TOS CREW REVIEW ~ Samson's Classroom

Samson's Classroom is an online program for sight words, spelling and reading that is aimed for children grades K-5.  They have the children play engaging games to master the words. Samson is a loveable dog :-) Also on the website are worksheets and lesson plans. 

I have been using a fantastic Reading Program with Ryleigh that we are very happy with...  I plan to use the same program for spelling. That being said, I used Samson's Classroom to review what we have learned... and add a bit of technology to the lessons.  Ryleigh enjoyed how easy it was to use... I liked the material it encompassed...and the ease of tracking her progress. 

When Ryleigh used it she mainly focused on the sight words.... which uses the 224 most used words.... Ryleigh is only 5...so... although she knows the entire pre-primer dolch list.... that is only a small portion of the program... Lots of room to grow!!!

Sight Words with Samson - Identifying words on a word wall

The Reading portion is designed to help the student grow in their analyzing and comprehension of what they are actually reading. These games are engaging and keeps the students interested and excited to keep moving forward!

Reading with Samson - Students get rewarded for answering questions correctly by gaining extra time in the carnival.

We have not done a lot of spelling with Ryleigh yet... she can spell some of her sight words and a lot of the CVC's...and some of the blends... she did seem to still enjoy the spelling section.... but I think she will like it more once we get a little further.... (and she gets a little older)...

Spelling with Samson - Gathering letters and putting them in the proper order

You need to have complete mastery to move on to the next game... so it would be good if the teacher could set what "mastery" was... instead of it being 100%... sometimes Ryleigh would get 7/8 consistently. 

Pricing: 
Home  - 1 user  $30 per year

Family -  4 users  $50 per year

Classroom -  30 users  $80 per year

Grade Level -  150 users  $250 per year

Small School -  400 users  $500 per year

Large School -  1,000 users  $1,000 per year

You can try out Samson's Classroom free demos by clicking here. 

To see what other crew members thought go here
Disclaimer: I received this product, and no other compensation, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Field Trippin.... Pumpkin Pickin...

To end our unit study on "Farms" and begin our Fall theme, Sarah Beth Academy (What I named our school )... went Pumpkin Picking to a Family Farm.... The kids ages ranged from not quite 3 months to 3rd Grade.... 

 Before the tour began the kids got out some of their energy...

 Braeden ran around in circles...

 The first activity was to go on a tractor pulled wagon ride....

 Ryleigh and Abby in the Wagon...

 Braeden looking at the cornfield as we passed it...

 Andrew... pointing to the cornfield.... 

 The kids were excited to pick their own pumpkin off of the vine...

 They were also allowed to each pick radishes...

 Ryleigh with one of hers....

 Braeden....in the pumpkin field...

 The kids also got to see newborn bunnies... still in their next in the ground...

 The kids got to learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin.... 

 and that a pumpkin is a fruit.... (go figure!)

 and that the ridge on the outside of the pumpkin is called a rib...

 They also learned about the parts of corn...

  Ryleigh listening....

 Picking String Beans....

 At the end they got to play in the very awesome playground... here Braeden is on an actual Fire Truck (Slide off the back)...

  Ryleigh in the giant pumpkin...

 Braeden climbing up a giant stack of hay... he did not want to come down... I actually had to go up and get him... 

To see what others are doing this week or for school check out:
Tot School with 1+1+1=1
Preschool Corner with Homeschool Creations
Weekly Wrap-up with Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Our Classroom this year.... Fall 2012

This summer I spent a lot of time organizing (with some help!) our school room.... this year Ryleigh is in Kindergarten and Braeden is doing Preschool (I have 6 for his class....half are 3... the other half are 2...so some tot school aspects)... I always like to check out what other peoples rooms look like so I thought I would do a post on mine....

Starting from the edge of the couch (which is the "divider" between the school room and the other half of the basement)... Wire shelves hold "dirty bin"- where we put the dirty paint brushes, etc., trays, tabletop pocket charts, individual games, tot school hands on learning felt alphabet, cones and bean bags.... then the closet that holds my school supplies and curriculum... perhaps a post on that later.... pocket calendar... directly under that curriculum we are currently using, my supply 10 drawer system, and Ryleigh's 10 drawer workbox system...

Calendar (as described above, bulletin board for circle time, flag, storage pencil cases (from the dollar store) that hold weather, number, shape, letter, etc. velcro pieces. under that is where our themed sensory bin lives... and under that is the bin cubby for the kids to keep their supplies in... they have their names and decorations on them... the door in this picture is another closet (not school related)...

 For circle time: weather, seasons, days of the week, sight words, letter, shape, number, letter of the week...

 Wide view of the corner of the classroom... includes Braeden's All About Reading Pre-Level 1 posters...

 Posters, stairs... file folder games.... white door is laundry room (very convenient to throw loads in between directions!)

 Another view of this side of the room...we use carpet pieces from Ikea for our circle and story time...

 The other side of the room.... door is the laundry room... then book area...manipulative storage (more on that below, number pocket chart, sight word pocket chart, Map of NY, Ryleigh's board for All About Reading... Tables for the kids...

 This one includes a view of the Chica Chica Tree...and the USA map.... next to the Chica Tree is a bathroom... very handy for the little ones... and great when they need to wash hands after painting!

 A close up look of our bookshelf... It holds the pencil sharpener, alphabet box, Ryleigh's shoe to practice tying, the mailbox for postcards... underneath it holds music instruments, math manipulative s  handwriting without tears, fine motor skill manipulative s... and our science test tubes...

To see what others are doing this week or for school check out:
Tot School with 1+1+1=1
Preschool Corner with Homeschool Creations
Weekly Wrap-up with Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

TOS CREW REVIEW ~ Beeyoutiful Makeup

I was recently given some mineral makeup to review from BeeYoutiful Skin.... I was excited... and hoped that I would be able to review it adequately... I am going to be completely honest... I know very little about makeup... I hardly ever wear any.... and when I do- it consists of some eye-shadow and mascara...the end... I have tried to use it before... but have found the whole process very complicated and over whelming... so I usually take the easy route and avoid it.

In my review package I was given, a big brush (the softest brush I have ever seen!), a smaller 2 sided brush, eye color, lip color and foundation and a DVD with details on HOW to use the make up (the same instructions are available on the site.... the make up that I was sent was only a small portion of the amount you would receive if you purchased it.

To start I got to pick three foundation colors that I thought might work for me, and they sent me the 3 samples... and I picked the one I thought was the closest... I then chose the two colors I wanted to try for my eye color and lip color (the colors are actually interchangeable). When I first received the above package it looked like it would last for a couple of applications at best... (I did myself a favor and actually watched the DVD before applying any...and found that such a small amount was actually needed to use properly)...that it has lasted several weeks!

The makeup is made of all natural 100% pure minerals and are also gluten free!

Overall I love the makeup- its easy to apply and wears well! The DVD did say to use a toner first... I don't know what toner is...so I don't have any... but... the makeup goes on and stays on without it just fine! (I spritzed the brush with a little bit of water). After the initial try, it was easy to mix the minerals with a little liquid for easy application. I think the whole "routine" took me maybe 5 minutes... including moisturizing... and explaining to the kids what I was doing... :-)

 My Before and After Pics.... in the "standard" facebook pose....

Prices:

Foundation Brush – $11

Combo Brush – $6.50

Foundation – $25 for 3.95 g

Eye Color – $10 for .55 g

Samples – $1 each

If you have any questions about their products or to place an order, call 1-800-556-0967 or email them at customercare@beeyoutiful.com

Beeyoutiful also offers skin care products and other natural products.  To see what other TOS Crew member thought of the Beeyoutiful Skin and other products, click here.

Disclaimer: I received the above products as a member of the TOS Crew in return for my honest review. All thought, opinions and photos are my own.