Homeschool Spanish is a curriculum for the whole family to learn Spanish together. It was created by Dr. Karyn Williamson-Coria who is a homeschool mom to three boys. Using her background and experience in teaching foreign languages she designed Homeschool Spanish to meet the needs of families desiring to learn Spanish.

Homeschool Spanish has some great features:

*Utilizes the immersion method to provide quick retention

*Lesson plans are provided so it is low prep for mom or dad

*Activity book is provided for older students to help with review

*Audio files provide authentic pronuciation

*Free culture links are provided to enhance learning

*Use as main Spanish curriculum or as a supplement to other programs you may be using

As a mom of several children, I appreciated the lesson plans that laid out suggestions for younger and older students. There were several suggestions on activities to reinforce and review learning and were fun as well. The audio files were also a wonderful addition to the program. We have some strong southern accents in this house and trying to pronounce another language can be a bit challenging.

There are two options for purchasing Homeschool Spanish:

Download version is available for $49.95.

Hard Copy is available for $89.95.

This Book Bundle includes: Book, Activity Book, Answer Book and Audio Files. You can preview each item here. You can add the Daily Curriculum Guide to your purchase for an additional $9.95. They also have a high school supplement coming out soon.

Please take a moment or two to peruse Homeschool Spanish. Also swing by the Crew and do some blog hopping.

**Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for the purpose of review. No compensation was made.

When I heard of Vintage Remedies the title intrigue me and I was delighted to be able to review one of their products for young ladies. Vintage Remedies for Girls is designed to teach girls, ages 7-13, about healthy and natural living. While we are not a strict healthy eating family, we do try to eat a healthy, balanced diet and try to be smart with the resources that we use in our home. Having 3 girls that fit the age range for this book, I knew it would be a great tool to have on hand.

Vintage Remedies for Girls has 3 sections: Food, Nutrition and Culinary Skills; Health and Body; and Natural Living. Within these sections a wide range of topics are covered: Real Food, Kitchen Basics, Growing Your Own Food, Coughs and Colds, Immunity and Prevention, Hospitality, Cleaner Cleaning and more!

It is a simple product to utilize; whether as a formal study or just a book to casually pull information from as needed. After reading the information on Real Food in chapter one, there will be a featured project. For chapter one it was Strawberry Fruit Bars. Yum!  Other projects are given as well such as homemade pizza or granola bars. The same model is followed throughout the book.

In our home we already cook  from scratch, but I find there is always more to learn. I really appreciated the section on Health and Body. As a mom of 6 girls, I value books that promote healthy living. It is so easy to fall into a lifestyle of junk food and to teach our young ladies early about taking care of their bodies is so important.

If you choose to use the book formally, quizzes and a recommended schedule are provided. We decided to take a more laid back approach which works well for us. The girls grab the book, read what interest them and then they can choose a project if they wish.

Vintage Remedies for Girls can be purchased for $45.00. The book is over 200 pages and non-consumable. It would also work great for a group study as well!

Vintage Remedies also provides: Vintage Remedies for Guys, Vintage Remedies for Kids and Vintage Remedies for Tweens. Vintage Remedies is not limited to resources for children. Make sure you look around to see all that they offer for healthier living!

Make sure to swing by the Crew to see what others are saying about Vintage Remedies!

**Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made.

Making hands on learning a part of your homeschool is a wonderful way to make your studies real and interesting to your children. Pitsco Education has a wonderful selection of products that can provide the hands on learning you might be looking for! We recently had the opportunity to utilize their Siege Machines Kit.

The Siege Machine Kit includes:  a Trebuchet Kit, Catapult Kit, Mass Plates and the Siege Machines book. Through building these medieval machines your child will incorporate learning in science, math and experiments.  They will learn the history of these devices and build their problem solving abilities.

While we are not currently studying the medieval time period, my children knew exactly what these machines were designed for and couldn’t wait to assemble them. The Siege Machine Kit is for middle school and up. Although my son is only 10, we decided to let him take charge of this project. Dad provided the adult supervision and guidance and “the boys” had a great time. They discussed the process and design as they progressed through the project and there was much satisfaction for my son when they were ready to fire!

The Siege Machine Kit is available from Pitsco Education for $21.95. From our experience, this is an excellent price for this kit. Although I did have to put a stop to firing at mom while she was in the kitchen, boys.

Pitsco Education has a wide variety of items that can enhance your learning experience so please take time to look around their site! Also make sure to swing by the Crew and see what other review families though of the Siege Machine Kit!

*Disclaimer – As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made.

The Time Timer is a 60 minute timer that has a red disc that slowly decreases as time moves around the timer. No matter what the activity or age of the child, time can be seen passing and the child can know when they have a little or a lot of time left.

The Time Timer can be used in a variety of situations. Perhaps you need your little ones to know when to transition from playing to cleaning; or a reminder of how long that piano practice should last; it could be a great motivator for the student who struggles to focus on a subject.

I used the Time Timer in various ways. Some of my favorites were for kitchen clean-up and helping my 3yr old stay on task. She did really well watching the red disc and I didn’t have to remind her twice about what she was doing. It is handy for piano practice as well. With 3 children needing to practice piano, I need to keep them moving through their practice times and I loved not having to watch the clock!

There is one feature that was an issue for our family but is in reality a benefit of the timer. The Time Timer does not have a loud buzz or ring when time is up. When time has expired, there is a quiet, subtle “ring” and that is it. With seven children running around on various tasks, we would often find that we forgot the timer and never heard the “ring”.  However, this is one of the benefits of the timer if you are using it with special needs children or children who are easily startled. The quiet “ring” will not cause any issues for those who are sensitive to sudden or loud noises. It provides a clear, easy to see and understand passage of time that can work for anyone! I think this video does an excellent job of showing all that the Time Timer can do:

The Time Timer can be utilized for daily life, school, business and more. For the review, we had the 3 inch Time Timer but you can get it in larger sizes, for the computer or your phone!

The 3 inch Time Timer can be purchased for $30.00.  Please take the time to look around at all their products and information to find the Time Timer that would work best for your family!

Please take a moments to stop by the Crew and see what others experienced with the Time Timer!

Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product. No compensation was made. The thoughts/opinions expressed in this post are my own.

George Washington Carver: His Life and His Work is a 30 minute DVD that takes you through the life of Mr. Carver. From being born into slavery to his work as a creative scientist, we are taken through his life and are introduced to his achievements, his character and his challenges.

I found it interesting to discover information like why Mr. Carver never married,  that he always wore a flower in his lapel and that he never used the name Washington.  Mr. Carver was a great example of diligence and dedication in spite of the obstacles placed in your path and the DVD did an excellent job of presenting this.

George Washington Carver: His Life and His Works is recommended for 4th grade and up.  The content is not objectionable and our little ones joined us during our viewing. However, the information presented is at the level recommended. While the DVD was enjoyed, my older children were not presented with new information. Various readings they had done on George Washington Carver had already given them what was discussed in the DVD.  So if you have already studied Mr. Carver, this DVD might not be a wise purchase. If you are just beginning a study of Mr. Carver, this time period in history or scientists, it would be a worthwhile purchase.

Marshall Publishing currently has George Washington Carver: His Life and His Work on sale for $19.95.  But!!! if you use this special TOS code: TOSC1 you get another 15% off!

Make sure you take a peek around Marshall Publishing. They have several historical documentaries that could enhance your studies. They cover topics such as: Lincoln at Gettysburg, The Historic Expedition of Lewis and Clark and more. They also have DVDs for the younger students such as Lots and Lots of Fire Safety Songs and Safety Tips. The Fire Safety DVD was reviewed by Crew Members as well.

So when you head over to the Crew, make sure you check out reviews on both products!

Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made. The opinions/thoughts expressed in this post are my own.

Educating the Wholehearted Child is an encouraging, informative read for homeschool families no matter where they are in the journey. As a mom who has been homeschooling several years, it was a refreshing and inspiring read.  We all go through various seasons of educating our children and sometimes we need a bit of help in getting our focus and methods back on track. Or possibly moving on to something new we hadn’t tried before depending on the needs of our child.

While the Clarksons methods and principles may not completely line up with yours personally, there is such wealth in this book. The chapters on Biblical discipleship, the margins filled with Scriptures and the Clarksons sharing personal experiences are so worthwhile. Page after page is full of practical advice of a family who has walked this road and have much to share.

Educating the Wholehearted Child has 4 Sections: Home, Learning, Methods, and Living.  To view a complete Table of Contents, you can go here to take a peek. They have also made Chapter 1:    The Christian Home: Learning to Be at Home with Christ available to read online as well. This gives you an opportunity to get a sense of the writing style of the Clarksons.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through this book again (I read an older edition several years ago) and gleaning from it bits of wisdom throughout. Often as I read such books, I end up putting it down feeling like I have more questions than answers. The Clarksons use of Scripture as the focus throughout the text provides a comforting foundation to build upon; whether you agree with their method or not.

Educating the Wholehearted Child is available from Apologia Press for $22.00. It is well worth that price as you will refer to it time and again; you will share it with friends on this homeschool journey.

Please take time to head over to the Crew and see what others are saying about Educating the Wholehearted Child!

**Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for the purpose of review. No compensation was made. All thoughts/opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Recently, we had the opportunity to review Visual Latin. When I informed the children that a new Latin program was on the way, there was a bit of groaning. We were (sporadically) using a different Latin program. It seemed to be working well and we were all a bit hesitant to work with something new.

What a delight to find that Visual Latin is an outstanding foreign language program that truly engages the student and is enjoyable to learn! Dwane Thomas does a wonderful job of presenting the information to the student. He speaks to the student, adds a bit of humor and is very down to earth. His excitement and enjoyment of the Latin language is clear to see from the beginning.

Visual Latin is simple to use. So simple that you might be fooled into thinking that real learning could not be happening. I think the short lessons and the method of presentation are two of the things that make this program so effective.

Here is how a lesson is presented:

First is Grammar. Dwane presents one or two grammatical concepts; clearly and simply.  He explains the concepts and gives plenty of examples to reinforce it for the student. After viewing the grammar lesson, a worksheet is given that reviews the material.

Once Grammar has been covered, the second part of the lesson is Sentences. In this section of the lesson, Dwane takes what was learned in Grammar and breaks it down. It really aids in the understanding of Latin. This section also has a worksheet that helps reinforce what was covered.

The finally part of the lesson is Reading. When my girls first saw this part they were a bit freaked out. Now they love it! In this section of the lesson, Dwane actually reads Latin text. As Dwane reads, the student is to repeat the text in Latin. When Dwane is finished, the student has a worksheet with the Latin text and the student has to translate it. So the student is seeing, hearing, speaking and writing Latin. What an effective way to learn the language!

What Latin text is Dwane reading? Dwane used the Latin Vulgate Bible so the children are familiar with the accounts that are read.  Having this background knowledge aids in the speed of learning Latin.

Visual Latin has been a huge success in our home. My girls are learning and enjoying a foreign language that will build a foundation to make other languages easier to learn. And it is independent. They do not need me at all for this course.  With Visual Latin, Latin has become an everyday thing in our home. During some free time, when the girls were entertaining my younger ones, they gave Latin names to them.  They are constantly sharing with their dad what different Latin words mean. I love that they are retaining so much and enjoying it in the process!

Intrigued? Want to take a little peek? Visual Latin provides a wonderful opportunity for you to sample the course for free!

Interested in viewing a sample lesson? Just go here.

Want to really put it to the test? You can download the first six lessons here. Yes! For free!

Ready to make a purchase? There are two ways you can bring Visual Latin into your home. You can purchase Visual Latin DVDS or chose to Download the lessons to your computer. The PDF worksheets for the course are contained on the DVDs/Download.

There are 30 lesson for Latin 1. You can choose to purchase them all at once or Visual Latin gives you the option to buy 10 lessons at a time.  Pricing ranges from $25 for Download of Lesson 1-10 to $80 for all 30 lessons on DVD. With these options, you can easily work Visual Latin into your home education budget!

Make sure you head over to the Crew and see what other families thought of Visual Latin!

Disclaimer: As a member of TOS Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made. The thoughts/opinions expressed in this post are my own.

However, something odd happened. My cute, little delightful son  turned into a boy. A 9 year old boy who was suddenly determined to test all the boundaries, climb every tree and take dominion over everything from my kitchen to the van. Thankfully, I could still count on the dirt.

When Timberdoodle provided the opportunity to read Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young, I grabbed it. I am familiar with the Youngs and knew they were the parents of a boy or six. If someone could help in my journey to understand and mother my sons better, it would be the Youngs. What a blessing to be able to gain wisdom from those who are ahead of you on the journey!

At the end of the day, I often struggled with feeling like I had failed being the mom my sons needed. I knew that boys were different from girls and that I couldn’t hold them to the same standards but it was so frustrating. From chores to math I sometimes felt that we were both beating our heads against the wall. Not the picture I had of motherhood when I held that bundle of blue so many years ago.  Raising Real Men was so refreshing to read, so helpful in its practicality and so simple that I wasn’t overwhelmed with information. The Youngs do not have page after page of psychobabble. They are real parents who have been down the road with real boys that have become real men.

In Raising Real Men, the Youngs cover a multitude of topics that really hit home. Boys need to conquer, take risk and push themselves. They need to develop that boldness that will one day make them warriors for Christ. We don’t need to hold them back in fear but provide opportunities to face new experiences.  Responsibility needs to be developed and as he shows maturity and ability, you need to give more responsibility. One day he will be a leader in his home, workplace, church and community. Are you preparing him to meet those demands?

The Youngs cover everything from school, chores, play to stewardship, love and leadership. What I absolutely loved was that they back it all up with Scripture. These are not random ideas or suggestions. The Youngs have parented their boys diligently and have sought out Scripture to guide them and guide their sons. It provides a balanced, practical help when you are in the midst of a struggle in parenting and need someone to help guide you to a solution, help you gain wisdom all balanced on the Word.

Want to take a closer look at Raising Real Men? Even read a sample chapter? You can head over to Timberdoodle and check out Raising Real Men. You can purchase Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young for $12.75 from Timberdoodle!

Timberdoodle provides other resources that could be a help to you as your parent your sons so you might be interested in Boy Friendly Outdoor Learning and other Parenting Helps.  Don’t forget that Timberdoodle offers a wide range of products so browse through their catalog; I love to add to my wish list!

Legal Disclosure:
As a member of Timberdoodle’s Blogger Review Team I received a free copy of Raising Real Men in exchange for a frank and unbiased review.

Thankfully, since we home educate we can grab teachable moments throughout the day to guide our children in these skills. Even at a young age, we can begin to build the foundation for those much needed social skills.

On the day of this interaction, we found the opportunity to work on sharing. While Sarah might have preferred to lick the spoon all on her own, she was willing, even happy, to share with her brother. Sweet, isn’t it? Why, yes it was. Yummy chocolate chip cookie dough! Would you share?

I will admit that we still have those days where it is evident that work is still needed for some on the sharing skill. It makes those days of victory, oh so sweet!!

Tune in next time when we discuss the challenging social skill of Verbal Communication 101!

**Disclaimer: This post was made purely to show off my cute kiddos. No compensation other than smiles, giggles and sticky finger hugs were made.

Over the past few weeks, anytime there has been a slight break in the heat, the kiddos have been outside. I love to hear their laughter and their play going on outside.

But it isn’t always fun and games outside. Sometimes we are discovering bugs and new plants. We could find new and creative ways to utilize what God has created. Moss, for example. Yes, moss, sand, rocks and a few sticks and you have created a new place to live and play….

I can’t remember what each “thing” was but I’m sure there was a kitchen and maybe a bedroom? This is why I don’t see the need in an endless supply of toys and gadgets. God has provided the perfect playground for imaginations and energy!

Is it really wise to play soccer barefoot? I’m thinking not, but what do I know. I just take the pictures, folks.

I suppose anyone could get tired of just playing, playing, playing.  Why not do a bit of work outside as well? Be a good steward of what the Lord has entrusted to you!

Sweep the yard! Now that is some serious dedication to yard work!

Or cut the grass. Literally. Do you see what she is using to cut the grass?

Scissors, people. Scissors. This girl might just have too much time on her hands!!!

The grass inspectors. They take their job very seriously. This is their playground after all. Can’t have people going crazy with the scissors!

Just our spin on nature study….what does yours look like?