Homeschooling for His Glory

This year is flying by so quickly it is unbelievable. 5 facts for this week, here we go: 1 . The boys have been enjoying their elective classes this spring, especially Zach's photography class.   2. I was introduced to the series of logic books called Perplexors through a member of the TOS crew and decided to try it out with the boys. They have been a big hit here, and Zach is flying through them. 3. Zach is in the process of designing a board game which looks like a mixture of Settlers of Catan, Dominion, Risk and Civilization. I am not sure it will make light of day but we will see. 4. I discovered a Bible curriculum online this week which looks very promising: Bible Road Trip . I can't wait to get some of the books (I already owned some of them) and get started. 5 . It was very nice to see the sun this week and be able to go out in sweaters. I hope it is on the up trend not, though I am not a hot weather fan. I like it cool.

Looking for a way to help your child with his math facts? Our latest review product is for you. Math Rider is a math facts game that does just that.   What is Math Rider? Math Rider is a downloadable interactive computer Math game that helps with mastering the 4 basic operation math facts: subtraction, addition, multiplication and division. Math Rider is geared toward kids grade 2-6 (or ages 6-12). However, if your child can count and add he can benefit from it, and same goes with an older child that needs practice with math facts. The way Math Rider works is that your child gets to ride a horse named Shadow through quests in a land called Mathland. The goal is to obtain 100% mastery in each operation. The way this is accomplished is by riding through a quest and answering Math facts questions along the way, as fast as possible and as accurately as possible. If you answer wrongly your horse slows down and you do not get points toward mastery. The more your answers

One of our latest review was a technological product to be used on the Ipad: TimelineBuilder for Ipad App . TimelineBuilder is put out by a great company called Knowledge Quest , whose products we have enjoyed in our homeschool in the past, and this one certainly was a winner as well. This app is designed for 10 years old and up, but if your child is technologically apt or loves dates and history this would be just right up his alley. As the name indicates this is an app that allows you to build timelines. The best part is that it can be a timeline about anything. Of course my son, who is the one who used it, being a history fanatic used it to build history timelines. So how does it work? Once bought and downloaded, the screen gives you the option to make new timeline or use sample timelines (timelines already build on the app). If you open either one of these you are taken to a page that asks you to type a name and dates (beginning and ending dates), then you get to se

My boys hate writing, and though they speak well and read well, their spelling was left wanting. That is until now. About three months ago I came across The Logic of English and fell in love with it. The boys learned how to read very naturally, unfortunately the spelling did not follow as naturally. My oldest has great vocabulary and speech pattern, but do not ask him to write anything for you, he will cringe at the thought. In the span of a few months his attitude has totally changed towards writing. It is still not his favorite thing to do, but he does not cringe at it as much anymore. I had totally given up any writing and spelling instruction at the beginning of our homeschool. I focused on grammar with a bit of punctuation teaching, as taught in First Language Lessons. I was contemplating Phonetic Zoo because of its auditory component but the price kept being an impediment. Then came the exposure to The Logic of English . What attracted me about the Logic of English was

My 5 on Friday is on Saturday yet again. 1. Last Sunday I made a trip to the emergency at 5:00 AM  because I was worried about Zach's being so in his dream during his boost of sickness. He tuned out ok. He has the flu with symptoms being dizziness and very, very vivid, strong dreams. The fever was gone by Monday but he did not get better until Wednesday/Thursday. 2. I am glad Joho is only catching a cough from the 3 of us being sick over the last 2 weeks; small blessings! 3. I was reminded this week of my need to " rejoice in that my name is written in Heaven. " Matthew 10:20. It really helps focussing on the right thing, and approach the events of life with the right attitude, when we keep that in the forefront as we go about our daily lives. 4. I discovered a new book that needs to make it unto my bookshelf very very soon:  The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a covetous World. 5. I have been having such a hard time being dilligent and enthusiastic ab

I know it is Saturday but I do not seem to be able to post on Fridays. So, here we go: 1.  This week was a sick week. My hubby was the first to be hit on Tuesday, then myself on Thursday and today it is my oldest. Mom and dad were really out of commission; not fun at all, coughs, aches, heavy head etc... Anyway we are almost there recovering. 2. This week marked the first day of our electives spring session. Even though I was just getting sick I kind of had to go, and the boys really wanted to go too. 3. Today is our anniversary. Praise God for 11 years of marriage with the joys, tears and challenges that life brings. But through it all God has always proven himself faithful. I praise Him for blessing me with such a loving husband. 4. I discovered 2 free curriculum this week which I am most intrigued in trying: Classical House Learning and Easy Peasy All in One Homeschool. 5.  The boys have been enjoying a new audiobook this week: Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park