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Saving Memories Forever ~ review

Written by Joy
2 Comments
Saving Memories Forever ~ review

(Disclaimer: I received this product free to review.  While I got it for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No other compensation was received.)

Do you love learning about your family’s history or love hearing stories from days gone by? What about when your baby starts talking and wishing you had a way to capture the moment? With Saving Memories Forever App, you can preserve and save all of those special memories!

How does Saving Memories Forever work?  The first thing you need is a smart phone.  You will then need to download the Saving Memories Forever App.  Once you have downloaded the app on your phone, you will need to register on their system.  You also need to decide if you want to use the free version, or if you want to upgrade to the monthly paid version.  While the process is the same for both versions, you will be able to do more with the paid version, which is only $3.99 a month.

Now that you have registered with Saving Memories Forever, you are now ready to begin saving those precious memories of your family.  The first thing you will need to do is make a profile for the individuals you want to record.  Once that profile has been made,  Saving Memories Forever gives questions you can ask to the person, or you can ask your own questions.  There are different categories for different age groups.  The creators of Saving Memories Forever suggests that you keep the conversation recordings to 5 minutes or less.  Once you finish the recording of your profiler, you are then ready to upload and save the story, so that others can listen and enjoy the stories, as well.

Overall, I think this is a very good idea.  I know there have been times when I wished I had written or recorded stories of my parents and grandparents, that they told when they were growing up.

However, I had some issues with the Saving Memories Forevers App when I downloaded it.  First off, make sure you have room on your phone to download the app.  I had to delete a few other apps to make room for it.  Secondly, once I was finally able to download the app, it took several tries for me to get the app to work properly on my phone.  The app never did fit my phone screen.  It was just too large for my screen.  (I have an HTC).  While, I have had just a few issues, a lot of others have had a lot of success using the Saving Memories Forever app.  The creators are also very friendly and helpful for when you are having issues.  I can see this app being a success for a lot of history buffs!

**Disclaimer: I received this product free to review.  While I got it for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No other compensation was received.

 

2013, review

Spanish For You! curriculum

Written by Joy
4 Comments
Spanish For You! curriculum

(I was given this curriculum for a review. All opinions expressed are my own. No other compensation was given.)

Spanish For You is a curriculum that is for grades 3-8.  The curriculum was designed by a Spanish teacher to effectively build grammar knowledge, spelling, writing skills and speaking.  Students can learn to communicate in spanish and have fun while learning.  Students will learn how the language works with its unique design.  Spanish For You is very flexible and can work with most any schedule.  You can use this curriculum in a class or co-op setting, for the family or even just yourself.

Spanish For You has a couple of different curriculum packages that you can choose from.  You can choose from Viajes or Fiestas package.  We were give the Fiestas package.  When you order your package, it will come with:

  • Spanish for you! soft cover book (allow up to 2 weeks for delivery) or E-book (trial pkgs.)
  • Plus the following downloads:
  • Audio download (MP3) of the entire book. You use these as the lesson guide instructs.
  • A free bonus audio of the entire book recorded by a native speaker from Mexico. (MP3)
  • 24-30 Week Lesson Guide (PDF) – The student (and parent if needed) follows this guide step-by-step to know what to do, at whatever pace works for you.
  • Self-checking worksheets (PDF) – You just print these as you need them. The lesson guide will tell you what you need to print and when.
  • Free set of pictures for making flashcards and other activity materials. (PDF)

Spanish For You has many activities and games listed on their website that you can use as you go through the curriculum.  This is a great idea for reviewing what you have learned and for practice.

Now that I have told you a little bit about the curriculum, here is our experience with Spanish For You!.  When we first received the curriculum by email, and I started downloading all of the files, it was all mixed up.  I had to go through and put all of the lessons and audios in the order that I would need to teach them.  That was a little bit discouraging for me.  When I purchase a curriculum, I like for it to be in order. (**This issues has since been fixed.  The creator of the curriculum has gone through and put everything in order, so you will not have this issue.)  While, the audio’s did help with the lessons and the curriculum was written very user friendly, my oldest daughter and I still had a hard time with it.  I think it is more of a personal issue with how it is taught, compared to how we learn.

So how do you know if Spanish For You will work for you and your family?  They have free lessons and free worksheets that you can download!  Once you see if the curriculum will work for your family, you can order the packages for a reasonable price, just starting at $9.99.

Spanish For You creator, Debbie, is very friendly and will help you out if you have any trouble at all.  While this curriculum did not work for our family, it just might work for you.

**Disclaimer~ I was given this curriculum for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.  No other compensation was given.

 

2013, review

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner from Apologia

Written by Joy
5 Comments
The Ultimate Homeschool Planner from Apologia

When it comes to homeschooling, I think to help make it a success and something I need to be more diligent about is organizing your homeschooling. This is an area that I have struggled in a lot. I was thrilled when I found out I had the chance to review The Ultimate Homeschool Planner  and The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens, that Debra Bell created.

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner.

The Ultimate Homeschool Planner.

Just how “ultimate” is this planner?  It is a huge book, with 263 pages.  What do you ask that takes up so many pages in this huge planner?  Let me give you a littl run down of everything that Debra Bell covers in this amazing planner.

  • A User’s Guide (which is extremely helpful!)
  • A One Year Planning Grid
  • Student Goal Setter
  • Pre-Planning Guides
  • Monthly Planner
  • Weekly Planner
  • Records
  • Teaching Tips
  • High School Planning Guide and a High School Planning Guide Example
  • Year in Review
  • and a Notes section

As you can tell, Mrs. Bell did not forget anything in this planner.  She has been homeschooling for many many years and used her experience to put together this planner to help others. One of the things I enjoy as I am filling out the different sections is the little sayings and scriptures that she puts on the pages.  The really brighten my day and give e the encouragement and hope to continue on what I am doing.  Not only for my family, but to glorify God as well.

Inside the Ultimate Homeschool Planner.

Inside the Ultimate Homeschool Planner.

Another thing I really love about this planner, is I can not only use it for my homeschooling plans, but I find the spaces big enough to allow me to put other information there as well.  I can make notes of appointments for all of us in our family, I can make notes about any reviews or posts that I have due.  There is even room for me to write down ideas that I have pop into my head.

I had chosen The Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens for my oldest daughter.  She is in 9th grade this year and while she has been doing all of her work on her own, I knew it was past time for her to be keeping track of everything for herself.  I think helping and teaching kids to be more organized will help them in the future.  Mrs. Bell did an excellent job creating this weekly planner for teens.  Like with the Ultimate Homeschool Planner, she really did think of everything, even fun things that are important for teens. What all does Mrs. Bell include in this amazing 168 page planner?

  • All About Me section (their favorites)
  • 1st and 2nd semester schedules
  • Monthly planner
  • Weekly planner
  • Grade pages
  • Reading List pages
  • Activities Log
  • Credit and High School Records page

Mrs. Bell also includes wonderful sayings, quotes and scriptures throughout the pages of the planner.  She als has several pages dedicated to a list of books that she recommends to the teens to read.  There is a Guide to Punctuation, Italics and Capitalization,  Cite Right, Fractions, Decimals, Percent Equivalency Chart, Periodic Table, Measurement Equivalency Chart, Algebra and Physics Review, a Map of the World and the USA, as well as a Timeline.  She also gives a lot of high school and college admissions help, with several pages to just write down any notes that you may need to keep track of.

My daughter and I are really enjoying our planners.  I think it will help both of us become more organized as the year continues on.  We both need to be more diligent about keeping track of all sorts of information as we make plans for the rest of our homeschooling years.  Both of these planners have given us the tools we need to do this.

2013, homeschooling, review, , , , ,

Creating A Masterpiece ~ review and giveaway!!

Written by Joy
25 Comments
Creating A Masterpiece ~ review and giveaway!!

 

**UPDATE: Congrats to Rebecca Tice winning the Level 1 Art DVD!!

Sharon Hofer, a professional artist, noticed a need  when her art classes at Hidden Acres Art School‘s waiting list kept growing and growing.  She had parents asking her how they could help their children in art, while waiting for a space to open up in a class.  By this growing need, she started Creating a Masterpiece.  Creating A Masterpiece is a DVD art curriculum for kids of all ages.  She teaches them in realism and impressionistic styles.  What I love most though, is that Sharon first goal is to help others create art that glorifies God.  I don’t think you could ask for anything better than that.

Lessons in Pencil: Sunflower and Lessons in Pencil/Charcoal: Stork.

The first DVD that we received to review was the Level 1 Lessons in Pencil: Sunflower.  In this lesson, Sharon teaches about the basic lines that you will draw with, straight and curved.  She also shares how to draw with texture as well as the importance of shading.  The materials that you use are the basic drawing materials.  You will need a #2 pencil, a #6b pencil, drawing paper, a stiff bristled brush and and a tortillon (a roll of paper used to blend).  The art DVD is divided into 7 chapters with her going over the different steps until you get the final picture that you are looking for.

Sarah’s final Sunflower picture.

The next DVD that we reviewed was the Lessons in Pencil and Charcoal: Stork.  This is a Level 3 DVD. In this lesson, Sharon takes you through the steps of sketching and then shading the stork with charcoal.  She also teaches you the different values in the bird, as well as how to blend with a kneaded eraser. The materials needed for this project are: a stick of charcoal, a #2b pencil, a kneading eraser and paper.  Sharon has divided this lesson up into 4 chapters.  By the time this lesson is over, you will have a beautiful picture of a stork.

Sarah’s final Stork picture.

As you saw, we did a Level 1 and a Level 3  lesson.  Creating a Masterpiece has 5 different levels, teaching is these different mediums; pencil, charcoal, acrylic, ink, pastels, Copper tooling, sculpture, silk painting and water colors. The lessons, are well laid out and she explains everything in detail to where you can understand and follow along without any trouble.  The materials that are needed you can find at your local art store.

Our overall experience with Creating a Masterpiece was very nice.  We enjoyed the lessons a lot.  Sharon has a wonderful way of explaining in detail, that the kids can understand and enjoy.  You can tell that she truly has a love of art and enjoys teaching it to others.

Creating a Masterpiece  has just added a coupon that you can get the same discount for a year’s curriculum (6 DVD’s) but allows you to choose which 6 DVD’s that you want.  All you have to do is enter the discount code “setof6”.

Creating a Masterpiece has also offered to give away to one of my readers a DVD.  I have chosen the Level 1 DVD “Sunflower“.  All you have to do is enter the correct information into the rafflecopter widget below!  I will choose a winner on April 5th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

disclaimer: This was a compensated review. All opinions expressed are my own.

2013, homeschooling, review, , , , ,

We Choose Virtues ~ review

Written by Joy
7 Comments
We Choose Virtues ~ review

We Choose Virtues is a program that you use to teach 12 virtues to your children and to build character in your children.  I think for most any parent, instilling good character into your children is high on the list when you are raising our children.  We Choose Virtues can also be used as a reminder for parents as well.  Children pick up a lot by just watching their parents and how they act or treat others.

We Choose Virtues comes with all the material that you need to start teaching your children about the virtues and good character.  The first thing that you do is use the Family Character Assessment.  You sit down with each child and if you want, even yourself and your spouse.  You go over the assessment to see where you feel like you stand on each virtue.  From there, you can choose with which virtue you think needs to be covered first.

Our family decided to start with Obedience.  I think it is important for children to listen to their parents.  The first thing we did was read the card.  We talked about the scripture and even other scripture in the bible that talks about not only obeying your parents, but obeying God.  I printed out the coloring books for my kids and they each colored the Obedient page.

Obedient, our first Virtue we are learning.

Everyday, for a week, we would go over the Obedient card and read the scripture.  Several times throughout the days, I would ask if they were being obedient and ask them to give me the ways that they were.  If at any time, when I had asked them to do something and they wanted to fuss or not listen, I would remind them of the word Obedient and they knew what I was talking about.

This was also a great reminder for me.  I thought to myself, how often do I not listen or obey God?  There were several times, that I often has to repent.  Yes, I even told the kids that even moms and dads don’t obey and we have to suffer the consequences of not obeying as well.  I think it helped them to know that even mom and dad do have trouble  obeying at times as well.

Coloring our Obedient pages.

Overall, We Choose Virtues is an excellent program, not only for children, but for parents as well.  We Choose Virtues comes in several different kits, for whether you are homeschooling, in a school setting or church setting.  They have posters, charts, coloring books and other materials that you can even make your own kit from.  They also have different versions of the bible that you can choose from as well.  The colors are very vibrant and colorful giving it a fun kid look.

If you are interested, We Choose Virtues is offering 20% off for the month of April on any kit that you order.  The code for the 20% is Home20.  Heather, the owner is also offering a 15% discount on any order.  Be sure to use the code Virtue15.

 

2013, homeschooling, review, ,