Olive Plants

Happy Thanksgiving

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Grrr....

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:12:00 +0000

A spammer has made his way to Olive Plants. Shame on you, whoever you are.

He is leaving comments with ads for products I do not endorse and making my lovely little blog not so lovely.

So... I have changed my comments security setting and will now be reviewing all comments before publishing them.

I hesitated to do this because I welcome comments. However, I do not welcome spammy comments and appologize for the nature of the one remaining spam that I cannot delete.

Unless you are a spammer, please keep commenting. I will approve and post your comment asap.

Thanks, my friends.

And, spammer, stop spamming!

Dawn

Product Review: GyMathtics

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:49:00 +0000

GyMathtics from Exploramania is a fun, DVD workout for kids that has them practicing math skills as they exercise.

The complete program includes four segments:

Shape Stretches Warm Up
Counting Calisthenics
Pattern Power
Well-Being Wind Down

In each segment, the adult instructor and her four young assistants demonstrate how to complete each exercise. Each exercise incorporates bending or moving to resemble a geometric shape, skip counting along with movements, or forming patterns. While the team completes the repetitions, math lessons are taught through graphics that appear on-screen while a voice-over teacher gives further explanation.

I thought GyMathtics had many good qualities:

Integrating math and exercise
Helpful graphics
Good explanation of math concepts
Exercises and number of reps are appropriate for young children
Staggering of exercise and math instruction so they do not compete for your attention
Good, easy-to-follow instructions
Modestly dressed instructor and participants

Cons:

Repetitive music
Wind Down segment is a little too "self-helpish" for my liking

Overall, I give GyMathtics two thumbs up. Orville and Wilbur both enjoyed it. They have already mastered the majority of the math skills covered. That did not hinder their enjoyment. As they explained to me "math makes exercising more fun". They gave the DVD an average score of 7 out of 10.

You can purchase GyMathics and Exploramania's other educational exericise products at their website. The 30-minute long DVD costs $24.99.

I received one copy of GyMathics for free for the purpose of completing this review. I have received no other compensation and have offered my honest evaluation of this product. Your experience could differ from mine. Please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read what my crewmates have to say about this and other homeschool-related products.

Product Review: AVKO Membership

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:49:00 +0000

AVKO aims "to provide free and low-cost resources to home and school educators in order to achieve literacy for all, even despite learning challenges or dyslexia."* Their Research Director, Don McCabe, wrote To Teach a Dyslexic, and Sequential Spelling was born from his research and theories.

AVKO membership offeres many benefits:

5 free downloadable ebooks, including To Teach a Dyslexic
Free access to Don McCabe's most popular workshops
Discounts on all printed AVKO materials, including Sequential Spelling
AVKO Newsletter
Supplemental materials for Sequential Spelling and for general language arts instruction
Pretests and placement tests

There were a few supplemental materials that I found helpful; however, I was not able to use most of what this membership provides. I do not use Sequential Spelling, and AVKO does not fit my homeschooling needs.

If you already use Sequential Spelling, you would most likely find the membership very helpful and well worth $25 per year for an individual.

*from www.avko.com

I was provided a one-year membership to AVKO for free for the purpose of writing this review. I have received no other compensation and have provided my honest, unbiased opinion based on my experience with the product. Your experience could differ from mine. I recommend you visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog to read my crewmates reviews.

Now Presenting...

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Our New Pet Beta

He is red, white and blue, so the boys decided against naming him Wally II and to give him an all-American name instead. His name is George, in honor of George Washington.

Thank you to everyone who emailed or commented on Poor Wally Is Dead. Your kind words were encouraging, and the boys appreciated the condolences.

Blessings!

Dawn

Poor Wally Is Dead

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:38:00 +0000

Saturday was a day of tears at the Olive Plants house.

Wally the fish died.

Actually, he died on Monday, Wilbur's birthday. There was no way I was telling the resident animal lover that the pet fish went bottom up on that day. I left poor, dead Wally in the tank, hoping no one would notice.

On Tuesday, I completely forgot about the dead beta. I'll blame it on the sugar rush from the birthday cookie followed by the withdrawal crash. Sugar intake does weird things to a dieter. Even though he was positioned sideways on the bottom of the bowl, the boys did not realize Wally was dead. They even continued to feed him.

On Wednesday, Wilbur awoke with a cold. I was too busy nursing him back to health to give Wally any thought. Wilbur was too sick to notice, and Orville never mentioned it. I assume that means he thought Wally was still alive and well.

On Thursday, I finally remembered that Wally's carcass was wedged between the pebbles lining the bottom of the bowl and the bowl itself. The boys had already gone to bed when I had this epiphany so we could not have a proper burial that evening. I did go to the fish bowl to assess the situation. I was totally grossed out by the decaying fish and politely asked (okay, screamed like a crazy woman for) Michael. He rescued me and flushed the critter pronto. I decided to tell the boys of his demise in the morning.

On Friday, I woke up with a cold, as did Orville. Once again, I forgot to mention the fate of our fishy friend, and Wilbur continued to feed an empty fish bowl, completely unaware that his friend was gone.

Saturday I was still sick and spent the afternoon in the bed, typing on my laptop. Late in the day, Wilbur came running to my bedroom.

Mom, Wally's not in his bowl.

Uh oh. Oh, bad mom. Bad, BAD MOM!

I've told y'all before that I'm forgetful. Cold medicine makes me almost amnesiac.

I gently explained poor Wally's fate and let Wilbur know that Dad and I intend to get him a new fish as soon as possible. Like the minute I am well enough to operate a motor vehicle without endangering myself and others. We discussed buying another blue beta and laughed about the possibility of naming it Wally II. I'm not sure why that's so funny, but he found it hysterical. I was relieved by his laughter, and he left my room, seemingly satisfied.

But not really because before I could say "3...2...1…."

Sobbing. Loud, sorrowful, I-just-lost-my-best-friend-in-the-world sobbing.

He returned to my room, and I scooped him up into my arms. I rubbed his head and gave kisses while he cried it out. We talked about death being a consequence of the fall. We talked about man having dominion over the animals, in part, for our pleasure. We talked about the temporal nature of pleasure and about those things that will last for eternity. We talked about Jesus, his victory over death and hell, and the security, joy, and hope we have in Him. I reminded him that although he will never see Wally again, one day he will see Jesus face to face. We agreed we would much rather see Jesus than Wally. We prayed for grace and peace and for help to trust God in the face of death.

Once again he left the room, this time completely satisfied. There were no more tears but laughing and playing and little boy stuff.

A dead pet is hard to face with a child, but Wally served his God-ordained purpose in our lives. He was here for a time for our pleasure , but in the end, gave us reason to contemplate Christ and experience the peace and satisfaction that we have in Him.

Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us…. Rom 5:2-5

Preschool Peace

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:04:00 +0000

When my boys were preschool aged, life could be a little chaotic.

Two boys. Not quite thirteen months apart. Whew!

There were many temper tantrums, a number of fights, a whole slew of "stubbing up", and the word "ME" used in epic proportions.

Oh, and there was discipline.

Lots and Lots and LOTS of discipline.

I remember on a particularly chaotic day I had done more disciplining than anything else. In fact, that whole week had been more discipline than anything else.

I was tired and wondered if it would ever get any better. Would the rest of my life be like this? Would I ever just be able to enjoy my time with these two little stinkers or would I always have to be firm and consistent and never let down my guard, even for a teeny, tiny second?

Reaching the end of myself, I put the Write Bros to bed for nap and called my mom. This was not long after our move from Tennessee to Georgia. Her house had been five steps from mine. Now, it was a seven hour drive away.

But we had unlimited long distance, so I called her up pronto and lamented. I proclaimed, "Mom, I need a break! Do you think FedEx would overnight these children to you?!"

They don't. I checked.

But it was our little joke for quite some time.

I imagine somewhere out there on the other side of my computer screen that there is another young mom, just like I was. You have corrected, trained, wiped up messes, fixed boo-boo's, calmed tantrums, broken up arguments, wrestled the resistant, warded off disasters, and generally not stopped all day. Or all week. Or maybe since you gave birth to your first child.

But don't stop.

Don't give up.

Don't despair.

You can't overnight your children to Grandma but if you are in Christ, you can confidently draw near to the throne of grace that you may receive mercy and find grace for timely help. (Heb 4:16)

Each time you do all those hard, child-training things, you are doing the will of God. You are Mommy, and your ministry is motherhood. And God has said that he will neither leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all things for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. (1Th 5:16-18)

Remember how blessed you are to be a mother. Sing Psalms and hymns. Thank God for granting you the greatest privilege a woman can have. And do these things with your little ones beside you. Even on the days that things are hard. Sing, pray, and praise God in the midst of it all. Don't wait for a quiet time because it may never come.

And know that it does get easier.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Prov 13:24) Little by little, you will see the results of training. Certainly foolishness has not yet been driven completely from the hearts of mine, but each year I see a little more wisdom. Grace continues to abound, and my boys are growing in it. It is a beautiful thing to experience and well worth those weary days.

I'm Shocked!

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:37:00 +0000

Olive Plants has been nominated in the Homeschool Blog Awards.

I am shocked, humbled, thrilled... this list could go on for quite some time. Olive Plants has been nominated in three different categories: Best Encourager, Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog, and (the one that caused my jaw to hit the floor) Best SUPER-HOMESCHOOLER.

Wow, my friends! Wow!

Y'all are good to me.

If you are an Olive Plants regular, just click above to be redirected to the HSBA Post where you can vote.

If you are new to Olive Plants, welcome! Take a little time to look around. I have listed some of my favorite series in my side bar with direct links to all the articles. I look forward to getting to know you.

For those who want to vote for Olive Plants, make sure you read the rules carefully. If anyone breaks them, I will be disqualified. I know you don't want that to happen.

Thanks again for the nominations. You have made my year!

Blessings!

Dawn

Product Review: American Heritage Education Foundation

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:46:00 +0000

The American Heritage Education Foundation offers a full K-12 curriculum for teachers of American History and government. A full set of lessons are provided for three distinct level--elementary, middle school, and high school--free of charge to any parent or educator.

The elementary curriculum offers a variety of lessons on topics such as colonists, the first Thanksgiving, George Washington, the Statue of Liberty, and "What Is an American?"… just to name a few. Learning activities include role playing, games, reading primary sources, puzzles, and hands-on activities. It is a very structured program that gives the teacher detailed plans for teaching each lesson.

The middle school and high school lessons expand upon the topics taught in the elementary version. The middle school curriculum includes more primary sources. The high school program takes a closer look at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is essentially a course in American government and asks students to contemplate their rights and responsibilities as free citizens as well as other hot topics such as separation of church and state.

I am going to give this program two thumbs up for its methodology and for how well it teaches the Constitution and government. The activities in each level are well-suited for the intended audiences and will engage students in the learning process. Students are sure to complete this program as well-informed citizens.

I also give the program two thumbs down for regarding mankind and the American way a little too highly, in my opinion. Though the curriculum teaches that America's heritage is Christian, I could find no statements or lessons that attribute the founding and continued prosperity of our nation to God's mighty works of providence. Instead, it seems to attribute prosperity to freedom and the efforts of mankind.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about this curriculum. If you are looking for a curriculum that teaches government and acknowledges a Christian influence on America's founding, it is a great resource.

However, if you are aiming to teach history as a means of leading your children to a better understanding of God's sovereignty and providence and you want to delve more deeply into our religious heritage, the American Heritage Education Foundation curriculum will most likely disappoint.

I was given this curriculum for free in order to complete this review. I have not received any other compensation and have provided my honest, unbiased opinion based on my experience with the product. Please visit the TOS Homeschool blog to read what my crewmates have to say about this and other homeschool products.

Not Me Monday: Not a Siren

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:18:00 +0000

A siren's song did not echo through my kitchen this week.

And by siren, I don't mean the ear-piercing, hurry-up-and-get-out-of-the-house type. Oh no, I would have preferred that siren.

This siren was the mythological type. The sort that lures people off course and destroys their ability to think straight.

I could hear it from the freezer, beckoning me with its sweet, soothing song.

"Dawn… Dawn… I'm here. Come to me."

I did not cave.

I did not race to the freezer and embrace my tempter, deciding just a little bit would okay.

I did not place the carton of luscious sweet butter cream on the counter and in a half-dazed trance jab my spoon into the frozen delight.

Ice cream never tempts me... NEVER!

In my delirium, I did not loose control of my hand and catapult the scoop of ice cream over the counter…

Oh, no... Not Me!

And into one of Orville's galoshes.

I did not do this. I am far too self-controlled.

The sight of the frosty, snow white goodness inside a dirty, smelly rubber boot did not snap me out of my trance.

I did not reprimand myself with the words, "that's what you get for fudging on your diet."

I did not shove the carton to the back of the freezer and quickly wash away the evidence of my transgression.

But only after taking pictures for my blog, of course.

My Audio School Subscription Give-away

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:10:00 +0000

My Audio School is one of the best resources for homeschoolers to hit the web, and I am proud to say that it is the brain child of my dear friend, Molly @ Counter-cultural Mom and School. What began as an effort to meet the learning needs of her dyslexic son grew into a home-based business.

You may have seen the MAS button in my sidebar or read the promo I wrote soon after the site's launching. You may have noticed that I nominated MAS for Best Curriculum/Business Blog in the Homeschool Blog Awards. But... have you visited yet? Have you seen the oodles of free downloadable audio content that Molly has compiled?

You can access a portion of the content without a paid membership; however, a one-year subscription only costs $14.99 per family. It is a fabulous deal.

This week, however, you could win a free one-year subscription. Brenda @ Tie That Binds Us is giving away an MAS subscription to one of her readers. You can get all the details on how to enter at her blog.

Product Review: A Young Scholar's Guide to Composers

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:50:00 +0000

At the beginning of this school year, I began a composers study with the boys. I had decided to read aloud a book on the topic. I never preview read alouds but just do the editing as I read to the boys. While reading the first chapter on Wagner, I did more editing than actual reading. It went a little something like this:

Wagner was a German composer best known for his operas. He... uh... he did WHAT?! And he was uh... um... well, um.... He... oh, eeek, ugh. Well, that's enough about him.

I decided to shelve the book and the composer study until I could find a better source.

Then entered Bright Ideas Press. Their Young Scholar's Guide to Composers provided the resource I was looking for. Here is what they have to say about the sensitive issue of studying a man's life without applauding his sin.

There is much material available about these composers that is not information we feel is appropriate for the age level of students for whom this book is intended. Composers, even classical composers, were sinners like the rest of us! It takes no real digging to come across sins of every nature.

They go on to explain the caution they exercised in creating this curriculum and selecting which composers would be included... or not. Not every composer included was known to be a Christian; however, they did choose to omit a few, like Wagner. His openly immoral lifestyle makes it difficult to study him with any depth without also having to tackle issues too complicated for the intended audience of this curriculum. I appreciate their commitment to protecting the minds of our young ones.

I also like the presentation of the content. The study begins with ancient music, moves through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and then delves into classical and modern music.

They include an overview of each time period followed by biographies of the composers of that period. I liked how they present the big picture first and work inward. I saw the fruit of this approach as we listened to pieces by each composer. As my boys listened to the works of Bach and Handel, they commented on the use of staccato in the Baroque period. They did not just gather a bunch of random facts about the men but gained a greater appreciation for their music and became more discerning listeners as a result.

The curriculum is a bit routine and does not offer much variety. The study repeats a cycle of reading the section, answering questions, time lining, creating a "composer card", mapping, and listening to music from the time period. The reading sections are long, and I had to break them into shorter segments. I did the same with the questions. My boys could not process all the information included during one sitting.

My boys did enjoy creating the composer cards, mapping, and time lining. The curriculum suggests a way to arrange these into a modified lapbook. Their "folderbooks" are easier to assemble than a traditional lapbook. The emphasis is on keeping the study simple; however, I would prefer more variety and think additional hands-on activities and games would make this good study great.

Suggested music selections are provided. Most of the pieces can be found on YouTube.

I give the Young Scholar's Guide to Composers two thumbs up for its commitment to protecting young minds, organized presentation, and easy, hands-on composer card activities. I intend to continue this study but will look for additional hands-on activities and music games to include.

You can purchase the Young Scholar's Guide to Composers at their website. The paperback book costs $34.95 and the CD-Rom costs $29.95.

I received the Young Scholar's Guide to Composers for free in order to complete this review. I have received no other compensation and have provided my honest evaluation of the product based on my experience with it. Your experience with this product could differ from mine. Please visit the TOS Homeschool blog to read more reviews of this product written by my crewmates.

Product Review: Virginia Soaps and Scents

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:02:00 +0000

Has your mailbox ever smelled clean?

Mine has.

The day I received an email from the Crew informing me that I would be receiving a package of free soaps from Virginia Soaps and Scents to use and review, the package arrived. When I opened my mailbox, a fresh, clean scent wafted from within. Needless to say, Virginia Soaps and Scents made a great first impression on me.

I opened my clean-smelling package to find three sample-sized bars of soap, one ginger lime scented shampoo bar sample, and a laundry soap kit. The soap samples were each a different scent: coconut lemongrass; oatmeal, milk & honey; fresh orange. They all smell as good as they sound.

The Soaps

I cut the coconut lemongrass bar in half and placed one half, along with the shampoo bar, in our shower. I placed the other half at the bathroom sink. I set the orange bar in the kitchen; it went nicely with my peach color scheme. I put the oatmeal bar in a travel box and placed it in my purse. For three weeks, I have used the soap I received exclusively and with great results.

It produces a nice lather. It also rinses easily and does not leave behind residue. There were a few times while using the sample that either I used the soap to clean up after messy jobs like yard work and cleaning out the attic. Their soap washed away dirt and grime and left me feeling clean and soft.

Most importantly for me was the improvement in the condition of my skin. I have had a rash on my left hand for five years. I have tried an assortment of lotions, soaps, and treatments (including prescription ones) to no avail. After a few days of washing exclusively with these soaps, the rash was gone. I also have very rosy cheeks and am often advised to wear less blush. After a week of washing my face with the soap samples, my over-blushed look faded considerably. I have no doubts that Virginia Soap and Scents is good for the skin.

The Shampoo

I was less impressed with the shampoo bar. It has its good qualities. It lathers well, and my long, thick hair got clean with a minimal amount of soap. At first, I thought I was going to love it because my hair was less frizzy and my natural curl began to show. My mother commented at one point on how curly my hair was and asked me if I had used hot rollers.

However, my hair also felt "thicker", heavier, and more tangled than normal. I had a really hard time brushing and styling it (even after using conditioner and spray-in conditioner), and in the end, I decided that I did not like the trade off. I went back to my normal shampoo and conditioner.

Laundry soap

I was really not sure about how this would turn out. I have always thought making my own laundry soap would be too involved for me.

It was really simple to do. Their laundry soap kit comes with everything you need except for water, a pot to melt the ingredients, and a bucket for mixing. The soap comes pre-grated and the powder is pre-measured so you have the exact amount needed and only have to melt and mix.

Our clothes got clean. In fact, our whites looked better than ever. The consistency of the soap takes a little getting used to, and I continued to use fabric softener. I did not count how many washes I got from my half-gallon batch, but after three weeks, I still have a little left.

Overall, I give Virginia Soaps and Scents two clean, healed thumbs up and have become a paying customer. I refuse to wash my hands with any other soap and placed an order for five bars. I will be ordering the laundry soap soon, too.

They offer several other scents besides the ones I received. I ordered lavender, wild bayberry, and unscented. They do have a line of unscented products for those of you who have sensitive skin like me. Although I did well with the scented products, I have decided to give the unscented a try. You can buy the bars individually for $4.50, 3 bars for $12, buy four, get one free, or buy 10 bars for $35. The shampoo bars cost $5.50 each or you can buy 2 for $10. The laundry soap kit costs $4.95 or buy 6 for $25.

Since your experience could be different from mine, I suggest you try their sampler kits. They offer different combinations and it will allow you to try some of the products I reviewed as well as a few of their other products, like body butter, lip balm, and baby powder.

Want another opinion (or as many 124 other opinions)? Visit the TOS Crew blog to read what my crewmates' reviews.

Update: My order arrived within two days. I love the new scents, and the unscented is great.

Not Me Monday: Not MY Baby

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:24:00 +0000

My baby does not turn nine-years-old today. No way. I refuse to let this happen. I am not old enough to be the mother of a nine-year-old and will not admit that my youngest has reached sucn an age.

For weeks now, I have not thought about the day I learned my little surprise was on the way and wondered where the time has gone.

The picture above does not make me cry. He wasn't sucking his thumb during his ultrasound which did not cause everyone in the room that day to sigh in unison.

He wasn't a sweet baby, either. He never saw the beauty in anything.

As a little boy, he has not filled our house with joy, fun, and laughter.

So though I really don't know where the time has gone, I do know that I am blessed beyond measure to have shared nine years with such a sweet child. I look forward to the days ahead as my little boy grows to be a man.

Happy Birthday Wilbur!

You are so loved.

Product Review: ABC Teach

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:43:00 +0000

I have an aversion to worksheets.

Really, I'm almost phobic.

I think it stems from two homework assignments I completed in third grade: a chalk drawing and a math worksheet. I colored away with my bright pink chalk, completely unaware that I was also painting the math problems on the worksheet. I thought I could clean my math work with a wet rag and ended up with a Swiss-cheese-like piece of paper to give to my teacher the next day.

Tragic for a type-A perfectionist like me.

I never recovered from it and, as a teacher, I have avoided worksheets like the plague. When I received my ABC Teach review assignment, I was not happy. The mere thought of visiting a site with over 40,000 printables caused me to break into a cold sweat.

I couldn't let my readers down, though, so I worked through my issues and visited their site. As I clicked through the many categories, here is what I found:

manipulatives
posters
flash cards
signs and learning activities for centers
graphic organizers
shape books
power point templates
puzzles and games
forms for reports
Montessori materials
handwriting worksheet generator
worksheets for every subject area

And MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

Though ABC Teach is like a digital warehouse for printables, they have more in stock than just your typical worksheet. For those who find worksheets helpful, they have plenty of those, too. Over 5,000 printables are available for free, and membership, which allows an individual access to the entire site, costs $40 per year.

Additionally, the site is well organized. Even though the amount of materials offered is large, finding what I need has been easy. I like that I can search by topic or subject. For instance, when I know I need a worksheet for addition problems with regrouping, I click the "math" heading. Subcategories then open, and finding the exact worksheet I need takes only a few more clicks. There is also an option to do a keyword search which made finding what I needed even easier. There are video tutorials to teach how to best navigate the site.

I have found many uses for ABC Teach and when my free subscription expired, this worksheet-phobe became a paying customer. I highly recommend their site and think the $40 membership fee is very reasonable.

I received a free membership to ABC Teach in order to complete this review. I have received no other compensation. This review offered my honest opinion based on my experience with the ABC Teach website. Your experience could differ from mine. Please click the icon above to visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog where you can access my crewmates reviews.

Free Digital Holiday Supplement from The Old Schoolhouse

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:18:00 +0000

I just downloaded the free Digital Holiday Supplement from the Old Schoolhouse Magazine, and it is a wonderful resource that I will use to plan our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. There are recipes, inexpensive and hand-made gift ideas, crafts ideas, decorating ideas, and much more. All the articles keep the budget-conscious family in mind, too.

You can get your free copy by clicking the icon above and following the directions you will find after being redirected.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Birding 101: Update

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:33:00 +0000

For those of you who have been reading my Birding 101 series, I wanted to let you know that I have decided to postpone the next post and explain why.

I started writing it several weeks ago and as I typed the instructions to the games that teach binocular use, I realized it was a bit bland and hard to follow. I think a vlog would be much nicer. However, we have had rain, rain, and more rain down here in Georgia. Children and bird watching in the rain just don't go well together.

When the weather clears and we can go film our activities, I will continue the series. I hope we don't have to wait until spring migration, but all in God's time!

Thanks for your understanding. You guys are the best.

Happy birding!

Product Review: Amazing Bible Timeline

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:46:00 +0000

When I pulled the brightly-colored, well-organized, 37 x 45" Amazing Bible Timeline from its mailing carton, I thought writing this review would be a breeze. I could not have been more wrong. I do not recommend this product. If you would like to know why, please keep reading.

I liked what I saw at first glance. The charting of history begins at Creation in 4004 B.C. (approximately) Young earth. Creationism. B.C., not B.C.E. They had my attention.

A genealogy of Adam through Noah follows. Very interesting. After Noah, the timeline splits into three sections, one for each of his sons.

From there on, Shem's line is color-coded yellow, Ham's line is blue, and Japheth's is pink. This made it really easy to see which nations descended from which of the sons of Noah, something I found very interesting. Also, the spiral design allowed me to see what events were occurring simultaneously. For instance, according to the timeline, Samuel was the judge of Israel at the same time that Rameses III ruled Egypt while the Greeks and Trojans were waging war. A resource like this could be so helpful, except….

Before I had a chance to put the timeline to use or give it a really thorough inspection, I received an email from Bible Charts and Maps. The subject line said, "Wow! Let's Clear This Up Right Now". This email was sent to every Crew member assigned to review their Amazing Bible Timeline. It seems that a few of my crewmates noticed a few things on the timeline that I had not noticed at first glance, and the publishers wanted a chance to respond. That's only fair, so I read their email and was shocked by some of the accusations made against them and just as equally shocked by their response.

First, there appear to be references to the Book of Mormon within the body of the timeline. No LDS (Mormon) publications are listed in the timeline's bibliography, printed prominently in the top, center; however, Mormon 6:6, 10, and 11 (referring to the Book of Mormon) are printed as what appears to be footnotes within one square of the body of the timeline. Other crew members noted that the pre-Columbian America portion of the timeline seems to have an LDS-slant and pointed out references to the books of Daniel and Revelation that seem to indicate fulfilled prophecies, ones that I had never heard of before.

I also take issue with the listing of future events that are printed at the end of the timeline. Their inclusion of the millennial reign of Christ as a future event and the sequence of "last days" events as they present them does not mesh with my personal convictions. The sequencing and wording of this section caused more unrest in me and made me wonder whose interpretation was being represented.

Their original email has since been revised, and I no longer have access to it. It explained that the Book of Mormon references were left on the timeline unintentionally because the original films were destroyed in a shipping accident in 2000. They used the LDS version of the timeline to recreate the version I received and did not realize that the Book of Mormon footnotes were still there.

We are all human, and certainly, mistakes can be made. However, nine years seems like a very long time for such a significant error to remain unnoticed or uncorrected.

Many of the statements in the original response and the revised one only made me more skeptical. For instance, their response to "Why is there an LDS version of the timeline?" was the following:

We began working with the Amazing Bible Timeline in 1975, forty-four years after its first printing in 1931. 1975 was a time when Christians were committed to building greater unity or cooperation among Christian faiths, very different from todays time of Bible bashing and rejection of any Christian whose faith does not exactly match our own. The contention among Christians today is appalling to us and we don't support it.

This statement causes me to wonder how they define "Christian faiths" and what type of unity they are trying to promote. Because I am not a member of an LDS church and strongly disagree with many of its fundamental beliefs, I do not want to do business with a curriculum provider that would make that statement.

The bottom line is that I do hold to a particular faith and want to pass along a particular set of beliefs to my children. I do not feel confident, even after carefully considering the company's statements and spending hours researching, that the Amazing Bible Timeline shares my convictions. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience recommend this product.

The Amazing Bible Timeline sells for $29.97. Free timeline and map downloads come with each purchase and are available at their website.

I received one copy of the Amazing Bible Timeline for free to use for this review. All opinions expressed in the review are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. I have received no other compensation for this review and have offered my honest, unbiased opinion. To read more about this product, please, click the icon below to be redirected to the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Product Review: Sue Patrick Workbox System

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:29:00 +0000

I try to write my product reviews as if I were sitting in my living room with a few of my closest homeschooling-mom friends, sipping coffee (or in my case chai tea) while discussing our latest curricular discoveries. Recently, I was given the Sue Patrick's Workbox System User's Guide ebook to review. The workbox system is currently all the rage in homeschool circles, so I imagine I have a friend or two who is curious about how this system works. If you want to know more, come on in to my cyber living room and pull up a chair. I will do my best to answer all your questions.

What is the Sue Patrick Workbox System?

Sue Patrick has devised a way to organize assignments and school materials so that students have everything they need to complete their lessons at their fingertips throughout the day. The system also helps the teacher create a schedule that students manage themselves. Using items like laminated cards, plastic shoe boxes, and Velcro strips, students have visual aids that move them from one task to the next with little to no help from Mom. As they complete one task, they consult their schedule strips and move to the next activities on their lists. Everything they need for each lesson is contained within a shoe box, and upon completion, everything is left in the same container, ready for Mom to grade.

Is the ebook helpful?

Sue Patrick is a very organized, thorough person, and so is her book. It provides everything you need to know to set up a successful workbox system, plus some. The book includes information on the benefits of homeschooling, adapting your curriculum to fit the workbox system, creating learning centers and folder games, modifying student assignments to make them more appealing to and usable by children, discipline, teaching life skills (such as typing and sequencing), and much more. She includes several color photographs of the components of the workbox system, including pictures of the system at various stages during the day. There are samples of all the forms needed to set up your daily schedule and the workbox system itself. After purchasing a book, it can be registered at Sue Patrick's website and all the necessary forms can be downloaded for free.

How involved is "workboxing" and what will it cost to set up a system in my homeschool?

The Sue Patrick Workbox System incorporates two components: the physical structure and an educational philosophy. The physical structure involves the actual set up which requires a number of materials and a good amount of printing, laminating, cutting, and attaching Velcro. I spent about $75 buying the materials needed for two sets of workboxes (one for each of my boys) and I worked for about 3 hours on the initial set up. The system is bulky, too. I had to get creative to find an area in my small house for two three-shelf racks (the book calls for 4-shelves). These things all bothered me at first, but as I used the system and had good results (I will write more about this in a minute), I decided it was worth the expense, time, and floor space.

The educational philosophy centers around developing a strong work ethic and initiative in children. The book is very specific about how and where the system is to be set up and how it is to be implemented. Sue Patrick strongly suggests that the system be followed exactly as she developed it. I have to be honest and say I did not do this. My educational philosophy, as well as my attitudes on student behavior, do not line up with hers 100 %. I also do not have an area in my house that would allow me to set the system up exactly as described. That's not to say that her advice should not be considered. She offers a lot of wisdom in her book; however, I had to make the system my own and refashion it to meet our needs.

With that said, virtually any curriculum can be used with the workbox system, and it has the potential to help families from one end of the philosophical spectrum to the other. The educational philosophy speaks more to student-ownership of learning than to a particular homeschool ideology. The workbox system could be used with most approaches, from classical to delight directed and anything in between.

However, because the Sue Patrick Workbox system stresses the science of teaching over the art, I imagine most homeschoolers not loving some of the ideas within the ebook or finding them applicable. I do recommend the ebook and that you give the science behind the workbox system some consideration. Then be an artful teacher and tweak it to suit your needs, style, and goals.

How did you use the workbox system?

We have used the workbox system for one month. During that time, I have started each day with a two-hour block for direct instruction, group work, and discussions. Lessons needing the most support from me or that require the boys and I work together, like our devotion time, catechism practice, new skills instruction, and read alouds, fit into this "meeting time". Then I organize all other school work, instrument practice, and chores into the workbox system and schedule strips. Each boy follows his own schedule strip and moves at his pace.

I allow my boys to decide the order in which they complete their workboxes and I allow them to help each other, collaborate, and ask me for assistance as often as needed. The prescribed component of the workbox system with which I took issue was behavior management, particularly her take on talking during the school day. She suggests that the school area be very quiet to allow for better concentration and that the teacher use non-verbal cues, specifically picture cards provided at her website, to manage the amount of talking that occurs. She also suggests that the amount of help each student may receive from Mom be limited and managed with picture cards.

Now, the Olive Plant house is far from perfect; however, I am comfortable with the amount of chatter going on around here and with the amount of time I spend helping my children during the school day. This aspect of her system brought to mind the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Therefore, I did not use these components of the workbox system.

Did the workbox system help you and your children?

Yes, it helped us in three ways.

First, both Orville and Wilbur salivated as they watched me assemble our system. Many components of the physical set-up are visually appealing which has been as motivating as the ebook promises it will be. Some of the work I place in the boxes are fun items, like crafting, lapbooking, puzzles, manipulatives, and games. The less "fun" stuff, like worksheets, has seemed more fun to the boys. Workboxes have had a "Tom-Sawyer effect" on my crew. Because their work is in a special box with color-coded tags, what they once considered a chore, they now consider a privilege.

Secondly, my type-B, stop-to-smell-the-roses-every-two-seconds child is completing his work in a timely manner. Previous to workboxes, my schedule had both boys working on the same subjects at the same time throughout the day. This kept me from having to rearrange the schedule everyday to accommodate group work or direct instruction. However, it also presented many situations in which my type-A jack rabbit would zip through his work and be finished before Mr. Type B had even begun.

I constantly had to pop into the classroom and remind Type B boy to move along with his work so that he would be ready for the upcoming group lesson, discussion time, or project. About a zillion times each day I had to ask, "Are you done yet?" or "How far along are you?". I had to constantly remind him to use his time wisely and frequently would stress out because we had <-----------------this many--------------------> things to do but <---this much---> time left to do them.

I now know what the problem was. I had the schedule in front of me and I understood the need for pacing our work so we could be done at a reasonable hour; however, Mr. Type B had no idea how much needed to be done and was blissfully content with taking all the time needed for the task at hand.

The workbox system has taught HIM how to manage HIS day. Because of the visual nature of the system, he can see exactly how much work remains. He can also see how much he has accomplished. I think he feels less bogged down because each time he gets to remove a tag from his schedule strip, he sees a little more of the light at the end of the tunnel. He also realizes that he does not have time to dawdle because he can see exactly what he must accomplish by 3 o'clock.

The third way workboxes have helped us is that it has made travelling with schoolwork really easy. My mother is disabled, and from time-to-time, she needs my help. When I need to spend the day at her house, I have been able to stack the workboxes one on top of the other inside a large Rubbermaid storage container. This allows me to head to her house at a moment's notice without scrambling to find and pack everything the boys need for school. All of the boys' boxes fit inside this container neatly. When we get to my mom's, I just unpack and set the boxes on her dining room table. The boys are able to complete their school day independently while I serve my dear mother.

Are there any cons to the workbox system?

Everything must be in place before your school day begins. On the one hand, this is great. There is no searching for scissors when you're trying to get a craft going. No jumping up in the middle of a lesson to go copy a worksheet. No more chickens in the drier. If you read my Plan-It School series, you know what I mean. On the other hand, it takes a good amount of time to refill the boxes for the next day, and I cannot refill them until every box has been completed. For me this was after everyone was in bed each night, a time that I want to unwind, not think about everything that has to be done tomorrow.

Most days, I was able to push past that mentality and remind myself that the evening work would make the next day run more smoothly. However, on those days that there's just one thing after another (and those days happen even for the most organized of us), finding time to get the workboxes prepared can be tough, if not impossible. If it doesn't get done, then school is a train wreck the next day, or I have to take the time to do it all before school begins which means we get a later start which mean everything is completely off all day. Once again, I had to modify the system to streamline the preparation.

I can imagine those with larger families would find preparing workboxes for each child, each and every day taxing. Don't let that discourage you though. I recommend you be innovative and find a way to make workboxing work for you. I'll write more about some of my modifications in a later post and suggest a few other blogs to visit where creative moms have made this system meet a variety of needs.

Will I continue to use the Workbox System now that my review is complete?

I will continue to use the workbox system with the modifications that work for us. I am thankful for the organization it has added to our homeschool and most especially for how it has helped and motivated Mr. Type B. Workboxes have made a world of difference for him, and I see him becoming more independent and confident as a result. For that, I give the Sue Patrick Workbox System two thumbs up.

You can buy the ebook that will set you on the path to organization at the Sue Patrick website for $19. I recommend you watch this video, too.

I enjoyed our little visit. I hope I answered all your questions, but if I over-looked something, feel free to ask your question as a comment.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of the Sue Patrick Workbox System ebook for free for the purpose of writing this review. I have received no other compensation. The opinions expressed in this review are based on my experience with the product and are mine solely. I have provided an honest critique of this product. For a second opinion (or as many as 124 more), please visit the TOS Homeschool Crew blog by clicking the icon below.

Product Review: Educaching

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:03:00 +0000

My thoughts about Educaching, a cross-curricular treasure hunt, can be summed up in one statement.

Why didn't I find this sooner?

The concept is ingenious. Educaching takes the widely-popular pastime, geocaching, a step further and provides all the instructions you need to set up a GPS-led treasure hunt that has your kids performing educational tasks along the way. A variety of hunt ideas are included, each of which puts skills from most subject areas into practice. Though I would not necessarily use it to introduce these skills, Educaching proved to be a fun way to integrate learning and give previously-mastered skills a real-world application.

Lesson Plans for 20 different hunts are included. These hunts are designed for students in 4th-8th grades and vary in difficulty. We completed four beginner-level hunts. There are also intermediate and advanced hunts for older students. The quality and thoroughness of the plans demonstrate the professionalism and experience of the author, Jason Hubbard.

Although the lessons are not written from a Christian worldview, there were no teachings that contradict the Bible. In other words… no evolution, Big Bang, etc. One lesson does involve art work based on Native American rain birds. The meaning behind the symbols is presented in a way that explains, but does not necessarily promote, the Native American belief system.

What most impressed me about Educaching was that it took me much less time to prepare for the hunts than I anticipated. The plans are very well written and easy to follow. I was able to gather everything needed for the four hunts we completed and hide the caches in about two hours. Set-up time would have been considerably less had we only completed one hunt.

Also important to me was that I had all the materials needed for all four hunts on-hand. I did not have to buy special containers or supplies. Rubbermaids and Tupperware held our caches. The items within were things like candles, candy, and clothing.

There are also instructions included for using your GPS receiver and ideas for teaching children how to use this technology. Forms are included to make your hunt easier and more profitable, like field sheets for recording data.

One difficulty I encountered was finding a location for our hunt. We live in-town and do not have a large enough yard to hide several containers far enough away from each other to be distinct on our GPS. Because I needed to set up when the children were not present, I felt uneasy about using public parks. I feared the caches might be tampered with or stolen while I traveled home and back again. I also needed to set up without the children around which meant I had to schedule this at a time when Dad was home.

However, it was worth the trouble because my children LOVED Educaching. They were able to complete the tasks with little difficulty. It took a few minutes to acquaint them with the technology, but once they figured it out, I had a hard time keeping up with them. The hunts kept them fully engaged. There were no opportunities for off-task behaviors. The motivation of wanting to find the cache kept them moving. Then when found, the task within made them really work and think. Once a task was complete, they were ready to head to the next cache.

In the course of an hour, they accomplished a lot, too. They inspected items and determined if they had undergone physical or chemical changes. They recorded information on charts and plotted points on a map. They measured length, calculated averages, solved word problems, made change, and determined a number of permutations. When we returned from the hunt to complete the suggested wrap-up discussions, the learning that had taken place was undeniable.

They really had FUN, too! When I asked them to rank Educaching on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being "no fun at all and I did not learn anything" and 10 being "best lesson ever- I had so much fun and learned a lot", Wilbur gave Educaching a perfect 10. Orville insisted that he be allowed to give it an 11.

Though not happy about donning one of the combinations of silly clothes created during one activity, Wilbur still gave Educaching a perfect 10!

Orville liked it all, even the silly clothes. He insisted on giving Educaching an 11!

I give it a 10, too! Admittedly, this was right up my educational-philosphy alley. I have made up treasure-hunt lessons for my children before, just sans GPS. I like to keep my boys active. I don't like to teach isolated skills and like to find real-world applications for as much as possible. If you like a more traditional approach to education, you probably will not like Educaching, though I still encourage you to give it a try. ;)

PROs

Detailed lesson plans

Instructions for using and teaching children to use a GPS

Printable forms (you can print only as needed)

Other than a hand-held GPS, requires common, household supplies

Easy to set-up

Covers a variety of topics

Integrates subjects

Provides real-world experience

Gives children the opportunity to apply what they learn

FUN!

CONs

Not homeschool-specific, requires some adapting

Can be difficult to find a place to hold your hunt

Most activities would be better with two or more groups of four (though not required)

Not written from a distinctly Christian worldview (though not anti-Christian in any way)

Overall, I think I have found a real treasure in Educaching and look forward to completing more of the activities with my boys. I plan to complete another Educaching hunt with my Mathletes team next month. Return soon for pictures from that event.

You can download Educaching samples here. The entire program can be purchased at their website for $32.00 plus shipping and handling.

Disclosure: I received one copy of Educaching for free in order to complete this review. I have received no other compensation. The opinions expressed in this review are solely mine and are my honest evaluation of the product based on my experience with it. Your experience with this product could be very different from mine. If you would like a second opinion (or as many 124 more), please click the icon below to be redirected to the TOS Homeschool Crew blog.

Give-away: Southern Living Homestyle Cooking

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:53:00 +0000

Kathleen @ SouthForte Farms is hosting her first give-away. She is offering her readers the chance to win a copy of Southern Living Homestyle Cooking. This cookbook offers a variety of recipes, from simple to complex, and will, of course, add a little Southern-flare to your fare.

To enter, read Kathleen's post and then leave a comment. You can earn an extra entry by spreading the word via a blog post of your own. She is giving away one copy and will pick the winner next Thursday, 10-29-09.

HSBA Nominations

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:57:00 +0000

It's that time again!

The Homeschool Blog Awards are accepting nominations starting today. This is your chance to nominate your favorite blogs for up to 25 different honors. The winner of each category will receive a great prize. The HSBA also gives your favorite blogs the opportunity to be introduced to new readers. I found a few of my favs while visiting the nominated blogs last year, and a few of you found me that way, too. If you have never participated before, don't be shy. Hop on over to The Post (click the icon above) and nominate your favs right away. It doesn't have to be Olive Plants, either. ;)

There are 25 different categories, and I have nominated 10 differen blogs. I am still considering who to nominate in a few categories.

Each blog needs three nominations per category to make the voting list. So my single nomination does not guarantee these blogs will be official nominees when the voting begins in two weeks. Here are the blogs I have chosen:

Best Live What You Believe: Kingdom Arrows
The author of this blog, Heather, knows what she believes and she lives it. Her dedication to serve Christ selflessly shows in her posts, particularly those she has written about her experiences teaching her dear daughter with auditory processing problems. Her level of commitment to her children's needs demonstrates her love for God.

Best Eclectic: Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
Who doesn't love Kris's blog just for the name alone? She does a great job with hands-on, nature studies, unit studies, and keeping school interesting for her unsocialized crew. She describes herself as "classically eclectic", a label that fits us Olive Plants, too. Visiting her blog actually makes me feel a little less weird and a little more socialized.

Best Homemaking/Recipes: Mercy Every Morning
I get hungry every time I visit Christy's great blog. Since starting Weight Watchers I have had to avoid posts like Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole, Best Bean Soup, and especially Pumpkin Cookies. She is a great cook and is budget-conscious, too. I would nominate her for Best Thrifty, too, but the rules won't allow it.

Funniest: Rocks in My Drier
This blog makes me laugh. Every time.

Best Cyber-buddy: Blue House Academy
I have one of those inexplicable online friendships with Kellie. She and I have never met in person, yet I would go to bat for her. She is my most loyal reader and commenter, and I really like her blog, too. I think if we lived near each other, we would be best buds.

Best Curriculum Business: My Audio School
My friend, Molly, launched this new blog a few months ago. If you haven't visited yet, please, don't wait any longer! Go now! She has tons of free downloadable audio content. You can access about 20% without a membership. The subscription fee is $14.99 per year and allows you access to the entire site. It's a great deal and deserves this nod.

Best Variety: Heather's Blog
Heather writes on a variety of topics. Sometimes she shares the precious but hysterical conversations that take place between her preschool-aged twins. Other times she shares recipes, words of encouragement, home making ideas or teaching ideas. She's not new to teaching but is new to the world of homeschooling, so let's give her a warm welcome.

Best Nitty-Gritty: Raising Olives
Kimberly is a homeschooling mother of 9 who gives great, fluff-free advice. She has given me ideas for laundry management, multi-age (or in my case multi-level) homeschooling, organization, and many other aspects of home management. Her Not-Me-Monday posts are a riot and show just how down-to-earth she is too.

Best Homeschool Methods: Counter-cultural School (Classical)
Molly was last year's Best SUPERHomeschooler winner, and her counter-cultural school blog is a great resource for classical homeschoolers. Need I say more?

Best New Blog: SouthForte Farms
Kathleen launched her blog last month. Her posts offer great advice on homemaking, teaching, and child-training topics and are infused with witty humor. She can teach you just about anything about home management and make you laugh in the process! I was a Best New Blog nominee last year so I feel like I'm passing the baton to her and am happy to pass it to the blog that I think should win hands down. Last year, I was in 1st for a while but landed in 3rd. Here's hoping you do better than I did, Kathleen. Bon chance!

If you like these blogs as much as I do, head on over to the Post and fill out their new and improved, super-easy-to-use nomination form. Remember that a blog needs three nominations in each category to be in the running. Thanks!

Not Me Monday: Things I Have Not Said or Sung Recently

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:54:00 +0000

Recently, I have not said, and I have especially not sung, any of the following:

Antibiotics make me sick.

Stop talking and get your discussion work done.

Did we get a picture of that for the blog?
What number are you on? (referring to workboxes)

(during Mathletes) Could you have a room with only two walls?

(Sung to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies) Now, listen to my story 'bout a man named John, a rich New Yorker living high-on-the-hog. Had Standard Oil, the only oil company. And that my friend is a monopoly. Rockefeller, that is. Rich man. Off Texas Tea.

No, I can't make a birthday cake for Wooly (the plush toy lamb).

(The next day) No, I won't make a birthday cake for Rosey (the plush toy robin).

(The day after that) No, I won't make a birthday cake for Teagan (the plush toy Towhee).

All I want for Christmas is a big mug of chai tea!

(to Michael) Did you move us while I was asleep? It's too cold to be Georgia? Can we move farther south?

What are you doing out of bed… again?

No, we did not get sick from singing about Germany. (emphasis on "Germ")

Yes, I took Wooly's temperature, too. He's normal.

Cleaning your floor does not mean shoving everything under the bed.

I don't know why Lichtenstein is so small. (pause for question) No, it's not because Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs live there.

Stop talking about diarrhea and get back to work.
Yes, you must put on the funny yellow shirt. Mommy needs the picture for her blog.

Nope. Not ME... no way!

More about Mathletes

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:56:00 +0000

After posting, Mathletes Has Begun, I received a few questions about the program and wanted to pass on a little more information about the Math Olympiad and how I manage our Mathletes group.

For those of you interested in the Math Olympiad, it is a national program that is open to homeschoolers, and the enrollment deadline for the 2009-2010 school year has been extended to Oct.30. You cannot enroll individually, but must be sponsored by your local hsa or other homeschool group. I suggest calling the the folks at MOEMS (Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle School) if you have any questions concerning your eligibility. I have called them several times with numerous questions, and they have always been helpful. I have not had to send them any official documentation of my local hsa's sponsorship. I did present the idea to my hsa board for approval before including our association information on the MOEMS registration form.

The Olympiad releases two five-question math exams each month, November through March. One test is for elementary students, 4th-6th; the other is for middle school, 6th-8th. 6th graders have the option of taking either exam. I have mine take the elementary exam. Some teams have all students, 4th-8th, take the middle school exam. There are a number of options. Their information pages explain in detail how the program works.

The cost per team (US, Canada, and Mexico) is $89 if you choose to receive the tests and report your scores online. If you wish to receive the tests/report via snail mail, the cost is $99 per team. If you want to receive an elementary test and a middle school test, you must register as two teams and pay two fees. I divide the membership fees by the number of students on the team and charge per student. With 7-12 members on the team each year, the cost has been around $15 per student.

The program is available to students outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. See the MOEMS site for more information.

The five exam problems are always challenging word problems, but I have seen a lot of growth in Orville, who is participating for the second year. The parents of the children on last year's team all gave me positive feedback on the program, and all but one signed up again this year. Each participant is guaranteed to receive a certificate of participation, and each team receives a trophy for the highest scoring member. There are other awards that can be earned as well. I also award my team members points for effort and points for correct answers. When a student earns 100 points, I present him this medal. This has motivated my team to try more problems and report to me on time each week.

The Olympiad only requires the once-per-month meeting for the purpose of taking the exams. However, most school-sponsored teams meet at least once per week for practices. That is why I added in the Problem of the Week component. By emailing the problems to my team members and allowing them to email their completed work to me, everyone involved is saved a lot of time. So, in a way, I do a virtual mathletes (hee, hee to my friend who asked this). Membership on the team I sponsor is limited to those who are members of my local hsa, though. Sorry.

The Math Forum is a paid membership site and well worth the $25 for a teacher-level membership. This level of membership gives me the rights to distribute problems to the team members who are not my children. If you are interested in incorporating a problem of the week into your school schedule, the individual membership costs $15 per year. There are other membership offers that include services like mentoring and feedback. They always offer multiple explanations of how to solve each problem and other helpful features like a grading rubric. It is a great site.

Math Counts also offers problems of the week for free. Answer keys are provided for their problems as well. However, I like The Math Forum more and find their features for teachers very helpful. The Math Counts Foundation also offers a national competition for middle schoolers, available in all 50 states. Since this is the first year that I have had middle schoolers on my team, we have not competed in Math Counts yet, but I have heard great things about it.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave them as a comment.

Mathletes has begun.

homeschooldawn@yahoo.com (Homeschool Dawn) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:11:00 +0000

Did you get a good look at that picture?

Look again.

What a big group I have!

Twelve kids may not seem like that large of a group, but for Mathletes, it is HUGE! The really exciting part is that there are 4th graders and 8th graders and everything-in-between graders on the team this year.

Each week I email three word problems to each participating family on Mondays. The level one problem is "easy". I would not have thought these problems were easy when I was in the 4th grade, but that's what the math folks say, so I'll go with it. The level two problems fall in the medium to difficult category; however, I did not see math like these problems until eighth grade. The level threes... well, OUCH!

Each member emails his or her answers to me on Fridays. I award each attempted problem one point. If a level one problem is correct, it earns an additional point. For each correct level two problem, I award two extra points, and I add three points for a correct level three.

I also give them one point per meeting they attend and one point per problem they attempt during each meeting. I give additional points for correct answers to these problems. 100 points= this gold medal.

We had our first monthly meeting last week. I divided the group into four teams and gave each team a sheet of five challenging word problems. They worked collaboratively to solve and when they arrived at the right answer to each problem, I told them one letter of a clue word. When they had solved all five problems correctly and had all the letters, they unscrambled the clue which revealed their prize was "candy". I find problems to give them here and here.

Next month, we will complete an Educaching activity. I will have lots to write afterward. They will also take the first Math Olympiad test. I believe the team will do very well this year as they are off to a great start!