Random 5 on Friday - May 30

1) We pretty much had an easy going day yesterday. We researched turtles, laid around and watched shows about turtles and my daughters made their own turtles out of construction paper and boxes.

2) Garden is still doing great! I'm so glad we decided to go ahead and have one this year.

3)  I had my Cardiologist appointment Wednesday and have to go in next Monday for a heart ultrasound and a chemical stress test. I'm not worried about the ultrasound but the stress test has me stressed out and a little fearful. Prayers would be awesome!

4) Our family recently went to our local lake for a walk and family time. It was such a fun and sweet time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also took a ton of pictures, that I absolutely adore.

5) I really liked reading about what Miranda's, over at The Pebble Pond, parents were going to name her. It made me remember that my mother once told me my name was going to be ---- Destiny Dawn or Desirae Nicole. Somehow I ended up with Jennifer :)

I'm linking up at The Pebble Pond. Click below to check out other great Random 5 on Friday posts.

Apologia Educational Ministries ~ What on Earth Can I Do? Review

Hello friends, I have another fantastic review to tell you about. We just recently had the opportunity to review  What on Earth Can I Do?, What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal,
What on Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal and
What on Earth Can I Do? Coloring Book from Apologia Educational Ministries.

What is What on Earth Can I Do?

What on Earth Can I Do? is the fourth book in a worldview series called What We Believe. It is a hardback book that helps children understand what it means to be a "good and faithful servant" of God through a discussion of the biblical worldview of stewardship. It is recommended for grades 1-6. It begins by setting the stage with an explanation of where we fit into God’s master plan for the world. The book takes you on an adventure through a story of a young British boy named Colin and his family’s experience during WWII. The stories truly help get an understanding of our place and purpose as part of God’s plan, even through times of difficulty.

If you love notebooking like our family than you will love this curriculum. It is designed around a notebooking concept. It provides clear instructions that give children opportunities to think about the questions given, as well as consider their own thoughts and ideas. When first starting this curriculum I felt that some of the stories would be too hard for my daughters to understand. I found that I didn't really have a lot to worry about, but at the times that they were having trouble we would just tailor certain things to help them understand better. That was one of the things I really enjoyed about What on Earth Can I Do?  Each lesson contains several wonderful key components that can be tailored to fit your child. These components helped my children learn in a wonderful and unique way.

*The Big Idea - Each lesson opens with an introduction to the main topic. I felt this helped my daughters know what to expect from the lesson.

*What You Will Do - This section states the learning objectives for each lesson. For example in lesson 1 the learning objectives are

1) You will recognize that you are part of God's story
2) You will understand that with God all things are possible
3) You will be encouraged to surrender every part of your life to Him.

Friends, reading those was encouraging. These are wonderful objectives and ones that I feel should be of the utmost importance in teaching my children. I knew that this was going to be wonderful the moment I read those.

*Short Story - Each lesson features a short story that show what a worldview looks like in action

*Think About It - Questions that can be used to measure your child's comprehension. These can be tailored to suit your child. I loved this section, because I felt that my daughters could talk about the story and share together their thoughts and questions. This section also helped my daughters with their writing and spelling.

*Words You Need To Know - Features wonderful vocabulary words. My daughters would write the words in their journals. I really was pleased at how many new words my daughters were introduced to and learned.

*Hide It In Your Heart - Each lesson provides two specific bible verses that can be used for memorization or for copy work. We choose to use them as copy work.

*Integrated Learning - Articles related to the main text. These articles are designed to help your child learn more about different subject areas such as art, math, science, history, and more. For example in lesson 1 there is a reference to Charlie Chaplin in the story. Following the story is an article about who he was. These articles exposed my daughters to new interests, skills, and experiences.

*What Should I Do?  - This section provides tools that help consider how the lesson applies to your child's own life.

*Prayer - Each lessons concludes with a prayer. You can adapt the prayer for use as a family.

*Parables of Jesus - The final part of each lesson is a story adapted from a teaching story told by Jesus. The stories are faithful to the parables of Jesus, but adapted to cultural changes to help children understand better. This was a favorite part of ours.

*Going Deeper - Discussion questions to encourage your child to think about the parables and what they mean for us today.

*Make a Note of It - Assignments that are to be completed in the What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal or What on Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal. For example, a section might ask your child to write or draw about some of the events that took place in a story. You can read more about these wonderful journals below. 

My absolute favorite part of this curriculum was just knowing that my daughters were learning more about God through wonderful stories, questions, and activities. Another favorite of mine was the integrated learning. I loved that throughout the text they provide articles related to the main topic. It helped us understand parts of the story better and also provided new ideas and concepts in a different array of subject areas. A favorite story in the book was A Fathers Love. It was a story adapted from the prodigal son. A fantastic story and one that I am glad we got to cover during the review of this great curriculum. My daughters loved the story! They even did a craft to go along with it.

We found that the lessons are designed to be flexible and adaptable to our family's needs. It is recommended to organize the lessons into a schedule that works for you and your child.  I felt that this study may be used independently or with a parent. For us, I felt that working together as a family was the best option. I personally loved that a sample lesson structure plan is included in the front of the book for guidance. We worked in the books a couple days per week for approximately two hours each time. 

What is What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal and What on Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal?

What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal complements the What on Earth Can I Do? hardback book wonderfully. I loved that in the very front of the journal there is a place for your child to write their name where the authors name would normally go. When you read the first page, it explains that it is because it is their book. All about them and their relationship with God.  As your child reads through What on Earth Can I Do? They will work through the pages of the journal. It features coloring pages, drawing assignments, mini-books, Scripture copy work, crossword puzzles, word searches, and fill-in-the-blank vocabulary exercises. Students are encouraged to personalize the journals with their own words and drawings.  My daughter is 10 and this journal absolutely helped her remember what she was learning and helped her put her thoughts and ideas into words and drawings.

The What on Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal is very similar and based on the same concepts of the What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal. It was just created for a younger child. Recommended for ages 6–9. My 9 year old daughter actually used the junior edition and it worked perfectly for her.

What is What on Earth Can I Do? Coloring Book

What on Earth Can I Do? Coloring Book is actually what it says. A coloring book! It's a wonderful coloring book that includes coloring pages to match each story that you can read in What on Earth Can I Do? hardback book. My 8 year old daughter loved coloring the pages as she listened to the stories. She thought it was neat to have a visual to imagine what some of the scenes of the story would look like.

I believe that if you are looking for a curriculum that teaches a biblical Christian worldview than What on Earth Can I Do? would be a fantastic curriculum for you. We love it and plan on continuing on through it. It's exactly what I didn't know I was looking for. Perfect fit for what I want my children to be learning and best of all they really enjoy it. 

What does this amazing curriculum cost?

What on Earth Can I Do? (hardback book) - $39.00
What On Earth Can I Do? Notebooking Journal - $24.00
What on Earth Can I Do? Junior Notebooking Journal -$24.00
What on Earth Can I Do? Coloring Book - $8.00

Some lessons contain activities that require advance planning and materials. A list of materials is provided with each activity. Nearly all the materials are household items or can be easily obtained. 

Want to connect with Apologia Educational Ministries?

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/apologiaworld
Twitter – https://twitter.com/apologiaworld
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/105053356034237782125/posts
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/apologia/

Click below to read other great reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew

Random 5 on Friday - May 23

1) I decided to clean out my refrigerator today. Oh man! It needed it so bad. My daughter told me we needed to go grocery shopping now, because it literally went from jam packed to barely anything. I realize we are a homeschooling family that loves science experiments, but I don't think our fridge should showcase them. Ha! I debated on adding a picture, but couldn't bring myself to show you. It was that bad.

2) I finally have a doctor appointment to see a cardiologist next Wednesday.

3) We headed to the pet store recently to buy ONE gerbil. We came home with THREE! My hubby also insisted we buy another cage and more tubes. Our girls were so excited. They each got to name one and their names are Spinner, Chubby, and Whiskers.

4) Our beloved dog, Mitch, got his hair trimmed, nails trimmed, and a bath today. I bet he feels so much better.

5) Garden is still doing great and a couple days ago I spotted our first tomatoes. Yay!

I'm linking up at The Pebble Pond. Click below to check out other great Random 5 on Friday posts.

Trident Case ~ Review

Hello Friends, I have another really neat review for you today. I recently had the opportunity to test out a Kraken A.M.S. Case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 from Trident Case.  I was pretty excited about this review. If you read my blog, you have probably read about an unfortunate mishap we had with a previous Kindle I owned. If you haven't read about it, well, I'll tell you the short story. My youngest daughter always played with the Kindle and one day it slipped out of her hands, straight down to our hard tile floor and BAM! Cracked the screen! It was a real bummer. I was wishing I had protected it by purchasing a case. You live you learn, I suppose. Fortunately for me, after the mishap, my husband surprised me with a new Kindle Fire HDX. Shortly after receiving it, I found out I was going to be reviewing the Kraken A.M.S. Case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7. Can you believe, I was super excited! I certainly didn't want my new Kindle to end up with the same fate as the other. I'm completely positive the outcome would have been different had I been using a Kraken A.M.S. Case.

What is the Kraken A.M.S. Case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 ?

Well friends, the Kraken A.M.S. Case is the absolute strongest, most durable cases Trident Case make. The Kraken A.M.S. Case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX features a shock-absorbing silicone inner layer, covered by a hardened poly-carbonate outer-casing, and a built-in screen protector that provides maximum protection. It includes patent pending audio technology that redirects sound to the front of the tablet. The case also has silicone plugs that help protect device power-ports, audio-jacks and speakers from dust, dirt and debris. The case also meets Military Standard MIL-STD-810F for Drop, Vibration, Dust, Sand and Rain. Talk about cool! Oh and another great thing is, it has hardened bio-enhanced plastic that is recyclable and degradable making it eco-friendly.

How did we use the Kraken A.M.S. Case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 ?

When the box came, I was like a kid on Christmas. I was truly excited about having a case to protect my beloved Kindle Fire HDX. I quickly opened the package and attempted to place the case on my device. For the most part, I was easily able to get it on. I did however struggle with some of the top snaps. I had to wait until my husband arrived home from work, to snap them together for me. He had no problem and was easily able to snap them together. Since, the accident of the other kindle, I had created a rule, that no one was allowed to touch my new one. I quickly changed the rule, once the Kraken A.M.S. Case was on. I figured the best way to test it, was to let my three daughters loose with it. I have to admit, sometimes it was hard to get it back from them, and I considered changing the rule back. I did however get to use it and I loved the case. Never having a case before, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I wondered if we would have problems with the touch screen, because of the screen protector. We didn't! I was pleasantly surprised on the ease
of use. I was mostly excited about feeling confident that if a drop was to occur, that it would be safe. As far as I know, we didn't have any drops. My daughter did consider dropping it once, just to test it out. I didn't think that was smart. Ha! I figure that more then likely a drop will occur and I'll be glad that it is so well protected.

What does the Kraken A.M.S. Case for Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7 cost?

You can currently purchase this awesome case for $59.95. You can also choose from an assortment of colors. The colors are cool in my opinion. They are very vibrant. I happened to choose a color called Trident Green. I love green and it was perfect. This case is designed for all ages.

 Not in the market for a Kindle case? No problem! Trident Case offers similar cases for a variety of other tablets and smart phones.

*Final Thought*

We really loved the case and found that having it on didn't spoil the ease of use. I found it to be very well made and I thought the color I choose was vibrant and beautiful. I will soon be ordering a case for a new phone I recently purchased. I highly recommend having a case to protect your devices.  Unfortunately, I learned the hard way. 

Want to connect with Trident Case?

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/tridentcase

Instagram – http://instagram.com/tridentcase#

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/tridentcase

Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+tridentcase

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/tridentcase

Vine - https://vine.co/Trident.Case

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/TridentCase

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Click below to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew

Random 5 on Friday - May 16th

It's Random 5 on Friday time again :)

1)  My daughters recently found two lizards and thought they were so cool. They asked to have a lizard research day. I thought it was a wonderful idea. They created a habitat for them and used our computer to research. I brought them to the store to buy poster board to make a poster and we took a trip to the library for some pretty neat lizard books. They named one lizard Runner. :) They probably should have named the other one Runner, because he escaped and is running loose in my house somewhere.

Click here for FREE Lizard Lapbook printables.

2) We recently attended a local rattle snake hunt. Yep, we have rattle snake hunts where we live. I don't participate in hunting and to be completely honest, the thought of touching snakes gives me the heebie-jeebies. While we where there my daughters couldn't help but notice a rock tower that they just had to climb and climb they did.

3)  Completely random, but I guess that's why it's called Random Five on Friday. Anyhow, I have been dealing with pitting edema in my lower legs for months and recently been dealing with horrible, horrible bloating and indigestion. Mylanta has been my friend and this edema needs to go.

4) I'm looking forward to a summer break, whenever that may be.

5) A few days ago, I went and had my cholesterol checked. The results were abnormal. :( I'm going to need to change my diet and exercise more. They say you should have it checked every 5 years after age 20.

I'm linking up at The Pebble Pond. Click below to check out other great Random 5 on Friday posts.

Micro Business for Teens ~ Review

Hello Friends, My oldest daughter and I just had the opportunity to review the books Starting a Micro Business, Running a Micro Business, and
Micro Business for Teens Workbook from Micro Business for Teens. This review proved to be quite the adventure and one that we are glad we had. The recommended ages are for 10 - 18 years old. My oldest is 10 and she had an absolute blast with this curriculum.

What is Micro Business for Teens?

Micro Business for Teens was created by a wonderful lady, Carol Topp. It's a program designed to teach teens about what a micro business is, how to start a micro business, and how to run one. She provides wonderful knowledge, easy to understand ideas, and wonderful encouragement that all help develop business skills.  I believe she truly has a gift for educating others on micro businesses. I went into this curriculum thinking how wonderful it would be for my daughter, never expecting I would come out of it learning what I did. I love the way she breaks down the steps and made it that even my 10 year old daughter understood and enjoyed the learning experience.

Here are some basics we learned about micro businesses that really intrigued us.

* Simple & Fast Start up
* One Worker
* Debt Free
* Home-based
* Low Risk
* Learn While Earning

When first beginning this curriculum, my daughter had never even heard of a micro business. She had no idea that at her age, she could start a business that could provide her with an income. She was mesmerized by the idea and it quickly became evident that this curriculum was going to be a great fit. I had my doubts and honestly wondered if maybe it would be a better fit, if she was older. This was not the case. It turned out to be a perfect for her. We quickly started reading the first book, Starting a Micro Business.

What is Starting a Micro Business?

 Starting a Micro Business is a book that provided us with easy to understand ideas on how the process of starting a micro business works. My daughter learned how to collect her business ideas and narrow them down to a pick that would compliment her best. She learned about what a micro business is, how to avoid problems and pitfalls, how to write a business plan, and how to start.

I loved how the book included several successful examples of micro businesses for teens. We loved reading these and I feel it gave my daughter  much needed encouragement and confidence to know that a micro business was something she could do.  

What is Running a Micro Business?

Running a Micro Business compliments Starting a Micro Business very nicely. After learning about starting a micro business, my daughter went on to learn about what it meant to run a micro business. She learned about things she would have never been aware of such as - Sales, marketing, customer service, record keeping, and legality issues.

What is Micro Business for Teens Workbook?

Micro Business for Teens Workbook is fantastic! It is to be used in conjunction with Starting a Micro Business and Running a Micro Business. We would read a chapter and then turn over to the workbook to complete the questions. Having the questions really helped my daughter understand what she was learning. It was also very refreshing for her to be able to work at her own pace. I never felt that the questions were to hard, because everything was always laid out so nicely and every answer could be found in the books. It is recommended that a mentor is used when completing the workbook. Shortly after beginning, I understood why. It was always nice to provide feedback to my daughter and offer her support as she found her way through the book.

Did my daughter start a micro business?

She sure did! Remember friends, she is only 10 years old and is now earning money through her micro business. I am amazed and couldn't be more proud. My daughter started a pet sitting and dog walking micro business. I know that she appreciates the knowledge she has learned. She is easily able to manage her micro business and still have time for school and play. I know this would have never happened had we not had the opportunity to review such a wonderful curriculum. Friends, I can't even put into words the excitement I felt, seeing my daughter so happy about her new venture. I don't think she will ever forget her first payday either. What I find awesome also, is the fact that this whole micro business is a learning experience and just because we are done with the books, doesn't mean she is done learning about business.  I'm putting this curriculum up to use with my other two daughters for when they reach an appropriate age. This was truly a gift that keeps on giving.

What does Micro Business for Teens cost?

Starting a Micro Business - Paperback $9.95 or E-book $4.95

Running a Micro Business - Paperback $9.95 or E-book $4.95

Micro Business for Teens Workbook - Paperback $14.95 or E-book $9.95

In my opinion these are wonderful prices for such a great amount of wonderful knowledge.

Want to connect with Micro Business for Teens?

https://www.facebook.com/MicroBusinessForTeens?ref=ts

https://twitter.com/CarolTopp

http://www.pinterest.com/caroltopp/

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Click below to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew.