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.

TOS CREW REVIEW ~ Music Together

I have taught a Mommy and Me Music program for the last 4 years... I first started teaching it out of the house....and then Moved the classes to a nearby Dance Studio... When I was given the opportunity to review Music Together Family Favorites I was ecstatic because I have been interested in learning more about it for awhile (but never got around to it...due to lack of free time)!!! 

Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 7—and the grownups who love them. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning.

After researching Music Together in connection with my TOS Crew review, I have found that it incorporates the same philosophies that my program does. 

Basic Principles of the Music Together Philosophy

I. All children are musical. II. Therefore, all children can achieve basic music competence, which we have defined as the ability to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm. III.The participation and modeling of parents and caregivers, regardless of their musical ability, is essential to a child's musical growth. IV. This growth is best achieved in a playful, developmentally appropriate, non-performance-oriented learning environment that is musically rich yet immediately accessible to the child's-and the adult's!-participation.

The Teacher book that I was given goes through how to use the songs, which instruments you can use, and the philosophy behind it. It was a great pairing to the CD and very informative. The CD I was given has 19 of the Music Together family favorites on it..... from the Hello Song that they start each class with to the Goodbye (wind down) song.  One of my favorite songs on the CD is Stick Tune... we frequently play with Rhythm Sticks and this was a fun new way to use them. The kids really enjoyed it!

We happen to have all the instruments for this program already (and then some :-))... however, if you don't have a lot of instruments around your house, you can obtain them inexpensively...or MAKE THEM!! :-) The fun is not in what brand of instrument...but the music itself. 

We mainly used the CD during free time...to dance around with and enjoy... the songs are very catchy...and before long your kids will know all the lyrics...(as will you!) Overall, this is a great program... whether you are homeschooling... or public/private schooling!

The Music Together Family Favorites Songbook for Teachers is$29.95 or you can purchase the combo with the CD for $39.95. ($5 savings!) Music Together is also offering an additional $2 off with the coupon code “Schoolhouse” at the check out.

• NAPPA Gold Award winner
• A Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award winner
• Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award Winner

See what the rest of the TOS Crew is saying about Music Together...

Disclaimer:  As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are mine.

TOS CREW REVIEW ~ Math Made Easy...Addition

                                               
I was given the opportunity to review the Home School Package of Math Made Easy: Addition. Ideally this is for 1st and 2nd grade...however, I used it with Ryleigh who is doing Kindergarten. The idea behind this is that the children learn their addition facts without using their fingers...in 6 weeks.... There are only 36 facts that they need to learn.

Home School Packages: $24.95/ea
Home School Addition Package:     Lesson Plans PreTest Six Weeks of Daily Activity Sheets                   Post Test Games Flash Cards

This nifty book comes in black and white so it is super easy to make copies (for home use only!). At first glance this book looked a little dull...HOWEVER, I could not have been more wrong.... The lessons are short and to the point...There are games to re-enforce the facts learned....and by having the student learn 6 facts a week...it is completely doable! The reason that there are only 36 facts to learn, is that the 0s and 1s are eliminated...as are the duplicates...leaving 36 to learn.

This is a very straight forward...and EASY approach to learning your addition facts.... Ryleigh took to this right away and loved all the activities that were included... this would make a great addition (hahaha) to your homeschool math library!!!! I was very impressed with her progress in such a short time.

Math Made Easy also makes a Multiplication book...To see what other crew members have to say about Math Made Easy check out the School House Review Crew  Blog!!!

Disclaimer: I was given this product for free for my honest review...all opinions are my own!

TOS CREW REVIEW ~ Zane Education

I was given a subscription to Zane Education to review for TOS CREW...we don't school year round technically...so I thought this program would be great for some summertime review (although with the year subscription, I will use it throughout our school year)...
What is Zane Education? .....
Zane Education promotes visual learning using the world's largest and most comprehensive library of fully subtitled educational video currently available online. Zane Education provides a highly effective and unequalled online visual learning solution using curriculum-based video, interactive quizzes, video study tools and free lesson plans.

Nearly 2,000 curriculum-based education videos and a quiz database of over 23,000 curriculum-based multiple-choice questions provides online learning for 11 different subjects and more than 260 curriculum topics for K-12 grades. And more material and resources are being added all the time. 

I really liked how you could print out lesson plans for the videos (optional)... it made doing a "mini lesson" nice and easy. The videos have the option of closed caption running with them which I liked....  but as Ryleigh has only just turned 5...does not read well enough yet to keep up with them yet  :-) They also have lots of quizes with the videos which are useful to make sure that the material is grasped. 

I did find that the site in general overwhelmed me with how many things were available...if it is possible to offer too many videos.... overall though, I was impressed with how vast the categories were...from Science to Music....

I previewed all videos shown to Ryleigh before she saw them, just to make sure the content was ok for our house...and depending on the guidelines in your house, you may want to do the same :-)

Zane offers several membership levels:

• Basic Membership that provides demo videos and free math videos.
• Gold Membership—includes all videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and many bonus materials ($17.99/month or $197.89/year)
• Silver Membership—includes all videos for an age/grade level plus quizzes and lesson plans ($12.99/month or $142.89/year)
• Bronze Membership—includes all videos for a subject ($8.99/month or $98.89/year)
• Topic Taster Membership—includes videos for a single topic plus lesson plans and quizzes ($5.00/month)

*Through August, 2012, Zane Education is offering a 35% discount on any Gold, Silver, or Bronze 1-year membership with the coupon code, ZE395HSM

To see what other crew members click here: Disclosure/Disclaimer:  I received the above product free of charge for review purposes.  I am only expected to give an honest review.

TOS CREW REVIEW - Keyboarding for the Christian School

I recently got the chance to review Keyboarding for the Christian School ~ Elementary Version.  The Elementary Version is for children in grades K-5. There is an older Version for children in higher grades. They come as a PDF download, however, a bound book is available for an additional cost. 

Initially, I thought that Ryleigh was too young to learn proper keyboarding...and to be quite honest... I was very daunted by the task of having to teach her. I remember taking keyboarding in highschool... although I do not remember a time when I could not "type"....it's definitely useful... especially in bloggy world... :-)
I was so relieved and excited to find that this is such a great method to teach keyboarding. It typically only used a couple of letters per lesson... so it does not overwhelm the student. I found for us that it worked better having it printed out (I kept it in a binder). 
The lessons are straight forward and easy to follow.  This review was Ryleigh's first introduction to actually typing on the computer... and finding the letters.  I really liked the format and I will be continuing on with the lessons this fall for her. 

Keyboarding for the Christian School Elementary Edition is available as an ebook download for $12.95. Use code SUMMER2012 to get 20% off your purchase through 8-29-12. 
To see what other crew members click here:Disclosure/Disclaimer:  I received the above product free of charge for review purposes.  I am only expected to give an honest review.

TOS Review- Professor B Math

I am always looking to supplement our Math Curriculum to keep things interesting. Luckily I was asked to review Professor B Math... on online elementary math program.  It is a very straightforward, no nonsense approach to learning math.  I really liked the depth of the program. Ryleigh seemed to enjoy the "Professor" Bee...

When teaching  math, I typically use a lot of different kinds of manipulatives... we are very hands on and don't use many worksheets. I used Professor B Math to enhance our lessons. I was thrilled that although not included, our manipulatives worked extremely well with this program.  The only thing that Ryleigh found a little distracting was the timer..however... questions I could get correct as fast as I could.. :-)

 From the webpage:


Our program, "Mathematics Power Learning," have thoroughly structured the content of arithmetic as a developmental, contextual flow (like a story). This allows children's minds to assimilate its content more quickly (in the same natural way they assimilate stories rapidly) without any gaps in their knowledge.

By activating children's mental computers for maximum efficiency in the learning and retention of mathematics, we eliminate remediation and rote learning. 

There are three levels of the program covering Pre-K through 8th grade:

LEVEL I	Pre-k though 2nd graders and remediation of older learners. Introduction to Addition/Subtraction Facts - Counting to One Hundred - Lower Addition and Subtraction - Higher Addition and Subtraction - Place Value Fractional Parts & Order - Time - Money
LEVEL II	3rd grade through 5th grade and remediation of older learners. Multiplication/Division Facts and Problem Solving - Introduction to Fractions - Fractional Equivalence - Addition and Subtraction Fractions
LEVEL III	6th through 8th grades and remediation of older learners. Multiplication/Division of Fractions - Decimals - Percents

Definitely go check out the program on the website.... http://www.profB.com/

Price: Monthly subscriptions starting at $20/mo for 1 level.  The best deal is $100 for 3 year's access to one level... Call 678-765-6655 or email at info@profb.com.... See website for discounts on additional levels. You can also see sample lessons here. 

This program worked great for us not only as review, but to introduce new topics as well. Ryleigh and I both really liked the Bee Professor...he was very cute. I liked that he wasn't animated or video game like.  I appreciated that this program was meant to still be taught to the student...and not have the child just sit in front of the computer. 

To read other Schoolhouse Crew reviews of this product click here.

Disclosure/Disclaimer:  I received the above product free of charge for review purposes.  I am only expected to give an honest review.

TOS Crew Review ~ Homeschool Spanish Academy

We had the opportunity to review Homeschool Spanish Academy... it is unbelievably great and I plan on signing Ryleigh up for our "Fall" semester. The lessons are 1 on 1 over Skype... so there is an actual Spanish Speaking Instructor for the session. Because the lessons are set up this way, they are easily tailored to your child.... moving at their pace. 


We have done some Spanish here (Numbers, Colors, basic phrases)... and Ryleigh was very excited to learn more (as was Braeden...who has popped in from time to time if I couldn't get him down for a nap/quiet time).... I have to say that I have learned so much also (I knew pretty much NO Spanish ;-))... we have covered greetings, numbers, fruits, vegetables, vowels....


So far we have completed 5 out of our 7 classes... and I could not be more pleased. Our instructor Nora, emails me the lesson (which I then turn into flashcards for Ryleigh- they don't tell you to do that, but Ryleigh likes flashcards)... and the homework for us to go over. If I am being honest...which is the whole point of the review... we have yet to formally complete the homework and turn it back in... Ryleigh is only 5....  If I was to do the homework, we can email it back in and they will grade it for us... how nice is that?!?! .... we do go over the homework verbally and it is quite surprising (at least to me) how much Ryleigh retains from each lesson...(mainly because she cannot yet read the Spanish/English words and is doing it from memory)...


More good news- these lessons are super easy to schedule... before you start you receive a tech call so they can check your speed and make sure you are compatible computer-wise for the program.. then... you schedule online... you can choose your instructor and the time that works your schedule... what's even better is that it is just as easy to reschedule (24 hours in advance).


From the website ..
"Wouldn't it be great to have each Spanish class tailored to your child? Well, with HSA's 1-on-1 sessions, your child learns from a professional instructor every class with material, exercises, and content tailored just for him or her. We are the immersion Spanish experience online! Reduce your child's fear of speaking in front peers. Have all of your child's questions answered during class. Get the most out of your class time. Go beyond "how to learn Spanish," see your child actually use it! Because classes are individually tailored, move as fast or as slow as needed. Summer online classes are also available! With the HSA 1-on-1 experience, your child will learn Spanish in the most effective way possible!"


Homeschool Spanish Academy offers several  levels of instruction, from early learning (age 5 and up) to adult. The Early Learning sessions are 25 minutes long, while the Middle School, High School, and Adult sessions are 50 minutes. You can sign up for a FREE trial by going to http://homeschoolspanishacademy.com.... it is most definitely worth it!!!

Pricing for the Early Language 1 on 1 is as follows:

To Check out what other crew members thought of this awesome program go HERE....
Disclaimer:  As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are mine.

TOS Review- AIMS What on Earth?

"The AIMS Education Foundation is a research and development organization dedicated to the improvement of the teaching and learning of mathematics and science through a meaningful integrated approach."

Both the Tot School and K4 classes love Science days... so I was very excited to review What on Earth? I used it for my K4 class (ages 4 &5). The "experiments" / demonstrations are easy to understand, fun, and.... easy to prep for (yay!!)

From the website: 

Grades K-1
30 activities—137 pages

Kindergartners and first graders are naturally curious about the world around them. What on Earth? will bring to their attention details of their everyday world that they previously have not considered.

They will be introduced to nature’s gifts of water, rocks, and soil and explore their many characteristics and beneficial uses. In “Secret Sources,” they will learn that everything comes from something when they discover paper comes the wood of a tree and a tee shirt comes from cotton on a plant.

Clever explorations fill the book that is divided into the following six sections/concepts:

• Resources: The Earth has resources that are used to make all kinds of things. Resources can be conserved by recycling, reusing, and reducing their consumption.
• Rocks and Soils; Rocks and soils have observable properties.
• Water: Water is found in oceans, lakes, ponds, and rivers.
• Changes: Earth’s surface can quickly change due to hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and wind and wave action.
• Day/Night: The sun and moon are objects in the sky that have repeating patterns of movement.
• Seasons: The seasons form a repeating pattern. The changes in weather help determine our clothing and activities.

What on Earth? retails for $21.95. It comes with a CD for printing accompanying worksheets. Be sure to check out the AIMS store for other grade level and subjects.

This has made a great addition to our science activities this year.  I am not sure I would use this as a stand alone curriculum but to supplement, it has been awesome! One thing that I want to mention- that the book overall seems to be geared to more of a classroom setting....

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS Reading Eggs

We have been working on reading this year in K4 and Letter Sounds in Tot School, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to review Reading Eggs.

Reading Eggs is an online program for ages 3-13.... from learning to read to increasing reading comprehension. There are lots of fun games that the kids really liked. I used it with Braeden (age 2 1/2) and Ryleigh (almost 5). Both seemed to really enjoy it.


Although technology is such a huge part of today's society.... I was not super excited to have the kids use my laptop (that I also use for work).... if you are like me and prefer tangible lessons: Reading Eggs also offers companion books and writing workbooks to go along with the program. These are optional, but reinforce each online lesson.

One thing that I did appreciate was that it tracked each child's progress which was very helpful.

There is a 14-day free trial available.... how fun is that?!? Subscription options:

• 12 months for $75
• 6 months for $49.95
• Monthly for $9.95

*For the 6 or 12 month subscriptions, add a second or third child for 50% off)*
To learn more about Reading Eggs, be sure to visit their website.

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

All About Reading Level 1

I cannot stress to you enough how excited I was to review this awesome program. Seriously....and... I am happy to report that the hype that surrounds All About Reading is completely TRUE!!!

The All About Reading program uses all five of the key components of reading:
Phonological Awareness; Phonics and Decoding; Fluency; Vocabulary; Comprehension

The Level 1 Kit includes:

1. Teacher’s Manual
2. Student Packet (includes Activity Book)
3. Run, Bug, Run! reader
4. The Runt Pig reader
5. Cobweb the Cat reader

The lessons are meant to be relatively short and can be done in one sitting or broken up throughout the day... whichever works best for your family.  They are great because they are multisensorial and keep the kids interested. We have been doing sight words this year, so K4 has a pretty long list at this point that they can read... (have memorized).... but... this is such a natural way to learn to read that it does have a semi- magical outcome... where blending sounds and reading become fun and effortless.

The Deluxe Reading Interactive Kit includes the same items as the Basic Reading Interactive Kit:

1. Letter Tiles
2. Magnets for the Letter Tiles
3. The Basic Phonograms CD-ROM
4. Reading Divider Cards

and three additional items:

1. Reading Review Box

2. Reading Tote Bag

3. Star Stickers

The only slightly less than positive thing I found about this product is that the initial set up can be somewhat timely... with the punching and magnatizing all the letter tiles... HOWEVER- there is minimal prep time needed for the 49 lessons... so it's totally worth it. 

All About Learning also offers All About Spelling (which uses the same great approach to learning) and Reading Pre-Level 1 .... and should be offering other Reading Levels soon.

I fully intend to use All About Reading (additional levels) and All About Spelling for Ryleigh (and Braeden) ... and adding the Pre-Level 1 for Braeden for the fall (when he will be just turning 3).

 

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS CREW Review: Kinderbach

I teach private Piano Lessons...as well as other Music Classes... so I was very interested to see what Kinderbach was all about....and so excited when I received it to review...

Kinderbach is a creative and inexpensive way to expose your child to piano and learning musical skills, recommended for ages 3-7. It uses fun characters to teach note reading, rhythm, signing, and composition. Good for either in the home or in the classroom... You absolutely do not need a Piano to do these lessons...a Keyboard is perfect!

According to Kinderbach’s website “The best time to learn a language or to begin playing a musical instrument is 3 - 6 years of age.”

Some of K4 listening to different tones and reaching "high", "middle" and "low"....

Many of the lessons include a printable page to reinforce the lesson.... or as an interactive part of the lesson...

The girls were captivated by the videos and enjoyed working along with them...

A nice aspect of the video/ printout session is that they are self correcting....

One thing that I would change to the program is the length of some of the sessions.... a few of them tended to run a little long and we ended up fast forwarding through them.... as the girls lost interest...

KinderBach offers many different purchasing options:

• Year Membership - $95.88 one-time payment for the year (equivalent to $7.99 a month)
• Monthly Membership - $19.99 billed monthly
• Day Pass - $5.95 to try the program for a single day
• DVDs - See website for various options

As a piano and music teacher, I obviously feel that Private Lessons are superior...however, if you are unable to afford individual lessons or do not have time to schedule them... KinderBach is a great way for your child to learn!!

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS CREW Review: Maestro Classics

We were recently given Maestro Classics- The Story of Swan Lake to review.... given Ryleigh's love of Ballet and my love of Music (Classical, among many other genres) ... I thought this was a good fit for us... and happily were were not disappointed.....

"The Story of Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky’s greatest ballet score, is the tale of a prince who falls in love with a beautiful princess. The princess, however, has been turned into a swan by an evil magician, and only the prince’s love can break the spell. This narrated version of the classic tale for children is sure to delight all who love ballet and enchanting storytelling.

A 24-page activity book included with the CD contains a biography of Tchaikovsky, information on acoustic and electric guitars, sheet music and words for a sing-along song, explanation of major and minor keys, puzzles and more. MP3 download from Maestro Classics website includes a PDF of the activity booklet. "

Ryleigh had a great time listening to the story and dancing to the music.... we can't wait to check out more of these "classics"....

They currently offer 10 different titles to choose from including Peter and the Wolf, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and Juanita the Spanish Lobster in English or Spanish.

The Cost of the CD is $16.98 and $9.98 for MP3 Download..... you can buy them from: Maestro Classics

Another great thing about these CD's is that they come with so many educational activities!!! These are fantastic for introducing classical music into your child's routine...

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS CREW Review: Homeschool Spanish

We have been working on our Spanish this year... and I was so excited when I was offered the Homeschool Spanish Curriculum to review... with younger kids (preschool/ kindergarten)... it is not always easy to find a foreign language program that keeps their attention.... Homeschool Spanish is perfect for the entire family...little ones and all...

One of the great things about Homeschooling your children (and others...)... is that you can choose curriculum and subjects that are fun and interesting... one of the things that I incorporate into pretty much each subject is song...I know--- shocker... from handwriting to geography...I like a song for everything... that being said... the first thing I noticed about the Homeschool Spanish curriculum was that it included a fun "greetings" song... that pretty much sold the program for me... it was a natural fit for us...

This is more of an immersion program.... and fear not... if you cannot speak the language (as I can't)... you can still teach this appropriately...as they have sound files and pronunciation help available to you!!! (as part of the program)...

Another awesome aspect of this program is the amount of prep needed for the lessons... virtually none... it is a fantastic time saver... everything is organized for you!!!

REAL Homeschool Spanish has 10 units. Each unit is made up of vocabulary clusters. There are 33 vocabulary clusters and 15 Idea Sections each with 3-4 activity sections along with audio files of native speakers from Mexico using the vocabulary.

This program comes as either a hard copy ($89.95)
OR a digital download ($49.95 which is how we received it).

The Bundled product includes:

• Book (the actual text)
• Activity Book (worksheets and such)
• Answer Book (for the worksheets)
• Audio Files (mp3 format)

You can also order a Daily Curriculum Guide for $9.95
that gives you a short daily idea to keep on track.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE this program!!!!!

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS CREW Review: ARTistic Pursuits..... The Way They See It

"The Artistic Pursuits program presents both the expressive and the technical aspects of art in an age-appropriate manner. Children are curious and expressive from the start. We work with those interests to teach them to observe more closely. Skills develop as each child observes nature and enjoys the process of creating. Using ARTistic Pursuits, a child carries art tools to locations which both inspire and are chosen by the child." ~from the website

I was given Artistic Pursuits- The Way They See it... a book for every parent about the art children make... it is for Preschool children ages 3,4 and 5....

This book was directed toward understanding your child's art, helping them gain skills without drawing for them, and lots of informative parent pages designed to show to encourage creativity. It has 29 Projects allowing your child to explore art.... (so fun!!!)

We already had all the supplies needed for this book (markers, watercolor, finger paint, crayons, etc.)... and chances are you do too!!! The target age range for this book was 3-5...but I found that it worked really well with the 2 year olds as well... We really liked that they had so many project ideas for the different kinds of media... it was very helpful!

After researching more about this curriculum, I am very excited to purchase the K-3 Books...for Ryleigh (and Braeden)... the way the information is given to you is amazing!

Artistic Pursuits offers books for every grade level....

You can purchase the curriculum by PayPal, Credit Card, Check or Money Order. And they have a No Risk Satisfaction Guarantee For Individual Orders. Each book is $42.95 and the art supply kits range from $45-$92.

To contact them:

Artistic Pursuits Inc.
2626 East 109th Avenue
Northglenn, Colorado 80233

Phone: (303) 467-0504

alltheanswers@artisticpursuits.com

I really liked their customer service... before I even received the book in the mail... an intro letter was sent to me with a list of supplies that I would need for this book... (the list is also on the webpage)... this way we were able to start right away!

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS CREW Review: The Reading Game.... Fun times!!!

I recently got the chance to review The Reading Game created by “Wordly Wise” author, Kenneth Hodkinson.

The Reading Game is a fun sight word memory game....it consists of six decks of cards used to introduce new words in intervals of 30 words per deck... the game starts of small with just ten words....after every ten new words, there are test sentences so that the parent can tell if the child truly knows the words. After learning all thirty words in a deck, the child is ready to read the corresponding book....The decks and books move in a progressive manner from easiest to harder.

In our K4 class we have been averaging 4 new sight words every two weeks... we have also been working on learning to read by phonics blending... so far I really like the mixture of the two methods... I find that by learning the sight words the kids gain confidence in reading... and enjoy putting the sight words together to make sentences... for us... this game was a perfect fit!!!

We like The Reading Game because although it is basically flashcard memory.... the kids find it entertaining... and enjoy being able to read the stories once they complete the different levels. You may not enjoy this game if your approach to teaching reading is primarily or only Phonics.... for the simple fact that it is completely opposite of what you are doing. Although we have not made it through all the levels yet... we are definitely excited to!!!

From the website:

"The Reading Game is a fast-action memory card game. It includes a series of six beautifully illustrated storybooks. The Cards & Books work together to make learning to read exciting and enjoyable. Game sessions are fun-filled with a winner every few seconds. After completing the first memory card game, the student has thirty words “hardwired” into memory. The Skunk story, Book One in the series, is told using only those thirty words. On completing the series, the student has a reading vocabulary of 180 words. Almost half of them are among the one hundred most commonly used words in the English language."

You can purchase The reading Game here for $24.95. You can get a $15 discount on orders of 8 or more. (This would TOTALLY make a great gift this holiday season...)


*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below:

TOS CREW Review: Math Mammoth

Math Mammoth offers affordable quality math worktexts and workbooks for Grades 1 through 8... These are available as both downloads and printed books....These books concentrate on conceptual understanding and are strong in mental math...

The first 8 pages were Kindergarten review...and as I have 5 kids in K4 this year... it was a great way to make sure that everyone was on the same "page"...

Some Members of the TOS Crew were given the choice of which series they wanted to review...

I had the honor of reviewing the Math Mammoth Light Blue First Grade Curriculum.... I really can not say enough great things about it!!! (Also...as a side note... there is virtually NO parent/teacher prepping needed for these lessons).

From the website:

Math Mammoth Grade 1 complete curriculum consists of two student worktexts (A and B), a separate answer key for each, chapter tests and an end-of-year test, cumulative reviews, and an easy worksheet maker (Internet access required) to make extra practice worksheets when needed.

133 pages
118 lesson pages, of which 8 are an optional Kindergarten review

125 pages
110 lesson pages

1-A contents and samples
1-B contents and samples

Downloads:

(sold at Kagi)

Full set grade 1: $34.00

At Rainbow Resource Center:
Math Mammoth grade 1 books
at Rainbow Resource

The two student books (A and B) for 1st grade cover the following topics:

• addition and subtraction concept and basic facts within 0-10
• place value with 2-digit numbers (a.k.a. tens and ones)
• some adding and subtracting within 0-100
• some geometry and measuring topics
• reading clock to the half-hour
• counting and using coins (US, Euro, or Canadian)

We really liked how straight forward and easy to understand these worksheets were...

There are free placement tests available on the website which are extremely helpful when deciding which grade level to use!!

I also want to make sure and mention that the customer service was UNBELIEVABLE!!! It is definitely tailored to the individual customer...and it is obvious that Maria Miller- the creator- cares about her product...and those using it... she is available by email and is more than happy to answer any questions you have about Math Mammoth!

*As a member of the TOS Crew review program I was given a free copy of this product to review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. To see what other members of the Crew thought click below: