How to Minister to a Sick Friend at The Homeschool Classroom

Ten years ago, I went from living a normal active life to not being able to get out of bed almost overnight. Today I’m sharing How to Minister to a Sick Friend at The Homeschool Classroom, as a result of that experience. I hope you stop by and share any tips that I may have forgotten. 

Welcome and a Free Offer

Welcome to The Traveling Praters! If you are stopping by from the Homeschool Channel and this is your first visit, I’d like to offer you a special gift and quickly tell you a bit about me and my site.

I am a homeschooling mom of three teenagers that has spent extensive time on field trips and traveling with my husband’s job, which once lead us to be a full-time RV family! You can read more about me and my family on my About Page. 

I mainly write about the fun, family friendly, educational travel that we experience, travel tips, money saving secrets, and homeschool curriculum reviews.  If you’re interested in some of those posts, My Top Ten of 2011 will give you a good example of what I share at The Traveling Praters.

I also share information on upcoming Homeschool Days, like the 2012 Winter Homeschool Days at the Creation Museum and other family friendly events.

I am currently updating my site and have some exciting changes planned. If you’d like to know when this happens, you may choose to stay in touch by:

Subscribing to my RSS feed.  

Following me on Twitter.

Or liking my Facebook page.

As promised, I have a special gift just for stopping by my site Field Trip Notebooking Pages, a free excerpt from my upcoming family travel e-book, due to be released in February 2012. 

I hope you enjoy what I’ve put together for you and I hope to see you here again!

Physics and Astronomy Open House at Ohio University in Athens

Ohio University is offering a free Physics and Astronomy Open House on Saturday, November 5th from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The varied activities and talks are geared towards a range of ages so you should find something that anyone from school age and up will enjoy, making this a great outing for the entire family.

This is a huge event and times/activities may vary depending upon equipment, people and weather. Here is a tentative schedule:

Physics Shows

All physics shows are 20-25 minutes in length unless otherwise listed.

• Fun with Liquid Nitrogen - Clippinger 119 10:00,11:00,12:00,1:00,2:00,3:00
• What NOT to Do with Your Microwave - Clipping 135 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
• Levitation: Beating Back Gravity - Clippinger 133 10:00, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 4:00
• Sharks with Lasers on Their Heads - Clippinger 205 11:30, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00
• Twist 'n Spin in the Nanoworld - Clippinger 131 11:00, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30
• Power of Air - Third Floor Lobby Clippinger 10:30, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:30, 4:00 (Ping pong ball cannon and pencil through plywood demonstrations)
• Tachyon Beams and Other Bad Astronomy - Clippinger 115 10:30, 12:00, 1:30, 3:00
• Snowflakes: No Two Alike?11:30 and 2:00 - Create your own snowflake
• The Physics of Musical Instruments

Single 40 minute talk with lots of demos begin at 1:30

Hallway Activities and Displays

The Hallway Activities are scattered throughout the lobby area on the three floors and are available the full day.

• The Sky is NOT the Limit ... with a Telescope
• How to choose a telescope.
• Hovercraft
• Physics Arcade
• Physics Projectile Challenge
• Physics Construction Challenge
• Bowling Ball Slalom
• Angular Momentum Demos
• Water Rockets (Weather Permitting)
• Solar Viewing (Weather Permitting)
• Physics and Toys Corner
• Cosmic Ray Booth
• Sweet Matter - Nanotube construction activity
• Enlightening Pencils
• Physics Art Table
• Future Scientist Prize

You can also earn small prizes by attending shows and participating in activities.

Lab Tours

Some labs will be open for tours, make sure you stop by the Welcome Table to pick up your free ticket, reserving your place if it is required.  

• Edwards Accelerator Lab 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 - Ticket required. Leave from first floor lobby.
• Single Atom Manipulation Lab – Nanoart 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 3:15, 3:45 - Ticket required. Leave from first floor lobby.
• Up, Up and NOT Away: Tour of Helium Liquefier Facility 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 - Ticket required.
• Laser "Tweezers" Lab - Clippinger 352 11:30-12:30, 2:00-3:00 (tentative)
• Scanning Electron Microscope - Clippinger 353 11:00-12:30, 1:30-3:00

Talks

• The Dark Side of the Universe - Clippinger 259 11:00, 1:00
• Stalking the Moon's Shadow - Clippinger 259 12, 2:30
• Relative Reality - Clippinger 259 1:30, 3:00 - 35 minute video exploring a drive through a town at nearly the speed of light.

Directions

The easiest way to reach Clippinger Labs is to follow US-50/S.R. 33 to the 682 exit. At the roundabout at Richland Avenue, veer right. Cross the Hocking River and turn right onto South Green. The stadium will be on your right. Continue past Oxbow Trail and turn left onto University Terrace. As you swing around to the left, Clippinger is the large building on your left. You can park in any of the lots in the area.

Parking

Parking is free and available in Dark Green and Purple color designated lots including lot numbers 81,82, 83, 84, 86, 88 next to Clippinger Laboratories. Additional parking is available in Dark Green and Purple lots 132, 133, 134 next to Peden football stadium and Margaret Walter Hall. A parking pass is not needed in any of these Dark Green and Purple lots.  Clippinger is building 81 and is located at H-6.

More Information

Contact Prof. Mark Lucas (lucasm@ohio.edu) (740)597-2984 for more information. 

Planning Your Year for Success at On the Company Porch

I have to be honest. The past year I was not diligent in planning our school year and it was a flop. Not completely, my kids still managed to complete some tasks and learned quite a bit; but since I’d not taken the time to write down what I wanted to see accomplished, my ideas kept changing. It’s hard to complete a task if my idea of what should be completed keeps changing.

Since I didn’t take the time to update our schedule of what needed to be completed each day, it never really became habit and we aimlessly wandered through the day with the kids saying “What next?” I could give you a hundred and one excuses as to why I didn’t do the work that was required of me, but I dislike excuses so I’ll just fess up and admit I blew it. Even for the relaxed mama I am. Or like to think I am. Our school year was a pretty poor representation of what a homeschool should or could look like.

Won’t you join me at On the Company Porch on the Homeschool Blogger to read the rest of the post?  

Can You Help Me With a Dilemma?

Today you’ll find me posting at The Homeschool Classroom about a problem I have with math. Ughh…maybe you can help me find a solution?

Can you Suggest a High School Math Course?

Our Homeschool in the Earlier Years

Want a glimpse of my kids and our homeschool in our early years? Stop by the HSB Community Blog, On the Company Porch and you’ll also learn what gets the vote from my family for our #1 All-Time Favorite Homeschool Curriculum! 

Are you curious? I hope so!

Ten Things I Learned When my Kids took a CPR/AED/First Aid Class

 

The bulk of our homeschooling over the past several years has been in the form of field trips. When my kids suggested that they learn how to perform CPR, I jumped at the chance to schedule a class for some area homeschooled teens. Our local Red Cross chapter was willing to do a class that included CPR/AED and Basic First Aid at their location for $60 a student for an 8 hour class.

I wasn’t sure what to expect and even though the class was my children’s idea, they were a bit apprehensive when the big day finally arrived. I think their fears were put to rest when we arrived at the classroom and they met the instructor. He was really down to earth and put the kids right at ease. Though I’d initially planned to pop in and out of the classroom just to check and see how things were going, I was fascinated and stayed the entire day.

Here are some of the things I learned during the class that I thought were helpful.

1. When there is an emergency situation you need to check the scene to make sure it is safe to help, call 9-1-1 when you find a life threatening condition and administer care.

2. You should always keep a list handy of emergency numbers. The very first number on on your list should be 9-1-1. It may seem like common sense, but in an emergency situation you never know how you will react. 

3. When calling from a cell phone, even if your phone says that you don’t have service, try to call 9-1-1 anyway. Another cell phone tower may pick up your call and by law they have to route your call for free.

4. It your home phone operates and has power, the phone company will also route your call, even if you don’t have a contract or service through a phone company.

5. Another interesting fact I learned is that hot dogs are the number one cause of choking deaths in children aged 3-4. Choking is so common that the pediatricians and the FDA are calling for the redesign of hot dogs. 

6. When it comes to adults, most choking victims are found in the bathroom. If you are choking, do not remove yourself from people. No one has ever died of embarrassment, but people have died from leaving the aid of others. 

7. If you are choking in a building and you are alone, call 9-1-1 and run outside where the EMT’s will find you. 

8. A universal sign of choking is that the victim will grab their throats. 

9. When the kids learned CPR they kept time with a metronome. I found it surprising that the instructor shared two songs that keep the beat of the compression rate, Staying Alive by the Bee Gee’s or Another One Bites the Dust by Queen.   I fail to see how either would be appropriate to sing as you administer CPR.

10. My kids also learned how to administer the AED or Automatic External Defibrillator. Did you know that when Phillips tested their new model, they did so on five year olds? They wanted to make sure that the directions were clear and easy to understand. The five year olds followed the instructions perfectly.  

I also learned some facts that repulsed me. Don’t ever assume that someone called 9-1-1 just because you asked them too. Surprisingly, sometimes people won’t make that call because they are in a hurry and don’t want to take the time or they just don’t want to get involved. 

I also learned that it is common for bystanders to arrive at the scene of an accident not to help, but to take pictures with their cell phones? Really? What’s wrong with people? I can only hope that people would have the decency to ask themselves, what if that was me lying there, or if it was someone I loved?

My kids learned so much during their training and I’m really proud of them for completing the course. My kids all said that they hope they never need to administer CPR but at least they will be able to if needed.

Have you taken a CPR/AED/Basic First Aid Class? What’s holding you back?

This post is linked to Oh Amanda’s Top Ten Tuesday click the button below to join in:

A Day in the Life of a Homeschool Family

Do you ever wonder what homeschooling looks like in everyone else’s home? I’d wager to guess that answer is yes. Here’s you chance to see what a typical day looks like for someone else while allowing you to share a day of your own! The Homeschool Blogger Company Front Porch is hosting a link-up this week encouraging homeschool families to share a typical, non-typical, best, or worst homeschooling day with the world! Well, maybe not the world, just the Homeschool Blogger readership, how’s that? This is your chance to encourage another homeschooler.

You can read my post for the week, Adventures in Relaxed Homeschooling : A Peek Inside our Home on HSB, and don’t forget to share one of your own!  

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.

Field Trip Friday: A Step Back to the Civil War

It’s time for Field Trip Friday and I have to tell you that this month has been so full of field trips that I had a really hard time determining which one to share! This week alone, we’ve gone ice skating for the first time, toured WAY-FM, a local listener supported Christian radio station and have plans to attend a ballet. I could have shared any of those outings, but this week I decided to transport you back in time, 150 years to the last days of the Civil War.

We didn’t travel to Appomattox Courthouse, but instead to the Earlyworks Children’s Museum in Huntsville*** to listen to a conversation  between Generals Grant and Lee as the Army of Virginia surrendered to the Federal Armies, which set in motion the surrender of the Confederacy.

I have to preface this post by saying that this program was intended for 4th grade students, but I was assured that our teen group would find the material interesting. I was convinced, but you should have seen the looks my children gave me when we stepped into the great hall and all the little kids turned to stare at the big kids. However, once the debate began, my kids were transfixed while the younger kids bounced up and down in their seats.       

We’ve studied the Civil War and visited many battlefields and sites relevant to the war but the debate was also great for those that had no knowledge of that era. Not only did they provide insight into the reasons behind the War between the States, they also spoke candidly about the character of one another, the reasons they fought, the soldiers they’d lost along the way, and the devastation that ensued.

Meet the generals, who graciously allowed me to capture their images with the camera before continuing on their way.

                     General Ulysses S. Grant                    General Robert E. Lee

After we met the Generals, we made our way through the rest of the museum where we met other key figures from the time period which included a female Civil War spy, a Buffalo Soldier and some names that you should readily recognize.

We talked to Harriet Tubman, also known as the conductor of the Underground Railroad. During her lifetime she led thousands of slaves to freedom in Canada. What I didn’t realize is that she also fought for women’s rights and was part of the Woman’s Suffrage movement.

We met Clara Barton as she described gathering bandages and aid for the wounded during the Civil War and later went on to become the founder of the Red Cross.

We listened spellbound as Union General O.M. Mitchel described how he captured the Huntsville Depot without firing a single shot. In April of 1862, General Mitchel and his troops left Shelbyville, Tennessee and began the long 50 mile walk to Huntsville. They crossed over Monte Sano mountain and stepped out of the fog as the sun was rising in the early dawn. The Confederate Army thought they were ghosts and ran.

Finally, we met Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln as she spoke of her girlhood, meeting Honest Abe and eventually becoming his wife, though her family was disappointed that he was only a poor lawyer. She recounted the hardships she encountered as First Lady, during the Civil War when some of her own family members fought for the Confederate States, she shared the heartbreaking loss of several of her children and the anguish she felt as she sat in Ford Theater, clasping her beloved’s hand as a man snuck up behind them and murdered him with a gunshot to the head.    

As we left the steps of Earlyworks, and returned to the year 2011, we were reminded of the hardships of those that have gone before and the words of a humble general who saw too much bloodshed in a battle that he’d rather have not fought.

Farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia

After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources.

I need not tell the survivors of so many hard-fought battles who have remained steadfast to the last that I have consented to this result from no distrust of them; but feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuance of the contest, I determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those whose past services have endeared them to their countrymen. By the terms of the agreement, officers and men can return to their homes and remain until exchanged.

You may take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully performed, and I earnestly pray that a merciful God will extend to you his blessing and protection.

With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you all an affectionate farewell.

~ Robert E. Lee

***FYI- Earlyworks is one of the largest children’s museums in the South and though you’d enjoy a visit at anytime, our experience encompassed a special school program so your visit will differ from ours.

Have you been on a field trip lately? You can link up to Field Trip Friday so we can learn right along with you. You’ll find the guidelines here.

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.

Altered Books and a New Discovery

One of the best school years we ever had were the years that we followed the outline laid out by Ambleside Online. One of the recommended suggestions is to keep a “Current Events Notebook”. I’ve always thought it was a great idea, I’ve just never been consistent about actually implementing and sticking with one.

With the many changes taking place in our world today, I’ve thought again about scheduling a few minutes a week for my children to jot down what’s going on around the world. Originally, I thought I’d go with a simple notebook page. Somewhere the kids could record local, state, region, national and world news. They could make a note of  unusual, uplifting, political, tragic and earth-shattering events as they transpire and record their feelings, thoughts, fears and hope for the future. I even began to work on a simple notebook page that would fill  our need.

Then I ran across a website that describes how to make an altered composition book and fell in love with this simple craft and I was inspired.

The perfect Current Events Notebook! I just love the result!

The best part? This is a fun, easy and inexpensive craft that your child can complete in a matter of minutes with items found around your home. I didn’t purchase one thing—and believe me when I say that my home is not well stocked in the craft supply department! 

I enjoyed this project so much that I stopped by the author’s blog to see if she offered any other craft ideas and what I discovered made me wish my kids were younger! 

Turns out the blog owner of Spell Out Loud, Maureen Spell,  is a homeschooling mom of six, who has a real talent in the craft department! If you have little ones (baby to late elementary), you’ll love the ideas that she shares.

According to her Facebook page, she has a huge birthday bash planned for the beginning of April with lots of giveaways.

One last thing, if you have little ones, you should take a look at these step- by-step directions for creating I Spy Bottles! I can’t wait to make one for my niece and nephew next time they visit. 

Now I can’t wait for my kids to put those Current Event Notebooks to use! 

 

 

 

One Reason I Love Homeschooling

Today you’ll find me at The Homeschool Classroom sharing one reason I LOVE homeschooling. I hope you’ll stop by and take a peek at some of the fun we’ve had as  taking our classroom out into the world around us.

Before you hop away, let me remind you to stop back here later this evening for Field Trip Friday. I’ll be sharing our trip back in time to the late 1800’s.  I hope you’ll consider linking up and sharing some of your adventures too!

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.

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.

A Few Ideas for Free Summer Fun!

Our local public schools have embarked on their summer break here in Northern Alabama and as a result the local attractions are gearing up for some wonderful, fun summer programs that my family is eager to check out and hopefully participate in. From guided nature walks to day camps to summer reading programs to movies in the park, it seems like everyone in the community has something going on and you know what? Many of these programs are low cost or FREE!

I know you don’t all live in my neck of the woods, so I’ve scoured the internet to find free programs that may be accessible to you wherever you call home.

My family are huge fans of the National Parks and we visit every chance we get. Do you know that they will be offering several free days this summer? You can go here for a list of dates and more information. Of course, many of the parks offer free or low-cost admission on a daily basis.

Did you know that Target offers Free or discounted admission to arts and cultural museums and events in various cities across the United States?

Follow this link to read the rest of the article, Adventures in Relaxed Homeschooling: A Few Ideas for Free Summer Fun.

Did you Know?

I've been writing a column at The Homeschool Blogger's Company Front Porch each Wednesday. I call it Adventures in Relaxed Homeschooling because that pretty much sums up my philosophy and between me and you, in case you haven't noticed, titles are NOT my strong point! LOL Though I don't always write a whole lot about homeschooling here, it's only because I'm writing about it elsewhere. This week I wrote about some of the resources that we've used for Music Appreciation. Just click on the button below and it will take you straight there. Happy Homeschoolin'!

Field Trip Friday: Jerry Brown Pottery

One of the first stops I made in Alabama last year was to a local Visitor’s Center. After all, I just had to know what this state had to offer. One of the guides mentioned a potter by the name of Jerry Brown that had pieces on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. Intrigued, I knew this was one stop we would certainly make and when I discovered that one of the homeschool groups had planned a field trip to his country studio, I was really hoping we'd still be around to attend. So when March rolled around and we were still here, I was thrilled to sign up!

Jerry Brown Pottery is located in Northwest Alabama in a small rural community called Hamilton. The kids and I drove right around two hours to get there, missed the road we were supposed to turn on, drove out into the middle of nowhere, literally! Thought we'd never make it back to civilization, realized our error (well, my error) and made it just in time for the show to start!

Jerry Brown was born into a pottery making, clay firing family. In fact, he's a 9th generation potter. He told us that he was working in his dad's shop before he was old enough to go to school! One day, his own son will takeover the family business and the Brown legacy, built upon unique folk art creations will continue.

Our tour of the studio began with a demonstration. Mr. Brown effortlessly molded three lumps of clay into a usable vessel waiting to be fired in minutes on his pottery wheel that was made from the rim of an old car and powered by a go cart motor. It was fascinating to watch the clay transform before our eyes.

Though the Brown's once fired their pieces in a wood burning kiln, that was just a bit too tedious and labor intensive so they now use a natural gas fired brick lined kiln. Running the kiln is a bit tricky because the pieces need to be heated slowly and cooled slowly so they aren't damaged. It normally takes about 15-16 hours to fire each piece. We also learned that the kiln will get so hot that the bricks will turn white.

The clay used in all of the pieces is found locally and processed by Blue, their friendly 20- year old, well-cared for mule. Blue was a hit with everyone when she demonstrated turning the clay and grinding the lumps out. It takes her about 2-3 hours to process 2,500 pounds of clay. Though this step removes the majority of lumps and impurities, it still requires a few more steps before it can be turned into the art piece you'll see in the studio.

The studio is full of the best selling Face Jugs, gallons jugs, popcorn bowls, bacon crisper's, egg separators, mixing bowls, coffee mugs, whimsical piggy banks and much more. Since I'm a nut when it comes to handcrafted pieces, I couldn't leave without purchasing one or...two items...after all, who could resist the folk art Face Jugs?

This was a great first stop on our Road Trip to Ohio and along the way the kids and I discussed what we learned and enjoyed about the trip. My oldest son shared with me that he really wanted to try his hand at making some pottery pieces of his own. I was thrilled. The field trip had done just what I'd intended. It had piqued an interest. After all, isn't that what field trips are all about? Exposing our children and ourselves to new things? Hopefully developing a deeper understanding or appreciation of the subject matter?

If you're ever in the area, I'd highly recommend adding Jerry Brown Pottery to your list of stops and if at all possible, call ahead for a tour. You won't be sorry! Oh, and for my RV friends, you won't fit in his parking lot, but there is plenty of parking along the road.

Well, stay tuned because I for one am really eager to see what pottery creations my children will come up with as they give the wheel a try.

Hamilton

Deployment

A few years ago I was introduced to the Flat Stanley or Flat Traveler program. If you aren't familiar with this program you can read about more about it here.

Basically, you design a character, exchange travelers with a host family along with a journal and information about the state you live in. They fill in the journal and take pictures of your traveler while it's away while you do the same for theirs. After predetermined amount of time, typically a week or so, you exchange travelers once more and you can read about all the neat places that your traveler was able to visit.

Sounds pretty neat doesn't it? Well though I'd heard about it, we never participated in a swap until now. I ran across Sara's post, Our Homeschool: Flat Stanley is Home and thought it would be fun to atleast host a traveler. So I left a comment offering to squeeze their Flat Stanley into our RV and she agreed. Be sure to stop by her blog and take a peak at the adventure their Stanley had!

Surprisingly, my teenagers decided they wanted to play along and create travelers of their own. So this week they designed their character, created a journal and are eager to send their travelers away. They are especially excited that the travelers are heading to Oregon. Somewhere we've never been.

My kids opted not to go with the Stanley character, but instead designed their own travelers. Wanna peak?

Meet Tin Can Man:


and....

Military Guy:



Ready for deployment. Stay tuned for updates from their important month long mission.

Have you ever participated in the Flat Stanley or Flat Traveler program?

Three Blogs you Should Check Out

I love it when I run across websites and online activities that enhance our homeschool experience. This week I decided I'd share three of my favorite finds so you can check them out too.

First off, this is one I'm really excited about, an Online Science Fair, perfect for our traveling family!



Coming March 5th, The Mac Rac: Everything is a Family Thing is hosting an online science fair. Registration is free, easy and painless. To learn more about this awesome opportunity or to sign up your student and receive the Science Fair Registration packet stop by their page for details about the Mac-Cyber Science Fair to learn how your children can participate.

Looking for FREE resources? What more could you ask for?




This is a great website to help stretch your hard earned dollars. Free Homeschooling 101 is full of links and websites that offer totally free lesson plans, videos, curriculum and resources for the home educating parents from phonics to chemisty, preschool to college. I really enjoyed the newest post. The title speaks for itself, Reducing the Pain of Spelling Class.

Need a bit of help in the writing department?



I stopped by Small World @ Home and happily stumbled upon these new lessons. So far there are six lessons that begin with creating a journal and follow up with lessons like using powerful words to enhance your writings, similes, metaphors & strong verbs and alliteration and spring flowers. These lessons are geared towards all ages, so get that journal and get started!Did I mention that Small World @ Home is the host for this weeks Carnvial of Homeschooling: Think Spring?

There you have it, three fantastic blogs that I have recently discovered. Each able to help out in someway with my homeschooling endeavors. I'll share a few more down the road. In the meantime, I'd love if you'd share blogs that you look to for homeschool help. Happy Homeschooling!