TOS Review - Hey Mama! Print Schoolhouse Planner 2016-2017 from The Old Schoolhouse

HEY, MAMA! Are you trying to plan next year's curriculum, but sometimes feel discouraged and wonder if homeschooling is even a good idea, then this review is for you! 

If that doesn't describe you - It does describe me some days, and then along came this Hey Mama! Print Schoolhouse Planner 2016-2017 from The Old Schoolhouse to review. The name, "Hey Mama!" is one of the things that makes this Schoolhouse planner unique. This is a planner with the homeschooling mama in mind, hence the name "Hey Mama!"

What is the Hey Mama! Print Schoolhouse Planner 2016-2017?

This is a printed and spiral-bound planner for the upcoming 2016-17 school year, starting in July 2016. Interspersed throughout the planner are interesting tidbits about historical artifacts and pages that are intended to encourage the homeschool mom, again that's story behind the name HEY MAMA!

Also available is a digital version which you can download and print out to use immediately!



These little notes of encouragement are amazing, and I'm sure will pop up at just the right moments throughout the school year, especially those days when you feel like sending them off on that big yellow school bus and calling it quits.

It's a planner meant for homeschoolers who are looking for a simple way to organize learning activities with monthly entries and practical, easy-to-use roomy planning pages and calendars, along with useful educational and historic facts at your fingertips.
It's more than just a calendar. Throughout the planner are short notes directed specifically to homeschooling moms. As soon as you open up the planner, there is a big Hey Mama greeting with a note of encouragement from Gena Suarez of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.



Grab your pencil and a cup of coffee, and let's get started:

Turn the pages, and you see:



2016 Calendar
2017 Calendar
2018 Calendar


I LOVE THE BIG SPACES THAT FIT WRITING ENOUGH TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL 3 OF MY KIDDOS!
Monthly Calendars with Notes and Hey Mama Letters



These calendars are followed by homeschool forms:

Weekly Planners
Monthly Goals



Semester Goals
Yearly Goals
Attendance Chart


Our state doesn't require keeping track of attendance, but I'm going to try to use this attendance chart as a checklist for hours completed each day.

Books Read This Year
Curriculum Planning Sheet
Homeschooling Contact List
36 General Writing Prompts
Story Starters
The Thirteen Colonies by Date
Timeline of intentions
US Presidents and their Wives....(LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HOW THEY THOUGHT TO INCLUED THE WIVES - AGAIN.... Catch the theme ----  HEY, MAMA!
Branches of Federal, State and Local Governments
US and Capitals
Creating an Academic Transcript
Academic Transcript
Checklist and Skills Learned
Other Courses

How Did We Use It?



See this mound of books?  That's just one stack of books that I need to weed through to finish planning for my children's 2016-17 school year. Most of these are for one of my three children. I have another stack around the corner that I have to finish logging onto my middle child's high school transcript, and then I have my unschooler who makes my logging traditional hours challenging.

Throughout the planner, there are short histories about artifacts of our past. These are really interesting to read and could even be used to stem an entire history lesson.

I was so excited when my planner arrived. As odd as it may sound, I have been excited to go back to the pen/pencil and paper method of planning and record keeping. Here's why:

When I began homeschooling 11 years ago, I was meticulous in writing down my son's school hours onto just a basic spiral notebook. I then transferred his hours and class information onto a software program. After a couple years of doing this, my daughter entered Kindergarten, and I did the same procedure for both children. A few years later, my third child entered Kindergarten, but my computer crashed and died. With it, my software program was no longer usable. Since that time, I have been searching for a way to log hours and keep records and have not found a better system. I have come to realize that the old-fashioned pencil and paper method works best for me. So, I anxiously awaited the arrival of my Hey Mama! Print Schoolhouse Planner 2016-2017.

What Did We Think?

I really like the layout of this planner, and I can't wait to put it to full use during this upcoming school year. I'm so excited to have a paper planner again. I love the big square blocks on the calendar pages, and I really think the lists of facts, like the presidents and their wives, is going to come in handy especially with one child learning more about presidents this year. I appreciated that there is an easy form for high school transcripts. Mostly, I'm thrilled that there are notes of encouragement just for HEY, MAMA! - That's me! throughout the planner. I have a feeling that just when I start to feel discouraged, one of these notes is going to hit me in an oh, so timely fashion!

.*~.*~

USE THE SPECIAL COUPON CREWCODE to grab your planner today for $19 (which includes shipping)!

.*~.*~

Find The Old Schoolhouse on Social Media @

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theoldschoolhouse/?fref=ts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tosmagazine/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TOSMag  @TOSMag
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Theoldschoolhouse1

Read what other members of the TOS Review Crew thought by clicking on the picture below:

Happy and Successful People Share Their Secrets: A Review of 25 Truths

Several weeks ago, my family and I were offered the opportunity to review “Life Principles of the Happiest and Most Successful Among Us: 25 Truths” by Ed Douglas Publications. I was asked to read the book and to discuss the truths in the book with my children. The following is a review of what we thought:

 

I received the 150 page book in a 5” X 7” paperback format. The book is sold for $12.50.

25 Truths was written by Ed Douglas, who is a retired financial banking officer in my home state of Missouri. He started with three truths to having a happy life, which he shared with others. These three truths quickly grew to 25 Biblical concepts of character and life-enriching tidbits that he penned for the book.

Since I love the scripture in Deuteronomy, that talks about teaching God’s word to our children by talking about them as we go about life, I was anxious to share these 25 truths with my children. It is Deuteronomy 11:19 that reads:

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

25 Truths is written at a level that is appropriate to be used with children in grades 6-12, and for college level students as well as adults.  I started reading it to see what it was all about, and then I started discussions with my children one-on-one.

I didn’t approach my children with a formal requirement of completing every written exercise, but with more of an informal discussion starter style. I read a truth and then first asked if they agreed or disagreed that this truth was important.

It was very interesting how each child responded. My 11 year old actually put the lessons to the most thought, while my six-year-old struggled to understand concepts that I had to explain, such as, “Is the glass half full or half empty?” I assume many of the concepts require more abstract thinking than what she has mastered.

My favorite of the 25 Truths that I discussed with my 11-year old was Truth #13 – Make Every Day Your Best Day. At the end of the summary about this truth, one of the discussion questions asked if she knew anyone with a sunny outlook. I loved her response. She immediately retorted: “Grandma”. She went on to explain that her grandma must know how to make the best of each day because she is always happy.

This made my heart go, “Awwwwww! How sweet is that?”

I’m actually a bit surprised that I didn’t rush to the phone, or Facebook, to let grandma know what her adorable granddaughter had said about her.

My 11-year-old tends to be my perfectionist child who wants to get everything perfect the first time around.  We share many tears when something comes along that doesn't come natural for her.  Oh, she'll work at it till she gets it, but with much frustration and tears.  So, I wasn't a bit surprised when she was reluctant to agree with the truths that talk about taking one step at a time, or that practice makes perfect.

I really like that the book was easy to read, and ended each short chapter with a series of questions that were easy for my older children to understand. I also loved how the author integrated scriptures throughout the entire book.

Some of my personal favorite truths that he presented are:

Truth #3 – Watch What you Say, Do and Write

Of course, this truth rings true to me as a writer, author and blogger; but it is the way I have always tried to live my live even before the internet or before anyone besides a high school or college instructor ever read a word of my writings. I think it’s very important to live a life of purity so Christ can shine without blemish.

Truth #8 – Be Quick to Apologize

This one I love in theory, but it is often extremely difficult to put into action. Since I try to live my life by Truth #3, above, this one should not be necessary very often. Sadly, it is necessary from time to time. This is, however, one thing I have always done with my children. When I lose all parenting skills and have my own little meltdowns because no one is listening to me, or someone spilled milk on the carpet or forgot to shut the door, or you name it – I apologize and explain to my children how important they are to me and that I love them and they deserve to be spoken to and treated in a kind manner. I am not afraid to apologize to my children. I think it models good behavior, and opens the door to make it natural for them to apologize when necessary as well.

Truth#11 – Take it One Step at a Time

I tend to bite off more than I can chew, but when it is broken down into small bite-sized segments, it magically gets done without a lot of stress. I love following step by step instructions that get me to my end goals, however, I often am too hurried or panicked to slow it down as needed.

Truth #12 – Learn What Brings True Happiness

This is pretty much the heart of the matter of it all. I remember a pastor I once heard talk about how we waste our time wishing it away for a better day or better stuff that we think will make us happy. When I look around, my happiness is already in front of me.

Truth #13 – Make Every Day Your Best Day

When I was working full time and expecting my first child, my boss told me to cherish every moment of the new baby’s life. I heard that the days of a new mother, or a mother of toddlers, are so long, but the years fly by so fast that you’ll wish you can go back and recoup them. That is so true. From the start of motherhood and homeschooling, I have made a concerted effort to make the most of every milestone and every day. Somehow, I still feel like these days have flown by without my full engagement in the things that are important to my children. But, this truth is my very favorite of them all!

Truth #25 – Spend Time with your Family

Of course, as a stay-at-home, full-time homeschooling mom who has been with her children almost every 24/7 for 13 years now, this truth is important to me. But, it also rings true every year for me with my extended family. Starting in 2006, my family began a yearly tradition of renting out a huge beach house one week in the summer where we all gather – all of us, cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. There are usually more than 20 of us in the house, and it is the best bonding time you can imagine.

Bonus:

I also love the bonus truth that summarizes them all, but I’ll let you read the book to discover what that one is.

Please read what other Schoolhouse Review Crew members thought of this book, here; or click on the picture below:

Jump Up and Down with Handwriting Without Tears Grade 1 Books

 



My daughter and I recently had the privilege of reviewing My Printing Book 1st Grade from Handwriting Without Tears.

 

I received a paperback student book for my daughter to use along with a thick paperback teacher’s guide. The books looked exciting to use on their own, but I soon discovered that to really get the most out of Handwriting Without Tears I needed to spend a little bit of time getting acquainted with the teaching method.

I was delighted and enthused to learn that Handwriting Without Tears would mean so much more than merely plopping down a workbook in front of my child.

 

I also discovered that it is also about more than merely learning proper posture and pencil-holding sills, all of which is integrated into the well-rounded and carefully thought-out lessons. This program literally got my child up on her feet and experiencing handwriting with all of her five senses.

And, I'll share a little secret:  It got me right in there with her finding myself wanting to sing, dance and re-learn my own handwriting skills as each lesson felt like a party that invited fresh active learning ideas as the guest of honor and not a boring chore.

It is excellent for wiggly students like my daughter who has to be in constant movement to learn.





The workbook is divided into four sections:

1. Capital review
2. Lowercase letters
3. Language arts activities
4. Numbers

Inside the teacher’s manual, there are also tips on how to use the program with visual, tactile, auditory and kinesthetic learners. In addition to the teacher’s guide, their site provides videos and teaching tips.  When you watch these videos, you will catch the enthusiasm of the teachers and the students:

  

There were years of research that went into developing the Handwriting Without Tears method, and it shows.  The developers discovered that children learn best when they are actively involved with an approach that speaks to their individual learning style. The Handwriting Without Tears curriculum teaches the following concepts in handwriting:

• Left to right motion (which also prepares a child to read English) - My two older children have also been introduced to Hebrew reading and writing, but not till after their left to right motion for English reading and writing was well established.  So, I liked that this handwriting program stressed the proper English motion since English is our main language of choice.
• Leftie (and Rightie) friendly - Because I'm married to a frustrated leftie turned rightie due to classroom teaching that wouldn't allow otherwise, hand preference is something I have always left up to my children.  From the time they were each a baby, I would set a toy, food or a spoon in front of them in between both hands and allow each child to reach for it with the hand he or she felt most comfortable using.  Two of my children showed strong traits in the ability to use both hands, but all now seem to favor their right hand.  Still, I wanted to always give them the option and not force one hand upon them as being the only correct hand to use.  From all indication, my daughter is selecting her right hand to be dominant, but I appreciate that the program is designed with both handed-dominance in mind.
• Clean and simple black & white workbook with recognizable black & white pictures - The less cluttered, the better as far as I'm concerned especially since I have one child who shows traits of ADD.  These workbooks present a clear picture of the main focal points in each lesson so as to allow very little distractions.

Their curriculum claims to be designed to make it easy to teach and learn handwriting in 15 minutes a day.  This is probably true, but when we came to the end of one lesson - which probably took about 15 minutes -my daughter didn't want to stop.  If your child is like mine you will find that after the 15-minute lesson is over you will be asked again and again to do it again.  Not even a minute after finishing a lesson, my little girl said:

I want to do that again, mommy!

The workbooks seem to be very reasonably priced:

My Printing Book 1st Grade - $8.25
First Grade Printing Teacher’s Guide - $9.25

Handwriting Without Tears also offers a musical CD which can be purchased separately as well as learning apps and handwriting hands-on manipulatives for younger children.

The books I received are intended for 1st grade learners. However, the company has books available for level Pre-K through 5th Grade. They also provide educator workshops and online videos and other teaching tools to help you teach handwriting to your students.

I really like the learning/teaching concept behind the curriculum. I think it works. It’s perfect for my little active learner.

It is a complete activity style learning curriculum that works best when the teacher has become acquainted with how to use it. However, their teacher’s guide is easy to understand and they provide tons of resources for help. It took me just a few hours in the beginning to read enough to understand how to present it for my child.  Once acquainted, it’s fun and not difficult to present each lesson to your child. You might even get a fun workout for the day while teaching or find yourself carried away giving voice to your Magic C Bunny Puppet (more on this later).

Following is an example of how their teacher guide pages are presented and then how it looked when we did the lesson ourselves:

These sample pages can be found on the Handwriting Without Tears website where you can download these and more sample pages to see for yourself.

We used a chalkboard, chalk and a wet wipe, instead of a sponge for this lesson, that we already had on hand. However, if you prefer, you can pick these items up at their website as well:

.

Now, onto the Magic C Bunny Puppet:

We found instructions to make our own Magic C Bunny Puppet at the back of the teacher's manual, but you can buy a more durable classroom puppet on the Handwriting Without Tears website if you prefer.  We had fun making our own.  It's really fun to start with the letter C and then magically change the letter to form new letters:

These sample pages can be found on the Handwriting Without Tears website where you can download these and more sample pages to see for yourself.

And, I really liked how they included number writing and 1st grade math concepts along with the letters as part of learning to write.  My little girl is also learning 1st Grade math skills, so this flows perfectly with her other core subject of math to give even deeper meaning to her handwriting skills and would have warded off those "why do I have to learn this?" questions I still get from my logically minded older child.

These sample pages can be found on the Handwriting Without Tears website where you can download these and more sample pages to see for yourself.

Read more reviews on this curriculum from The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew here, or click on the picture below:

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

Why We Love 'God's Great Covenant Old Testament 1' from Classical Academic Press

We have recently uncovered a gem among Bible curriculum options. God’s Great Covenant Old Testament Book 1 from Classical Academic Press has become our new-found friend in understanding the Bible.

I received a thick paperback student worktext, a paperback teacher’s guide and an mp3 audio download for review. This is everything you need to use the curriculum and more. The mp3 audio really enhances the experience as the reader has an amazingly soothing voice that is easy to listen to and allows you and your student to sit back and soak in the words without having to read it yourself. However, my daughter did choose to read many lessons on her own without even my help.

I used the book with my daughter, who is in the 5th grade. She went to town with it, as she absolutely thrives on workbook style learning. We both found it extremely easy to jump in and learn from the format of the curriculum because it is very easy to use. The worktext presents the story and questions in an easy-to-read manner with a summary, a story and puzzles, worksheets, maps and vocabulary words all in one convenient location, between the covers of the student book.



I started off reading it to her and gave her the option to listen to it being read off of the mp3 download. She chose mostly to read it herself, answer the questions herself and then I stepped in with explaining the Catechism questions and answers.

As the name implies, Classical Academic Press provides curriculum that works well with those following the Classical education style or teaching the Trivium model.  We use a modified Classical education style, and it worked out perfectly for us.  If you don't currently teach in a Classical teaching/learning method, don't worry.  God's Great Covenant Old Testament 1 can easily be integrated into any homeschooling day.

The work text is designed with 32 chapters that covers the first sections of Genesis to Ruth and is intended to be used one chapter per week. It is further divided into five themed units of:

• Unit I – In the Beginning (God’s Power) 
• Unit II – By the Patriarchs (God’s Promises) 
• Unit III – Out of Egypt (God’s Redemption) 
• Unit IV – Through the Wilderness (God’s Provision) 
• Unit V – In the Promised Land (God’s Faithfulness) 

At the start of each new chapter, there is a Memory Page that provides a memory verse for the week, key learning facts and vocabulary words. Each chapter presents a worksheet and a quiz. Additionally, there are questions to cause the child to think about how God is real is his or her life, and at the end of each unit there is a summary along with more activities and puzzles to complete and enjoy.

A typical week with God’s Great Covenant looks like this:



Discover it for yourself at the Classical Academic Press website where you can find the curriculum as follows:

Student workbook - $22.95
Teacher Edition - $24.95
mp3 Audio Download - $9.95

God’s Great Covenant Old Testament 1 is intended for use with children in grades 3 through 6. Since the book addresses not only Bible stories but also how to apply it to your life, including an introduction to Catechism questions and answers, I think they have it appropriately aimed at this grade range. Though, older children and adults could very well find fun in learning things they might have missed in their study of the Old Testament along the way.




We are absolutely loving this curriculum. We not only learned from this curriculum, but have discovered that Classical Academic Press has been added to our new-found love list of publishers. The way they present lesson materials is right up our alley. In fact, we’re thirsty for more and can’t wait to use their curriculum in the future.

Read more reviews from The Old Schoolhouse Review team here, or click on the picture below:


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

One-Stop Curriculum SchoolhouseTeachers Review

As a homeschooler, you have no doubt come to love all the helpful information packed into each issue of The Old SchoolhouseMagazine.  Well, hang onto your hats because if you have not discovered it already, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine presents SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  This is an amazing opportunity for your homeschool to have a complete curriculum for the entire family at a very affordable price - Really!

Use SchoolhouseTeachers.com as a complete curriculum at your fingertips, a curriculum supplement, or you could easily use it as an idea-generator toward building your own personalized lessons around it to create a complete curriculum at a very affordable price or just for a rainy-day fall back option to fill in the educational gaps on days you need a little boost as a teacher to spark some enthusiasm in learning.

I recently had the opportunity to review SchoolhouseTeachers.com with my children, and I kept getting more and more giddy with each new click as I watched everything I need unfold on my computer screen and iPhone.

My First Reaction:

My initial reaction when I first took a look at SchoolhouseTeachers.com from The Old Schoolhouse magazine was, “Wow!  This is a one-stop shop.”  I have seen other sites making attempts at providing a full curriculum or curriculum extras, but this site does it right.

It is more than possible to teach entirely from Schoolhouseteacher.com with a subscription every year. It’s affordable and comprehensive, especially when you consider that you may find yourself teaching solely from the site and not from expensive curriculum.

I tend to get frustrated with curriculum packages because I am creative and have an idea what path I want my children to walk down.  I grow weary of teacher guides that have every last word spelled out for me to read.  The SchoolhouseTeachers.com allows for my creative modifications to their solid foundation of lessons and lesson supplements.  However, there are plenty of complete lessons available on the site as well for those who prefer following along with what has already been provided.

My Next Thoughts:

My second reaction to the site was the realization that this had to have been put together by a homeschooler or a group of homeschoolers because only fellow homeschoolers truly understand what other parents need to get through each day.

I kept thinking of additional subjects to look for, thinking there is no way one site could cover everything.  Yet, I kept discovering that they were there.  It was obvious that this teaching site was created, not only by teachers, but by homeschoolers who have been there and know what other homeschoolers need.

My First Discoveries:

Of course, I immediately went to the “Extras” tab and began downloading my free e-book, which is provided each month to members with a new ebook to download.  I then made my way to the Planners, and was I ever pleasantly surprised.  There are planners there for everyone.  There are even planners intended for the children to use directed at their grade levels.

I particularly loved the “Dailies” tab as it was easy to click on every morning to grab all of the lessons needed for the day.

What Age-Range/Grade Level Does the Site Cover?

There is a section for pre-K through Kindergarten, Lower Elementary, Middle School and High School.  Some of the Dailies are above or below my children’s levels, but I easily adapted them to become less or more extensive to fit their needs.

Time for the Kids' Reaction:

After looking over the site to see what it had to offer, I set out to try it out with my three little critiques who can turn my excitement for learning and lesson planning into frustration and disappointment at times.  My children are 7^th grade, 5^th grade and 1^st grade, so I focused on both the elementary level tabs and the Middle School tab.

The part I enjoyed most are the “Dailies”.  A homeschooling parent can literally cover every subject necessary and never buy curriculum by dropping by the “Dailies” tab.  My kids and I had a blast learning about the planets, and I loved that there was a section set aside to learn about what happened on this day many years ago in history.

We also enjoyed the hands-on activities provided in the lessons.  I printed off some activity sheets for my youngest, and we all had fun following the recipe to mix up the "clay" needed for the astronomy lesson about venus.

Just to make sure it was as comprehensive as it looks, I sat down with my children and created a lesson plan that covered every core subject.

The true test - My 12-year old skeptic:

My 12 year old son absolutely despises text book and traditional curriculum offered to him, but I saw his eyes perk up when I mentioned to him that there is a complete Film Making course offered by a professional filmmaker available on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  The best part is that I could just hand him my Droid tablet, have him open up his laptop, or if I dare my iPhone, and let him watch the course himself.

There is a page that list some fantastic teachers known to the homeschooling community, and elsewhere, as experts in their field.  Click on their subject and receive complete lessons you can download.  Some are in video format that you can watch right there at the dining room table on your iPad or laptop.

The other videos on the site were fun and informative as well.

And, There's More Extras:

To my surprise, there was even a month’s worth of recipes and menu items – Perfect for homeschooling parents like me who get so busy teaching that I forget to prepare lunch till we’re all starving.

I got excited when I saw there was a Homemade Hot Chocolate recipe that would make great gift-giving idea that the kids can handle making.

Even more exciting is that they have recordings from the Homeschool Expo seminar to listen to so, if you missed the Expo or just need a refresher, you don’t have to feel like you missed anything.

If you’re not near a printer or you don’t want to print out the lessons, I found that it works well to read it on the computer or on my iPhone.  It worked great using my iPhone, very convenient.

The Cost

Pay $5.95 per month or purchase an entire year’s membership for $64.26.  Give it a try at a special price of just $1 for the first month, and if you order the one-year special, you will also get a free tote bag along with a back issue of The OldSchoolhouse magazine.  I find this price to be incredible seeing as how some of my current curriculum begins at higher prices for just one course or book.  This site at www.SchoolhouseTeachers.com covers every subject for every child in your family at this one low price.

For more on SchoolhouseTeachers.com and what others have to say about it, visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew and read more.

Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.