained I found to be appealing to both younger and older children- especially if your older children just need a brief change of pace or your younger children want to listen in with the big guys.

Professor Ana Lyze takes you on a journey to discover the world of the Dung Beetle while sharing interesting facts and observations. The first few pages tell you about the Dung Beetle, followed by a short quiz to determine how close your child was paying attention. From there, you’ll find bible memory verses, copywork pages, vocabulary lists divided between elementary and jr. high/high school levels, math, literature, history, notebook pages, lapbook pages, coloring pages, craft ideas and even a lab that includes growing your own dung beetle farm.

The Dung Beetle is a really cute and fun short unit study and I’m glad I didn’t let the age range deter me from checking out this series—though I do feel that many of the activities were a bit young for my kids.  However, the e-book contains some great information, it’s informative and humorous, not to mention it talks a lot about poop- something kids seem to love hearing about.       

You can view a sample of the Dung Beetle here and if you determine that The Curiosity Files™ are a good fit for your family, check out the package deal—you can get  all 9 Curiosity Files ™ e-books, The Blue Diamond, Dung Beetle, MRSA, Puffer Fish, Red Tide, Zombie Fire Ants, Blue-Footed Boobie, Cicada Killing Wasp and Quicksand for instant download for only $46.00. The bundle is also available on CD.      

You can read what other TOS Crew Members thought of  The Curiosity Files™ at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew blog.

*I received this product free of charge as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew in exchange for sharing my honest opinion of the product with my readers.

VocabAhead One Thousand SAT Vocabulary Videos & MP3’s-- A Review

VocabAhead offers tools to help students build their vocabulary so they are better able to master the SAT, GRE and ACT words on college entrance exams. In addition to an incredible website, they also offer a book and a DVD-Rom, which I received to review.  

The DVD-Rom, VocabAhead One Thousand SAT Vocabulary Videos & MP3’s, contains more than 1,000 SAT Vocabulary Words that are introduced as cartoon pictures for visual learners. The DVD-Rom also has MP3 audio files that your student can listen to on their MP3 player. The videos can be accessed on your computer, with a DVD-Rom, or added to your child’s iPod, iPhone or iPad.

One way that we used this product was to listen to the definition of the word a couple times and then my kids were required to work the word into sentences throughout the day. I have to tell you that some of the words aren’t common. Try to work accouter or legerdemain into your everyday conversation!    

I also encouraged my kids to begin a vocabulary notebook, jotting down their vocabulary word of the day and using it in several sentences. This worked okay for a little while. Unfortunately,  my computer is on it’s last leg and though initially we were able to see the videos, shortly after I received my review copy, my DVD-Rom quit working so we really didn’t utilize this product as much as I’d hoped and the notebooks kind of fell by the way.  

You can learn more about VocabAhead and their products by visiting their website.   The DVD-Rom that sells for $24.95 is available for purchase through Amazon.com. Minimum system requirements are as follows:  Windows:  XP, Vista or 7.  Macintosh: MAC OSX. iTunes 8 or above. 512 MB RAM, Sound Card, 4.7 GB Free Disk Space and don’t forget the working DVD-Rom! A Compatible MP3 player for portable use.   

I encourage you to visit The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew website to learn how other crew members used this product in their homes.  

*I received this product free of charge in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

Word Roots: A Review

We’ve utilized materials from Critical Thinking Press in our home for years. When my children were little they worked through Building Thinking Skills book 1 and 2,  Visual Perception Skill Building Book 1 and 2 and later, we discovered Mind Benders .  So I was thrilled when Timberdoodle offered me the opportunity to use and review yet another of their products. I was even permitted to select which product I’d like to use and chose Word Roots A2, designed for grades 5- 12+,  for my oldest son. Lately he’s expressed an interest in both the Latin and Greek languages so I thought this would be fun for him. Yes, you read that right, I did say fun.

One of the things I really appreciate about the materials from Critical Thinking Press  is that they are pretty basic, self explanatory and offer clear, easy to understand directions. I quickly read the introduction, removed the answer key from the back of the book (no peeking allowed here), offered my son a few simple explanations, handed him the book and he took over from there. 

The 68- page workbook is written to the student to work from independently. Other than a question here and there, I didn’t really hear much from my son unless it was time for me to review his answers. 

After completing several warm-up activities, the student is able to jump right in to the worksheets which each focus on a particular root word. There are also corresponding extension worksheets if you find your child needs additional practice pages or just to use for further reinforcement. The back of the book also contains a dictionary of Greek and Latin prefixes, roots and suffixes, making the workbook completely self-contained. 

Studying Greek and Latin root words are a great place to begin if you want to further your vocabulary- why not consider starting with Word Roots?

Though I was asked only to review the Word Roots workbook, I’d like to add how impressed I am with Timberdoodle as a company. They have been one of my favorite resources for ordering homeschool supplies or homeschool curriculum since we began homeschooling 12 years ago. Even though I received this workbook free to review, it was shipped the same as though I were a paying customer, shrink wrapped on a sturdy piece of cardboard to ensure that my material wasn’t damaged in transit. I appreciate that added touch.

Though my son worked through one of the workbooks geared for students in grades 5 and up,  Word Roots are also available for students in 3-4 grade as well. Prices begin at $14.99.  You may visit their website to place an order or request a free homeschool catalog to view the other products that they carry. I think you’ll find something that you’ll like!  

Critical Thinking Press + Timberdoodle = a win win situation!

 Legal Disclosure:
As a member of Timberdoodle's Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Starting Fresh with Illuminations

As part of the TOS Crew, I was thrilled to see one of my favorite companies, Bright Ideas Press listed as one of the companies that would be offering products for review. So I guess you could imagine my disappointment when I read the list of selected reviewers and my name was not to be found.

I consoled myself by deciding that I’d already used or owned all the Bright Ideas Press products that I was interested in. After all, we’ve owned and used The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide for years. I’d also used the Hands-On Geography book when the kids were younger and a few of the other products that they carry.

Several years ago, my husband had suggested that we give the Mystery of History a try but since my son was already past the 8th grade, I worried that it may be too young for them. However, after a friend recently invited us over for lunch and shared how she implements Mystery of History with her high school age children, I began to have second thoughts.

I didn’t go to lunch that day thinking that I needed a history program, but I was thinking it was time to make a few changes to our current homeschool lifestyle. At home I perused the Bright Ideas Press website and was thrilled to discover a high school level program that utilized Mystery of History and also combined Bible, Language Arts, Literature, Humanities, Geography and Life Skills. It is called Illuminations and it instantly appealed to me for several reasons.

1. The majority of the scheduling and lesson plans are done for you, which thrills me. Plus, my kids are getting older and on occasion I do hear “Why do I have to do this, read this, etc.” I’ve decided by incorporating lesson plans from an outside source, I can eliminate some of the whining.
2. Even though there are lesson plans, they are not rigid. They are totally customizable and I LOVE that aspect of the program. This means that though the authors suggest Writeshop I for Illuminations Year 1 (High School), I can easily substitute the program we are currently using for review purposes from the Write Foundation.
3. The program is multi-level, which saves time, money and allows my children to enjoy learning  many subjects at the same time.  
4. I already own many of the texts and books that are suggested for the program which include English from the Roots Up, Vol. 1 , The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and Winston Grammar.   
5. The literature recommendations are easily attainable through our local library and the supplemental movies are available through Netflix which we subscribe to.
6. The program incorporates many of the aspects that I love and already practice including, reading great literature and creating notebooks.
7. The emphasis is on history, from a Christian worldview, a subject that my kids love.
8. There are craft projects available and scheduled for you if you desire to incorporate them.

Excitedly I showed my husband what I had discovered and within minutes he had handed me our debit card and told me to purchase the first semester by instant download so we could get started right away. I couldn’t be happier! It is with incredible excitement that the kids and I will once again incorporate a structured program as part of our school days and I can’t wait to share with all of you how the coming weeks progress. 

How is your year going so far? Are you happy with the selections that you made or do you also feel that you need to make a change?

Math Tutor DVD: a Review

As a homeschooling mom, I sometimes worry about gaps in my children’s education. Though some subjects don’t necessarily require a sense of mastery to continue, when it comes to math, that is simply not the case. Basic math concepts have to be fully understood and mastered before your student can successfully continue to a higher level of math instruction. If there are gaps, by the time your child begins pre-algebra or algebra, you may begin to see some frustration like I have in my own home. The beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t have a classroom of children pushing your child ahead if they aren’t ready, you don’t have the pressure to unnecessarily rush your child along when they aren’t ready. We have the luxury and ability to slow down, back up or start over if needed and when it comes to math, we’ve done just that.

One of the products that I discovered to give my children a boost in their math comprehension has been the DVD’s sold by Math Tutor DVD, so I was thrilled when I received not one but two videos from the company free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review of the product.

Before I continue with the review, I’d like to mention that the company, Math Tutor DVD is known for their award winning DVD’s. In fact, their slogan is ‘Press play for success.’ The company is so confident that your child’s grades will improve that they offer a money back guarantee. Math Tutor DVD is exactly what the name says it is; a math tutor on a DVD. With the purchase of each DVD, your child will have access to a math instructor in the comfort of your home 24-hours a day for a mere fraction of the cost of a live tutor. Your child can watch each segment over and over again until they have mastered the material and are confident to move forward.

Pre-Algebra Volume 1 is a two disc set that contains 5 hours of video instruction in the following areas:

· Real Numbers

· The Number Line

· Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

· Absolute Value and Adding Integers

· Subtracting Integers

· Multiplying Integers

· Dividing Integers

· Powers and Exponents

· Order of Operations

This DVD is currently sells for $26.99.

I also received The Texas Instruments T1-83/T1-84 Calculator Tutor which is a 3 DVD set that contains 8 hours of instruction. I was really excited about this because I’ve not seen a similar product on the market. In all fairness, our family does not own a scientific calculator, and though I’ve tried to use one in the past, I was never quite able to figure it out. I wish I’d have had this product then. The step-by-step instruction is perfect for students that learn best by seeing and not reading a lengthy manual.

This program can also be purchased for $26.99.

Though I did watch part of the DVD’s that I received with my children, I thought I’d share some of their thoughts.

What my children like about this program

· The instructor walks your child through each problem step by step.

· The instructor speaks clearly and concisely and is easily understood.

· The instructor is thorough.

· The instructor does not complicate things, but systematically teaches in a step-by-step fashion, simplifying the procedures as he goes.

· The instructor assumes that your child has no knowledge of the subject at hand so he starts at the beginning when walking through a concept.

· My children enjoy the DVD’s offered by this company better than others we’ve used in the past.

· The sections on the DVD are clearly labeled and easy to skip back to if they feel that they don’t quite understand something.

· If they have a math question, they can simply watch the DVD instead of waiting for me to figure out how to help them.

What my children did not like about the program

· The instructor is thorough meaning the video may contains too much repetition- depending on your child may or may not be a negative factor.

If you are a homeschool parent that is fumbling to teach basic math, algebra or physics or if you have a child enrolled in a program outside the home and are looking for a product to reinforce what they are learning, allow me to encourage you to check out the products offered at Math Tutor DVD. The website offers sample video tutorials, articles and free mental math podcasts.

I was also excited to learn that Math Tutor DVD now offers a member’s only area that allows you to view all video courses online for only $19.95 a month which is perfect for families with children of varied ages and grade levels. As a member you are also able to access new material as it is released, as well as participate in member’s only discussion forums.

Math Tutor DVD has programs for all ages and can be purchased online at their website or by calling 1-877-MATH-DVD.

You can read other reviews of these products at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew blog.

Not Back to School Blog Hop: Curriculum Week

Today I’ve decided to participate in the Not Back to School Blog Hop sponsored by Heart of the Matter. This week the topic is all about curriculum.

As a recovering curriculum junkie, I guess you could say that I’ve gone from one extreme to the other. When I first began homeschooling my three children, I thought I had to have every item on the market that was targeted for homeschoolers. Now, 12 years later,  I have an aversion to packaged curriculum and instead prefer ‘various resources’ in the form of books, CD’s, DVD’s, online resources  and field trips.  Of course that doesn’t mean that I won’t ever use a curriculum or textbook, we do on occasion make use of workbooks, like Easy Grammar, Sequential Spelling,  and Life of Fred math but I’ve grown more confident and don’t always feel it’s necessary to spend the extra money.

Tomorrow we will kick off our 12th First Day of School and for the first time ever, I’ve not spent a dime on curriculum this year. I do plan to make some purchases, like Teaching Textbooks for math and Rosetta Stone for foreign language, but right now we’re going to work our way through some of the resources that I already have laying around before I buy anything else.

As you can see from our assortment of books in the picture, the kids will be learning about anything from architecture, to logic,  to the Mayan culture. Though it doesn’t look like it from the mix and match of books, I can assure you that I do have a plan and can’t wait to see how it unfolds throughout the year.

So, do you have an interesting subject that you’re excited to delve into this year? What resources do you plan to use to help you teach your children?

Online Classes an Incredible Tool for Homeschooling Families

My kids have participated in several of the live classes offered at Currclick. For our traveling family, the live classes have afforded a simple way for them to take a class on a subject that appealed to them without leaving the camper or hotel.  As long as we’ve had internet access, the classes have worked beautifully. They’ve taken a couple classes together and recently my daughter participated in a newsletter writing class and last week she finished a live photography class  where she concentrated on creating her own photography portfolio.

I was really excited about this class and feel it was very beneficial to her.  She met with her teacher and classmates each week in a virtual classroom where she would discuss the assignment that her teacher had given her from the previous week with the other students. Normally they would spend time critiquing each others work based on the criteria that her teacher had outlined.   The pictures below are examples of what she took as part of her class assignments.  The first one is a nature photo, followed by two landscapes and a unique self portrait.   

This week CurrClick is hosting a free open house where you can meet the online instructors and learn more about the 50+ classes that are offered which include anything from history and literature to cooking and guitar lessons. There really is something for just about any area of interest. The classes are also very affordable ranging anywhere from a couple bucks for a single class to $70 or so for a class that would last the entire semester.

Just so you know, if you do sign up for classes, I am an affiliate so a small portion of your total will be credited to my account which will give me a discount on the classes my kids will take this fall so I’d be grateful if you’d sign up through the link at the top of the page.